Pre-Trip Our Bittersweet Return to Disney

Hi again, everyone! We're going back to Disney! While I am very excited about this, I am also very worried about how much we are going to be able to enjoy our trip. For those of you who don't know, we lost Lily in a car accident in December of 2022. She enjoyed going to Disney with me, but she never really loved it like she did Universal and everything Harry Potter, so that makes it a little easier to return. I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready to return to Universal. Last summer we made a short trip to Dollywood to try to make some new memories. The boys decided that it was time to head back to WDW and see how we do.
Here is the last Disney picture I have of us as a family. It happened to be taken on the cruise we took to celebrate Logan's high school graduation.
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And here is the last Disney picture I'll ever have of all 3 kids together. They were re-creating an old photo.
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And to get one more depressing piece of information out of the way, we had to say good bye to our cat Flik not quite a month ago. It was hard enough anyway, but Lily was his person and I felt like I was letting her down that I couldn't help him in any other way. Luckily, Logan was able to come home and I did it at home with all of us there. It was a rough weekend, but that Monday morning, there were two cardinals in our backyard flitting around and chasing each other. I choose to believe that they are together again and enjoying each others company. We had some beautiful weather the week before and I was able to take him outside to enjoy the sunshine.
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Okay, done with the depressing stuff and am ready to discuss this trip.

I think this is the shortest lead up time to a Disney trip I have ever had and I swore I would not take another trip with just one day in each park, but trying to find time between 2 different half Ironman races that Logan is doing this summer, the 424 mile bicycle ride he is doing across Iowa, the end of Owen's club soccer season, the preseason tournaments for Owen's high school soccer team, and my coworkers vacation schedules was very difficult and I feel grateful that we found a week that would work.

When: Wednesday, June 12 - Tuesday, June 18
Where: Pop Century (we have two hopefully connecting rooms)
Who: me (Amy), my husband Brian, Logan (21), Owen (16)
Here is Owen at his first College Showcase this "spring" season. It was snowing and there were 40mph wind gusts!
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And here is Logan at the end of his second half Ironman race last summer:
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Now for some plans:
June 12 - our flight leaves Columbus at 5:15am. I didn't really want to leave this early, but there was a huge difference in price for the later flights, so butt crack of dawn it is! I'm sure the boys will sleep in the car on the way to the airport and most of the flight. We are set to land at 7:25am. I think we will probably take Mears Connect to get to Pop Century. The plan for the day is just to take it easy since we'll have such an early start to the day. We'll likely head to Disney Springs and check out a few of our favorite resorts and call it an early evening

June 13, 15, 16, 17 - we will spend one day in each park, I just haven't decided which day will be which park yet

June 14 - we have tickets for the Typhoon Lagoon H20 Glow After Hours

June 18 - our flight home leaves at 4:15. We will likely sleep in and have a late breakfast before heading to the airport

I know we could fit more park time in, but the 4 park Magic Tickets that the are offering right now was a good deal, so that's what we went with. Not sure that we will do much table service dining, but I have until April 13 to think more about that. I'm still trying to decide on Memory Maker. It is so expensive now, and I'm not sure if we would use it enough. Last summer, Owen and Logan wouldn't let me take pictures of them at Dollywood since Lily wouldn't be in them, so not sure if they'll be ready this year.

I'll close this out with some pics of our new(ish) kittens, Harry and Cruella!
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riverside

Well-Known Member
You all talked me into getting TSA Precheck!
Best money ever spent!!
He has two more tests scheduled to make sure, but fingers crossed!
I wish him all the best!!
Saturday will be Epcot.
Us too!!😊
Made me think about how disappointed I am that Flower and Garden is ending over a month earlier this year and we are missing it!
What?? I guess I never paid attention to the dates & just assumed it would still be going on in June. I am so bummed.
 

TheMouseFan

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Best money ever spent!!

I wish him all the best!!

Us too!!😊

What?? I guess I never paid attention to the dates & just assumed it would still be going on in June. I am so bummed.
I'll be sure to watch for you at Epcot! And while I'm excited that all of the walls will be down and there will be new things to experience at Epcot, I'm really upset that Flower and Garden will be over. Maybe one day I'll get to see it!
 
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cgersic

Well-Known Member
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Which means...dining reservation time!
Wed, 6/12 - late lunch at City Works
Thurs, 6/13 - dinner at 'Ohana
Fri, 6/14 - late lunch at Whispering Canyon
Sat and Sun - counter service at Epcot and AK
Mon, 6/17 - dinner at 50's Prime Time
Tues, 6/18 - breakfast at Boma

Brian and I spent the morning at the zoo today to see the spring blooms. The tulips were a little past their peak bloom, but still pretty! Made me think about how disappointed I am that Flower and Garden is ending over a month earlier this year and we are missing it!
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I LOVE tulips!! They are beautiful, no matter what stage they are in.
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
I will definitely look into this more. I only worry about Logan following through with getting it done since he's out in Iowa.
If you do any international travel, you may want to look into Global Entry. It's $100 for five years, includes TSA pre check, and makes it so much easier when you're coming back into the US.
 

Swissmiss

Premium Member
May I ask what a touring plans subscription is?

TouringPlans.com is a website that has loads of awesome information (thanks @lentesta), some of it is public and then some is accessible only if you have a subscription. I have found it worth the price to have access to the additional information such as full access to crowd calendars and being able to create personalized touring plans. While I can’t always get my traveling party to follow the plan(s), when we have it has saved us time.
 

Minnie1986

Well-Known Member
TouringPlans.com is a website that has loads of awesome information (thanks @lentesta), some of it is public and then some is accessible only if you have a subscription. I have found it worth the price to have access to the additional information such as full access to crowd calendars and being able to create personalized touring plans. While I can’t always get my traveling party to follow the plan(s), when we have it has saved us time.
Thanks so much! I'll be sure to check it out for my upcoming trip.
 

Laurenciaa

Well-Known Member
TouringPlans.com is a website that has loads of awesome information (thanks @lentesta), some of it is public and then some is accessible only if you have a subscription. I have found it worth the price to have access to the additional information such as full access to crowd calendars and being able to create personalized touring plans. While I can’t always get my traveling party to follow the plan(s), when we have it has saved us time.
Did the same thing!
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
You all talked me into getting TSA Precheck! Logan had his interview last Friday and I got his number on Tuesday. Brian, Owen, and I have our interviews this afternoon, so will hopefully have our numbers early next week.

We have decided on our park days, but only Thursday and Friday are set in stone at this point. Wednesday will be Disney Springs and an early evening. Thursday is of course MK and the After Hours at MK. Friday is sleeping in and Typhoon Lagoon After Hours. Saturday will be Epcot. Sunday will be AK. Monday will be DHS. And Tuesday will probably involve some resort hopping until we have to leave for the airport.

I don't know if any of you remember Sweetpee_1993 (Kelly) from on here quite a few years back, but we are meeting her and her husband, Tracey, for dinner at 'Ohana on Thursday and then we are all attending the After Hours at MK. I am super excited for that meet up!

Brian had an appointment at the spine clinic today. He has been having back pain and tingling in his toes the last few months. MRI showed a fractured vertebrae and a bulging disc. Luckily, they feel it can be managed medically. He has two more tests scheduled to make sure, but fingers crossed! I keep teasing him that we're going to have to rent a scooter for him! He is adamant that he will not get one! He really doesn't need one though because his back actually feels better when he is standing and walking, but I like to give him a hard time! The really good news is that there are no restrictions on what he can ride as long as it doesn't hurt him.

I'll wrap this up with a few pics of what Logan is doing today. He is in California for the Collegiate Club Triathlon Nationals.
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@sweetpee_1993 is one of my favorites and helped start me writing trip reports! Please tell Kelly I said hi!
 

TheMouseFan

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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So close, yet so far away!!

Quick question for you all. Does anyone know if there are soap dishes on the sinks in the resorts for the soap bar used to wash your hands? I don't remember seeing them, but I usually bring my own pump liquid soap so never really looked very hard. If we do all carry on, I can't bring my own soap! And I hate the mess on the sink if there isn't a dish. All other hotels seem to have them now, but I'm pretty sure CBR will not. In which case, I'll go buy cheap ones to bring with me.

And a picture of my latest Disney purchase. Most certainly did not need them, but they are so darn cute and I couldn't resist!
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And a look at the "help" I got today while making the bed and folding laundry!
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