Stay calm! They can smell fear....

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Hi Everyone!

Thanks for deciding to read my PTR. This is my first, so please be nice!

I do have a confession. I'm a habitual lurker. I've read so many of these PTR's and TR's, and really haven't commented. I feel bad. But I've always wanted to do one of these and I'm kinda excited to try and do one of these! Feel free to ask questions! I love answering


So let's get to the nitty gritty.

When:
May 11-15, 2011

Where:
Disney's Pop Century Resort

Why:
Mostly for the scavenger hunt!

Who:

Uh, YES! That is us in NYC, with my "I ºoº NY" bobbly-antennae things, after seeing Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark (I still question why we are turning off the dark. If anyone could please explain, it'd be greatly appreciated!) Too bad the picture doesn't show my Minnie Mouse lollipop, and me frolicking through Times Square. Boy, do I love Disney stores...

Adam: Super sweet guy. LOVES comic books, his favorite being X-Men. I LOVE being able to go to the Disney Store and being able to shop for both of us! I know he’s looking forward to all the upcoming comic book movies. Captain America, Thor, X-Men, Transformers, you name it, he’s excited for it. After he agreed to come with me, he said, “ooohhh.. hold on!” and had to check on his phone for when Thor came out. Luckily, it comes out the week before we go. All’s well! He can go to Disney.


Me: OKAY, to begin with, I’ll come clean. I’M SPOILED. There, I said it. The cat’s out of the bag.

You may be wondering why I say that. Here’s why: I’ve gone to Disney World at least once a year since I was three. I sometimes feel as if I have to explain myself, but long story short: everyone chooses to spend money differently. My grandmother felt it was important to bring me to a magical place and create lasting memories. And for that, I am forever thankful. As I got older, a WDW vacation has just grown to be a part of me, no matter how tight of a budget we were on.

Oh, so what else about me... hmm… I graduated in May 2009 with both my undergrad & graduate degrees. Both Adam & I went into fields, we were told when we were applying, that were “booming” (education & accounting, respectively). Neither of us have jobs in our fields, and probably shouldn’t be taking this vacation, but c’est la vie!

 

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WHY:
When news of the scavenger hunt first arose, I WANTED TO GO! I posted a status on FB, and one of my friends responded. When she found out the dates, she found out it coincided perfectly with… her alumni program!

We actually met because we were going to be roommates during the Spring 2010 College Program season, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn’t able to go. I ended up taking a solo trip in May 2010, and met my almost-roomie. I actually met a few people who I had chatted up a LOT in the time leading up to the program. It was the best “solo” trip ever – seeing/hanging out with so many of the people I had chatted with. I really was disappointed I couldn’t do the program.

Anywho – she and her boyfriend are doing the Summer Alumni program and their check-in date is the Monday after the scavenger hunt! It worked out perfectly! My friend also lives about 6 hours away from where I do. The plan was to drive to her house, then drive down with them. Since they would be staying in FL, I would fly back to her hometown, pick up my car, and drive home. What a savings! Her grandmother also has a condo in the area, and we would stay there. Even bigger savings! Since we know some people who are down there now, we would be able to save some $$ getting into the parks. Holy cow, what more reason do I need to do the scavenger hunt!?

…Adam wouldn’t be there. That definitely bummed me out. It was hard going to Disney last November. We hadn’t been together long, but I was totally into him. I missed him a lot when I was in WDW. I got to see my FAVORITE band during the Eat To The Beat! Concert series (see username for hint ) – and once those concerts were over, I really had nothing to look forward to, other than seeing DBF. I know it was silly, but I hadn’t missed anyone like I missed him. It was odd.

Around March 18, DBF said something silly to me, “What if I said I was thinking about going to Disney with you?” Um, WHAT?! That would be so awesome! Of course, I thought he was toying with me. But of course, he said this as we were parting ways for the evening. He told me the next day we’d “talk Disney!” (Boy, do I love to talk Disney! )

Saturday came and went, and for some reason, we were both super tired. When the topic of “talking Disney” came up, we both just kind of fell asleep.
Sunday, he asked my plans. Truthfully, I hadn’t really made plans. Deep down, I hoped he’d come. Preliminary plans were in the works, but nothing official. He wrote down dates, and got flight information. He didn’t give me any official word if he’d come. He just said he’d let me know by the end of the week. I told him I couldn’t wait that long, and I expected an answer the next day. Again, I think I knew deep down that he’d say yes.
Monday, after work, he came over and gave me a big hug, whispered in my ear, “YES!”

Best YES I ever received! Now, the terror sets in!

 

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Why terror you ask?

We’ve talked Disney before, our experiences and such. His aunt and uncle LOVE Disney! One time, we were babysitting their children, and the second-oldest shows me their Disney scrap book. I absolutely loved it! It was so adorable to see their family photos of a great time in the world! After we had the kids asleep, I asked DBF when they planned on going again. His response, “soon.” For me, "soon" means within a year. Imagine my embarrassment when "soon," to normal people, turns out to be a couple of years. A few weekends later, we were with his aunt and uncle, and his parents, in which Disney came up. DBF’s parents said they’d join DBF’s aunt & uncle next time they went to the world. We were told that it would be at least a year and a half away, and were informally invited as well. I do adore his cousins, and when I daydream of a Disney wedding, I imagine the kids playing a part. Shh

DBF has also told me of his previous encounter in the world. His parents are very much a gotta-see-everything touring group. Me? I’m the laid-back type of tourer. As I’ve said, I’m spoiled and have been there many times and know I will be back. If I don’t see something, I know I will hit it next time.

My biggest worry is that he won’t get to see everything he wants to, especially since we are doing the hunt. Of which he won’t be in. We only have four days (and the arrival day isn’t a full day!). My thoughts are totally scattered on the matter, and I don’t quite know how to accomplish everything. I can’t exactly drop out of the scavenger hunt, since I was the one who signed up, and the person who signs up needs to be there.

 

[mmmbop]

Our Days:
May 11
Our flight leaves at 5:30AM, and arrives at MCO @ 9:49am.
Assuming all is on schedule, we plan/hope to be at Pop by noon. The plan is to leave everything with bell services and head directly to a park. I asked DBF his MUST DO’s. He has been totally wishy-washy with me. I threw out the idea of “whatever bus comes first.” He then retorted with, “if I pay for us to go to a waterpark, can we?!” I think my mouth flew open. 3 ½ days, and he wants to fit in a water park? I didn’t say anything, but then thought that MAYBE, just maybe, he could go when we were on the hunt (he knew before he ever said anything about going that we had our four-some for the hunt.)

In actuality, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were back to Pop in the early evening. Then I thought of having this be an AK day, and hit KS, KRR depending on the weather, Everest (maybe twice?), and Dinosaur. AK had AM EMH, so maybe crowds would have thinned out? AK is open ‘til 6pm.
Depending on when we’re done, we could hit HS, and do ToT and take in some Streetmosphere.

Or, even better, we could hit Epcot. He says World Showcase seems SO BORING, and really wants to explore Future World. So perhaps this would be the alternative to HS, if we have any energy after AK.
We would hit Test Track and Mission: Space, both of which he’s never experienced. Depending on timing, there’s also Soarin’ and Spaceship: Earth. I’d really, REALLY like to end the day with Illuminations, but I know we will probably be dead by then.


May 12: THE HUNT IS ON!
At 7:30am, we have an ADR at Chef Mickey’s with my friend, her (ex)-boyfriend, and their friend from the CP (never met the other friend). DBF may or may not come. The ADR is for 4, and Adam didn’t sound too keen on waking up so early for breakfast. He may mill around for a bit, sleep in, who knows.

Check-in for the scavenger hunt is at 10:00am. Our starting park is Epcot. Not sure what to expect, and DBF knows this. If he wants to walk with us, or explore on his own, it’s up to him. By 2pm (or a little later, depending on when we finish registering), we need to be out of the park. By 3pm, we plan on being at Park #2. I don’t know what park we will hit, but we have 3 hours there. So that brings us to 6:00pm.

Well, F! is playing this night. If we don’t see it this evening, then we better see it the next night…


May 13: THE HUNT, PART II
Whatever 2 parks we didn’t hit the day before, we will hit today.
F! is also showing this night. I wish I knew what to do…


May 14
I plan on this being our “what did we miss?” day.

The one thing that I find to be a necessary is to hit MK. MSEP will be this night. I’d love to close out our vacation with MSEP & Wishes. I think it’d be magical.

In a way, I hate how loose this trip is. I’m not a HUGE planner, I’m really not. But I don’t know what his must do’s are and such.

Any suggestions!?