A Very Merry Very SHORT Surprise Trip PTR - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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alright. time for the plans portion of this PTR. there aren't many, but i do have some questions for all of you. so here we go....
Arrival Day:
-if all goes well, we land at MCO at 8:30am. which is crazy.
-and then i'm not sure. ha! ha ha ha! the thing i'm not sure about is whether i should rent a car or not. it seems easier to just uber everywhere. thoughts?
car rental pros:
-freedom.
-place to stash our stuff after arrival.
-may be cheaper (i have free rental car days, so even with paying for parking at the hotel and in the parks, it will likely be cheaper.)
car rental cons:
-it's annoying to have to pick up and drop off a rental car; getting in an uber is easier.
-i drive for a living (sort of.) i have zero desire to drive while on vacation.
-uber drops you off close to parks (or the TTC) eliminating need for shuttles.
-mom likely won't have her AP on her, so we'd have to pay for park parking.
-if we rent a car, we can go anywhere from the airport. if we do NOT rent a car, we need to go to the hotel to at least drop off our stuff before continuing with the day.
-if we can check in that early, i may make mom rest in the room for a bit. if we can't, we will likely go to disney springs for a bit.
-i'd like to arrive at epcot sometime mid-afternoon to enjoy the storytellers in world showcase before the sun sets.
-in an ideal world, we'd then do the candlelight processional. but the dining package is totally sold out according to my disney experience. and my understanding is that it's impossible to do WITHOUT the dining package. any insight here?
Day 2
-sleep in.
-lunch at the polynesian, either at kona if i can get a last minute reservation* or at captain cookes if i cannot. enjoy poly lobby/decorations. continue on to the floridian to enjoy decorations there.
-MVMCP by 4pm for the rest of the night.
*reservation needs to be last minute because i don't want mom to see it in MDE since this is a surprise trip.
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Plans look good. That is an early arrival at MCO and only five minutes before mine on my recent trip! I don't think a lunch ressie at Kona should be too much of a problem.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
yet google maps shows the newer property being down by the bus stop at the FAR end of the springs from la nouba. sigh. i'm keeping my reservation at the original hilton disney springs property; it's .4 mile walk from the door to earl of sandwich. which works for me! also it's already booked and i don't feel like changing it.
LOL I don't blame you. It's strange how there is real no straight answer on the distance. If you happen to notice the distance of the other one down there, let us know. I'm really curious now. I almost booked one for our upcoming trip in February but ended up changing my mind for Coronado.
Great first day plans! I like that you're thinking ahead about the last minute ADR so your mom doesn't see it in MDE.
LOL I don't blame you. It's strange how there is real no straight answer on the distance. If you happen to notice the distance of the other one down there, let us know. I'm really curious now. I almost booked one for our upcoming trip in February but ended up changing my mind for Coronado.
Great first day plans! I like that you're thinking ahead about the last minute ADR so your mom doesn't see it in MDE.
i feel like i need to take the time to walk from both properties and photograph/clock the distances and a write a post about the two properties. because this information simply does not exist online. even google maps disagrees with what i've found! i just asked in a thread on a private FB group and was given yet more conflicting info (from an official hotel website, not from someone in the group.)
of course i don't have time to do the distance-clocking on this trip. but some trip in the future.
and yeah, i'd totally have gone with coronado if i could have. but sadly there's ZERO availability on property for those two nights. oh well! i'd rather be off site in disney than at home!
Plans look good. That is an early arrival at MCO and only five minutes before mine on my recent trip! I don't think a lunch ressie at Kona should be too much of a problem.
were you able to enjoy that first day with such an early arrival? or were you beat from early morning travel?
were you able to enjoy that first day with such an early arrival? or were you beat from early morning travel?
All was good and had a full day in the parks at Universal's IOA. I couldn't believe I stayed up late on that day as well, which surprised me! Probably, living on adrenalin alone!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I vote for Uber! Back in December 2014 we added two days at the last minute before our Christmas cruise. I figured there was no way we'd get to see the Candlelight Processional, but about a half hour before the show we arrived in the area, actually getting to see the choir process in. We were in the standing only section at the very back, but still could hear everything and mostly see everything. I don't know that standing would be an option for your mom as the program is fairly long.
I vote for Uber! Back in December 2014 we added two days at the last minute before our Christmas cruise. I figured there was no way we'd get to see the Candlelight Processional, but about a half hour before the show we arrived in the area, actually getting to see the choir process in. We were in the standing only section at the very back, but still could hear everything and mostly see everything. I don't know that standing would be an option for your mom as the program is fairly long.
i may leave it up to mom. i'll let her know that we would likely be standing, and she can decide. i personally don't think it's a great choice (to have her stand) but she might want to try.
alright. this trip is 12 days away. i'm starting to freak out about the surprise aspect. here's why:
my mom thinks we are going to new jersey to do a 'christmas thing'. when what we are really doing is driving to the trenton airport to fly to disney world.
so, like, there are some serious considerations here, regarding my mom. first, she needs to be packed properly, as she can ONLY bring a personal item (so a small backpack) as her luggage. she travels super light anyway, and my way around this is that i'm going to bring a personal item sized backpack with me and re-pack for her before boarding. but this is a bit stressful.
the other reason i'm concerned is that she has medical needs. so she needs to take benedryl the day BEFORE she flys and the day of and the day after to prevent something weird with her ears. she also has lymphedema (from her mastectomy) and wear a compression sleeve. i'm ASSUMING she will pack it, but i can't be positive. and not having that would be an issue.
soooo...not telling her until 3am for a 6am flight when we are already an hour and a half away from home at the airport hotel...seems ill-advised. any thoughts on this? when and how should i tell her, if not the morning of? or should i just cross my fingers and hope that the surprise outweighs the shock?
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I don't know if you can do this at the last minute with the surprise for your mom! Her stuff needs to be packed and needs to take her Benedryl the night before. Perhaps, you could take her out to a nice dinner let's say two nights prior to surprise her with the trip. This way it would be easier for her with getting ready for the trip. Just a suggestion.
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I really think, with her medical needs, that it will be better to surprise her a couple of days before the trip. It will be much less stressful for both of you and will insure that she is properly prepared. I like the idea of a dinner out or something like that, although a wrapped early Christmas present would be good as well.
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I don't think a lunch ressie at Kona should be too much of a problem.
Her stuff needs to be packed and needs to take her Benedryl the night before. Perhaps, you could take her out to a nice dinner let's say two nights prior to surprise her with the trip. 
This way it would be easier for her with getting ready for the trip. Just a suggestion.
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