Pre-Trip Food & Wine, Rain or Shine...Sept 2018 Pre-Trip

Good Afternoon Everyone! I just wanted to hop on because...

And I'm so excited!!!

I'm going to get to the details in just a moment, but let me preface by saying I am great at writing pre-trip plans but pretty terrible at following up with the actual trip report.

We usually only have one trip planned at a time so once we get back, the Disney Blues hit me hard and I usually have to take a break from all things Disney (including this site) for a while.

THIS time though, we have at least one more trip in the works and potentially a second so there's actually hope that a full trip report will be written .

Without further ado, the plans...

WHO: Myself, Ashton, and my DH Jonathan (usually referred to as J)

Here we are at Tusker House from our trip to the World in May 2017:

And another from a quick two-day trip we took so we could go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party this past December. We had Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian before the party and it was amazinggg.

While we're at it, here's a quick picture down Main Street because everyone needs a little Christmas in July:

WHAT: A five night, six day trip to the World over Labor Day to hit up Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and the start of the Food & Wine Festival. We have four day park hopper tickets and the standard dining plan.

WHEN: Friday, August 31st - Wednesday, September 5th

WHERE: All Start Sports Resort

WHY: 2018 has been quite a trying year for us so far. We lost three family members to illness within a two month span, including my Father-in-Law. While we knew the prognosis for all three, I don't think you are ever really prepared when the time comes. That being said we are so thankful for the time spent with them and having our friends and family as a wonderful support system.

This year has had some highlights as J and I recently bought our first home. In the midst of packing and moving, I also received a big promotion at work and we decided we wanted to take a trip to celebrate these two accomplishments.

Of course my first thought was Disney and when I saw there was still availability at All Start Sports with the Free Dining Promotion, it was a no-brainer.

I have to admit, I was extremely surprised to still find Free Dining availability in June and while I realize it's not really free, it stills makes sense for us when I price it out even when upgrading from the QS to standard plan.

I'll be back in another post to talk plans, FP+ and dining. We're currently at 55 days out!!!

 

[WDWDarling]

Our last two trips have been planned just a few months in advance of the trip dates and this one was no different having been booked in June. I'm just so impatient and when we try and plan trips farther out, I always talk myself into dates that are closer.
-
This is great as far as not having as long of a count down but it definitely throws a wrench in snagging certain ADRs. Luckily most of our favorite restaurants usually have availability and I've found persistence and the Touring Plans Reservation Finder help with almost everything else.

We booked a few days before the 60 Day FP+ window opened up so I had to get my plans together quick.

Here's the rundown thus far, always subject to change of course:

Friday, August 31st:
-Leave our house in GA around 6am, hopefully to arrive on property around 1pm or so.
LUNCH: OOP on the road (Chipotle in Jacksonville is our usual stop)
-Check in at All Start Sports
-Rest and relax until 4ish and make our way to the MK for:
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (more on this later)

Saturday, September 1st:
Magic Kingdom
-I anticipate being at out at MNSSHP pretty late since it goes until 12am and we fully plan on taking advantage of that so I doubt we'll be up for rope dropping MK this day. My hope is that we will have been able to get through most of the rides we want to at the party the night before and this day can be a little more relaxed.
FP+ // 9:40-10:40 Splash Mountain
10:45-11:45 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
3:00- 4:00 Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
LUNCH: QS - Either Columbia Harbor House, Casey's, or Pecos Bills depending on how we're feeling
DINNER: TS - 'Ohana ADR at 5:15pm
-I snagged this using the TP Reservation Finder and I could not be more thrilled. We first ate here in 2015 and declared it the best meal of that trip and have been trying to get back here ever since but could not ever seem to make it fit in our plans. Well it's going down this year y'all!
-We plan to head back to MK after dinner for HEA and then call it a night.

Sunday, September 2nd:
Hollywood Studios
-We plan on being up bright and early to Rope Drop Hollywood Studios this day.
FP+ // 9:15 -10:15 RnRc
10:15-11:15 TSMM
11:15-12:15 ToT
-I unfortunately was not able to get a FP+ for Slinky Dog Dash. I'll rant more about my issues trying to pick FP+ in another post but we're going to try and RD SDD (which I have no confidence in being able to do lol) and if lines are just insane we will catch it on the next trip.
Park Hop to EPCOT
LUNCH: Food&Wine Booths w/ Snack Credits
-We're going to use this time just to take it easy strolling around WS and snacking at the Food&Wine booths. We're not planning on staying in EPCOT too long because we need to get cleaned up for:
DINNER: OOP - Yachtsman Steakhouse ADR at 5:20
-This is a new restaurant for us and I am so excited to try it! This is another one that I feel like is hard to fit in for us but I'm glad we could make it work this trip. We're paying OOP for this one since it's a signature and I don't want to use two credits.

Monday, September 3rd:
EPCOT
-Back to EPCOT to RD Soarin'. Are FPs for this day are all in the evening at AK but since Soarin', LWTL, and SSE are the only rides I *HAVE* to do, I feel like we can make it work.
LUNCH: TS - Via Napoli ADR at 12pm
-Always a must do for J. I know this is either love it or leave it on here but it keeps J coming back to WDW so I make it a priority to book.
Break then hop to Animal Kingdom
FP+ // 5:05- 6:05 Dinosaur
6:05-7:05 Expedition Everest
7:05-8:05 Flight of Passage
-I specifically made all our AK FPs for the evening so we could experience Pandora at night. We missed the opening by a week last year and only went to MK in December so this is our first time experiencing the new land.
DINNER: TS - Sanaa ADR at 8:10pm
-Another must-do for J after trying it last May. The mojito, bread service, and butter chicken are where it's at!

Tuesday, September 4th:
Animal Kingdom
-Back to AK for another flight on a banshee as I knew we would want to experience this more than once.
FP+ // 9:40-10:40 Expedition Everest
10:45- 11:45 Flight of Passage
11:55- 12:55 Kilimanjaro Safari
Hop to MK
LUNCH: QS - Be Our Guest ADR at 2:00pm
-Another must-do for J. Are you sensing a theme here? lol. He loves Disney World for the food so whatever I can do to keep him coming, I will! I'd like to try to modify this time to a *little* earlier but we'll make it work if not. We just plan on soaking in a little more MK time afterwards since this is my favorite park and I have to say "see ya real soon".
Hop to EPCOT
-We will be finishing out our trip with EMH at EPCOT since this is J's favorite park.
DINNER: TS - Chefs de France ADR at 8:20pm
-This is a new one for us and it seems to have mixed reviews but I'm excited to try something different!

Wednesday, September 5th (Last Day )
-Finishing out what is sure to be a whirlwind trip with:
BREAKFAST: TS - Whispering Canyon ADR at 9:35am
-This was our departure breakfast on our December trip and J could not get over the skillet. Mickey waffles, bacon, cheddar biscuits, potatoes, and in the middle of it all...gravy. What more could you ask for? This is sure to keep us full on the drive home.

That's it for now folks! I'll be back with some ramblings about MNSSHP and FP issues later on.

 

[ATLmouselover]

Hi! Fellow Georgia girl here! My husband and I actually head down to Disney on the same day as y'all, so I totally share your excitement! Oddly enough, our Big Thunder Mountain fastpasses on Saturday actually overlap with y'all's (hmm... that's not a creepy thing to point out, right? ). Your trip looks like its going to be a blast - congrats on all of y'all's accomplishments this year! Hope you have an amazing time, and I look forward to reading your report!

 

[WDWDarling]

Hi! Fellow Georgia girl here! My husband and I actually head down to Disney on the same day as y'all, so I totally share your excitement! Oddly enough, our Big Thunder Mountain fastpasses on Saturday actually overlap with y'all's (hmm... that's not a creepy thing to point out, right? ). Your trip looks like its going to be a blast - congrats on all of y'all's accomplishments this year! Hope you have an amazing time, and I look forward to reading your report!

Hi there! Looks like we’re trip buddies! Lol, not creepy I promise. If I had to guess, we’re probably going to be on the late end of that window so wave if you see us .

I’m interested to see what the crowds are going to be like with it being Labor Day weekend but it’ll be great no matter what!

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I will JUST miss you as i'm arriving on 9/8! This sounds like such a fun trip though!

 

[ATLmouselover]

Hi there! Looks like we’re trip buddies! Lol, not creepy I promise. If I had to guess, we’re probably going to be on the late end of that window so wave if you see us .

I’m interested to see what the crowds are going to be like with it being Labor Day weekend but it’ll be great no matter what!

This will actually be our third Labor Day weekend trip. It's generally not crazy busy as many children are back in school or about to be back in school. We've found the crowd to be more local. Just be prepared for the heat and a pop up storm, and y'all will be good to go! 52 more days!

 

[WDWDarling]

This will actually be our third Labor Day weekend trip. It's generally not crazy busy as many children are back in school or about to be back in school. We've found the crowd to be more local. Just be prepared for the heat and a pop up storm, and y'all will be good to go! 52 more days! [/

Yay!!! I feel like it’ll never get here but time is actually passing quickly.

Good to know about the crowds for sure although we generally don’t mind them as long as we have a good plan in place.

Yes, I forgot to mention this in my other posts but I am fully anticipating mid day breaks because of the humidity and we’ll have plenty of ponchos for the rain. We know about humidity all too well as Georgians but it’s still a pain. We’ve gone on July and August before so we know it’s just expected. We basically bring double the amount of Park clothes because we know we’ll change a lot.

 

[WDWDarling]

I will JUST miss you as i'm arriving on 9/8! This sounds like such a fun trip though!

Aww man! Well we’ll try and leave some pixie dust for you. I know you’ve been counting down for a while but the wait is almost over!

 

[Fankle]

Sounds like a great trip. You’ll be arriving just as we’re packing up to head home....

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Your plans sound great! Congrats on the promotion and the new house. O'hana is one our favourites too! You just miss matt, he arrives sept 9th for a conference. Us girls will be stuck at home

 

[WDWDarling]

Sounds like a great trip. You’ll be arriving just as we’re packing up to head home....

It sounds like I’m right in between a lot of trips going on! Fingers crossed we all have gkkd weather

 

[WDWDarling]

Your plans sound great! Congrats on the promotion and the new house. O'hana is one our favourites too! You just miss matt, he arrives sept 9th for a conference. Us girls will be stuck at home

Thank you!! Aww, that’s a bummer for sure but I think I read you all are going to Disneyland right? If so, I’m definitely jealous!

 

[WDWDarling]

Hey guys! Just a quick update because we are 20 days out!

This wonderful package came in recently

And of course I couldn't pass these up at Target:

But probably the most exciting thing I was able to get over the past couple weeks is this -

Yesssss! The elusive Slinky Dog fastpass!

So i mentioned in my first post about having issues when booking my fastpasses at the 60 mark. I had cleared my cache the night before, logged out and back in to make sure I had a new session, had my phone and laptop ready to go, and was up at 6:45am on the 60 day mark just knowing I would be able to book everything.

Yeah, about that.

So I logged in at 7:00am on the dot, go through and start adding FP+ for Hollywood Studios - Slinky Dog, ToT, RnRC all loaded up with no problem. But then I try to save and that's when I get the lovely Olaf with his head popped off picture.

This happened over and over again for AN HOUR. I tried calling in to Disney but of course the hold time was 60 minutes + which I'm sure was because others were dealing with this issue too.

Finally around 8am, I was able to log in and start saving FP selections but of course by that point SDD had no availability. I as still able to book two FoP FPs for our last two days so that was something.

So I know this is the epitome of first world problems right? Like there are many other things that are worse than not being able to book a FP, it was just super irritating at the time.

So of course I kept looking for Slinky and finally got the idea of checking back in at 7am on the 30 mark in case more options opened up and there it was!!!

Moral of the story - if you don't get a FP you're looking for at 60 days out, keep trying periodically but also try again at the 30 day window too.

I'll be traveling for work and have a few other events scattered over the next three weeks so fingers crossed the time will pass quickly!

 

[WDWDarling]

Getting excited because we will be leaving for our trip next week! Almost at single digits!

 

[DRD]

So I logged in at 7:00am on the dot, go through and start adding FP+ for Hollywood Studios - Slinky Dog, ToT, RnRC all loaded up with no problem. But then I try to save and that's when I get the lovely Olaf with his head popped off picture.

This happened over and over again for AN HOUR. I tried calling in to Disney but of course the hold time was 60 minutes + which I'm sure was because others were dealing with this issue too.

Finally around 8am, I was able to log in and start saving FP selections but of course by that point SDD had no availability. I as still able to book two FoP FPs for our last two days so that was something.

So I know this is the epitome of first world problems right? Like there are many other things that are worse than not being able to book a FP, it was just super irritating at the time.

Glad it worked out for you!

It boggles my mind that Disney continues to have problems with this. Granted, I've only used their FP and reservation systems twice in the last 3 years; but it seems to me that they should have the capability of handling the traffic without having outages or drops...or whatever IT issues they have. I had a similar experience a few years ago and ended up getting either the ADR or FP I needed but their outage issue took about 2 hours for them to rectify. I'd like to think it's an isolated thing or only during peak times, but our Disney planner said she'd had similar issues with other clients all throughout the year.

Anyways, like you said, first world problems...but still problems that seem like the genius minds of Disney could iron out quickly.

 

[FlaggNL]

You're almost there!! Great! Enjoy the final pre feelings!

 

[ScarletBegonias]

it's gotta be close now!! (trying to math..)