Will my DH kill me before we get to Disney?? OUR FIRST EVER DW TRIP (MAR. 2011 PTR)

[BridgetR3]

If you are joining us late, all days, resorts, schedules changed after I lost my job in late January. See post #44 to start the "new" PTR!!!

Hey!! This is my first PTR AND our first trip to Disney!!!!

I said that in another thread the other day and was called a "Disney virgin". I suppose we are!!

I will do introductions with pictures later because we haven't even told our family we are going and you never know who is lurking on these boards!

I have always wanted to go to Disney growing up but we just never made it there. DH has actually been when he was like 4 but remembers NOTHING from it. Our two boys (8 and 4) have been asking to go lately with all the commercials that they are playing on TV so I think they will be really excited when they actually find out!!

I almost made it to Disney last year. We had booked a resort on the beach in Florida for our vacation but after the oil spill I began to panic that maybe just maybe we would have to cancel that vacation. It was then that I looked into the prices for Disney and realized much to my surprise that we had spent more money to stay at this "resort" for 5 days/4 night than to go to Disney!!!

No oil ever reached the beach where we were going so we had to do the resort option instead of Disney!

HOWEVER, that meant I knew the REAL price of a Disney trip and I knew that it was VERY doable. Since I was never able to go as a child, I always assumed that it would be impossible for my family to get there. Boy, was I wrong.

I never quit bugging DH about the trip and finally he gave in. I booked our vacation for May 6-14 but we are staying at Disney for the 7-13th. The other two days are travel days!

I hope that I do not bore you tremendously with my PTR. I just figured that most people don't share a first time Disney experience so I could add something new to the mix! AND you could help me plan along the way!

Next time - Resort area, ADRs, and Parks

 

[amyrella]

welcome!! disney is so much fun!! can't wait to hear your plans!

 

[JennisSilly]

Following!

Hey we'll be there at the same time! What hotel are you staying at?

 

[DeckedOut]

We will be there the same week as you! It will be fun to hear about your plans.

 

[BridgetR3]

SO when I wrote the first message on this PTR, we were going to be using the Quick Service Dining Plan with no ADRs needed and no character meals. I'm not sure why we had chosen that except that maybe we felt that actually SITTING down for a meal each day would take too long!!!

BUT...after reading the boards and discovering that most DIS-ers suggest taking time away to relax, we decided to switch over to the regular dining plan with one quick, one table, one snack for each day. The only thing I don't like about this one is that we have lost the refillable mug (for free....I know you can still buy it) and DH drinks like a camel!!! I think I will have to purchase at least one of those for him. Are there any that you can buy for the parks you are in? Are they good for more than one day? OR can you only refill it at the hotel (which I think is ummmm....dumb?)?

We are staying at the ASMO because I think our kids would enjoy that the most. I would probably have rathered CBR or POR (boy I've learned a lot of abbreviations in about a week!) but I think my kids will be more excited IF we get a Toy Story room which we requested.

So without further ado, here is our itinerary for you to look over and pick apart for me!!! We will not have park hoppers so I have chosen ADR's that match my parks or are outside of the parks completely. I picked green parks and I hope this works for us.

Sat. May 7th - Epcot - Dinner at Coral Reef Restaurant
Sun. May 8th - MK - No table service because I think this will be our favorite park and I want to just GO GO GO!!!
Mon. May 9th - HS - Dinner at 50s Prime Time Cafe
Tues. May 10 - AK - Dinner at Trails End Restaurant
Wed. May 11th - MK - Dinner at Crystal Palace Restaurant
Thurs. May 12 - Epcot - Breakfast at Chef Mickey's (want to ride the monorail!!!)
Fri. May 13 - HS - Lunch at Sci-Fi Diner

And that is our itinerary!!! What do you think?? I'll sit back and let you give me hints and tips since we are first timers!!!

Bridget

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Jumping on board for your PTR! So excited for your families first Disney trip. I've been 26 times from 1989-2006, and my DF has NEVER been! He thinks I'm a nut!

 

[amyrella]

good choice on upgrading your dining plan! quick service areas tend to be kind of the same and boring! unless all yorukids are going to eat are chicken fingers or burgers.

you are going to have so much fun!!! cant wait to read more!

 

[BridgetR3]

Sorry it took me a little while to update. I've been away this past week for work.

First off, I can not wait until later this week when I don't have to go hide in my bedroom to read my Disney books!!!

We will tell our kids on Day 100 I think so after that I should be able to read in public again!!

Today I wanted to discuss the beginnings of my plans for Epcot in order to get some advice from all of you!!! We will be spending two days in Epcot. It will be our first day and our last full day. We have an ADR at the Coral Reef Restaurant on the first evening.

Here's the plan or something like that:

First time at Epcot - DH will grab fast pass for Soarin and Test Track. I MAY grab everyone a fast pass for Test Track but I am afraid that my DS8 is going to be afraid of Soarin so I'll let DH do that one alone first. If he deems it o.k. we'll all try it later in the day or the next visit. Just so you know as I go through my PTR, I have motion sickness issues (especially with spinning ) and my DS8 has some anxiety issues with fears so our rides might be quite limited compared to most people's plans.

I think the only way I'll let DH ride Mission:Space is if he promises to ride the "calm" version. He's not in the greatest shape and after all, he has two kids to help me raise!!! I, on the other hand, will not ride it at all because I have been known to pass out on rides with too much G-force (like certain roller coasters).

Must-dos for us:
Soarin (DH)
Test Track (DH or maybe all of us?) Is this scary fast in any way?? Will DS8 claw me to death?
Seas with Nemo (all)
Turtle Talk with Crush (all)
Living with the Land (all)
Club Cool
Journey into Imagination with Figment (all)


Skips:
Capt. EO
Ellen's Energy

To Do in WS:
Kim Possible (a must!!!! We love "quest" type things!) - I'm thinking we will spend MOST of our time using this to see the countries.
Maelstrom (all)
Friendship Taxi (take to dinner?)
Gran Fiesta
Kidcot Stops

Illuminations

Which shows do you suggest? Which ones should we skip?

I'm so ready to tell the kids about the trip this week!!!

Any and all Epcot advice is greatly appreciated!!!

Next time - Magic Kingdom

 

[MelMel11]

SO when I wrote the first message on this PTR, we were going to be using the Quick Service Dining Plan with no ADRs needed and no character meals. I'm not sure why we had chosen that except that maybe we felt that actually SITTING down for a meal each day would take too long!!!

BUT...after reading the boards and discovering that most DIS-ers suggest taking time away to relax, we decided to switch over to the regular dining plan with one quick, one table, one snack for each day. The only thing I don't like about this one is that we have lost the refillable mug (for free....I know you can still buy it) and DH drinks like a camel!!! I think I will have to purchase at least one of those for him. Are there any that you can buy for the parks you are in? Are they good for more than one day? OR can you only refill it at the hotel (which I think is ummmm....dumb?)?

We are staying at the ASMO because I think our kids would enjoy that the most. I would probably have rathered CBR or POR (boy I've learned a lot of abbreviations in about a week!) but I think my kids will be more excited IF we get a Toy Story room which we requested.

So without further ado, here is our itinerary for you to look over and pick apart for me!!! We will not have park hoppers so I have chosen ADR's that match my parks or are outside of the parks completely. I picked green parks and I hope this works for us.

Sat. May 7th - Epcot - Dinner at Coral Reef Restaurant
Sun. May 8th - MK - No table service because I think this will be our favorite park and I want to just GO GO GO!!!
Mon. May 9th - HS - Dinner at 50s Prime Time Cafe
Tues. May 10 - AK - Dinner at Trails End Restaurant
Wed. May 11th - MK - Dinner at Crystal Palace Restaurant
Thurs. May 12 - Epcot - Breakfast at Chef Mickey's (want to ride the monorail!!!)
Fri. May 13 - HS - Lunch at Sci-Fi Diner

And that is our itinerary!!! What do you think?? I'll sit back and let you give me hints and tips since we are first timers!!!

Bridget

I enjoyed reading your plans they sound great. I started laughing when I read the title because my DH said I am getting on his nerves talking about Disney all the time we are going in July it is our 3rd trip. We have ate at the 50s Prime Time Cafe, Trails End and Crystal Palace enjoyed them all. We have ADR'S at all these in July. Hope you and your family enjoy them.

 

[BridgetR3]

Glad to know I'm not the only one whose husband does not NEED to hear every minute detail of the trip for months in advance!!!!

 

[leitadisneyfan]

We went May 2009 when my daughter was 5 and soarin was her favorite. We are going in Sept and all she does it talk about that ride. It is a calm ride. My husband did mission space in 2009 and got soooo sick he had to go back to the resort.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Looking forward to reading more... i will also be there the same time as you.. Where are you staying?

 

[Suellen]

I'm in!

I have some suggestions... of course

While I think that Coral Reef is wonderful and it IS on our list for our next trip....I'd reconsider it with MOST kids. I'd recommend trying Garden Grill instead OR one of the countries... Italy is a favorite with our kids.

I definitely recommend Captain EO for the kiddies sake. I personally was not thrilled to see (despise MJ) but my girls just adore it and ask to see it every time.

Test Track is fast at the end... I think it is 55 miles per hour... which doesn't sound too bad but it IS open roofed. Food for thought.

Soarin ~ while fantastic is probably not the best choice for you if you don't like the motion type things. I would recommend seeing Living with the Land and Lion King Circle of Life while you wait.

If you have dining credits I'd recommend doing a sit down dinner at MK. You will welcome the break. Especially in May ~ and I think the parks close relatively early so you could even make your ADR right at closing.

You are going at a GREAT time ~ lines shouldn't be bad at all.

We overlap I think one day at the start of your trip.

I also would NOT recommend mentioning the TS room to the kiddos ~ a request is not a guarantee and could start the trip off with a disappointment.

As a side note ~ we've done quick service dining and have not had burgers or chicken the entire time we were there. We've actually had some awesome meals! I enjoy those trips a lot because we have no place to be at a specific time. We've gone from Deluxe dining every trip to deluxe dining just once a year.

And yeah... mugs are only refillable at the hotel.

 

[DL55]

Oh boy! First time at Disney!
Looking forward to your TR. We'll be there May 2-11.
Soarin is a gentle ride no big moves except to go up so you can see the screen. Test Track is only fast at the end , like a convertible. Friendship taxi takes longer than walking but is nice for a rest. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the restaurant.
Remember you don't have to go full steam all day.

 

[BridgetR3]

We went May 2009 when my daughter was 5 and soarin was her favorite. We are going in Sept and all she does it talk about that ride. It is a calm ride. My husband did mission space in 2009 and got soooo sick he had to go back to the resort.

That's what I'm afraid of with Mission Space. DH is a ride everything kind of guy but if he gets sick..........I will not want to stop!! lol...

 

[BridgetR3]

Looking forward to reading more... i will also be there the same time as you.. Where are you staying?

All star movies - really hoping for Toy Story room but not mentioning it to the kids JUST IN CASE

 

[BridgetR3]

I'm in!

I have some suggestions... of course

While I think that Coral Reef is wonderful and it IS on our list for our next trip....I'd reconsider it with MOST kids. I'd recommend trying Garden Grill instead OR one of the countries... Italy is a favorite with our kids.
What about Coral Reef would make you reconsider? I'm just curious. DH actually went through most restaurants and picked them while looking at the menus. Good food - going there; can't pronounce it - skip! Our kiddos although young are VERY well behaved in restaurants and are used to eating sit down meals just about every weekend.
I definitely recommend Captain EO for the kiddies sake. I personally was not thrilled to see (despise MJ) but my girls just adore it and ask to see it every time.
Thanks!!! I'll put it on our "if we have time" list. And if we don't there's always next time!!! Yes DH has already said something about "next time"! YAY!!!
Test Track is fast at the end... I think it is 55 miles per hour... which doesn't sound too bad but it IS open roofed. Food for thought.
Still not sure about this one. I just don't know how the kids will react.
Soarin ~ while fantastic is probably not the best choice for you if you don't like the motion type things. I would recommend seeing Living with the Land and Lion King Circle of Life while you wait.
I've thought of "riding" this one with closed eyes just to say I've done it. But I don't know how the kids will react to being so high in the air.
If you have dining credits I'd recommend doing a sit down dinner at MK. You will welcome the break. Especially in May ~ and I think the parks close relatively early so you could even make your ADR right at closing.
One of our MK days, we are doing the Crystal Palace for dinner. But the other one is our only day with no TS because I want to fit it all in..... I'll try not to go commando on them!!!
You are going at a GREAT time ~ lines shouldn't be bad at all.

We overlap I think one day at the start of your trip.

I also would NOT recommend mentioning the TS room to the kiddos ~ a request is not a guarantee and could start the trip off with a disappointment.
Nope not saying a word JUST IN CASE!!
As a side note ~ we've done quick service dining and have not had burgers or chicken the entire time we were there. We've actually had some awesome meals! I enjoy those trips a lot because we have no place to be at a specific time. We've gone from Deluxe dining every trip to deluxe dining just once a year.
Maybe next time we will do just quick service. We really went back and forth. So many people spoke of it as being part of the experience and a chance to rest that I really felt it was worth the little bit extra this time. We will definitely see which ones we rather and may just use QS next time.

And yeah... mugs are only refillable at the hotel.
To me, this kinda seems to defeat the purpose of having it be refillable. DH can finish that mug in about 15 minutes flat if it's hot and he's thirsty. Do people really spend that much time at their hotels? Maybe not everyone married the camel...... Hope he isn't reading this PTR!!

I answered your questions in the quote. THANKS for all your help!!!! This is the kind of feedback I need before making large mistakes!!

 

[BridgetR3]

Oh boy! First time at Disney!
Looking forward to your TR. We'll be there May 2-11.
Soarin is a gentle ride no big moves except to go up so you can see the screen. Test Track is only fast at the end , like a convertible. Friendship taxi takes longer than walking but is nice for a rest. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the restaurant.
Remember you don't have to go full steam all day.

The problem I may have with Soarin is actually feeling like I'm soaring.........I have trouble with rides that are simulators (the kind you sit in and it jerks all around as you fly through space destroying aliens or whatever). The Friendshp taxi would be just for the "fun of it". We are the kind of people who ride trolleys just because they are there so this is a "ride" to us. We also plan to ride the monorail just because it's there. Yes we are weird but that's us!!

 

[Suellen]

Hmm with Coral Reef we have had great food and great service and bad food and bad service.

We too have very well behaved children at restaurant AND a child who adult tastes in food.

I just think that Garden Grill is really, really cool ~ characters AND a rotating seating area... very, very slow... but the changing scenery is cool. I also love that it is family style so DD can eat the "grown up food".

Tutto Italia is just YUMMY! Love it there.

Funny ~ I asked DH ~ "First time at Disney. One sit down at Epcot. Where is it?" his first response was Tutto Italia.

I guess the long and short of it is.... there are so many BETTER options at Epcot that while it is good... it is only that good.

Yeah the mugs. Well I send hubby down in the morning and he brings back coffee for me and hot chocolate for the girls and a coke for him. We refill on our way out to the parks then refill on the way back to our room in the evening. Plus it is nice to have at the hotel when using the pool. Don't look at it as a way to not buy any drinks.

If you have it with you in the park at your sit down meals you can dump your full soda into it before you leave. We definitely get our use out of it!

 

[BridgetR3]

O.k. I just changed our first night's meal from Coral Reef to Garden Grill. After reading many many reviews on both, I felt it was safer to choose Garden Grill because of the consistency. I'd hate for everyone to hate our first TS at Disney. Thanks for the advice!!