With everything pandemic going on, along with unexpected medical issues, bills, etc., I didn't think we'd be back in WDW until late 2022 at the earliest (it's been a couple years). I was especially disappointed because I didn't think I'd get to see any of the 50th Anniversary stuff if trip timelines kept getting extended.
But when an opportunity presented itself for a father and son trip one month from now, I jumped on it! Huge thanks to my wonderful wife who will be staying home in Texas with our one year old but I know wants to be there (she's good with it, as she recently went on a separate trip with one of our sons while I stayed home with the other).
WHEN:
November 9th through 12th (Tuesday through Friday)
My son and I will actually fly from Austin to Tampa on November 6th in the morning to visit some family near Tampa for a few days. Many of them haven't seen him since he was a baby due to the pandemic, and he's now almost 4.
Then Tuesday morning the 9th, the two of us will drive up to The Most Magical Place On Earth with my parents for four days at the parks and three nights staying on property.
HOTEL:
Port Orleans French Quarter
The four of us (me, Michael, Mom, Dad) will share a Pool View room with two queen beds. While I briefly walked the property a few years ago, I haven't stayed here since it was Dixie Landings when I was a kid. I'm really looking forward to the experience now, and hopefully I can get photos of my son on the big dragon slide like we have from when I was young. He's REALLY into pool time, so fingers crossed the weather works out.
WHO:
Me: mid 30's, been going to WDW since I was 8 weeks old - mostly annual trips as a kid and teen, then a long break before I started going again as an adult. Originally from New England but have lived in Texas with my wife for almost a decade. A Disney Parks Diehard.
Michael: my son, 3 years old but close to 4 by the time we go. A firecracker with endless energy. A huge Cars fan and a passion for all of the new Mickey and Minnie cartoons. He's been to WDW twice but both times were when he was one year old, so this is his first "real" trip as a kid and not a baby/toddler. He knows the characters, he's beyond excited to go Disney World and see the castle, and he asks me every night if I'm taking him to Disney World tomorrow. He also tells his "big Mickey" and "little Mickey" (stuffed animals) that he's going to bring them to Disney World with him when he goes to sleep at night.
Mom and Dad: my parents (60's). Annual Passholders who visit regularly. Also both from New England but have lived in Florida for many years. Beyond excited to take their first (and one of only two) grandchild to Disney World as a kid. HUGE thanks to them for turning what was supposed to be their anniversary "staycation" into more of a family trip so we could all take Michael to Disney World.
Bro & SIL: One of my brothers and my sister-in-law are both Cast Members who arranged their schedules so they'll be able to visit the parks with us two of the days. Both are looking forward to spending time with Michael, as they haven't seen him since he was one year old. They will be meeting us there, rather than staying at a hotel, of course.
PARK DAYS:
Tuesday - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday - EPCOT (possible afternoon park hop to Hollywood Studios, or maybe go to Disney Springs)
Thursday - Magic Kingdom
Friday - Animal Kingdom (possible park hop to Hollywood Studios if it doesn't happen Wednesday)
NEXT STEP:
Creating my list of must-do attractions. This is going to be a little kid-oriented trip, but my parents have already offered to watch Michael here and there so I can do some adult rides with Bro and SIL and have a little free time. I've never been on Slinky Dog Dash, so that's high on my personal list, and I'm a thrill ride junky, so all of the mountains, rollercoasters, and similar rides are always high on the list.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway will be new for me, also, and a must-do for Michael due to his love of the new cartoons. And, of course, I want him to see the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy, as he's a huge Cars fan.
Aside from that, it will be all of the classic stuff with him, and hopefully some character meet and greets or cavalcades (in whichever form they're happening at the time).
THE UNKNOWNS
- Will Lightning Lane and Genie+ be happening by early November? If so, how will that affect planning and our experience?
- Will character meet and greets of some type be happening in early November? I hope so for Michael's sake but it's not a make or break thing.
Now, time for more planning to build the anticipation!
But when an opportunity presented itself for a father and son trip one month from now, I jumped on it! Huge thanks to my wonderful wife who will be staying home in Texas with our one year old but I know wants to be there (she's good with it, as she recently went on a separate trip with one of our sons while I stayed home with the other).
WHEN:
November 9th through 12th (Tuesday through Friday)
My son and I will actually fly from Austin to Tampa on November 6th in the morning to visit some family near Tampa for a few days. Many of them haven't seen him since he was a baby due to the pandemic, and he's now almost 4.
Then Tuesday morning the 9th, the two of us will drive up to The Most Magical Place On Earth with my parents for four days at the parks and three nights staying on property.
HOTEL:
Port Orleans French Quarter
The four of us (me, Michael, Mom, Dad) will share a Pool View room with two queen beds. While I briefly walked the property a few years ago, I haven't stayed here since it was Dixie Landings when I was a kid. I'm really looking forward to the experience now, and hopefully I can get photos of my son on the big dragon slide like we have from when I was young. He's REALLY into pool time, so fingers crossed the weather works out.
WHO:
Me: mid 30's, been going to WDW since I was 8 weeks old - mostly annual trips as a kid and teen, then a long break before I started going again as an adult. Originally from New England but have lived in Texas with my wife for almost a decade. A Disney Parks Diehard.
Michael: my son, 3 years old but close to 4 by the time we go. A firecracker with endless energy. A huge Cars fan and a passion for all of the new Mickey and Minnie cartoons. He's been to WDW twice but both times were when he was one year old, so this is his first "real" trip as a kid and not a baby/toddler. He knows the characters, he's beyond excited to go Disney World and see the castle, and he asks me every night if I'm taking him to Disney World tomorrow. He also tells his "big Mickey" and "little Mickey" (stuffed animals) that he's going to bring them to Disney World with him when he goes to sleep at night.
Mom and Dad: my parents (60's). Annual Passholders who visit regularly. Also both from New England but have lived in Florida for many years. Beyond excited to take their first (and one of only two) grandchild to Disney World as a kid. HUGE thanks to them for turning what was supposed to be their anniversary "staycation" into more of a family trip so we could all take Michael to Disney World.
Bro & SIL: One of my brothers and my sister-in-law are both Cast Members who arranged their schedules so they'll be able to visit the parks with us two of the days. Both are looking forward to spending time with Michael, as they haven't seen him since he was one year old. They will be meeting us there, rather than staying at a hotel, of course.
PARK DAYS:
Tuesday - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday - EPCOT (possible afternoon park hop to Hollywood Studios, or maybe go to Disney Springs)
Thursday - Magic Kingdom
Friday - Animal Kingdom (possible park hop to Hollywood Studios if it doesn't happen Wednesday)
NEXT STEP:
Creating my list of must-do attractions. This is going to be a little kid-oriented trip, but my parents have already offered to watch Michael here and there so I can do some adult rides with Bro and SIL and have a little free time. I've never been on Slinky Dog Dash, so that's high on my personal list, and I'm a thrill ride junky, so all of the mountains, rollercoasters, and similar rides are always high on the list.
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway will be new for me, also, and a must-do for Michael due to his love of the new cartoons. And, of course, I want him to see the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy, as he's a huge Cars fan.
Aside from that, it will be all of the classic stuff with him, and hopefully some character meet and greets or cavalcades (in whichever form they're happening at the time).
THE UNKNOWNS
- Will Lightning Lane and Genie+ be happening by early November? If so, how will that affect planning and our experience?
- Will character meet and greets of some type be happening in early November? I hope so for Michael's sake but it's not a make or break thing.
Now, time for more planning to build the anticipation!
