There's No Place Like Disney... A 2014 Pre-Trip Report --- Updated 05/02

[Luv0fDisney]

"There's No Place like Disney....There's No Place Like Disney."

Perhaps if I wish enough, and perhaps don my Mickey ears and red ruby slippers, I can click my heels together and find myself standing in the middle of the Magic Kingdom and away from 11 inches of cold white snow... But Nope.. only 78 days more days.

Our trip is for May 3-8th.

Welcome to my 2014 Pre Trip Report, that hopefully I will drag on until May and be the longest Pre-Trip Report here on Disboards? lol. This trip will be our 10th Mother and Daughter Trip... WOW!

It feels like a decade!
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Our Back Story:​

Since 2005 it has just been a mother/daughter trip. A lot of things have happened between 2005 and 2014.. I still can't believe how many years went by.

We started our Mother/daughter trips back in 2005 when we went for my High School Graduation in October. My dad is not a huge Disney fan like we are. He does not like the Florida weather or the lines associated with Disney. He's more of a Las Vegas and Cruise guy. lol. So he stays behind and takes care of the animals.

In 2005 we stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort for my graduation gift, and we were newbies to Disney World. Wow. Do you remember being clueless at the World? We were. We had no ADR's, no clue how to work things at Disney too much. I remember we were searching for table services. lol. As I remember we got a corner room in Barbados.

In 2006 we stayed at All Star Music, which we loathed. And No. It's not like a romance movie where the main characters loathe the other character and falls deeply in love with at the end, like in The Princess Diaries 2. lol. We did not like the All Star Music because of the lay out. We had a room by the piano pool and every day when were tired from the parks we would have another trek ahead of us to the room. I am remembering all the blisters...

In 2007 we found our Disney Home at Pop Century and have called that home ever since. Our first Pop stay we stayed by the Rubrix Cube. I loved it, because we just walked through the parking lot to get to the buses. For the next 2-3 years we got by the bowling pins, and then by the fooseball.

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Whose Who?
Disney World 2014 ADR's
Day Plans....Day 1
Updates! Magic Bands and Magical Express!
Day Plans...Goals Day 2
Day 3 Goals
Day 4 Goals
Day 5 Goals
Day 6 Goals
Current Updates
Friday Night Update -- Last Update.. End of Pre-Trip Report

 

[Luv0fDisney]

The Who....and no, not the band.
So, since 2005 my mom and I have been going to Disney yearly (other than 2013). My dad does not like the lines/weather associated with Disney. Many years we have had our Florida Friends join us for our trip. This year my cousin might join us.

Here's a picture of my mom and I, back in 2009.

We are Disney lovers.

My mom, she worked in a Dental school for about 25-30 years and now is retired. Her favorite ride is Peter Pan, favorite character is Peter Pan, favorite park is The Magic Kingdom. Her first trip to WDW was in 1979 for her Honeymoon.

Me.
I am in my 20's and a college graduate with a degree in Film. In 6th grade we had to dress up as someone famous and do a report so I did Walt Disney..who else? To me, Disney World is the only thing I live for because no one can take it away like everything else in my life.

I loved roller blading, they closed the rink, loved going for nightly walks until I had someone follow me so I stopped. I just don't enjoy anything because of other people. People ruin things for me. So now, its only Disney because I don't see Disney World closing any time soon.

Anyway, my favorite park is Hollywood Studios with Epcot being close second. My favorite Ride is Tower of Terror and favorite characters are: Figment and Stitch.

(Many people have read many posts about depression and rant about my mom. I love her to bits but my depression makes me have a negative outlook on the world. So please bare with me.)

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I'm in! Sadly a lot of folks don't understand depression I am sorry to say. They should watch Disney movies where things that folks don't understand get dealt with using pitchforks and mobs from villagers! I like to think we are beyond that stage

 

[Heluvsme]

Well I'm in! Depression is misunderstood and not for the faint of heart. Disney has a way of making us leave the "world" behind and taking all our cares away. I love that you and your mom have so many wonderful memories behind you, and so many more ahead of you! What a special tradition to take vacations together!!

Can't wait! May is not that far away.... we are going back in June and that seems like such a long time, but I know it will fly by!

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Disney World 2014 ADR's

I can remember the first year we went to Disney when we were newbies. We didn't have ADR's and had to walk a mile to get dinner. lol. We have been experts in the Advance Dinner Reservations now online. But one I wasn't able to get this year was Be Our Guest.

I remember when Coral Reef Restaurant was hard to get into a few years ago so now I know what to expect with Be Our Guest. Hopefully in the next year or so the hype for it will die down... :::cross fingers:::

Anyway every year we have been trying at least 1 new restaurant per vacation. This year it isn't a new restaurant but a new experience of having lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Looking forward to that ooegy gooey Toffee Cake.

Our Other ADR's & Dates are:

May 3rd - Kona Cafe -- Polynesian Hotel
May 4th - Liberty Tree Tavern --- Magic Kingdom
May 5th - Coral Reef - Epcot
May 6th - Chefs De France* - Epcot
May 7th - Raglan Road - Downtown Disney

Originally on the 6th I had Rose and Crown in England Pavilion. but decided to change it to Chefs De France since there wasn't anything on the menu that interested me with the Rose and Crown.
​

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Disney Plans
Day 1 - Travel Day

We leave NJ at 9:35am via Southwest Airlines. We picked Southwest because I had credit I had to use before May 17th and where is the best place to go to use the credit? Disney World!! So our flight leaves at 9:35am and has 1 stop in Minnosota. We arrive at MCO at 12:50pm (hopefully with no Delays). Therefore we should arrive at Pop Century around 1:30pm.

This day is the day we don't have park tickets so my original plans for the day was spend most of the time at Downtown Disney.

Last Thursday, we received a message from our friends who reside in Florida.We had invited them to join us but haven't received any response...until Thursday. It turns out they will be joining us for the weekend. Happy Dance! Not sure if that changes our plans because they said they will be on the road by early afternoon.

For the time being I still am planning to go Downtown to go to D-Street Vinylmation store to trade vinyls (hopefully). Our dinner reservation is at Kona Cafe at the Poly at 5:30pm.

After dinner, we are either going to go back to Downtown Disney or walk around the Art of Animation Resort before tucking in for the day. I am excited to see Finding Nemo statue's along with "cars."
​

 

[Luv0fDisney]

So with only 2 weeks to go....actually 13 days, I decided to update this Pre-Trip report. Yey! The 4th of April I realized that we did not receive our Magical Expess Yellow Stickers or our booklet for the trip. It turns out I forgot to give them the flight info for our trip so I called and gave them the info.

Turn the page to April 7th, we received our Magic Bands, and our Magical Express info, which was fast especially for Disney. We received 4 yellow tickets because we are on Southwest and able to check in 2 bags each for no fee. We probably won't use all 4 as we are light packers.

As for the Magic Bands, I was doing the Happy Dance when I got the box. I thought I picked Pink and Green but when I opened the box, it turns out I picked Orange and Green...I got the orange and my mom got the Green. lol. Isn't it hard to pick the colors? lol.

Other than that we received news from my cousin that she might join us on Saturday with her boyfriend and kid...which means our party goes from 5 to 8 since we have friends scheduled to come. I feel conflicted about the situation as I don't know how it is going to end up. But hopefully alright.
That's about it.
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[Luv0fDisney]

Day 2 Plans.... actually goals.

As you know not all plans go as scheduled mostly because we like to go with the flow...of our own pace that is. lol. I hate schedules. They seem...permanent. You have something on paper and feel like you have to follow them to a tee. So I change these plans to Goals.

My goals are for this day is to have fun at the Magic kingdom with my mom and perhaps a few friends. We have fast passes for Space Mountain, Big Thunder and Splash... only the BIG rides for us. lol. I just wish we could get fast passes for Seven Dwarf Mine... Wouldn't that be cool?

The day at the Magic Kingdom, will be filled of waiting on line for rides, at the stores, and on line for Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom cards. Lunch will probably be at the Taratogo place or the place right next to the Country bears that serves the Pulled Pork Sandwichs...omg.

Also don't forget the pin trading and vinylmation trading at various location within the park. A full Day of the park will be followed by dinner at our NEW restaurant of the trip, Grand Floridian Cafe. Yummy.

I also can't believe the Magic Kingdom is open until 2am! Which makes me feel bad for the cast members unless they have day workers and night workers. Then I'm cool. There's a chance our goals will be shared with family friends and perhaps family members we haven't seen since 3 years ago.

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Day 3 Plans


As I sit here at 11:31pm on April 26, I can't believe that this time next week I will be at Disney. Already our First day goals have change (possibly). Our friends FINALLY emailed us back and stated that they are definitely joining us. They are going to be driving to Disney after soccer games that the kids have so I'm not sure when they will get there. The plans are still for DTD but thinking of using this day to go to Disney Quest instead of the last night. So this time next week, we will be doing one of the following:

a.) Just getting out of Disney Quest
b.) On the Crowded bus back to Pop Cenutry
c.) chilling in our Hotel Room...getting ready for the next day...

Any guesses?

Anyway, Day 3 plans consist of Hollywood Studios. I am really hoping that they will still have some items from the 25th Anniversary...
either pins or something. lol. This will be our friends last day with us as the kids have school.

Hollywood Studios is my favorite park mostly because I like most of the rides and attractions. Thanks to Fastpass+
I already have my Toy Story Mania fastpasses (but not sure whether or not we will be using them as our friends don't have fastpasses.) Yikes!

Dinner this night is at Coral Reef at Epcot, so it will probably be our first Park Hop. I love the lobster pasta dish they have.
(Just wish they would update their dessert menu. After dinner we'll return to Studios as I have fastpasses for TOT at night.
Always wondered what it is like to ride TOT at night.

This park day will also consist of pin trading and possible vinylmation trading (if I don't pull anything I like the previous days).

So that's Day 3.

​

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Day 4 Plans
Have you ever been soo excited for your Disney Trip that you could just break down and cry because you're so excited? I have been feeling that way for the past few days...Only 4 days away now and I'm just like major excited but ever so slightly have that dreaded feeling... But hopefully that will go away.

Anyway,
Plans for Day 4 seems like it's going to be an Epcot day since we have fast passes for most of the day. Test Track in the morning
followed by Mission Space in the afternoon and SpaceShip Earth right at closing time. I honestly don't know why I picked Spaceship earth. lol.

Dinner this day is at Chefs De France. I remember back in 2006 I ate here w/ my mom I didn't quite like it, but now I do. lol.
I have had many up's and downs at this restaurant that I 'm willing to give it ONE more try.

It's like when you are young you really don't like something food wise and now you do? For me... it's olives. I hated olives when I was little but now I eat them in salads and what not.

Anyway, sorry I got off topic there. lol.. We don't really do "Fireworks" any more...or parades for that matter...Why? Well, with fireworks and closing time you get the Bus Crowds. I rather not have to be rushed when it is closing time. With parades... When the crowds are watching the parades, guess who's not on line for a ride? People! I rather ride the rides instead of seeing half characters through people's heads. lol.

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[Luv0fDisney]

Day 5 Plans & Changes.

Plans for my 2nd day ADR's have changed. After reading that we can't get the sampler dessert for 1 at Grand Floridian and seeing nothing I liked on the menu (since I'm having the orchetta pasta @ Coral Reef the next Day) I decided to change from the Grand Floridian Cafe to Liberty Tree Tavern.

I originally at a 4pm reservation for dinner, but then our friends are going to join us. They didn't have room at the 4pm reservation so we're eating lunch at the Tavern. Although it's not a "new" restaurant, it's a new "experience," since we have had the family style dinner before. Looking forward to that Toffee Cake everyone raves about. lol
Our Plans for Day 5 ---

May 7th is Animal Kingdom for majority of the day, followed by dinner at Raglan Road in Down Town Disney. This is one of our Favorites! We LOVE Irish Food. We will probably spend some time shopping if we haven't found things for people such as my brother and dad.

We have Fastpasses for Everest, Dinosaur and the Safari (at 4pm). Dinosaur is one of my least favorites I don't know why. I have never been a fan. I LOVE Everest and the Safari. I highly doubt we'll do the Kali River Rapids (unless it's really hot out.).
​

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Okay.. So my mom printed out the flight info today and it turns out our flight is at 7:45am (not 9:45am). We fly into Nashville (not Minnesota) stay there for 2 hours and board a plane to Orlando. Lol. I totally got the info wrong before. I don't know where I got 9:45am from. lol.

Day 6 Plans

Day 6 is our last day at Disney....Depends on whether the Seven Dwarf Mine is open or not, it's either a MK day or Studios Day. Right now we have Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania and some other ride.

Our flight leaves Orlando at 8:25pm and arrives in Newark at 10:55pm. So we practically have the entire day at a park.
​

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Current Updates:

Right now it is 9:51am on May 2nd. I got no sleep yesterday which isn't new. I don't sleep. I had to get up at 6:30am in order to print out our airline boarding tickets at 7:25am. I got up at 6:30am got to the southwest airlines and tried to nap until 7am. I got little rest. After I got the boarding tickets, I napped till 9. I ache. I 'm NOT looking forward to Disney.

Yesterday I ran some errands, and forgot about 1/2 the stuff I was supposed to get. I still need to get clothes, post card stamps and what not. I still have to pack. We are always last minute packers. lol.

I am happy I don't have to worry about getting female "stuff" while on vacation, so there's a chance I might go swimming at the hotel for the first time...ever. lol.

Anyway, if I have not updated you about our flight to Orlando its the following.

Get up at 5:30am to get to Newark airport by our flight at 7:25am. At that time we fly to Nashville, TN which seems to be only an hour and 15 minute flight. We get to Nashville at 8:45am. Then we have a two hour wait until we depart Nashville TN, at 10:05am to arrive at MCO at 12:50pm. We then hop onto the Magical Express bus and get to Pop Century around 1:30/1:45pm (depending on any delays).

That's about it. I bought a magazine to read on the plane but I already read it. lol.

This time next week I'll be back home and ready to share pictures...if I remember to take any.
​

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Friday Night Update!!
Sooo. We have less than 10 hours away from the time we have to drive to the airport. I have packed my luggage 3x so far. Why?

Well... the first time I packed it because my mom says I was going to use it as a carry on like I normally do. So I packed. Then she comes home and says "No, we'll check it." So I have to unpack the important stuff (vinyls/pins/extra clothes). Then reorganized. Then my mom distracts me and so I stand it up only to realize I didn't zip it up, so everything comes flying out...which is the 3rd time I packed. lol.

I'm a bit agitated but then again I'm always agitated over something that doesn't go as planned. I also dyed my hair a reddish color and my hair stinks. I can't wash it because we just dyed it. The only thing I can do is spray perfume on it and hope it does the trick. lol.

So both my bags are packed, we put the yellow Magical Express tickets on the luggage and packed the Magic Bands in our carry on as I believe we will need them for the bus? I can't wait to use them.

I have emptied my purse with what I don't need, along with my phone's picture gallery so I can take LOADS of Disney Pictures. Yey. I still have to pack a few things like my favorite pillow...

Its my favorite because my late grandfather bought it for me while we were in Seattle in 2005. I have brought it every where with me... College, Las Vegas, Florida... lol. It's one of those circular neck pillows...It's shaped as a moose.

Anyway, this will probably be the last update I will give you since I highly don't think I will have time to update before the airport...

M-I-C "See Ya Real Soon" K-E-Y "Y? Because We like you! M-O-U-S-E...

Off to the show!!!

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[MeeskaMomma]

Subbing so I can find the link to your TR. I look forward to hearing all about it!

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Hello.... I'm not really doing a Trip Report.but more like a summary, which is found here:

A May's Summary Trip Report

Not too long, but I didn't feel like trying to post all the important pictures. lol. I just want to say I rebooked another trip for November due to the Free Dining Offer.

 

[dchi]

I tried clicking on your May's summary of your trip but it does not work for me.