ScoJo15
There will be days when I don't know if I can run
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2005
- Messages
- 2,535
Pre-trip Report: Father & Daughter Take On The World 9-18 to 9-24
The Cast:
Me Disney Obsessed 34 year old IT Manager from Canton, GA
DD7 7 year old Disney lover with 5 trips to the world already under her belt
Links to the entire report & photos:
POP Century Review
Dining Reviews
Pre-trip Report
Day 1: Wishes & Princesses
Day 2: AK & 48"
Day 3: MGM
Day 4: Incredible MK
Day 5: Epcot & Spectromagic
Day 6: MGM & World Showcase
Day 7: ToT & DTD
Post-trip Report
Photopass
300 Pictures that I took!
Background:
Our annual Disney pilgrimage was thrown for a nice twist this year when we realized that since DDs school went to a new year round schedule, shed have a week off in September that would be perfect for a low crowd vacation almost anywhere. Now, we usually go to one of the parks while visiting relatives during Spring Break and weve always wanted (OK .I have always wanted) to do a week long Disney trip and stay onsite. Simple math here folks: One off peak week off for daughter + desire to visit WDW for a week = Dream vacation finally can happen!! Then came the not so nice twist DW was promoted from teacher to administrator (thats not the bad part..were very proud of her!), only her promotion sent her to a different district that operates on (you guessed it) a different calendar year. Meaning that DW no longer has the week off in September. Before I pressed the plunger to officially flush the dream vacation down the toilet, I decided to give it a shot .what if DW didnt go, but I went with DD on a father/daughter no-holds-barred romp thru Disney? So, one day in early June I visited Disney.com to get some prices & figure out how to ask permission from the boss to play with the kid. Lo and behold, Disney was offering free dining .free food!! There was joy in Mudville!! It would work out perfect but honey, we wont have to pay for anything once we get there food is included in the price! Well never see the price this cheap agan & you know that we want one last big trip to WDW before our thrill seeking DD outgrows it. I can even sign up for a Disney Visa and get reward dollars & six months no interest! So, I rehearsed my speech in front of the mirror a few times & came up with some rebuttals (we will still stop and see your mother before we go to the parks) and presented my case to my wife. There was brief silence..and then she spoke, well, if there was ever a vacation that I had to miss I guess it would be this one Hooray!! Time to start prepping for another trip to the World, only this time its a real trip staying onsite .figuring out which parks to visit on each day .making those ADRs .finding a way to make it extra magical for my DD.
Before I continue, let me say that my wife is not anti-Disney but her idea of fun is not commandoing theme parks for six days in a row. She has participated in the magic during previous trips, and will again in the future. Yeah, she is sad that she cant go but will probably benefit from some quiet time around the house & some quality time with our puppy. Yeah, we are sad that we have to do this trip without her but will mourn no longer .its time to plan!!
I started doing some internet searches and found the DISboards. Holy cow!! DIS has everything youve ever wanted to know about WDW and so much more! I signed up for an account and started posting. Within a few weeks, I had been invited on a Wishes Cruise by a super nice DISer (thanks Tara!) & had a couple of t-shirt designs made for the trip (thanks MidNite and Julia & Nicks Mom)!! A few phone calls to Disney dining and a few Excel spreadsheets later, I had the whole thing planned out. Here is the basic schedule:
Saturday 9-17: Drive to Orlando & spend the night with my mother in law.
Sunday 9-18: Check in at POP. Get DDs hair done at Ivy Trellis, dinner at 1900 Park Fare, Wishes cruise
Monday 9-19: AK till 5. Then dinner at Alfredos in Epcot.
Tuesday 9-20: MGM all day. Dinner at 50s PT Café.
Wednesday 9-21: MK all day. Dinner at CRT.
Thursday 9-22: EPCOT till 5. Lunch at LeCellier. SpectroMagic at 8pm.
Friday 9-23: Free time til dinner at Akershus.
Saturday 9-24: Free time or DTD. Head back home around 2pm.
Along with the schedule, I came up with a few goals for the trip:
1. Ride Soarin at EPCOT.
2. Having never been to AK before, enjoy the time there with my animal loving DD.
3. Eat as much ice cream as possible, from as many different places as we can!
4. Since my true princess had to stay behind, settle for pictures with Ariel & Belle
5. Obtain as many pressed pennies as funds will allow
6. Get as many character autographs as we can
7. Most importantly, make DD feel like a princess and give her a trip to remember forever.
So the stage is set. Last minute preparations are underway. Lime green Mickeys have been spotted being attached to camera bags. The TiVo has been programmed to record both the important reality tv season finales & the premieres for the new season. Camera and laptop batteries have been charged. The homemade autograph book has been completed. We are ready for a good sleep before waking up at 6am to shower and start our vacation. Mickey, here we come!!
Stay tuned for the trip report upon our return.
The Cast:
Me Disney Obsessed 34 year old IT Manager from Canton, GA
DD7 7 year old Disney lover with 5 trips to the world already under her belt
Links to the entire report & photos:
POP Century Review
Dining Reviews
Pre-trip Report
Day 1: Wishes & Princesses
Day 2: AK & 48"
Day 3: MGM
Day 4: Incredible MK
Day 5: Epcot & Spectromagic
Day 6: MGM & World Showcase
Day 7: ToT & DTD
Post-trip Report
Photopass
300 Pictures that I took!
Background:
Our annual Disney pilgrimage was thrown for a nice twist this year when we realized that since DDs school went to a new year round schedule, shed have a week off in September that would be perfect for a low crowd vacation almost anywhere. Now, we usually go to one of the parks while visiting relatives during Spring Break and weve always wanted (OK .I have always wanted) to do a week long Disney trip and stay onsite. Simple math here folks: One off peak week off for daughter + desire to visit WDW for a week = Dream vacation finally can happen!! Then came the not so nice twist DW was promoted from teacher to administrator (thats not the bad part..were very proud of her!), only her promotion sent her to a different district that operates on (you guessed it) a different calendar year. Meaning that DW no longer has the week off in September. Before I pressed the plunger to officially flush the dream vacation down the toilet, I decided to give it a shot .what if DW didnt go, but I went with DD on a father/daughter no-holds-barred romp thru Disney? So, one day in early June I visited Disney.com to get some prices & figure out how to ask permission from the boss to play with the kid. Lo and behold, Disney was offering free dining .free food!! There was joy in Mudville!! It would work out perfect but honey, we wont have to pay for anything once we get there food is included in the price! Well never see the price this cheap agan & you know that we want one last big trip to WDW before our thrill seeking DD outgrows it. I can even sign up for a Disney Visa and get reward dollars & six months no interest! So, I rehearsed my speech in front of the mirror a few times & came up with some rebuttals (we will still stop and see your mother before we go to the parks) and presented my case to my wife. There was brief silence..and then she spoke, well, if there was ever a vacation that I had to miss I guess it would be this one Hooray!! Time to start prepping for another trip to the World, only this time its a real trip staying onsite .figuring out which parks to visit on each day .making those ADRs .finding a way to make it extra magical for my DD.
Before I continue, let me say that my wife is not anti-Disney but her idea of fun is not commandoing theme parks for six days in a row. She has participated in the magic during previous trips, and will again in the future. Yeah, she is sad that she cant go but will probably benefit from some quiet time around the house & some quality time with our puppy. Yeah, we are sad that we have to do this trip without her but will mourn no longer .its time to plan!!
I started doing some internet searches and found the DISboards. Holy cow!! DIS has everything youve ever wanted to know about WDW and so much more! I signed up for an account and started posting. Within a few weeks, I had been invited on a Wishes Cruise by a super nice DISer (thanks Tara!) & had a couple of t-shirt designs made for the trip (thanks MidNite and Julia & Nicks Mom)!! A few phone calls to Disney dining and a few Excel spreadsheets later, I had the whole thing planned out. Here is the basic schedule:
Saturday 9-17: Drive to Orlando & spend the night with my mother in law.
Sunday 9-18: Check in at POP. Get DDs hair done at Ivy Trellis, dinner at 1900 Park Fare, Wishes cruise
Monday 9-19: AK till 5. Then dinner at Alfredos in Epcot.
Tuesday 9-20: MGM all day. Dinner at 50s PT Café.
Wednesday 9-21: MK all day. Dinner at CRT.
Thursday 9-22: EPCOT till 5. Lunch at LeCellier. SpectroMagic at 8pm.
Friday 9-23: Free time til dinner at Akershus.
Saturday 9-24: Free time or DTD. Head back home around 2pm.
Along with the schedule, I came up with a few goals for the trip:
1. Ride Soarin at EPCOT.
2. Having never been to AK before, enjoy the time there with my animal loving DD.
3. Eat as much ice cream as possible, from as many different places as we can!
4. Since my true princess had to stay behind, settle for pictures with Ariel & Belle
5. Obtain as many pressed pennies as funds will allow
6. Get as many character autographs as we can
7. Most importantly, make DD feel like a princess and give her a trip to remember forever.
So the stage is set. Last minute preparations are underway. Lime green Mickeys have been spotted being attached to camera bags. The TiVo has been programmed to record both the important reality tv season finales & the premieres for the new season. Camera and laptop batteries have been charged. The homemade autograph book has been completed. We are ready for a good sleep before waking up at 6am to shower and start our vacation. Mickey, here we come!!
Stay tuned for the trip report upon our return.
