A dream come true part deux -Pre-trip report - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Well, as soon as Jamie had passed us during the parade, Brendan told me he couldn't wait until it was his turn to go to Disney with the band & march on Main Street. I can't believe that in a little over a month, we will get to re-live that dream as both boys will be marching at WDW.
First, I should introduce all of us for those of you who don't know me ..
Me, Ann, planner of the trips & former chicken of the high scary rides
DH, Jim, big kid at heart.
DD, Shelby, 12YO going on 22 YO.. or so she thinks.
Our Southwest flight leaves Pittsburgh at 8:10am on March 25
The 3 of us are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter for the first time. We have stayed at Riverside several times but I wanted a smaller, more compact resort & also to try somewhere new.
We are coming home March 31st at 8:30pm (giving us more time in the parks)
Now for the rest of the fam...
DS, Jamie, 17YO, 2nd time performing at WDW. He plays tuba in the band & is the Tuba section leader and also Lower brass section leader. Our high school nickname is the Titans & the tubas spell out "Titan"on their bells. As Jamie is the section leader he will be the "T" this time in WDW.
DS, Brendan, 15YO My favorite WDW tour partner.. I am going to miss not experiencing WDW WITH him this trip. Brendan also plays tuba ( as does Shelby) He is the "A" in Titan so it looks like Jim & I will be on different sides of the street for the parade.
The boys (& the band) are staying at the Best Western by DTD. The band is arriving on Friday, March 26th & will be performing on Sunday, March 27.
Coming up: Our plans & the boys plans.. also our ADR's ( wonder how much of this will change in the next 30 days and also once we get there??)
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How exciting! That is just so cool that both your boys get to march in WDW at the same time!
POFQ is a small resort, and it's pretty easy to get around. Have fun!
That is so both of your boys will be marching down Main St. How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear how you like POFQ. We will be staying there for the first time in August.
Great start! We just stayed at French Quarter for the second time at the beginning of Feb and we love it more each time we go. It is great to only have one bus stop! I hope you enjoy it like we did.
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Here are our (very) tentative plans.. I make all kinds of lists of where we're going to go & what we're going to do each day & usually end up winging it & doing whatever we feel at the time.. but as I'm still a compulsive planner I have made lists for the trip..
We are on the deluxe dining plan..
It will be interesting to see how much we deviate from that list when the actual trip happens.
Thursday 3/25
We leave Pittsburgh via Southwest airlines at 8:10am.. We have early bird check in so I will have our seat assigments beforehand. I am looking to book airport limo transportation to the airport ( one of my still 'to do's') Hopefully Jamie & Brendan will be awake & getting ready for school by then. We are leaving my van home for Jamie to use that day.
We will probably grab a quick McD's breakfast at the airport
Our plane is scheduled to land at 10:25am. We have DME booked so no worried about getting our luggage (I am all about de-stressing trips)
We are going to check in online as well so that's another thing to add to less stress,
We'll probably see if our room is ready & freshen up a little (I'm strill undecided if I want to take a change of clothes in a carry on.. thoughts?)
after that we'll head over to Magic Kingdom.. It is a MUST to go to MK first.. It doesn't feel like Disney until we walk onto Main Street..
We are very laid back tourers.. if there is a short line, we hop on a ride.. long line.. we'll be back. I do want to try to get on Pirates & HM as these are 2 Jim hasn't seen since they refurbished a few years ago.
We have ADR's at 1900 Park Fare at 7:20pm so I'd like to be able to head back to the resort & freshen up a little.
I love 1900 Park Fare,.. the make your own pasta area YUM-O, the strawberry soup double yum-O.. & one of my fave things there is their croutons!!
Jamie & Brendan are to be at the high school at 4am that night (Friday morning?) I didn't like the idea of Jamie leaving my van at school for a week so my good friend, Donna is going to ride the boys to the school. (Her DD is also in the band & one of Jamies best friends) Jamie & Brendan( & the band) are flying Miami Air at 8am.
Friday 3/26
Band is going to be at MGM today..
We have breakfast ADR's at our FAVORITE breakfast place Chef Mickey @ 8:15am. After that we plan on heading over to MGM & hook up with the boys (probably just to say Hi )
we have dinner ADR's at Cape May Buffet at 6:05pm.. We have never been & I am looking forward to it.
It is Epcot PM extra magic hour so we'll probably walk over to Epcot after dinner & get some rides in.
My friend Donna & her husband Darrel are also set to arrive today & we have plans to drink some Margaritas together in Epcot.. we just don't have what day planned.
Saturday 3/27
It's an AM early entry at MGM but i'm not sure we're going to go.. thast's still tentative .. I would also like to have a breakfast ADR but none are booked yet
Plans are to go to typhoon Lagoon today & spend most of the afternoon there then head over to Epcot .
We have dinner ADR's at Le Cellier at 7:45pm.. Donna & Darrel also have ADR's close to that time.. so I'm sure we'll see them there..
Band is at Epcot today after an AM clinic .. Jamie intends to buy those Ramauken drinks at Japan & take them back to his room to drink during the week.
Sunday 3/28- PARADE DAY
We have breakfast ADR's at 1900 Park Fare at 8:05am. WE have never eaten there for breakfast & thought it would be a nice place to try.
After that we'll hop the monorail over to MK & spend most of the day there..
Parade is at 2pm .
We have dinner ADR's at Crystal Palace at 5:50 pm.. it's one of our favorite buffets.
We'll probably go back to the resort to rest a little (maybe!!) & then head back to MK as it's PM EMH until 2am... & I intend to close the park down!
Monday 3/29
We are going to AK today as is the band..
we have Tusker house ADR at 1pm
& dinner ADR's at WCC at 7:15pm
nothing else is planned for us... I believe it's EMH evening at epcot so we might head there.
Tuesday 3/30
It is AM EMH at MK & I love EMH at MK we have breakfast ADR's at CP @ 8:15am
after that it's wing it..
band is going to be at Blizzard Beach during the day & DTD that evening so we might go to Blizzard beach too ( we have the water park & more option on our tickets)
we have no dinner ADR's booked.. any suggestions? i do want to add one here..
Wed 3/31 ( home day)
We have no set plans.. I think it's EMH AM at AK so we might go there to ride the rides we missed previously
band is at MK & I usually HATE going to MK on the last day.. it makes me too sad so I'm not sure what we're going to do
we also have no ADR's booked as I think i'd like to wing it & simply eat on the run thus allowing us more time in the parks
our flight leaves MCO at 8:30pm... (gotta get a full day at the world, ya know) & lands at 10:45pm..
band is also leaving WDW this day they are arriving a little before us at 10:20pm & then they get a bus to the high school where we pick them up.. If i'm not back in time,Donna will pick them up for me i'm sure.
so there's our tentative plans.. thoughts?? suggestions?? comments???
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Great plans so far!! I think you all will love Cape May Cafe....we just ate there a few weeks ago. It is YUMMY! And the resort is beautiful, the beach is great and also you could play a few games of ping pong!) Our boys loved it there!
You are bringing back so many memories of when I, myself, marched down Main St USA waaaaaaaay back in 87. Such a fun trip. We had a band competition we attended (off-site) and since I was on Danceline during football season we had our own separate competition (which we kicked a$$ & got 1st place)-I have that picture on my FB. We also got to spend an afternoon at Wet & Wild & 1 day at Daytona Beach. Last day was Disney & we climbed back on the buses for the 18 hour trip home.
Ann, since you are looking for suggestions for dinner on the 30th, and you're planning to be in DTD, what about Ragland Road? Have you eaten there yet? Here's a link to the dinner menu: Raglan Road Irish Pub Menu - Pleasure Island - Downtown Disney
Whatever you decide, your plans sound great. You're sure to have a very magical time.
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That is just so cool that both your boys get to march in WDW at the same time! 
both of your boys will be marching down Main St. How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear how you like POFQ. We will be staying there for the first time in August.
for the boys!!! Can't wait to read more!!
Susan
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