Very first trip ever! x3

[Tatalee]

Okay - so I'm obviously very new at these boards *points to single digit post count number* but I'm so very excited about this trip - and have so many questions - that I figured this would be the best place to do it!

None of my friends want to listen to me anymore, let alone answer my questions, and after spending about three days reading everything that I could on these boards; I realized how absolutely wonderful this community is

An outline
Random Disney trip stuff (this very post!)
More Random Disney trip stuff (sorry!)
Even MORE Random Disney trip stuff (even sorrier!)
The idea is born!
The airline situation!
So much paperwork!
A constant work in progress...

The Party
As the topic line suggests, this is my very first Walt Disney trip ever!

Me - I'm 27 years old, and have been waiting for this trip since I was about 8 years old. That year, my mother booked our first WDW trip - and had to tell me two months later that we would not be going; because she was pregnant.

To placate me, she told me that the very next year, she would leave my new sibling with our grandparents and take me then. Again, the trip was planned, I told everyone I knew - and she yet again burst my bubble. Seems one sibling just isn't enough! Sure again, I had another on the way. And she never mentioned Disney again.

My sister - my sister will be 18 years old when we go, and like me, it will be her very first trip ever. I almost didn't let her come - on account of being the reason why this is my first trip, and all. But I caved. She's going to have to pay for my Mickey ears, though

My son - my son is 6 years old and absolutely thrilled that we're going to WDW. He won't face the same disappointment that I did. No siblings cooking in the oven for him.

The Trip
I had never considered taking a trip to WDW. I had wanted to go, of course, but had never believed that I could actually afford such a thing. Then I happened to pass by an advertisement at our local TA's office, boasting about the Free Dining plan - and figured it wouldn't hurt to take a look. I was absolutely amazed that not only did it sound like a good deal - but that it was one that I could actually afford. It took me about a week to come up with the deposit, and I booked it the same day I had the money in my hand.

The Dates
We are arriving in Disney World on September 24/09 and are staying until October 3/09. We will be staying at the All-Stars Music Resort and hitting all the parks except the Water ones.

I managed to get all the ADR's that I wanted, and then some - which is a relief after reading some of the difficulties others are facing!

Not that I think anyone will be interested in where we will be dining - I can't help but be so excited that I post it anyway!

09/26 - Chef Mickey breakfast buffet
09/27 - Tusker House breakfast buffet
09/28 - Playhouse breakfast buffet
09/29 - T-Rex for supper
09/30 - Supercalifragilistic breakfast buffet

And since we know very little about WDW and it's dining options; that's all we have made so far. We're not very picky eaters, so I am hoping that we will be able to find open slots just about anywhere as the week progresses.

If anyone is actually reading this - and you have some suggestions or tips for 3 first timers - please share!!!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Hi Tatalee! Welcome to the boards!

I am going to be at WDW at the same time as you. It is so exciting that this is your first trip. I can remember my first trip as an adult in Sept 07 (for free dining!), I was so excited I thought about it night and day!

Your dining ADR's look good and that's a good thing becuase you're probably not going to find much open availability once you get there due to free dining.

That's so nice of you to take your sister. I know you're going to have a great time. What other things do you have planned for the trips? What rides are you most looking forward to? Which parks are you going to each day? Let me know if you have any questions!

 

[aprilisis]

Sounds great! I will be there from September 28- October 3. Are you going to do the Halloween Party?

 

[Tatalee]

Hello GraceLuvsWDW - thanks for the welcome

My baby sister is just as excited as I am about the trip - though she is aware that she's coming just as much to help, as she is to play. Or at least, she better know! My son is quite a handful, so an extra set of hands is definitely needed.

Our ADR situation is actually becoming a bit of a nightmare, I'm afraid....I'm getting a bit stressed out about it. Since I've never gone before, and we are going for 10 whole days, there was just no way that I could guess where exactly we would be on each day. I was sort of hoping that we would be able to find reservations for TS for those missing days, once we got down there. We're not picky at all, and would seriously take anything open, at pretty much anytime. But with the stories I'm reading about - and the things I'm seeing on the online ADR portion of the Disney board; I'm starting to worry!

I have just managed to get two new ones made, though!

09/24 - Planet Hollywood for supper
09/25 - The Plaza for lunch

I have no idea if you can 'dummy down' and use a TS credit for a CS meal, but I guess we'll find out! Though the stress of not knowing where/if we will be eating on 10/01 or 10/02 - but I hope it's somewhere Or my son might get a bit growly.

Other things in the works
09/25 - Pirates League
MNSSHP (maybe, if we can still purchase tickets in park - can that happen?)
*those are about the only 'extras' we have planned for now, since we're trying to be as cheap as possible.

We'd also like to go to:
Fantasmic - but honestly, I'm getting afraid, due to all I'm hearing.
Pick a Pearl in Epcot or DTD
ALL the parades and fireworks that we can

Rides we want to hit
....all of them? Seriously - we're complete first-timers, so the list is MASSIVE.
But, like Fantasmic, we're worried about TSM; and the horrible time people have getting on it/FP's. My biggest fear (since this is what my son is the MOST excited about) is that we won't be able to get on it at all

Parks - we didn't elect to get the Park Hopper option, simply because my son is unpredictable, and gets anxious and overstimulated. I figured that even attempting to shuffle him from one park to another would just be too much on him, so we'll just hit one park a date. It's the same with the EMH; I doubt we'll go to any parks on those days, because it would overwhelm him to be there for so long.

09/24 - We don't check in until early afternoon, so we will be going to DTD
09/25 - Magic Kingdom
09/26 - Magic Kingdom
09/27 - Animal Kingdom
09/28 - Disney Hollywood Studio's
09/29 - Epcot
09/30 to 09/02 - Free days! We have no concrete plans for these yet, because they will depend on how my boy is faring with the parks, and which places we really want to go back and visit again before the end of our trip.

So I guess my questions are mostly about the Halloween party - and if tickets can be purchased either at the gate, or at the park once we arrive. I'm not sure if they have a limited number per night, so hopefully we won't have to miss out!

And hello aprilisis - We have nearly the same WDW dates!

We are hoping to hit the Halloween party, as my questions/stress above say Ideally we'd like to be there on October 1st, but that's the only night when we can attempt to go to Fantasmic. Our best day would be 09/30 - but it's not being offered that night. So I am hoping to get tickets for 09/29!

 

[BBG-BLT]

First let me Welcome to the Disney Addiction Tatalee... first Disney trip - ha! It will not be your last - do not attempt to fight it (yes I think I'm funny)... ookay - anyway - firts trip - DS6... hummmm.

(Background - Me 4 kids, been 9 times in the last 7 years, 2 kids that are 7 now).

Okay - back to what you need. First "Calm down" - I know easier said then done. But, the look on your sons (and your) face the first time he turns the corner and sees the Castle (yes even boys get it) will pay for the whole trip - don't miss it - after you see it look at him - really.

Now - in MK ...
If you get there at the rope drop (RD) which means you get to the park 30 minutes before it opens you can get onto any two rides without much of a wait. Me, I’d go to Buzz. You and him and your Sis will like it – I don’t know many people who don’t – it’s Disney Magic. After the ride if you really liked it get a FP for another Buzz trip (and this time let him win). Next hummm… I’d do something else right there – maybe the Speedway. That line always gets really long during the day. Go to Mike’s Laugh Floor. Its interactive so try to get toward the front in the middle. Then get a soda, really, get a soda. Relax - look at the map - decide together where to go together. Toon Town doesn't open until 10 or something - always later than when I'm there and ready to get in Look around at the shapes of the bushes, see if the talking trashcan is out (he’s only in Tomorrow Land). Sometime during your visits to MK go to Pirates of the Caribbean usually the line isn’t all that bad and boys LOVE it.

I've never done the Disney Dining Plan (I'm DVC now so I couldn't get it for free) so I've never been tied down to ADR times except for the few Character Meals we've done, but my kids are picky so I don't think it would work for me anyway. If you eat at off times you should be ale to get in somewhere where you are. And you can always exchange a TS for a walk-up meal, and being that you didn't pay for it you might just be okay with eating and not having to sit down for a meal.

As far as MNSSHP we've gone 4 times and could always buy tickets at the park that day - but this year I swear everyone is going the week we are (yep 9/26 - 10/3). I got tickets for 10/1.

The wonderful thing about MNSSHP is that there aren't many lines for any of the rides. Its FANTASTIC! and the parade is very cool and the Characters are dressed up and MK is all orange, purple and green. Obviously this is our 5th MNSSHP so I do think its the Bomb.

Well I could drone on and on... I hope you find this helpful. If you have any specific questions just ask. I'll check this post.

And ENJOY - you have waited a very long time for this!!

Oh and when everyone starts melting down go back to the resort - I never listened to this advice until 2 years ago and it was just heaven.

 

[SilverL]

As far as TSM goes, just make sure you arrive at the park early that day. If you're there when the park opens, you can definitely ride it.

I also recommend checking out the Unofficial Guide from your local library. Take a look a their touring plans if you want to hit everything. It's nice to have a lot of the work done for you. UG has a lot of fantastic information beyond the touring plans as well.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I didn't know T Rex took the DDP, are you sure it does? Just didn't want you to have any unplanned troubles!

Have you tried booking dining on the Disney website? When they're all booked for your date they'll make "recommendations" based on what does have availability. That might be a good way for you to find something.

Chef Mickey breakfast to start your trip will be good. Just be aware with all of your breakfasts you may miss prime touring time-the parks are usually empty at rope drop. You didn't list your ADR times so I don't know if you've already planned for this. We usually do a late breakfast/early lunch which is timed right when the parks start to fill.

So it looks like you don't have hoppers? Be aware that MK am's after the parties can be more packed. Just a heads up on your 9/26 at MK.

Don't worry about MNSSHP tickets. Except for the fact that you might want to purchase them early to get a discount-other than that I think you're in no danger of a sell out (and then would you really want to go anyway?). Be aware that in the case of bad weather they won't refund your $$ so watch the weather forecast before you purchase the tickets.

You'll be there long enough that you won't need to rush around so my advise is just take it easy! Go slow-skip rides with long lines and come back to them later. Take in the small stuff and like the other poster said, take breaks.

 

[coltink]

Welcome to the boards! I don't have children but I do have a child-like whiney grumpsy spouse so I can relate.
Since you do not have the park hopper I would definately recommend scheduling breaks. Tour the Magic Kingdom in the morning go back to the hotel for a swim, nap, and snack and then head back to the park. The parks can be overwhelming and by taking scheduled breaks you know that there is an end (break) in sight and it gives everyone time to regroup.

I did Pick a Pearl in September of 2007. I LOVE my pearl. I got a rare blue pearl. At first I was dissapointed because I wanted a traditional white, but I fell in love with it. I now wear it everytime I dress up. Be prepared that it can get crowded and you may have to wait a little bit. But it is in a very nice and fairly large gift shop. Also bring extra money for it if you want to have it set in a ring, necklace, etc.

Good luck!

 

[Tatalee]

As far as MNSSHP we've gone 4 times and could always buy tickets at the park that day - but this year I swear everyone is going the week we are (yep 9/26 - 10/3). I got tickets for 10/1.

The wonderful thing about MNSSHP is that there aren't many lines for any of the rides. Its FANTASTIC! and the parade is very cool and the Characters are dressed up and MK is all orange, purple and green. Obviously this is our 5th MNSSHP so I do think its the Bomb.

Thank you for the welcome! And I know man! Everyone I either talk to or read about seems to be going during the same time frame! Great minds think alike, I guess...I'll pretend that free dining isn't really what's drawing us in

As far as TSM goes, just make sure you arrive at the park early that day. If you're there when the park opens, you can definitely ride it.

I also recommend checking out the Unofficial Guide from your local library. Take a look a their touring plans if you want to hit everything. It's nice to have a lot of the work done for you. UG has a lot of fantastic information beyond the touring plans as well.

I'd seen that book listed everywhere on this site, and hadn't actually bothered to check it out - then a friend happened to call and let me know that she'd been going through stuff for a yard sale and happened to have the 2008 edition - would I like to borrow it? Pfft, like I'd say no to what everyone here's swearing by! Hopefully it arrives tomorrow...

I didn't know T Rex took the DDP, are you sure it does? Just didn't want you to have any unplanned troubles!

Have you tried booking dining on the Disney website? When they're all booked for your date they'll make "recommendations" based on what does have availability. That might be a good way for you to find something.

Chef Mickey breakfast to start your trip will be good. Just be aware with all of your breakfasts you may miss prime touring time-the parks are usually empty at rope drop. You didn't list your ADR times so I don't know if you've already planned for this. We usually do a late breakfast/early lunch which is timed right when the parks start to fill.

So it looks like you don't have hoppers? Be aware that MK am's after the parties can be more packed. Just a heads up on your 9/26 at MK.

The don't take the DDP - but it was the one thing that my son happened to notice when he was peering over my shoulder as I was planning things and went "MOM! DINOSAURS IN A RESTAURANT!?" ....and then I had no real choice *sigh*

We're 'morning' people - for some odd reason I can get more done between 6am and 9am then I can during the rest of the day. So most of our breakfasts are set for between 7-8am; with the thought that we'll be up anyway (even on vacation I can't sleep past 6:30am...it's a curse).

Welcome to the boards! I don't have children but I do have a child-like whiney grumpsy spouse so I can relate.
Since you do not have the park hopper I would definately recommend scheduling breaks. Tour the Magic Kingdom in the morning go back to the hotel for a swim, nap, and snack and then head back to the park. The parks can be overwhelming and by taking scheduled breaks you know that there is an end (break) in sight and it gives everyone time to regroup.

I did Pick a Pearl in September of 2007. I LOVE my pearl. I got a rare blue pearl. At first I was dissapointed because I wanted a traditional white, but I fell in love with it. I now wear it everytime I dress up. Be prepared that it can get crowded and you may have to wait a little bit. But it is in a very nice and fairly large gift shop. Also bring extra money for it if you want to have it set in a ring, necklace, etc.

Good luck!

Thanks for the welcome! A blue pearl? Wow - that must be beautiful! I'm getting SO excited about that part; I plan to get my son to pick a pearl too, for my mother. I've told her nothing about this part of WDW (she adores pearls), so I hope to take pictures during every part of this process, then print them and put them in a pretty album. Then for Christmas, I'm going to put the album in a box, so that when she opens it, it will be the first thing she sees. She'll flip through it - and the last page will be a card that says, "And that's how we got your present!" Then ta-da! When she looks in the box again, she'll find a pearl in a beautiful rose cage that I got off E-bay. Though....my plans rarely work out that well. She might end up with socks

Thank you ALL so much for your help!! I'm feeling so much better getting advice from people who actually know a thing or two about Disney...compared to the random people I talk to on the bus every morning because I can't stop talking about my trip!

Now that I've gotten the initial "I can't stop talking about Disney and I need to cram everything into a few posts on the Pre-Trip board" - I'm actually going to go back and try to organize and all that jazz...so bear with me! And I can't tell how you excited I was to see people reading this! (I AM a Disneynerd).

 

[Tatalee]

Right, so I've made a number of posts already, but it was coming from the simply need to get all my excited jumble of thoughts on the board. Now that I've calmed down some...a tiny bit, really...I've decided to make an attempt to get this Pre-Trip report a little more organized. It might work, it might fail, I might get lost in my suitcase along the way (I swear - for everything I put in, my son takes out and replaces with ridiculous things....); but I'm going to try!

So....I being with:

The idea is born!

Obviously I'm a big Disney fan. Never been to the park before (never been out of my Province before, except one quick trip to New Brunswick for an afternoon at Magic Mountain which was nothing compared to where I really wanted to be - Disney World.)

Once I became a mother myself, the idea crossed my mind once or twice. Or anytime I say anything that remotely related to Disney World. But I always thought that Disney World was something way out of my price zone, so the idea's were pushed as far back as I could possible shove them.

The one fine day back in March of this year, a co-worker asked me to go with her to the travel agent down the road on our lunch break. She was in the middle of planning her honeymoon, and needed to pick something up to go over. So I agreed (though glared at her every time her back was turned because she was going somewhere exciting and I was SO not), and off we went.

When we arrived, her TA was busy with another lady at her little cubicle, so my co-worker and I took a seat and looked around at the big promotional displays that they have up on the walls. It was then that my eye landed on Mickey Mouse - live, in color, and bigger then I am.

Another lovely TA happened to notice that I was staring (okay, so maybe I WAS nearly drooling at the thought of WDW...) and asked me if I would like her to looking prices for WDW, or assist me in any way. I know it's the little spiel they learn in TA school but darn it! She was so good at it that who was I to burst her bubble?

I kept telling myself that I was only doing it to kill time while my co-worker singed all the forms to have the time of her life, and that I could never afford it. And THEN....well. Then she told me about free dining. My heart about stopped, and I managed to spit out a few random dates between September and October (since I had no opportunity to take a vacation due to the nature of my work until that time).

She made me wait a few minutes, clicked away on the computer, and came back with a price that had me going, "Hunh? Is that per person?" When she told me that it was NOT per person and was in fact for the entire party of three that I'd requested (I knew that if I mentioned the word DISNEY in front of my then 17 year old sister, that I'd be subjected to unthinkable acts unless it was followed by 'and you're coming too').

The price had thrown me for a loop - I mean, it was unthinkable. It was crazy. It was nothing that I'd ever expected. It was affordable.

To this day I couldn't tell you where my co-worker went on her honeymoon.

My mind was focused on Disney. I hadn't booked anything (because as affordable as it was, it was also something that needed the full park ticket price as a deposit; since it was through a touring company); and even though it was affordable - I would need to wait until my next pay to actually come up with said deposit.

And I still wasn't sure. I had a lot of things to consider (my son had been having a LOT of difficulties with school and behavior; so was Disney the right thing at this time?). After a lot of discussion with my best friend that night, and speaking with the above mentioned then 17 year old sister - I knew that there wasn't an option.

WE WERE GOING TO DISNEY!!!!

 

[Tatalee]

The airline situation...

So obviously we have to get to Walt Disney World. Our trip didn't include the airfare (since that would also be included in full, for the deposit and I was so afraid to lose my great price...), so minutes after booking it, I was on the Air Canada site. I know nothing about booking airline tickets. Nothing.

I know people sometimes wait until the last minute, people sometimes book really early, some people actually know what they're doing! This was the hardest part for me. Did I book in March and see this price drop a lot and the kick myself because I'd actually ended up paying a lot more? Did I wait, hoping for a better price, and end up paying double then what the prices were in March?

I ended up with a migraine.

Then another co-worker turned me on to this website that actually tracked all the flights from any online website. So I signed up and plugged in Air Canada, Westjet, and Expedia. My Blackberry beeped about ten time a day for the first few months, anytime a rate changed on any of those sites. It was a bit annoying - but in the end, very worth it.

The prices kept changing (going from what I considered a normal rate of about $295 each way, to a hefty $350), and I kept stressing out about the whole airline issue. I'd socked away enough money to actually cover a good portion of the tickets (I have no credit card, and refuse to get one), and then one bright day in May - I got an email at about 4am my time.

The beeping woke me up and I noticed that the prices had dropped to an amazing $170 each way, per person. I was stunned. I had more then enough put away to cover that, but *sigh* needed a credit card to actually make the bookings, since the TA wasn't open yet.

I think I pretty much yanked my son out of bed (thank goodness that this was a Saturday) and jumped on the bus to my mother's house. I arrived at about 8am (darn Saturday bus schedules!), and pounded on the door until she let me in. I think I was in near panic, and babbling something about 'really great prices, let me in now and fork over your credit card, please'.

My mother's not the brightest in the morning, especially when she's been dragged out of bed by a daughter who's about to jump out of her skin. By the time I could make her understand, and get her computer loaded to the proper site, I was so excited that I could barely sit still.

Then the prices loaded up.

Gone was my $170 each way, per person - and in it's place was a gross $275. I'm not embarrassed to say that I promptly burst into tears. But being as determined to meet Mickey Mouse as I am, I called the airline; got a really nice lady who was patient with my wailing, and when she finally figured out what I was saying - she informed me that they'd only released 10 seat tickets at that price, and that none were left.

I think my crying scared her.

It was then (and remember now, my son was with me so he was bawling too by this point, though he had no idea why), that she took pity on me. She told me that when this happens, it's usually a discount ticket company that buys the entire block of tickets and re-sells them.

Sure enough, my trusty Blackberry started beeping.

Luck (or as I like to think, Tinkerbell) was on my side - it was an email from my even trustier tracking site; letting me know that Expedia was, at that moment, selling my tickets at $170 each way, per person.

I screamed, lunged, typed like a mad woman, and within five minutes - the seats were mine. Even with the $25 per person booking fee - I'd saved enough money not to care.

At least now we weren't hitchhiking to WDW!!

 

[coltink]

Thanks for the welcome! A blue pearl? Wow - that must be beautiful! I'm getting SO excited about that part; I plan to get my son to pick a pearl too, for my mother. I've told her nothing about this part of WDW (she adores pearls), so I hope to take pictures during every part of this process, then print them and put them in a pretty album. Then for Christmas, I'm going to put the album in a box, so that when she opens it, it will be the first thing she sees. She'll flip through it - and the last page will be a card that says, "And that's how we got your present!" Then ta-da! When she looks in the box again, she'll find a pearl in a beautiful rose cage that I got off E-bay. Though....my plans rarely work out that well. She might end up with socks
.

Here are a few pictures from my pick a pearl experience.

 

[trickiwoo]

Great PTR! I'm going to WDW for my first time this September too!!!

Oh wow! I'd never heard of Pick A Pearl until your PTR! I am actively researching it right now!!!

I can't wait to read more about your trip!

 

[Tatalee]

Here are a few pictures from my pick a pearl experience.

Oooo that pearl is beautiful!!! I've heard SO many different picking techniques....I think I'm going with 'the uglier/hairier' the better - and crossing my fingers!

I bought the two pearl setting that I am hoping to use from eBay today. My fear is that the pearls will be too small, but I'll figure out a way to make it work!

This will be for my own pearl:

The one will be for my mother's pearl:


Both are plated with white gold, though the carriage looks like yellow gold in that pic.

Great PTR! I'm going to WDW for my first time this September too!!!

Oh wow! I'd never heard of Pick A Pearl until your PTR! I am actively researching it right now!!!

I can't wait to read more about your trip!

Hello! YAY! Another first timer going in September! Are you going as crazy as I am?

I was in the same boat, I'd never heard of Pick A Pearl until I saw it on the boards! The prices for settings right in WDW seemed a bit out of my price limit though, so I looked on eBay - the store I used has AMAZING pearl cages.

So that's all set *sigh* now I just need to figure out how to make time go faster!!

 

[Tatalee]

I knew that with the border changes this trip was going to include a bit of paperwork, since no one in our party had a passport. I put off the whole process a bit, knowing that it would only take about two weeks for the passport's to be mailed out to me - and promptly turned to more fun things (like checking out all the entertainment and rides at WDW!)

Little did I know how stressful it would all be....

The Passports
The actual application forms looked pretty easy, I filled them out online and printed them out. It said that I would need original birth certificates, plus our Health Cards and photo ID's.

My son's birth certificate had actually been ruined some months prior in a flood that totally destroyed everything in the spare room of my apartment. So I went down to our vital statistics office and explained that I was making a passport application and needed a new birth certificate.

It was issued instantly, just printed right off, and I headed back home; planning to go to the Passport Office the very next morning since I was on a break in service between job positions and knew that I wouldn't have anything else to do.

The next morning I double checked to be sure that I had all the documentation, including the completed forms, tucked safely in my purse. All was well - and about ten minutes before my son and I had to leave the house to catch the bus, my phone rang; and off I went.

When the phone call, and bus ride, were dealt with, we arrived at the Passport Office. I was thrilled to find that there wasn't a wait at all! We were called up to a wicket two minutes after we got there.

So I said I was making two applications, and opened my purse. To find that the carefully placed passport applications were not inside of my purse. I was shocked, stressed that they had somehow managed to fall out of my purse, and my son - my lovely son - elected to take that time to tell me that he'd gone into my purse (which he KNOWS he's not allowed to do), to pull out one of the little toys I keep inside to occupy him in places like the Passport Office.

Urgh!!!

So we headed back out, caught a bus, got back home about 45 minutes later, grabbed the applications AGAIN, hopped back on a bus, and after what felt like another year, we were back at the Passport Office.

The wait had gone up to an hour.

When we finally got back up to a wicket, I handed over my own application and pictures. Not a problem there, thank heavens. Then I provided her with my son's information; application, photos, health card, and birth certificate.

Another urgh!!!

She proceeded to tell me that since my son's father and I had never officially been married (we were in a common-law relationship); then we needed a whole different birth certificate. If we had been married at any point in our lives, a short form birth certificate would have been okay.

I'm not quite sure why this is - but with no wriggle room, I had no other choice. *sigh* So I had to collect my child (who was at that point off in the corner folding booklets threatening against bringing chickens across the boarder into airplanes....) and truck right back down the five blocks in the heat, with a cranky child, back to the Vital Statistics office.

Thaaaaaaaat's right.

We were headed back to the Passport Office for the third time. Took awhile to get back to a wicket, a lot of muttered curses - but finally all forms had been dropped off.

I'm sure that whole story will be funny. At some point. Maybe when my son is 30. I'll be honest, though If the price for a marriage certificate had been cheaper then a long-form birth certificate - I might've been tempted to call my sons father and tell him to bring his butt down.

In any event - the passports arrived today!!!! Just makes this trip seem that much closer, and finally gave me something to put in the pretty passport covers I bought ages ago!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Just had to post since our trip dates are so similar....

(drum roll please)



I got my WDW travel docs today!

and...

My Magical Express Vouchers and tags!




It's OFFICIAL. Our trips are getting CLOSE!

 

[Tatalee]

Just had to post since our trip dates are so similar....

(drum roll please)



I got my WDW travel docs today!

and...

My Magical Express Vouchers and tags!




It's OFFICIAL. Our trips are getting CLOSE!

YAY!!! How EXCITING!!!

We have not received our packages as of yet. I know that we will be getting ours from the ME soon...I hope. I called two weeks ago to confirm that our reservations had been made and updated with new flight information - and was told that the package was being mailed out in 5 days. So add in the time it takes to get to Canada, and however long it takes my TA...so hopefully sometime next week!

I know other things arrive from Disney, but I'm not sure if we'll end up getting any of the coupons that come when you book online or on the phone. We went through a TA, who went through Nolitours - and I have no idea how they book. But I'm not worried, since I'm still going to DISNEY!!!

 

[Tatalee]

Everyday seems to bring a change of mind, heart, and crowd levels. There are SO many things that I want to do, to see, to experience. Twenty years of wishing, dreaming, and planning has left me with a list of things that's nearly overwhelming. I keep reading crowd level reports, ride/attraction wait times, etc...and can't help but get a little stressed out.

So I've forced myself to sit back, and remember that this is not my trip. It's my son's trip, and I have to be realistic and understand that he won't be able to rush around the park on my schedule, nor will he be able to wait in the line ups. This has let me back up, relax, and just go with the flow.

Well, as much as possible - I am a control freak

That said, this is our tentative itinerary:

Thursday September 24/09
4:00am - Our limo arrives to take us to the airport (...yeah a limo!!!)
7:00am - First flight leaves
12:37pm - Arrive in Orlando
2:00pm - *crosses fingers* I'm hoping that we'll be at the ASMu
4:00pm* - Early supper at Planet Hollywood
*checking everyday in hopes of changing that to 5-6pm

Friday September 25/09
8:30am - Hopefully have arrived at MK; as I believe that we will be admitted earlier for our Pirates League appointment
9:00am - Hopefully be in place for the Pirates League
9:15am - Pirates League appointment
1:05pm - Lunch at the Plaza
3:00pm - Hoping to catch 'A Dream Come True' Parade

Saturday September 26/09
7:15am - Chef Mickey Breakfast Buffet (am thinking we'll have to take a taxi for this one)
1:00pm - Most likely back to the hotel for a cool down/possibly nap
8:00pm - Spectromagic Parade back at MK
9:00pm - Wishes

Sunday September 27/09
10:15am - Tusker House Breakfast Buffet
3:45pm - Jammin' Jungle Parade

Monday September 28/09
8:05am - Playhouse Breakfast Buffet
9:00am - *insert DM here leaving the table and RUSHING to get FP's for TSM then RUSHING back to eat (and hopefully not breaking an ankle in the process)
3:00pm - Block Party Bash (hopefully - I know know the length of this)
3:45pm* - Mama Melrose for an early supper
*checking every day in hopes of changing that to 5-6pm

Tuesday September 29/09
9:00am - Already arrived at EPCOT
10:00amish - Pick a Pearl!!!!!!!!! (Mommy time!)
1:30pm - Leave for Downtown Disney
4:00pm - T-Rex Cafe for early supper (OOP)
7:00pm - Hopefully be back in EPCOT by this time
8:00pm - Illuminations

Wednesday September 30/01
10:25am - Supercalifragilistic Breakfast Buffet
*lazy day, though most likely back to MK

Thursday October 1/09
Possibly head to DHS for opening, to ride TSM
If we DO go to DHS in morning, there will be an early afternoon nap
3:30pm - Sci-Fi for early supper
8:00pm - Fantasmic

Friday October 2/09
11:45am - Lunch at Planet Hollywood
Head back for our final day at Animal Kingdom

Saturday October 3/09
6:55am - Flight leaves MCO
2:35pm - Back home!

We've given up MNSSHP - would make for too much stimulation for my son. I think we're getting everything in that we want, with some hotel breaks in the longer days.

 

[DisneysRedhead]

Everything looks great so far! You are much better at scouting out plane tickets than I am, your tickets were a steal!! Can't wait to read more.

 

[coltink]

Your plans sound great. Just keep in mind that it's not the end of the world if your plans change. The last time we went I was all about sticking to a schedule and rushing and running everywhere. Once I realized that there was no way that we were going to be able to do EVERYTHING I just relaxed and really enjoyed myself.