Our Disneymoon PTR + Wedding TR w/ pics - I'm back! (TR link and POP review 9/7)

[ronnmel]

Extra Pictures​

This post will be big on pictures, and short on text. Enjoy!

Montreal Airport

Varadero Airport (It's tiny! In this picture you see about 80% of the aiport, though they are currently extending it)

The other couple getting married on our day.

My brother-in-law, just because he cracks me up!

A cave where some of our guests went snorkeling

Just because you can never have too many sunset or beach pictures

Varadero

Havana (the capital)

Continued in Next Post

 

[ronnmel]

Extra Pictures Cont'd​

Around the Resort

Front

Quiet pool where we had the welcome dinner

Lobby Terrace

Food Porn
Seafood Paella (at the grill near the beach)

Fish (at welcome dinner)

Burritos appetizer (at wedding dinner)

Ok, this next picture has a bit of a story.
At the welcome dinner we ere presented with this, with absolutely no explanation.

We were all wondering what this was all about, if this was the entire appetizer (keep in mind it was our first dinenr there). Some people even started picking at it (especially the baby!). Turns out it was just a fancy way to present the Minestrone soup! Hahaha They came back soon after to start pouring the broth over it. Mystery solved!

And finally, the pictures I really wanted to show you because I got them too late for the TR.
Disco
This one was taken after our wedding

All these ones were taken our second night there, when we partied at the disco all night.
My brother dancing, a rare sight.

My uncle bringing a round of shooters.

While there we hung out a bit with the "New Foundland Drinking Team"

Someone told them it was our wedding week, so Ron got surrounded by girls for his last night being "single"

As you can see, I'm not a jealous girl. In fact, I thought it was pretty funny. Just too bad there were no cute boys... in that group...

My brother-in-law has absolutely no censor and can be quite obscene at times, please excuse him

And with that it really concludes the Trip Report of my wedding week. I had a blast, so did my guests, and we would all go back in a heartbeat. I miss it!



Up Next : Photoshoot with my mom

 

[disneybarbie]

Loved all the last updates of photos!

I'm actually cooking paella for our dinner right now... but the pan I'm using is about 20 times smaller than the one in your photo !


Btw sorry to hear about your Mum's health - thinking of you & your family



Emma x

 

[ronnmel]

Photoshoot with my Mom​

My mom was too sick to be able to travel with us to Cuba. However, I did want to take pictures with her in my wedding dress. Luckily, her husband's son is a photographer and he accepted to take pictures for us. Since we don't know how much longer my mom will be with us, we turned it into a family photoshoot, with my brother and step-dad as well.

In the morning I went for my hair trial, then my makeup trial, so I really looked just as I would've had had I been married here.

First we took some pictures of my mom and I in her bedroom.

Then we moved to the basement, where my step-brother had set up a white cloth as the background.

My step-dad loves those "claw" machine where you can get plush toys, so he has a LOT of them. He wanted me to take some photos with them.

Then we took several family pictures.

My step-brother can't stay serious for too long.

Apparently, neither can my brother and I.

And to finish, I did a few poses with my sunglasses

That's it for wedding pictures. I can't believe it's already been 2 months since my wedding. And I'm leaving for Disney in just over 3 weeks!! This trip is coming fast.


Up Next : Back to your regular Disney programming

 

[ronnmel]

3 weeks ago I added a flower to represent my mom to my pre-existing tattoo. Since I also asked mya rtist to touch up the bird, she decided to just go ahead and redo everything.

So here is my new tattoo. Can you find the hidden Mickey?

 

[ronnmel]

Anyone still out there? It's been really quiet in here lately...

I may be crazy, but I love standing in the pouring rain on a hot summer day. And today was HOT (heat index of 113). The only thing better would have been to dance in the rain in the middle of the street, but I don't live on a nice quiet street like I used to so had to stay on my balcony. Had lots of nice lightning to look at, I must have stayed outside 45 minutes!

So back to Disney, ADRs to be exact. I have changed so many times, that I don't even know what I told you last. Since we are on the QSDP we only have a few TS that we will pay OOP.

What I have now (subject to change again, of course):

Kona Cafe

Our first day we plan on taking it very easy, which is why we haven't even actually made an ADR for this. What we plan to do is show up here around 7pm and if they can't sit us, then we'll just eat at the Sushi Bar. I've heard that you can order from the full menu from there, so Ron can have his sushi and I can get something else. And if for some reason that also doesn't work, then we'll just eat at the Poly's QS. No stress.

Our fourth day there is our first "rest" day. At some point during the day we'll make our way to Downtown Disney and eventually make it to our ADR at:
Fultons Crab House

This was Ron's choice. He LOVES seafood and he's already drooling looking over the menu. I don't eat any of that or even fish, but I did read that they have filet mignon so I'll probably get that. This will be our "romantic" dinner, which we plan to really dress up for.

Our final ADR is on our second-to-last park day, in Epcot.
Via Napoli

I love pizza, especially thin crust pizza, so this is MY choice of restaurant. I decided to book a late lunch there for hopefully somewhat cheaper prices, but mostly as a way to get out of the heat mid-day.

I also currently have Tusker House Breakfast

booked for our first morning, to get us in Animal Kingdom early, but we plan on staying at AK all day so I fear that arriving an hour early will just make us more tired. Anyway, we'll be there for so many days that I,m sure we'll find the time to stand in some character lines.

*all pictures courtesy of wdwinfo

 

[ronnmel]

I found a video of the lightning cloud that happened last night. There literally was a giant cloud full of lightning inside it that was hanging over Montreal, kinda like a spaceship. It was freaky and very cool at the same time. I got to see it from a different perspective than the video, as I was standing directly underneat it.

Freaky lightning cloud

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I'm here, Mel! I love all of the "extra" photos. You have some absolutely beautiful pictures of the Cuban scenery. And I LOVE the picture of Ron in the middle of all the girls where he looks kind of scared! Too funny!

Aww, the photos of you and your Mom are so sweet. I know that you will cherish those forever.

 

[ronnmel]

I'm here, Mel! I love all of the "extra" photos. You have some absolutely beautiful pictures of the Cuban scenery. And I LOVE the picture of Ron in the middle of all the girls where he looks kind of scared! Too funny!

Aww, the photos of you and your Mom are so sweet. I know that you will cherish those forever.

I was starting to think I was talking to myself for a moment.

Thanks.

Yes, that picture of him looking scared in the middle of a swarm of girls is pretty funny.

I am extremely lucky because I got to wear my wedding gown and take pictures not once, but three times! I didn't think the photoshoot would turn out to be so big, and I love all the pictures I got with my mom.

 

[DisneyKira]

I don't know how I missed all of those updates! I'm still here, though!

I love the pictures with you and your mom! I also love all of those extra photos

Kona is awesome! It is one of my favorite restaurants. It had Josh's favorite dessert on the entire trip: the Kona Cone!

Mmmm...Fulton's. You will have to tell me how yummy it is. I have never been there because it isn't on the dining plan, but I have heard good things about it.

We did the AK breakfast an hour early and we weren't that tired. In fact, we did better that day because we got such a big breakfast! AK closes earlier than the other parks, so it wasn't a problem for us. We just went to bed a little earlier

 

[inkedupmomma]

good food choices. I am excited to try Kona for dinner on our upcoming trip as well, so i hope you get to try it and let me know what you think! did you get QS dining for free? if so, would it make more sense to upgrade to ddp? did i ask this already??

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Hey Mel! I love the family photo shoot. All the pictures came out so great! Especially the ones with you and your brother goofing around...too funny!

Excellent ADR choices too! I've actually only eaten at Tusker House out of those 4 but from what I hear, they are all really great.

And you know I love the tat!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I'm still following along! I love the pictures with your mom and family. What an amazing way to have her be a part of your special day - it must really mean a lot to both of you!

 

[ronnmel]

I don't know how I missed all of those updates! I'm still here, though!

I love the pictures with you and your mom! I also love all of those extra photos

Kona is awesome! It is one of my favorite restaurants. It had Josh's favorite dessert on the entire trip: the Kona Cone!

Mmmm...Fulton's. You will have to tell me how yummy it is. I have never been there because it isn't on the dining plan, but I have heard good things about it.

We did the AK breakfast an hour early and we weren't that tired. In fact, we did better that day because we got such a big breakfast! AK closes earlier than the other parks, so it wasn't a problem for us. We just went to bed a little earlier

My biggest concern with Tusker House is that it's our first morning in Disney. We'll have been up around 3-4am the day before to take the plane, and we probably won't go to bed until around midnight due to watching Wishes from Poly beach. Unless we take a cab back, then we'd be in bed before 11pm. But most of all, we are NOT early risers and not big breakfast eater. We'll though, I have yet to cancel it...

I'll let you know how we like Fultons. You'll get the seafood lover's point of view (DH), and the no fish no seafood POV (me).

good food choices. I am excited to try Kona for dinner on our upcoming trip as well, so i hope you get to try it and let me know what you think! did you get QS dining for free? if so, would it make more sense to upgrade to ddp? did i ask this already??

Yes, we got the QS for free. Last time we had gotten the regular DP for free, and while we enjoyed it, it was way too much food for us. We rarely finished our meals, or had room for dessert. Also, we didn't like being tied down to a specific schedule. I think next time we go, when we have kids of our own, I will appreciate having down time at a TS everyday, knowing where and when we are eating, etc. But for now we are looking forward to the very open nature of our trip. Letting our schedule change on a whim, eat a cupcake as lunch if we feel like it, eating at the resort or the park depending if we took a break that day and how long, etc. No tight schedule (besides which park which day), and no stress.

Hey Mel! I love the family photo shoot. All the pictures came out so great! Especially the ones with you and your brother goofing around...too funny!

Excellent ADR choices too! I've actually only eaten at Tusker House out of those 4 but from what I hear, they are all really great.

And you know I love the tat!

My brother and I had lots of fun pretending to fight!
I love that we can goof around or just hang out together. It wasn't always like that, but luckily we grew out of the little childhood bickering.

I can't stop looking at my tattoo in the mirror. Maybe that's why my neck was hurting so much?

I'm still following along! I love the pictures with your mom and family. What an amazing way to have her be a part of your special day - it must really mean a lot to both of you!

Hadn't heard from you in a while! I can either look back at my wedding and think "my mother wasn't there in Cuba", or I can instead say " I was very lucky that my mom was alive and with enough energy to do a photoshoot in our wedding clothes". I choose the latter, and I hope she does too.

 

[ronnmel]

So I made my whole schedule based mostly on the Touring Plan crowd calendar, and somewhat on the easywdw crowd calendar. Well today TP changed their WHOLE crowd calendar for my dates.

According to them, I should basically spend 95% of my trip at AK, avoid HS at all cost, and go to MK and EP at my own risk. Not gonna happen. I've just decided to screw the crowd calendar, use my already meticulously planned schedule, and hope for the best! Anyway, we'll be getting there at rope drop on most days, and following a touring plan and/or Ridemax plans to hit the most popular attractions, so it should be fine.

Don't you just hate when they go and change it all on you at the last minute?

 

[ronnmel]

Day 1 Plans​

I like to think of our arrival day as Day 0, and our first full park day as Day 1.

I think because of my mom being sick I have this worry that something will happen at some point in our trip and we'll have to cut it short. Now, I doubt this will *actually* happen, but just in case I've decided that the first time we visit each park will be devoted to new trying new things, while the second or third days at those same parks will about doing our favorites over and over again.

Our first full park day will be spent at

Whether or not we actually go to the character meal at Tusker House for breakfast, one thing is for sure. We plan on heading straight to Kilimanjaro Safari as soon as the park opens to ride it and get a FP for later.

photo from wdwinfo

Then I want to take the train to

photo from wdwinfo

Yes, I know, this is not the most exciting thing to be doing on your first day. I just really would love to see one of those exams or surgical procedures on animals, and I've heard they usually occur in the morning. I'm not sure yet if Ron will actually let me this remain the plan, as he might just be itching to go on some rides too much. Who knows, maybe I will too.


Supposing we follow through with the plan, we should
be ready for a new FP by the time we come back from the Conservation Station. I'm thinking Kali River Rapids, as it is both on the way and a very popular attractions on hot August days. Ron has no say in that.

Next will be

and It's Tough to Be a Bug as it will be closed for refurb on our second day at AK.

By then it should be time for an early lunch at Flametree BBQ(Ron) or Pizzafari(me).

After that I would love to stop at the Boneyard.

photo from wdwinfo

No we don't have kids with us. yes I do plan on going through the tunnels and going on the slides. If I don't chicken out...

After that another set of FP is on store for us, I'm guessing for Expedition Everest.

At 1pm we will catch Finding Nemo - The Musical.

photo from wdwinfo

After that our plans get fuzzy. I know we'll be using our FPs, and probably collecting a couple more. I want to walk on several of the trails (Pangani Exploration, Tree of Life, Maharaja Trek, maybe even Oasis).

We'll probably catch the parade, as I've heard it's one of the best. I'm pretty sure we'll be avoiding Camp Minnie-Mickey and Dinoland and keeping it for our second day.

What I do know is that I want to keep our Safari FP and use it as our very last ride of the day. I've heard the animals are most active in the morning and evening.

We should be leaving AK around closing time, which is 6pm. I have absolutely no clue what we'll be doing that evening, and that's the whole fun of it. I'm guessing it will either be Downtown Disney, or pool time at POP. And a *somewhat* early bedtime for yet another packed day awaiting us.

So, the big question is, to Rafiki Planet Watch or not?

 

[inkedupmomma]

So I made my whole schedule based mostly on the Touring Plan crowd calendar, and somewhat on the easywdw crowd calendar. Well today TP changed their WHOLE crowd calendar for my dates.

According to them, I should basically spend 95% of my trip at AK, avoid HS at all cost, and go to MK and EP at my own risk. Not gonna happen. I've just decided to screw the crowd calendar, use my already meticulously planned schedule, and hope for the best! Anyway, we'll be getting there at rope drop on most days, and following a touring plan and/or Ridemax plans to hit the most popular attractions, so it should be fine.

Don't you just hate when they go and change it all on you at the last minute?

man that would piss me off!sometimes I wish I could see what my dates say as far as numbers and then other days I say no way, no more stress for me!

I think you will be fine!

Keeping my fingers crossed that your momma stays in good health! day one plans look great!

 

[ronnmel]

man that would piss me off!sometimes I wish I could see what my dates say as far as numbers and then other days I say no way, no more stress for me!

I think you will be fine!

Keeping my fingers crossed that your momma stays in good health! day one plans look great!

Well, you're going in September, so even if the numbers change for you, you still will have much lower crowds than me in mid-August.

Day 1 plans have already changed. Ron was not really up for going to Rafiki's Planet Watch during prime touring hours, so instead we'll probably head over to Dinosaur at that time. The rest of the day will pretty much stay the same though.

 

[ronnmel]

Day 2 Plans​

On Day 2 we will again be getting up bright and early in order to make rope drop at Hollywood Studios

I tried to make plans using Ridemax, but I don't like anything it gives me so I'm using my own judgement for this.

Our first order of business will be to ride AND get FP for Toy Story Mania

Then we'll make our way to the end of Sunset Boulevard to ride/FP
Rock'n'Roller Coaster

and Tower of Terror

Photo from wdwinfo

After that I'm at a complete lost. I know what we want to do, but I have no clue in which order. So if you have suggestions of a touring plan, by all means, let me know!

The things we want to do for sure are:
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (will be closing for refurb a couple of days later)

Photo from wdwinfo

The new Star Tours 2 (probably more than once)

Photo from wdwinfo

Everything else can either be done that day, or our second HS day. I'm thinking we'll be watching Muppet Vision

Photo from wdwinfo

Lights Motor Actions!

Photo from wdwinfo

and I really really want to try a drawing class at

Photo from wdwinfo

Throughout the course of the day we'll obviously be gathering as many FP for attractions as we are allowed to. I really hope to ride Tower of Terror both during the day and at night.

What I do know is that we plan on staying there all day. The park closes at 10pm, but there is a second showing of Fantasmic at 10:30pm so we will try to catch it, as long as we don't have to wait one hour in line for it.

Photo from Disney Parks


Assuming that we can done with the three headliners by 11am (if not earlier), where do you think we should be heading next? What can be seen at anytime of the day, and what should we wait to do in the evening?

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Great plans so far! I'm not too much help in the DHS touring plans department. I need help there myself! I feel like with all the other parks, we have a natural touring plan that we just kind of fall in to, but at DHS I'm always wondering, ok, what do we do next?! It seems like the way that they time the shows makes it really difficult to plan days there. So many of them are shown at the exact same time and only a few times a day.