Woohoo!!! I'm finally taking him to Disney World!!

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

So after reading a few trip reports and some pretrip reports I decided to write my own. This is the first time I'm writing one so please be kind. So here goes...

So I'm taking my boyfriend for his first trip to Disney World and I think I'm more excited than he is (actually I know I am!) So lets get to the passengers on this trip.

So there's me (Sara). I'm 22 years old and went on my first WDW trip when I was 8 years old. I've been to disney about 19 or 20 times since then. I love disney and anything to do with disney. I am a kid at heart and am never growing up. I am absolutely obssessed and also an obssessive planner, as one Diser said, I have OCPD (sorry I can't remember who used this term but if you read this thanks for the term, I love it!) All of my other trips have been with my family so this is the first time I've had to plan everything by myself and I have to say it's nervewracking but I love it. I go to Penn State for nursing and will graduate in May with my associate's degree and become an RN, in the fall I will finish my bachelor's degree in nursing. I can't wait! Both my boyfriend and I live in northeast PA and we hope to move to Florida in the next few years (Yay!!! I'll be closer to Disney!)

This is me from one of my previous disney trips and yes I bring the light up tiara on each trip and wear it proudly...

So then comes by DBF. His name is Ian and he is 19 years old, he wil be 20 in about 2 1/2 weeks. He has never been to disney and is definitely not as excited as I am. I think and hope he will be as we get closer. His favorite disney movies are The Nightmare Before Christmas and Aladdin.

Here is a picture of him...

So there is the passengers on this WDW trip and I will be back with some more about my previous trips, where we're staying, and how the planning's going so far (just wait for the flight stuff, let me tell you that's been a lot of fun )


To be continued...

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Ok so to continue on...I had my first trip to disney when I was 8. My mom, dad, me, and my brother went. We loved it so much that my parents bought DVC on the spot and we've been back ever since! I love Disney world and anything to do with Disney. I've stayed at a few of the different hotels there, Port Orleans French Quarter (when it was just known as Port Orleans), Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk, and mostly Old Key West. This will be the first time I'm staying at Pop Century and I am so excited! I've been to Disney world every year since I first went and sometimes twice a year, I vowed to myself that I would keep it up and never miss a year which was what prompted this trip. My family wasn't going to Disney this year and I refused to miss a year and break my streak. Here are some pictures of previous trips and my home resort OKW...

OKW Lighthouse

The room my brother and I shared (we had a two bedroom at OKW)

The master bedroom

The living room

Me on Cinderella's Carousel

A beautiful (but very blurry) Castle with Wishes in the background

A very friendly goodbye!

so those are from my last trip to Disney. So onto some planning...

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Ok so you know that disney commercial where the parents are looking online to see how much a disney vacation costs and they say "hey we can do that" or something along those lines? Well that was me. As I said before I didn't want to miss a year at disney but I didn't think it was in the cards for me this year. I did though want to go on a vacation with Ian as we hadn't every really gone on a real trip together so I thought we might go to the beach or something like that for a week. Well I was pricing hotels and I saw that commercial on tv and I swear I thought the same thing "hey we can afford that!" So that was the beginning of my planning for disney. I've wanted to take Ian to disney since we practically met and I thought we would have to wait for a while but that commercial got me. See Disney, those commercials really do work!!!

So I started pricing vacations. I knew that we wouldn't be able to afford anything more than a value resort so I wanted to pick one that looked like fun so I picked Pop Century. I remember thinking on previous vacations that Pop looked like a fun resort and I would like to stay there. So Pop it was. I was trying to find out a way to save even more money (I'm a poor college student, every bit counts right?) So I got talking to my parents, since they were the planners for our previous vacations I thought they would help and they did! They told me to go to AAA and see if they could give me any discounts. Well before I had gone I had already priced out everything to see how much of a difference the price would be, I do my homework! I had also looked at flights and found that Delta was the cheapest. Well I went to AAA the next week and was pricing a trip well wouldn't you know in the week since I first looked at flights the price of the one I wanted went up like $100!! Oh well they were still realtively cheap and I was just happy I could get what I wanted and I was going to Disney World! So I booked my trip with a TA from AAA. I probably could have done it on my own but I like having a TA to call and figure things out for me. Of course if I think she might be wrong I will definitely check it out on my own!! I went to AAA knowing exactly what I wanted. I had the hotel, the dates, the tickets, that I wanted the quick service dinning plan and ME all picked out and ready to go. She really didn't have to plan that much for me! The only thing I was debating on was whether or not I wanted to add the water park and more option and decided it would be a good idea and as it turned out Ian wanted to go to DisneyQuest for a little bit so it definitely saved us some money. Before I went to AAA I also wasn't sure about the dinning plan but since my boyfriend and I don't really care about a sit down meal, we're fine with cs so we did the quick service plus I didn't want to worry about having to spend a lot of time eating when we didn't have a lot of time there. I remember from one of my trips to Disney we felt like we didn't do a lot because we had to plan everything around eating. I'm used to going to disney for 2 weeks so I definitely didn't want to waste time on this trip. So the quick service was the best choice for us. I can't even remember now if it actually saved us money but the convienience of having our food paid for upfront was worth it. I did want to do one sit down meal our last night there, something a little more special so I budgeted that in for us. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go and my choice will come in later editions, so hold on for the answer!

So in October of last year I had my Disney trip booked!! I called my boyfriend on the way home and practically screamed, "Guess what!!! We're going to Disney World" I'm pretty sure at that point he knew I was crazy (if he didn't guess that already ) I was practically jumping in my seat as I drove singing "We're going to Disney World, We're going to Disney World" Yes I am crazy but I don't care cause guess what? I'm going to Disney World!!!! (of course being sung while bouncing in my bed!! )

So that was how I booked our trip, nothing really eventful in that story but thought it was important to give a little background info. The trip is for August 9-15. We're staying at Pop Century and we're on the quick service DDP. We're flying on Delta and getting to orlando late morning so hopefully we'll have some time that day to go to a park.

The next installment will be about my obsessive planning! (and I do mean obsessive )

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Ok so I am an obsessive planner. Once I made our plans I got down to planning. I found this wonderful planning organizer from one of the Disers here. I'm sorry but I can't remember who it was but they are great. Well I started planning on what days we would go where and what we would do each day. When we used to go we usually don't plan our days real well but since this trip was only going to be a week and it was Ian's first trip I wanted to make sure we did everything we could. So I now have everything planned out. So here's the overview of the plan:

Sunday: Land at Orlando hopefully at 11:30
Get to Pop by 2:00
Get to Magic Kingdom by 3:30 (I have to go to MK on my first day and see that castle!!! )
See SpectroMagic and Wishes that night

Monday: Get to Epcot by rope drop and spend the day
If we have time go pack to Pop for a break if not take a break at Epcot for a while
Have CS lunch at Sunshine Seasons
Spend afternoon/night at Hollywood Studios
Have CS dinner at Backlot Express
See Fantasmic tonight if it's offered

Tuesday: Get to Hollywood Studios by rope drop
Spend the morning and early afternoon at HS
Have CS lunch at Toy Story Pizza Planet
Take break at Pop if time
Spend late afternoon/night at Epcot and do things we haven't done yet
Have CS dinner at Electric Umbrella

Wednesday: Get to Typhoon Lagoon by opening
Hopefully get a spot next to the wave pool
Have CS lunch at TL
Go back to Pop and change and take a quick break
Spend night at Magic Kingdom and do some more rides
Have CS dinner at El Pirata y el Perico Restaurante

Thursday: Get to Animal Kingdom by rope drop
Spend morning/early afternoon at AK
Have CS lunch at Pizzafari
Go back to Pop and change real quick (our last ride is Kali River Rapids so we'll be a bit wet )
Head to DisneyQuest (Ian's a big video game person so he wanted to go here for a little bit)
Have CS dinner at DisneyQuest
Spend a few hours at DQ and head to Marketplace
Do most of our shopping at World of Disney
Head back to Pop to sleep

Friday: Get to Magic Kingdom by rope drop
Spend morning/early afternoon at MK
Have CS lunch at Peco's Bill
Go back to Pop and freshen up
Dinner at LeCellier
Watch Illuminations after dinner
Head back to Pop for the night, relax and pack

Saturday: Get to Magic Kindom by rope drop
Finish what we haven't done
Get on Magical Express
Go home
Saturday may be changed, it depends on what we haven't finished or what we want to do again but I'd like to see the castle right before we leave.

So that's my plan so far, it might not work out the way I want but at least I've got a starting point.

The next installment will be about my problems with the airlines!!

 

[creativeamanda]

I think I'm first! You really have this thing down don't you?

I wonder how the crowds are going to be first, and second did you get the 4/3 deal? I think personally that is the best deal I've seen from Disney other than pin codes in a while. . .

 

[tink774]

Just found your PTR, we could be planning twins! A couple of years ago, my family took my boyfriend on his first WDW trip, and he's gone back with me twice since then. He enjoys it, although definitely not as much as I do. I'm also an obsessive planner on most Disney trips, and he probably thinks that I'm crazy as well. Look forward to seeing more of your plans!

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

First of all I have to say thanks to both of you, I started this PTR a while ago and no one seemed to look at it and I was about to give up but I figured hey, I'll keep going you'll never know maybe someone will find it and if not I'll write it for myself, hehe.

Ha ha, yeah creativeamanda, I've been planning this since October and I still have so long to go!! I'm not sure how the crowds are going to be, I haven't been there in August for like 7 or 8 years, to be honest I can't remember how they were back then. I've been checking the UG website and the days are ranked as a 7 or 8 so I'm a little worried but we'll be ok, I'm used to summer crowds so we'll see how things go. I did get the 4/3 deal, I originally booked it first without it and then when I found out about the deal I emailed my TA like that day! I was so excited! I think it's an awesome deal, def. saved me some money! I've never gotten a pin code, course this is my first trip I've done by myself, all of the others I went with my parents and they used DVC so that could be it .

Tink774: Glad to meet a fellow OCPD!! I'm hoping my boyfriend will like WDW, cause if not we're going to have some problems. Even if he likes it 1/3 of what I do that'll be ok. hehe. I know he thinks I'm crazy, he's said so but I deal with his obsessions too so he'll have to deal. How can you not love disney, it's wonderful!!

Again thanks guys for looking at my PTR, next to come is my rediculous problems with the airlines, they gave me quite a few headaches but everything's been figured out now. I'll either update later tonight or tomorrow!

 

[DisneymoonJess07]

Hi, you are going about two weeks before me! Great to see your planning

 

[tink774]

I hope that your boyfriend likes DisneyQuest! Rob (my bf) is also a video game fanatic, but I've never had the opportunity to take him to DisneyQuest before. Maybe on our next trip, whenever that will be. I went once a looooong time ago, and from what I hear there have been lots of changes since then. Next time, I'll make a much more awesome roller coaster if they still have that game!

And I'm jealous that you're eating at Le Cellier! For the past two trips, I've tried to get reservations there to try it, but I've never been successful. Take lots of food porn pics!!

Totally know how you feel about writing a PTR. I'm going to attempt to write one for my last-minute 21st birthday trip in two weeks (staying at POP, too!), but I may be the only one who actually pays any attention to it.

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

DisneymoonJess07: Thanks for joining!! I'll be over to read your report as soon as I get a chance! Did you get to do the free dinning? It starts the day after we leave so we didn't get to do it but we did get the 4/3 deal. Have fun on your anniversary trip!!

Tink774: We're hoping we can fit all of the things in that we want to do there cause we're not spending a whole lot of time there but whatever we do will be fun! I've been there once too a while ago and remember really enjoying it but thinking there should be more stuff. I think they added more stuff since I've been there too so it should be cool to see the new things. I did do the build your own rollarcoaster thing and it was awesome!! My family did a whole competition thing against each other to see who could build the best one. It was my mom and I on one team and my dad and brother on the other. Well needless to say my mom and I won!! Our coaster was ranked like a 10/10 and it was rough I must say. I will def. read your PTR if you write one, I love reading them and TR so write away!!

I do like LeCellier, I know some people don't like it but I love the food and we've always had good experiences there. We're hoping to get the ADR for this trip but since we can't make them yet we'll see how it goes. I'm gonna call right at 7am at the 90 day mark so I'm hoping all will go all right. I suppose I should have a back up plan in case we don't get it. Does anyone have any other suggestions on where to go in case we can't get it? I want some place in World Showcase cause we're going to see Illuminations afterwards. Thanks!! (Oh and I will def. take a lot of food porn pics!!)

Oh and I have no idea how to multiquote like two different people can anyone tell me how to do that? Thanks!!

 

[tink774]

I can't wait to see your pics from Typhoon Lagoon! It's been at least ten years since I've been there, and I don't remember it at all.

And I decided to take your advice and go ahead and start a PTR! Definitely helps me get more excited about getting ready for WDW!

 

[Microcell]

I don't know how to either, and would like to learn myself how to multi quote!

You don't worry at all about being an overplanner, I think that is the majority of us on this board!

I gotta say you have topped me, I never actually write the part about going back to bed at the hotel!

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

tink774: I will be over to read your PTR as soon as I'm done! Can't wait to read it! I love TL! The wave pool is my favorite! Gotta love those huge waves When I get back I will def. be doing a trip report and post lots of pics but if I can find some of typhoon lagoon from my past trips I will try to post them for you but they might be before I had a digital camera and I may need to scan them in. I'll see if I can find some from my mom's pics too.

Microcell: Yeah I actually have more than what I put on here in my plans, they're just an summary kinda thing. If you saw everything I actually have planned out already you would def. think I was crazy but it helps pass the time and I like to have everything figured out.

(Side note: I can't spell for the life of me so if some of the words are horribly off please forgive me )

 

[DisneymoonJess07]

We did get Free Dining! I called a few days after we reserved, since it came out a few days after we reserved, and it worked great Saved us $560!

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Woohoo! So glad that you got free dinning. I just read your PTR and posted a little something. Again I hope everything goes ok for your family.

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Ok so on with my problems with the airlines. Well we're flying delta, I've flown with them before but of course since I never planned anything I didn't really know if there were any problems since my dad always took care of that. Well I booked the flight with delta since they were the cheapest, we're leaving at 6:00 am and on the way home leaving at 5:30 pm so we'll have a good portion of both those days.

Problem #1: Well the first hiccup that happened was a month or two after I booked. I was checking my flight because of course I have OCPD and need to make sure everthing was ok and it's a good thing I did cause I found that our flight down was ok but on the way home our final flight landed in michigan!!! Now I live in pennsylvania so that's not really near michigan! Well of course I had to get that fixed and of course it was 11 at night so my TA couldn't help at that time. I did end up emailing her to see what she could do but since I knew she wouldn't be getting back to me until at least the next day I decided to call delta myself. Well after waiting on hold and getting routed to about 3 different people I finally talked to someone who said that the flight got changed or something and now only had a 12:30 flight leaving on our departure day That's 5 hours before my previous flight I was really really &*#$@&! And of course being prepared that I am I knew that there was a 5:30 flght leaving because I checked on delta's website well I argued with him for a while and he said he couldn't give me that flight. Well it's now like 11:30, I'm getting really irritated and tired, hello people I have class the next morning!!!! So I just booked that flight because I figured that landing in pa earlier would be better than landing in michigan! What I couldn't figure is that they know I'm flying out of pa, why wouldn't they pick that up and say hey that girl is flying from pa and wants to land in pa maybe we should book her a flight to pa? Crazy I know right. Well the next day I got an email from my TA saying that she knew a week ago that the flight had been changed and had told them to change it. Well I'm not sure if I should be mad at my TA or delta or both! Well my TA redeemed herself because she got delta to change my flight to 5:30! YAY!!! So I guess now I'm just mad at delta But thankfully that problem got fixed.

Problem #2: A few weeks ago I was again checking my flight to see if there were any time changes (I now check it religiously because of the first problem I had). Well there were I found that my flight on the way home now left at 6:40 Woohoo!!! I have more time at disney!! Well I should have read further first. Yes I do get to leave disney later but I land in altanta at 9:18 pm and my connecting flight to pa leaves at 9:00 pm. Hmmmm... well I know have -18 minutes to make the flight, somehow I don't think that's going to happen. I'm not real good with the whole traveling back in time thing . So once again I email my TA, well this time she fixes it and I'm back on the 5:30 flight Oh well at least it's not 12:30!

So that's my flight problems, hopefully there won't be any more big ones. I'm sure others have had more problems but these def. gave me quite a headache . One good thing did happen with delta though, I don't have to pay the luggage fees!! Since we booked the flight before Nov. 6 we don't have to pay the fees and we can both take our first checked bag free!! It's not that much but it'll save us like $60 and that's more money for souvinirs(sp?)!!

So that's my update for now, I think I'm all caught up on the planning I've done so far so I'm not sure what'll come next. I of course have not bought anything for the trip yet (planning I'm ocd about but actually doing things I'm a huge procrastinator!) So I'll have to think of something else to keep this PTR interesting. Hmmm...let me think.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Subbing!

First, before I forget to answer you...to do the multiquote thing... Click on the "+ icon thingy in between the 'quote' and edit buttons at the bottom of the post you want to quote. You can click as many as you want, even go to different pages and it still remembers from the previous page. then when you're done, click the Quote button on the last thread you want to quote and all of the ones you selected will appear It took me awhile to figure it out, haha!

Can't wait to hear how you bf likes Disney. I have yet to find a guy that is completely thrilled with the idea of going down there. Crossing my fingers that when I do find Mr. Right he'll be accepting of my obsession

As for a backup for Le Cellier... hmm.. I LOVE Tutto Italia. Went last May and it was fabulous. I also really like Chefs de France. Hmm..if you want a fun dinner..there's always Teppan Edo? But that's not as romantic for your one sit down dinner there.

 

[tink774]

Sorry to hear you had so much trouble with your flights, but I'm glad everything is fixed! Hope that all of your airport adventures will go smoothly. And yay for not having to pay the luggage fees!

 

[DisneyFaeriePrincess]

Subbing!

First, before I forget to answer you...to do the multiquote thing... Click on the "+ icon thingy in between the 'quote' and edit buttons at the bottom of the post you want to quote. You can click as many as you want, even go to different pages and it still remembers from the previous page. then when you're done, click the Quote button on the last thread you want to quote and all of the ones you selected will appear It took me awhile to figure it out, haha!

Can't wait to hear how you bf likes Disney. I have yet to find a guy that is completely thrilled with the idea of going down there. Crossing my fingers that when I do find Mr. Right he'll be accepting of my obsession

As for a backup for Le Cellier... hmm.. I LOVE Tutto Italia. Went last May and it was fabulous. I also really like Chefs de France. Hmm..if you want a fun dinner..there's always Teppan Edo? But that's not as romantic for your one sit down dinner there.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I always wondered how to do that! (and as you can see I had to try it out and it worked!! Yay!! ) Yeah I'm really hoping he likes it even a little bit as much as I do. Thanks for the other options, my bf is really picky about the food so I'll have to let him look at the menus and pick a back up. I'm thinking probably Tutto Italia but we'll see what he thinks. Thanks again!!

Sorry to hear you had so much trouble with your flights, but I'm glad everything is fixed! Hope that all of your airport adventures will go smoothly. And yay for not having to pay the luggage fees!

Thanks. Yeah as long as we don't miss a flight or anything like that nothing wil ruin my disney trip!

 

[tinkgurl]

Hey girl, I'm over here now!