May/June Pre-Trip Report - updated

Login to post comments
14 posts / 0 new
Ttatink's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2014
Posts: 64
May/June Pre-Trip Report - updated

Since I have a little time I'll go ahead and do this now as suggested. Smile

We're taking our second trip to The World with our kids next month. They are 9, 8, and 7 and very excited. The last time we went was 2011 so my younger two don't remember much.

We're headed to FL to visit my in-laws in Jacksonville for a few days before Disney Day. On May 27th we head to WDW! It'll be the day after our 13th wedding anniversary. We're staying at the Beach Club which is our first time in a deluxe hotel. We'll be checking in and heading straight to the Magic Kingdom. We have FP+ for lunch at Be Our Guest, then Peter Pan, Cinderella and Rapunzel meet and greet, and the Speedway. We plan to just take in the parks and not really get many more attractions in than those three. We head to Boma for dinner that night, then to Fantasia Gardens, and will probably head back to MK after dinner when the park is less crowded.

Day two is a dual park day. We have the Star Wars breakfast at Sci-Fi in the morning and will probably try to fit in a few attractions before heading to Epcot for lunch at Rose & Crown. We have FP+ for Captain EO (a favorite for DH), Test Track (my son's favorite), and Mission: Space. We'll spend some of the afternoon at Typhoon Lagoon and head to Le Cellier for a later dinner.

Day three is breakfast at Boma (we'll have to drive to make our 7:30 ADR) and then AK with FP+ for Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, and Kali River Rapids. We'll probably have lunch at Flame Tree since we've never been there. We have the Behind the Seeds tour that afternoon (4:30) and dinner at Teppan Edo.

Day four we have breakfast at Captain's Grille. My mom is coming to spend that day with us so it's an Epcot day. We'll take that day slowly for Mom's sake. We have lunch at Beaches & Cream (Kitchen Sink!), FP+ for Spaceship Earth (Mom's favorite), Soarin', and The Seas. Dinner is earlier at The Wave. Mom will take the kids to the hotel after that so DH and I can go back to Epcot for EMH and the Epcot dessert party. Smile

Day five is Star Wars Weekend day. yay We have breakfast at Kona (another 7:30 ADR so we'll drive there too) and we'll go to Blizzard Beach for a bit after that. We have lunch at Via Napoli and then we head to HS. Our FP+ are for Star Tours, Toy Story, and The Great Movie Ride (that may be swapped for Tower of Terror if my kids work up the nerve for it - DH and I love it). Dinner is the Fantasmic Star Wars character meal at Hollywood & Vine. We'll hang around HS for the evening doing things like One Man's Dream and see Fantasmic at 9:00.

Day six my in-laws will join us. We have breakfast at Captain's Grille and will either go to Epcot or MK depending on what my in-laws want to do. We're going to see Lights, Motors, Action around noon. We aren't sure about lunch yet. It'll depend on my in-laws again. After that we'll go hang out at the pool while my father in-law naps. Wink FP+ is for The Seas, Soarin', and Spaceship Earth. Dinner will be Biergarten at my mother in-laws request. We'll then head to MK for EMH.

Day seven is breakfast at Captain's Grille. We'll then hang out by the pool and we'll head to Winter Summerland around 10:30. We have FP+ for Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan, and Haunted Mansion, though those may change based on the night before. We have dinner at 'Ohana that night before the in-laws head back home.

Day eight is the last one. Sad We'll go to morning EMH at Epcot and then grab a quick breakfast either there or at MK which is our stop after we (hopefully) ride Soarin' and Test Track. We have FP+ to meet Anna and Elsa, Mad Tea Party, and Space Mountain. We'll have lunch either in MK or grab a snack and eat lunch after we leave the parks. We'll drive home that day (getting home pretty late) and spend the next day sleeping in and having fun looking at Photo Pass pictures. Wink

Offline
Joined: 01/22/2014
Posts: 291

Sounds like a blast!!! You are making good use of the Park Hopper, that's for sure wink I'm excited for your kids too; they seem like the perfect age to love it all and have the energy to keep going awesome

__________________

magicalkingdoms.com Ticker Free Disney Tickers

Allie's picture
Offline
Joined: 06/26/2012
Posts: 5477

Sounds like an amazing trip! Your kids (and YOU!) will have a blast!

Eeyore's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/22/2012
Posts: 1120

Sounds like a blast! Great ADRs.

MandaLynn's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/22/2013
Posts: 213

Sounds like a fun trip and as WonderlandKatie mentioned, great use of the Park Hopper! I'm having trouble scheduling park hops for my fall trip and I might need to take a leaf out of your book! mickey

Ttatink's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2014
Posts: 64

I forgot to mention we're building in pool breaks too. That's for my oldest who always wants to know when we're going to the pool. laugh I think she's part fish. Wink

We didn't park hop in 2011 which was a big mistake for us. My middle one has issues with being easily overwhelmed so she needs not only a mid-day break, but also a change of venue if things get crowded. If we do that she does MUCH better dealing with everything. awesome

AnnielovesDisney's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/12/2013
Posts: 887

Sounds like a wonderful trip. When you go to AK, are you going to see Finding Nemo? It is absolutely amazing, truly on par with a broadway show. My DH and I see it at least 10 times a year(we have AP) I am an early ed. teacher and I would take all my students to see Finding Nemo, if I could. Even children who don't think they'd want to see this show, will love it. It is wonderfully done!

The only children who may have issues are those with autism spectrum disorders.

Ttatink's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2014
Posts: 64

We've never seen it but we may since the movie is a huge favorite of my kids. Though your autism comment gives me pause. My middle one actually has sensory processing disorder so she doesn't do well with a lot of noise. We have to give her earplugs for shows like Lights, Motors, Action.

AnnielovesDisney's picture
Offline
Joined: 09/12/2013
Posts: 887

Here is what I tell/ask parents about Finding Nemo, who have children on the spectrum(I worked with preschool children with autism spectrum disorders for several years.)

1.Has your daughter ever been to a live theater musical or play? If so, how did she react?
2.Nemo is in a large, air conditioned theater that is dark once the play starts. The only lights are those on the stage, and by your feet in the aisles. Very much like a large movie theater, but not nearly as dark because of the lights from the stage.
3.If you are sitting in the bottom half of the theater, some of the characters walk through that part of the theater, right beside the seats. At one point, Bruce the shark is just inches from people sitting in the front few rows. I wouldn't put a child w/ sensory issues in the bottom half of the theater, but it would be "just in case" not because I think there would definitely be an issue. It all depends on the child.
4.I would recommend sitting in the middle to top center of the theater. You will still get a good view of the stage, but you don't have to worry about any actors being by you. Also, less people are in the higher seats.
5. The music is surround sound and loud through the whole theater, but no louder than a movie theater, maybe not even as loud as a movie theater.

IMO, Lights, motor, action is far more jarring for a child who has sensory processing disorder, even with headphones. Nemo is loud too because they use surround sound speakers so everyone can hear. But, your are hearing only music, talking and singing(good singing BTW!) LMA, doesn't have pleasant sounds like Nemo. If she is able to sit through LMA w/ headphones she shouldn't have a problem watching Nemo, maybe even w/o headphones.
Unless, she has a specific issue with music, singing, live performances, or large animated puppets(there are large jellyfish, turtles and a large pelican onstage at different times) I think she could have a very good experience watching Nemo!

Ttatink's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2014
Posts: 64

Thanks! She doesn't have issues with movie theaters or LMA but she's never been to a stage show. Knowing what to expect is a biggie for her so if I can tell her all of that she should be OK. Smile

Ttatink's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2014
Posts: 64

So we changed a few things. We swapped the BTM FP on 6/2 for the Mine Train and did the same with the Space Mountain FP on 6/3. Wink

We also cancelled our reservation for Rose & Crown. DH admitted he wasn't really excited about that one. waiting

Last, after the discussion about steak and Le Cellier not being good any longer we decided to cancel that one. Instead we're going to Raglan Road. I'm of Irish descent so I'm excited about that one. biggrin

Offline
Joined: 11/15/2012
Posts: 912

Ttatink wrote:
So we changed a few things. We swapped the BTM FP on 6/2 for the Mine Train and did the same with the Space Mountain FP on 6/3. Wink

We also cancelled our reservation for Rose & Crown. DH admitted he wasn't really excited about that one. waiting

Last, after the discussion about steak and Le Cellier not being good any longer we decided to cancel that one. Instead we're going to Raglan Road. I'm of Irish descent so I'm excited about that one. biggrin

Does your changed FP show up. I did mine a couple of days ago and it still shows the old ones, but if I go in to change them it shows the new FP including Mine Train (scratches head and goes hmm)

__________________

Ttatink's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/13/2014
Posts: 64

Yes, it showed up right away online. I just checked the app and it's showing there too.

Oh and my kids all decided today that they are going to brave Tower of Terror so I swapped Great Movie Ride for that one. biggrin

Offline
Joined: 11/15/2012
Posts: 912

Oh bother! May well have to try all over again. I love ToT it is great fun hope they do it they will enjoy it.

__________________