The NeverEnding Trip Report: 39 Parts and Counting (7/9 MK Day 2 & TL! LOTSA PICS!!)

[Thumpersmom]

You have a wonderful trip planned and I love all the details! That is my job in the family. They always call me the cruise director-even if we are on a land only trip.

We will be sharing WDW with you for a bit. We arrive late afternoon on the
15th (coming from the West Coast you either have to fly all night or all day!) and leaving on the 24th.

It is our DD's first trip to WDW-she will be 22 months old when we arrive and she LOVES Disneyland so we hope the World will be just as fun for her. Our trip is to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. We went for our honeymoon and 10 year anniversary (our DS was 6 then) so here we are back again for number 15!

Don't worry about being an adult and doing any of the kid stuff. My DH loves anything Disney too and he loves to do all the kid stuff and yes we did it before we had any kids.

Can't wait to hear more!!!!!

 

[slk537]

I love your pretrip and you are an adorable couple!!

We spent two nights at RPH last May ('06) and it was just gorgeous. You will love it! Almost as much as you'll love the FOTL passes They work the day you check in and the day you check out so you get two days for the price of one night. We loved the pool - they had poolside movies when we were there and it was great!

I am excited for you - your enthusiasm just jumps off the page! I look forward to more updates and then a final TR!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Yay! Isn't paying it off such a good feeling!?

I love all of your pics! Especially those Eeyore pics. If I photographed all of my Disney stuff...I think it would be pretty scary

I know! I was just thrilled when we paid it off! I made my DBF do a screen print of the zero balance, just so I could look at it some more

Thank you! Those are the Eeyores I currently have in my room I don't think everything would fit on the bed I would love to see your Eeyore photos, I bet you have tons since you've been collecting! I think Els will let me loose in the DTD Pooh store whilst he can go off for a pint at Raglan - I think that's a pretty good compromise!!

Thank you for becoming my regular

You have a wonderful trip planned and I love all the details! That is my job in the family. They always call me the cruise director-even if we are on a land only trip.

We will be sharing WDW with you for a bit. We arrive late afternoon on the
15th (coming from the West Coast you either have to fly all night or all day!) and leaving on the 24th.

It is our DD's first trip to WDW-she will be 22 months old when we arrive and she LOVES Disneyland so we hope the World will be just as fun for her. Our trip is to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. We went for our honeymoon and 10 year anniversary (our DS was 6 then) so here we are back again for number 15!

Don't worry about being an adult and doing any of the kid stuff. My DH loves anything Disney too and he loves to do all the kid stuff and yes we did it before we had any kids.

Can't wait to hear more!!!!!

Thank you for the long post! I think I mentioned somewhere before, they are my favourite

Wow, you will be at WDW quite a bit whilst we are there! Even though we are arriving in Florida on the 6th August, we'll be getting to WDW on the 17th August until halfway through the 27th - I getcha about the long flight. This will be my first long-haul flight and whilst I am looking forward, I bet I'll be bored an hour into the flight! I believe it's 9 hours from the UK.

I bet this will be a whole different trip for you with your DD, and you'll be totally seeing it through new eyes! I'd love to see her face! I already told DBF that when we have kids, their first holiday is going to be to The World! Congratulations on your 15 year anniversary! We're celebrating our 3 year (dating) anniversary whilst at the World - I hope we're still as happy as you guys seem to be when we hit the big 1-5!

I love your pretrip and you are an adorable couple!!

We spent two nights at RPH last May ('06) and it was just gorgeous. You will love it! Almost as much as you'll love the FOTL passes They work the day you check in and the day you check out so you get two days for the price of one night. We loved the pool - they had poolside movies when we were there and it was great!

I am excited for you - your enthusiasm just jumps off the page! I look forward to more updates and then a final TR!

Thank you very much! I am so glad you stopped by! I think I must have spent a good hour last night poring over your food TR - YUM! Even DBF got into it I hope my TR and my Food Porn TR is as good as yours when I'm done!! I'll be off to look for your TR next!

Your DS is adorable! I'm looking forward to trying some mac n cheese myself when I get to the US! Pasta smothered in cheese is always a good thing right?!

Thank you for the tips about RPR! The FOTL is a great perk, pretty much the only reason that we've chosen to stay there! But, the hotel is beautiful and I very much doubt we'll be happy to go back to the Sheraton after staying there!


There will certainly be more updates soon - I'm itching to start packing, but this might be too eager, even for me

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I couldn't believe it this morning when I woke up and realised:

ONLY 2 MONTHS TO GO!!

Can you believe it? It seems like only a few days ago that I posted up 'The One With 3 Months To Go' - It's crazy! But, I'm not complaining

2 Months to this moment, we will probably have just loaded up the car with our suitcases, double checked we have everything (quadruple checked for me) and will be on our way to Manchester Airport's Travelodge where we'll be spending the night before flying 2 months tomorrow!

I also started sending Els a Disney Countdown Character of the Day (Idea borrowed from Cinderella16 )
He got a Simba one for 62 days; and is getting a Dumbo one today for 61!

 

[Cinderella16]

I couldn't believe it this morning when I woke up and realised:

ONLY 2 MONTHS TO GO!!

Can you believe it? It seems like only a few days ago that I posted up 'The One With 3 Months To Go' - It's crazy! But, I'm not complaining

2 Months to this moment, we will probably have just loaded up the car with our suitcases, double checked we have everything (quadruple checked for me) and will be on our way to Manchester Airport's Travelodge where we'll be spending the night before flying 2 months tomorrow!

I also started sending Els a Disney Countdown Character of the Day (Idea borrowed from Cinderella16 )
He got a Simba one for 62 days; and is getting a Dumbo one today for 61!

I have never been mentioned in someone elses TR before! Woo Hoo!!! I hope your DBF likes his Disney Countdown Characters as much as my DBF does.

And you are completely right, 2 months goes extremely fast!! It will fly by and you will be skipping down Main Street before you know it! Keep up the great updates, I love this Pre TR!

 

[veryblessed]

WOW! 3 weeks that is GREAT!!! There is just nothing like planning a Disney Vacation!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

WooHoo!! Being paid off is a wonderful feeling! Love the photos.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I have never been mentioned in someone elses TR before! Woo Hoo!!! I hope your DBF likes his Disney Countdown Characters as much as my DBF does.

And you are completely right, 2 months goes extremely fast!! It will fly by and you will be skipping down Main Street before you know it! Keep up the great updates, I love this Pre TR!

Why thank you for the great idea He's not very good with Disney characters, so as you can see I've been giving him easy ones He's really chuffed to be getting them right! I can't believe you only have 10 days to go! I hope you have a great time and can't wait to read your TR when you get back!

WOW! 3 weeks that is GREAT!!! There is just nothing like planning a Disney Vacation!

I know, I can't wait! I've only been on vacation for 2 weeks once before, all the rest are 1 week. I however have LOVED planning it

WooHoo!! Being paid off is a wonderful feeling! Love the photos.

Thank you! I never thought the day would come! Now we only have to wait for our tickets

 

[wilma-bride]

I'm willing to lay you a tenner bet here and now that it will NOT be a trip of a lifetime. Me and my DH said that 3 years ago when we went on our honeymoon - 3 years later we're planning our 5th and 6th trips and have also bought into DVC.

Trust me, it's addictive.

Excellent pre-trip report - we will also be there while you are, albeit briefly - feel free to check out my pre-trip report. You may find some tips there for future use, when you just HAVE to go back again

Will be checking regularly for updates now

 

[hayanyujah847]

Thank you! Those are the Eeyores I currently have in my room I don't think everything would fit on the bed I would love to see your Eeyore photos, I bet you have tons since you've been collecting! I think Els will let me loose in the DTD Pooh store whilst he can go off for a pint at Raglan - I think that's a pretty good compromise!!

Thank you for becoming my regular

lol I have become a regular stalker! I will try & get some of mine together and take some pix I just realized you are leaving the day we are getting there...maybe we'll pass at the airport

And I definitely agree with, Joh. Once you've gone Disney, you WILL go back! Many times!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I'm willing to lay you a tenner bet here and now that it will NOT be a trip of a lifetime. Me and my DH said that 3 years ago when we went on our honeymoon - 3 years later we're planning our 5th and 6th trips and have also bought into DVC.

Trust me, it's addictive.

Excellent pre-trip report - we will also be there while you are, albeit briefly - feel free to check out my pre-trip report. You may find some tips there for future use, when you just HAVE to go back again

Will be checking regularly for updates now

Oh I'm planning on going back It started out as the trip of a lifetime (in terms of spending), but that's just become my tagline "Let's book RPR - it's the trip of a lifetime"; "Let's do DC - it's the trip of a lifetime"

Since we booked this trip, we've also booked and gone on 2 DLRP trips - you're not kidding when you say it's addictive I am already (secretly) planning our next trip, and both myself and Els have said we'd like to get married at WDW How do you like DVC - it's something I would DEFINATELY love to do, if I can get Els to agree! I just LOVE Disney!

I will most certainly check out your PTR I'm glad I can do it now as my exams are over Thank you for stopping by, I'm chuffed that some of the seasoned DISers are enjoying it

lol I have become a regular stalker! I will try & get some of mine together and take some pix I just realized you are leaving the day we are getting there...maybe we'll pass at the airport

And I definitely agree with, Joh. Once you've gone Disney, you WILL go back! Many times!

Wow, what time do you get to WDW? Our flight is at 6.25pm from MCO - maybe we will pass! I'm sure I'll meet a lot of DISers in WDW! I need a lime green something

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I was chatting to Els and I asked him what are the things that he's looking to most on our vacation - sooooooo *surprise* I decided to post them up

ELS TOP 5:
1. Shark Dive at SeaWorld
2. Dolphin Swim at Discovery Cove
3. Rides
4. Spending 3 weeks with me (Aah - I swear I din't make this up)
5. Food at places I've told him about

One thing you might notice from his tops list is that it's very generalised - you can tell I'm the planner

MY TOP 5 (in no order):
1. Discovery Cove - The whole day
2. SheiKra at Busch Gardens
3. The Hulk (With FOTL access of course!)
4. Disney (I can't single one thing out here - maybe if I had a top 50?!)
5. ALL of my ADRs - each chosen with precision

If we made a list of my top foods to eat, we'd be here all day!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Wooo now you guys can look out for me at the parks, thanks to Joh (wilma-bride) - she very kindly sent me some lime green Mickey heads (the Home Depot ones) and they arrived today

I am getting soooo excited! AND we're in the 50s today! I keep finding myself telling Els "Just imagine, a year today..." then I have to stop and correct myself and say no, 2 MONTHS TODAY!

2 months today we'll be lounging in the Sheraton pool, playing Congo River mini golf next door and looking at the gators, and hunting for bargains at the Disney Character Outlet!

 

[punkin413]

just found your TR and i love it so far! you guys are too cute. i'm curious to see what you think of busch gardens. my DH keeps mentioning it and i'm now thinking of adding it to a future disney trip. oh, and what is the character-a-day countdown you mentioned? i'd like to know how that works if you'd care to explain. looking forward to more!!!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

If you check out Cinderella16's pre-trip report, it'll explain it better

I send my boyfriend an email each day with 3 clues, as to who the character is... if he gets it right, I email him back with a photo of the character saying XX DAYS TO GO!!

Glad you are enjoying the PTR so far!!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Hey Hayley, I can't believe I lost track of this amazing pre trip report

Isn't it so exciting!!! I will definately have to look out for you at Raglan Road on the 25th of Aug, our reservation is at 7.30pm.

You sound so much like me, it so scary. If I see you round the parks we may just be wearing identical clothing, you're right Primark is great when it comes to holiday wear, I've bought loads. I also have 2 pink suitcases for the trip and we have most of the same Disney guides.
We are going to Discovery Cove but not until the 4th of Sept. I'm so looking forward to that, so far I think it is our only down day of our entire 3 week trip. After reading your new one though, I am thinking of scheduling some more down time. I'm like you though, I can't imagine resting in Disney, but I know my new hubby won't be as gung ho as I am I really want to schedule in some resort hopping and I want to visit Disney Quest too, I'm such a kid
My ADR's are the most thought out things ever, even though I am still looking at rearranging a few, will I ever stop???
Are you doing Busch gardens at all? I look at my table, printed out from Word and it looks so full, I really am going to take another look, I can't imagine how people going for 2 weeks do it, mind you, we all haven't been to WDW before, so we have an excuse!
Keep up the enthuisiasm for your trip, not long now...

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Hi Summer! Glad the planning is going good! Not too long to go now, for either of us!

I've not been on much past few days as I've been busy busy busy making itinerary cards (I got the wonderful idea from Cinderella16 - another mention - it seems I've been borrowing all of her ideas lately, and boy does she have some good ones!) - photos up shortly!

I am going to Busch Gardens - on 12th August. So excited to ride SheiKra - like Oblivion only better!

Isn't Primark the greatest?! Hehe! I've already begun throwing some stuff into my suitcase so I "don't forget" (in other words, packing without calling it packing to DBF)

If you're like me you're driving your DF crazy!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Here are my oh-so-cute itinerary cards! I have to give big hugs to Cinderella16 here for her wonderful ideas! Apologies that the photos of the itinerary cards are blurry - I think it's because the writing is so small on them, and also I took them with a camera phone (DBF keeps forgetting card reader in work therefore I can't use our normal camera!)

I had some spare coloured card, therefore I cut them out after printing and stuck them on the card, then I laminated them! However it did get a bit messy here - I'd never laminated things before, so the first ones were a bit wrinkly but they did get better as they went on... (You can tell I made the blue ones first and the yellow ones last!) but then the laminator ate 3 of my cards (that's why 3 of the Disney cards are missing - I'll have to print out some more)

I think they are so cute and handy! Another thought I had after laminating them (typical!) was to print out a mini-map of that particular park and also stick this on the back of the card.

Anyway, here are the ones that I've done:

Arrival Day - I spotted after it was laminated that I'd put Tuesday instead of Monday - d'oh! But I am not relaminating so it will have to stay like that!

Pool Day

Universal

Magic Kingdom - Day 1

Magic Kingdom - Day 2

Typhoon Lagoon

Epcot

Blizzard Beach

MGM

Downtown Disney (not yet laminated)

Departure Day (not yet laminated)

To be continued in next post...

 

[MissMichelle]

I'm still on page 1 but I can't wait to get in on this one! I started getting all excited that I would have your report to read the week leading up to my trip but then saw you'll actually still be there my first few days there. Maybe we'll "bump" into each other!
I just checked and you are doing the P&PP the same night I am and also AK on your last Sunday which is my park of choice that morning. So it may be that we see each other around ;0)

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Continued...

Size of the itinerary card - pocket size!

Some lime green Mickey heads! I stuck one of the LGMHs that Joh sent me on some leftover green card and cut it out in order to make it more sturdy to attatch to my backpack - it worked out so well I used that as a stencil to make up a whole batch of them! I'm going to laminate some and attatch them to my bag so other DISers can spot me!

If you spot my tag, say hello!

I photocopied the maps straight out of my passporter and trimmed them as I think they are soooo handy! There's a lot on them little maps! I am between 2 minds to laminate them - but I made 2 copies, so I might laminate 1 and keep the other as it is.

Close up of the maps