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Final Prep

4/26/2016

With just over a week left until our next Disney vacation I'm trying to wrap my brain around what I have left to do before we leave.

Lists are my BFFs. I like to put things I've already done on my lists just so I can immediately mark them off. Don't judge me.

Between now and our trip quite a few things will go down.

Start to organize clothes for Disney
Order more shorts for daughter as she has outgrown EVERY SINGLE PAIR.
Field Trip at my daughter's school. I'm a chaperone. UGH.
Order cake for My daughter's First Holy Communion.
Clean house spotless for above reason
Hit up dollar store for squirt bottles and small fans.
Hit up grocery for packable snacks
Gather sunscreen and determine if you need to add that to drug store run
OTC meds, just in case
Gather Essential oils to bring (peppermint, lavender, thieves, tummygize, Deep Relief, Breath Again, Eucalyptus, Stress Away). Put in a gallon zippy.
Drug store run for travel essentials (Moleskin, travel size goodies)
Check Orlando weather (HOT!!!) As of now, 80s-90s
Gather electronics, including cords, and put in zippy bags
Gather camera equipment, including cords, batteries, and memory cards, add to camera case and zippy.
Pack, unpack rearrange, pack again. (This is a lengthy overdone process)
Review my What To Pack blog to make sure I'm not forgetting anything
Celebrate daughter's First Communion
Take family out to eat to celebrate
Have family over to house for cake
Next morning, get up before crack of dawn
Leave for Disney.
Relax and enjoy every magical moment!!!

That is all I can think of right now.

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Let's Talk FastPasses, Specifically FastPass+

4/17/2016

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As a part of my service for those that book a Disney vacation through Make Believe Vacations, LLC, Prior to your 60 Day Out arrival date, I will provide you with a list of FastPass+ directions, options for each park, and suggestions. I can even book those for you, if you so chose for me to do so.

However, for our trip, I was left to do my own. (With some input from husband and child, mostly after I slaved and planned and rearranged, and planned some more)

Because I was on top of it and online right at midnight on our 60 day mark, I had NO problem booking all the Fastpasses I wanted, including Anna and Elsa meet and greet and Seven Dwarf Mine Train. Ended up cancelling Anna and Elsa, because daughter isn't really a fan and switched it to Splash Mountain. :)

We will arrive quite early our first day, so we got park tickets for that day, which we normally wouldn't do. Because we are staying so close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios(HS) this trip, we decided we would hit up HS arrival day, first thing, since daughter is finally tall enough to ride the Rockin' Rollercoaster. So I booked fast passes that day for early afternoon at HS. It will be all about the thrill rides. After that, I hope to visit the pool, then we have dinner at Ohaha. We plan to do nighttime at Epcot after dinner.

We always visit Magic Kingdom(MK) on our first full day. I know a few that do other parks first, but I just can't wait to get into the Kingdom!! Here is our plan for full Day 1 at MK.

I made sure all my 'must dos' happen that first day. On our last trip, Mine Train wasn't opened yet. I literally stood staring at it, hoping to will it open, but it did not happen. As you can see, I waste NO time getting on that thing this trip. I literally booked it as a Fastness everyday we spend in MK, except the last day, due to the purchase of our Extra Magic Hours that I discussed in the last blog. I fully plan to ride that thing until they make me get off of it.

As for the rest of our selections, I followed the same plan. I booked the must do attractions for each park. My plan is to TRY not to micromanage the crap out of this trip like I have our others. I want this to be (I can barely say this with a straight face) a more relaxed trip. HA!! We have a LOT going on, but as long as we make it to our Fastpasses and dining reservations, we can wing the rest. I fully intend to spend some time at our resort pool floating in that lazy river. And because I've made sure we have passes for the rides we want to ride, I feel like I can relax a bit and not try to beat all the other guests to the park every single day. Now if only my heart would listen to my head...

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Adding EXTRA Magic

4/6/2016

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Disney offers so many ways for you to part with your money. If you hate having money, Disney is the place to go to get rid of it.

This trip, we not only are trying some dining experiences we haven't before, we are also trying some extra events and add-ons that we haven't before.

Our 2nd trip with our daughter who was turning 6, included our first "extra". We booked the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage. Absolutely no regrets. It sure beats standing in the masses elbow to elbow trying to see the show in the park then dealing with the mass exodus after the show. There is a special surprise guest waiting to greet you upon your return after the show. I highly recommend throwing some money at this. In fact, if I hadn't decided to try something new, we were doing this again this trip. I actually had it booked and cancelled.

So how do we top that? Well first off, I'm doing something I said I didn't need and wouldn't do. It's not an event, but is an "extra". I added Memory Maker. Those that know me know I am rarely without my camera, but for this trip I decided to see if the ride photos and ride videos are worth the purchase. We shall see.

As for the REAL extras:

Daughter is too young to do a lot of the behind the scene tours, but there is one that was relatively reasonably priced and sounded fun. Disney's Family Magic Tour is scheduled for our last day. It runs about 2 hours. I'll let you know what we think, but it gets great reviews.
because I do NOT want to get up close and personal with the crowds, but absolutely LOVE the fireworks and Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom, we decided to do the Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party. Is it likely overpriced? Yes. Will I enjoy sitting comfortably eating cake and sipping coffee while the fireworks go off or while the electric parade tra-la-las on by, you bet I will.
The really unexpected throw-our-money-away experience was literally just released today. As I mentioned in the dining post, we had Crystal Palace early breakfast reservations. I found out today that the day I had that breakfast booked, Disney decided to add a limited number of tickets for early morning hours to those willing to pay and it lets those fools ride 3 rides in Fantasyland, and have a breakfast. Well, there goes my being in the park virtually without people!! So annoyed. Well, that was until I thought, hey, we should BE those fools. Somehow I talked the husband into it. He is such a good sport. Disney's Early Morning Magic-Fantasyland lets us into the park at 7:45AM and escorted into Fantasyland to ride 3 coveted rides. There is also a breakfast included. Is it overpriced? Well clearly to us we justified it. Are we crazy? Most likely.

Rest assured there will be photos and reviews to follow.

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Final Prep

Let's Talk FastPasses, Specifically FastPass+

Adding EXTRA Magic

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