Disney World Trip 2014 Pre-Trip Report

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We are less than a month from our next family trip to Walt Disney World.  At this point, the plans are mostly finalized.  As I write this, Disney has just opened up FastPass+ availability for their latest attraction, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  I was able to make a couple of FP+ reservations for the ride early this morning before the demand for FPs crashed Disney’s system.  So with those FPs taken care of, there isn’t much left to do but wait.

For our 2012 trip (pictured above), I shared an extremely detailed step-by-step plan in my pre-trip report.  I did so in the form of a countdown from Day 50 until Day 8.  I stopped at Day 8 because readers who were not interested in the details of my trip complained.  Here is a quote from the comments section:

Dude, after you finally go on your trip and come back from it, do you promise never to write about Disney trips, ever again? I am an avid reader of your blog (I especially like the Walking Dead reviews and WTHH series), but the constant OCD-style posts about Disney are flooding – and shifting attention away from – an otherwise VERY interesting blog. These are not interesting to anyone NOT going on the trip.

I decided to spare my regular readers the “OCD-style posts” this time.  Instead, all of my pre-planning will be contained in this one post.  Also, my plans are a lot less detailed this time around.  Last trip, we were squeezing in all four parks in 5 days.  It required a tight schedule to see and do everything I had planned.  This time, we have 4 full days at the Magic Kingdom.  So we can afford to be spontaneous.
Before I get started on the details, let me re-introduce the players.  I of course am your humble narrator, lebeau.  I am the planner of the party.  My wife, Mindy, typically tolerates my Disney obsession.  Although frankly, this trip would not have happened this year if she hadn’t pushed for it.  She denies it now, but this trip was her idea.  For reals.
Then there’s our two kids.  Josie is our oldest daughter.  She will be nine at the time of the trip.  Perfect age.  Disney charges 10-year-olds as adults.  This will be Josie’s fifth trip to Disney World.  She’s a veteran at this point and will ride almost anything.  Kara is our youngest.  She’s recently turned 5.  This will be her 3rd trip.  Plus 1/2 credit from the time we went while Mindy was pregnant.  Kara is really in this for the princesses.  She has told us repeatedly she will not do anything that has villains.  And she means it.
In 2012, my mom came along for the ride.  This year, unfortunately, she can’t join us.  Which is a shame because having her along was a big help last time.  Hopefully it works out next time.  Last time, since we were a party of five, we stayed at Disney’s Art of Animation in one of the Lion King suites.  But since we’re back down to a family of four, we’ll be returning to the moderate resorts.
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daffystardust
Editor
9 years ago

post a photo of a unique T-shirt acquisition and just watch the comments section turn green!
It sounds like you’ve got a more laid back approach to this time around, with only a few ‘musts’ going in. Sounds pretty great, actually.
What is the official Lebeau family line on the Enchanted Tiki Room? I have an unreasonably soft spot for the show, and while I know many do not share it, that just seems wrong to me. My advice is that if you hate it, try it again and again until you love it instead! 🙂

daffystardust
Editor
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

There is no doubt that part of my love for the Enchanted Tiki Room is based on nostalgia. the original WDW version was much scarier than the version that premiered in Orlando and the one that is currently in the MK. There used to be a large vengeful tiki god that rose up out of the middle of the show area because guests were having too much fun. That has been deleted now, but there is still some mildly ominous weather-related darkness and sound that lasts about 12 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLrxgN-msZY I’m sure they’ve seen the video before, but as long… Read more »

daffystardust
Editor
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

A dream of mine is to hit the MK during a slower part of the year a few days in a row and investigate each area and land fully, with as little thematic crossover as possible, seeing almost everything.
Maybe:
Tuesday-Main Street & Tomorrowland,
Wednesday-Adventureland/Frontierland, and
Thursday-Fantasyland/Storybook Circus.
most kids would probably never allow this approach, but maybe another adult would.

RB
RB
9 years ago

Loved reading this, as for the comment you posted from before, I’m of the opinion that people can skip reading content they are not interested in. I simply LOVE a well written trip report and that includes the planning stages and other reflections. Still putting the finishing touches on the Vegas report and really have no idea how to upload it.

RB
RB
9 years ago

If I can just figure out how to insert the pictures, can you advise? I was able to copy images into a Word document but not into WordPress.

Sandy
Sandy
9 years ago

I’m with Mindy- I have always hated Winnie The Pooh. I’d like to punch the stuffing out of the guy, then pour his precious honey all over his remains.

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