pre trip report 6/23-7/6 graduation gift for my niece

Come on read it!! Time to gain weight but so worth it! Pretrip report 06/23-07/06!!!

pre-trip report for 6/23-7/6..graduation gift!
Ok so I know my trip isn’t for another 54 days but I figured I would start a pre-trip report. So a little about me….i’m Courtney. I’m 25 and have been going to Disney if not every year since I was born, it’s been every other year. My family has time sharing down in Lake Buena Vista, so even if we weren’t staying on Disney property, we still went to the parks. My biggest obsession came when I went back to Disney back in 2005.Me and my boyfriend at the time, Mike, were only dating for about 2 months, and he decided to come along on vacation with me and the family. Of course we were at the time share place but we still went to the parks and had a ball. Well the next year in July 2006, we all went back again, again staying at the timeshare. Then on July 30, 2006, Mike proposed to me at Cinderella’s Castle. That began the craziness! this made me a princess according to my husband!
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After that day, our wedding was Cinderella based, we then proceeded to go on our honeymoon at Caribbean Beach in September of 2007, and then went back at All Star Movies for our one year anniversary just last year in September 2008.
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On that trip, I decided that instead of giving my niece money or a gift for her high school graduation gift in june 2009, I was going to take her to Disney on a vacation as her gift. So that leads us to now. My husband and I are taking my niece, Chynna, to Disney on june 23rd-july 6th for her high school graduation gift. We are staying at Pop Century. We have the deluxe dining plan (which equals to 39 meals per person and 2 snacks per person) and we have 8 tickets to the parks along with the water park and fun option added on.
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So needless to say I am a Disney freak!
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I was a nut planning my wedding and I have been a nut ever since planning our trips. This year is no exception. My DH and DN have even been making fun of me askng me if I scheduled time to go to the bathroom because I have every mnute planned for us for this trip.

My husband is a bit sick of the Disney stuff but he puts up with it because I love it so much. But I will say I can see where hes coming from since hes been there every year since 2005 and hes a man and could care less about characters and stuff.

My niece is also THRILLED! Shes started a countdown a couple days ago! Shes mainly excited because she has never been on a trip without her two little brothers and hasn’t been to Disney since she was probably 10. so she is very excited to be going.
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Since this is her graduation gift, I have tons of stuff planned for her. I have already bought her a basket from memoriesbybetsy.com which has the graduation ears engraved with her name, a 2009 mickey graduation plush, and a 2009 graduation pin. This will be delivered to our room the day we get there. I have alreadty orderd the mini cake princess surprise for her at one of the restaurants and the pop up surprise centerpiece for another meal. I am planning on getting the room decorated through the disneyflorist and I am also ordering her a custom cake. Plus of course she will have the rgaradution pin to wear everywhere! So I guess I will get down to the itinerary now. On and one other thing, can someone please let me know how to post pics on here. Every time I try, it doesn’t work so that would be a lot of help if someone could let me know.
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On june 23rd we leave from the Philadelphia airport. Now our flight leaves at 7:05 in the morning so of course we have to be there by 5am. The DH and the DN are not too thrilled with that and neither is the DF who has to take us to the airport. But hey I figured if I am paing for that day I might as well get my money’s worth and spend the whole day there. So I figured we should be arriving to the hotel by around 10:30 or 11am, so here we go:
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2:15pm-initially I had reservation for Cap’n Jacks but after reading someone else’s reposrt trip and seeing pics of the food from the Cookes of Dublin, I am canceling and going there instead, so Cookes of Dublin for lunch (DDP)

7:45pm- Tutto Italia (DDP)

june 24th:
8:30am- Boma (DDP)
pool time!
2pm- Whispering Canyon (DDP)
7:30pm- Chef Mickey’s (DDP)

June 25th:
Animal Kingdom Day!
8:10am- Donald’s Safari Character Breakfast (DDP)
lunch-Rainforest (OOP)
7:05pm- 1900 Park Fare(DDP)-added on the mini cake surprise!

June 26th:
Epcot Day!
8:15am- Princess Storybook Breakfast (DDP)-added on the pop up centerpiece
lunch- eating at the different stands using snacks on DDP
8:40pm- Le Cellier (DDP)-so excited about this one because I have heard so many good things about it but have never been there!

June 27th:
7:20am- Chef Mickey(DDP)
9AM- Typhoon Lagoon
lunch- Leaning Palms at Typhoon Lagoon(DDP)
9pm- Narcoosee’s (DDP)- this is mine and my husbands favorite restaurant!

June 28th:
Magic Kingdom Day!
8:05am- Cinderella’s Royal Table (DDP)
12:50pm- Liberty Tree Tavern (DDP)-really disappointed that they got rid of the pound cake with the walnuts in the sweet caramel and the ice cream, that was the most heavenly dessert ive ever eaten!
6pm- Crystal Palace (DDP)-adding on a custom cake!

June 29th:
Hollywood Studios Day!
8am- Starring Rolls Café (DDP)
1:15pm- 50s Prime Time Café (DDP)
5pm- Brown Derby-Fantasmic Package (DDP)

June 30th:
7:30am- Grand Floridian Café (DDP)
9am- Blizzard Beach
lunch- The Warming Hut (DDP)
8pm- Spirit of Aloha (DDP)

July 1st:
7:30am- Pop Century (DDP)
9am- Universal Studios
lunch- Bubba Gump’s at Universal (OOP)
8:15pm- 50s Prime Time Café (DDP)

July 2nd:
7:35am-Ohana (DDP)
9am- one of the water parks
lunch- Earl of Sandwich (DDP)-another favorite
6:30pm- Miceky’s Backyard BBQ (DDP)

July 3rd:
8am- Cape May Café (DDP)
pool time!
2pm: Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian-just me and Chynna (OOP)
7:15pm- Hoop De Doo (DDP)

July 4th:
8am- 1900 Park Fare (DDP)
heading over to MK because im too afraid they will shut down due to crowds for the 4th
lunch- Cosmic Rays (DDP)
5:30pm- Cinderellas Royal Table (DDP)

July 5th:
8:05am- Crystal Palace (DDP)
lunch- Fulton’s at Downtown Disney (OOP)
mini golfing!
Dinner- TREX (OOP)

July 6th-
DEPARTURE DAY!
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Am-breakfast at Pop Century using snacks!

So that’s it! Hope you all enjoyed and will enjoy the info when I get back. Also don’t forget if someone could tell me how to post pics that would be great! For anyone who is leaving soon or before me, hope you all enjoy your trips, im jealous, but enjoy! Talk to everyone soon!
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mrtyoung

Member
Im sure you are excited. We will be staying in pop at the same time and we just cant wait. This will be the first time that DW and I have had the chance to take our own little princesses to the world. How exciting!

Have a great time!
 

Ravenclaw87

Member
Just passing along an idea...

I'm graduating from college this year, and so my grandparents bought me graduation Mickey Mouse ears!!! They're navy blue and they have a little graduation cap on the top. Why don't you call the WDW Merchandise number and order her a pair to give to her before you all go? :)
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
hey thanks for the idea! but ive already got that covered. i ordered a gift basket from memoriesbybetsy.com which includes the ears that have her name engraved on them, a 2009 mickey grad plush, and 2009 pin! but thank you anyway!
 

Ravenclaw87

Member
hey thanks for the idea! but ive already got that covered. i ordered a gift basket from memoriesbybetsy.com which includes the ears that have her name engraved on them, a 2009 mickey grad plush, and 2009 pin! but thank you anyway!

Ohh, okay! :) Great minds think alike, then! Anyway, your trip sounds fantastic!
 

disneygirl1

Well-Known Member
Glad to see another Philly girl on here! Looks like you have a wonderful vacation planned! Your niece is very lucky to have such a nice Aunt!

Have a wonderful time... Take lots of pictures and be sure to post when you get back!

Oh, I always take the 705a flight from Philly too when we go to Disney. This is actually the first year I'm not... A bit sad about that but, hey I'm still going to Disney!
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
yep thats us! taking the 7:05a flight! my husband and niece are ready to kill me for that but whatever! this is the first time i am going early like! yeah i think we're a pretty good aunt and uncle!:slurp: we remind her of that every day when we think about how much money it cost us! haha!
 

abug'saunt

New Member
At least when you leave that early, you get there early enough to spend time in a park. We catch a 6 am flight from Spokane, WA and get to FL sometime around 6 pm FL time. After getting to the resort, checking in, and going to our room to drop off our carry-on stuff its now about 7:30pm. We usually just eat a counter service meal (we use the DDP), go back to our room, unpack our luggage that arrived while we ate, and try to get some rest. Now, it's not easy trying to get sleep by going to bed at what works out to being dinner time back home. I do envy those of you that get there early enough.
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
so i am now 41 days out! i cant wait. its like the excitement is just building and building and looking on here and reading peoples dining and trip reports just makes me want to be there so much more!

i was reading about some cake information the other day and someone posted info and pictures on ordering cakes. they took a picture of individual cakes that they sell in the food court area of POP that you can buy. they come in either chocolate or vanilla and just have some celebration mickey sprinkles on them. i was wondering if when i fax my room request over, if i asked them if they could have one of those cakes in our room for when we arrive, since i am having the disney florists decorate it, if they would do this?! anyone know if they will or have had any experience with them doing this?

im also wondering how much longer i should wait to call the disney florist to order the room decorating. it says no more than 48 hours but that kinda worries me to wait that long. what do you all think?

well i guess i will leave this little update for now! will update as it gets closer!
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snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
Pre-trip report for 6/23-7/6,grad gift! Updated 5/21/09

Pre-trip report for 6/23-7/6,grad gift! Updated 5/21/09
so just a little update. i am now at my 32 day mark!!! which is totally exciting. im thinking pretty soon i should be getting my disney mail which i just cant wait for.

on monday i went ahead and called the disney florist to order the mickeys welcome to have in the room. im a bit disappointed that it wont be done the day we get there but whatever, ill deal. it is going to be done the day after between 4-6pm, which totally messes up my schedule and im going to have to stay away from the resort between our lunch reservations at 2 and our dinner ones at 7:30! this should thrill the DN and DH. that final cost was $222 for anyone that is interested in getting it!

yesterday i went on amazon and ordered my passporters guide and hidden mickeys book so i cant wait to get them and start planning some stuff!

i am getting a bit nervous about the crowds though. i keep on hearing about how crazy and hot and packed it is during that time, especially for the 4th of july! i just know that wont go over well with the DH cuz he has no patience whatsoever! but i guess he'll just have to suck it up!

other than just waiting for the day to get here and reading trip and dining reports and getting more and more excited, im not doing anything. this is finally the holiday weekend so i have monday off from work which is awesome! then next weekend is DN grad party which i have to make the cake for, and then she graduates on june 5th which is so surreal!

so i guess ill sign off for now! anybody that's reading and going soon, enjoy yourselves! hope the weather stays nice!
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
Im sure you are excited. We will be staying in pop at the same time and we just cant wait. This will be the first time that DW and I have had the chance to take our own little princesses to the world. How exciting!

Have a great time!



aww! hope you enjoy! maybe we'll bump into one another!!! haha probably not with the huge crowds that will be there then! hope you have a great time! thanks for reading!
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
Wow, that sounds like a fun filled trip!!! I'm sure your niece is going to have a wonderful time!



thanks! im so happy she is excited. i wasnt too sure if she would be but every time i see her thats all she talks about, besides twilight which we are obsessed with! shes even sending me text messages and counting down! so hopefully it will be fun and she will enjoy all of the little surprises i got her! thanks for reading! hope you continue to follow along!
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
Update! 05/28/2009!

ok so we are now at our 25 day mark! so totally excited. still waiting for the mickey mail to get here but my AAA travel agent said it should be here soon. usually at the 3 week mark and right now im at 3 weeks and 5 days! so just a little update, i got my hidden mickeys and passporters on friday and they are both really cool. i cant wait to do the hidden mickeys, and surprisingly my DH is really excited too!

the passporters is ok. there isnt enough room to put all of my plans so im going to have to get a book and do it that way. right now i have all of my stuff in a folder but thats just falling apart!

other than that, i started to make my list of things we need to get and then my packing list. next week i have to go out and get some new clothes which im looking forward to, not so much the bathing suit shopping though. :hurl: but thats it for now. ill check back in probably next week!

thanks for reading!
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
Love reading your build-up, I am going 2 days after you and your report is getting me excited:animwink:


aww yay! im so glad im getting you all excited and happy to go! my husband is ready to kill me because all i am doing is counting down every day!!! glad to see you read it! enjoy your trip!:sohappy:
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
here are just two pics i wanted to add. these are my puppies!

the first one is Chase. he just turned 1 on march 21st. hes my little loverboy. he was mickey for halloween.

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the second one is mocha. she just turned 2 on march 31st. she is a typical girl, very moody sometimes but i still love her. she was my savior back in 07. my 1 1/2 year old puppy, Snookie, died in june of 07, 3 months before my wedding, of kidney cancer. so we got mocha to deal with the pain and the sadness and she certainly did that! here she is as minnie at halloween.

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WDW_Emily

Well-Known Member
SOUNDS LIKE FUN!!! i can't wait to read your trip report.

I'm going on a trip to WDW next spring break as my parent's graduation present to me and i'm allowed to take 2 friends! my trip in 327 days away and i already can't wait to go back and have my Mickey Waffles.
 

Fashionista007

Active Member
I can't wait to read your TR! I went to WDW for my college graduation and it was a great trip. It was definitely the first trip where I felt like an adult because my parents weren't there. Your niece is going to have a ball! I've also used memoriesbybetsy.com. She's awesome!
 

snookie5605

Member
Original Poster
SOUNDS LIKE FUN!!! i can't wait to read your trip report.

I'm going on a trip to WDW next spring break as my parent's graduation present to me and i'm allowed to take 2 friends! my trip in 327 days away and i already can't wait to go back and have my Mickey Waffles.

yay! glad to see you're signed on! i wish your trip was sooner! i hate to read that people have that long because i know i HATE waiting! but you'll have a ball and congrats on the graduation!
 

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