Pre-Trip Disney Vacation #18

Okay so veteran to the parks, newbie at blogging. I'm coming up on my 18th Disney vacation (including DL, DLP, and WDW) and I'm inspired to do my first pre-trip/trip report. I went to WDW for the first time in 2002 (5 years old) and have been every year since (sometimes twice a year), with the exception of 2016. I haven't been to WDW since July of 2015, DL in maybe 2009, and I went to DLP in July 2013 for a couple of days. My last WDW vacation was an amazing 2 week adventure for my 18th birthday (my first birthday spent in the parks), and after that we took a little break because I went off to college and my new (barely) adult life kept getting in the way. A couple weeks ago my mom announced we were going back to WDW on a whim, which is honestly how we do most of our WDW trips. SOOOOO......
When: August 5th-9th
Where: Bay Lake Tower
Who: My mom, dad, brother, and 3 family friends
Fun fact: My mom is meeting us there straight from a trip to Vegas, so she's leaving Nevada at 1:00 am and getting to WDW at 11:00am. She can't check into her room until 3:00 pm so she's going to MK as well, talk about a champ.

DAY 1: Arrival Day WOOHOO :p
Departing from Houston at 8:00 am
Arrive to WDW: 1:00pm
Check in to Bay Lake: 4:00 pm
So straight to Magic Kingdom it is :eek:

FP: Haunted Mansion 1:45-2:45
FP: Pirates of the Caribbean 3:05-4:05
FP: Splash Mountain 4:05-5:05

No ADRs because we literally booked this trip 2 weeks ago but we're hoping we can eat lunch or dinner at Skipper Canteen.

Day 2: HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS :cat:
EMH at 8:00 am
FP: Star Tours 12:30-1:30 I'm going to be the Rebel Spy this time I know it
FP: Toy Story Mania 1:40-2:40
ADR (surprise we actually got one): 50s Prime Time Cafe Lunch 2:45
No reservations for dinner, but we'll most likely park hop over to Epcot, so who knows what QS we'll end up at.

Day 3: Disney's Animal Kingdom
EMH: 8:00 am
LITERALLY NO PLANS FOR TODAY but everyone stay calm, it will be fine.
There are also EMH from 10:00pm-12:00am.
We've obviously never done Pandora so we're probably gonna rope drop that and just suck up the ridiculous wait times, OR we might stay until midnight, get in line for FOP at 11:58, and be "those people".

Day 4: Maybe Magic Kingdom, honestly who knows
We have an ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch at 11:15. This is one of my favorite TS!

Day 5: Depature Day
Leaving for airport at 5:00 pm, so probably just gonna hit whatever we felt we didn't get enough of.
Did I mention I have to move into my new apartment the day after we get back? It's fine, I'm fine.
So this schedule would probably make most extreme Disney planners go into cardiac arrest, but this is the best we could come up with at 2 weeks notice. Even getting a hotel was a bit of a task. Even though we aren't staying as long as I'm used to, a day at Disney is better than a day anywhere else. ONLY 12 MORE DAYS PEOPLE.
I'm really excited about this trip because now I have a go pro and I think I'll get some really great videos of this trip. There are also so many new things I haven't experienced yet. I can't wait to share pictures once the time comes!!!
 
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12in12

12in12

Well-Known Member
Not over planning isn't a bad thing. It will give you more freedom during your days at WDW. Whatever you wind up doing you will have a great time.
 
amjt660

amjt660

Well-Known Member
ChristyKay said:
Okay so veteran to the parks, newbie at blogging. I'm coming up on my 18th Disney vacation (including DL, DLP, and WDW) and I'm inspired to do my first pre-trip/trip report. I went to WDW for the first time in 2002 (5 years old) and have been every year since (sometimes twice a year), with the exception of 2016. I haven't been to WDW since July of 2015, DL in maybe 2009, and I went to DLP in July 2013 for a couple of days. My last WDW vacation was an amazing 2 week adventure for my 18th birthday (my first birthday spent in the parks), and after that we took a little break because I went off to college and my new (barely) adult life kept getting in the way. A couple weeks ago my mom announced we were going back to WDW on a whim, which is honestly how we do most of our WDW trips. SOOOOO......
When: August 4th-9th
Where: Bay Lake Tower
Who: My mom, dad, brother, and 3 family friends
Fun fact: My mom is meeting us there straight from a trip to Vegas, so she's leaving Nevada at 1:00 am and getting to WDW at 11:00am. She can't check into her room until 3:00 pm so she's going to MK as well, talk about a champ.

DAY 1: Arrival Day WOOHOO :p
Departing from Houston at 8:00 am
Arrive to WDW: 1:00pm
Check in to Bay Lake: 4:00 pm
So straight to Magic Kingdom it is :eek:

FP: Haunted Mansion 1:45-2:45
FP: Pirates of the Caribbean 3:05-4:05
FP: Splash Mountain 4:05-5:05

No ADRs because we literally booked this trip 2 weeks ago but we're hoping we can eat lunch or dinner at Skipper Canteen.

Day 2: HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS :cat:
EMH at 8:00 am
FP: Star Tours 12:30-1:30 I'm going to be the Rebel Spy this time I know it
FP: Toy Story Mania 1:40-2:40
ADR (surprise we actually got one): 50s Prime Time Cafe Lunch 2:45
No reservations for dinner, but we'll most likely park hop over to Epcot, so who knows what QS we'll end up at.

Day 3: Disney's Animal Kingdom
EMH: 8:00 am
LITERALLY NO PLANS FOR TODAY but everyone stay calm, it will be fine.
There are also EMH from 10:00pm-12:00am.
We've obviously never done Pandora so we're probably gonna rope drop that and just suck up the ridiculous wait times, OR we might stay until midnight, get in line for FOP at 11:58, and be "those people".

Day 4: Maybe Magic Kingdom, honestly who knows
So this is departure day :arghh:
We have an ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch at 11:15, and we don't have to leave for the airport until 5:00. Probably just gonna hit whatever we felt we didn't get enough of.
Did I mention I have to move into my new apartment the day after we get back? It's fine, I'm fine.
So this schedule would probably make most extreme Disney planners go into cardiac arrest, but this is the best we could come up with at 2 weeks notice. Even getting a hotel was a bit of a task. Even though we aren't staying as long as I'm used to, a day at Disney is better than a day anywhere else. ONLY 12 MORE DAYS PEOPLE.
I'm really excited about this trip because now I have a go pro and I think I'll get some really great videos of this trip. There are also so many new things I haven't experienced yet. I can't wait to share pictures once the time comes!!!
Click to expand...
Sounds like a great vacation

I am confused with the math though
Aug4-9 is 6 days but you only detail out 4 at the parks
Assuming you have down days inbetween??

Following along

Max
 
ChristyKay

ChristyKay

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
amjt660 said:
Sounds like a great vacation

I am confused with the math though
Aug4-9 is 6 days but you only detail out 4 at the parks
Assuming you have down days inbetween??

Following along

Max
Click to expand...
Ah just noticed the mistake, we arrive on the 5th not the 4th. I'll go edit that :brb:
 
ChristyKay

ChristyKay

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
9 days!!!! We're down to single digits!!!!
giphy.gif
 
ChristyKay

ChristyKay

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just a few days away!!!
giphy.gif


I signed up for Touring Plans last night to check it out. We did a few customized plans and might try them out, although it is hard to plan with 7 people. I am really excited about the reservation finder since we booked this vacation 3 weeks out, we didn't get any dinner ADRs. I'm hopeful we'll be able to snag some once people start canceling.

So just to recap...
It's going to be me (20), my brother (17), our parents (31st anniversary of being 21), our family friends-- two parents and their son (19).
My parents are staying at the Contemporary in a Garden View room, and my brother and I are staying with the other family in a 2 bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower. Like I said, it's hard to plan for 7 people with such short notice, but I know it's going to be an awesome trip no matter what :D

What I'm most excited for:
  • Upgrading to an AP
  • Using the bounce back offer to book our December trip
  • PANDORA- I've only seen half the movie (couldn't get into it) but I've heard such great things about FOP so I hope it lives up to its expectations.
  • The new MK welcome show, but I already miss the old one ):
  • Saying goodbye to GMR. I'm not happy it's leaving, I'm just glad I get to ride it one last time
  • My first ride ever on UoE, and my last
  • Staying in a two bedroom villa
  • Dole whips....DUH!
  • Shopping. I'm just now finishing up a summer internship making pretty good money, and you know I'm about to spend a good chunk of it on overpriced Disney merchandise.
  • The new Soarin
What I'm NOT excited for:
  • Waking up early everyday, but hey, you do what ya have to do
  • Having no dinner ADRs. I'm sure we'll be able to get some last minute ones, but who knows :facepalm:
  • The heat
  • The crowds at AK.....
  • Going to the WS shy of 21.... :cry:
  • MK not being open until 2am
I miss the days of legacy FP, no matter if you booked your trip 3 weeks or 8 months in advance, FPs were fair game everyday. :p
I also has a nightmare last night that I was at DL trying to get on California Screamin and they wouldn't let me on because I didn't have a Magic Band :bored:
 

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