The "You're not going until WHEN?" pre trip report. Update 10/2 - WE TOLD! video!

[JoanieS]

OK, I know this is early. I can't help it. Ever since we finally picked a date, all I can think about is Disney.

Here is the cast:

Me - Joanie, 40, SAHM. This will be my 3rd trip to Disney. My first was in 1986 - my Senior trip. We stayed off site at the Howard Johnson's Fountain View (I think that's what it was called) The second in 1990 - my honeymoon! We stayed at CBR and loved it! We really don't remember too much about or honeymoon. I wish I had taken notes, and better pictures! I am an OCD planner and have been driving EVERYONE nuts with planning.

DH - Doug, 41. This is also his 3rd trip. His first being his Senior Trip in 1985 and his 2nd, our honeymoon. He is putting up with all my planning with only a slight eyeroll from time to time.

DS - Andrew, 8 (will be 9 one week before we arrive in WDW). This will be his very first trip to the World.

DS - Adam, 6 (will be 7 when we travel). This is also his first trip to WDW. He is an absolute Star Wars FREAK. When he was 3, he was featured in the local newspaper about his Star Wars obsession! He loves any and all things Star Wars!

DBIL - Wayne, 43. This is also his FIRST TRIP!!! He was in Epcot once, for a few hours , but that is it! He thinks I am totally nuts with the planning and constantly rolls his eyes and makes fun of me!

So, there is the cast. Up next....how this trip finally came about!

 

[JoanieS]

We had been talking about going to Disney since Adam was about 3. For one reason or another, we kept putting it off. We did want to wait until the kids were a bit older (I know Disney is great for any age, older just works better for us!) And we wanted to pay in full, in cash before we went. So, one night, DH and I were watching TV and a Disney commercial came on. I said, "so, are we ever going to go"? The conversation started....

We decided that if we actually picked a date, it would be more real and we would have a goal and a plan. So, back in 2006, the date of Oct. 2008 was born! It seemed SOOOOOOOOO far away!

The boys would be in 1st and 3rd grades and I went right to their principal, Sister J. and talked with her about pulling them out for 5 1/2 days. She has no problem with it. They are both good students, and this is not something we do year after year. So, that put my mind at ease.

So, there we had it. A date 2 years away! I was IM-img with DH's brother one night (he is single, no kids, my kids Godfather and he spoils them like crazy!) and said "hey, wanna go to WDW with us?" He never hesitated, he said "SURE!" right away. Did he really know what he was getting himself into??? He has been away with us to Hersheypark for 3 days, and the Zoo for day trips and other things, but to go away with us for 9 days???
Hopefully, he will still love and dote on the boys after being with them for that long - LOL!

We decided that it was WAYYYYYYY to early to tell the kids. They would drive us nuts - and frankly, I will do that job just fine all by myself, THANKYOUVERYMUCH. As conversations went on, we decided to make this trip a TOTAL surprise, and not tell them until we were leaving for the airport! That has since changed slightly, but more on that later.

Of course, I can't keep my mouth shut about something I'm so excited about! I started talking to friends and family about it, but they all laugh and say "you are not going until WHEN?" "Why the heck are you even thinking about it already???" They just don't get it, do they??? The kids know we are going, "when we have all our money saved". But, they have no idea when. For some reason, they have decided with certainty that we are going in April of 2009. I have no idea how they came up with that, but that is what they think.

So, to summerize:

We wanted to go. Saw a commercial. Got our butts in gear. Picked a date. Started to plan. Started to plan early.

Now, only 223 days to go.

Next up: Picking a resort, chatting with friends, reading guidebooks, finding the Dis!

 

[JoanieS]

A dear friend of mine is a Disney freak. She is DVC, AP holder and loves her Disney. They go about 3 times a year. So, she is a wealth of information. But, she knows what she likes, so is limited on info about some things I wanted to know about. So, I knew I needed another source for info.

Back in 1990 when we went on our honeymooon, I had the Unofficial Guide. It was 1/4 of what it is now - lol! So, I went searching and sure enough, it was still around and 4X the size! I have read it cover to cover 4x already. It was in there that the Dis boards were mentioned. So, I joined. Looked around, and frankly, got scared! I was scared of all the information, and I was scared that people knew SO MUCH! And, the whole Lime Green Mickey head thing freaked me out a bit

So I read a little here and there, but didn't visit often. By this time, we had thought we had settled on a game plan.

Oct 3-Oct 11, Pop Century
Leave Fri, fly out about 4 (kids have a 1/2 day of school that day). Fly home the following Sat morning.

There, we had a plan. Right?

So, after about the 2nd time through the UG, I started getting bored and wandered back the the Dis boards. Now that I had some info under my belt, and the beginnings of the Disney bug, things were not so scary over here. I understood the language. It was no longer foreign to me. I wanted to go to Home Depot and get my OWN LGMH!!!! I was becoming obsessed with trip reports, with dining reports and "tips". I now had a 23 page MS Word doc with all kinds of info in it.

The more I read, I decided to change my plans a bit...now, the plan was

Oct 3 - Oct 11, POFQ
Fly out Fri early am (hey, the kids are missing 5 days, what's another 1/2 day right? It's a casual day Friday, they won't miss much! )
Fly home the following Sat, but our flight does not leave until 8 pm - woohoo, a day to play before going home!

So, now our plans were pretty set:

Oct 3 - 11 POFQ, 8 nights, 9 days
DDP
9 day park hopper + water parks and more


I got myself a ticker and now spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME here on the Dis.

Up next: only 43 days until ADR need to be made and working on the schedule!

 

[stagemomx3]

I'm in. I have an Adam too, he's 9.

 

[emmiesmom]

Oh my goodness, your experience sounds so familar with the plan and the revised plan!! It sounds like a great trip and a nice start to your pre-trip- I'm reading!

 

[BrittBritt]

I wanted to go to Home Depot and get my OWN LGMH!!!! I was becoming obsessed with trip reports, with dining reports and "tips". I now had a 23 page MS Word doc with all kinds of info in it.

Oh, I know the feeling!
I'll be at POFQ at the end of Oct. I'm subscribing to your PTR for sure!

 

[JoanieS]

WOW!!! I have readers!!!

Next installment coming up later tonight, after the kiddos are in bed!

 

[Cloudwatcher]

You aren't the only one excited about going. My family will be taking a trip there from Oct. 3 thru Oct. 9. My daughter will turn 4 on Oct. 6 and our annivesary is the 12th so we will be parting it up big.

 

[JoanieS]

Well, since I am an obsessive planner, I started thinking about ADR's early!

Now, I like control. I really do. But, since DBIL is coming with us, I felt it only fair that I let him chose some of the TS restauants. It's killing me. I don't know if he has even cracked the spine on the UG I bought him let alone look at any of the threads I linked him to on here (Food Porn, Dining reviews, etc).

I gave him 3 TS meals to decide on. Did I mention it's killing me? We have 8 total. 2 of which are taken by Hoop Dee Doo Revue. So I get 3. Only 3. How do you go to 7 places you really want to go on only 3 TS credits?

How? Mind control. I'm really, really trying to steer him my way and have him think it was his idea If it works, great, if not, hey, I can give up some control. Really, I can.

OK, where was I? Oh yeah, my 3 choices.

I have it narrowed down to:

Chef Mickey's (breakfast)
O'hana (dinner)
50's Prime Time (dinner) (special honeymoon memories!)

I would also love:

LeCellier (dinner)
Boma (dinner)
Garden Grill (lunch)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (dinner)

I think I can get LeCellier out of him, for sure.

So, I told him we are having a family meeting on Wed March 19th to make final decisions. Of course, I will come to the meeting with print outs of menus and reviews

And, ADR's will have to accomodate all the EXTRA's we want to add in. We are planning on Typhoon Lagoon one day, we are planning on MNSSHP, and a surprise for the big boys....

The surprise is a Segway tour Around the World for Doug and Wayne! I called and booked it the other day. This is right up their alley, and will be a great break for them with some quality "brother time" built in! I am not going to tell them about it until we get to Disney!


Next up: The start of a "rough draft schedule" and some counter service picks!

 

[JoanieS]

You aren't the only one excited about going. My family will be taking a trip there from Oct. 3 thru Oct. 9. My daughter will turn 4 on Oct. 6 and our annivesary is the 12th so we will be parting it up big.

Yeah! We will be there the same time! Where are you staying??

 

[Cloudwatcher]

We are staying at AKL. And I am soooo excited. This will be mine and DH second trip together and my daughters first trip ever. I wish we could stay until the 11th but DH has to be back at work.
Also I am scared because it will still be hurricane season and we live in Louisiana with DH being someone who would have to stay and work if there is one during that time.

I am thinking of doing Chef Mickey on Sunday the 5th for supper other then that I have made no plans.

 

[JoanieS]

We are staying at AKL. And I am soooo excited. This will be mine and DH second trip together and my daughters first trip ever. I wish we could stay until the 11th but DH has to be back at work.
Also I am scared because it will still be hurricane season and we live in Louisiana with DH being someone who would have to stay and work if there is one during that time.

I am thinking of doing Chef Mickey on Sunday the 5th for supper other then that I have made no plans.

Keeping my fingers crossed for NO hurricanes!

I will be posting my "rough draft" schedule tomorrow!

 

[Cloudwatcher]

I would love to see your rough draft to get more ideas for us. I have booked our rooms and bought our tickets but have been stalled since. I don't really know what to do when. I do know that we will be in MK on the 6th for my DD's birthday.

 

[stagemomx3]

W
How? Mind control. I'm really, really trying to steer him my way and have him think it was his idea If it works, great, if not, hey, I can give up some control. Really, I can.

Let me know how that works out for!

 

[BrittBritt]

I gave him 3 TS meals to decide on. Did I mention it's killing me? We have 8 total. 2 of which are taken by Hoop Dee Doo Revue. So I get 3. Only 3. How do you go to 7 places you really want to go on only 3 TS credits?

VERY generous of you! I just told my DH, "We're going where I want, and I don't care what you say". I then followed that up with the very mature, "You don't know anything about anything."
I think your approach with your family was much nicer.

 

[JoanieS]

I am a planner. I am an obsessive planner. But, I am also smart enough to know that the best laid plans....well, you know.

We have to plan out days/activities in Disney because of Disney scheduling and ADR's and all that stuff, right? Not because we are obsessive and want to. No, not at all. It's all Disney's fault. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

So, here is our rough draft so far:

Day 1

Our flight is scheduled to leave for Orlando at 7am. So, that means up at 3:30 am, leave by 4:15 to get to the airport by 4:30-4:45. YAWN!

We are supposed to arrive at MCO at about 9:17. I'm guessing by the time we check with DME, get on a bus and get to the hotel it will be about 11:30-12:00. Assuming everything is on time.

If our room is ready, great, we'll check it out, dump our carry on bags and head out. If our room is not ready, we'll dump our carry on bags with bell services and well, head on out! Our first stop will be DHS. I know this will probably be my kids favorite park. This and MK will be a close tie. So, the "loose plan" is to get there, check out FastPass availibility for Star Tours and/or Indiana Jones then have lunch at Pizza Planet.

We would love to do Star Tours, Indiana or Lights, Motors, Action! One or two of these would be great!

We will spend some time taking in the sights and the magic and letting it sink in that we are really here!

We are planning a 5:00ish dinner at 50's Prime Time, then back to the resort to check things out, unpack, get our mugs and hit they hay - it was a long day for everyone!

So, there is the plan.

Next up, Day Two.

 

[JoanieS]

Here are the Day 2 Plans.

Now, I will preface all our day's plans by saying I am open to moving things around once the Oct schedule for TGM comes out and the EMH's come out. I based some of my days on the UG website's crowd calendar.

I was shocked that UG listed this day at MK as a "best park" and not a "park to avoid". But like I said, I am willing to change things up!

Day 2:

Saturday Oct 4th
Magic Kingdom day

Breakfast – in room
Tour MK
Lunch – counter service – Cosmic Ray’s
Back for swim/relax around 2:00
Dinner – WAYNE'S PICK
Back to MK (depending on kids) to see Wishes and/or Spectro


We hope to hit a few of the "Super Headliners" and "headliners" today. SM, POTC, BTMR, HM are on the list. We'll see if we can hit them all!

Sunday Oct 5th

Mass at local church (take taxi)

Typhoon Lagoon
Lunch – Counter Service @ TL
Back to room by 4:00
Dinner at O’hana around 7:00


Monday Oct 6th

Breakfast in Room

Epcot – Future World
Lunch – TS - WAYNE'S PICK
Back to room around 1:00
Get to MK by 4-4:30
MNSSHP 7-12
Grab a counter service or snack for dinner

Next Up: Day 5, 6, 7

 

[creativeamanda]

I know how you feel about all of the places you want to eat with a limited number of TS meals left! I'm overbooked by one and think *sniff-sniff* that LeCellier (because it's just not a good time) is gonna bite the dust. I think we'll be replacing with Coral Reef. Which still has us overbooked by one.

 

[JoanieS]

Tuesday Oct 7th

Magic Kindom Day

Lunch - snack or share a CS in MK

Dinner – Hoop Dee Doo Revue 5:00 (2 TS)

Back to room or if all is ok, Epcot for Illuminations

Wednesday Oct 8th

Breakfast – Chef Mickey’s approx 9am

Disney Hollywood Studios Day
Lunch – CS in DHS
Dinner – CS in DHS
Fantasmic

Thursday Oct 9th

Breakfast – In room

Doug and Wayne SURPRISE! Segway Tour Around the World @ 8:30 am

Epcot – World Showcase Day
Lunch - counter service
Dinner – WAYNE'S PICK

Next UP: Days 9 and 10

 

[Laura.bora]

Hey Joanie! Great pretrip so far! I'm looking foward to hearing more!! Glad you decided to start one!! You only have about 1 month left until the October schedule comes out!