stealthnet
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2006
- Messages
- 50
It's killing me not to say where we're going and we leave in 9 days!!!! I'm 27, my girlfriend is 24. She's NEVER been to Disney or the Universal parks! I've been to Disneyland a few times and to WDW a few times (last time in 2006) and have VERY good memories at both -- first time I'll be taking someone I'm dating there so can't wait to share it with her. She has NO idea where we are going, all she knows is that we are going on vacation. She keeps asking where we are going, so I'm trying to keep her expectations low. I'm playing down the excitement a LOT and saying things to throw her off. She's excited just to go on vacation since she hasn't been on one in awhile, and it's also our first vacation together. I think she's thinking we're staying somewhere in the Midwest... 
: I'm planning to tell her next Saturday 10/24 -- the day before we leave. 
She loves surprises though and many times I won't tell her where we're going when I take her out places... haha. Like I said, she's never been to ANY Disney or Universal park and mentioned she would love to go when it was brought up a long time ago, but I never hinted we would go there at all. All she's seen is one Six Flags park. She literally has NO idea the greatness of the shows, the rides, and the atmosphere at Disney/Universal.
Plus October is my favorite time to go (lower crowds, great weather, Halloween Horror Nights, and Food and Wine festival).
So, here's the details so far:
Trip is 10/25 Sunday - 11/03 Tuesday.
I already rented a DVC reservation for Animal Kingdom Lodge from a forum member here for 10/25-10/30 (less than $100 per night with everything included, great way to save cash on a deluxe). Never been to AKL but it looks awesome.
Also booked the Dolphin for 10/30-11/03 on an excellent $99 daily rate on Expedia! I stayed at an Epcot resort before (Boardwalk) and loved the proximity to Epcot and the whole Boardwalk area -- plus it's less than it would cost at CBR!
A few more surprises in store:
-I booked a Segway tour at Epcot -- I've done the tour before, and she's never been on a Segway. I loved going around the World Showcase on a Segway with nobody else there. She'll probably be stunned that you can even do this at a theme park.
-California Grill on Weds 10/28 at 9:15 for Wishes. I had the chance for a 7 P.M. reservation, but she is the type that wants to squeeze as much in (as do I), and she even confirmed she'd rather get more in her day with activities and have a late dinner on vacation (asked her in a roundabout way). I've never been to CG, and think seeing Wishes on the viewing balcony will be a great, memorable time along with the quality food, of course. I was thinking of doing this the last night... but I always love to close out a trip at the MK with rides / Main Street U.S.A., at dinner I'd be thinking about riding Splash or Pirates again before we go home.
-Already booked a R.I.P. tour at Halloween Horror Nights for 10/31 (Halloween!) -- expensive, but provides front of line access to all 8 haunted houses and VIP seating for their Bill & Ted show, then free Express access to the rides afterwards. This I think will be one of the highlights; I went with my family a few years ago and had a HHN Express pass, but the VIP tour should be memorable. I was VERY surprised it wasn't sold out yet since it's the last day of the event, on Halloween, and falls on a Saturday. Plus, I booked it just a few weeks ago.
-Somewhat considering doing HOS at Busch Gardens on Friday night, but not sure. Otherwise, we'd skip Busch Gardens altogether. Any opinions?
-Another issue is if I can resist holding off on HHN until our VIP tour on 10/31. It's the last day of the event and I've only been once before and loved it. Trying to decide if I should do other stuff and save it so she'll be stunned by her first impression of the event AND the tour all at once.
-Also wondering how I should start off on Sunday -- get Fantasmic in, or wait till later in the trip?
Still getting the details worked on but wanted to share since I'm pretty excited to go!
Here's a somewhat rough plan. Might change a couple things, and also can break from it for spontaneity:
10/25 Sunday - Flight arrives at 4 P.M.
Check into AKL
Dinner at Boma, or Downtown Disney (WP Express) or Boardwalk (River City Grill) or go to DHS for 9 P.M. Fantasmic show?
10/26 Monday
Epcot Around the World Segway Tour 9:00 A.M.
Boyz II Men Concert - Illuminations at 9 P.M.!
MK at night for EMH till midnight?
10/27 Tuesday
MK day - stay till 4:00 (open till 7)
DHS Fantasmic at night? 7:30 show
Downtown Disney or Boardwalk after?
10/28 Wednesday
AK
MK at night
California Grill (9:15 Res., watch Wishes before Dinner)
10/29 Thursday
IOA (open till 7) Mythos lunch
City Walk dinner -- Latin Quarters?
Check out City Walk - and maybe check out HHN (have unlimited 7 day tickets which includes HHN)
10/30 Friday
Hotel switch to Dolphin. Maybe do Typhoon Lagoon (goes down for Refurbishment for 3 months on 11/01)
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream or maybe return to favorite park or take a relaxed night.
10/31 Saturday
Universal Studios + HHN RIP Tour
11/01 Sunday
EPCOT?
DHS EMH till 10
11/02 Monday
DHS or IOA?
Extra Magic Hours at MK at night
11/03 Tuesday
Maybe lunch somewhere?
Flight at 3:30 P.M.
It's a pretty jam packed schedule and I'll be flexible with it... She insists she loves to be busy on vacations since she doesn't want to miss anything, so we'll see how it goes. Friday we might relax that day at the water park and do a non-park in the evening. Wow, this post has turned into a long novel. If you actually made it this far -- congrats and thanks for reading!!! Let me know if you guys have any suggestions or feedback! Thank you!
Here's a couple pics of us:
: I'm planning to tell her next Saturday 10/24 -- the day before we leave. She loves surprises though and many times I won't tell her where we're going when I take her out places... haha. Like I said, she's never been to ANY Disney or Universal park and mentioned she would love to go when it was brought up a long time ago, but I never hinted we would go there at all. All she's seen is one Six Flags park. She literally has NO idea the greatness of the shows, the rides, and the atmosphere at Disney/Universal.
Plus October is my favorite time to go (lower crowds, great weather, Halloween Horror Nights, and Food and Wine festival).So, here's the details so far:
Trip is 10/25 Sunday - 11/03 Tuesday.
I already rented a DVC reservation for Animal Kingdom Lodge from a forum member here for 10/25-10/30 (less than $100 per night with everything included, great way to save cash on a deluxe). Never been to AKL but it looks awesome.
Also booked the Dolphin for 10/30-11/03 on an excellent $99 daily rate on Expedia! I stayed at an Epcot resort before (Boardwalk) and loved the proximity to Epcot and the whole Boardwalk area -- plus it's less than it would cost at CBR!
A few more surprises in store:
-I booked a Segway tour at Epcot -- I've done the tour before, and she's never been on a Segway. I loved going around the World Showcase on a Segway with nobody else there. She'll probably be stunned that you can even do this at a theme park.
-California Grill on Weds 10/28 at 9:15 for Wishes. I had the chance for a 7 P.M. reservation, but she is the type that wants to squeeze as much in (as do I), and she even confirmed she'd rather get more in her day with activities and have a late dinner on vacation (asked her in a roundabout way). I've never been to CG, and think seeing Wishes on the viewing balcony will be a great, memorable time along with the quality food, of course. I was thinking of doing this the last night... but I always love to close out a trip at the MK with rides / Main Street U.S.A., at dinner I'd be thinking about riding Splash or Pirates again before we go home.
-Already booked a R.I.P. tour at Halloween Horror Nights for 10/31 (Halloween!) -- expensive, but provides front of line access to all 8 haunted houses and VIP seating for their Bill & Ted show, then free Express access to the rides afterwards. This I think will be one of the highlights; I went with my family a few years ago and had a HHN Express pass, but the VIP tour should be memorable. I was VERY surprised it wasn't sold out yet since it's the last day of the event, on Halloween, and falls on a Saturday. Plus, I booked it just a few weeks ago.
-Somewhat considering doing HOS at Busch Gardens on Friday night, but not sure. Otherwise, we'd skip Busch Gardens altogether. Any opinions?
-Another issue is if I can resist holding off on HHN until our VIP tour on 10/31. It's the last day of the event and I've only been once before and loved it. Trying to decide if I should do other stuff and save it so she'll be stunned by her first impression of the event AND the tour all at once.
-Also wondering how I should start off on Sunday -- get Fantasmic in, or wait till later in the trip?
Still getting the details worked on but wanted to share since I'm pretty excited to go!
Here's a somewhat rough plan. Might change a couple things, and also can break from it for spontaneity:
10/25 Sunday - Flight arrives at 4 P.M.
Check into AKL
Dinner at Boma, or Downtown Disney (WP Express) or Boardwalk (River City Grill) or go to DHS for 9 P.M. Fantasmic show?
10/26 Monday
Epcot Around the World Segway Tour 9:00 A.M.
Boyz II Men Concert - Illuminations at 9 P.M.!
MK at night for EMH till midnight?
10/27 Tuesday
MK day - stay till 4:00 (open till 7)
DHS Fantasmic at night? 7:30 show
Downtown Disney or Boardwalk after?
10/28 Wednesday
AK
MK at night
California Grill (9:15 Res., watch Wishes before Dinner)
10/29 Thursday
IOA (open till 7) Mythos lunch
City Walk dinner -- Latin Quarters?
Check out City Walk - and maybe check out HHN (have unlimited 7 day tickets which includes HHN)
10/30 Friday
Hotel switch to Dolphin. Maybe do Typhoon Lagoon (goes down for Refurbishment for 3 months on 11/01)
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream or maybe return to favorite park or take a relaxed night.
10/31 Saturday
Universal Studios + HHN RIP Tour
11/01 Sunday
EPCOT?
DHS EMH till 10
11/02 Monday
DHS or IOA?
Extra Magic Hours at MK at night
11/03 Tuesday
Maybe lunch somewhere?
Flight at 3:30 P.M.
It's a pretty jam packed schedule and I'll be flexible with it... She insists she loves to be busy on vacations since she doesn't want to miss anything, so we'll see how it goes. Friday we might relax that day at the water park and do a non-park in the evening. Wow, this post has turned into a long novel. If you actually made it this far -- congrats and thanks for reading!!! Let me know if you guys have any suggestions or feedback! Thank you!
Here's a couple pics of us:
