Yes, We can go trick or treating at Disney Again! Oct. 17-24 pre-trip report

[ScrappyRN]

I will start by introducing myself. I am a 38 y.o. mom to a just turned 8 y.o. son. I work Full time as an RN, but my dream job is to be Minnie Mouse, I am under 5 feet tall, so I'm the perfect height! I'm an avid scrapbooker and disney addict. I have been lurking on DIS for a few months(wish I would have found this before my previous trips, but we did ok) and love how all the trip reports take me back to remember my trips and also give me some great hints for our upcoming trip.
We are returning to the "World" in Oct. We did MNSSHP last Oct. and as soon as we got home my son asked to go again this year. Now I had been to Disney at least 6 times before I was 18, my son will be on his 5th trip at the age of 8. We have always stayed at SSR with my parents, they are DVC members, so our trips have been fairly inexpensive. My DH, I'll call him Grumpy, has only gone with us on our son's 1st trip at the age of 3. He doesn't consider being with his DILs a vacation and he is not the Disney nut and obsessive planner that I am! So this year we are paying for all of it, even our room. I got a 5 for 7 night deal at WL. I had to convince my son that it will be just as fun as MomMom and PopPops Disney house, and that the pool has a water slide. I'll post our itinerary(SP) next.

This is us from 2004, the last time DH went to DW with us

 

[ScrappyRN]

On Oct. 17 we will arrive in Orlando from Philadelphia. We should get there around 12pm. We'll then hop on the ME and head to the WL. Like I said earlier, this will be the 1st time I have stayed on property at a resort other than SSR. I'm relly looking forward to staying at the Lodge. It looks beautiful, and earlier in our relationship, my DH and I almost bought a log home. So since this is DH first trip back to Disney in 5 years, I thought he'd like this resort. The plan the day we ariive is to just wing it. My DS wants to hit the pool as soon as we arrive, and then we'll just see. We have an 8 day pass, so we can go into a park if we want or just hang at the resort before our real adventures begin.

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day2- Hollywood Studios

Calling it HS is hard for me, it's still MGM in my mind. So anyway, the plan is to get to the park at opening after eating cereal in the room. I will send DH for TSM fastpasses while I'm with DS seeing the characters. Now I thought we could get by without an autograph book this year, but DS wants to still get autographs. After that we'll head to Star Tours and wait until the 1st Jedi training. Last year DS was 1st to wait for the 955A show, he sat from 930A and didn't move. He got picked for that show and was placed up front and center stage. So if he doesn't get picked, we'll end up being at more than one show that day. So we'll probably do Star Tours, Muppets, GMR and then head to use FP for TSM. After that lunch, DS will probably get Pizza Planet while DH and I get Backlot express(I like the grilled veggie sandwich). IJA, Animation Studio, BandB live and character M&G will be after lunch. I don't know if we'll do AI or Block Party Bash, it's up to the 8 y.o. I hope we can see Lights, Action show, my DH has never seen that. We have a 630p ressie at Cape May Cafe for dinner, we'll take the boat from HS. It's EMH that night at HS so we may head back after dinner, we'll see how it goes during the day. I don't do ToT or RnR, DS is too small for RnR, so DH will do single rider for that if he wants, he's been on before.

DS getting instructions from the Jedi Master last Oct.

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day 3 Magic Kingdom
Monday Oct. 19- we have an 805A ressie at CP. I'm so excited to get into MK before it opens and hopefully get nice photos of the family and castle. After we eat we'll head to Adventure and Frontier Lands for rides on Aladdin, POTC, SM(DS's favorite), BTMRR(another of DS's favorites). Hopefully we'll get to see Peter Pan, he was playing with the lost boys on our 2 previous trips and he's one of mine and DS's favorites. Next will be HM(my favorite) and then lunch, probably at CHH. After lunch we'll probably go for FP for Peter Pan and watch Philharmagic. If lines aren't too bad DS will probably want to ride Pooh. After hitting everything in Fantasyland we'll probably go to Toontown for the Barnstormer and I usually drag DS to see the Princesses! We'll take the train to Main St. and either go back for a nap or head to Tomorrowland depending how every feels. If we leave when we get back after napping or swimming, we'll do BLSRS, Monster's Inc., AstroOribiter and the Speedway. We have another day at MK so we may have to save some of the rides for later. DS is in love with Belle(he won't admit it) so we will try to do Storytime on this trip as well! On one of our MK days I want to go to Pixie Hollow, Hall of Pres. and Country Bear Jam.

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day 4 Epcot

Oct. 20- it's an EMH morning at Epcot, I hope to be there before 8AM. We've never been to Epcot at rope drop. Tried last year, but my parents weren't to quick in the am and the 1st Epcot bus at the Springs stop at SSR was full so we had to wait 20 minutes for another. So either myself or DH will go get a FP for Soarin, while the other and DS head to TT(a family favorite). After TT the plan is to Soar, then head to Nemo. I also want to try Club Cool and some stuff at Innoventions that we've never done. We'll hopefully get to do Univ. of Energy. The afternoon will be in WS, it'll be F&W Fest., so we'll get to eat, see characters, shop and do Kim Possible! I know we'll see some princesses in WS if we didn't get to see them at MK the day before. Also DS knows Belle and the Beast are usually in France. DS likes to do the masks at the kidcot stops, and I'm trying to convince him to get a passport(since he's missing 4 days of school, I think this will be somewhat educational). I can't wait to try the Grey Goose slush in France. DH has only done a half day at Epcot(it was from 5-9pm) so I'm sure he'll enjoy all that Epcot has to offer. Hopefully we'll get FP for either Soarin or TT, then do the golf ball ride,LOL, before dinner at LeCellier at 710P. Then we'll watch Illuminations and head back to WL to call it a day. This is probably the only day there will be no returning to the resort.

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day 5????????

I have nothing scheduled for this day, but we have a park pass if need be. I thought maybe I'd surprise DH with a Richard Petty experience. Another thought besides pool and DTD is to go to MK for rope drop at Toontown and see Tink without too much of a wait!! We have a dinner ressie at the lodge at WCC for 730P.

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day 5- Magic Kingdom and MNSSHP

We'll start off this day with an 8AM breakfast at 1900 Park Faire. DS requested this as well. He had a blast 2 years ago with the Mad Hatter at this restaurant. Then we'll head to MK to accomplish what we didn't get to on our first MK day. Will probably leave park by 1PM to go to the room to rest up and then get ready to return to MK at 5PM for the start of the Halloween Party. Last year I was with my parents, and my Mom is one of those people to stake out a parade spot 2 hours prior. So this year I will be the one who goes to find a good parade spot while DH and DS have fun. I will not be searching 2 hours prior though! Last year my DS had so much fun at the party, we saw losts of new characters and he loves to wear a costume. He was Peter Pan last year(my choice, not his), so this year I am letting him pick. Right now it's between Harry Potter or Anakin Skywalker. We are returning this year because of the Halloween Party. Last year made it to 12A, so hopefully this year we'll be able to enjoy the full party as well. I loved the parade, and we watched from Main St.(between Casey's and the Castle) last year and some of the cast members had the kids do their own parade and played Simon Says to keep them busy as they awaited the parade. It was so cute. I Can't wait!!!!!

DS at MNSSHP last Oct. He was Peter Pan

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day 6- AK
We have an 830A ressie at Tusker house, hopefully we won't be too grumpy from staying up late the night before! After breakfast we'll probably safarii, go to Camp Minnie-Mickey for FLK and characters, Nemo, Dinosaur and Primevil Whirl will follow. I'm sure my DS will want to play at the Dig Site. Lunch we'll just wing at a counter service and hopefully by Oct. we can convince DS that the Yeti is not that scarey so that he'll ride EE. The 3 of us have never been on, it wasn't there the last time DH went. DS loves BTMRR, but says he won't ride EE because the Yeti will scare him. He knows it's not a real Yeti and when I said just close your eyes, his reply is,"I'll still know he's there." I'm not a big coaster person, so I don't think I'd ride single, even though if DS does go on he'll probably ride with DH and I'll get paired with a single rider. Probably won't do the Jammin Jungle parade. But I do want to explore the Jungle Trek, we've never done that and DS would love seeing the bats. It's tough to be a bug will be something we'll so if time allows, we've done it several times before.
We have dinner at O'hana, a first for us. Ressie is at 630. So we'll probable leave AK about 4, head to WL for short nap and shower before heading to dinner.

 

[ScrappyRN]

Day 7- Goodbye Mickey
Sat. the 24th will be a sad day. Will probably head into a park for 11/2 hours before heading back to WL to catch the ME to head back home to NJ. The only good thing will be seeing the dog at home!

 

[ScrappyRN]

I've got the autograph and Passport made(Thanks DISigners, especially Natalie), tip envelopes are made and just need to be filled. I bought some stickers and glow sticks for DS to share. I made a few T-shirts for DS. And I'm starting to get our clothes together, since we probably won't be wearing shorts again in NJ.

 

[ScrappyRN]

I also booked DH a King's experience at the WDW Raceway on our down day(Wed.). It's going to be a surprise present for Christmas and his B-day(It was rather expensive). I thought I'd make him a Christmas/Birthday card and reveal his surprise the night before we leave!

 

[ScrappyRN]

Just did on-line check in and need to iron clothes and pack them today!!!!

 

[ScrappyRN]

ONE DAY TO GO So much to do today. First is check in with SW at 945. Have to get pedicure and finish picking up a few things. Add everything in carryon and double check that I have all the papers and MNSSHP tickets and confirmations. If there's time, clean!

 

[ScrappyRN]

Just got my Disney pedicure!