*Two, Two, Two Pre-Trip Reports in One*Only A Thousand Days To Go!

[PenguinWaiters]

Contents:
Who Starts a Pre-Trip report 1000 Days Out?
Why I want to visit Epcot solo
Why I want to visit Animal Kingdom solo
Looking forward to 2010 - Current Rumors and News Part 1
Looking forward to 2010 - Current Rumors and News Part 2
Still around and Still Dreaming about the Mouse!
Let the Planning Begin! (for this one AND the next one )

Yes, that is right, I am starting this Pre-Trip report 1000 days (or so) before my next trip to the World! (That is Oct 2010 for anyone who doesn't want to do the math )

Once I finally realized that this would be my next trip to the World, I got just as excited as I would have if it was next month! It's hard to plan too much now though.

It looks like this will be my first solo trip to the World, so a short list of characters:

Me! I will be oh... 30-something for this trip. Here is a pic of me from my last trip to the World in Feb 2007

Here is what I know so far:

I will be at WDW for a conference Sun Oct 3- Wed Oct 6th. I want to stay a few days before or after or both and get a chance to see the World in a different way. In Feb 07, I took an amazing trip with my DH and my 2 year old. Seeing Disney through her eyes was wonderful but I am also looking forward to my first solo trip. And, we are planning a family trip again in Feb 2011 (hopefully there will be four of us then ), so I am thinking of this Oct 2010 trip as a scouting trip for that trip.

I was quite excited as I read through other trip reports to realize that I would be there for both the Food and Wine Festival and MNSSHP (assuming both continue on their current schedules for another 2 1/2 years! ). I did not get to see a whole lot of Epcot on this past trip, so I am really hoping to spend a lot of time there, and the F&WF and related events will be perfect for that.

I don't know where I will stay yet. That decision will be based somewhat on where the conference will be. I know if will be at one of the on-site hotels, so it might be easier to stay on there. However, I am also considered the Swolphin, since I want to go to Epcot quite a bit, and I have SPG and would qualify for the teacher discount .

I also have never been to a hard ticket event (P&PP was going on in Feb but DD was too little for that) so I am really excited for MNSSHP! I am thinking now that I may only go to MK when I go to that event, since we will be planning to spend a lot of time there in Feb. I want to spend more of this solo time at Epcot and possibly Animal Kingdom which I have only been to once before.

So, will I make it for another 1000 days (only 820 days until ADR's! )? Will anyone stick with me that long?

The answers to all this and more on the next episode of....my pre-trip report!

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Ok, only 999 days to go now

I see that you are looking but you are not posting - afraid I won't stick with it, aren't you??

What you don't understand is that I NEED this pre-trip report. Otherwise I will go insane with the WAITING!

So, why am I so excited to go again?? Well if you are reading the DIS boards you probably already know the answer to that don't you!? However, I will tell you a few of my own reasons:

My Feb 07 was my first post-DIS trip. I found these boards linked from another board I was reading on a regular basis. I started looking and I was hooked! A vacation where 1/2 the fun is in the planning?? I'm in!

So, I read and I planned and we had a wonderful vacation - very geared towards a 2 year old, which was perfect. But, now that I have the time to think about a solo trip, I can see some things that I want to do differently.

1. Hotel - last time we stayed in Pop Century. Following advice from the DIS boards, I used the super secret system of making a room request - 50's upper floor, Epcot views - and we got it!
Here was the view outside our room:

I thought that POP was nice (except for having to change rooms mid-week, Magical Express and the luggage area, but that is for another report), especially with a 2 year old (she LOVED the buses).

But, going solo I want something closer to the action. I can't afford to shell out $300/night for a Disney deluxe (although there is the chance that my conference might be here:

so maybe I will get a good conference rate that I can extend. But, I am starting to think that I could both afford and enjoy the Swan or Dolphin. I like the option of walking to Epcot or MGM (which I would probably not try with a 2 year old - at least not every day).

Plus, there would be more time to eat here!

So, let's see if I can get anyone to join in. I would love to hear from others who have done solo trips after a family trip - tell me what things you really looked forward to doing on your solo trip and what parts of it you enjoyed the most.

 

[planetcaravan19f]

Congrats on starting a Pre-Trip Report!! They are so addictive!!

Don't worry about starting it so early. It will give you plenty of time to ask questions, get opinions about everything, and change your mind a hundred times !! Don't be discouraged if you go weeks without a new post, as you get closer to your departure date it will pick up!!!

Welcome to the madness, can't wait to hear more!!

 

[annie1995]

Woo Hoo!!! I'm on!!! I don't always get the chance to post everyday(3 kiddos keep my hoppin! ). But I'm definately on for the ride!!! Great start so far!!!

 

[earthfaries]

Count me in! Sounds like a great trip and I love your pictures

You will love MNSSHP! That is a good idea about only going to MK that day. If you have a ticket to the party they actually let you in at 4pm, but they don't advertise that. You can get a lot done solo from 4-12!!! That's almost a full day and the rides aren't near as busy during the party because everyone is at the dance parties, trick or treating, meeting characters, etc.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Yay - posts!

I am home from work today - I guess I will just have to sleep and DIS all day - sounds like a vacation to me!

Congrats on starting a Pre-Trip Report!! They are so addictive!!

Thank you! Yes, it feels addicitve, but also freeing to be able to write it down and really think about going again. Plus DH is happy because now I can talk about something else with him since I have my trip planning outlet here

Woo Hoo!!! I'm on!!! I don't always get the chance to post everyday(3 kiddos keep my hoppin! ). But I'm definately on for the ride!!! Great start so far!!!

Thanks! This is my first trip report so I'm trying to keep it interesting. I can imagine that 3 kids keep you hoppin! We are hoping for a second but DH says he is done after that - he doesn't want to be outnumbered!

Sounds like a great trip and I love your pictures

Thanks! I took a whole lot of pictures when we went in Feb. and I am glad that I did. They really help me visualize this upcoming trip. This one is my background on my work computer:

It is going to be odd I think to go there and not see the wand when I have been looking at it everyday at work for almost a year now!

I think Epcot is the park I am most looking forward to exploring when I do my solo trip. We didn't spend a lot of time there on our last trip - we only made it into two or three countries, but my DD did enjoy making the mask:

Boy, it is hard to remember what we even did in Epcot when we were there. I did get a chance to ride Soarin, which I enjoyed, and Test Track which I thought was OK. We did Nemo (great!), Maelstrom (always fun) and Spaceship Earth which I enojoyed but I also look forward to seeing the new version when I go. I have never done Mission:Space - I chickened out in Febuary (and I NEVER do that - I am a big thrill ride junkie - at least at Disney) so I am determined to go during my solo trip. And that is it - I don't think we did anything else in Epcot while we were there! Turtle Talk with Crush was closed when we were there.

So, in addition to the possibility of F&WF while I am there, I am thinking that I want at least one full day for Epcot and maybe even a few quick trips over during my conference if I can swing it. Just to walk around and take it all in.

 

[Disney Brat]

Ok you got me too!! I'm in for the ride!! Great start so far!!

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

Wow, I'm impressed - I'm planning a trip for sometime in 2009 and thought it might be too early to start a trip report. Guess I can get going on it now!!!!

A solo trip sounds great, I personally love EPCOT and my husband tolerates it for me I'd love to spend the day by myself there!

Can't wait to hear more of your planning over the next 2 years

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Ok you got me too!! I'm in for the ride!! Great start so far!!

Thanks! The pressure is on now that people are watching

But, I managed to knock off 5 days already.

Five days closer dance:

Wow, I'm impressed - I'm planning a trip for sometime in 2009 and thought it might be too early to start a trip report. Guess I can get going on it now!!!!

It is never too early for a pre-trip report! Honestly, starting this report took me from depressed that the trip was so far away to excited to think about starting to plan. I highly recommend starting one! Let us know when you do.

So, next up - I have been thinking about what else I want to make sure to do on this trip. As I mentioned in the first post, Animal Kingdom is my second park I want to be sure to hit. I'll tell you why in my next update.

Thanks for reading!

 

[PenguinWaiters]

My second park planned for my solo trip: Animal Kingdom

When I went to WDW in 2002, Animal Kingdom was new. But, we never made it over there in 02. Why? Because my DILs had planned the trip and we were only at WDW for 4 days - that is the maximum amount of time my FIL believes a vacation should last!

So, in Feb 2007 with my DD we wanted to go and really see Animal Kingdom. We ended up going twice, but each time for only a few hours. I am really excited to get back and see everything that they have there.

We went one morning with the DILs. We all went to

.

We had a long wait, so my DD "fed the Mangos"

This was one ADR I should have skipped. We could have all had a quick breakfast at POP and been able to see more of Animal Kingdom, as this breakfast took a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNG time even after we were finally seated. I think it took over 2 hours from the time we checked in to the time we left It was so long in fact that our waitress brought us a special fast pass to use for our whole group that was good for any fastpass ride, which was really nice.

We decided to use that Fastpass to go on the Safari as that was something we all wanted to do. It was fun and I would like to do that again when I go back. After we rode the Safari, DH and I used the fastpasses that he had picked up on the way in to go on EE while DILs watched DD. That was AWESOME! I am SO looking forward to the single riders line.

After that? Are you ready??





We left! That's right, that is ALL that we did there that day. Well, almost all. We did have some great Character Visits with Pooh and Friends and Mickey and friends and we did stop to see some of the animals on the way in and out. But, DD was getting tired (she had been and a bit run down that week so tired easily) so DH and I headed back to POP while ILs went to DTD.



Our next visit was an afternoon - I think we got there at 3pm and the park closed at 6pm, so again a pretty short visit.


>>>Insert interesting but off topic story here<<<<<
The day before I had been walking through Epcot to go to Soarin while DH held a sleeping DD over by the Baby Center. I walked through a plaza where some CM's were working and suddenly turned around and said "D is that you?" I realized that one of the CM's was a student that I had worked with before. It was really cool to run into her, and she had the next two days off (our last two days of vacation) so she came with us those days. It was really a hoot! So anyway, she was with us at AK this second day
>>>End interesting, off topic story here<<<<<


So, the second day we headed to

and took DD on TriceraTop Spin. I really wanted to go on Primeval Whirl but couldn't get either DH or my friend D to do that with me. D did agree to go on Dinosaur with me though (great fun!). After that, we realized that we could just make the last show for either Festival of the Lion King or Finding Nemo. I was really torn between the two. D recommended Lion King, so we headed over to that one and I am so glad she did. What a great show. And look what happened at the end!

DD still talks about the time when a Monkey came to see her!

After that, the park was closing. DH, DD and I went to Rainforest for dinner and D went home. We met up with her again the next day at Chef Mickey's where we treated her to breakfast for being such a great impromptu Disney host.

So, you can see why I might want a chance to go back and see a bit of what I missed! And while it will be a solo trip to some extent, I am hoping to see D again if she is still there, as well as another former student who works at (what will always be to me) MGM.

Thanks for sticking with me this long. I have no idea what I will talk about in my next post!

 

[Disney Brat]

Hey only 995 days to go!!!!

 

[carissanboys]

I'm tellin' ya. I'm a bit jealous. You have 995 days to plan, dream, PREPARE and I only have a stinkin' 8 (well, just about 7 at this point) days left! I need MORE time!! It's just come on so fast. So, enjoy your PTR. Enjoy the planning and the anticipation. That's half the fun anyway

I've never traveled to Disney solo. But, I have traveled a bit on my own and I ADORE it. And don't tell my friends, but I even prefer traveling alone over traveling with friends (shhhhh). I love not having to ask someone else what they want to do. I love doing my own thing, taking my time. You will have a BLAST!

And I agree. Epcot will be awesome by yourself! Especially during the Food & Wine Festival.

So, I'm in for the long haul. Don't let me down

 

[PenguinWaiters]

I'm tellin' ya. I'm a bit jealous.

Well, that makes TWO of us. Only a week to go! You must be

I do love the planning - oh I really do - but 2 1/2 years of planning is....well tough. I can't book a hotel, I can't make ADR's - I can't even be sure that the hotels or restaurants will still be the SAME when I get there in 2010!

So, what can I think about? Well, I'll tell you in my next update!

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Whoo Hoo - down to 993 days! Time is flying

Ok, so I can't book my hotel or make dining reservations yet. So what can I do?

I can look at all the WDW RUMORS that are flying around the boards! It's fun to think about what actually might happen by 2010 and what will not. So here is a small sample of the rumors that I have seen discussed on the DIS boards. I put in links when I could find them - I didn't really keep track of the links as I read all of these - sorry!

Toy Story Mania - of course, no longer a rumor, this new ride is scheduled to open in Summer 2008 in Disney Hollywood Studios. It has been fun to read about this new attraction and funny to think that it will be "old hat" by the time I get there. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22486545
I just noticed that the end of this thread now has a NEW rumor attached - a Ratatouille themed coaster rumored to be coming to DHS!

Nightmare Before Christmas hard ticket Halloween event at DHS - this rumor is the one that got me started thinking about this whole rumors thing. Going back through my Unofficial Guide for 2007, there are several mentions that this event would be starting in 2007. Obviously, that did not happen, but I just recently saw some information that this event is still on the planning boards. Latest info says that this event will NOT be a direct competitor to Universal's but will instead still be an event for the whole family. Sounds interesting.

Hunchback theatre renovations in DHS - there has not been much discussion about this beyond that we should expect some new show/event in that area.

So, after these first three I am thinking that I will have to somehow find a way to fit a day at DHS in too! Of course, I probably would have anyway as I can't miss a chance to do RNR and ToT - two of my favorite rides!

OK, so what else is being talked about on the DIS boards?

New resorts - Four Seasons and Waldorf hotels being built - these are both scheduled to be open for 2010 so I might get a chance to see them (since I would never in a million years have the $$ to actually STAY in either of these! I do work in Education ya know. )http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1684700

Space Mountain rehab - this one has been around quite a bit - of course people are talking about a possible rehab to make it more similar to the new Disneyland version. An update would be nice, although I do always enjoy the ride as is. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1648715&referrerid=93883

New World Showcase country - of course this is always being talked about with different countries suggested as the "next" one. Currently, the talk is about a new Russia pavilion. I World Showcase - any new pavilion would be fine with me. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22546151

On a non-Disney note - the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Island of Adventure is scheduled to partially open in 2009 and fully open in 2010. I have never been to either Universal Park in Orlando - if I had more time during my solo trip I would certainly want to see this. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18934380

It will be interesting to see what else ends up changing between now and 10/10, and also how many of these do end up happening.

Hey, if I can't go next week or even next month or next year, at least I can enjoy the fact that I will get to enjoy all the new stuff when I DO go, right?

Does anyone have any other rumors/news that they want to add to the list?

 

[annie1995]

Hi again!!!! I've been lurking here every other day or so, I haven't left ya at all!! I said I was on for the ride, and I meant it . I too enjoy looking at all the possible things that might be coming!!! It really does help to pass the time!! That Harry Potter theme park looks to be lots of fun!!! I will need to make time to go see that in a few years .

 

[carissanboys]

I definitely think a plus of not going until later is having all of the new things to look forward to!!

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

Space Mountain rehab - this one has been around quite a bit - of course people are talking about a possible rehab to make it more similar to the new Disneyland version. An update would be nice, although I do always enjoy the ride as is. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1648715&referrerid=93883

I didn't know this....I would miss the old version....I have lots of memories of this ride. My husband lost a contact on this ride...very first time he had ridden it...on our honeymoon. He's 6' 7" and doesn't exactly fit in the ride very well. I don't mean to laugh but it is funny watching him wrap his legs up inside....Anyway, back to your thread.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Just came across another rumor -

Pop Century Legendary Years - will they ever be completed? If so, will they be standard Value rooms like the Classic Years? Will they be Family Suites like All Star Music has? Will they be the first DVC value group? Only time will tell.... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1686888

I did take these pics of the Legendary Years buildings when I was there if Feb 07. Knox has better ones if you follow the link to the thread above and look for CanadianGuy he has links to them in his sig...

PS Who has a good "Snow Day" smilie? I need one today!

 

[planetcaravan19f]

Whoo Hoo - down to 993 days! Time is flying

Loving all the details, rumors and pictures!!

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Hi everyone

I'm still here! Sorry that I have not posted recently - there have been some sad and stressful things going on. In the midst of all of them I find that I am actually dreaming about a WDW trip! Last night, in my dream I was there and ran into someone I work with. She asked why I was there and I told her that I needed to be "in my happy place" Boy I wish that I had a trip planned soon, but heck only 979 days to go now (799 days until ADRs )

So, after looking at some rumors here on the Dis Boards and pulling out my old UG to read through I decided that I wanted more. Way back between my first and second trip to WDW, I read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Mouse-Disney-World-Project/dp/0822316242/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201466333&sr=8-1

As a Sociologist, I found this look at WDW to be fascinating. I re-read this book again before my third trip to the world. It is a really interesting book about observations about the "idea" of WDW and interviews with CMs. It is a bit old now, but still worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

I just finished a newer book - more of a history of the building of WDW which I thought was really cool too

http://www.amazon.com/Realityland-True-Life-Adventures-Disney-World/dp/0964060523/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201466509&sr=1-1

There are some really neat old pics in here and lots of interesting trivia. Did you know that "Contemporary Hotel" was just supposed to be a description of the theme, not the actually name for the hotel? In fact, they actually had signs made up that said "Tempo Bay Hotel"

Details like that made this book pretty interesting and I read it in 2-3 days. This book also has great old pictures of the Florida parks in process (and one unbelievable pic of a monorail that caught on fire . No one was seriously injured but the story is unbelievable).

I hope you enjoy looking at these and hopefully I will be back to posting about my trip soon!