Part I: Personal History and The plan for my (our) first ever trip to Walt Disney World
Hello all!
Before I begin, a few things. First off, I am relatively new to the DIS boards, as you can probably tell by my number of posts. I frequent the Mouseplanet boards as well, which is actually where I got most of the help for the trip I am going to be posting about in the coming days. I like The DIS Boards too though, and wanted to post my trip report here for anyone and everyone to enjoy. I like that these boards let you post pictures IN the post. I think it just keeps the flow going to have them in the context of the report and not have to click out a link to go look at a picture. Anyway!
I also want to mention my report is definitely inspired by the ongoing one found here, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1082773 I hope I can end up making my report half as entertaining as his has been. Since they are sort of the same theme, I hope the readers of that one might like mine as well.
So first some History about me, and my history with Disney. I am a 28 year old male who has lived in California all his life. My experience and love of Disney has come of course from the movies, and from Disneyland, which I have been to many times in my life since I was little. I could not guess an exact number, but definitely well over a dozen. When I was little, it was my Mom who took me. I have a brother but our family was honestly kind of broken so I recall it being me and her most of the time.
I have had many good trips to Disneyland. I love the place and will never get tired of it. As I am sure any one of your know who has been to Disney park, they are anything but just a theme park. My single most favorite thing about Disneyland is how the second I step inside, I forget about the outside world completely. I mean I just simply do not know its there anymore if that makes any sense. I can never get that in any other park in the world, only a Disney one, and very specifically, Disneyland.
Going with my Mom was fine and good. But when I got older I remember one of my fun nest trips to date was the time my best friend came with us. I have never been with anyone but my mother and I and he had a BALL. I remember how much quicker 2 young guys could tear through that park.
Best Splash Mountain Picture. Ever.
Through the years, the way I went to Disneyland also evolved. I know I am getting long winded (and it will probably get worse) but this part really does play into the current report. As I have went over the years, how we got to go changed. What I mean is when I was very young we could only afford to go for one day and stay in like a Motel 6. But as time went on, eventually we were able to go for more than one day. Later, we were able to stay at better Hotels, even including the Disneyland Hotel for a night. And it just has went on from there. Over the years through when I started going on my own. I have been to Disneyland 3 times now as an adult. No Mom.
Skipping forward to the near present. Last July, me and my Dear Girlfriend Erika, who had been together close to a year at the time, got to experience Disneyland during the 50th, which was wonderful and I am very glad I got to go. That trip was by far the best I had ever did Disneyland. We had 3 days for the parks, 4 if you include the day we left, we stayed in the Disneyland Hotel EVERY night, as opposed to only one like we often did when I was younger, and we had lets just say a lot of Souvenir money. Which is always nice. That trip was easily my best ever to the Disneyland Resort.
I have always wanted to go to Walt Disney World ever since I was younger. I remember seeing commercials where as I described it The Monorail went right through the building. A few Christmass ago, my Mom (who had also never been) got to go with her Husband and his family. I did not go, it was not really my place. But my Mom finally got to see it. Around this time, my interest in going had faded a lot, mostly due to thinking it was just not plausible for me to go so I was content with at least having Disneyland. Which by the way is 400 miles away. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I do not know how it began exactly, but 3 or so months ago me and my girlfriend Erika, or DGF I guess I should call her. (Thats how it goes right?) Anyway we started thinking about what we were going to do for our 2 year anniversary. (June 19th.) and somehow Disney World got mentioned and before I knew it, it was officially where we were going. I could not really believe it was happening, but one thing about my DGF, is she can make things happen. So with about 3 months to go, we had to start planning and saving. I am definitely the planner and researcher. I got help and information from all the boards. Early on we found out about Pirates being redone so we decided to push our trip a few weeks past our actual anniversary date to give us a bit more time to save, and to be able to see the new Pirates refurb. So our dates were quickly locked in for July 8th through the 16th. A day to arrive, a day to leave, and 7 full park days.
We took a long time to pick our Hotel. For a long time we held onto the idea of getting an AP just for Hotel Discounts. But we waited and waited for the rates to come out for the times we were going and they would not come out. But then they finally did and Disney decided to make the discounts for DVC resorts, none of which really interested us.
From the time she had first heard about those Animal Views on the Savannah at The Animal Kingdom Lodge, DGF wanted to go there. In the end, after the AP discount option did not work out, we ended up choosing the AKL and used a AAA package that included a 8 day Hotel stay, and 9 day park hopper tickets. After much thinking about it, we also did include the dining plan which ended up being a wonderfully good idea but more on that in the reports. The airline tickets I ended up getting separate from the package on my own through United.
So we were all set. I was going to finally goto WDW! And to make it better, I was going with my dear wonderful girlfriend, who had also never been. By the way, I do not know a ton about her past Disney History. I know she had been to Disneyland with her Dad when she was little. It was kind of a ritual for them two to go. She says she was a Disney fan always but I definitely think I have helped her to become more of a fan. She still isnt at my level for Disney though. Pretty sure about that!
This trip promised to be the most all out I have ever did Disney. 7 full park days, 8 days in a Deluxe resort, we had an insane amount of spending money, and the topper was we were going ALL out for Food. Before this time, that was the one thing I always went cheap on for Disney trips. I was of the mind that I rather be on a ride than eating. But for this trip since I wanted her to enjoy herself as well as myself, we went all out for food. I mapped out nearly all our meals, at least the sit down ones in Excel and decided which we wanted to use the DDP for, and which we would pay out of pocket. Before the trip I had about a dozen reservations made throughout our stay in WDW. These reservations would change as we were there, and you will read that as it happened each day to come. The first reservation I made was for Cinderellas Royal Table which would be our first breakfast, our first morning, in our first ever WDW park. Sunday morning July 9th. I reserved and paid for it, and it was then I knew this was really happening.
One very important thing you must note about all this. From just about the very moment I knew this trip was being planned, I secretly made plans of my own. To propose during this trip. I knew we both wanted it, and surely did not want to pass up a wonderful chance to give my DGF a most memorable proposal. I knew she was ready for it like a year ago, and she had waited long enough!
For a bit of background on this situation, you might want to go skim this post. http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=57003
Me and my DGF do not live together, but we know everything about each other. We both saved for the trip, but secretly had a special budget JUST for the ring. No matter what I might have had to alter/sacrifice about the trip, the money for that ring was a must. I knew the kind of ring she wanted, but I made sure she had NO clue I was going to do this. Each week I got paid (I have a temp job so I get paid weekly) I kept telling her I had bills and she never suspected a thing or put it together that I had WAY more money that I should of. I had my part of the trip money, and that was what mattered.
That just about wraps up the pre-trip report. I hate to end here, but I am going to have to for now. Stay tuned though, I WILL get Day 1 up soon which includes the proposal. So you wont have to wait long for the good stuff. I hope people will still want to read about the FOLLOWING seven days of our trip. Feel free to post and tell me what you think thus far of my long winded History.
Part II: Arrival Day and Will the people ever stop coming onto the observation deck?!?! Coming soon.
Hello all!
Before I begin, a few things. First off, I am relatively new to the DIS boards, as you can probably tell by my number of posts. I frequent the Mouseplanet boards as well, which is actually where I got most of the help for the trip I am going to be posting about in the coming days. I like The DIS Boards too though, and wanted to post my trip report here for anyone and everyone to enjoy. I like that these boards let you post pictures IN the post. I think it just keeps the flow going to have them in the context of the report and not have to click out a link to go look at a picture. Anyway!
I also want to mention my report is definitely inspired by the ongoing one found here, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1082773 I hope I can end up making my report half as entertaining as his has been. Since they are sort of the same theme, I hope the readers of that one might like mine as well.
So first some History about me, and my history with Disney. I am a 28 year old male who has lived in California all his life. My experience and love of Disney has come of course from the movies, and from Disneyland, which I have been to many times in my life since I was little. I could not guess an exact number, but definitely well over a dozen. When I was little, it was my Mom who took me. I have a brother but our family was honestly kind of broken so I recall it being me and her most of the time.
I have had many good trips to Disneyland. I love the place and will never get tired of it. As I am sure any one of your know who has been to Disney park, they are anything but just a theme park. My single most favorite thing about Disneyland is how the second I step inside, I forget about the outside world completely. I mean I just simply do not know its there anymore if that makes any sense. I can never get that in any other park in the world, only a Disney one, and very specifically, Disneyland.
Going with my Mom was fine and good. But when I got older I remember one of my fun nest trips to date was the time my best friend came with us. I have never been with anyone but my mother and I and he had a BALL. I remember how much quicker 2 young guys could tear through that park.
Best Splash Mountain Picture. Ever.
Through the years, the way I went to Disneyland also evolved. I know I am getting long winded (and it will probably get worse) but this part really does play into the current report. As I have went over the years, how we got to go changed. What I mean is when I was very young we could only afford to go for one day and stay in like a Motel 6. But as time went on, eventually we were able to go for more than one day. Later, we were able to stay at better Hotels, even including the Disneyland Hotel for a night. And it just has went on from there. Over the years through when I started going on my own. I have been to Disneyland 3 times now as an adult. No Mom.
Skipping forward to the near present. Last July, me and my Dear Girlfriend Erika, who had been together close to a year at the time, got to experience Disneyland during the 50th, which was wonderful and I am very glad I got to go. That trip was by far the best I had ever did Disneyland. We had 3 days for the parks, 4 if you include the day we left, we stayed in the Disneyland Hotel EVERY night, as opposed to only one like we often did when I was younger, and we had lets just say a lot of Souvenir money. Which is always nice. That trip was easily my best ever to the Disneyland Resort.
I have always wanted to go to Walt Disney World ever since I was younger. I remember seeing commercials where as I described it The Monorail went right through the building. A few Christmass ago, my Mom (who had also never been) got to go with her Husband and his family. I did not go, it was not really my place. But my Mom finally got to see it. Around this time, my interest in going had faded a lot, mostly due to thinking it was just not plausible for me to go so I was content with at least having Disneyland. Which by the way is 400 miles away. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I do not know how it began exactly, but 3 or so months ago me and my girlfriend Erika, or DGF I guess I should call her. (Thats how it goes right?) Anyway we started thinking about what we were going to do for our 2 year anniversary. (June 19th.) and somehow Disney World got mentioned and before I knew it, it was officially where we were going. I could not really believe it was happening, but one thing about my DGF, is she can make things happen. So with about 3 months to go, we had to start planning and saving. I am definitely the planner and researcher. I got help and information from all the boards. Early on we found out about Pirates being redone so we decided to push our trip a few weeks past our actual anniversary date to give us a bit more time to save, and to be able to see the new Pirates refurb. So our dates were quickly locked in for July 8th through the 16th. A day to arrive, a day to leave, and 7 full park days.
We took a long time to pick our Hotel. For a long time we held onto the idea of getting an AP just for Hotel Discounts. But we waited and waited for the rates to come out for the times we were going and they would not come out. But then they finally did and Disney decided to make the discounts for DVC resorts, none of which really interested us.
From the time she had first heard about those Animal Views on the Savannah at The Animal Kingdom Lodge, DGF wanted to go there. In the end, after the AP discount option did not work out, we ended up choosing the AKL and used a AAA package that included a 8 day Hotel stay, and 9 day park hopper tickets. After much thinking about it, we also did include the dining plan which ended up being a wonderfully good idea but more on that in the reports. The airline tickets I ended up getting separate from the package on my own through United.
So we were all set. I was going to finally goto WDW! And to make it better, I was going with my dear wonderful girlfriend, who had also never been. By the way, I do not know a ton about her past Disney History. I know she had been to Disneyland with her Dad when she was little. It was kind of a ritual for them two to go. She says she was a Disney fan always but I definitely think I have helped her to become more of a fan. She still isnt at my level for Disney though. Pretty sure about that!
This trip promised to be the most all out I have ever did Disney. 7 full park days, 8 days in a Deluxe resort, we had an insane amount of spending money, and the topper was we were going ALL out for Food. Before this time, that was the one thing I always went cheap on for Disney trips. I was of the mind that I rather be on a ride than eating. But for this trip since I wanted her to enjoy herself as well as myself, we went all out for food. I mapped out nearly all our meals, at least the sit down ones in Excel and decided which we wanted to use the DDP for, and which we would pay out of pocket. Before the trip I had about a dozen reservations made throughout our stay in WDW. These reservations would change as we were there, and you will read that as it happened each day to come. The first reservation I made was for Cinderellas Royal Table which would be our first breakfast, our first morning, in our first ever WDW park. Sunday morning July 9th. I reserved and paid for it, and it was then I knew this was really happening.
One very important thing you must note about all this. From just about the very moment I knew this trip was being planned, I secretly made plans of my own. To propose during this trip. I knew we both wanted it, and surely did not want to pass up a wonderful chance to give my DGF a most memorable proposal. I knew she was ready for it like a year ago, and she had waited long enough!
For a bit of background on this situation, you might want to go skim this post. http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=57003
Me and my DGF do not live together, but we know everything about each other. We both saved for the trip, but secretly had a special budget JUST for the ring. No matter what I might have had to alter/sacrifice about the trip, the money for that ring was a must. I knew the kind of ring she wanted, but I made sure she had NO clue I was going to do this. Each week I got paid (I have a temp job so I get paid weekly) I kept telling her I had bills and she never suspected a thing or put it together that I had WAY more money that I should of. I had my part of the trip money, and that was what mattered.
That just about wraps up the pre-trip report. I hate to end here, but I am going to have to for now. Stay tuned though, I WILL get Day 1 up soon which includes the proposal. So you wont have to wait long for the good stuff. I hope people will still want to read about the FOLLOWING seven days of our trip. Feel free to post and tell me what you think thus far of my long winded History.
Part II: Arrival Day and Will the people ever stop coming onto the observation deck?!?! Coming soon.
I've been following your trip from the start on MP. Great report so far, and I can't wait to hear the rest! Glad you're feeling better!
I am so excited. I look forward to the rest and will definitely be around for ALL of the days of your trip report not just the first! 
