Too excited - 21st Birthday at WDW Pre-Trip - Update 17 days to go

[izzie-wizzie]

Hello and welcome to my first ever PTR for my first trip to WDW!! *happydance!*

So - first off the cast for the trip! 4 adults (and i use that term REALLY...REALLY loosely) ready to be let loose on the happiest place on earth!

Me - izzie, 20 - will be 21 on the first day of our trip! Away into my final year at university and for sure the holiday planner - which is a pleasure and i love spending hours here on the DISboards.

DBF - Scott, 23. We've been together for just over two years and have an ace little flat together Hes such a sweetie but Im pretty sure he thinks im crazy with how excited i am for this trip! but he listens to me ramble on for hours on end! He been to WDW once, when he was 7.

Scotts sister and her husband are coming with us too - theyre about as immature (and awesome!) as us, so this trip should be lots of fun

The Important Info - We leave for Florida on the 20th October – for two whole weeks!! Whilst we are there we will be exploring other theme parks in Orlando as well.

Heres a picture of me and scott in DLP - we hadn't been dating too long when we went on the trip here, highlights of this trip was just running through the queue area to reride space mountain again and again, literally countless times as a walk on!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Before I get started here's some pics from our trip to DLP in 2007!

Trying on Hats at Disney Village

Me at Disney Village

Obligitary Castle Pic!

Space Mountain!

Me and Donald - my favourite

Dancing about with Mickey!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

 

[ears4all!]

Hiya! I've been to DW several times, most of them being in October. It is a great time to visit, and there aren't a bunch of crowds.

One thing I saw was that you plan on visiting AK. The only thing that I see might be tiring would be your plans. You plan on doing KS and EE, and then maybe going over to FOTLK. Remember- Animal Kingdom is a large park

You would be having to go all the way from the NE corner to the SW. That is a long walk. I would suggest the new Finding Nemo show.


Unless I am mistaken, I am pretty sure that both water parks are open during this time. Most of the time, one park closes in Nov/Dec, and the other closes Jan/Feb.

Also, one of the great things about getting the park hopper is that you can "hop!"

Busch Gardens and NASA will probably both be day trips- leave about 7 or so- (we went on a Disney cruise this past Oct. and went to Orlando for a couple of days. It is about a 1 and 1/2 hour drive (I think!) from Port Canaveral to Orlando), and come back.


So this is how your trip is lined up: (definite in bold)
20 Oct. 2009: Fly in, check into hotel
21 Oct 2009: Animal Kingdom, CityWalk
22 Oct 2009: Universal Studios
22 Oct
23 Oct
24 Oct
25 Oct
26 Oct
27 Oct
28 Oct
29 Oct
30 Oct
31 Oct: Wet n' Wild, MK MNSSHP

I don't know when you fly out, but these are the days you are saying

So you have 9 days to do:
NASA
Busch Gardens
Magic Kingdom
EPCOT
Hollywood Studios
Disney Water Park
HS/EPCOT

I'll leave it at this.

Have fun!!!

-ears

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Thanks for the tips PP! so far we just have a really rough guide how we want to tour the parks.

So I haven't really updated this in ages, but with my 90 day mark approaching in TWO days, and plans finalised with the release of the hours for october - I thought I'd fill yous in. I love reading everyones trip reports so im hoping mines will be nearly as interesting!

Flights

Flying via Detroit there and Memphis coming home - should be two fun airports to explore from what ive read

Accomodation

Offsite on International Drive

Tickets

We've got a 14 day magic your way ticket for disney and a 14 day orlando flexticket for sea world, universal, ioa and busch gardens.

-
Dining

Animal Kingdom - Tusker House Breakfast (for my birthday day), Flame Tree BBQ lunch.

Epcot - Teppan Edo Dinner (on our last night), the rest just eating round the world showcase. (I really don't fancy much of the dining options in future world!)

Magic Kingdom - Caseys, Pecos Bill, Dole Whips at Aloha Isle - Tony's is also a possibility but the reviews have been so polar opposite - love/hate its difficult to decide! but i do love me some lady and the tramp!

Hollywood Studios - Sci Fi Lunch. Maybe Pizza Planet if there a second day.

Next Post - Our Days and other Planning Fun!!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Tuesday 20th October

Flying Day! We Leave Really Early this morning, like have to be heading to the airport at 4am so chances are i won't be sleeping that night with excitement and panic i will have forgotten something, scouring disboards for any last tips! Arrive in Orlando about 5pm, pick up rental car find hotel, unpack. Maybe have a walk before bed to find my bearings a little - ill be 20 and not old enough to enjoy a drink til midnight, so who knows i might even go for a cocktail at midnight for the novelty of it

Wednesday 21th October

Happy Birthday to Me! my 21st birthday woo! So our first park day will be in Animal Kingdom. Its not an EMH day (i can't take advantage of these, and will be avoiding parks with EMH days in a bid to beat crowds!).
But to get into the park early, I am hoping to get a ressie at Tusker House breakfast before park opening to enjoy a really empty park and get some photo ops en route as i hear this is really awesome!
Oh and of course on my way here I'll be picking up my birthday button, and birthday gift card to do some shopping!!

Don't want to go too commando on the day, but as we'll be in Tusker House for park opening we'll do Kilamanjaro Safari first (also i hear animals can be more lively first thing, so this should fit in perfectly!). Its quite a trek to Expedition Everest after this but maybe we'll brave it over there, grabbing some FPs before going in the standby. And then from there just wander round hitting whichever ride. having lunch at flame tree bbq. then staying until after parade.

That evening, as our hotel is fairly close to universal we want to get back early to have a night in city walk. Still trying to choose which restaurant though!! I go between Latin Quarter and Margarittaville Daily

That evening too - i really want a cigar from cigarz, im not a smoker or anything but they seem to do some really cool flavours.

I'm so physched this sounds like a perfect day

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Thursday 22nd October

I imagine we'll be a little tired from all the animal kingdom and night out so we plan to go to universal this day. Like i mentioned we are staying fairly close so we can just grab a shuttle bus or other public transport here so we don't have to drive. Got no major plan for this day - apart from i HAVE to meet Spongebob Squarepants! And we'll just go through the rides

Friday 23rd October

Hollywood Studios Day!! Plan to be there park opening and do TSM first (resisting the urge to RUN to RnRc). Going to get a ressie for lunch at Sci Fi. Try to fit as much as possible in on this day but we will be back to re-do our faves/do what we missed later in the trip. Again we've chose to do HS today as there is no EMH and no Fantasmic show (we'll be back to see this later in the trip but i hear Fantasmic days tend to be a bit busier)

Saturday 24th October

Either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon - we will only be doing one of these trip. I think we will just choose when we get there, i've printed out list of flumes and attractions at each park for my disney binder (pics coming soon!) so we can always look at this the night before and see what we think.

Also after waterpark we will head over to the MK! First time this trip to see SpectroMagic Parade and WISHES!! with MNSSHP dates/EMH to navigate around this seems to be the best time to plan to see the fireworks. We will probable grab some food from Caseys to eat while we watch it all (mm hot dogs, cheese fries and corn dog nuggets please - sound sooo good!) - im thinking we might grab something from Main Street Bakery to take back to the hotel and eat for breakfast the next day...

Sunday 25th October

This day we will either be heading to Nasa for the day or Busch Gardens for the day. (can eat our main street bakery breakfast on our way!).

Monday 26th October

After a lot of driving the day before - we're just going to get shuttle or something to Sea World this day - we'll be spending 2 full days here so we won't be too rushed and can take our time, relaxing enjoying the shows and things not trying to cram it into one day. Must do: The Rides, Feeding Dolphins, Shamu Show (maybe not all in one day but see how it goes)

Tuesday 27th October

Magic Kingdom Day! This is no EMH day, and on a MNSSHP day - hopefully it will be lower crowds. Plan for this day is rides, rides, rides. We won't mind about the character meets - we will have met mickey, goofy, donald and daisy in animal kingdom breakfast - and plan to meet more on our MNSSHP. Defo want to have lunch at Pecos Bill! I loved Frontierland in DLP so im guessing ill LOOOOVEEE it in WDW!
As the park will be closing earlier for the Haloween Party - we will spend the evening in DTD. Shopping and shopping! I can't wait for world of disney and tren-d and the christmas shop!

Wednesday 28th October

Again after a later night, we will go by shuttle to IOA today. I plan to ride the Hulk as many times as possible! Although I really don't like the look of Dr Doom Fall

Thursday 29th October

Epcot Day - I can't believe we're waiting til soo long in our trip to go to Epcot! But its the only way - again a no EMH and avoiding weekends as advised due to locals at the Food and wine festival. I think there will be more focus on future world than world showcase this day. Getting all the must do's done!

We will be leaving epcot early to head over to HS today - only going over to see Fantasmic.

Friday 30th October

Remember earlier how I said chose between Nasa and Busch Gardens? Well whichever we didn't do will be done today.

Saturday 31st October

MNSSHP night! yeah i know it will busier as its haloween and everything - but I think it will just be even more magical on haloween. And yes we are dressing up - Tinkerbell (me) and Peter Pan (dbf) - his sister and her husband are going as mickey and minnie.

the day before this evening we will be at Wet and Wild, relaxing and going on the occasional slide!

Sunday 1st November

Aww we're really going to the end of the trip now but we will be at SW today after a late late night the night before annd i plan to do the penguin tour!! I LOVE penguins so i cannot wait for this!! Again just doing what we missed / want to redo.

Monday 2nd November

Our last day... NOOOO!!! But never mind, we will be in HS in the morning, from rope drop to lunch to get our must do's done again! then mosy over to epcot, maybe try do one or two rides in future world, queue and fast pass time depending. but generally chilling out around world showcase. maybe do a kim possible mission, cocktails and such. dinner at teppan edo - leaving to get some churros for desert and watch Illuminations and finishing off our trip

Tuesday 3rd November

Home Time - we don't need to leave til about 2pm but what we do this morning, other than collapse from exhaustion!, will be determined sooner.

And thats a run down of the trip!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

A Picture of my Disney Folder!

yep i went crazy with glitter pens!!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

WOOOOOO Happy Dance - My first ADR is made!!!!

staying off - site I will have to do the rest as the 90 day mark approaches.. but

at 8am we will be having our donalds safari breakfast at tusker house, AK!!!

Can't Wait - this will be our first park of the holiday and getting in when its so quiet...

Hehe i don't think people at work quite understand why i am so happy to make a ressie... considering that means its still 90 days away... well 90 days is a whooollleee lot sooner than the 185 days when i started counting the days

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Woo tomorrow is our next ADR day!

Our third park day is planned at Hollywood Studios - and we're all up to doing Sci Fi. Looking at the menu and such we feel it is more of a lunch type thing - so looking for a 1pm ressie

 

[izzie-wizzie]

So we now have our ADR for sci fi lunch at 1.20 on our HS day

We're also thinking now we want to go to Beaches and Cream at some point for a sundae, the kitchen sink looks crazy but we might get the still huge but smaller sundaes as the kitchen sink does seem a bit much and it would always get gooey... but then theres the novelty factor of it ... ooh decisions.

We watched our planning dvd yesterday and got all excited! We will have to choose between which water park to go to as we only have time for one! they both look so good.

but on saturday we'll be having a disney party - we were going to happen to it on double digit day but we haven't had the chance as we've not all been in town. so i can't wait - were going to get a disney game and such.

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Wow i really havent updated this in sooo long

well its now september which means its next month til october and going to WDW!! WOOOOO

since i last posted me and team awesome have had 2 disney parties to get all excited the first was to celebrate the 80 day mark.

this was a disney bbq - we used flame tree bbq sauce, made a mickey mouse head cake, fruity sushi from cali grill and a number of cocktails found in the disney recipes thread.
Pink Monorails are the best!! so tasty. we also made key lime martinis which looked great but like the monorails very creamy and after a few of them we all felt very sluggish!

So came the 70 day party - we made the pink monorails less creamy so could drink more of them... and definately celebrated disney trip well, finding many disney stickers in the store and sticking them everywhere fun times!!

So our ressies have been decided as first day in AK tusker house breakfast, and our day in HS - Sci Fi lunch. BUT as many of you know the wishes dessert party has been extended and we got in for the 24th so i can't wait to eat loads and loads of deserts!!

thats as much ressies were making - going to cs the rest of the time in disney. all we have to book is the penguin spotlight tour in sea world - i think you can usually get them first thing in the morning but id rather not risk it atall

49 days

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Wow so its only 37 days til we go now! im getting so excited!

I've spent the past week spending most of my wages on clothes for going away.. I got:

2 pairs of denim knee length shorts (1 pair black and 1 pair blue denim colour)
White Roxy Surf Shorts
Pink/Floral vest top from Topshop / Floral vest top Topshop
1 purple / 1 purple/white stripe tshirt H and M
Plain Tshirts
14 Trainer Socks
Purple Converse Lite

so i think with that and what i have already im quite set on clothes.

I need to buy a Disney bag though, like a rucksack for carrying about. and im going to try and get some GHD Mark 4 hair straighteners - as I just realised my hair straighteners may not work over there due to some voltage/herz difference (i don't understand all that but all i do no is me without straighteners is not good! ) - haha I'd look scarier than anything from Haloween Horror Nights at Universal...

which brings me to haloween horror nights, I am a massive Saw fan so since hearing there is a Saw haunted house i am really wanting to check it out. but from what i see in the videos and online site it looks rediculously terrifying and I don't know if im up for that! haha if anyones reading this (lol) who has been do you know if it really is THAT scary when your there?!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

37 days to go and i thought id show you some pics of the countdown calendar me and scott made. it was so fun to make and looking at it cheers me up big time (and reminds me that i need to do some excercise to lose the last 5lbs before i go!! EEK!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Wow I am LOVING Toy Story Mania for the Wii!

I had preordered it from Play.com - but it didnt arrive on Friday and i had planned to play it friday night lol, so i just bought another copy from the gamestore and will return the play copy - crazy? a little yeah - but it worked out in the end as i got a free buzz lightyear dvd!

the 3d isn't amazing but still impresses me also i love the fact it has the little aliens on it!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Just 17 days to wait now !!

my halloween costume for MNSSHP just arrived - i love it im going as Tinkerbell

i just have to make myself have a clear out of my cupboards ( a chore ive been puting off for too long) and then ill be packing! so excited!