Trying to Keep Planning This Trip Simple

[lisateaches]

Welcome to my trip report! I started this report in a panic. I downloaded a trip countdown app- only to realize I was only 79 days out! How did this happen? I am totally not ready.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized this could not be right. Double checked the math. Yeah, stupid free app. I am really 107 days out. Thaaaat sounds a little more like I didn't hit my head and lose a month.
We are so ready (in our hearts, not planning wise) for this trip. We haven't been in three years! I have a picture of my family to show you. This one has me 6 years younger. Ah, to be in my 30s again! I'll try to upload a current one so you can see how are children have aged us.
http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/lisateaches/media/IMG_0306.jpg.html?o=166
Look how little they are! Well, you will see what I mean when I update the pic.
As far as the details
Me: Lisa...teacher....Disname/obviously
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Character: Cheshire Cat ( I have a love hate relationship with the movie )
Favorite Restaurant: O' Hana
My Dh, Tom...Software Developer
I don't know his faves. Let me guess and we will see if I am right. I'll guess for all of them.
DH
Fave restaurant: O'Hana
Character: Grumpy
Park: Epcot
Dd12
AKERHAUS
Rumplestiltskin from OUAT
HS
DD6
She cNt remember
Elsa/Anna
Disney world
Our trip is in March! The last two trips we were able to go in January, so we will miss the low crowds! DD can't miss school, so that leaves spring break. She really wanted to wait for summer, but with the room deals I couldn't pass it up. Plus, we had so many snow days last year who knows when our summer break will start? Next up- I wonder how close I was with their faves!

 

[lisateaches]

Let's see how I did!
I predicted that my husband's faves would be: Grumpy, Epcot, and O'Hana
Drum roll! He said Goofy. Wah? Never had an inkling. I got the other two correct! Let me tell you, he did not answer easily. I got, " Why?... I don't know.... Why do you want to know?"
Now, I asked DD6. remember, she was last there in 2012. Favorite character? Nailed it. As for parks, she was thoroughly confused. Restaurant??? The one with the coconuts. Yes I see her older sister has been prepping her.
DD12 said that her favorite park is DHS, and restaurant is O'Hana. She never did answer the character question. Anyway, not too bad!

Let me give you the general overview of our trip.
When: middle March
Where: five days Disney and two days universal
We are staying at Coronado Springs and probably Loews at Universal.
My mother will most likely driving to Florida with us, but she will be staying with her best friend.

 

[lisateaches]

[I did a quick check today to see when our FP+ reservation day is- January 12th!!!! Wow! Everything keeps sneaking up on me. I better get a handle on what we really want.
Here is an overview of official Day 1 ( Night 1 is a late arrival, sleep will be had.
Day 1 Epcot
Our plan is to get fast passes for Mission Space, Test Track, and then??? I'm stuck. Not sure what to get the third one for.
We plan on riding Soarin' first! This will be our 6 year olds first time. After that,here is the agenda:
1.)Nemo
2.) Turtle Talk
3.) Spaceship Earth
4.) Innovations East- Sum of All Thrills
5.)TT and
6.) Grand Fiesta Tour
7.) And here is where I hate having to plan restaurants. We have a reservation for Akerhus at 11 am or 2:45. I just don't know which one to keep. We also have a tentative reservation at Teppan Edo at 6:45. We plan on seeing Illuminations for the first time too. The reason I might not keep the 2:45 is because we might be heading back to the hotel for the afternoon. HOWEVER, since it is our only day at Epcot- I'm thinking maybe not. Any input on the reservations and third fp would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year's Eve

 

[lisateaches]

Day 2 will be Hollywood Studios. We plan to arrive early to hop on to everyone's favorite must-d0- Toy Story Mania. I'm hoping to get fast passes for Toy Story, Tower of Terror and the Frozen Sing Along.
There is a chance we will be going back in the middle of the day today for a little pool time. It depends on FP times, kids, and weather. If we do, then we will be going to our O'Hana reservation at 5 from our resort. If not, we will go to our dinner, and return to HS. We plan on doing Fantasmic for the first time!!! Before now, I didn't think both kids were old enough to wait patiently for the show. I am super excited. They have one scheduled for 8:30 and 10:00 pm. We do have an early breakfast scheduled for Kona, so I'm thinking that 8:30 time sounds good.
I debated about keeping that O'Hana reservation. So many negative reviews lately, but it is my dd12 and dh's favorite meal. I hope it isn't too horrible.
A word on my original title!!!
I forgot to address that little thing. Usually I get obsessive about planning, buying things (clothes and stuff) to take with us, and making specific outfits planned for each park. I just don't want to do it this time. It is such a waste of my time and money. It is so hard not to go down that road though. I have started a few times. I ordered a few things from Kohl's for the ride down (toys and such), a few t-shirts, and a few things from Five Below. I even bought my DD12 a light up spinner (along with DD6). What in the world was I thinking? She does not even want that! She is too old. I am just so use to her being little at Disney. I have stayed more on the simple side than in the past. Here is to sticking to it!!!

 

[rideswithchrist]

I am joining in the obssesiveness! We are 51 days out, our countdown calendar on the wall says 8 weeks EEK.
I am trying to do the outfit for each park too! I plan on packing each kid's clothing in a ziplock with the day on it so it is easy for DH to grab and help me dress them in the mornings. But that may be overboard.

 

[xlsm]

Joining in on your PTR!

As for your FPs at Epcot...I usually end up with a throw away there. I pick Spaceship Earth because it's our favorite, and if for some reason the line is long when we choose to ride it we have it just in case! (never had to use it though).

And on the subject of 'Ohana, when we were there in August it was still great. It's the one place everyone shouted out in unison when I asked, "Where do you definitely want to eat this trip?"

(My ADRs are coming up two weeks from today and I'm !!EXCITED!!)

I always want to buy a million little things pre-trip too, but I'll tell you what...for the trip this past summer, most of the things didn't even make it out of the suitcase. I got glow sticks and a bunch of other little things that seemed fun and special at the time, and they just ended up being forgotten until we got home. Disney is special enough on its own

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your plans...You can tide me over while I wait for my own dates to come along

 

[lisateaches]

H, XLSM! On previous trips I've planned our outfits to death. But the most magical trip is the one I didn't! That being said, I keep searching for custom outfits! They are just so darn cute! I probably won't buy anything, though. I must have missed your response! I made my FP reservations last night. What about you?

 

[lisateaches]

Last night was the big night! FP go night! I was a little nervous earlier in the day when my name showed up on the FP page, but no one else in my family. Thanks to Disboards, I found out that this was normal!
I got all the passes I wanted. Three days at MK- Elsa/Anna m and g, Cinderella/Rapunzel, 7 dMT, all three mountains, PP, Under the Sea LM, and Tales with Belle. Most of my times are early. I'm hoping to add a fourth one.
For Epcot, I got Soarin, MS, and the Character Spot.
For DHS, we got TSM, TofT, and Sing along E/A. I'm good with those. They were all on my list. I hesitated for MK. I thought about duplicating a few, but then figured we would get in line at rope drop for the ones we wanted twice.
I had an ah ah moment as far as dining. I realized I should try to switch Cape May to the day we are doing DHS so we can take the boat over (or walk, is that possible?), and switch O'Hana to the evening we are at MK so we can just take the monorail. Probably a no brainier for most, but I don't have a picture of WDW floating around in my noggin. I don't like the time I had to get for O'Hana, but I will try to be patient for an earlier switch. 8:30 is a little late for my kids to eat dinner. Of course, it will be Disney time I am now so excited. I'm sure the next 59 days will drag.

 

[xlsm]

H, XLSM! On previous trips I've planned our outfits to death. But the most magical trip is the one I didn't! That being said, I keep searching for custom outfits! They are just so darn cute! I probably won't buy anything, though. I must have missed your response! I made my FP reservations last night. What about you?

I make our July dining reservations on Thursday...I'm IMPATIENTLY waiting, lol. I have our plan all ready though, and hope to breeze through the process thursday morning.

I'm glad you got the FPs you wanted! 59 days to go for you, WOOHOO!!
I think the time will go by faster than you expect!

 

[lisateaches]

I am joining in the obssesiveness! We are 51 days out, our countdown calendar on the wall says 8 weeks EEK.
I am trying to do the outfit for each park too! I plan on packing each kid's clothing in a ziplock with the day on it so it is easy for DH to grab and help me dress them in the mornings. But that may be overboard.

Seriously? How did I miss you? Hello! No the ziplock trick is the best. I think we will do that with our DD6's clothes. My DD12 would probably not be happy about that for her clothes. I have a western style patchwork dress for her Hoop Dee Doo dinner, Hawaiian style for O'Hana, a Minnie dress, Minnie shirt, Elsa top, and Ariel top. Nothing too out of the ordinary. I could totally get out of control with clothing if allowed. I mostly don't allow myself. You leave before us! I bet you are getting excited!

 

[lisateaches]

Ok, quick update. I lost my dang mind for awhile there. Obsessed over outfits, ordered DD12 a few things from Hot Topic, and ordered DD 6 a custom Dumbo dress. I think I have my crazy self under control now, but it was a smidge on the obsessive side, I'm not gonna lie.