Early PTR Sep 2011- Stitch and Tigger do Disney! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Ok so we're at day 171... not exactly a landmark but I've booked all the ADR's save one, (which the online booking system won't let me do yet) and I'm sooooo excited! I hope you don't mind me starting this so early...
Where to start? hmm... introductions:
Me... AKA Tigger AKA Evil_Cookie AKA Disney obsessive. Ok I think you get the picture.
Currently on my placement year away from uni, working very hard and not being paid enough . Have been to disney four or so times previously way back when, since I'm 22 the last time would have been 2004, So this will be my first trip sans parents and paid out of my own pocket eeek...
A bit of history about the last less than perfect visit...
Well, my grandparents and uncles family accompanied us on that trip, to say we had different ideas on holiday styles is an understatement, and my brother fell out with my dad on day three so spent the rest of the trip sulking at the villa, not that I complained much about that at the time. Shortly after the trip my parents split up and my grandparents haven't heard from my uncle and his family since, big family drama.... anyhooo since my grandparents health is failing and my relationship with my Dad is still somewhat patchy, I need to get away from it all... hence the longing to return to Orlando, have been planning this trip for several years and can't belive it's actually going to happen
I love rollercoasters, disney, food especially desserts, yummy...
Am really worried that my companion won't enjoy the trip as much as me, and that I won't enjoy it as much through an 'adult' perspective. (though I feel the term adult is very loosly applied here, )
Stitch
My BF and one of the most immature, verging on rediculous, people I know, very much like stitch in personality, always up to no good, but somewhat loveable... A bit cautious about Disney, only ever visited Disneyland Paris twice, and certainly not as obsessed as me. First real trip abroad without family, currently taking a year out of uni while I'm on placement, to work.
Enjoys film, rollercoasters, shys away from anything to 'cheesy', not a fan of desserts (something I'm trying to solve )
So on to the next workplace... with computer access, It's 3.30 am here... I hope you appreciate the dedication, I should be sleeping
From here on in any questions I want to ask you knowledgeable lot I will highlight in bold otherwise I will forget that I asked
So, How the trip came to be...
Hmm where to start?
Well as mentioned above, I have been wanting to return to 'the world' for some time, but have lacked both funds and a partner in crime. Have solved the latter predicament, almost 2 1/2 years together now... 1/4 of a decade... that makes me feel old... Anyhow... still working on the funding, mostly from my pocket (it is my dream after all, and a costly one at that). Answer to problem = Weekend work as a health support worker = night shifts --> woop woop! Can you sense the excitment? In truth it's not so bad, I actually prefer it to my weekday uni placement work and it pays better too . So somewhere between portfolio's, equines, 2 AS levels, 4 jobs (2 regular), keeping in touch with friends, breathing and sometimes sleeping, disney planning is a welcome distraction.
So, the dates, my family always used to visit at the end of August and I've fallen in love with the crazy weather = stupidly humid, hot, daily storms, dramatic lightning total opposite of to the UK, hence the september dates, which luckily coincided with the free dining plan. We've (ok more of an I) chosen 18 nights, as 14 wasn't enough and 21 is too costly... so 5th to 23rd meaning we'll be back in time for 3rd year uni yay can't wait.
I chose Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter, Disney because my family never stayed on site but we always wanted to, French quarter because the moderates had the free quick service dining plan and this looked like it would suit us the most. Compact and semi romantic. We've paid the extra to upgrade to the normal dining plan, so we could enjoy more pudding (ok more of an I than a we there )
So alas I must go and catch a few moments of sleep... will add the day by day breakdown later today.
Cheers
This is very rough and no doubt will change considerably before September, I'm open to suggestions on what will work better, or what won't work at all? We're still umm-ing and ahh-ing over the car, we need one for at least a week, but we may have it for the whole stay, I just don't know, Insurance is a killer as we're both under 25. I have planned it as if we have the car for most of our time, I can move things around if this isn't the case.
Monday - 05/09/11
Hopefully we'll be getting the lift to the airport with a friend, so that we have no need to park the car, yay. 1400 flight, arriving at MCO at 1800. I love flying, so looking forward to this . The plan is to pick up the car (or not? who knows?) then drive to Denny's for dinner (one of the few stipulations of Stitch, he has few others, but he sure loves Denny's, who knew?) then to Walmart for supplies, if we're not totally pooped. And of course to POFQ for sleep... lots of sleep.
Tuesday - 06/09/11
Magic Kingdom day! Heading for opening at 9am, so we can watch the opening ceremony, something I don't think I've ever seen. Try to get all the major must see's out of the way for lunch at a CS possibly Casey's but it doesn't really matter. Return to the hotel for Pool and nap time and then back to the Park for ADR - Cinderella's Royal table and then the fireworks.
Wednesday - 07/09/11
Stitch's birthday! I have a big surprise for the morning, which I won't be divulging here, it's too secret and so amazing! Then of to downtown or Hollywood Studio's for a CS lunch and then to Outback steakhouse for dinner (again a stitch must do... I don't question these things, any input into planning is a good thing)
Might see Fantasia this night if there's time.
Thursday - 08/09/11
Universal studio's day
Planning on getting two day, two park tickets closer to arrival time.
Friday - 09/09/11
Islands of Adventure and the big Potter day
Saturday - 10/09/11
Animal Kingdom Am, with a Yak and Yeti lunch and a free afternoon evening.
Sunday - 11/09/11
Resort and Downtown Disney Am, try and take the boat down to DD from POFQ. Disney Quest is a significant possibility here. Raglan Road for dinner and MK EMH if energy allows.
Monday - 12/09/11
Typhoon Lagoon Am, with a late lunch at Planet Hollywood (Another of those rare Stitch insights) With the possibility of Hollywood Studio's EMH.
Tuesday - 13/09/11
Ohana breakfast (the Stitch reunion...) and then Epcot till EMH in the eve. Tepan Edo for a late dinner, before Illuminations.
Wednesday - 14/09/11
Sea World day.
Thursday - 15/09/11
Discovery Cove!!! Yay looking forward to this my big indulgence of the trip, Stitch gets his Bday surprise, he'll have to endure a little bit of Dolphin time .
Jiko for dinner to round of a hopefully awesome day.
Friday - 16/09/11
Cape Canaveral and Cocoa beach
Saturday - 17/09/11
Hollywood studio's Am, with lunch at Mama Melrose's and a free afternoon.
Sunday - 18/09/11
Lie in, and late breakfast at Chef Mickey's with a relaxed day and then MK for late EMH, hoping to see the parades and fireworks this night. Have an ADR for California Grill just after the fireworks.
Monday - 19/09/11
Blizzard Beach Am, free afternoon and Boma for a late dinner.
Tuesday - 20/09/11
EMH at Epcot, Le cellier for lunch, free afternoon.
Wednesday - 21/09/11
Free day - maybe visit the flight or science museum... maybe crash and burn from running around non stop for two weeks?
Thursday - 22/09/11
Typhoon lagoon Am
Free afternoon, Cape May Cafe for dinner.
Friday - 23/09/11
Home flight at 1800, Narcosee's for lunch and maybe MK am.
What do you think?
3 Questions so far:
When do the Halloween decorations start going up?
Fireworks at the Cali Grill, can we head up early and watch them from here?
MNSSHP, dates haven't been announced yet, is it worth going?
Great plans! The only question I can help with is MNSSHP. It is totally worth the ticket price. The parade and the fireworks are beyond exceptional! My DD loved the special character interactions plus the trick-or-treating.
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
Right, haven't posted in a little while, have been very busy with work and things. However as it is a significant day in the countdown calendar, 150th woop woop, I feel an update is needed.
Still need to phone about the car, I'm thinking the cheapest option would be to get the Virgin car that's included and pay for the extra insurance, as I've searched high and low and not found any renatl places that will give an under 25 a car without a massive hike in price
I still need to book discovery cove... keep putting of ringing the travel agent.
And I haven't been able to book narcoosee's for our last day as they don't do lunch, which is a bummer. What should I do? I now have 2 TC to play with? I was thinking hoop dee doo earlier in the trip, or maybe two other restaurants, or are there any signature restaurants that serve a decent (worth the 2tc) lunch that I'm not thinking about. Was hoping to save a special meal for the last day? But then maybe, we could just use up any unused CS credits on that day. Anyone have any ideas?
Also when do the halloween decorations usually start going up? Was hoping to see MK pre decorations, but I think the 5th may be too late?
Hope you guys can help
Now off to enjoy a rare (lunch) hour of british sunshine...
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. Have been to disney four or so times previously way back when, since I'm 22 the last time would have been 2004, So this will be my first trip sans parents and paid out of my own pocket eeek... 
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. The plan is to pick up the car (or not? who knows?) then drive to Denny's for dinner (one of the few stipulations of Stitch, he has few others, but he sure loves Denny's, who knew?) then to Walmart for supplies, if we're not totally pooped. And of course to POFQ for sleep... lots of sleep.
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