It's going to be an "Incredible Summer" - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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So there you have a lot of things that either went into planning this trip or affected the why, how and when it was planned through the beginning of June 2018. You all know me, I certainly could have gotten into the nitty gritty of it more than I did (well I did but this is a fourth, highly edited version - I probably would have gotten up to 30 or 40 pages without all the edits) but you get the gist of it and if you have questions, you know I'll answer them. Now as to the title of this PTR - "It's going to be an Incredible Summer". That's the third or fourth title that we came up with and it's the one the we decided we would go with. It just seems like it'll be appropriate. It's the tagline, if you will, of Disney this summer and we're going this summer. It could be as simple as that. You know me though, nothing is ever that simple. For us, I'd have to say though, I think our "Incredible Summer" officially started on June 3rd,. That was the day our little girl graduated from High School. I have no idea how it came so fast. Then, that night Abby took part in the Disney Themed (the theme changes every year) All Night Graduation Party held for the senior class - and I was allowed to attend with her.
Abby was also invited to a pool party, she was invited to a graduation party that turned into a pool party and she went to the Museum of Science and did a Duck Boat tour with her grandmother. Abby even got to drive the Duck Boat. We also took her to the movies and we saw The Incredibles 2. All of these events took place throughout the month of June and contributed to the "Incredible Summer" theme.
Before the parties and the driving of the duck boat however was our trip to Storyland on June 8th and 9th. For those that didn't read the thread I put a link to about Abby losing weight, here's the long and short of the quick trip to North Conway, New Hampshire. Abby needed to lose weight. The only way we could get her to actually try was to offer "incentives." A trip to Storyland was not only one of those incentives but it was also the most effective one. Once Abby heard we would take her back to Storyland - a place she absolutely loved as a child - only if she lost weight, she started trying that very afternoon. By the time June 8th came around, Abby had lost 32 pounds. That alone is incredible. If you missed that TR and would like to read it, here's the link.
As soon as we got home Storyland, I planned on going full speed ahead on Disney planning. It didn't quite work that way however. I had our Storyland TR to write and those pictures to deal with first. The pictures were easy enough with Google photo and I was done with those before I was done with the TR - a first for me. Once all of that was done, then it was full speed ahead for Disney as by that time, we were only 7 weeks away. Then I made it worse for myself when I thought "if I take away all the days I work both jobs, I have the equivalent of only 5 weeks to get ready!"
The weekend after Storyland, I finally got it in gear. I reprinted all of my spreadsheets and this PTR to make any and all edits on paper (I made lots of them). I looked over our itinerary and learned there were a couple of FP's that needed tweaking which I was able to do very easily. I reorganized the things I had bought - some of which went to Storyland with us - and I bought some of the remaining items on my list. To make it easier on myself, I did think "I should just start packing this stuff into the suitcases" but it would be a few days before I actually did that. I even got a chance to make Abby's shirts for this year.
In the process of editing this PTR, I learned about something that would help me with my TR this year. As I mentioned earlier in my PTR, I bought an Android tablet to use at Disney. While playing with it, I learned that I could use a microphone and talk to Google Docs. After playing with it for a bit, I thought "this is cool, I won't have to write out my TR this year. I can just speak to the Disney Device and it'll do the work. It'll save me a ton of time because I won't have to hand write it and then try to type it up." Then I remembered there are going to be instances where I won't want to talk into it - if Lenny and Abby are asleep, when we're at the airport, etc so then I came up with plan B. While looking into how to use the "voice typing" I learned I can talk to Google Docs on any device as long as I'm using Google Chrome. Anyone want to guess what browser I use on my PC at home? If you said "Google Chrome" you would be right.
Just to see how different it would be from the device, I tried the voice typing on my computer and it told me what I should have already known "no microphone connected." :-(. When I told Lenny what I wanted to do but I wasn't sure where to get a microphone, he asked me why I didn't use his webcam. Truthfully, I didn't think to. I've never seen him use it and I didn't realize it had a microphone too so I asked "can I use just the microphone portion?" He told me I could so we unplugged it from his computer and plugged it into mine. It worked great - even better than the Disney Device. It understood what I said even with Abby watching a Youtube video in the background and other than some spelling/grammatical errors (which happen when I type anyway) I was extremely pleased with how it worked. That means I'm going to use both "old school" and "new school" technology for the TR. While at Disney, I will hand write it just like I have done for all these years but when we get home, instead of trying to read and type at the same time (it's getting harder as I've gotten older) I can read it out loud and have Google Docs type it for me.
You have done so much work getting ready for this Incredible journey. I can't believe how many times you write out everything. The voice typing should be an amazing help to you in the TR. Here's hoping you all have a wonderful trip. It's getting close!
What a great idea about voice typing. I have an ipad and just tried it and seems to work great for me. I'm not a good note taker but I think this will make it easier. I think you'll really like Tepan Edo. It's so much fun and the food is really good.
You have done so much work getting ready for this Incredible journey. I can't believe how many times you write out everything. The voice typing should be an amazing help to you in the TR. Here's hoping you all have a wonderful trip. It's getting close!
Yes and no. I think because I've done it so many times now, it doesn't seem like a lot of work. Lenny can't believe how much effort I put into the PTR either - and it's not that I've written it out that many times. I have the original file that I saved a copy of with a new name then I edited it. Then that one I made a copy of, etc. I'm hoping the voice typing works out well too. We're getting very close now - 3 weeks. After all this "hype" on an Incredible Summer, I definitely hope the vacation is too.
What a great idea about voice typing. I have an ipad and just tried it and seems to work great for me. I'm not a good note taker but I think this will make it easier. I think you'll really like Tepan Edo. It's so much fun and the food is really good.
Yes, isn't the voice typing cool? My iPad is out of date so I can't use it on that but I can use it on the "Disney Device" and my desktop. Some words it might have difficulty deciphering but as you play with it, you'll learn what it recognizes and what it doesn't.
Teppan Edo is completely new to us and not having characters and not being a buffet, I really don't know what to expect with it. I'm just really hoping for the best.
I think you will enjoy Teppan Edo, its a fun show and the food is very good. I don’t think most people realize all the organizing and work that goes into planning a Disney trip.
You have done so much planning that this has to be an Incredible trip. I honestly can't believe that Abby has graduated from high school. We've watched her grow and mature over the years in your trip reports, and that has been so neat. Thanks for sharing her with us!
I hope you all love Teppan Edo! The “show” is as much fun as the meal is delicious!
I hope we do too. We've never been and I have no idea what to expect. The fact that is has "entertainment" and will be something completely new to us is part of why I added it in. The other part of why I added it in was simply a spur of the moment we should try this thought that stuck. We want to do more in WS this year and that would certainly qualify as more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by purplegal
I think you will enjoy Teppan Edo, its a fun show and the food is very good. I don’t think most people realize all the organizing and work that goes into planning a Disney trip.
Thanks. I'm looking forward to trying it. And I agree - not a lot of people realize the work it takes and others just don't understand it (or want to understand it). I get that some people can go and do whatever and whenever but my circumstances are different and I have to plan every single detail. Do we do every single detail? No, not always but they're there if needed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
You have done so much planning that this has to be an Incredible trip. I honestly can't believe that Abby has graduated from high school. We've watched her grow and mature over the years in your trip reports, and that has been so neat. Thanks for sharing her with us!
Thanks Cam. That's our feelings too - that it's got to be an Incredible trip. I can't believe she's graduated either. Where has the time gone? Thank you for caring enough to follow along and to get to know us and see her grow. It amazed me too how much she has grown and I don't think this year will be any different with growth and maturity from the previous trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Great start to your PTR! Your trip really does sound incredible!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Thanks Pam. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Stay tuned for more PTR (it's almost done believe it or not) and then in a few short weeks we'll be there
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you discovered voice typing to help you with the trip report! It sounds like everything is falling into place!
Thanks Marnie. I'm glad I stumbled upon it as well. I do enjoy doing my PTR/TR but I do also like to use things that will make it easier. I think that will but I'll let everyone know one way of the other when I do the actual TR.
Everything has fallen into place well and while I feel ready to go, I don't want to wish the summer away. Time goes so quickly as it is.
So all of these tweaks and edits and cool technology "tricks" aside, by now it was the beginning of July - and truly 5 weeks away from vacation. I was finally starting to feel like I would be ready for this trip. My itinerary finally looked good - all that I added were "reminders" for things like our hair appointments that I made back in May. My Walmart grocery pickup list was down to what we really wanted and/or needed. All my other spreadsheets looked good and didn't need any further changes and quite a bit of our stuff was packed into the suitcases or waiting to be put in. This PTR was finally edited too to a version I was happy with except there was one thing missing from it - our plans. So without further ado, and before I neglect to add them again, here are the plans I've come up with.
Sunday August 5th. We have a really early flight out - 6:10 am. We should arrive in Florida by 9 am and we'll take DME to the hotel. We'll pick up the car, pick up our groceries and then get the scooter delivered. Tradition has us going and playing mini golf and then after we might go out to 192 for dinner. We'll try to make an early night of it but we'll see how that works.
Monday August 6th. We'll go to the MK and start the morning with breakfast at Crystal Palace. Our FP for the day are Enchanted Tales with Belle, the Cinderella and Elena M&G and the Rapunzel and Tiana M&G. Other than that we'll do whatever whenever for the rest of the day.
Tuesday August 7th. We'll do to DHS today and I plan on being there for the 7 am EMH. My plan is to avoid TSL and do some of the other stuff first then stop for what would have been a before park opening breakfast at H&V. Our FP for today are VOLM, Disney Junior and the Swirling Saucers. I'm not sure how this day will be - I'm sure crowds will dictate what we do and don't do but we'll figure it out when we're there. Abby has said she wants to stay for Fantasmic but this may or may not change.
Wednesday August 8th. Our Epcot day will start with breakfast at Akershus and our FP are Soarin', Living with the Land, and Nemo. Again, whatever and whenever the rest of the day.
Thursday August 9th. We'll start with Tusker House for breakfast and we have the Mickey and Minnie M&G, KRR and FoP for our FP. I don't plan on riding FoP and Lenny is on the fence about it but I got it for all three of us so Abby doesn't have to go through the line alone. We'll eat at Tusker House again for dinner and Lenny would like to stay for Rivers of Light but we'll have to see if we can make it that late or not.
Friday August 10th. We're going to have a late day and start with the MK at lunch time with a BoG ADR. Our FP are for Splash Mountain, the Magic Carpets and the Speedway. We'll do whatever until it's time to check in for the Fireworks Dessert Party. This one is a first for us and we'll do the Plaza Garden viewing as I think it will work out for us doing it there instead of inside. The plan is to not leave after the fireworks and hopefully the park hours will get extended giving us some extra time to leave after them.
Saturday August 11th will be a down day with minimal plans. I was thinking of going to AoA to see if they still have the drawing classes. We might do some mini golf again. We'll head to Fort Wilderness for Trails End Buffet for dinner and we might go over to the GF as Lenny wants to see the lighthouse that was erected there for Lane. Other than that, the plans are pretty flexible.
Sunday August 12th. We start at the Polynesian with Ohana's for breakfast and then we'll somehow make our way to the MK (the monorail didn't work for us the last time). Our FP for today are all for M&G's - Ariel, Mickey and Tinkerbell. Again, we'll do whatever until whenever.
Monday August 13th. We'll do Epcot again today and start at Garden Grill for breakfast. From there, we'll do the one and only FP I booked for Soarin, and then we'll make our way over to WS for opening. We'll spend the day here and stop at 2 for a late lunch at Teppan Edo. I do hope we like it. We'll continue with WS until we're ready to leave.
Tuesday August 14th. We'll do DHS again but we won't be there for EMH as we've got a breakfast planned at Cape May Cafe. When we're done there, we'll go to the park and our FP for today are Toy Story Mania, VOLM and Disney Junior. Again, the crowds will probably dictate how much or how little we're able to do.
Wednesday August 15th. We'll go back to the MK and start at BoG for breakfast and our three FP are Peter Pan, Pooh and the Mine Train. As with our other MK days, it'll be whatever, whenever.
Thursday August 16th. Our final full park day and we'll go the Epcot. I don't know yet what we'll have for breakfast, especially since this is a morning EMH at the park and I plan on being there for it. Our three FP for the day are Nemo, Soarin and Imagination. We'll have lunch at Garden Grill when it opens and then head to WS after we're done. It's easier to leave Epcot then the other parks so I don't see a problem being able to leave early.
Friday August 17th. Happy Birthday Lenny!! This was going to be a full down day to get ready to go home but Disney had other ideas for us. They released the schedule for MNSSHP and today is the first party of the year. Lenny wanted to go and since we'll still be in Disney, it wasn't an unreasonable request. I'll start the morning with whatever I can do - laundry, packing, cleaning out the car, etc while I let Lenny and Abby sleep in. About 2:15 or so we'll head to the TTC and the MK. We'll enter the park on our party tickets as soon as we can and grab a QS dinner somewhere. I did make a FP for Peter Pan and we'll just do whatever we can until party time. Once the party starts, the must do's are the parade, the stage show, the fireworks, the two dance parties and the Magic Shots. Whatever else we can fit in, we will. This is another first for us and I really don't know what to expect, especially since it's the first party for this year and really early.
Saturday August 18th. Departure day If I have to, I'll get up early to finish up whatever might need doing. The scooter will be picked up between 9 and 10, then we'll go to the CCC to return the car and Quicksilver will pick us up there. Our flight isn't until 4 but we'll make good use of our time at the airport. Lenny will probably fall asleep, Abby will probably watch her iPad and I'll start to write my TR if I haven't already. We'll eat lunch there and if it's doable, we might buy something to eat on the plane for dinner since by the time we get home, it will be sometime after 8 pm and too late to eat.
Plans look good and seem pretty well set! That is quite an early flight as I do these to MCO as well around 6:30- 8am, depending on what time JetBlue's first flight is from my local airport that has only eight gates. Much better than the larger airports in NYC.
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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!
Your plans look good!
Just so you know, I read on Easywdw.com yesterday that in addition to the 7-8 EMH at DHS, they are opening TSL at 6:30. I know that’s crazy early, but seems like it might be worth it to ride Slinky Dog.
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I honestly can't believe that Abby has graduated from high school. We've watched her grow and mature over the years in your trip reports, and that has been so neat. Thanks for sharing her with us!
If I have to, I'll get up early to finish up whatever might need doing. The scooter will be picked up between 9 and 10, then we'll go to the CCC to return the car and Quicksilver will pick us up there. Our flight isn't until 4 but we'll make good use of our time at the airport. Lenny will probably fall asleep, Abby will probably watch her iPad and I'll start to write my TR if I haven't already. We'll eat lunch there and if it's doable, we might buy something to eat on the plane for dinner since by the time we get home, it will be sometime after 8 pm and too late to eat.
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