DISNEY DREAMING! A Nov/Dec 2010 PTR *12/9 ~ Hello Again!

[Mickey_Mom]

Hi DIS friends! I’ve been humming and hawing about getting this PTR on the road, I’m afraid I might not have six months worth of things to talk about , but I’m very excited about sharing our plans for our upcoming November / December 2010 family vacation! A very warm welcome to anyone who decides to follow along, and please chime in at anytime with ideas or suggestions.



This is my second PTR. My first was for our August 2009 trip - How Many Sleeps Until We Go to Disney World Mommy?!? - and if you’d like to read about it (it has handy dandy chapter links!) you can find it here.

The TR for that August 2009 trip - Ten Sleeps in Disney World! - (also with handy dandy chapter links!) can be found here.

We have been fortunate enough for this to be our fifth trip to Disney World in five years. Our previous four trips have all taken advantage of the free dining plan offers, so we’ve always gone in the August/September time of year. Last year, the free dining was extended for the first time ever into December and I was this close to rescheduling our entire vacation to be there for Christmastime. In the end we decided to keep things as they were in August and it was a wonderful trip. Having a glimpse into what it would be like to go around the holidays, I was hooked into a Christmas 2010 trip! I’ve often referred to this as our Dream Trip, hence my title.



All right. Still with me? Awesome! Let’s get going shall we?



My Cast of Characters:

That’s me (on the right with the black sweater) with my friend Barb. Barb isn’t coming on the trip… it’s just a nice picture of me.

Ok, alright. Here’s a picture of Alex and I with Mickey. It’s not too bad of a picture, so there you go.

George (DH)

George is not so big on the planning stages of these trips (just make sure I can have a good steak honey! ) but knows how to make sure the kids are having a great time :




I've used some then and now pictures for the kids. A bit of a theme I hope to keep up. Then is from our first trip in 2006, and now is from our latest 2009 trip.



Alex (DS14, but will be 15 by the time of the trip)

Alex’s birthday is in August, and as our first trip was coming together, we decided to “give” WDW to him as a birthday present. Now that we’re on our fifth trip…. it’s been the gift that just keeps on giving! He is an awesome young man of whom I am immensely proud.


Ariana (DD13, but will be 14 by the time of the trip)

Ariana is a girly-girl Princess to her soul. She adores everything Disney and her two favorite holidays of the year are Halloween and Christmas. We got to celebrate Halloween in WDW…. now it’s time for Christmas!! Ariana has been receiving intensive therapy for autism since she was three years old and has made huge strides to become the beautifully bright young woman she is today. :


Demetri (DS5, and will still be five by the time of the trip!)

Demetri is the life of the party… in fact, he is the party! He just instantly brings a smile to your face with his enthusiasm, he always wants to help and he adores our Disney trips. He still asks me at least once or twice a week when we’re going back! He worships his big brother and knows he gets away with minor stuff because he’s cute.



Travel Dates:

I love that there is a small window of value season prices while everything is decorated for Christmas. I’ve heard the week after US Thanksgiving is pretty light crowd wise and the second week of December is when all the cheerleading competitions are going on… wait, is it cheerleading or football? Anyway, we’re squeaking right in the middle of those two things and going:

Saturday, November 27th to Tuesday, December 7th.
Ten More Sleeps in Disney World!!!



I hope you’ve decided to join me in this planning and I can’t wait to hear from you!

Handy Manny (er, Dandy!) Chapter Links:

Resort Choice and Up-Coming Planning
How We Got Here
ADR Planning
Last Minute ADR Planning!
ADRs Booked!!!!
Hodgepodge Update
Hodgepodge Part Deux Update
How Cruel!!
Free Dining! .... mostly
Recap and Arrival Day Plans
Supplemental Arrival Day Plans... and a few extras!
Park Day ONE - Magic Kingdom!
Park Day ONE continued - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!
Park Day TWO - Disney's Hollywood Studios!
Mini Update - Disney Store & Countdown Chain
Countdown Chain is Up!
Park Day THREE - DHS Take Two!!
Park Day FOUR - Animal Kingdom!
Not-a-Park Day FIVE - Resort Day and Downtown Disney
A Roaring Fun Movie Night!
Not-a-Park Day FIVE - Downtown Disney Part Deux
Movie Night and Mail!!
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers......
More Pins and Another Movie Night! Argh!!
Park Day SIX - Epcot Adventures!!
HELP! They cancelled an ADR on me!
Updates, Updates and More!
Add on to MK Park Day 1
Toy Story 3 Movie Night ~ One Month to Go!!
Park Day SEVEN - Back to the Magic Kingdom and the Boardwalk
Park Day EIGHT - Epcot !!
Shopping Booty!
Mickey Mail and Halloween Pics
Found Pictures of Trips Past and Ohana Movie Night!
Peer Pressured Catch up Update
Park Day NINE - Back to the Magic Kingdom!!
Pre-update Update -- Roll Call!
Picture Itinerary Done!!
Park Day TEN - Last Minute Plans
Last Movie Night and Tons Done!
TANGLED!
Hey! Check out what I made!
GOODBYE!!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Resort Choice:

We love the Pop Century Resort. (Very excited by the way, about the news this week that they’re finally adding on more family suites in a new value resort beside the Pop!!) As much as we love the Pop, we opted to choose a moderate resort this time, in the hopes that if (when!) the free dining gets extended, the moderates get the Disney Dining Plan as opposed to the Quick Service Dining Plan.

We would have upgraded if staying at a value, but it makes more sense to upgrade the resort than to upgrade the dining plan. Follow me? So, I looked at the choices of the moderates and while a small part of me wanted to try something new, in the end it was an easy choice to stay where we’ve been before and loved it…..

Port Orleans Riverside!

This has been my desktop picture for a while now

Park Hours / ADR Window / Flights / MVMCP:

I already have my ADRs planned out and what I want to do on each park day.

I also want to book some events going on at the POR.

November’s park hours are out, but I’m still waiting on December.

Southwest is our preferred airline out of Buffalo International Airport and they’re currently booking up to November 5th.

I also will be booking MVMCP, but I won’t know which day I want until December’s hours come out.

My ADR window is June 1st (my first night is a room only booking) and that’s also approximately when the Southwest flights are coming out.

A week before that, a little over a week from now is when the December hours should come out.

So I will be a busy little bee in the next few weeks with a flurry of bookings. Then I can sit back and plan all the small things that make these trips so magical!

 

[ZeroToHero]

I'm here! I want to be first, so posting.. and then I'll read.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I'm here! I want to be first, so posting.. and then I'll read.

First again!

 

[ZeroToHero]

It's so crazy comparing the photos from 2006 to 2009 - everyone has changed so much!

I laughed out loud at Demetri in the cars hat - he is adorable! I'd let him get away with things too, so don't feel bad.

You're also going during my favorite time of the year - that week is the best time ever... I wanted Lou to go that week, but he couldn't miss that much school. You were THIS close to meeting him! Darn.

Yayyyyyyy Port Orleans Riverside! I can't wait to see it in August. I forget though, did you ever say which side you prefer? Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend?

I can't believe everything is almost ready to book - but it makes sense, since I'm booking stuff now, and you'll be there 2 weeks later....

Cannot wait for more!!!! (But I know you have 6 months to fill, so don't worry - take your time! )

 

[Mickey_Mom]

It's so crazy comparing the photos from 2006 to 2009 - everyone has changed so much!

I know! In such a short time too, man do they grow fast.

I laughed out loud at Demetri in the cars hat - he is adorable! I'd let him get away with things too, so don't feel bad.

That picture makes me laugh every single time I look at it. Lightning McQueen and Mater rule!

You're also going during my favorite time of the year - that week is the best time ever... I wanted Lou to go that week, but he couldn't miss that much school. You were THIS close to meeting him! Darn.

Ah man!

Yayyyyyyy Port Orleans Riverside! I can't wait to see it in August. I forget though, did you ever say which side you prefer? Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend?

Alligator Bayou is the only side that sleeps five, so I haven't been to the Magnolia side. The Mansions look beautiful and one of the things I want to accomplish this time around is more exploring of the entire resort. We didn't do too much of that before.

I can't believe everything is almost ready to book - but it makes sense, since I'm booking stuff now, and you'll be there 2 weeks later....

Cannot wait for more!!!! (But I know you have 6 months to fill, so don't worry - take your time! )

It seems like just the other day I was agonizing over rescheduling our August trip. The time has flown by!

 

[ZeroToHero]

Alligator Bayou is the only side that sleeps five, so I haven't been to the Magnolia side. The Mansions look beautiful and one of the things I want to accomplish this time around is more exploring of the entire resort. We didn't do too much of that before.

Ooo. Right. Cannot add. That's the side we have to stay on as well - but my brother is a lot taller than Demetri, so I hope he fits in the trundle!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oh yay, you started a new PTR! I'm here!

 

[nutz2notz]

Hi there, I am joining you for your report. We were in WDW 3rd week of December in 2007 and it was great. It didn't really get busy until the last few days which were the 23rd and 24th of December since it was so close to Christmas. I just love the resort at Christmas time.

We are finally going back in January 2011 and we can't wait.

You have a beautiful family and I look forward to following you as you get ready to go!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Ooo. Right. Cannot add. That's the side we have to stay on as well - but my brother is a lot taller than Demetri, so I hope he fits in the trundle!

I think he'll be OK.... but don't forget to get off the bed on the other side!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Oh yay, you started a new PTR! I'm here!

Hey Sarah! Glad you're here!

Hi there, I am joining you for your report. We were in WDW 3rd week of December in 2007 and it was great. It didn't really get busy until the last few days which were the 23rd and 24th of December since it was so close to Christmas. I just love the resort at Christmas time.

We are finally going back in January 2011 and we can't wait.

You have a beautiful family and I look forward to following you as you get ready to go!

Hello Ann and to my report! Oh I can't wait to see all the decorations! Which resort were you at? (Duh, just read your siggie! How did you like SSR? Do you have pictures? ) Hey January's not that far off either!

 

[ZeroToHero]

I think he'll be OK.... but don't forget to get off the bed on the other side!

 

[apirateslife4us!]

It must be awesome going at Christmastime

 

[Angies1274]

Hi Tracy!! I'm here!! I'm so excited you started this!! I can't wait to read about all your planning!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

It must be awesome going at Christmastime

Hi Daisy and to my PTR! You're off in 32 days!!! I just went thru your PTR and your writing style is hilarious - love it! I'll head back over soon and add my 2 cents.

I'm hoping it's going to be incredibly awesome going at Christmastime.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Hi Tracy!! I'm here!! I'm so excited you started this!! I can't wait to read about all your planning!!

Hi Angie! Starting this PTR has turned my excitement up a full notch... as if I wasn't excited enough to begin with!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yay! I'm so excited you started this.

Double Yay for Riverside!! I have a desktop picture very similar to that on both my home and work computers. I have the one of the boat at night at the dock. Love it!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Yay! I'm so excited you started this.

Double Yay for Riverside!! I have a desktop picture very similar to that on both my home and work computers. I have the one of the boat at night at the dock. Love it!

Hi LL! Glad you've joined in! Can you believe we didn't ride the boat once when we went last time?

 

[Lady Lallie]

Hi LL! Glad you've joined in! Can you believe we didn't ride the boat once when we went last time?

Oh.

My.

I have no words.

 

[jenjolt]

YAY another Mickey_Mom and Crew adventure!! I cannot wait to hear all about the plans!!

WOOT WOOT for POR!! I fell in love with that resort in January!! SO gorgeous and I love that picture you have up!!!!