Well Begun is Half-Done - An Epic September 2012 Pre-Trip Report

[teffy]

Hello all! And welcome to my pre-trip report. I'm less than 6 months away and I think the only thing keeping me sane is planning our trip back to WDW after many, many years away. So here it goes...

First off, meet the crew that makes up this epic trip of epicosity!!

Me! I’m Stephanie, but Teffy is perfectly acceptable. I just turned 30 in January. I’m a huge nerd. I teach at an elementary school which can tire me out, but I really do enjoy my job and it’s very rewarding. I went to WDW a lot when I was younger, but haven’t been since I was 13. My sister and I took a trip when we were in college out to Disneyland. Needless to say it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a castle. I love all the nostalgia associated with the parks.

My sister, April, but she is Apey to me. She's 29. We’re 14 months apart and we’ve done a lot of things together over the years. I can’t remember a time when Apey wasn’t here. That’s the best thing about little sisters...instant friends! She totally loves the Disney magic. She went to culinary school and in college got to do an internship at WDW. She worked at the Poly which is why we have plans to eat at Kona and Ohana while we’re there!

My bff Karen, but she’s Karon to me. She's 30 as well. We’ve been friends since 6th grade and she’s one of the only people I’ve stayed friends with all this time. She is funny and silly, which is why I think we get along so well! She went to WDW when she was younger, but hasn't been back in a long time. She works at the zoo in our city with the birds. She is very excited about visiting AK!

And Karon’s boyfriend, Victor. He's 27. He’s a lot of fun and although I haven’t known him for long I know him and Karon are perfect for each other. He works at the zoo as well and is super into trains. He has never been to WDW and he is all about the super intense rides so I’m glad to have a riding buddy!


That's us! Here is sort of what we're planning.

• 
  7 days, 6 nights @ All-Star Movies (Karon and Victor are leaving a day earlier)

• Basic Dining Plan

• 5 day Park Hopper

• 4 parks - MK, AK, EPCOT, DHS

• 7 dining reservations

• snacking around World Showcase

• lots and lots of skipping down Main Street!

 

[teffy]

The Details of our Trip
Monday September 3rd - Sunday September 9th
5 days/6 nights at All-Star Movies
DDP - 1 QS, 1TS, 1Snack per night
5 day park hoppers

The plan is to arrive Monday afternoon/night. I fly down from Atlanta, the rest of them fly in from Tulsa. My sister arrives in the afternoon so she’s going to get us all checked into our room. We’re planning to have adjoining or rooms next to Karon and Victor. I get in later at 7:30pm. We’re taking Magical Express and we’re not renting a car or anything. We leave Sunday morning. April and I have the same flight back. We decide to get the 5 day tickets instead of 6 or 7 because we know we won’t spend any time at the parks that first night or last morning.

ADR’S
Just made this last week. Did it online. The 180 days +10 wasn't working online, it kept giving me an error so I just ended up getting up each day and doing the res before going to work. It wasn't hard to get them really since we're not going anywhere that fills up super fast.

9/4 -
Breakfast - Chef Mickey’s (4)
Dinner - 50s Prime Time (2)
9/5-
Lunch - Chefs de France (2)
Dinner - Ohana (4)
9/6-
Lunch - Sci-Fi (4)
9/7-
No ADR's we're eating around the world at Epcot all afternoon!
9/8-
Breakfast - Kona (2)
Lunch - Garden View Tea Room (2)

Some of the meals we're eating all four of us together and some it's just me and my sister. Karon and Victor picked out other places to eat for just themselves. I'm really excited for all of us to eat a late dinner at Ohana and watch Wishes while sipping my Lapu Lapu.