SOARIN' to our family vacation at WDW - Jan '10 at AKV

[MadilynnsMomma]

You are entirely welcome. I was hoping to use the code for my mom, whose DIS name would be "WillOnlyFlyToMadi" - but her dates are blacked out.

Also, what about skipping the animal watching, seeing Osborne Lights when they start at 6/6:30 and then BLAZING over to Cali Grill for your dinner?

A bit of hustle and bustle, but may be worth it!

 

[Wrexie]

Your itinerary looks great! I'll be there the same time as you, but don't get to stay as long.

I went to grad school in Boston at New England Conservatory and loved it. It's certainly possible to make a living in the performing arts, you just have to be creative about it and maybe end up doing things you hadn't originally planned on!

I also checked out your planner and it looks fabulous. I'm an iPhone addict, so if this was an iPhone app, I would seriously buy it. I don't know much about the business but if I were you, I'd consider hiring someone to develop an app for you and marketing it!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

You are entirely welcome. I was hoping to use the code for my mom, whose DIS name would be "WillOnlyFlyToMadi" - but her dates are blacked out.

Also, what about skipping the animal watching, seeing Osborne Lights when they start at 6/6:30 and then BLAZING over to Cali Grill for your dinner?

A bit of hustle and bustle, but may be worth it!

We're definitely considering it. We could make the reservation later for Cali Grill and then go to HS, but then we'd have to leave earlier/less time to unpack and unwind, and we might miss watching Wishes from Cali Grill.
But we are visiting MK twice that week, so it might be too much.....

Ah... choices choices

I also checked out your planner and it looks fabulous. I'm an iPhone addict, so if this was an iPhone app, I would seriously buy it. I don't know much about the business but if I were you, I'd consider hiring someone to develop an app for you and marketing it!

Oh thanks!
I'll definitely look into creating an app!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Hey! Joining in!
You're so lucky to be staying at AKL! I've always wanted to stay there and eating at Boma just made me want to stay there more! Last trip we stayed at the Polynesian, but for my upcoming November trip we're staying at the Port Orleans Riverside (most likely)

Love the Initerary! Looks awesome!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Ah... choices choices

They never end!!!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

We've hit the 80 day mark!!!

And now that everything is planned... of course that means planning more!!!!


I'm still working on making a HUGE Planning document with every attraction in every park with a description so that we can all plan which attractions we're going to go on.

But, other things I've decided to add to make our trip special - buying a necklace for my mom so that we can put a Pick-a-Pearl into it

Doing an animation class at DHS

Making our own luggage tags that are Disney and cute

Deciding whether or not I want to decorate our door -definitely going to make an attachment to my bag with a green mickeyhead

Making a gift basket for when they arrive?

But the thing I am the most excited about is making a DAILY NEWSLETTER!

They get one for the plane and then every evening the night before we go to the parks - it is filled with tips and tricks and a fill in the blank box for what the weather report will be

Any tips on what to put in it?

I am also possibly in the works of making a Disney Planner iPhone app...

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I just found your pre-trip report. It's funny because I, too only fly to WDW or Fort Lauderdale to see my sister, no place else. And this trip we, too planned on taking the train! But then Southwest had a reasonable price to fly down so we are flying down Christmas morning and then taking the train back on the 2nd, arriving in NYC on the 3rd when you will be boarding it!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

I just found your pre-trip report. It's funny because I, too only fly to WDW or Fort Lauderdale to see my sister, no place else. And this trip we, too planned on taking the train! But then Southwest had a reasonable price to fly down so we are flying down Christmas morning and then taking the train back on the 2nd, arriving in NYC on the 3rd when you will be boarding it!

Small world!

You have to tell me how it goes! Good luck!! Do you have a fear of flying as well or you just don't like it?

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Small world!

You have to tell me how it goes! Good luck!! Do you have a fear of flying as well or you just don't like it?

A little of both, I think. I am not sure how to separate the emotions. I truly do hate everything about it and I am not sure how much of that is tied into fear.

 

[Wrexie]

I am also possibly in the works of making a Disney Planner iPhone app...

Yay! (Says the iPhone app addict)

I've got "Documents to Go" for my iPhone and I'm just uploading all my Disney itineraries and such into that, but yours look so much more fun and colorful!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

Okay, so I've decided to give my parents/my DBF a gift every day of our vacation! A little present from Tinkerbell or Mickey Mouse so to speak.

Actually, I was thinking each day would be from a different character. I could type up little notes, and use their signatures from online graphics!

Just a simple - Have a great day in Magic Kingdom! and there would be a Magic Kingdom pin!

Here is the plan so far, but I'm still looking for very very cheap things on eBay as we speak, so the list might become a little more extensive.

My mom loves chatchkeys (spelling?)

Sunday, when we arrive at Animal Kingdom Lodge, my parents will have a Christmas Ornament of mickey mouse's head, and Edward will be receiving a light up magic kingdom... maybe ill get something for myself so it doesn't seem so obvious lol
Then Monday, our first day, they will get an animal kingdom pin, Edward's gift TBD
Tuesday, they will get an epcot keychain, again, Edward's gift TBD
Wednesday - my mom is going to get a charm bracelet with disney characters on it, and my dad will be getting a hat, and Edward and I will get a hat (what a coincidence they match! - came in a set of 3)
Thursday, they will get a MK charm,
Friday, they will get a HS pin and Edward will get Mickey Mouse dressed up as luke skywalker
Saturday, our final day at MK - my mom will get Mickey Mouse earrings and the rest TBD!


Any ideas/links to cheap disney gifts would be appreciated! It is very hard to find Disney gifts for adults amongst the massive sea of childrens gifts.

 

[Wrexie]

The gifts sounds like fun! Another small and inexpensive gift that "the mouse" could leave is one of those packaged Disney cookies that could be picked up at the parks the day before.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Have you scoped out your local dollar stores/walmart/target for some good (cheap) Disney gear?

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

Hey guys!
Life is getting pretty crazy here at school! Midterms are finally over, thank goodness!

I'm writing because tomorrow will be our 50 day mark!

Everything is booked and I don't know what to do with myself!

But, I've decided I'm going to try and write in this at least every week - because something always happens with Disney every week. Because, it is now 8 weeks until we leave!!!! It feels so far away because it is the New Year, but we leave on the 2nd!!!

So lately for my scene painting class, I've been working on a painting of this picture:

It isn't finished yet, but i should be done this week which means I will be putting a picture up very very soon!

In terms of gifts, I have gotten the following: 2 christmas ornaments, for me and my boyfriend (because I couldn't just get gifts for my parents and DBF because then they would know it was me! ) an Eve and Wall-E doll (we always compare the two of us to them), an AK pin, epcot keychain, and a shirt for my dad and a charm bracelet for my mother.

I'm browsing ebay literally everyday to find things under 2$ haha
Sometimes I luck out and sometimes I don't haha!

Next post - our FINAL itinerary!!!!! gahhh lol

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

Hey guys,
I realized it has been forever, but I am working on SO many surprises for my family!

They have absolutely no idea that they will each be getting a gift from a different Disney character every day - THANK YOU EBAY!

They don't know that they will wake up to a newsletter everyday describing fun facts and tips about the park we are visiting that day!

They don't realize that in two nights, I have made a comprehensive list of every attraction in every park with pictures included so we can figure out who wants to do what.

They also don't know that there will be a welcome sign on our door when they arrive!!

The reason I haven't updated my PTR so much is because I will be taking soooo many pictures of all of these things that I will describe in SO much detail when I do my actual TR.

12 days from now, my DBF and I will be leaving for Disney World!!

I'm so excited that I could SCREAM!!!

It is so soon I can almost taste the ice cream at Aloha Isle!

I'm incredibly nervous about January weather, but I think it will be fine.

SO - to complete this whole thing (because I have so much to do in the next 12 days - and oh by the way deal with Christmas and new Years - that I don't know if I'll have time to write!) here are the things you should look for in my TR when I get back (I'll be taking lots of pictures and lots of notes!)

- A Sign on the Door welcoming them to AKL!

- A Daily Newsletter describing what they will be enjoying everyday!

- Presents for all four of us every day, each accompanied by a letter signed from a different Disney character. Just in case anyone in my family somehow got wind of my username on these boards, I cannot tell you who gets what just yet.... But I will be able to sooon!!!!


The one thing that I will probably post when I am finished with it is our Trip Planner - a complete list of every attraction along with who wants to do which ones!

Thank you all for joining me on this crazy planning adventure!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

Merry Christmas everyone!!

We officially reached our 10 day mark today - which is VERY exciting! We checked in online at the DVC website and it really feels like we're going now!

Nearly had a freak out yesterday when I thought we were supposed to get the tickets mailed to us for La Nouba, but turns out we have them set for Will Call.

Also - had even more of a freak out as my DBF bought Disney ornaments for myself, and my parents for Christmas. By some VERY lucky twist of fate, the three of them happened to NOT be the two that I bought for my parents as part of their gifts when they get there haha.

All the gifts are packed and in the back of the closet and it is a VERY good thing that we are taking the train because I have no idea how I am going to pack all of those presents!

Otherwise the next 10 days will be printing out the newsletters, writing the letters for all the gifts, sitting down with my parents to hear what rides that are interested in (and what they refuse to do - such as Mission:Space), printing out every confirmation letter, and listening to as much Disney Park music as possible!


GAH!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

My family really has no idea how much I've done for them for this vacation and I am SO excited for them to open their presents every day, to read the daily newsletter, and just to be HAPPY in the Happiest Place on Earth!!!