Hey everyone! I've been absent from the forums for around two years now and even when I was around I was much more of a lurker than a poster. That said I've been reading so many trip reports over the last couple weeks that I thought it might be time to contribute one of my own.
Some back story to start? I think so.
My parents took me to Walt Disney World for the first time in 1993, for my second birthday. I was lucky enough to go many more times throughout my childhood with my parents and my younger sister Andrea. A few of those times we even met up with our very close friends (so close, as in our parents grew up together, we've been friends since birth, they're much more like family close) Amanda and Greg on family vacations with their parents. In all our trips though we've never been to Disney in the fall (or at Christmastime but that's something to tackle another year). I did the ICP or International College Program (now rebranded the CEP) in the summer of 2013 and have been itching to go back "home" to visit and do all the fall things I've never done. When I mentioned to my sister that I was looking for someone to travel with she reminded me that she and Greg get a week off of school in the fall and suggested that all four of us go (Amanda and I work full-time). A couple weeks later we were all excited and within a month our flights were booked. I'll get in to all the nitty gritty details but first let's meet our cast of characters!
Me, Mel, 23 years old. I work full-time at the university I graduated from a year ago. I live about an hour from everyone else, they all live in our hometown. I was a Cast Member at MuppetVision3D when I worked in WDW and while I was initially not thrilled with my placement I grew incredibly fond of Kermit and the gang. I treasure my time as a Muppet Lab Technician and I can't wait to go back (and see the updates to the preshow!!).
Andrea (I call her Ange, I know it doesn't make sense), my sister, 20. She's currently studying to be a teacher. Her first trip to the World was in 1996. At two years old she was scared of all the characters to the point where they avoided us at character meals so as not to upset her. This made 5 year-old me very unhappy with her. She's on the far right in this photo:
Greg, 19. Greg is also in university studying math and business. He's an avid pin collector and something of a park commando. That said he was the most laid-back throughout the planning. He didn't care where we stayed, where we ate or what flights we took so long as we ended up in Disney World.
Amanda, 23 (our birthdays are only 5 days apart!). Amanda works in television broadcasting and loves country music (I have no doubt you'll see her various band and tour tshirts throughout the trip report). She and Andrea are the relax-by-the-pool type so I can see them heading back to the pool in the afternoon for a margarita in the sun while Greg and I ride ToT six more times in a row.
Here's Amanda & Greg last fall with the Big Cheese:
I'll start off our plans by saying that we all have different preferences and styles and so a lot of this trip means compromising for at least a couple of us. We all thought it was worth it since we're lucky enough to all be in a place where it was possible to take this trip together as (young) adults.
We have two rooms in Coronado Springs from October 12th-19th with the QS DDP. Sadly since we had to pick this week because of Andrea and Greg's schooling we hit Columbus day and the one week with higher crowds and no free dining. Somehow Amanda and I will find it in our hearts to forgive them.
We're flying from BUF to MCO and arriving just after midnight on the Saturday night. We're staying the night in the airport before picking up our rental car and driving to CS in the morning. We have 5 day hoppers and tickets to MNSSHP for the Thursday of our trip (I'm excited about our costumes! they're nothing fancy but any project that lets me play with tulle is a good project!). We are on the DDP but are paying out of pocket for two TS meals so we have ADRs for Mama Melrose on Monday night and Teppan Edo on Friday.
Other than that we have no firm plans. We haven't made any FP+ reservations. We tried to get 7DMT but it was booked for every day of our trip. I've never used FP+ before though it was in beta while I was a CM. Amanda and Greg have said that they were fine on their last trip picking up FPs on the night before or morning of and they don't like having things too planned out so that's an example of me compromising and stepping back (I can get a little pushy with park plans).
I'm so excited to head back "home" but I know I'll have to squeeze a lot in on this trip. Unlike last time I was in the World I don't have the luxury of time - no more heading into a park for 2 hours just to take a drawing class and people watch. No more showings of BatB on my break when I'm working a double. But none of that matters as long as I get to go back to my favourite place on earth with people who mean the world to me!
We leave in 10 days!
Some back story to start? I think so.
My parents took me to Walt Disney World for the first time in 1993, for my second birthday. I was lucky enough to go many more times throughout my childhood with my parents and my younger sister Andrea. A few of those times we even met up with our very close friends (so close, as in our parents grew up together, we've been friends since birth, they're much more like family close) Amanda and Greg on family vacations with their parents. In all our trips though we've never been to Disney in the fall (or at Christmastime but that's something to tackle another year). I did the ICP or International College Program (now rebranded the CEP) in the summer of 2013 and have been itching to go back "home" to visit and do all the fall things I've never done. When I mentioned to my sister that I was looking for someone to travel with she reminded me that she and Greg get a week off of school in the fall and suggested that all four of us go (Amanda and I work full-time). A couple weeks later we were all excited and within a month our flights were booked. I'll get in to all the nitty gritty details but first let's meet our cast of characters!
Me, Mel, 23 years old. I work full-time at the university I graduated from a year ago. I live about an hour from everyone else, they all live in our hometown. I was a Cast Member at MuppetVision3D when I worked in WDW and while I was initially not thrilled with my placement I grew incredibly fond of Kermit and the gang. I treasure my time as a Muppet Lab Technician and I can't wait to go back (and see the updates to the preshow!!).
Andrea (I call her Ange, I know it doesn't make sense), my sister, 20. She's currently studying to be a teacher. Her first trip to the World was in 1996. At two years old she was scared of all the characters to the point where they avoided us at character meals so as not to upset her. This made 5 year-old me very unhappy with her. She's on the far right in this photo:
Greg, 19. Greg is also in university studying math and business. He's an avid pin collector and something of a park commando. That said he was the most laid-back throughout the planning. He didn't care where we stayed, where we ate or what flights we took so long as we ended up in Disney World.
Amanda, 23 (our birthdays are only 5 days apart!). Amanda works in television broadcasting and loves country music (I have no doubt you'll see her various band and tour tshirts throughout the trip report). She and Andrea are the relax-by-the-pool type so I can see them heading back to the pool in the afternoon for a margarita in the sun while Greg and I ride ToT six more times in a row.
Here's Amanda & Greg last fall with the Big Cheese:
I'll start off our plans by saying that we all have different preferences and styles and so a lot of this trip means compromising for at least a couple of us. We all thought it was worth it since we're lucky enough to all be in a place where it was possible to take this trip together as (young) adults.
We have two rooms in Coronado Springs from October 12th-19th with the QS DDP. Sadly since we had to pick this week because of Andrea and Greg's schooling we hit Columbus day and the one week with higher crowds and no free dining. Somehow Amanda and I will find it in our hearts to forgive them.
We're flying from BUF to MCO and arriving just after midnight on the Saturday night. We're staying the night in the airport before picking up our rental car and driving to CS in the morning. We have 5 day hoppers and tickets to MNSSHP for the Thursday of our trip (I'm excited about our costumes! they're nothing fancy but any project that lets me play with tulle is a good project!). We are on the DDP but are paying out of pocket for two TS meals so we have ADRs for Mama Melrose on Monday night and Teppan Edo on Friday.
Other than that we have no firm plans. We haven't made any FP+ reservations. We tried to get 7DMT but it was booked for every day of our trip. I've never used FP+ before though it was in beta while I was a CM. Amanda and Greg have said that they were fine on their last trip picking up FPs on the night before or morning of and they don't like having things too planned out so that's an example of me compromising and stepping back (I can get a little pushy with park plans).
I'm so excited to head back "home" but I know I'll have to squeeze a lot in on this trip. Unlike last time I was in the World I don't have the luxury of time - no more heading into a park for 2 hours just to take a drawing class and people watch. No more showings of BatB on my break when I'm working a double. But none of that matters as long as I get to go back to my favourite place on earth with people who mean the world to me!
We leave in 10 days!
we'll probably do parks all day and end in MK for Wishes. The smart thing to do would be to skip Wishes and have an early night but we don't know when we'll be back next so I don't know how we could be expected to do the smart thing!
Enjoy your trip!!