TikiGoddess
07-02-2012, 09:08 AM
Tiki Family Pre-trip report 2012
Cast of Characters:
TikiG, 39, got my first AP this year and have three trips planned
DH, 44, goes along with it all because it makes his girls happy
DD9, all around Pokemon and anything science fan
DD7, budding fashionista, drama queen, and sweetness rolled into one
When:
Mid-July, 5 days in Tampa
6 days at WDW
Yes, it’s that time of year again. We’re planning our annual trip to Florida! It’s been a busy year… I went back to teaching full time after years of working 4 days a week. While it doesn’t sound like much of a change (it’s only one day a week, right?), it was a major adjustment for me and my family. I’m still not sure I like it, but it does have some perks. Namely no guilt spending a few extra dollars to stay Club Level.
Monday, July 16 – Friday, July 20:
So after a few weeks of swim lessons, summer camp, and decluttering the house, we will be heading down to MCO, leaving from Hartford, CT. We’re flying into MCO rather than TPA because the flights were cheaper. It also makes it easier to fly back home – more time to spend in Disney… :)
We’ll spend 4.5 days at my in-law’s house in Seminole. Pool time, beach, dinners out, Rays-Indians game one night, and our annual trek to the Lowry Park Zoo. Nothing different than previous years, but you know what? I’m perfectly okay with that. We may throw in a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. If you have any other suggestions on what to do in the St. Pete/Tampa area, please feel free to comment.
Saturday, July 21 – Thursday, July 26:
Disney World. Six glorious days at Disney World. We were going to stay at Beach Club this year – until 60 days out from the trip. Then I looked at my husband and said, it’s not that much more to stay at AKL club level… and that was the end of the Beach Club. Beach Club looks like a really nice resort and we were totally psyched about the pool, the location, and trying a new hotel. But… we stayed at AKL last year and just LOVED it. Having the lounge available is key for us. It makes it so easy to feed the ever-growing-and-unpredictable-appetites of my children… and having breakfast ready for us in the morning? We actually get to park opening.
I am going totally against my planning/spreadsheet-making/ADR personality. This year we have only one day planned out – arrival day. And even that may change on the drive from Tampa to Orlando. Instead, I broke the trip down to what we can do on any random morning, and where we might go in the evening. We will avoid EMH mornings (because we won’t get there in time) and EMH evenings (the girls won’t make it past 10pm).
Mornings:
Magic Kingdom (arrival day / lunch ADR at Plaza Restaurant)
Epcot
DTD for lunch or resort pool day
Magic Kingdom (Tuesday or Wednesday for Crystal Palace breakfast)
Studios
Typhoon Lagoon
Evenings:
Epcot (possibly Illuminations)
Magic Kingdom (parade)
Animal Kingdom
Dinner at Kona (on resort day or Water Park day)
Free evening (resort or dinner somewhere)
Airport on last evening
By making only 2 ADRs, we have thus rendered our plans quiet flexible. We can wake up in the morning, decide what we’re in the mood for, and make a plan for the day. Kona and the DTD restaurants are easy enough to book on the same day (or if it’s booked, we’ll go somewhere else). Otherwise we plan on doing counter service or eating at the resort.
I’m hoping to try some new things this year with the girls: Carousel of Progress, Backlot Tour, the new Dumbo, and especially the new Phineas and Ferb adventure in WS. We may even torture them with Hall of Presidents, and maybe have them taste Beverly. I have big plans to finally catch the golf ball in Soarin’ this year.
Thanks for reading!
Kathy
Cast of Characters:
TikiG, 39, got my first AP this year and have three trips planned
DH, 44, goes along with it all because it makes his girls happy
DD9, all around Pokemon and anything science fan
DD7, budding fashionista, drama queen, and sweetness rolled into one
When:
Mid-July, 5 days in Tampa
6 days at WDW
Yes, it’s that time of year again. We’re planning our annual trip to Florida! It’s been a busy year… I went back to teaching full time after years of working 4 days a week. While it doesn’t sound like much of a change (it’s only one day a week, right?), it was a major adjustment for me and my family. I’m still not sure I like it, but it does have some perks. Namely no guilt spending a few extra dollars to stay Club Level.
Monday, July 16 – Friday, July 20:
So after a few weeks of swim lessons, summer camp, and decluttering the house, we will be heading down to MCO, leaving from Hartford, CT. We’re flying into MCO rather than TPA because the flights were cheaper. It also makes it easier to fly back home – more time to spend in Disney… :)
We’ll spend 4.5 days at my in-law’s house in Seminole. Pool time, beach, dinners out, Rays-Indians game one night, and our annual trek to the Lowry Park Zoo. Nothing different than previous years, but you know what? I’m perfectly okay with that. We may throw in a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. If you have any other suggestions on what to do in the St. Pete/Tampa area, please feel free to comment.
Saturday, July 21 – Thursday, July 26:
Disney World. Six glorious days at Disney World. We were going to stay at Beach Club this year – until 60 days out from the trip. Then I looked at my husband and said, it’s not that much more to stay at AKL club level… and that was the end of the Beach Club. Beach Club looks like a really nice resort and we were totally psyched about the pool, the location, and trying a new hotel. But… we stayed at AKL last year and just LOVED it. Having the lounge available is key for us. It makes it so easy to feed the ever-growing-and-unpredictable-appetites of my children… and having breakfast ready for us in the morning? We actually get to park opening.
I am going totally against my planning/spreadsheet-making/ADR personality. This year we have only one day planned out – arrival day. And even that may change on the drive from Tampa to Orlando. Instead, I broke the trip down to what we can do on any random morning, and where we might go in the evening. We will avoid EMH mornings (because we won’t get there in time) and EMH evenings (the girls won’t make it past 10pm).
Mornings:
Magic Kingdom (arrival day / lunch ADR at Plaza Restaurant)
Epcot
DTD for lunch or resort pool day
Magic Kingdom (Tuesday or Wednesday for Crystal Palace breakfast)
Studios
Typhoon Lagoon
Evenings:
Epcot (possibly Illuminations)
Magic Kingdom (parade)
Animal Kingdom
Dinner at Kona (on resort day or Water Park day)
Free evening (resort or dinner somewhere)
Airport on last evening
By making only 2 ADRs, we have thus rendered our plans quiet flexible. We can wake up in the morning, decide what we’re in the mood for, and make a plan for the day. Kona and the DTD restaurants are easy enough to book on the same day (or if it’s booked, we’ll go somewhere else). Otherwise we plan on doing counter service or eating at the resort.
I’m hoping to try some new things this year with the girls: Carousel of Progress, Backlot Tour, the new Dumbo, and especially the new Phineas and Ferb adventure in WS. We may even torture them with Hall of Presidents, and maybe have them taste Beverly. I have big plans to finally catch the golf ball in Soarin’ this year.
Thanks for reading!
Kathy