Sometimes we just need a re-calibration in our lives. You know, a celebration of where you came from, where you are, and where you hope to be.
It's time for my re-calibration, Disney-style.
We're in the final phase of planning out our trip for 9-15 October, which will be the first real "vacation" for me, my bride of 16 months, and two of her sons (18 and 16 years old). Can't think of a better place to do it.
I grew up in Central Florida, leaving for the Navy in the mid-80s. Back then it was MK and Epcot, and the latter had only been opened for a couple of years. I remember driving down from DeLand the first week Epcot was open to the public. In fact, I made the drive THREE times that week! Couldn't get enough. Went back to Epcot with my firstborn still in the womb (ex was 8 months preggers at the time!) in '86. Hadn't been back to WDW until a couple of years ago...for one day on a CM pass, no FP included. Still, got in a few good rides at MK and really enjoyed the finale at the castle. So in spite of my WDW history (going back to the early 70's) and a Disneyland trip in '70...I AM A NOOB when it comes to AK and HS! And I'm excited about that.
Wife (I'll call her The NP as she's a nurse practitioner) has done quite a few trips over the past 15 years or so and was quite educated in regard to FP/ADR, etc. But I had an "ace in the hole". Military discounts and Shades of Green. Once we shared info with each other back in February, well, need I say more. Forces combined into a devastating planning organization capable of Disneyfying even the gloomiest of days.
NP and I met 18 months ago and were married 16 months ago. You do the math. At our age (NP is a VERY YOUNG early-50s and I'm approaching 60), ya just don't do two year long engagements. So we figured a one-month-to-one-year ratio worked for us. We share 10 kids and 5 grands, with the boys noted above, Matt and Pat, still in the nest. We get along fabulously, so we figured a shared room at SoG would work for the little time we plan on being in the room. Yeah, the boys will be stinky and loud and all of the other things boys are, but big deal. As long as Durfish gets his sleep and his shower, all things can be overcome. Yeah, you can quote me on that later.
We live in western Virginia, and wanting to do a direct flight made it interesting for us. Turned out the best option is to fly out of DCA. Airport parking can be expensive in the city, so I opted for off-site hotel parking and saved about a hundred bucks (in exchange for an expected 30 minute wait/ride for a free shuttle).
Leaving the house by 8am gets us to the garage by 11am...plenty of time in front of a 1:55pm flight. Arrival at MCO around 4:17pm, limo by Mercado to SoG, check in, get our tickets, and a little time to check out the grounds before a 7:40pm ADR at Whispering Canyon Cafe.
I did say we were planners, right?
When discussing the trip I made sure to let NP know that I'd need to go at a 60-year-old pace, and that I'd prefer experiences (in the form of rides/parades/shows/dinner shows) to hustling around trying to make ADRs all day. She lovingly agreed. That's my gal! So we tried to plan no more than one ADR per day in the same park we are visiting. Spirit of Aloha on the second night (MK day) is the noted exception, but a 5:15 show gets us out in plenty of time for HEA. The other exception is the 8am Supercalifragilistic Breakfast on our full Epcot day with a FP to follow at 9:45. No hill for a climber!
We'll probably rope drop MK on the first park day to try and catch 7DMT, but don't feel much pressure regarding FP for other stuff since we have EMH that night and MNSSHP on our third park day. Having a day and a half planned for Epcot meant we could easily schedule FP for Soarin' and TT (on different days). If we RD one or both (third park day is Epcot early EMH) we can look for other opportunities. Or just keep the FP and ride 'em again!
Lucked in to an early safari at AK, so hopefully we'll be able to see some waking animals before the heat hits. NP stumbled on an opening at Spice Road right before IllumiNations, so we'll make sure to get there a bit early and ask for a good table to view the events.
Never thought I'd be a Disneyholic again, and certainly never thought I'd be this deep into planning a trip. In olden days we just "winged it". E-tickets were still a thing and lines rarely hit 40 minutes. But thanks to you hard-charging Minnies and Mickeys I feel pretty good about our plans (both in pace and content). I'll try to do a post-trip report, but memory sometimes fails and I'll probably have to rely on NP's pics. Will also try to give a fairly solid accounting of our SoG experiences.
BTW...NP got me two t-shirts for the trip. One says "Who's the leader of the club?" with mouse ears, and the other is a Grumpy shirt. Wonder which one I'll wear on the first day...
It's time for my re-calibration, Disney-style.
We're in the final phase of planning out our trip for 9-15 October, which will be the first real "vacation" for me, my bride of 16 months, and two of her sons (18 and 16 years old). Can't think of a better place to do it.
I grew up in Central Florida, leaving for the Navy in the mid-80s. Back then it was MK and Epcot, and the latter had only been opened for a couple of years. I remember driving down from DeLand the first week Epcot was open to the public. In fact, I made the drive THREE times that week! Couldn't get enough. Went back to Epcot with my firstborn still in the womb (ex was 8 months preggers at the time!) in '86. Hadn't been back to WDW until a couple of years ago...for one day on a CM pass, no FP included. Still, got in a few good rides at MK and really enjoyed the finale at the castle. So in spite of my WDW history (going back to the early 70's) and a Disneyland trip in '70...I AM A NOOB when it comes to AK and HS! And I'm excited about that.
Wife (I'll call her The NP as she's a nurse practitioner) has done quite a few trips over the past 15 years or so and was quite educated in regard to FP/ADR, etc. But I had an "ace in the hole". Military discounts and Shades of Green. Once we shared info with each other back in February, well, need I say more. Forces combined into a devastating planning organization capable of Disneyfying even the gloomiest of days.
NP and I met 18 months ago and were married 16 months ago. You do the math. At our age (NP is a VERY YOUNG early-50s and I'm approaching 60), ya just don't do two year long engagements. So we figured a one-month-to-one-year ratio worked for us. We share 10 kids and 5 grands, with the boys noted above, Matt and Pat, still in the nest. We get along fabulously, so we figured a shared room at SoG would work for the little time we plan on being in the room. Yeah, the boys will be stinky and loud and all of the other things boys are, but big deal. As long as Durfish gets his sleep and his shower, all things can be overcome. Yeah, you can quote me on that later.
We live in western Virginia, and wanting to do a direct flight made it interesting for us. Turned out the best option is to fly out of DCA. Airport parking can be expensive in the city, so I opted for off-site hotel parking and saved about a hundred bucks (in exchange for an expected 30 minute wait/ride for a free shuttle).
Leaving the house by 8am gets us to the garage by 11am...plenty of time in front of a 1:55pm flight. Arrival at MCO around 4:17pm, limo by Mercado to SoG, check in, get our tickets, and a little time to check out the grounds before a 7:40pm ADR at Whispering Canyon Cafe.
I did say we were planners, right?
When discussing the trip I made sure to let NP know that I'd need to go at a 60-year-old pace, and that I'd prefer experiences (in the form of rides/parades/shows/dinner shows) to hustling around trying to make ADRs all day. She lovingly agreed. That's my gal! So we tried to plan no more than one ADR per day in the same park we are visiting. Spirit of Aloha on the second night (MK day) is the noted exception, but a 5:15 show gets us out in plenty of time for HEA. The other exception is the 8am Supercalifragilistic Breakfast on our full Epcot day with a FP to follow at 9:45. No hill for a climber!
We'll probably rope drop MK on the first park day to try and catch 7DMT, but don't feel much pressure regarding FP for other stuff since we have EMH that night and MNSSHP on our third park day. Having a day and a half planned for Epcot meant we could easily schedule FP for Soarin' and TT (on different days). If we RD one or both (third park day is Epcot early EMH) we can look for other opportunities. Or just keep the FP and ride 'em again!
Lucked in to an early safari at AK, so hopefully we'll be able to see some waking animals before the heat hits. NP stumbled on an opening at Spice Road right before IllumiNations, so we'll make sure to get there a bit early and ask for a good table to view the events.
Never thought I'd be a Disneyholic again, and certainly never thought I'd be this deep into planning a trip. In olden days we just "winged it". E-tickets were still a thing and lines rarely hit 40 minutes. But thanks to you hard-charging Minnies and Mickeys I feel pretty good about our plans (both in pace and content). I'll try to do a post-trip report, but memory sometimes fails and I'll probably have to rely on NP's pics. Will also try to give a fairly solid accounting of our SoG experiences.
BTW...NP got me two t-shirts for the trip. One says "Who's the leader of the club?" with mouse ears, and the other is a Grumpy shirt. Wonder which one I'll wear on the first day...
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