A Dream is a Wish--Mini-TR [UPDATED WITH PIX posts 316 & 320] - Page 9 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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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...
Are you saying I might be jumping the gun a little, Cheryl...
This is my first Disney trip where I am doing the trip planning for folk other than just myself and DS. The trip I took in 2013 with Mom, Dad, Sis and her family was all planned by Sis. I do feel the pressure to be sure it works out and we don't get into "I da know, whadda you wanna do?" problems!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh Toodles!
I totally agree about planning in the AM and PM is just a 'whatever' kind of thing.
This worked great for my trip last summer just DS and I. I'm wondering if it will work for a larger group as well. I have my own list of "must do" activitites for the evening. I'll post a list soon and ask for some tips too. Not sure what to expect for lines at, for example, storybook boats after dark.
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I hear you, Cheryl. I'm going on last years "week following Thanksgiving" hours and assuming they will be similar. How much to hours vary year to year?
I hear you, Cheryl. I'm going on last years "week following Thanksgiving" hours and assuming they will be similar. How much to hours vary year to year?
With the diamond celebration this year, I honestly have no idea - I was assuming because of that, they might be quite different, but I haven't even done any research into what they did in September 2014...
I went shopping for fabric on Saturday, looking for something to use for matching shirts/dresses for our group. Here's what we used last time:
I can't find web images of the designs I really liked this time. The pix are on my mom's phone. The plan is to sew casual button shirts for the men/boys and dresses for me and mom.
In other news, DSis and family likely will not be joining us. They have just accepted a DHS foster placement. Little A just arrived a week ago, and she is a busy just-turned-3 year-old. When thinking about DLR, our thoughts were...more money, more hassle, less payoff for taking a youngster of that age. So, I think that is out.
I know my son would love to have a cousin along for the ride, but it does simplify things for me a bit in other ways.
Above are the 3 options I really liked after a lot of searching at the huge fabric store in Portland. For whatever reason I really gravitated toward pink. The top image and diamond image would be sewn 90 degrees turned, so that the image and striping effect would run from top to bottom. The squarish one on the bottom left is my least favorite as it seems too busy to me. They are all kind of busy, but that one was TOO busy.
I think I like the top fabric the best. The striped print is about 1.5 inches across and has kind of a Poly/adventureland feel, although the image is called "tokyo trainride" ?
They are NOT on sale...
I took pictures of each fabric draped across my front, and I'll review those photos at my mom's today.
I'm escaping this AM mentally, but soon I need to hit the road. It's going to be a wild and wooly 4 hrs. of summer school today, today is the first day with kids. Yipes! I know I have stuff left to do.
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OK, summer school feels more settled now, and I can get back to what I really like to think about!
I left off after saying that I would leave MK at night up in the air, just to do what we felt like.
Then I started to feel anxious about missing some stuff and wondered if I needed to plan more.
I usually stray away from shows at the parks. They seem like a big people vacuum that is placed strategically to take the pressure off of what really matters, THE ATTRACTIONS. That said, I'm a huge walk-through fan. I enjoy these more than the traditional attractions. But I'm never motivated to see a show.
I have decided this is unwise. Based on what I've read, the shows are good at DL. Additionally, shows are a valuable escape from the buzziness of touring. I don't want to miss out on shows on this trip.
That being said, here's my list of special busy time activities I'd like to do at DL. I've taken out those I do every trip, like the railroad and Tiki Room.
· Main Street Fire truck. This would be awesome!
· Sailing Ship Columbia (!) I've never even been there when the Columbia was running, I don't think. The Disneyland websited acts as if this sails daily now. I want to sail!
· Canoes. I've never done this either. I don't know if I've ever even seen them going.
· Mickey and Magic Map
Royal theater show-Frozen or Tangled preferred per TouringPlans
The other place I want to visit is the Jingle Jangle Jamboree. This was our favorite mellow evening hang-out on our trip in 2013. It was basically deserted. We did have to wait about 20 minutes to visit Santa and the Mrs. but afterwards, various members of the Fab Five were strolling about in their winter wear. No lines, no PhotoPass folks, just good old-fashioned strolling character interaction. DS loved it. I sure hope he's still into Characters this next trip.
That reminds me, I haven't planned times for visiting characters at DL. We will visit Micky and Minnie in Toon Town on Day 1, I'm sure. In the past I've really put my touring plans first and pulled DS away from waiting in line to meet characters. Dumb Dumb Dumb! It's been so great to see him with characters.
Here he is showing Tink he can fly. His rain jacket left some white flecks on his skin that he noticed on walking out, and he was convinced she had given him pixie dust. It was all I could do to stop him from jumping off every ledge we passed after that, fluttering his little hands.
I also have one of him and Buzz sharing a big high-five after he told Buzz he was wearing spaceship underwear (my idea, and also true.) Can you get better than that?
OK, I'm rambling, but this is just a reminder that a lot of the fun is in watching my little guy fully immerse in the magic. Note To Self: Scrap the plan entirely whenever opportunity arises. You can always rope-drop PPF, but Marie from the Aristocats may never be seen again.
You are so right, that it's the serendipitous moments that make the magic! Plan, plan, plan, and then when you get there, go with the flow and take advantage of whatever pops up. I hope your little guy is still into the characters because he's adorable meeting them!
I don't think I've ever seen the canoes running either, now you say it. We've been on the Columbia once and loved it. I bet it's running every day now, given it's summer season, but I wonder whether it will be later in the year...
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Enjoying your planning. Thanks for the rental tips. We booked a 4 bedroom/3 bath house across the street for our trip in Sept with airbnb. It was cheaper than the 2-bedroom suite we had booked at Residence Inn. Keep the tips coming. My DH & I have only been to DL/CA once about 13 years ago. And our adult children have never been there.
Enjoying your planning. Thanks for the rental tips. We booked a 4 bedroom/3 bath house across the street for our trip in Sept with airbnb. It was cheaper than the 2-bedroom suite we had booked at Residence Inn. Keep the tips coming. My DH & I have only been to DL/CA once about 13 years ago. And our adult children have never been there.
Glad my tips helped out! You should do a trip report!
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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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I just can't get to the stage of planning without at least knowing the park opening hours... so different to WDW! 
The pix are on my mom's phone. The plan is to sew casual button shirts for the men/boys and dresses for me and mom. 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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