When you Wish Upon a Star, Disney Dreams are not that far...

[Jenny Sanders]

Ok people, we now leave in 62 days! A lot going on this week. I get to do on line check in (for 2 resort stays), and reserve my FP+. I think I'll be ordering Memory Maker as well...

Planning for a Disney vacation is like a trip to see your lawyer. There is so much "paperwork." There's soooo much to think about and schedule. Remember the days when you could just wing it at WDW? Next thing you know, we will have to plan what time we brush our teeth...Just kidding. All I'm saying is that it takes a lot of time to plan a Disney vacation, because expectations are high, time is limited, and we don't want to feel like we are missing out...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Hello everyone! I get to book FP+ in 2 more days!!! I am sooooo excited! Everyone has their list, as I mentioned before, and I'm not anticipating any problems (knock on wood). So, MDE better not experience any technical difficulties!!!

The girls loved their MagicBandits. They really are cute. I may have to order more, to change them out on a daily basis. Is anyone that crazy?

I also get to do online check in this week. I don't think I will have any grand requests. The Royal Room at POR will be fine. I guess I could request the highest floor (if that's an option). At POFQ, we have a garden view. I guess I could request a top floor there as well. What are some of your favorite room requests??? I just don't want to overlook any garbage areas or bus depots...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I did online check in for POR this morning. I requested the highest room, but will accept anything to have our room ready early (as long as I still get the garden view I paid for). Tomorrow, I do online check in for POFQ and reserve my FP+...Wish me luck!!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Its been a busy morning in the Sperandeo household. I started by doing online check in for POFQ. I bought Memory Maker-YAY! And, finally, I reserved all my FP+. It went about as smooth as it could go, and I walked away with everything I wanted. I still don't like how you can't reserve Test Track and Soarin'...Anyway, here's what I reserved:

MK: 7 Drawfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight and Thunder Mountain Railroad

AK: Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, and Everest

Epcot: Test Track, Spaceship Earth and Mission Space

The only reservation I really wanted was for the Mine Train, since it wasn't operational last time I visited WDW. So, I now feel complete, and happy with what I have planned for my Disney trip in June.

Did I tell you all we are going to St Pete for 5 nights after WDW? We are going to visit my husband's parents. While we are there, the Chicago White Sox are playing the Rays, so we bought tickets (We are HUGE Sox fans). We will be sitting 5 rows behind the Sox dug out!!! This also makes me sooo happy!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

58 days to go! I think we will go shopping again next week for a few more summer things...Come on, how can you not enjoy clothes shopping???

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoying my pre trip report. I am trying to be as accurate as possible, and I noticed I screwed up yesterday. I said we leave in 58 days, but it was actually 57, cause it's 56 today. I think I'm all messed up, because we are driving this time, and I keep forgetting that we are leaving June 4th for a June 5th arrival at WDW...So, sorry about that...

Anyway, who buys Memory Maker? I just purchased it earlier in the week for our upcoming trip (that's 56 days away). My husband and I bought it for our last trip and LOVED it. We had hundreds of pictures, and I'd say the quality was excellent. I don't think we had a bad photo. We also had a lot of "magic shots." It's so nice to not have to worry about lugging around the big Nikon to the parks. Now, we only bring it to resort dinners and down by the pool. If you haven't gotten it, I highly recommend it for your upcoming Disney vacation. It's also nice that everyone in your party can be in the picture...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Good morning. I'm drinking my coffee and fantasizing about the Disney mugs at Starbucks. I would love to get one during my trip. I would honestly use it every day!!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

53 days to go! My oh my, the trip is getting closer and closer. I'm actually paying it off tomorrow!!! Can you say goodbye to thousands of dollars...But, it will be worth it!!! Does anybody else cringe when they have to pay off their Disney vacation???

 

[Jenny Sanders]

So, I forgot to mention yesterday...I did a little more shopping for the upcoming vacation. I bought the girls each 2 pairs of pajamas from Old Navy. I also bought myself a lightweight sweatshirt (although, I don't think I will need it in Florida in June).

My question for today is...who does rope drop? Not me, I much prefer to sleep in. Although, I did book MK FP+ for the morning. But, by that point, we would have had 2 non park days of lounging by the pool and sleeping in...Rope drop just really isn't my style. I've been to WDW sooooo many times, that if I miss an attraction here or there, it's no big deal. Plus, I really like the new FP+ system. I'm guaranteed (unless the attraction breaks down)3 favs without running around and waiting in a loooong line to ride them...

 

[Disneychix]

I don't like FP+ at all. They need to get a handle on how they are going to start giving out more than 3. The lines for adding additional FPs at the kiosk are ridiculous.
We are not rope drop people. But we do like an early morning ADR at Crystal Palace. That is my favorite. Other than that we are morning people but not quite rope drop!

i am taking a quick trip with my mom and will be there some of the same dates as you. I'm looking forward to the SUN and HEAT! although I know it will be Hot Hot Hot, that's quite alright!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I don't like FP+ at all. They need to get a handle on how they are going to start giving out more than 3. The lines for adding additional FPs at the kiosk are ridiculous.
We are not rope drop people. But we do like an early morning ADR at Crystal Palace. That is my favorite. Other than that we are morning people but not quite rope drop!

i am taking a quick trip with my mom and will be there some of the same dates as you. I'm looking forward to the SUN and HEAT! although I know it will be Hot Hot Hot, that's quite alright!

OMG! I am soooo looking forward to the sun and heat! It was a rough winter up here in Illinois, very cold and blustery. That's so cool that you will be there some of the same dates I will...I cannot wait to lay by the pool with a nice, cold, alcoholic beverage!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Who is a Pandora jewelry fan??? I am! I am! My husband surprised me yesterday and told me he will buy me a Disney, Pandora bracelet and 2 charms when we are in Disney. I told you he was a great guy. I already have a regular, Pandora bracelet that's almost full. For Christmas, my husband gave me 3 Disney charms. But, I decided I needed to have a 2nd bracelet exclusive to Disney and WDW. So, by taking the Disney charms off the original, it will free up room on that one for additional non Disney charms. Am I making sense? In other words, I will have 1 Disney bracelet, and 1 hodgepodge bracelet...

That being said, how crazy busy is the jewelry store on Main Street in MK? And, where else can you get Pandora in WDW?????? I appreciate any help any of you can give me...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Going Florida/summer shopping again today. My mom, myself and my girls are heading out about 1030. First, we will make that coveted Starbucks run...I could use a few more cute tops. The girls are set. If they find anything, it will be a bonus.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

46 days to go...My Memory Maker came over the weekend. It looks like it's already linked to my MDE account. So, that's cool.

The girls and I went shopping over the weekend, and I have to say, it was another successful trip. I bought myself 2 tops and a pair of earrings. Ashley got 3 tops, a ring and a pair of shorts, and Ali got a romper, 2 tees and 2 bandeaus. We had a lot of fun. My mom came with us, and we stopped at Starbucks and went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch. Plus, the weather was beautiful.

It's getting closer...who else has a June trip coming up???

 

[Jenny Sanders]

OMG! It is so cold here today! I went out to the mailbox, and I froze my butt off. Anyway, enough of the weather report. I forgot to mention that at the beginning of May, I get to pre order lunch from BOG. Has anyone done this? If so, what are the benefits of ordering early?

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Does anyone else obsess over the many menus at WDW? Am I the only one who pre plans what they will eat on vacation? I'm salivating over lobster rolls, lobster and filet and breakfast at Olivia's Cafe. The banana bread French toast is to die for...My husband thinks I'm crazy. My kids think I'm crazy. And, my friends think I'm just plain nuts.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

So, my sister is having her first baby. Her ultrasound yesterday showed the baby "bouncing like Tigger." So, you know what that means...When I am at Disney in 43 days, Auntie Jenny will buy the baby a Tigger stuffed animal. How cute is that?

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Good morning! I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has been following along on my pre trip blog to WDW. I really appreciate your interest in what I have to say. At least, I hope you find what I have to say interesting. I have been writing since high school and have had a few poems published in a tiny magazine years back, but this is the first time I have religiously blogged. I did put some poems and such on Salon.com a couple years ago, but I don't think that site is even around anymore. Plus, I go by the name Jenny Sperandeo (married name). You can google me, and read some of my other stuff. I wrote a lot about Disney and my experiences there. The DIS won't allow me to change my name on this site (don't really understand why not, especially with technology being what it is today)...Anyway, thank you. I am humbled that anyone would care enough to read my words. It truly means a lot.

Ok, enough of the sentimentality...I leave for Florida in 41 days, and I can't wait. The countdown has officially begun. It's raining here in good, old, Oswego, Il, and it makes me long for the Florida sun even more. Not to mention: Dole Whips, the Jungle Cruise, POFQ, and lots of Disney shopping...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

We are now 38 days out. I did some more shopping yesterday, and I think I'm just about set...I cannot wait to get to WDW!!!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I'm kind of bummed, but my daughters are thrilled...We HAD reservations at the Maya Grill our first night in WDW (this was one of the new restaurants we were going to try this vacation). But, thanks to my obsessive, over thinking, I decided to recheck menus this morning before I left for work. Thank God I did...They changed the menu at Maya Grill!!! There is nothing my daughters will eat. So, I went to MDE and started looking through dining AGAIN...Remember, we leave in 38 days, and all my reservations were made 180 days ago. There were a few things that caught my eye, but nothing that made me happy. I remembered my daughters asking for T-Rex Cafe, but I vetoed them and said no. Been there, done that. Plus there was nothing available anyway. Until...I remembered they only release some reservations to Disney, and they hold the rest. You can call them directly. So, I did. Low and behold, we have a reservation lined up for our first night, and we don't have to fight the DTD traffic, because we can take the boat from POR...My daughters are thrilled (they have dined there before, and I honestly don't understand the appeal), my husband is happy, because he can take a relaxing boat ride and not deal with crappy drivers and construction, and I'm happy...because everyone else is happy.