Greg Lembrich
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2018
This is my first Trip Report, so please let me know if you have any suggestions or other feedback. My daughter (7 years old) and I went to WDW from Sunday April 8 through Friday April 13, 2018 for her Spring Break. My wife (who is not that big a Disney World fan anyway) had to travel overseas for work that week, so it was just a daddy-daughter trip.
Our last trip was just 6 months ago (November 2017, the week after Thanksgiving) and we stayed at the BLT with 3 of the grandparents (my mom, dad, and mother-in-law). We had a great time and created cherished memories, but needed to move at a slower pace to accommodate everyone. My wife missed most of that trip due to work as well, so we still had 4 park hopper days left on her ticket. Combining my daughter's desire to see and do more, an unused 4 day ticket, my soon to expire AP, and a Spring Break week that fell after most of the WDW crowds thinned out seemed like the perfect recipe for a fun and (relatively) inexpensive daddy-daughter trip to Disney.
When we first planned the trip, I asked my daughter what rides she wanted to go on. She responded, "All of them." Rather than ask her to narrow it down, I went down the research and planning rabbit hole. As someone who enjoys planning vacations as much, if not more, than actually going on them, this was right up my alley.
With the help of lots of internet resources (including DISboards, Touring Plans, KennythePirate, and Parkeology), I learned that there are currently 46 rides operating in WDW [there had been 47 until the Riverboat went down for a lengthy refurb]. I also saw that, with proper planning and long park operating hours, a number of people have completed every ride in a single day. So surely it was possible for us to do so in 4 days or less. Our goal was set: ride all 46 rides, plus do a bunch of fun extras that we would enjoy.
While I really had fun obsessively planning for this trip, I have to say that I enjoyed the trip itself even more! Having quality time with my daughter was awesome, and we accomplished all of our goals for the trip (and more). As the title above says, this was truly a Disney trip where everything went right. I welcome you to come along for the ride(s) as I recount our journey, with some reviews, tips, and photos along the way.
First, the basics:
Who? Greg/Dad (recently turned 40) and Caroline/Daughter (7), from New Jersey
What? Riding all 46 rides in WDW (including multiple rides on our favorites), starting each day pre-RD with either a PPO ADR or EMM, enjoying fireworks and dessert parties at both MK and EP, character meals at H&V, Akershus, CRT, and Chef Mickey's, and the Ultimate Nights of Adventure Tour at AK.
When? We departed Newark early evening on Sunday April 8, 2018 and returned from Orlando in the afternoon of Friday April 13. We had 4 days in the parks (Monday through Thursday).
Where? We stayed at the Red Lion Motel on Irlo Bronson Highway/192. I chose this (a) to save money and make this a more budget friendly trip than our past stays at BLT and (b) for its great location within just a few minutes of the main gate. We were very satisfied with both the value and convenience.
How? We flew down to Orlando on United, rented a car from Alamo to get to and from airport and also drive between the parks and our motel, and flew back to Newark on Spirit.
Our last trip was just 6 months ago (November 2017, the week after Thanksgiving) and we stayed at the BLT with 3 of the grandparents (my mom, dad, and mother-in-law). We had a great time and created cherished memories, but needed to move at a slower pace to accommodate everyone. My wife missed most of that trip due to work as well, so we still had 4 park hopper days left on her ticket. Combining my daughter's desire to see and do more, an unused 4 day ticket, my soon to expire AP, and a Spring Break week that fell after most of the WDW crowds thinned out seemed like the perfect recipe for a fun and (relatively) inexpensive daddy-daughter trip to Disney.
When we first planned the trip, I asked my daughter what rides she wanted to go on. She responded, "All of them." Rather than ask her to narrow it down, I went down the research and planning rabbit hole. As someone who enjoys planning vacations as much, if not more, than actually going on them, this was right up my alley.
With the help of lots of internet resources (including DISboards, Touring Plans, KennythePirate, and Parkeology), I learned that there are currently 46 rides operating in WDW [there had been 47 until the Riverboat went down for a lengthy refurb]. I also saw that, with proper planning and long park operating hours, a number of people have completed every ride in a single day. So surely it was possible for us to do so in 4 days or less. Our goal was set: ride all 46 rides, plus do a bunch of fun extras that we would enjoy.
While I really had fun obsessively planning for this trip, I have to say that I enjoyed the trip itself even more! Having quality time with my daughter was awesome, and we accomplished all of our goals for the trip (and more). As the title above says, this was truly a Disney trip where everything went right. I welcome you to come along for the ride(s) as I recount our journey, with some reviews, tips, and photos along the way.
First, the basics:
Who? Greg/Dad (recently turned 40) and Caroline/Daughter (7), from New Jersey
What? Riding all 46 rides in WDW (including multiple rides on our favorites), starting each day pre-RD with either a PPO ADR or EMM, enjoying fireworks and dessert parties at both MK and EP, character meals at H&V, Akershus, CRT, and Chef Mickey's, and the Ultimate Nights of Adventure Tour at AK.
When? We departed Newark early evening on Sunday April 8, 2018 and returned from Orlando in the afternoon of Friday April 13. We had 4 days in the parks (Monday through Thursday).
Where? We stayed at the Red Lion Motel on Irlo Bronson Highway/192. I chose this (a) to save money and make this a more budget friendly trip than our past stays at BLT and (b) for its great location within just a few minutes of the main gate. We were very satisfied with both the value and convenience.
How? We flew down to Orlando on United, rented a car from Alamo to get to and from airport and also drive between the parks and our motel, and flew back to Newark on Spirit.
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