My first pre-trip report!
My husband and I have long been wanting to get down to WDW in the Fall to see all of the Halloween decor, and to get to the Party and Food & Wine at Epcot (since I'm a big fan of both food... and wine!). Halloween is my husband's favorite holiday, and fast becoming mine too, since Halloween if just a few days before my birthday. We have a busy October, and feared that we might have to let another year go by where we couldn't attend. Then I saw an opening at the end of the month, and seized it before someone else could put another wedding on our calendar!
Back-story? I had been to WDW several times growing up, my last time being for Senior Week in 1998, after I graduated high school. I finally returned in 2012 for a long weekend to propose to my now husband. We have realized that a long weekend is our preferred way of "doing" Disney. We've returned for MLK weekend in 2013 and 2014. We always plan on MK, as its been an exciting few years with all of the NFL expansion. Additionally, we switch out a different park every trip: 2012 - Epcot, 2013 - DHS, 2014 - AK (my first time in that park). A long weekend is perfect for us as it leaves us wanting more, without getting overloaded (and keeping costs down)! However, after our last trip we talked about how we need to switch to another time of year for our next few trips, so that we can get down for Halloween. Soooo... by the luck of the calendar, 2014 is getting bookended with trips to WDW in January AND October. Lucky us!
We are also being joined by two friend for this trip, Julie (for sure, she's staying with us) and Stu (most likely - he hasn't booked his trip yet, but is planning for the same time). We're very excited to spend the weekend with Julie, as she is a dear friend who just moved away for work (from Baltimore to Buffalo, NY!)
Dates: October 23 - October 26
Lodging: Legacy Vacation Club Orlando
Off-Site!? Yeah. We stayed at GF in 2012, and Contemporary in 2013 (and really want to stay at Poly at some point) but learned in January, that we can save a good chunk of change staying off-property and converting some time-share points into a few nights at an area resort. And really we just need a crash pad (and I discovered a great car service in January that was friendly and affordable AND sometimes faster then Disney buses since they only stop to pick us up and take us to the gate!). So yeah, off-site this time!
Day 1: Thursday, October 23
Barely counts. Travel day as we aren't leaving until after work to fly into Orlando, but we are all getting in around the same time to grab luggage and get the car to the resort, check-in, have a catch up cocktail, then go to bed. Early day on Friday!!
Day 2: Friday, October 24 - MK/MNSSHP
I really really want to be there for the Welcome Show. Everyone in the room will hate me for it. I will get up at 6 am, shower get dressed, then start waking up everyone like a kid on Christmas. I guess I should warn them. But I love the WS - we stumbled upon it in 2013, and it just starts everything off perfectly! After that... I dunno. I will probably defer to some of Julie's wishes, since it's been years since her last trip. I definitely want to FP for 7DMT, and then let her pick the other two. I've heard that MK isn't too busy on days with the party in the evening, since people don't want to pay for a shorter day. Hopefully that will be true! Then we will be there for the party to start (though we may pop out in the late afternoon for early dinner at one of the hotels and some siesta time). My plan is just to wear our costumes all day. We are stealing this idea:
But gender-bending it. Husband and I as Ariel & Snow White, and Julie as one of the princes. We'll see.
Any first timer tips for MNSSHP?
Day 3: Saturday, October 25 - Epcot/Food & Wine
Yes!!! We may sleep in a little, after the long day on Friday, but not too late! I've heard Saturdays for F&W are very busy, but we'll tough it out! I think I want to FP Soarin' & Maelstrom, then give Julie a choice on the 3rd. And of course, stay through to Illuminations!
Day 4: Sunday, October 26 - Hangover Sunday
Ha ha ha.
Hopefully no hangovers, but we shall see. We're going to hang at the resort, and hopefully weather will cooperate for some pool time - of not, then off to DD (even though I don't really want to go back until it is DS!). We could only get early evening flights home, so we'll have some chill-out time during the day, though not enough to return to a park.
So, any tips for either of the events? I've noticed it's rare for a PTR for a weekend trip, and most reports I see are for longer stays... anyone else in the quick-trip club?
Is it October yet?!
My husband and I have long been wanting to get down to WDW in the Fall to see all of the Halloween decor, and to get to the Party and Food & Wine at Epcot (since I'm a big fan of both food... and wine!). Halloween is my husband's favorite holiday, and fast becoming mine too, since Halloween if just a few days before my birthday. We have a busy October, and feared that we might have to let another year go by where we couldn't attend. Then I saw an opening at the end of the month, and seized it before someone else could put another wedding on our calendar!
Back-story? I had been to WDW several times growing up, my last time being for Senior Week in 1998, after I graduated high school. I finally returned in 2012 for a long weekend to propose to my now husband. We have realized that a long weekend is our preferred way of "doing" Disney. We've returned for MLK weekend in 2013 and 2014. We always plan on MK, as its been an exciting few years with all of the NFL expansion. Additionally, we switch out a different park every trip: 2012 - Epcot, 2013 - DHS, 2014 - AK (my first time in that park). A long weekend is perfect for us as it leaves us wanting more, without getting overloaded (and keeping costs down)! However, after our last trip we talked about how we need to switch to another time of year for our next few trips, so that we can get down for Halloween. Soooo... by the luck of the calendar, 2014 is getting bookended with trips to WDW in January AND October. Lucky us!
We are also being joined by two friend for this trip, Julie (for sure, she's staying with us) and Stu (most likely - he hasn't booked his trip yet, but is planning for the same time). We're very excited to spend the weekend with Julie, as she is a dear friend who just moved away for work (from Baltimore to Buffalo, NY!)
Dates: October 23 - October 26
Lodging: Legacy Vacation Club Orlando
Off-Site!? Yeah. We stayed at GF in 2012, and Contemporary in 2013 (and really want to stay at Poly at some point) but learned in January, that we can save a good chunk of change staying off-property and converting some time-share points into a few nights at an area resort. And really we just need a crash pad (and I discovered a great car service in January that was friendly and affordable AND sometimes faster then Disney buses since they only stop to pick us up and take us to the gate!). So yeah, off-site this time!
Day 1: Thursday, October 23
Barely counts. Travel day as we aren't leaving until after work to fly into Orlando, but we are all getting in around the same time to grab luggage and get the car to the resort, check-in, have a catch up cocktail, then go to bed. Early day on Friday!!
Day 2: Friday, October 24 - MK/MNSSHP
I really really want to be there for the Welcome Show. Everyone in the room will hate me for it. I will get up at 6 am, shower get dressed, then start waking up everyone like a kid on Christmas. I guess I should warn them. But I love the WS - we stumbled upon it in 2013, and it just starts everything off perfectly! After that... I dunno. I will probably defer to some of Julie's wishes, since it's been years since her last trip. I definitely want to FP for 7DMT, and then let her pick the other two. I've heard that MK isn't too busy on days with the party in the evening, since people don't want to pay for a shorter day. Hopefully that will be true! Then we will be there for the party to start (though we may pop out in the late afternoon for early dinner at one of the hotels and some siesta time). My plan is just to wear our costumes all day. We are stealing this idea:
But gender-bending it. Husband and I as Ariel & Snow White, and Julie as one of the princes. We'll see.
Any first timer tips for MNSSHP?
Day 3: Saturday, October 25 - Epcot/Food & Wine
Yes!!! We may sleep in a little, after the long day on Friday, but not too late! I've heard Saturdays for F&W are very busy, but we'll tough it out! I think I want to FP Soarin' & Maelstrom, then give Julie a choice on the 3rd. And of course, stay through to Illuminations!
Day 4: Sunday, October 26 - Hangover Sunday
Ha ha ha.
Hopefully no hangovers, but we shall see. We're going to hang at the resort, and hopefully weather will cooperate for some pool time - of not, then off to DD (even though I don't really want to go back until it is DS!). We could only get early evening flights home, so we'll have some chill-out time during the day, though not enough to return to a park.So, any tips for either of the events? I've noticed it's rare for a PTR for a weekend trip, and most reports I see are for longer stays... anyone else in the quick-trip club?
Is it October yet?!
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We are going Oct 17-25!!
