A Dream is a Wish--Mini-TR [UPDATED WITH PIX posts 316 & 320] - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I started hunting down lesser-known DCA experiences after realising I had missed a lot on my first trip there in 2013. This appears to be one of the gems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Good plan for all the built-in down-time. It'll be good to have other adults with you so you can trade off.
Yes, it will be good to have my folks there. They are generous and not overly self-involved people, they will be happy to trade off and on so everyone can do their thing. The wilderness trail is such a place to hang out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
It certainly sounds like a packed day - I can understand having some serious down time in there.
It's long, but not busy, KWIM. Here's hoping it's as fun to experience as it is to plan!
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I can't get enough of that site, I love his style, feels like I'm getting the inside scoop from a mouseketeer who just took off his ears and put up his feet. Honest, sarcastic, but deep down, still really loves the parks and isn't writing to trash the place.
We have 9 nights and 5 day tix, and I consider every single no-park day a manditory recovery day. No long trips to Santa Monica, no "other" parks. Any non-park activities should be either DtD or Disney resort activities, or should require very little in energy output. Here are things we are considering for our no-park days.
Asian dinners out. There is a lot of great Vietnamese a close drive away. My folks found a thai place they thought was excellent the last time they were down.
DtD for just touring around a bit. No ADRs or planned meals here. Visiting the Lego store for a good amt of lego play is on the agenda. If there truely are radio controlled boats to drive outside Rainforest Cafe, that might be worth it.
Trader Sams-maybe? I'd like to sit outside and listen to the musicians. I'd also like to spend more time inside to see the drink effects...but the last time I was there it was too noisy. Maybe I'll go by myself and sit at the bar.The Disney prices are a turn-off, but the Disney theming is the opposite.
Tour DLH. I'd like to visit the lobbies of each of the towers and see what there is to see. I've seen a bit already, and I really enjoyed it.
Take Art of the Craft tour, either alone or with another adult.
Hang pool-side and enjoy our rental complex.
Now, here is something funny. Because it's just my mom, dad, and son planning to go to the parks, I forget about my husband, who will most likely come along for the trip, but who will not be going into the parks. He used to work at theme parks. This one in Seoul:
He just never caught the bug for visiting theme parks, and because he associates them with work...well...he sure isn't going to PAY to go. He did visit DL in 2013 as a once-in-a-lifetime visitor, and was impressed, but not interested in a repeat.
I bring this up just to say that I often forget that he will be with us on our no-park days!
My sense is that we are going to be pretty worn out on Wednesday, after very full days at MK and DCA. So, Wednesday, I think we should have a relaxing morning, with cooked breakfast of some kind followed by a short walk to DtD to visit the lego store. It's a 12 minute walk per google maps.
At lunch time, back to the condo, then spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool, followed by dinner out.
LOL! Thanks for introducing your invisible DH a bit.... I didn't remember that he was along for the trip. I like your rules for the non-park days. No tiring yourself out so it compromises a park day!
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A while back I noticed I hadn't paid my parents for my part of our family plan phone bill. For over 2 years. What!? I know, I know...talk about entitlement... So, I've paid that, at a whopping $2,139 for DH and I...Yeeesh.
Needless to say, this cut into my vacation savings pretty drastically. I'm down to only 35% saved, with our trip 5 months away.
The good news is that I will make extra money this month as I'm working Summer School. It won't make up the entire difference, but I still think we will be ok. I think we'll be able to do both Disney (this is booked, no take-backs) and SE Asia, counting on our tax return. The only possible glitch is if we need to replace the car. It's very possible, maybe even likely, that this will happen. If it does, we might need to put SE Asia off for another year. That would be ok. Honestly, I'm not really that excited about SE Asia right now anyways, I'd rather go somewhere Spanish-speaking for DS's sake.
As far as trip planning goes, I'm looking forward to posting on our next few days' plans, but there are just so few factors to consider with a DL trip as compared with a WDW trip...I'm kind of hitting a wall in getting my planning "fix".
Aside from our regular touring plans, I'm thinking I need to work on a plan to put in place if DSis and family decide to join us. I guess that will be my next big endeavor.
Sorry for the savings set-back. So sweet of your parents not to mention it all this time! It's very lucky that saving for your trips meant you had the money to pay them. I'm glad DLR is still on and that you won't be terribly disappointed to have to move the long SE Asia trip to another year if necessary.
Thanks, all! My folks didn't even know I had not paid, they pay less attention than I do...but we're on the honor system. Happily, we are both experts in the art of living slightly below our means, so not paycheck to paycheck. If I lost my job, I'd be flat in a few months...but not in the first month. Yay!
Thanks for the pixies and support!!!! Your replies really made me feels stoked up for passporter and my trip planning again!
We're up to Thursday, and our 3rd park day. So far we have had:
Monday: DL
Tues: DCA
Wed: Break day
Now we look at Thursday. We have an Extra Magic Hour to use on this trip, and my plan is to use it on this day. That means arriving at the park before 8am if we are going to rope drop.
I'm really torn about EMH. I like the idea in theory, but I also wonder if guests really get to experience more quicker compared with rope dropping a non-EMH day at DL. KWIM? But, the days work with my overall plan, so I'm sticking with DL on this day.
Here's what I have planned so far. Feedback appreciated!
We have already seen all of FL and Toon Town.
Rope Drop Tomorrowland
1. Go to Star Tours, Ride multiple times. My dad is forbidden from riding, so he should do something else. He gets motion sick on this ride and it ruins his day.
2. Buzz! Multiple times?
3. Other Tomorrowland activities as desired (Autopia, submarines, AstroOrbiter...What else...?
4. Grab FP for Indiana Jones
5. Jungle Cruise. I prefer this ride in the day time (after riding both ways). I love the holiday overlay in the queue, but am not a fan of the overlay in the ride. I'll take the good with the bad. This is my favorite queuing area. If you haven't ever listened to the queue loop on youtube, it's worth your time.
6. Pirates. WILL DS RIDE? So far, he has not ridden Pirates. He got about 30 ft into the queue last summer at WDW and bailed. He even was bribed by a CM with a pin last time, and a pirate flag the time before, to no avail. Skeletons are FREAKY!
7. BTMR if less than 30 min
Off to Tom Sawyer’s around noon. Lunch?
Those who wish return to Indiana Jones with FP.
Home for a break after IJ FP used.
My strategy has been to plan AM touring and leave PM touring more open. The park was open till 9om last year, so if we arrive back between 5pm and 6pm, that gives us a good chunk of time to enjoy the evening activities.
I'm thinking today would be a great day to try to get seating for whatever parade is happening in December. With the 60th, all shows etc seem "up in the air".
I do have my list of both "busy time activities" and "night priorities". I'll have to work through that. I swear, 5 days doesn't feel like enough time!!!!
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Themed environment junkie
Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 09-03-2015 at 10:11 AM..
I can't help but think you've got more plans than us for your trip - and ours is in September! I'm waiting until park hours are out, which is still I think a little while off before making any final plans...
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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So, I've paid that, at a whopping $2,139 for DH and I...Yeeesh. 
and 
that you don't need to replace the car.
I'm waiting until park hours are out, which is still I think a little while off before making any final plans...
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