Well, it had to be done. I had to start the Pre-trip report. The room is booked, it was time. No plans are constructed yet (ok, that's a big lie, I've already made a couple sets of different plans), but we are looking forward to a visit next June 28-July 8.
We'll be staying at our home resort of Old Key West the entire time for this visit (last time had to split between OKW and SSR) and our daughter will be participating in the Disney Soccer Academy from June 29-July 2. This will be her second year at the academy and while soccer is her second love (behind music), she really enjoys the camp and is considering joining a travel or club team in the near future, so the camp will be another great experience for her.
Our daughter is going to be 11 next summer and over 58 inches, so it is finally time for her first trip to Universal. That means we will likely be doing 3-4 days at Universal and the rest at Disney. Since 4 of those days she will be at soccer, we'll be enjoying either our resort or the Rose and Crown at Epcot each of those four days. That leaves us 4-5 days of Disney time. Likely one day per park with maybe a little hopping around.
We are still waiting (and praying) for a DVC Annual Pass special discount. While the usual discount is great, we are hoping they do the over the top awesome discount that they did a couple years ago where the Premium Annual pass ended up cheaper than the regular DVC Annual Pass. Hoping.... otherwise, we'll be going with the non-Premium.
You might be asking "Why would they get an AP for only 5 days (or a few more for the adults) of Disney Parks time???" Well.... we're trying to figure out ways to get back again for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon and maybe even another Christmas/New Years visit. Last time we did NYE was 2009-2010 and resulted in a couple of our best days at Disney ever - Christmas at MK (in at 7am, out by noon, did almost every ride) and NYE at Epcot (lots of rides early, then camping out at R&C all afternoon).
Right now, the general plan is...
Arrival Day (June 28) get to Universal at opening and enjoy the NON-Harry Potter activities of IOA.
June 29-July 2 - our daughter is at Soccer Camp, so possibly mornings with one EMH ride and maybe a couple late afternoon FP+ - my wife and I will be pool lounging or Rose and Crown drinking with Carl each day.
July 3 - Magic Kingdom - loved July 3 there last year (check the trip report)
July 4 - Epcot - also loved July 4 there last year
July 5 - Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios - depending upon our EMH and FP+ from soccer days
July 6 - Universal IOA - Harry Potter and then whatever else we can do at Universal in the afternoon/evening
July 7 - Universal Studios - starting with Diagon Alley and then ???
July 8 - departure day - who knows....another park day, but where???
There you have it - 7 months out planning. Yup.
We'll be staying at our home resort of Old Key West the entire time for this visit (last time had to split between OKW and SSR) and our daughter will be participating in the Disney Soccer Academy from June 29-July 2. This will be her second year at the academy and while soccer is her second love (behind music), she really enjoys the camp and is considering joining a travel or club team in the near future, so the camp will be another great experience for her.
Our daughter is going to be 11 next summer and over 58 inches, so it is finally time for her first trip to Universal. That means we will likely be doing 3-4 days at Universal and the rest at Disney. Since 4 of those days she will be at soccer, we'll be enjoying either our resort or the Rose and Crown at Epcot each of those four days. That leaves us 4-5 days of Disney time. Likely one day per park with maybe a little hopping around.
We are still waiting (and praying) for a DVC Annual Pass special discount. While the usual discount is great, we are hoping they do the over the top awesome discount that they did a couple years ago where the Premium Annual pass ended up cheaper than the regular DVC Annual Pass. Hoping.... otherwise, we'll be going with the non-Premium.
You might be asking "Why would they get an AP for only 5 days (or a few more for the adults) of Disney Parks time???" Well.... we're trying to figure out ways to get back again for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon and maybe even another Christmas/New Years visit. Last time we did NYE was 2009-2010 and resulted in a couple of our best days at Disney ever - Christmas at MK (in at 7am, out by noon, did almost every ride) and NYE at Epcot (lots of rides early, then camping out at R&C all afternoon).
Right now, the general plan is...
Arrival Day (June 28) get to Universal at opening and enjoy the NON-Harry Potter activities of IOA.
June 29-July 2 - our daughter is at Soccer Camp, so possibly mornings with one EMH ride and maybe a couple late afternoon FP+ - my wife and I will be pool lounging or Rose and Crown drinking with Carl each day.
July 3 - Magic Kingdom - loved July 3 there last year (check the trip report)
July 4 - Epcot - also loved July 4 there last year
July 5 - Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios - depending upon our EMH and FP+ from soccer days
July 6 - Universal IOA - Harry Potter and then whatever else we can do at Universal in the afternoon/evening
July 7 - Universal Studios - starting with Diagon Alley and then ???
July 8 - departure day - who knows....another park day, but where???
There you have it - 7 months out planning. Yup.
