BronxTigger's Pre-Trip Report

**BronxTigger** · 08-09-2007, 10:05 AM

Pre-Trip Report

Trip Dates: August 18-22, 2007

Trip Members: Me, along with Amanda, my cast member friend who will be meeting up with me throughout the trip. We were good friends in high school but didn’t see each other much afterwards; it’s been about 3 years since I’ve seen her. We are both very excited to see each other and hang out together at WDW. She’s been a cast member in the college program for the last few months and I’m her first friend to visit.

Resort: Caribbean Beach Resort. I requested Aruba or Jamaica; we will see what happens.

The Plans:
Day 1, August 18: Jet Blue from JFK to MCO. I’m supposed to get in at about 9:30, but NYC airports are notorious for delays. I’ll be using the Magical Express. I’m a little nervous about the baggage claim part, because my luggage has a funny habit of catching the wrong flight. About half the time I fly I either lose my luggage on the way down or the way back. But, I’m going to try to trust this system because I want to get to WDW as soon as possible! After I get checked in, I need to head over to DTD to get my Disney Rewards card. I might not do this though. I might let my rewards add up for later; they don’t expire for a long time still. If I head over to DTD, I want to eat at Earl of Sandwich. After DTD I will go to MGM, which is my least favorite of the four parks, so I only plan on spending a few hours at this park. I want to do RnR and a handful of other things before heading off to the MK for the Pirate and Princess Party! The party starts at seven, but I want to enter MK a bit before that. I’m not planning to dress up for the party unless I can find something cheap between now and then, or if I just HAVE to get one of those Mickey pirate hat things.

Day 2, August 19: This is the only day Amanda was able to get off. She usually works evenings, so we hopefully will spend some other mornings together, but today we have the whole day. This day will start early, with a 7:50 breakfast at Chef Mickey’s (my only ADR of this trip). I haven’t been to CM’s for a long time and I’m looking forward to seeing the characters without having to stand on long lines in the hot sun. After breakfast, we will probably go to Epcot for a while. At some point, we will probably hop over to the MK because it is evening EMH and we can get in a few extra hours in the parks. We take a mid-day break to go swimming at CBR, but that is yet to be seen.

Day 3, August 20: I’m excited about the way this day will start. I signed up for the Mickey’s Magical Milestones Tour, which is at the MK. I have to meet at City Hall at 8:45. The tour is supposed to last about 2 hours or so, and the main topic is the history of Mickey Mouse. I chose this tour over the others for a few reasons. One, my trip is only five days so I didn’t want a long tour, but I did want a tour. Also, it is one of the cheapest tours at $25 ($20 with Disney Visa discount), so I figure it’s a good first tour for me. After the tour, I plan to hang out in the MK for awhile. At some point on this trip I want to get my haircut on Main Street; this might be the best time to do that. I think this will be a good day to have a mid-day break and head back to the hotel for a nap and a swim break. It’s halfway through my trip and with a lot of late nights and early mornings I think I might need it. I’ll finish out the day at Animal Kingdom, because it is EMH and I have never seen AK in the dark, and it should be dark by 9:00. After AK I will probably head over to the Marketplace at DTD to do some shopping or just head back to CBR for an “early” night.

Day 4, August 21: This day has MK EMH, which I may take advantage of, or just skip it and go to AK. My plan is very MK heavy, so if I do amEMH at MK, I will defiantly hop early in the morning over to AK. I also want to visit Fantasia mini-golf this day. My package includes a mini-golf voucher, and I fully intend to use it. Last year we went to WinterSummerland, so I want to go to Fantasia this time around. The rest of the day will be spend at Epcot, because it is pmEMH there. I want to get there early enough to watch Illuminations, because it’s the only day I have it on the schedule.

Day 5, August 22: Last day.

This day will be spent doing whatever I missed earlier in the trip. I plan to start at AK because it’s amEMH there. My flight takes off at 4:30 so I expect I will have to be back at CBR ready for the ME by 1:30.

I'm hoping for an encounter with the Dream Team, but even if I don't see them, this should be a great trip!

**faline** · 08-09-2007, 10:13 AM

Great plans! Have a wonderful time! It'll be fun to catch up with an old friend!

**glenpreece** · 08-09-2007, 10:25 AM

I don't know if this rule still applies but when I went to visit my CM friend's they couldn't go to EMH with me because they aren't resort guests. Just something to watch out for.

**BronxTigger** · 08-09-2007, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by glenpreece

I don't know if this rule still applies but when I went to visit my CM friend's they couldn't go to EMH with me because they aren't resort guests. Just something to watch out for.

She asked about this, and about the pool. She was told that as long as she was with a resort guest she could go, and same with swimming at the resort. If this turns out to not be the case, we'll find something else to do.

**disneydrmr** · 08-09-2007, 11:21 AM

Hope you have a fun, safe and magical trip! And hope your luggage all arrives in one piece... if you have a direct flight there should be no problem.. it seems to be only with lay over flights that issues arrive!

**offwego** · 08-09-2007, 11:32 AM

Have a great time!! Can't wait to hear about your tour.

**Beach Club Babe** · 08-09-2007, 11:48 AM

Have a great trip!

**January-2007** · 08-09-2007, 12:08 PM

How fun to meet up with your friend that you haven't seen in a few years, and she's a CM? Even better! I hope you have a wonderful vacation and that all your luggage goes where it needs to be.

**DizNee143** · 08-09-2007, 12:53 PM

hope you have a great time!! and thats awesome you get to hang out with your friend again!! and what a perfect place to meet up in after 3 years of not seeing each other! cant wait to hear all about it when you get back!!

**Bethanymouse** · 08-09-2007, 12:53 PM

We might have to meet up for those Mickey bars! It sounds like you have a great trip planned. Enjoy Chef Mickey's- it is a good one! Have fun catching up with your friend. Maybe we will see you down there!

**Bethis26fan** · 08-09-2007, 01:33 PM

Have a great trip.

**TINKERBELL_82** · 08-09-2007, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by BronxTigger

She asked about this, and about the pool. She was told that as long as she was with a resort guest she could go, and same with swimming at the resort. If this turns out to not be the case, we'll find something else to do.

I have an idea! Why don't you get a room key for your CM friend?? That way, there won't be any issues!!

Sounds like an amazing trip you have planned!!

**KylesMom** · 08-09-2007, 02:12 PM

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. We want to hear all about it when you get back - and not in 2008!

**BronxTigger** · 08-09-2007, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by TINKERBELL_82

I have an idea! Why don't you get a room key for your CM friend?? That way, there won't be any issues!!

Sounds like an amazing trip you have planned!!

I thought of this, but I have a package reservation, so I think if I added her I'd also have to add park tickets for her too, which she doesn't need. I'm going to have her ask again.

Thanks for all the kind comments, everybody! I'll be sure to post my trip reports before next April this time! When I went last August, the trip reports go put on the back burner...until April of this year! Oops!

**ElenitaB** · 08-09-2007, 03:57 PM

Have a great time! I'll be thinking of you!

P.S. JFK is much better on departure times than LGA... hope you're on your way on time and that your luggage makes it there with you!

P.P.S. Bring us back cookies!

**SBETigg** · 08-09-2007, 04:08 PM

Sounds fantastic! I hope you have a wonderful time, and maybe I'll see you around somewhere. (or I'll run around asking people if they are BronxTigger and get laughed at a bit).

**TikiGoddess** · 08-09-2007, 09:49 PM

Sounds like a wonderful trip. Let us know how the tour is... sounds like something I'd like to do in October.

Have a great time! Looking forward to your report!

TikiG

**BronxTigger** · 08-10-2007, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by ElenitaB

Have a great time! I'll be thinking of you!

P.S. JFK is much better on departure times than LGA... hope you're on your way on time and that your luggage makes it there with you!

P.P.S. Bring us back cookies!

Yes, I'll bring back cookies. How do the Main Street Bakery Toll House Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches sound??