The Fellowship of the Geeks: A Disney Star Wars Weekend PTR Updated 11/3

[PennyLane1084]

I proposed the idea of going to Disney for Star Wars Weekends this year while reading Lizz’s TR and see how friggin awesome it was. I’ve been trying to get my friends together to go on vacation for a while. Last year my girlfriends and I looked into a trip down to Orlando since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter had opened. But since we all worked part-time in retail, we were all pretty much broke. So, this year I decided that if I have to hitchhike down to Florida and go to Disney by myself, I will.
So I proposed this trip to some of my friends and they we’re all for it. Some people are a maybe, and other’s (well one other) would sell a vital organ to get the money for this trip.

The Dates
Originally I was thinking of going down May 27 – June 1 because it is the only week during SSW that Disney is offering the Free Dining. So, I priced everything out and told people the dates. Then I realized that is Memorial Day weekend and it would probably be crazy crowded. SO, I checked out prices for the next week and found out it’s about $100 cheaper. We wouldn’t be getting the free dining but I think if we will save ourselves the aggravation of the heavy crowds. So the new dates are going to be June 3 through June 8.

The Cast
A little bit about the group. We are geeks. When I say geeks, I mean we are Dungeons and Dragons playing, Firefly watching, Comic Book reading, Anime Convention going, Cosplay wearing GEEKS.

The tentative Cast:

Me: Kristin, 26
The brain child behind this master plan. As my boyfriend has put it, this is my baby. I love Disney! I haven’t been to Disney since I was 14 years old. Back when DHS was still called MGM. But more than Disney, I live and breathe Harry Potter!! I’m sorry all you Disney Maniacs but Mickey can not hold a candle to The Boy Who Lived. I am so excited about going to the WWOHP, that I’m getting butterflies typing this right now. And yes I will be in my Wizard robes, with my Gryffindor tie on for my day of magic. I know I will cry like a baby the first time I lay eyes on Hogwarts Castle or simply pass out from the head rush of adrenaline. Hopefully the later. As you can see, I’m VERY excited for this trip.
Favorite Video Game: Lego Harry Potter
Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Favorite Super Hero: Storm from X-Men
Favorite Disney Character: Stitch
Status: So excited she is about to pass out

Steve, 25
My boyfriend of 7 years. We recently moved in together and are happy in our own little world. He’s all for this trip but is NOT a planner. He basically lets me plan out everything we do and he just follows my lead. He thinks my obsession with planning is a little nuts but I think he’s a bit lax about planning. On a trip to Vegas a few years ago, I was telling reading him our day by day itinerary and he says “Well, see when we get there.” And I just looked at him astounded and said “NO, we have to plan so we don’t miss anything.” He just shakes his head a humors me and says “Ok darling.” He works at Borders bookstore and spends his days playing video games.
Favorite Video Game: Bioshock
Favorite Book: The Dresden Files Series by Jim Butcher
Favorite Super Hero: Ironman/ Tony Stark (Steve like him BEFORE the movies)
Favorite Disney Character: Jack Skellington
Status: Excited but calm (as always)

Al, 25
One our Me and Steve’s best friends. He is a really great guy, the type of guy that will come help you fix a flat tire on a rainy day at 2 in the morning. Although he runs on “Al time” we still love him. When he says he’ll be somewhere at a certain time expect him to be at least an hour late. Money for him is not a problem and he was the first of my friends to get in on the action for sure. He works as a Finical Advisor for a bank and enjoys long walks on the beach and spending his time with friends and being generally nerdy. Hey ladies, he’s single!!
Favorite Video Game: Monster Hunter 2
Favorite Book: I’ll get back to you on that one
Favorite Super Hero: Wolverine
Favorite Disney Character: Donald Duck
Status: Ready and Raring to Go!

Quin, 25
I’ve know Quin since high school when she was dating a friend of mine. Lucky our friendship out lasted her relationship, now Quin is one of my best friends. She’s cynical and sarcastic and I love her. She works and an assistant manager at Spencer’s in the mall. Once a month her hair is different color of the rainbow. She enjoys reading and baking, Often scouring the interwebs for a new treat to feed to her happy guinea pigs. She is also a staunch feminist and right wing liberal. This trip may test her patience as she’s not too fond of children. Also hasn’t been to Disney since she was little, Not since before AK.
Favorite Video Game: Pokemon
Favorite Book: Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Favorite Disney Character: Malificant
Status: Super excited

Kathleen, 23
The other HUGE Harry Potter nerd in the group. Maybe bigger than me. When I asked about the trip via text message her response was “HOLY CRAP, I’M TOTALLY IN!!!!” I met Kathleen through my boyfriend who worked with her at Borders. She is one of the sweetest people I know. She hasn’t really been to many places, so as good friend we like to help Kathleen experience to world. She has only ever been to Disney on a choir trip in high school. And I think she really only went to EPCOT. She works as a manager at Jamba Juice and enjoys reading and spending time with friends.
Favorite Video Game: Final Fantasy 10
Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Favorite Disney Character: Princess Aurora
Status: HELL YA! (About as excited as I am)

Jason, 25
Jason and Steve met while attending college together. A recent addition to the cast, He was super excited when I informed him of my plan. Apparently he’s been trying to plan a trip to Disney World with the Finance for a while. She is a Disney Virgin and has never been to The World. We haven’t seen Jason for about a year since work took up majority of his time. With a recent change in hours, he is more available for us to bother him. Two weeks ago he got engaged and he is very happy. Jason is the geekiest out of the entire group. He is very active in a Live Action Role Play (LARP) game in the area and has travelled the country playing his characters in other cities. Aside from working as a customer service rep, he plays D’n D with me, Steve and Al on Thursdays.
Favorite Video Game: World of Warcrack, I mean Warcraft.
Favorite Book: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Favorite Super Hero: Not sure really
Favorite Disney Character: Not sure either but most Likely a villain.
Status: Looking Forward to it

Possible future Cast Members(of this team not of Disney. haha)

Adam, 22
Adam is the goofiest, quirkiest of our friends and one of my closest friends. He works are a sales associate at Gamestop and enjoys making costumes out of cardboard and duct tape. He also enjoys pirates, anime, video games and Japanese Culture. I told him about the trip via text message. Haven’t gotten a response yet.
Favorite Video Game: Monster Hunter 2
Favorite Book: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Favorite Super Hero: Dead Pool
Favorite Disney Character: Wall-E
Status: ???

Kevin, 22
Kevin is one of my best friends. We don’t get to see much of Kevin since he goes to school 12 hours away in Rochester, NY (we’re all from Chicago). He also does not work during the school year, so he has a lack of income. Also last summer he went back to school for the summer, not sure if he’s going to do that again. I mentioned that he could always fly down from Rochester and meet up in Orlando. He said no promises. So, Kev is up in the air. Kevin is a Marketing Major and should be finished with school this year.
Favorite Video Game: Final Fantasy 7
Favorite Book: Not sure really
Favorite Super Hero: Gambit
Favorite Disney Character: Stitch
Status: Possibly, likes the idea.

 

[PennyLane1084]

Here are some possibilities for where we would stay. I want to stay on site for sure. Depending on everyone's funds I think we will either stay at Pop Century and possibly request to stay in the 80's buildings. C'mon the balconies are PacMan, and it has a giant Roger Rabbit, where can you go wrong. The 80's buildings are a bit of a walk from everything but I a little walk won't kill me.

The other option is to stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort in one of the Pirate themed room. Kathleen was more than willing to dole out the extra cash for these rooms.

Since we have so many people we'll have to get separate rooms. Jason has already said he wants his own room. Steve and I don't mind sharing with other people. And it also brings the price of the room down per person.

 

[PennyLane1084]

Here is the tentative Schedule based on this past June's parade/show times.

Arrival day, Saturday, June 3: Check into room, rest/nap for a bit, Check out the resort, go to Downtown Disney. Have dinner at Raglan Road or Earl of Sandwich. Maybe even T-Rex.

Day 2, Sunday, June 4: DHS, Star Wars Weekends. The reason we came at this time of the year. I'm really looking forward to the Motorcade Parade and seeing all the characters dressed in Star Wars outfits! I'm also very excited to see who will be the special guests but that will not be revealed until after the 1st of the year I believe.

Breakfast: at Resort
Dinner: maybe 50's Prime Cafe or Sci-fi Drive-In. Or a Quick Service place. ADR's and such will hinge on people food expenses. If we can't afford to do Table Service places, It won't kill us.

Fantasmic

Day 3, Monday, June 5: EPCOT

Breakfast:I don't care if no one else wants to go but me (and i'm dragging steve with me but he already said he wouldn't mind because he loves Lilo and Stitch too), I'm going to see Lilo and Stitch at O'hana for breakfast. If this is the ONLY table service restaurant I eat at so be it. I will see my Stitch!!
Dinner: So many choices, so little time.
Also DRINK AROUND THE WORLD!! I'm gonna get tipsy. Who am I kidding, I'm getting drunk.

Illuminations

Day 4, Tuesday, June 6: The Kingdoms
I'm not sure which one yet. I might try to squeeze both into one day. Quin's never been to Animal Kingdom. And I haven't been since it first opened. Although I was not a huge fan of AK. I would like to go to MK in the evening, do some rides and see Wishes

Breakfast: Resort
Dinner: Maybe Chef Mickey's or something at MK.

Day 5, Wednesday, June 7: Island of Adventures
There is really only one reason for going to this park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I'm dressing up in my wizard gear and will probably buy more there.
Breakfast: IHOP or resort.
Lunch/Dinner: The Three Broom Sticks. OMG I can't wait to have Butterbeer!!

Day 6, Thursday, June 8: Journey Home.

 

[PennyLane1084]

Sent everyone a email with all the vital info for the trip today.

Here are some pics of the cast:
Steve and I, back when he had long hair and I had short hair. It's reversed now. He cut all his hair off because he was best man in his best friends wedding and I decided to grow my hair out.

Al. I realized I don't have any pictures of Al and had to steal this one off someone's facebook from a wedding.

Quin. My girl!

Kathleen, my other girl! Lookin' all fancy pants. Someone once said this looks like the type of pictures author have on the back cover of their book. I have to agree.

Jason and his Fiance at the Bristol Renaissance Faire

The maybes
Adam and Kevin at Anime Central 2010. Heterosexual Lifemates. Adam is the one in the Rathalos Armour from Monster Hunter 2 (left) and Kevin is dresses as a Soldier from Team Fortress 2 (right). Both of these costumes are made out of Duct Tape and cardboard.

I said we were nerds didn't I?

 

[PennyLane1084]

Just fond out Adam will not be joining us on our journey. He says he won't have enough money for the trip. Oh well. So now we have an odd number of people. Oh well.

 

[PennyLane1084]

We may have another cast member. His name is Ty. He's a bit younger than everyone but a lot of fun. I met him through Kathleen, whose known him since they we're wee ones in grade school together. Kathleen mentioned the trip to him but he is having second thoughts because of Disney Star Wars weekends. I guess he's not a huge Star Wars fan like everyone else.

Also thinking about changing around the schedule a bit. I'm thinking about doing 2 days at Disney and 2 days at Universal/Island of Adventure. Maybe changing things around like this:

Day 1, Saturday: Arrival day
Day 2, Sunday: DHS for Star Wars stuff
Day 3, Monday: EPCOT
Day 4, Tuesday: Island of Adventure (Wizarding World of Harry Potter)
Day 5, Wednesday: Universal Studios
Day 6, Thursday: Home

I'm also thinking about waiting until after the Holidays to make our Reservations. Maybe Mid January. I wonder if this would be too late. That would be 6 months out.

 

[PennyLane1084]

Here is an example of the Google Docs document I sent my minions
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Geektastic Disney Star Wars Weekend/Harry Potter getaway

Dates: June 4 - 9 2010
I realized later that the original dates I had picked out is Memorial Day weekend, so you know the parks are going to be crazy busy. Even though the original dates have the Free Dining package, I think we will save yourselves a lot of aggravation with long wait times for rides, busy restaurants, crowded resort pools and what not. But what do you guys think?

Hotel:
Pop Century Resort
This is a value resort but the newest one there for better IMO. I would like to request staying in the 80’s section. When you look at the pictures you’ll see why. We will need to get two separate rooms, so we can link our reservations and possibly (hopefully) get an adjoining room. Jason and his fiance are possibly coming with us but he wants to own room.
Here are some links to resort:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/popcentury.htm
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2536455

OR

Caribbean Beach Resort in the Pirate themed rooms
This is a tab bit more per person because we would be staying in a Moderate Resort and it’s extra for the specially themed rooms. Or we can stay there in their less expensive regular rooms which have a Nemo theme. Again we’d need to get two room and we can link the Reservations and get an adjoining room.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/cbr.htm
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2495213


Tickets: 3 Day Magic Your Way plus park hopper
The park hopper passes allow us to go to more than one park per day and include all Disney Park which are Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney Hollywood Studios (where the Star Wars Weekend stuff takes place) So say we want to check one park in the morning and another in the evening for fireworks or something, we can.

Totals for Package at Disney:
Last time I check the numbers, things looked like this :
Pop Century - 2 day standard park tickets: $$$ (3 adults in a standard room)
Pop Century - 3 day standard park tickets: $$$ (3 adults in a standard room)
Caribbean Beach - 2 day standard park tickets:$$$ (3 adults in a standard room)
Caribbean Beach - 3 day standard park tickets: $$$ (3 adults in a standard room)
Caribbean Beach - 2 day standard park tickets: $$$ (3 adults in a pirate room)
Caribbean Beach - 3 day standard park tickets: $$$ (3 adults in a pirate room)

Pop Century - 2 day park tickets with park hopper: $$$ (3 adults per room)
Pop Century - 3 day park tickets with park hopper : $$$ (3 adults per room)
Caribbean Beach - 2 day park tickets with park hopper: $$$ (3 adults in a standard room)
Caribbean Beach - 3 day park tickets with park hopper: $$$ (3 adults in a standard room)
Caribbean Beach - 2 day park tickets with park hopper: $$$ (3 adults in a pirate room)
Caribbean Beach - 3 day park tickets with park hopper: $$$ (3 adults in a pirate room)


This is not including the extras below or food/spending money.

Extras

Universal/ Island of Adventure tickets:
Island of Adventure is Universal’s second park where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located. Do you guys want to go to Universal for 1 day or 2 days?
1 day, 1 park ticket - $82
2 days, 1 park per day - $114.99
1 day, 2 park access (Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure) - $112
2 day, Park to Park access - $134.99
Now what ticket package do you think will work for us?
http://www.universalorlando.com/home/home.aspx

Fly or Drive?
Southwest has a special right now for $99 each way which comes out to about $214 with fees and stuff. Also as a perk to staying at a Disney Resort we gain access to the Disney Magical Express which is a Coach Bus that takes to from airport to your hotel and also brings your luggage to your room for you. All for free.
OR we drive down there. Maybe we can drive Kathleen’s van down. We split on gas money and we take turns driving.

Character Breakfast: Lilo and Stitch, O’hana, Polynesian Resort
Call me childish but I WANT TO SEE STITCH! This restaurant also has really good food and it’s an inexpensive character breakfast compared to the others. I’m going to drag Steve to this and if anyone else wants in feel free to join me.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=375

Resources:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ - The Official Walt Disney World site
http://www.wdwinfo.com/ - Has everything you want to know about anything and everything Disney World
http://www.disboards.com/index.php - great people on this board, and extremely helpful. I learned more from these lovely people than I ever have reading any travel book about Disney. Read the Trip Reports, they are really awesome!
http://allears.net/index.html - Another good site for info about WDW
http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html - A good site to get tips about saving money at Disney, yes it is possible.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I just wanted to let everyone in my group know all the options we have at our disposal.
I also sent one to Jason with pricing options for 2 Adults in a room since they will be getting there own room. Does this make me crazy or just a good Dis'ser

 

[PennyLane1084]

Ty's mom is also a Travel Agent, Quin and I were thinking about getting a quote through her. Just to see if she can save us some money. Every penny counts. (Especially went those pennies can go towards Dole Whips. Hehe.)

Also I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Walking for long periods of time are hard for me. My knees and ankle joints begin to ache and I get tired fast. Also humidity and rain make the symptoms flair up more. (What do you get in florida everyday in June? Rain and Humdity! ) I'm thinking about getting a GAC (guest assistance card) after reading how it has helped other families traveling through The World with Disabled people. I always feel like I'm not "disabled enough" to use something like this, if that makes sense. But if it will help so that my trip is more enjoyable and not so taxing on my body I should use the services being offered. I dunno what to do about that yet.

 

[PennyLane1084]

Being mexican I throw in some spanglish here and there. But Why did I change the name of my PTR. Firstly, to hopefully attract more readers. And I didn't really like my original name any more. I oringinally wanted to call it "There and Back Again, A geek's tale" But that sounded more like Trip Report than a PRE-trip report. but i might save the for the TR. So I change it up. We'll see what happens.

 

[KatMark]

I'm here. I promise I'll be back later to read (busy, busy day at the office) and comment, but I wanted to be sure to subscribe.

 

[PennyLane1084]

YAY! Hi Kathy!!! Welcome! Thanks for tuning in. Us Illinoisians have to have eachothers backs right?

 

[KatMark]

Okay, I'm all caught up. You've got a nice group going there and you all share some common interests (video games/books, etc.).

Just an FYI....if you get Pirate rooms, they are $25 more per night, in case you did not know. We've not stayed there (we have our own moderate that we return to for every trip) and we've never stayed at Pop either.

I would skip Chef Mickey's for dinner. The food is not that good, it is often a "zoo" -- unbearably so at times (breakfast is much better). We LOVE Sci Fi (just do burgers or reubens and not the ribs, etc., but be sure to get the onion rings); we've not done Prime Time in abuot 12 years but we always enjoyed it. I can't comment on Ohana because we've not been there since they changed it years ago from a buffet to family style, and from Minnie, Chip and Dale, Goofy and Pluto to Stitch. Sorry...we are NOT Stitch fans. But I hope you won't hold it against me.

I would do the Hollywood Studios in the morning so that you can do Toy Story Mania and the Animal Kingdom in the afternoon (to me AK seems less crowded in the afternoon for some reason).

Looking forward to reading more.

 

[PennyLane1084]

I told my friend Kathleen about the pirate rooms and about how much extra it would be. She didn't care about the extra cash she really wants to stay at CBR in those rooms. lol. We loves us some pirates. Chef Mickey's used to be a family favorite of ours but I've heard that it's not that good. Maybe it's gone down hill from when I've been there last a long long time ago. Wow it's actually been 11 years and 12 years when I go in June since I've been there last.

Sadly I've been so close to it too, Every time I've gone with to visit my boyfriend's family in Deland, FL (which is 45 minutes north of Orlando) we don't to any theme parks and just hang around where they live. The last time we flew into MCO I saw all these families with their Disney stuff and almost cried.

I've been reading Lisa's (mickeystoontown) TR and they stay at CBR every time they go. The Resort seems really nice. However, I've read about POP on Jordan and Rosie's TR and it seems very nice and lots of fun for the price. So, I'm torn. We have to let the group make the final verdict. Hoping to get the trip booked within the next fews weeks before the holiday hoopla starts.

 

[smileycrissy]

I'm here too!!! Been busy this past week so I wasn't on the Dis.

I'm a stitch girl too, haven't been to Ohana yet but I know my sis loves the food. So it gets a from me (and a hope to check it out soon). LOL.

I hope the travel agent is able to save you some money so you can put it towards those Dole Whips.

I have a personal preference to driving down, yeah its a bit of a waste of time, but you get so many memories from it. Plus it builds up the excitement to Disney. And of course there's the free OJ at the Florida Welcome Center.

 

[bkgkdisneymom]

I had to check this out because we are planning a trip to a Star Wars Weekend next year too!

I think if you check in by June 2 (the last day of free dining) you can get free dining for your whole trip. Also, I believe if you stay at Pop Century it's the quick service dining plan, but at the Caribbean Beach it would be the regular dining plan which includes some table service meals.

Hope this helps with your planning!

 

[PennyLane1084]

I had to check this out because we are planning a trip to a Star Wars Weekend next year too!

I think if you check in by June 2 (the last day of free dining) you can get free dining for your whole trip. Also, I believe if you stay at Pop Century it's the quick service dining plan, but at the Caribbean Beach it would be the regular dining plan which includes some table service meals.

Hope this helps with your planning!

First off: Thanks for following along.

This really helps with my planning. Also love your avatar!!
If you're out there the same time as me maybe we could do a meet-up.

I should organize an Illinois Dis Meet. hmmm....ideas....ideas!

 

[PennyLane1084]

Yay! SmileyCrissy You found it!

 

[PennyLane1084]

Here are my baby cousins in their Halloween costumes. Juliana is Snow White and Maddie is Pocahontas.

I had a small Halloween Party on Saturday and here are some pictures of my apartment with the decoration up

My pumpkin

My Halloween Costume. I was Dexter Morgan from the Showtime series Dexter. This was on Halloween at the Pharmacy I work at on Sundays. I was going for creepy but I think I just looked mad.

 

[PennyLane1084]

I'm here too!!! Been busy this past week so I wasn't on the Dis.

I'm a stitch girl too, haven't been to Ohana yet but I know my sis loves the food. So it gets a from me (and a hope to check it out soon). LOL.

I hope the travel agent is able to save you some money so you can put it towards those Dole Whips.

I have a personal preference to driving down, yeah its a bit of a waste of time, but you get so many memories from it. Plus it builds up the excitement to Disney. And of course there's the free OJ at the Florida Welcome Center.

I've done the drive down to Disney soooo many times and you're right it does make for some really great memories. Free OJ for my family was one of the major landmarks along our trip. It meant we were actually in the state of Florida and getting closer to Disney.

I think I'm going to start a thread about driving down to Disney and the stories from the road.

 

[smileycrissy]

Your nieces looked so cute!! Especially Snow White (she's my fav princess).

LOL, I love the Dexter idea!!!!

My DF and I were Lucy & Charlie Brown - such easy costumes. A plain blue dress with some black buttons sewed on for me and a yellow shirt that he marked up with Charlie's signature look. It was a lot of fun when we were at the MNSSHP, the cast members loved DF. I guess they were tired of seeing the typical Disney characters.