Rest, Recess, Respite, Recreation and Relax - August 2019 for 8 days

[fire616]

Rest, recess, respite, recreation, and relax - that's the plan for our August 2019 trip. We are so excited about going to Walt Disney World again. Our last visit was a short trip in October 2017.

Details:
Who is going: DH and Me
DH - is the Store Director of one of our local grocery stores - (only 2 in town)
Me - I am a preschool teacher for a class of 15 students who are in class 6 hours a day and 5 days a week. I also have a home business in which I do custom vinyl designs on clothing, glassware, etc.

When: 8/1 - 8/9

Staying at the POP

 

[fire616]

For our last trip I did a Pre-Trip report but did not follow up with a trip report. So while getting ready for our upcoming trip I will recap some of the things we did in October, 2017.
After flying a red-eye into MCO we went to our hotel ASMu, left our luggage, and then got on a bus for Epcot.
Highlights of the day was the
Food & Wine - DH loved trying new foods.
Test Track as single riders
FEA
Soaring
and just having a great time being at Disney.

 

[dvc at last !]

I am in .......

 

[fire616]

I am a planner and like to do a lot of research while planning our trips. Our family will tell people in our town - if you are going to Disney talk to me. My co-worker is planning a trip in April and I have been helping her plan. My DGD's senior class is planning a trip to DL - wish I could go with them. So she has been asking questions and has told their adult chaperone to talk to me. There are 11 in her senior class which is actually a large class, last year they had 2 seniors.

We decided in February that we would make this trip - we had to adjust the days that we would go and return, so that we could be back for my mom's 75th birthday. I have looked at the park hours and have several different plans in my head. We are debating PH and will probably decide if we will get them after we get the FP.

I have already purchased a phone holder and and coin purse that each can be worn my neck. Looking to buy a wristlet to attached to the phone holder as I think it will be too heavy to wear all day. The less I have to bring into the park the better. I have bought some Disney leggings which I will be able to roll up during the day. I have already made one Minnie Mouse shirt.

One of the first things I booked was the Pirated and Pals Firework Voyage - I have wanted to do this for awhile however we are debating changing that to the Ferrytales Fireworks Dessert Cruise - any feedback about either one would be appreciated.

 

[fire616]

What's special about today
It's my DGS Eli's 6th birthday.​

We had the opportunity to have his mom, dad, and other family members join us in Disneyland when he was three. He is very upset that we are not taking him with us to WDW.

We had a blast in DL. This was Eli and his dad's first visit. Stormy had no idea what to expect and it was great being able to see it through his and Eli's eyes.

Our tentative plan for this trip is:
Friday - DHS with ADR for 50's Prime Time - lunch and Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage (might change this to Ferrytales Fireworks Dessert Cruise)
Saturday - MK with ADR for Liberty Tree Inn - dinner
Sunday - AK with ADR for Yak & Yeti - lunch
Monday - EPCOT - with ADR for Garden Grill - breakfast and Illuminations Dining Package
Tuesday - ???
Wednesday - MK with Festival of Fantasy Parade dining package
Thursday - ??? Breakfast ADR Kona Cafe
Friday - ???? Breakfast ADR at Whispering Canyon DME pick up around 3-3:30 pm for 6:30 flight.
These may change after we get our fastpasses. Still debating park hoppers. We have never done them.

So many undecided plans for our trip. We are hoping the Skyliner will be open and who knows maybe a soft opening for SWGE. (yeah right).

 

[fire616]

Non-Park Days​

Lots of discussion between DH and I about what to do and when. We have decided to get 6 days PH tickets and we will have 2 non-park days. We decided to not go everyday and take sometime to relax. I am hoping to change our Epcot Illumination Dining Package to Tuesday night. If I am able to do this, then we will have a non-park day on Monday, if not then Tuesday and Friday will be non-park days.

On our full non-park day we will head down to DS and take advantage of the Photopass studio session. My DH was not real sure about doing it last time, but then he had a great time.



We got our winter late here in the Pacific Northwest and had INCHES of snow in a couple of weeks. Yesterday it warmed up in the 40's and started to melt. So excited for spring to get here and some warmer weather.

 

[fire616]

This is my spring break and this last weekend I went with the DD and DGD to visit the Washington State University.

After touring the campus and learning more about the degrees they offered, I believe DGD has decided to attend a community college closer to home. She would like to be a Vet Tech and found out that it is only a 2 year degree and not a 4 year. Also the CC is only 1 hour and 15 minutes away instead of 4 1/2 hours.

 

[fire616]

Since my last pre-trip report, we have made some changes.

We ended up purchasing 7 day park hoppers after the price increase through Undercover Tourist. We had been debating PH and decided to go ahead while we could get them a little cheaper.

I am still looking for the Ferrytales Fireworks Cruise - hoping dates will be released soon.

We booked the EMM for DHS for August 7th. Looking forward to riding TSL rides before rope drop happens.

I have made several ADR's and canceled several. Currently we have 2 ADR's for 50's Prime Time depends on the day we plan on being in DHS around lunch time. ADR's for Garden Grill PPO, Illumination Dining package (still not sure about this one), Festival of Fantasy Parade dining package, The Edison, and Whispering Canyon for our last morning.

As we will get closer will decide on The Edison and Whispering Canyon and 50's Prime Time - I have been drinking "Happy Chocolate" which curbs my appetite and have found that I am not eating much. I am thinking I will order most of my meals off of the kids menus and not sure if I can do that at those restaurants. Anyone have experience ordering Kids meals at the restaurants??

 

[fire616]

Wow, it's been awhile since I was here. Been busy with work, our home business, and family.

This past week our GD went the Disneyland with her senior class for a short trip. There were 9 seniors and 2 chaperones. They arrived Sunday afternoon at LAX and then went to their hotel. They arrived at California Adventure around 6:00 pm and stayed about 3 hours. Their chaperone said that they wouldn't go into Disneyland the next day until 1:00. Which is what happened and then they left the park around 6. So approximately 5 hours in the park. The next day they went to Disneyland 2-8. GD has been to Disney and knew what to expect, she had fun but was a little disappointed that they didn't spend more time in the park. 8 of the other people had never been and have no idea of what they missed.

 

[fire616]

Looks like we are planning a Disneyland trip at Christmas. My DH and DS work at the same store. They are the only two people who are trained to open the store because of this we are not able to vacation together. DS asked one of the owners about all of us going and they are looking into what they can so we can all go.

We currently have hotel rooms booked for the 11 of us that will be going. Hoping they figure out a way for them both to be gone at the same time

 

[fire616]

Back to our previously scheduled planning.

We leave our hometown around 1:00 pm to drive two hours to the airport. We like to leave with plenty of time to get there, check into our hotel where we will park our car, and get a shuttle to the airport.

We are flying a red-eye and will arrive at MCO at 5:12 am.

The plan for our first day is:
If the room is ready (lol) then to rest a little and then head over to MK
If the room isn’t ready freshen up and then head over to MK for EMH at 8:00.
We have the following FP -
Peter Pan at 11:50
Splash Mountain at 1:00 pm
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 2:05

We will either head back to POP to rest or spend more time in MK
We will attend the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage to finish our night

 

[fire616]

9 Days until we leave for the airport. In fact at this time we should be at the airport waiting to board the plane. Whoo hoo.
Purchased the Memory Maker today.

Came back from our annual camping trip with DH's family. Was a great time of relaxing and swinging in my new hammock. While we were camping our dog Ginger of 15 years passed away. It was a difficult morning, waking up to her passing away in our bed, having to tell the grandkids, and figuring out how to get her home.

or

I thought all of our plans were finalized and now I am thinking of cancelling the FoFP dining package and doing a MK EMM instead. Decisions, decisions, decisions. We have debated about MK After dark with Villains but think we have decided not to do that. Also trying to figure out if I want to do two nights at DHS. We want to see Fantasmic and the fireworks, not sure it is worth going for two different evenings.

This coming week will be filled with packing, planning my mom's 75th surprise party (will be the day after we come back), creating staff gifts for the beginning of the school year, and making sure the house is clean before we leave.

 

[fire616]

Our journey begins

The day before our trip

I packed our bags and counted how many changes of clothes I had for each of us like three or four times. I also had to pack a bag for the day after we get back, as we have a surprise birthday party for my mom that we are in charge of.

So I made sure the house was cleaned, paid bills, and gathered all of the birthday supplies that DGD will have to bring to us when we get back. Since the dishes were done I decided that we would go out for dinner. We headed over to our local Mexican restaurant (1of 3) restaurants that we’re open that night. Yep we live in a small rural town.

Came home and finished getting everything ready DH went to bed around 9:00 as he has to go into work for a hour in the morning. I stayed up to check in to our flights - red-eye flight from the west coast.

I find out that a dear friend has passed away this evening. With a heavy heart and thoughts and prayers for his family I finally head to bed at 11:30 pm. Flight leaves at 6:55 pm. However it is a 2 hour drive to the airport, DH wants to do a little shopping, need a couple of items for the birthday party, and wants to go to an estate sale before leaving.

DH always tells me he has to work on the days that we leave but always seems to work it that he can leave in the morning.

Up next how much sleep did I actually get and do I let him buy the motorized bicycle at the estate sale???