The Diary of a Willing Disney Hostage: A Pre-Trip Report (UPDATED: 1/4)

[jenjolt]

Becca...I love all your plans...and I say RIDE ALL THE RIDES!! You can totally do it I have faith in you!!!!!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your plans...I'm a sucker for itineraries LOL!!!

Make sure you try those Figaro Fries and let me know if you like them before I try them LOL

Also isn't it just like an army guy to be like oh that's not too early...PPSSHHH...well for us normal beings 5 am is early LOL

 

[danceintherain]

Becca...I love all your plans...and I say RIDE ALL THE RIDES!! You can totally do it I have faith in you!!!!!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your plans...I'm a sucker for itineraries LOL!!!

I think we would really have to play favorites to NOT ride all the rides.
Then again we won't be able to ride ALL the rides, because quite a few will be closed. However, this just gives us more time to ride the ones that are open.
And I suppose I'm not exactly planning to ride ALL the rides. We'll probably skip the Teacups... and some of the World Showcase rides... and Cindy's Carousel.
Oh and I'm not planning on Stitch's Great Escape, because it was too uncomfortable the last time I rode it. However, if we feel the urge, I'm open to anything.

 

[danceintherain]

Here's my continuation of plans:
DAY 4: Our Second Day at EPCOT
I'm thinking Rope Drop this morning, and we'll do the left half of the park by hitting the Test Track first, then Mission Space and Spaceship Earth. Then touring the World Showcase clockwise. We have dinner ADRs at Le Cellier, so we'll be winding our way around to there by 8. After dinner we'll watch Illuminations, or the last part of it depending on how fast they seat us and how fast I eat. I say I eat, because Logan will inhale his food, unless he's sick, and I don't want him to be sick.
I have one specific country in EPCOT that I definitely want to hit, so if we don't make it that far around our first day. We'll definitely have to make it a point today.
JAPAN!
You see when I was an adorable little girl living in Orlando, my parents took us to Disney quite often. Well, I have a distinct memory of a certain candy with an edible wrapper. I don't remember a lot from when I was that age, but I do remember this candy. I remembered it when we returned for Spring Break when I was a teenager, but my entire family was convinced that I made it up, or my Aunt had brought it back from Japan when she lived there, and that's where I got the idea from. However, I remember distinctly sitting on a bench in EPCOT and my Aunt (a different one than went to Japan) bringing this candy out for us to try. My Mom didn't like taking us into stores back then, because she had a 6 year old, 5 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old who most likely enjoyed grabbing things.
Anyways, I never found this candy in my last few trips to the World, because we never spend that much time in the World Showcase. However, after a little searching on these boards I have found out that they sell the candy, Botan Rice Candy in Japan in little boxes for a dollar a box. I plan to bring back a plethora to give to my family as "I told you so" after Christmas Presents.
Here's a picture of what I'll be looking for (at least in general, I don't know what the Disney packaging looks like):

DAY 5: Our First Animal Kingdom Day
I wish our first AK day was sooner, but the way I figured everything out initially this was one of the best days. I love the Animal Kingdom! I love the theming, the music and the characters. I just love to wander around here, which is why I'm glad there aren't more attractions that would distract me.
I'm planning on Rope Drop, then Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris (or Fastpasses) We have a late breakfast ADR for Tusker House, so I'm not sure how much we'll get done beforehand, but I have high hopes. After Brunch we'll hang out in Africa and Conservation Station.
Then wander back through Asia. My guess is we'll be done around 3 with everything I have planned for today, so we will either go back to AKL for some chill time, hit another park, or DTD. We probably won't finish out AK this day, because we do have another day planned.

DAY 6: Our Second Magic Kingdom Day!
Today we may or may not sleep in. We have Brunch at Ohanas, and my guess is we won't arrive at the Magic Kingdom until about Noon. We'll take the Train to Frontierland and tour around there for a while. My hope is to be through to Liberty Square before the parade starts, so if we don't want to watch the parade we can sneak through to Fantasyland and hang out in there until the parade is over. Or head to Adventureland after Frontierland and hang out there for the rest of the afternoon. I'm guessing dinner at Columbia Harbor House, but we'll see what we're close to when we're hungry.
Then we'll stick around for Spectromagic, and Wishes.

 

[pamouselover]

Great! Maybe we will run into each other in the world.
Merry Christmas!

 

[danceintherain]

Becca...I love all your plans...and I say RIDE ALL THE RIDES!! You can totally do it I have faith in you!!!!!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your plans...I'm a sucker for itineraries LOL!!!

Make sure you try those Figaro Fries and let me know if you like them before I try them LOL

Also isn't it just like an army guy to be like oh that's not too early...PPSSHHH...well for us normal beings 5 am is early LOL

Hmm... I think I've gotten into the habit of not reading entire posts...

We won't be getting up at 5 am. I am NOT a morning person, so we'll shower the night before, and it will probably be more like 6 or 6:30 before we get up. I would say that Logan could shower in the mornings, but he takes really long showers...
Also, since I will have all my outfits planned out in advance, it will take me practically no time to get ready in the morning. We'll probably grab something at Mara to eat later(or grab something when we get to the parks), because if I eat that early in the morning I get sick to my stomach.

That's the plan anyways... though I do think that this trip will probably be the first and last where things go closely to plan, as we will have no young children, or slow old people with us.
I know that might sound mean, but I have to cut my pace in half when with my Mom. When we go to the mall, before I realize it I'm 10 feet in front of her, just from walking normally.
As a product of walking everywhere for the past 3 1/2 years and my job which includes much walking, I walk really fast.
While Logan does ask me to slow down occasionally, he is more accustomed to my pace than most people.

 

[jenjolt]

Here's my continuation of plans:
DAY 4: Our Second Day at EPCOT
I'm thinking Rope Drop this morning, and we'll do the left half of the park by hitting the Test Track first, then Mission Space and Spaceship Earth. Then touring the World Showcase clockwise. We have dinner ADRs at Le Cellier, so we'll be winding our way around to there by 8. After dinner we'll watch Illuminations, or the last part of it depending on how fast they seat us and how fast I eat. I say I eat, because Logan will inhale his food, unless he's sick, and I don't want him to be sick.
I have one specific country in EPCOT that I definitely want to hit, so if we don't make it that far around our first day. We'll definitely have to make it a point today.
JAPAN!
You see when I was an adorable little girl living in Orlando, my parents took us to Disney quite often. Well, I have a distinct memory of a certain candy with an edible wrapper. I don't remember a lot from when I was that age, but I do remember this candy. I remembered it when we returned for Spring Break when I was a teenager, but my entire family was convinced that I made it up, or my Aunt had brought it back from Japan when she lived there, and that's where I got the idea from. However, I remember distinctly sitting on a bench in EPCOT and my Aunt (a different one than went to Japan) bringing this candy out for us to try. My Mom didn't like taking us into stores back then, because she had a 6 year old, 5 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old who most likely enjoyed grabbing things.
Anyways, I never found this candy in my last few trips to the World, because we never spend that much time in the World Showcase. However, after a little searching on these boards I have found out that they sell the candy, Botan Rice Candy in Japan in little boxes for a dollar a box. I plan to bring back a plethora to give to my family as "I told you so" after Christmas Presents.
Here's a picture of what I'll be looking for (at least in general, I don't know what the Disney packaging looks like):

DAY 5: Our First Animal Kingdom Day
I wish our first AK day was sooner, but the way I figured everything out initially this was one of the best days. I love the Animal Kingdom! I love the theming, the music and the characters. I just love to wander around here, which is why I'm glad there aren't more attractions that would distract me.
I'm planning on Rope Drop, then Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris (or Fastpasses) We have a late breakfast ADR for Tusker House, so I'm not sure how much we'll get done beforehand, but I have high hopes. After Brunch we'll hang out in Africa and Conservation Station.
Then wander back through Asia. My guess is we'll be done around 3 with everything I have planned for today, so we will either go back to AKL for some chill time, hit another park, or DTD. We probably won't finish out AK this day, because we do have another day planned.

DAY 6: Our Second Magic Kingdom Day!
Today we may or may not sleep in. We have Brunch at Ohanas, and my guess is we won't arrive at the Magic Kingdom until about Noon. We'll take the Train to Frontierland and tour around there for a while. My hope is to be through to Liberty Square before the parade starts, so if we don't want to watch the parade we can sneak through to Fantasyland and hang out in there until the parade is over. Or head to Adventureland after Frontierland and hang out there for the rest of the afternoon. I'm guessing dinner at Columbia Harbor House, but we'll see what we're close to when we're hungry.
Then we'll stick around for Spectromagic, and Wishes.

First of all Merry Christmas Eve!!!! Also I didn't know you could eat the wrappers...I'm so bringing some of that back for the special little ones in my life....just say here eat the WHOLE thing LOL!!

Ohanas...hmmmm...sounds so yummy. I'm eating there one night too...I'm from Kansas..you don't grwo up in Kansas and not like meat LOL...so Ohana's will be a must for me!!!

I hope you and Logan have the best trip ever my friend!!!

 

[danceintherain]

Merry Christmas Eve to you too!

We're waiting for my sister to bring my baby nephew... They stopped just outside of St. Louis last night, so we're expecting them here mid-afternoon. I probably should get back to wrapping presents. Otherwise Mommy will make me stay up most of the night helping her.

 

[BellaSoleil]

You forgot about the part on Day 2 where you meet the fabulous Soleil.

 

[danceintherain]

Yes well that goes somewhere in touring the World Showcase around Canada or so...

 

[jenjolt]

I want to meet the fabulous Becca and Soleil too

 

[danceintherain]

I want to meet you too, but I have to go back to school. Otherwise I'd be all for extending our trip a couple extra days.

 

[MiaBella05]

 

[danceintherain]

I am sitting here waiting for the rest of my family to arise and play with me. Especially my adorable little nephew. He had a long day yesterday though, so I am not surprised that he is still sleeping.
We're going shopping later to take advantage of the after Christmas sales.
To my surprise Logan already called me this morning to inform me that he went shopping! It has been his task to pick out ties, and he finally did it this morning.

Well, I'll finish up the day to day of my PTR.

Day 7:
This day is a little up in the air. We have an ADR at 1900 Park Fare for dinner, but depending on how much of the park we get done on our other two days, we might spend the bulk of this day elsewhere.
However, I plan to arrive at the Magic Kingdom in the afternoon to ride the rides in Tomorrowland.
We may have a lazy morning, or get up to hit Downtown Disney, or one of the other parks. I usually cannot sleep past 9, and since I doubt I'll fully acclimate to the hour time change. I'll probably be up by 8 every morning.
Especially since I will have had 2 weeks of relaxation before my trip.

Day 8: Our second day at MGM
It's entirely possible that we won't need this second day at MGM. I have us scheduled to sleep in. Toy Story Mania will be our first object when we get there, but as it will be later we will simply obtain Fastpasses.
We have lunch at 50s Prime Time, which should be entertaining.
Then, Fantasmic is scheduled for this evening, so if we miss it earlier in our trip it is imperative that we utilize this night to go see it.

Day 9: Our last day
Today is our second Animal Kingdom day. My reasoning for putting it on our last day is that it's closest to our resort (though it can take the same time on the buses)
However, we have breakfast at Boma, so if we switch it to earlier in the week, we can head anywhere that morning.
Our flight is at 6:30, so we have to be back at AKL around 3.
Our Animal Kingdom plans include DinoLand and Camp Minnie-Mickey.

Then we say goodbye to Disney and return to real life. We'll have a day of transition before returning to school.

 

[jenjolt]

The saddest part of that is the returning to real life LOL

It sounds like you and Logan are going to have the best time ever!!!!!! I wish you guys the best trip!!!!

I'm also eating dinner at 1900 Park Fare so make sure to give me an honest review LOL!!!!

 

[pamouselover]

Your plans look wonderful.

 

[danceintherain]

I've been neglectful. But, it was that whole getting married thing. I'll post pictures of the hoopla as soon as we get back from the World.

I am updating from the airport. We have a 20 minute delay Fog in Atlanta! But the plane is already here, so they might let us off on time.

In all the traveling around over the past few weeks I left my laptop cord at my Uncle's in Oklahoma City.
Initially I though...oh well... don't worry, but then I realized it had all my valuable planning information on it.
I never got to adequately print out our detailed plans, so they were all still on files on my computer.
My battery life isn't such that it would last 10 days without charging, so we transferred my files onto Logan's computer in the car on the way to the airport this morning.

More details to come.... See you on the flip side!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I hope you're having a wonderful time!

 

[pamouselover]

From the photos I have seen, it sure looks like you had a great time!

 

[stacikristine]

I finished reading all of your PTR and now I can't wait for the real deal! And CONGRATS on getting married--isn't it awesome?! I'm excited to see pictures and hear all about your trip!

 

[danceintherain]

Hey!
It's been a while since I've been on here... but I finally started my trip report.... I hope you will all join me!

The link is in my siggy!