Pre-Trip How did I get from 38 weeks to 9 weeks??

Hello, I'm new to posting but have been reading all of your wonderful pre-trip / trip reports and loving all of them.
We've only visited WDW but once in January of 2012 (right after we bought points with DVC AKL more pics from that trip later I promise)...so that means no magic bands, no fast pass ahead of time and no clue what-so-ever on what we were doing at that time.
Here on the west coast however, we are Disneyland addicts as in we go once a month at least or we'll break out in hives or something. It's not pretty!!

So who is the "we"? Let me introduce the Disney duo.

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That's me in the black hat, Stacey and that is my DW, Carol in the white hat a few years ago at Disneyland.

This trip has been in the planning stages for about 2 years. We were going to go last January but life happened and got in our way.
It's ok...there is always next year right? About 38 weeks ago while on here reading some great reports, I made a note to start a pre-trip report...So next thing I know here we are 9ish weeks away and I'm just now getting to it.
The flight was the first "real" step as it was booked 11 months out getting a great deal on a non-stop flight on Alaska Airlines for the both of us round trip for just over $600. Then in the 7 month window we booked a lake view at BLT and then things just started falling into place. The ADR's though...wow did those change a time or two or three....

OK, quick side trip back in time because I just ran across these photo's:
Last trip I did something that no one would ever expect and got into the mouth of a shark...Yes, on purpose. Now I have this horrific fear of sharks and most of the people I know love to mess with me especially during shark week. SOOOO..there was a picture opportunity that I couldn't pass up because my friends would have never believed I'd do something like this.

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That wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be...not until I actually saw it. Does anyone else see the ghost child?
Another fun pic I ran across was this one.
The DW has a huge crush on Beast and when we saw Beast and Belle, well Belle and I had to give them a moment.

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So, the trip... Well with many changes, research,review reading and so on, I think I've come up with a plan.
It's a 12 night trip at Bay Lake Tower that we plan to take easy. Last time we were there we spent a lot of time comparing the two parks/coasts and had a miserable time until we realized it's not something that needs comparison. They are just different and we needed to enjoy. This time, we're taking it all in and doing just that.

Day 1 Sat: (Travel Day)/DME/Resort wandering (we don't arrive until 6PM)
Day 2 Sun: (HS) Lunch/Fairfax Dinner/Mama Melrose
Day 3 Mon: (MK) BOG - Room - Ohana
Day 4 Tue: (EP) Room - LeCellier - QS
Day 5 Wed: (DwnTwn) Wave - Splittsville - Open
Day 6 Thu: (EP) QS-QS-Trails End
Day 7 Fri: (MK) Room - GF Cafe - QS
Day 8 Sat: (Free Day) Room - QS - Room (probably check out other resorts)
Day 9 Sun: (AK) Tusker House - Flame Tree BBQ - Open
Day 10 Mon: (EP) QS - Via Napoli - QS
Day 11 Tue: (Free Day) Trails End - Room - Kona
Day 12 Wed: (MK) QS - Room - Whispering Cnyn
Day 13 Thur (Travel 5PM departure) EP France Bakery - QS - Fly home

Then of course it'll have to be time for Disneyland...Right?

 

[Stacey LeDuc]

In the mean time, I've been doing anything and everything to keep the magic going until we actually leave so I've been creating a WDW planning journal and here are a few pages:

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[Stacey LeDuc]

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So far this is what has been keeping me sane. DW however is busy making Disney ears, shirts and blankets for us to bring on our trip. Yes we are Disney addicts and we love it. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll be back when it's fast pass time, most likely flustered. How are we supposed to know when to be where??? Such a problem in life huh?

 

[Ms.Sunshine]

I love your trip planning book. Very Disney

 

[Stacey LeDuc]

I love your trip planning book. Very Disney

Thank You! It's a fun pass time kind of thing to do. I'm going to add journal pages for during the trip. Can't wait to finish it. Who a, I kidding...I can't wait to start our trip. Have a great day.

 

[LizC]

Looks like a great plan. I love you trip planning book!! I wish I creative enough to do something like that, my planning is all spreadsheets. Not so fun for the kids, lol.

 

[Mr Toad]

Your planning book is wonderful. Very creative. Wonderful keepsake.

 

[Stacey LeDuc]

Looks like a great plan. I love you trip planning book!! I wish I creative enough to do something like that, my planning is all spreadsheets. Not so fun for the kids, lol.

Thank You! I'm also a spreadsheet planner so I really get it. I found most of this stuff at "simple stories-say cheese"

 

[Stacey LeDuc]

Your planning book is wonderful. Very creative. Wonderful keepsake.

Thank You so much.

 

[Stacey LeDuc]

So to keep on planning this fun trip I have to say that I've been slightly challenged this last week. I stood up from the couch last Sunday and just like that fell to the ground with 2 ruptured discs. This coming from someone that has never had back pain, it scared me quite a bit. Had to take a week off work, saw an spine guy and thankfully he just wants to do PT and injections...for now. I have to say when I fell to the ground the ONLY thing on my mind was this trip. Since I work at the hospital and know the surgeon, he understands that my goal is to get better, stronger and be able to go "home" again.

Yesterday was the 60 day mark with a little fumbling and shrugging, we have our Fast Passes. I did notice however that I couldn't get one for the Electrical Parade on any of the days. It's ok though, we'll just take an "off" day and go sit on the benches at the train station for a perfect spot.

So it looks like this:
Day 1 - arrival date so no FP's
Day 2 - TOT, RRC, Voyage Little Mermaid
Day 3 - BTMRR, HM, FOF parade
Day 4 - Epcot Meet N Greet, TT, Spacship Earth
Day 5 - Mickey Meet, Pirates, Wishes
Day 6 - Spcshp Earth, Seas Nemo, Living Land
Day 7 - Ariel Mt Grt, Cind/Rapunz, Belle
Day 8 - TOT, RRC, ST
Day 9 - Dino, Exp Everest, Finding Nemo
Day 10 - Crush, Mt Grt, TT
Day 11 - Tink Mt Grt, 7DMT, HM
Day 12 - JC, Dumbo, PP
Day 13 - NONE

So I know some of these are making you scratch your head....me too actually... But we don't tend to do too many rides more than once and we're rope drop kinda people so we will be hitting a few things in that first hour that really doesn't count for a FP. I have no idea what I was doing...so we'll see.

All I know is that I'm on complete countdown and I cannot wait to see this again.

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And This...

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I have a count down on my phone, Ipad, calendar at work, Disney music playing when I can to remind me (as if). I'm just a very lucky girl to have married someone that shares my obsession with THPOE.
There will however be a down side to all of this and that will be leaving these little babies.

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I just wish I could pack them up and take them with us.
Well, It's time for stretching and ibuprofen...good night.

 

[lostpro9het]

There will however be a down side to all of this and that will be leaving these little babies.

I just wish I could pack them up and take them with us.
t.

I know all about that! Ours try to smuggle themselves in our luggage:

 

[Stacey LeDuc]

I know all about that! Ours try to smuggle themselves in our luggage:

So Cute!!! I love the cutie that thinks he/she is hiding. when our luggage comes out they usually stop speaking to us. we're giving them a good stand in though.