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[JerseyDad]

……than setting up this trip....I’d hope!! The approaching trip this Aug 25-Sept 2 is all paid for (for quite some time thank goodness)…the “broad strokes” of the planning have all been refined to just adding the fine details…including some last minute ADR additions. Now…it’s all about shifting into the sit-n-wait mode. But…honestly…how many of us really can do a relaxed sit-n-wait when a Disney trip is rapidly approaching? It’s more like the “I’m a 6 yr old waiting for the sun to come up on Christmas morning” mode.

Within the past few days, my wife e-mailed me (“all the way” from upstairs in her well appointed office…to me…in my cellar office [a.k.a. dungeon] the latest trip itinerary. Being that the e-mail was from my wife….someone that I have known for 31 years…and have been married to for (almost) 29 years [this coming Sunday]….I did the usual when it comes to addressing her communications to me…..I ignored it.

Now…I get up today and decide to clean out my e-mails….see the e-mail from her that says “Itinerary”….and decided to read it. I didn’t know what to expect…or…if I’d notice what changes that were made. I mean…I’ve looked at about 17 different iterations of how this trip is to be “mapped out”…and I guess I got a little snow-blind.

Anyway….a little background first: This will be our 10th WDW trip….and our 9th stay at POP. I (let me put emphasis on the “I”), will have driven a total of 20,900 “Disney Miles” when we get to the parking lot at POP (and my wife will have slept through about 19,900 of those miles)…so…to put it simply….we’ve done this before. But this trip is different…this trip is not only for us, because on this trip…my brother and his family are having their 1st WDW vacation. After years of coaxing…..it’s finally come to pass that my brother, SIL, 2 nieces, and 1 nephew will be staying at Art of Animation in the Lion King section (which will be something like only 2 weeks “old” when they check in!!) at the same time we’re at POP. Them not knowing the ins-&-outs of the whole WDW experience, (they originally were talking to a travel agent that had them completely messed up) my wife has taken them under her wing to try and make their trip as magical as possible. An added challenge to the whole trip / experience planning process is that my 16 yr old nephew is autistic. So…along with the standard issues to plan for….my wife looked into ways to make the trip pleasurable for him…and as stress free for their family…so that they can get the maximum Disney experience.

We’ll all be on the QS Dining Plan (free dining…hooray), to keep most meals as impromptu as possible and to somewhat reduce the stress associated with meal times. That said…we didn’t completely eliminate ADR’s from our joint agenda….working in some spots that we’d think they’ll like…and getting a character meal in there too. That said…even with the “constraints” that are affiliated with having to get to an ADR on time…..all in all it’ll be a low key and hopefully enjoyable trip for them (I say “them”…because heck…if you sit me in a chair and waft the scent of Mickey Waffles under my nose and I’m content)


Now that my wife has informed me of the latest ADR addition…lunch at Via Napoli (precipitated from a conversation that my wife and SIL had on Father’s Day regarding how good the pizza is)… here’s what the trip has shaped up to be…and hopefully will remain as such so that I don’t have to read another of my wife’s e-mails:

I added Via Napoli to Sunday for lunch.

Here is the itinerary, or at least a rough draft of one. "After Lunch" is a flexible statement, meaning we can go at any time after that, depending on our mood, the weather, kid's stamina, etc. Some days we will want to go back right after lunch, other days we'll want to stay a bit and then go.


SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH
Magic Kingdom from after arrival until after QS lunch in MK (Cosmic Rays, or Harbor House)

Back to resort for quick rest…maybe some swimming.

Evening: Downtown Disney. ADR: Dinner at Planet Hollywood about 6:00 After dinner we can walk around, shop, get Ghiradelli Ice Cream for dessert….etc. Depending on how the early hours go, and how everyone feels, we may also not keep this dinner reservation at all but instead eat at Wolfgang Puck's Express at Downtown Disney.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26TH
Epcot / Future World after early breakfast at resort
ADR: Lunch at Epcot (Via Napoli at 11:30 a.m.) (this was just added by wife)
Back to resort after lunch
Magic Kingdom for QS dinner and evening Extra Magic Hours


MONDAY, AUGUST 27TH
Animal Kingdom has Extra Magic Hours in the morning, so early resort breakfast and then to AK.
Back to resort either after lunch at AK or for lunch at resort.
Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express and more shopping…and ice cream.


TUESDAY, AUGUST 28TH
Epcot Extra Magic Hours in the morning, so there after early breakfast until after lunch
Back to resort after lunch
Disney Hollywood Studios for evening, 4:30 reservation at Prime Time 50's Cafe for dinner

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29TH
ADR: Breakfast at 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian at 9:10 a.m.
Boat ride to Magic Kingdom, Magic Kingdom until after lunch
Back to resort after QS lunch
Epcot for QS dinner (Sunshine Seasons) and evening activities


THURSDAY, AUGUST 30TH
Animal Kingdom until after lunch
Back to resort after QS lunch
Downtown Disney in evening for Wolfgang Puck Express for dinner (do you see a pattern yet with WPE?...the big variety makes it a good choice for picky eaters…a.k.a.…kids)


FRIDAY, AUGUST 31ST
Magic Kingdom until after lunch
Back to resort after QS lunch
ADR: Epcot for dinner, Les Chefs de France at 5:45 p.m. (hope to see “The Rat”)
Epcot Extra Magic Hours so fireworks at 9:30 and open until midnight.

(brother and his family depart WDW Saturday morning)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st
Daytime hours – Park(s) to be determined
Epcot in evening
ADR: La Hacienda for dinner at 6:30pm or so, I forget the time.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd
Daytime hours – Park(s) to be determined
Epcot in evening
ADR: Dinner at Teppan Edo at 7:30pm



So…. all is planned…all is paid for… and the Itinerary is HOPEFULLY set in stone this time. Although…as you may see…it’s pretty flexible regarding most of the days. We got some decent ADR’s that I’m sure my brother’s family will like (we sent them the recent menus)…. and in particular the character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. It was also kept pretty loose in order to allow for my brother or sister-in-law to bow out should they need to take my nephew back to the resort for some “chill-out” time (he loves to swim)…or if anyone gets too tired.

As you can also see...the last two days will be just my family. So...being that the parks will have all been visited AT LEAST TWICE....the choice of where to go those last two days is pretty flexible. There's even the chance that my 2 daughters (23 and 16 yrs old)...will want to go off on their own....leaving me and the wife to spend "couple time" in the parks to, dare I say, do something like have lunch together....or do a ride together....or.....I can spoon feed her Dole Whip in the most romantic of fashions (romantic..yes...but in reality...doing so in order to keep her from dripping it all over herself).



....PS: sorry I wrote a 'book'....I got inspired and was on a roll.

[toddjodybrent]

I was smiling just reading your plans. Have a magical trip with the family!

[jimmymac]

Your post had me smiling. Loved the part about DW sleeping to / from WDW, Excellent plans btw

[kangelop]

Emailing in the house. . . too funny. . . but I may have to employ this method so my husband can't say "you never told me. . ."

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans!

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Great plans! Can't wait to hear about it!

[MrsM]

Sounds like a great trip! I'm not sure if your nephew has any sensory issues, but just as a warning, last time we were at Planet Hollywood it was LOUD! Even my kids (who are always shouting to try to be heard over each other!) commented on how loud it was.

[JerseyDad]

Originally Posted by MrsM

Sounds like a great trip! I'm not sure if your nephew has any sensory issues, but just as a warning, last time we were at Planet Hollywood it was LOUD! Even my kids (who are always shouting to try to be heard over each other!) commented on how loud it was.

....thanks for the tip.....I do know how loud Planet Hollywood can get...we too have to do the shouting thing from time to time!!

I think that some noise bothers him...but...he's been to amusement parks (actually at this very moment he's in Wildwood, NJ with his family) and other loud / crowded attractions. My brother and SIL have been getting him ready for the trip by taking him to an airport (it the first flight for all the kids)...the school he goes to has also prepped him. He's been watching WDW videos on YouTube to get familiar with the rides.....and he seems excited.

I think the noise issue won't be too much of a problem because he loves his portable Nintendo DS (if that's the correct name for it)...and he uses it with headphones.

The one issue that was a concern was all the walking. It's not that he can't handle it....it's that he may "lag" behind. So it's been suggested that perhaps my brother / SIL get him a wheelchair. That way...he'll basically get to relax...play with the Nintendo thingy in between attractions...and my SIL won't be all anxious about getting him from place to place.

....believe me...we've tried to look at all the angles related to this trip...and I hope it is as great for them as we're trying to make it. My 2 nieces (ages 11 & 13) are actually the reason why my 23 yr old daughter is coming this trip. They kept insisting that "We don't see you that often. You have to go with us!! You have to show us everything". They really learned how to pile on the female guilt thing!!

[notjustamom]

Sounds like a great plan! Make sure to get a GAC for your nephew, it is a blessing for us with our autistic DS. . Let SIL know it's the best vacation destination for us with DS. Have a wonderful trip!!

[wmanderson]

Your plans sound wonderful. Can't wait to hear all about it!!

[JerseyDad]

Originally Posted by wmanderson

Your plans sound wonderful. Can't wait to hear all about it!!

....I will be taking notes (really...no kidding...it's like a homework assignment)...so that I can do a trip report. I'm really...reallly....reallllly hoping for a great time (for the adults too)...it'll be great to tip a pint or two in the Rose & Crown with my brother (he's the middle brother of three of us...I'm the oldest). And...there will be enough adults on the trip to be able to perhaps rotate "child care" so my brother and SIL can have a bit of a break now and then.

I must admit that I do have a little bit of disappointment tied to this trip...along with worry. Our youngest brother had given the nod that he'd come along too, with his son. That would be the first time all of us would be together on a trip..of any kind. But...this got derailed two months ago when he was diagnosed with a cancerous kidney tumor. He's now in the process of getting set for surgery (within the next week)...and we're all more than a little nervous. He's been given a clean bill of health regarding the cancer not spreading beyond the kidney...so...the surgery will likely take care of it once completed. I also keep holding out a bit of hope that he'd be recovered enough by the end of August to hop on a plane and join us...but I'm thinking that'd be too soon for him to travel.

[lazanya]

Great plans!

[hleland]

Originally Posted by JerseyDad

I also keep holding out a bit of hope that he'd be recovered enough by the end of August to hop on a plane and join us...but I'm thinking that'd be too soon for him to travel.

First of all, sounds like a great trip and your original post made me smile (something I really needed today so thank you). Second, depending on how quickly he heals, it may be possible. My dad had part of his colon removed in Marchish 2006 (I can't remember exactly, he had so many other surgeries after that) and in June we were on a cruise in Alaska. You may need to rent either a wheelchair or a scooter for him. But it may still be doable. If I learned anything from losing my dad to cancer, it's that life's short and if you want to do something, you better do it because you never know what could happen.

[sk8mom6]

Great plans !! Just for some reassurance, my DS (age 23), who is on the autistic spectrum, absolutely loves WDW. It's his favorite place, has been for many years. He does great there and we've never needed a GAC. Hope your brother is well enough to come.

[disneymom57]

Great plans. Also for your brother. My neighbor just had a cancerous kidney removed last week. Home now and taking small walks.