Pre-Trip Yep, we're really going in July.

This will be our 5th trip to Disney and yes we should know better than to go to Disney in July. But due to our oldest starting her second year in college we can't pull her out of school like we have in the past so we'll just have to deal with the crowds and the heat. Regardless we are all excited about our up coming trip.
Here we are....
.

My lovely girls 19 & 16

and my baby boy 13

We are also bringing a friend of my daughters but don't have a photo at this time.

As of today we have 57 days until our vacation and 60 days until we arrive at Disney!!

And that means that today was the day that we got to book fast passes. Oh what stress that was. Now, I'm a planner but it's a little stressful planning out days 60 days in advance when things change, moods change, people want to sleep in....etc. I did get a few for 7DMT and the new Frozen ride in Epcot.

We will be arriving on the last day that Dinosaur will be open before the refurbishment so we'll definitely be riding that.

We will be getting two rooms at AllStar Movies for this trip. I will be missing POR but with 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms ASM will be much appreciated.

 

[MerMom1981]

I'm very excited today for some reason!! Maybe i'll put all my energy into cleaning the house today (while listening to Disney music of course)!

Our reservation for BOG is on the 24th, it's also our arrival day! We're definitely heading to AK sometime that night to ride Dinosaur before it goes down for refurbishment.

OOOhhh I've been wanting to do the Behind the Seeds tour. None of the kids have been interested in it but now that they're old enough I think maybe i'll get reservations for just Joe and I. Now I'm really excited!!

Too bad we won't be sweating into our soup together ;-)
I would love to meet up with a WDWmagic pal! I hope it works out for you & Tuvalu!

 

[sheriffwoody]

I love the ears you guys made! So fun. Also love the chain idea. I did that for one of our trips, and it was fun

 

[Tom]

Just a few small details.

We are trying something new this year. We are driving straight through from northern Indiana. When driving in the past we would normally leave around 6 am and stop a little south of Atlanta for the night and finish our drive the next day and arrive at Disney around Noon. This year we will be leaving around 3 am, hopefully a little sooner, and arriving in Orlando around 9-10pm. We have 4 drivers to switch off, although I'm not sure you can call DD#2 a driver yet, she still has her permit and we're only going to allow her to drive a small stretch between Ga and Fl.

Any ways...We will be checking into a Orlando resort and spending 3 days lounging by the pool, relaxing and probably head to Disney Springs for some shopping and Earl of Sandwich . As I'm typing I'm thinking maybe even sitting outside DHS for the new Star Wars fireworks.

After our relaxation time we will pack up and head to our home away from home (well not really, I tend to think of POR as my home away from home but I'm not complaining!) Our goal is to make it for the opening show at MK. Were still trying to decided if we want to drive to MK first and head to the resort during a mid-day break or go directly to the resort and attempt check in. HMMMmmm decisions decisions.

Well, hello fellow hoosier! Whereabouts are you from in northern Indiana? We're down here in Avon (just west of Indy). My brother and his family live in NW Indiana.

When I was growing up, my family would always drive to WDW each summer. Sometimes we'd stop overnight, sometimes straight through. It was about 15 hours from our driveway to POR's parking lot with my dad's lead foot and very few stops along the way.

 

[Figgy1]

I'm very excited today for some reason!! Maybe i'll put all my energy into cleaning the house today (while listening to Disney music of course)!

Our reservation for BOG is on the 24th, it's also our arrival day! We're definitely heading to AK sometime that night to ride Dinosaur before it goes down for refurbishment.

OOOhhh I've been wanting to do the Behind the Seeds tour. None of the kids have been interested in it but now that they're old enough I think maybe i'll get reservations for just Joe and I. Now I'm really excited!!

You'll love Behind the Seeds! Not to mention child free time LOL

 

[Zipadeelady]

Well, hello fellow hoosier! Whereabouts are you from in northern Indiana? We're down here in Avon (just west of Indy). My brother and his family live in NW Indiana.

When I was growing up, my family would always drive to WDW each summer. Sometimes we'd stop overnight, sometimes straight through. It was about 15 hours from our driveway to POR's parking lot with my dad's lead foot and very few stops along the way.

WOW, 15 hours!! Well, were just north of Fort Wayne so we have to add another 2.5 hours to your 15. This will be our first time without stopping for the night so we'll see how it goes.

 

[Zipadeelady]

I did on-line check in today!

When it got to the section of room selection and amenities it only let me do room selection. After pressing done it went to the next section and didn't let me choose any amenities. I was really hoping to request a small refrigerator for one of our rooms. Anyone else have this problem when doing on-line check in?

 

[Tuvalu]

I did on-line check in today!

When it got to the section of room selection and amenities it only let me do room selection. After pressing done it went to the next section and didn't let me choose any amenities. I was really hoping to request a small refrigerator for one of our rooms. Anyone else have this problem when doing on-line check in?

All Disney resort rooms now have refrigerators, no worries !

 

[Zipadeelady]

All Disney resort rooms now have refrigerators, no worries !

Even value resorts?!!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Even value resorts?!!!!

Yes. The value resorts have had them for awhile. There was one in our Pop room in February and one in our All Star Sports room in September.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Yes. The value resorts have had them for awhile. There was one in our Pop room in February and one in our All Star Sports room in September.

Tuvalu, you just made my day!!

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Ooh! following! Those ears were soooo cute! I wish I could make them, but I don't sew.
I really enjoyed BOG. My sandwich with GF bread was amazing!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Ooh! following! Those ears were soooo cute! I wish I could make them, but I don't sew.
I really enjoyed BOG. My sandwich with GF bread was amazing!

Thanks for following!!

 

[LisaBelle]

So excited for you and your adorable family! I love the ears! So creative and fun. My daughter would love to do that. Most of our trips have been in July. It is hot and crowded but as always getting to the parks early is key. Even though our kids are older now we still took an afternoon break in order to recharge and keep the grumpiness at bay (my husband gets really crabby in the heat). I loved our lunch at BOG and I would be sweating right along with you. The French onion soup at BOG is awesome! Following along!

 

[Zipadeelady]

I'm very happy to announce that I walked in on Joe and my oldest daughter talking about Disney!! (they tend to not act so excited but I think they secretly are). They were discussing what we haven't done yet and wanted me to help them list all the things we haven't done besides shows in the parks. They really want to do the Kitchen Sink. I'm just so happy that they are planning something without me pushing them! For anyone that doesn't know what that is...

!

Everyone is very excited about this new adventure

What I would like to do is drive to Beaches N Cream on one of our days that we'll be in Orlando but not yet checked in to our Disney resort. Afterwards maybe walking over to the entrance of HS and watching the Star Wars fireworks. The problem, if any of you may have read my previous Christmas report is, we attempted to walk to HS before and got lost....It's a long story. Anyway, I need the knowledge of @Tuvalu or @epcotisbest to tell me the best way to get to HS walkway from Beach Club Resort?

 

[Figgy1]

Thank you about the ideas for DIY ears. I got a set made yesterday and I love them. well except the ears came out a smidge smaller than I wanted once they were on my head. I'll fix that for the next set.

 

[Figgy1]

I'm very happy to announce that I walked in on Joe and my oldest daughter talking about Disney!! (they tend to not act so excited but I think they secretly are). They were discussing what we haven't done yet and wanted me to help them list all the things we haven't done besides shows in the parks. They really want to do the Kitchen Sink. I'm just so happy that they are planning something without me pushing them! For anyone that doesn't know what that is...

!

Everyone is very excited about this new adventure

What I would like to do is drive to Beaches N Cream on one of our days that we'll be in Orlando but not yet checked in to our Disney resort. Afterwards maybe walking over to the entrance of HS and watching the Star Wars fireworks. The problem, if any of you may have read my previous Christmas report is, we attempted to walk to HS before and got lost....It's a long story. Anyway, I needed the knowledge of @Tuvalu or @epcotisbest to tell me the best way to get to HS walkway from Beach Club Resort?

Do you have an ADR for B&C? You may need one in summer

 

[Zipadeelady]

Thank you about the ideas for DIY ears. I got a set made yesterday and I love them. well except the ears came out a smidge smaller than I wanted once they were on my head. I'll fix that for the next set.

Oh that's wonderful!! Please post a pic!!

Do you have an ADR for B&C? You may need one in summer

Not yet but your right we'll need one! I'll get on that for sure!

So excited for you and your adorable family! I love the ears! So creative and fun. My daughter would love to do that. Most of our trips have been in July. It is hot and crowded but as always getting to the parks early is key. Even though our kids are older now we still took an afternoon break in order to recharge and keep the grumpiness at bay (my husband gets really crabby in the heat). I loved our lunch at BOG and I would be sweating right along with you. The French onion soup at BOG is awesome! Following along!

Thanks for reading! You husband and my husband sound like they'd get along . Hehehe I can't wait for my soup!!

 

[Tiggerish]

The problem, if any of you may have read my previous Christmas report is, we attempted to walk to HS before and got lost....It's a long story. Anyway, I need the knowledge of @Tuvalu or @epcotisbest to tell me the best way to get to HS walkway from Beach Club Resort?

The trick is, when you are crossing the bridge in front of the Swolphin, go through the arch to the Boardwalk. As soon as you've passed underneath it, look to the right for a sign that points you to the walkway to DHS.

 

[Zipadeelady]

The trick is, when you are crossing the bridge in front of the Swolphin, go through the arch to the Boardwalk. As soon as you've passed underneath it, look to the right for a sign that points you to the walkway to DHS.

Oh my Gosh! I pulled up maps on allears and I'm still not getting it. I've never stayed at any of these resorts and only been to Cape May for dinner so the area is pretty much unknown to us except for a quick peek at Boardwalk on a one day trip. So if I leave Beach Club, walk past Boardwalk and head to Swolphin I'll see the sign?

 

[Tuvalu]

This is paramount...get an ADR for Beaches and Cream . I have been trying for weeks to get one for next week without success. The place is teeny tiny and doesn't often accept walk-ups. You may also need the ADR to park in the Beach Club lot; during busy times you may be turned away without one.

The Kitchen Sink comes in two additional flavors beside the original...chocolate lovers and fruit lovers...in case your family is interested.

You can always take the boat from Yacht & Beach to DHS instead of walking (allow 30 minutes). But if you'd rather walk, head towards the Swolfin and cross the bridge over to Boardwalk. Turn right and just stay on the walkway...it will end at the DHS parking lot. Turn right and walk towards the entrance, easy-peasy. Walking will take 20-25 minutes depending on your pace.