What's It To You!?! The First of three AP Pre-Trip Reports - Updated 9/30

[Quacktatty]

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to what should hopefully be the first of my three trip reports for October 2009 - October 2010. I am a brand new AP holder and I am looking forward to taking full advantage of it!

This is my 3rd trip report in as many years. If you want to read more about me, please check out my previous trips:

Around the World in 8 Days from January 2007

and more recently

A Commando on Valium from September 2008

 

[Quacktatty]

Who: Just me! I'll give you a little bit more about me I guess! I am 27 years old (I'll be 28 at the time of my trip) and love traveling solo. I like to have total control over a trip and being solo allows me to do that. I recently bought a house, actually I closed less than a week after returning from my September trip.

I also adopted two cats from the humane society after Christmas.

Clyde aka Clydezilla, Booger T. Washington and Buddy Boy
and
Maisy aka Princess, Pretty Girl and Trouble Maker

They are a brother and sister who I have grown to love dearly despite the fact that they sneeze 100 times a day and leave snot over everything I own!

What: My 3rd Solo trip to Disney World and the longest trip ever
Where: Pop Century and Animal Kingdom Lodge
When: October 21st, 2009 through October 31st, 2009
Why: Why not? But really, I have been planning this trip in my mind for over a year now. I went to WDW for Food and Wine once back in 2003, but I actually had NO idea that Food and Wine was going on! I did get to see Pat and Betty, the Reynolds Wrap Ladies though!

I've also been wanting to do Universal Studios and Sea World. I haven't been for many many years, since before it was anything but shows. I love roller coasters and both parks have some good ones.

How....? Stay Tuned

 

[Philadisney]

I'm here! I really liked your last TR. Looking forward to this one too!

 

[MickeyNicki]

YAY I'm in!

We will be there the same time, we might make the same dining ressies to! POFQ Oct 22-25 and BWI Oct 25 to Nov 1

We totally need to compare notes!

 

[Quacktatty]

I'm here! I really liked your last TR. Looking forward to this one too!

Thanks for stopping in!

YAY I'm in!

We will be there the same time, we might make the same dining ressies to! POFQ Oct 22-25 and BWI Oct 25 to Nov 1

We totally need to compare notes!

Wow, almost exactly the same times - I get there one day earlier, you leave one day later!! We will definitely have to compare notes (and ADRs!)

 

[shordiebecka]

I'm here!!! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi! I really enjoyed your dining review and now I just voted on your where to eat thread! I tried to send you to Kona Island Sushi Bar, does not look like you will make it there...

Will have to read your previous trip reports, too, but this one sounds like a great plan! I love AKL and Food and Wine should be a lot of fun!

 

[Quacktatty]

I'm here!!! Can't wait to hear more!

I will post more soon!

Hi! I really enjoyed your dining review and now I just voted on your where to eat thread! I tried to send you to Kona Island Sushi Bar, does not look like you will make it there...

Will have to read your previous trip reports, too, but this one sounds like a great plan! I love AKL and Food and Wine should be a lot of fun!

I'm actually really tempted to try Kona Island Sushi Bar - although I think you can order their sushi while eating at Kona, so that's an option too. I will be getting to all of the restaurants in my year of trips, that's a promise!

 

[Flossbolna]

I'm actually really tempted to try Kona Island Sushi Bar - although I think you can order their sushi while eating at Kona, so that's an option too. I will be getting to all of the restaurants in my year of trips, that's a promise!

We had dinner at Kona in January and there was the Sushi menu on the table, so yes, you can get it there, too. But then would this count as eating at Kona??? Anyway, I hope you will enjoy your food, wherever you end up eating whatever!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Just found you and subbied!

I'd love to do a solo trip sometime! How fun!

Your kitties are precious; I have two, also. They're my kids for the time being; such wonderful animals!

 

[wdwfanatic316]

Subscribing! This is my first time reading a trip report- can't wait to hear more!

I'm also planning an Oct. trip, to help celebrate (if that's the right word for it!) my 30th birthday, but I'm planning on being there Oct. 9th-14th. I haven't convinced my DH yet though

 

[If U Had Wings]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all the plans.

 

[Quacktatty]

We had dinner at Kona in January and there was the Sushi menu on the table, so yes, you can get it there, too. But then would this count as eating at Kona??? Anyway, I hope you will enjoy your food, wherever you end up eating whatever!

It would if I had sushi just as an App!!

Just found you and subbied!

I'd love to do a solo trip sometime! How fun!

Your kitties are precious; I have two, also. They're my kids for the time being; such wonderful animals!

Aren't they the best? Clyde is sick right now with a terrible cold and I am spending so much time wiping his nose I'm beginning to think he is a kid!

Subscribing! This is my first time reading a trip report- can't wait to hear more!

I'm also planning an Oct. trip, to help celebrate (if that's the right word for it!) my 30th birthday, but I'm planning on being there Oct. 9th-14th. I haven't convinced my DH yet though

Woohoo!! Glad I could break you in

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all the plans.

There are too many choices and not enough plans at this point!

 

[Quacktatty]

For uber planners such as myself, this new 90 day booking window is a killer! On one hand I like it because it gives more time to really work things out and park hours are probably a little firmer, but on the other hand, I'm going NUTS! I read and plan and read and plan and read and plan and don't have anything concrete yet.

So far about the only things I know for sure on my 11 day schedule are:

Day 1 - Arrive
Day 2 - Backstage Magic
....
Day 6 - Universal Studios
Day 7 - Islands of Adventure
...
Day 11 - Leave

Everything else is a mystery. I'm not even sure if I'll be going to Sea World anymore...I think trying to do 7 parks over 11 days will be pushing it. I could easily save Sea World for next time.

I still have soooo much left to do, but can't really do any of it yet:

Book Flights - I will probably fly SWA since right now Delta flights are expensive and I don't want to waste credit card points. However, the booking window doesn't open until the middle of April. And even then, I will only be able to book the first leg of my flight because booking is only through October 30th and I return on the 31st

Rent a Car - prices are still high and it's way too early to start thinking about yet. I did at least finally decide on getting a car. This will be my first time to rent a vehicle for a WDW trip. It'll add quite a lot of cost to the trip, but seeing as it would cost me like $50 round trip each day I go to Universal, it will be worth it. Plus I can get to the airport when I want to, not when DME wants me to!

ADRs - Obviously, I have to wait on this one. I believe my booking date is July 23rd (the day before my birthday). I only have two restaurants that are firm, Jiko and Ohana. The rest I am leaving up to the DISboards to decide! Have you voted in my poll yet???
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2107308

Tours - Right now I am only planning on doing Backstage Magic. I think the 3 tours on my last trip was over doing it just a tad If for some reason I can get some crazy discount, I'd like to change over to AKL Club Level and if I do I will do the Wildlife Discovery Tour. But the chances of that happening are slim to none.

I do have a couple things taken care of - Tickets!!!

I got my AP voucher in the mail a little while ago

It took me about 3 hours to figure out how to log into the AP website - it's a PITA!!!! But I finally was able to. My tentative plan is to go directly from the airport to DTD and get my AP and TiW card.

I also have my Universal Tickets. I actually won TWO free tickets in the Super Bowl sweepstakes they were having. I can only use one ticket and unfortunately can't pass on the extra to anyone, but at least it means that I am set. That gives me an extra $100 to spend somewhere else (the fuzzy Disney math begins).

So far, so good I guess...but things will really kick into gear once the park hours are released and I can start making ADRs (don't forget to vote!)

Until next time

 

[Flossbolna]

Congratulations for winning those US tickets!!

Backstage Magic sounds really interesting, I am thinking about it for my next trip, too. And don't worrs, you still have so much time to make a plan for those other days!

 

[smarsha4455]

Hi, subbing! I read your trip report and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to see how your plans shape up.

 

[Quacktatty]

Congratulations for winning those US tickets!!

Backstage Magic sounds really interesting, I am thinking about it for my next trip, too. And don't worrs, you still have so much time to make a plan for those other days!

I was so excited to win the tickets. It was definitely a lucky break...gave me an extra $100 to spend elsewhere!

Hi, subbing! I read your trip report and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to see how your plans shape up.

 

[Quacktatty]

So now that I have sufficiently neglected this trip report....

I am really hating this new 90 day rule. I need to plan!!! My 180 day window flew by with no excitement. No park hours, no ADRs, no nothing. I'm just about a month out from 90 days at this point and the plans are starting to get there.

I don't have the days completely solidified yet because the hours aren't released. I also have a question to send to the god of touring plans - Len Testa. I do know that I am going to skip Sea World this time around. It's an extra expense that I don't really need and I think it's going to be over doing it. Maybe next time though.

I have decided (for the most part) where I am going to eat. Right now the plan is:
Jiko
Boma
Ohana
Kona
Sci-Fi
T-Rex (still a maybe, but likely)
Le Cellier

I am super excited about being able to make ADRs online. I hate the phone, so it's a big win for me.

I am waiting on the AP rates for October. I'd like to stay all 10 nights at AKL. I am using a 40% code for my 6 nights there, so if I could get an AP rate for the first 4 nights of the trip and move to AKL from POP it would be awesome. As much as I'd like to try out POP, 10 nights at a deluxe would be so cool. POP will be there the next time!

Not too many changes I guess...once hours are released it'll get better and that should be just around the corner.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Hey there! Long time no see! Happy to find you planning more trips!

I won those Universal tickets too! And I am bummed I have to let mine go to waste. We thought we could fit it in our August trip but it just isn't working out. I haven't been there in years!

Nice to see Kona made your list, I love it there!

Allyson

 

[Flossbolna]

Your ADR list looks good! Not so sure on T-Rex though as it is supposed to be so loud.

Will you tell us about your email correspodence with Len? I have been listening to WDWToday for ages (from around show 40 or so) and think he is very funny. But I am also extremely impressed with his scientific approach to touring plans.

Good luck on the AP rates! 10 nights at AKL would be lovely! Do you already have plans on when you will do the other two trips with your AP?