Thanks to tubachick on another thread, I just learned the show airs again this Friday at 7pm on TLC if anyone wants to see it!
So here’s the current itinerary, which has been scheduled for months in a color-coded Excel spreadsheet (c’mon, you totally do that too). You’ll see my plans aren’t very rigid – I like having options, especially when you’re traveling with someone who doesn’t have a set idea of what they want to do.
Saturday, August 30th
Jakkie and I both arrive at MCO around 9 AM. We are not on the same flight – we booked separately since our return flights are different. I bought a ticket on Air Tran for a decent price, she got a better deal on Southwest. Luckily both our flights are nonstops that arrive around the same time.
We’ll meet up and head to ME, off to check in at Wilderness Lodge! Once we’ve settled in, we’ll spend the afternoon/evening at Epcot checking out Future World. Then we’ll do one of the following: Jellyrolls (she loves piano bars and I have never been there), or Downtown Disney with a stop at the Adventurer’s Club (more on that later).
Sunday, August 31st
If we’re not worn out from too many kungaloosh beverages, it’s off to Kona Café for brunch. I have been there once for dinner, but never had the chance to experience the famous Tonga Toast. I have a feeling I’ll get about three bites down and call it a day. It sounds more like a dessert than a breakfast, but I really want to try it!
Then again, my friend JC & I once made a trip to IHOP when they were doing their Horton Hears A Hoo promotion. For brunch I happily sucked down some Beezleberry Splash (Sprite with chunks of red and blue jello – fabulous) and devoured a stack of hoo-cakes, which featured such nutritious breakfast treats as blue & pink sugar-syrup, sprinkles, and a pink lollipop on top.
Eventually I will have to buy some jello mix and recreate the Beezleberry Splash. Except my version will probably have Malibu in it. Maybe I should make the jello with Malibu…a truly classy, Dr. Seuss version of the jello shot.
Anyway, then its an all day adventure at Magic Kingdom! I’m excited to see the new Monsters Inc attraction, and to show Jakkie Philharmagic. MK is also home to my two very favoritest rides, Splash Mountain and the TTA. When I worked at Disney, I once spent over an hour riding on the TTA over and over again. In the evening we’ll do either Jelloyrolls or DTD, whatever we missed the night before.
Monday, September 1st
A morning at Animal Kingdom with lunch at Yak & Yeti. I am so excited about this – all the pictures I’ve seen of the restaurant look really neat. I don’t particularly love any of the AK restaurants (I really liked Tusker House, but I haven’t been since it became a buffet). We'll also have to hit up Primeval Whirl today because it will be closed the rest of our trip! When we’re done with AK we’ll hit Epcot to finish up there, then if we still need to visit Jellyrolls or DTD, we’ll do that.
Tuesday September 2nd
Our day to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios (I am trying to get used to abbreviating it to DHS, which is hard for me as that’s what we called the high school I went to). In the afternoon we’ll spend some time at the WL pool before Jakkie heads back to the airport for her 8p flight (When I called ME I was told it would be OK for her to take ME back on the 2nd even though I don’t check out til the 3rd, although when my luggage tags came, hers was dated for the 3rd…must sort that out.) A few hours after she leaves Jack will arrive! I believe I have to find an alternate way to get him to WL – if anyone has any suggestions on towncar or cab service, I would much appreciate it!
Wednesday, September 3rd
Jack loves water parks, so we’ll start the day at Typhoon Lagoon. I haven’t been to either water park in about 12 years! When I worked at Disney the weather never cooperated on my days off (Sept-Jan), and all trips since have been too short to schedule it in. But Jack really wants to go to one so I picked TL – I hate being cold and hate the snow, so the theming of Blizzard Beach does not appeal!
For lunch, I want to take a stroll around the Boardwalk. I have only had the chance to check it out once, briefly, years ago. I want to hit up the bakery for lunch and just do some wandering. One of the only trips we have gotten to take together was an overnight in Ocean City, NJ. We walked up and down the boardwalk there and Jack was amused that I kept exclaiming “This is just like the boardwalk in Disney World!” And in the evening, a visit to Magic Kingdom.
Thursday, September 4th
A morning at DHS – I don’t think Jack will be into much there besides Rock N’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. In the evening, a visit to Epcot for some Illuminations! When I worked at Epcot, I spent the month of December doing crowd control at the tree lighting and Illuminations – I saw the show dozens of times but never got tired of it!
Friday, September 5th
We’ll either go to MK or Epcot today depending on our mood. I do have a reservation for lunch at Garden Grill this day, but haven’t totally made up my mind about it. In the afternoon we’ll visit the pool at the Beach Club – yay Stormalong Bay! Maybe a late dinner at Kimonos? They don't take reservations so we'll have to see...
Saturday, September 6th
A visit to either Epcot or MK after we check out of BC. We’ll have to be back at the hotel around 5pm to catch our bus back to the airport Ugh…even just typing about our last day when it’s still weeks away is depressing.
Everything should go smoothly with the flight back – I had quite a headache arranging my air travel for this trip. I had booked a round trip Air Tran flight months ago, and then of course this summer they cancelled half their flights. Including my return flight – they cancelled my 2-hr nonstop leaving at 8pm and put me on a 4-hr leaving earlier in the day with a layover in Dallas. Outrageous! I was really unhappy about it, especially since I was able to get Jack on a nonstop evening flight with US Airways. That flight was only $90, so I ended up purchasing a ticket for myself on it as well. Now I have 2 flights back to Philly! Travelocity said they should be able to refund me for the Air Tran ticket, but since I booked it as round trip, I will have to wait until I get to Florida to get the refund (they can’t cancel half of a reservation). Annoying, but the additional $90 was totally worth the piece of mind that I have a good flight home.
Yay…only 20 days to go!
Good for yo!
and I love what not to wear.. i keep hoping/dreaming someone will sign me up for that show!!
