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

[Colleen27]

Thanks Colleen for jumping in!!! Yes we are excited that in spite of it all we are still able to go and we were able to move it closer. After all, we had just hit double digits last week and now we are less than one month. That's the quickest countdown I've ever had!

I wish mine would do that! I'm so ready to be out of this single-digit, sub-zero windchill winter that it isn't even funny!

Wow, I guess I should be thankful then that my DH is actually going!! I talk about it all the time. Earlier tonight he called out to me, "Honey what are you doing?" and my answer was, "Looking at food porn!" He choked on his coke and came to see what I meant. At least I know how to get his attention!

Love that reaction!

I'm kind of glad we're leaving DH & DS home this time, because neither of them have any interest in Flower & Garden and planning around the festival is so much easier without having to balance it with "guy stuff". They go hunting every fall without us girls, so this is our turn.

He's funny, though - he was all for us leaving him behind when I started planning this trip, but over the last few weeks he's chatting at me about when our next whole family trip is going to be and I think he's kind of wishing he was going after all.

O.k. o.k. so it is very ambitious. I figure I'll have to scale it down but my thought was "I DON'T WANT TO DROP ANYTHING!!!!" o.k. better now. Your plan sounds great!!! So you just basically ignore the other lands when it's not their "day"?? Or do you just do as much as you can and then nap and come back later?? This does seem to give you more time to re-ride the rides. Hmmm....something to TRY to discuss with DH......

I do pretty much ignore the rest of the park, though I'll make exceptions for no/low wait attractions when the kids get it in their head that they just have to ride Pirates or see Philharmagic. We don't really take nap breaks either; with the deluxe dining plan we just slow down for lunch and some longer, more mellow attractions like Carousel of Progress, TTA, Hall of Presidents, etc.

We had chosen Trail's End because Animal Kingdom closes earlier than most parks so that was an early day. It was DH's choice and I hated to override one of the few decisions he's made but I had read a few places on the boards about it taking forever to get there so I let him know. He decided that we would try Captain's Grill that night at the Yacht Club! I'm pretty excited because Captain's Grill has snow crab legs and I love snow crab legs!!!

I think you'll be much happier with Captain's Grill than you would have been with Trail's End. We loved Captain's Grill on our last trip, it really is something of a hidden gem - easy to get ADRs for, even at the last minute, but the food is just so good! Nothing fancy, just high quality mid-Atlantic type seafood. When I was a kid we spent summers in Virginia Beach with my aunt, and Captain's Grill takes me back to the restaurant she used to waitress in - clam chowder, crab cakes, and key lime pie.

Yes Planet Hollywood is out of the way but it is our last stop on the way out. You see we will be traveling that night for a while to get closer to home so we figured that we would stay in the park until around 2 or so....go get our car and drive to DTD, eat at Planet Hollywood and head home. Loud is o.k. with us....this is also another of DH's choices!

That makes sense. Planet Hollywood is a lot of fun as kind of a "checklist" experience - something that is great the first time but not necessarily something you'll want to do again. Don't forget you'll have the voucher from your package if you want to order an appetizer in addition to your dining plan meals.

Dinosaur - Is it too scary for children? I'm really thinking of just letting DH ride this one and staying with the kids. (Same for It's Tough to be a Bug - can my DS4 sit on my lap for this one? I really WANT to see this!!!)

Both can be scary for kids, but I think that has as much to do with the volume as anything else. My older DD was 4 on our first trip and terrified of both... Until she rode them again later in the trip with earplugs in. So that might be something to keep in mind, especially if your kids aren't used to movies and other venues that are ridiculously loud. We use the soft orange ones from the drugstore now, but on that first trip we picked up soft silicone swimmers earplugs at the POR gift shop that got the job done just fine.

Also, having your son on your lap will help with Tough to be a Bug because he'll miss out on some of the more unsettling physical special effects.

Affection Station - Is this hard to get to? My guide book seems to think so. How hard is it? How long does it take to get there (and back)?

I don't think Affection Section is hard to get to, exactly, but I don't feel like it is worth the time either if you only have one day in the parks. There's a petting zoo and some interesting informational exhibits, and you can see a couple of rarer characters back there, but it does take a chunk of time. Especially if your kids are like mine and could happily spend a whole day petting goats.

Animal Kingdom is hard to boil down to must-dos for me because so much of the appeal of that park is just in walking around and taking it all in. There are the marquee attractions of course - the safari is a must do, Kali is a lot of fun if it is warm enough that getting wet isn't a problem, and the Lion King show is fantastic. But overall, it isn't a park for rushing from one attraction to another - talking to the cast members, especially those in the animal areas, and taking in the amazing attention to detail throughout the park is really an attraction in itself.

 

[BridgetR3]

WOOOHOOOO!!! After stalking the Disney Dining Reservations site all this time I got a Le Cellier reservation for lunch!!!!!! I can't wait to see DH enjoy his steak!!! So because I got the reservation for Monday the 7th, this messes up my plans again!!!

All I did was switch out two days so we are going to MK on Saturday and going to Epcot on Monday. I have cancelled our The Plaza reservation since we weren't that excited about it in the first place!!! I just can't wait!! We had some definite pixie dust today!!

So what do you think about starting our journey in Magic Kingdom??? Will it "taint" all the other parks for our kids? We definitely won't make rope drop because we will be coming in from an offsite nearby hotel to drop off our things and then go to MK. So we won't be late like in the afternoon late but it will be later morning I would think. We could always make RD on one of our other two MK days.

I am so excited about getting Le Cellier. I wish it had been for dinner but by then it will be 2 credits per person so I think lunch is a great way to try it out!

 

[DL55]

on getting Le Cellier. We haven't eaten there since they changed it to Le Cellier but I hear it's good.

According to UG you should visit the other parks before MK as it's the best for kids. It's your trip, arrange it the best for you. I don't think the other parks will be a terrrible letdown after MK. Besides you're at MK for 3 days, the kiddos will just have to put up with the other parks.

 

[BridgetR3]

Yep I knew that we were supposed but according to our schedule the only other one I could switch would be HS and it's ESPN the weekend that weekend. Since we are only going to HS one day, I figured it's best NOT to go on THAT day!

I agree. The kids will just have to deal with it!

 

[BridgetR3]

So as of today, we are 16 days out. I've changed one more dining reservation from 50's Prime Time to Hollywood and Vine because I think my DS4 would love to eat with Agent Oso and Handy Manny. I also wasn't too keen on being force fed my veggies!!

What are some last minute things I should be doing or worrying about?

 

[Colleen27]

I don't buy into the idea that you should do the other parks before MK because the kids will be disappointed in the others. All of the parks are great, and given a long enough trip for multiple MK days we like to start and end there. My three kids have three different favorite parks - Epcot for my 13yo foodie (used to be DHS until the last trip), Animal Kingdom for my 9yo nature lover, and Magic Kingdom for my Mickey-obsessed 2yo - so it isn't like there's really any certainty that MK will be the best park against which all others fall short!

This point in the wait is crazy-making because there isn't anything left to worry about (unless you're like me - I changed more park days around today! It is too soon to watch the weather forecasts compulsively, all the park and dining plans are set, and all that's left is the packing. I think that's why I started doing crazy things like designing LGMH tags in Photoshop and making my girls new clothes for our trips... To make the time between getting the plans finalized and actually leaving pass more quickly!

 

[lnk1229]

As I look at your PTR I notice a million similarities between the trip you are planning and the trip we just finished at the end of January! I wonder if being a DISer may have something to do with it- I got a bunch of ideas from Disboards when planning our trip- mostly our ADRs...

If you have a second you should check out my TR- I took pictures of many of our meals including Crystal Palace, La Cellier, etc. I know I LOVED checking out other people's pictures to get excited for my trip!!

I am going to keep following just in case I need to get ideas ofr our next trip- I am already planning!!

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Hi! I'm joining in late. We'll be there in March too (1-9 Mar). Your plans look really good. I think 3 days at Magic Kingdom is a great idea. You should be able to do Hollywood Studios in one day since you're skipping some of the shows.

I'll add my vote for you to do Lion King at Animal Kingdom. Our family thinks it's the best show at Disney World. Dinosaur can definitely be scary for small kids.

I've enjoyed your PTR so far. Thank you for sharing!

 

[PirateKate]

Hi! I'm another late joiner. I think three days at the Magic Kingdom sounds perfect. Looks like you got some good ADRs, too.

The pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach looks so cool. I bet your boys will love them!

 

[BridgetR3]

Hi! I'm joining in late. We'll be there in March too (1-9 Mar). Your plans look really good. I think 3 days at Magic Kingdom is a great idea. You should be able to do Hollywood Studios in one day since you're skipping some of the shows.

I'll add my vote for you to do Lion King at Animal Kingdom. Our family thinks it's the best show at Disney World. Dinosaur can definitely be scary for small kids.

I've enjoyed your PTR so far. Thank you for sharing!

How cool!!! Another March DIS'er!! I think there will be bunches and bunches of us. I just hope my little fam isn't overwhelmed by the crowds!!!

Lots of votes for the Lion King....maybe we will add it to the itinerary!!

Hi! I'm another late joiner. I think three days at the Magic Kingdom sounds perfect. Looks like you got some good ADRs, too.

The pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach looks so cool. I bet your boys will love them!

Thanks Kate! I just finished catching up on your TR last night. Your boys are adorable and it DOES get easier!!! I admire your perseverance for sticking out Disney with 2 high chairs at Christmas!!!!

Thanks for joining along ladies!!! We are super excited about going and can't wait to share our memories with ya'll!!!

 

[jenseib]

I'm still playing catch up, but I wante to say a few things before I forget. You will only need one HS day. If anything, you might want 2 Epcot days. We have never spent a full day at HS yet.
Get FP's for Peter Pan, the lines are always horrid there. Are you doing any EMH nights at MK? If so, go back for a rest, mid day and go back dor the late hours and you can get a lot done.
I think your restaurant choices sound decent, though I haven't eaten at most of them. But going to Trails End from AK is really going to be long. Even driving, you have to park at the front and take a bus back. The best bet would be to take a bus to MK and boat over. Thats how we have done it when we went to Hoop Dee Doo and I think they are next to each other.
Honestly, I would give up Planet hollywood and trails end and doo Hoop Dee Doo one night. I think the food is pretty much the same and you wil lget a fun show that I'm sure your boys will love.
Ok, back to read more!

 

[jenseib]

[


My thoughts on Animal Kingdom -

Dinosaur - Is it too scary for children? I'm really thinking of just letting DH ride this one and staying with the kids. (Same for It's Tough to be a Bug - can my DS4 sit on my lap for this one? I really WANT to see this!!!)

Affection Station - Is this hard to get to? My guide book seems to think so. How hard is it? How long does it take to get there (and back)?

I'm not sure about Kali River because I don't think I want to be soaked in March. We will see though.

Definitely do -
Safari
Jammin' Jungle Parade
EE (DH only)
Triceratop Spin
Camp Minnie and Mickey
Trails

What are the must do's in Animal Kingdom for someone who's never been?

Thanks for all of your help!!!!

What is affection station? Is that conservation station?
Also do NOT miss Lion King. We went for the first time last trip and can't beleive we never had gone before. It is an amazing show with a lot of action.
The parade is my favorites.
We took our DD on Dinosaur last trip (she was 4 then) because she wanted to give it a try. She said it was scary and she didn't want to ride it again, but she did do fine during the ride. We have yet to take her to bugs yet.

 

[jenseib]

WOOOHOOOO!!! After stalking the Disney Dining Reservations site all this time I got a Le Cellier reservation for lunch!!!!!! I can't wait to see DH enjoy his steak!!! So because I got the reservation for Monday the 7th, this messes up my plans again!!!

All I did was switch out two days so we are going to MK on Saturday and going to Epcot on Monday. I have cancelled our The Plaza reservation since we weren't that excited about it in the first place!!! I just can't wait!! We had some definite pixie dust today!!

So what do you think about starting our journey in Magic Kingdom??? Will it "taint" all the other parks for our kids? We definitely won't make rope drop because we will be coming in from an offsite nearby hotel to drop off our things and then go to MK. So we won't be late like in the afternoon late but it will be later morning I would think. We could always make RD on one of our other two MK days.

I am so excited about getting Le Cellier. I wish it had been for dinner but by then it will be 2 credits per person so I think lunch is a great way to try it out!

Yay, for Le Cellier. When we were originally going in ealry March (or so I thought) I had it reserved. But now I can't get it for April.
We always do MK first. LOVE ot that way.

 

[BridgetR3]

It's our one week mark!!!!

One week from today we will be leaving for Disney!! We won't get to Disney until next Saturday because we aren't leaving on the Thursday until after school and work as well as taking it slow. But it won't matter because we will be on vacation!!!

Earlier this week I called and changed our reservations from a pirate room to a preferred room because of a DISunplugged blog I read about how bad the beds really were. My DH has trouble sleeping as it is and I was afraid that he would not be able to sleep in those pirate ships. SO.....we are now in a preferred room and I'm o.k. with that.

Today I checked us in online and we are ready to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad we still have a week left to sit here and stalk the DIS boards!

 

[Colleen27]

Earlier this week I called and changed our reservations from a pirate room to a preferred room because of a DISunplugged blog I read about how bad the beds really were. My DH has trouble sleeping as it is and I was afraid that he would not be able to sleep in those pirate ships. SO.....we are now in a preferred room and I'm o.k. with that.

Yay for one week and online check-in!!

You won't regret switching your room. We didn't find the beds in the pirate room to be uncomfortable, but the room was a real hike from the food court and pool. My kids ended up swimming in the quiet pool a couple of nights because while it was warm enough for them to want to swim it wasn't warm enough for them to want to walk from the main pool all the way to the room after getting out. The room theme was cute, but a cute room didn't offset that walk.

I would like to stay at CBR again, but only if there are preferred rooms available. The resort is just too big otherwise, and there's no way I'm going to pay extra for the worst room location in the place again!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I've been lurking around a few PTRs including yours. I just wanted to say that I'm excited for your family. I'm sure you'll have a great time. Our first trip won't be until next year so I'm really jealous that you only have a week to wait

 

[BridgetR3]

I'm thinking I must be driving the Disney folks crazy. Today UPS showed up at my door and I was confused because after all, I haven't ordered anything. Well it was my THIRD book of vouchers and luggage tags from Disney!!!

The first time I upgraded from QuickService to Disney Dining plan. So they sent me another book. Now I switched to a preferred room over a pirate room and they send me another book.

Three books of vouchers and 12 luggage tags later.....we are ready!

 

[BridgetR3]

I've been lurking around a few PTRs including yours. I just wanted to say that I'm excited for your family. I'm sure you'll have a great time. Our first trip won't be until next year so I'm really jealous that you only have a week to wait

Welcome!!!! I know what it's like to be jealous. We have friends who left out today to go to DW and I'm jealous of them. Just think you have more time to plan and prepare than we did. This was thrown together if I've ever seen thrown together.

Thanks for chiming in and saying hi!!! I hope to bring back lots of stories (all good of course) to share in my TR!

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

Yeah for being a week out
We are 13 weeks out and it seems like forever!!

 

[BridgetR3]

Well this is it. It is as my son calls it "Pack day"....not that I haven't been packing for two weeks or that we haven't stepped over suitcases in every room for a week but TODAY is the day that we load them into the car!!!!!



Today I'm finishing up all those last minute things that never seem to get done and I'll probably make my 1000th trip to Wal-mart to get last minute items AGAIN. (I have found that going to Disney doesn't cost nearly as much as outiftting the four of us for 10 days!!!)

I'm cleaning house and washing clothes. I want to be completely finished so I can enjoy my day tomorrow. I was going to go get a pedi tomorrow but I went last Friday so no need to go again. I think I'll go get my hair trimmed and spend some time just relaxing before we hit the road.

We won't be at Disney til Saturday morning because we are taking it slow which sounded like a great idea when this all started but now I just want to be there!

This will probably be my last "post" before we leave and hopefully when I come back with 16-20 gig of pics, you'll stick around for a TR!! I can't wait to share our vacation with you!