Food & Wine & Friends, or 'Wishing a Year Away'. October 2012 PTR *NEW 11/18 TR link!

[Joyciemc]

I held out as long as I could... I really did. My goal was to make it past the 'one year mark'. I got real close, but then I caved. So here it is... our latest (hopefully greatest) trip to the World in the making.

Who's writing this? Well...

(another wedding, another picture of us dressed up )

That's us: Joyce and Ben. We're in our 30s, and have been married for a year and a half. We've been to WDW a few times together, and purchased a DVC membership a year ago. This will be our 3rd trip staying on points.
Ben is working on a TR for our last vacation, when we visited Disney's Vero Beach and Hilton Head Island resorts. We also went to Savannah. It was awesome! But... we both missed WDW.

Our most recent WDW trip report can be found here: Her Name Was Definitely Mary.

the & Friends of this report are 'Hilde' and 'Sebastian'. Names have been changed to protect them. From what? I don't know...
I met Hilde a number of years ago when I interviewed her for a job at the animal shelter where I work. She got the job. We quickly became friends, based on our identical senses of humor (and looks... if we had a buck for every time someone asked if we are sisters, this trip would be free).
Sebastian is Hilde's husband and we obviously met him because he lived with Hilde. They are awesome friends and we were very happy when they moved to our town. Then we were sad when the moved away. But we'll be happy again when they move back (hopefully before this trip!)

Hilde & Sebastian have been to WDW a couple of times, most recently on their honeymoon last year. They were are obvious choice when we decided we wanted to ask someone to travel with us next October.

Yeesh, that took a long time to write, and it isn't even very long... More in just a bit!

 

[BennyFedora]

Is it cheating that I'm the first reply because I saw you writing this post? For anyone else reading, I'm new (to DIS, not to Joyce, I'm her DH), so I'm trying to get some posts in so I can write the TR Joyce referenced and include pictures. Does anyone know how long that takes? Joyce, are you impressed that I'm using acronyms?

 

[Joyciemc]

Haha, I don't think you had to rush to be first.

 

[Joyciemc]

Today is an exciting day! We are officially only one year away from WDW. No more October 13ths until our trip!
I haven't counted down to something so far away since our wedding!

But just having a WDW trip to think about makes me happy. Even if it is a long way away. Technically, we've been working on this trip since the spring, when we first asked Hilde and Sebastian if they'd be interested. And that time has gone by super fast. So what's another year?

I haven't done a whole lot of planning yet, because we are using our DVC points and can't book until we are 11 months out at our home resort and 7 months for other resorts. We have definitely decided that we are booking a studio. The four of us have traveled together a little, and we get along just fine sharing a room. One couple will have to sleep on the pullout, so I am hoping it's comfortable...
We have also decided that our top choice of resort is the Boardwalk. Epcot is always our favorite park, and with Food & Wine Festival going on, well... staying near Epcot would be awesome! Realistically, we know it may be tough to book 7 months out. That is why we'll book a studio at our home resort as soon as we can. For a fall back plan, it's not too shabby: Bay Lake Towers has a pretty awesome location, itself!

Either of these will be a huge change from our recent stay at Kidani Village in terms of ease of getting back to our room for a break. I am really looking forward to being able to take breaks during the day!

So now I am counting down till next month, when we can officially book our trip!

I'm excited to do all the fun stuff; planning park days and meals
Ben is mostly excited to see Minnie again... She really fell for him on our last tip!

 

[tankgirl427]

OMG! How did I miss you are starting a new report? Love how Ben is now on the boards too!!!

Once I'm back I"ll share anything I learn about F&W and after January anything good or not so good about staying at BLT. You guys are going to have so much fun! I hope your trip planning for October goes a MILLION times easier than mine has gone.

Can't wait to read more.

 

[annmarieda]

I am so excited you started another PTR!!! I am in!!!

 

[Joyciemc]

OMG! How did I miss you are starting a new report? Love how Ben is now on the boards too!!!

Once I'm back I"ll share anything I learn about F&W and after January anything good or not so good about staying at BLT. You guys are going to have so much fun! I hope your trip planning for October goes a MILLION times easier than mine has gone.

Can't wait to read more.

When I told Ben I wasn't planning on doing a TR for our recent vacation, he started writing trip notes. Now he's writing that report!

Have an amazing time on your trip!!

I am so excited you started another PTR!!! I am in!!!

Thanks for joining in, Ann! I haven't been on the DIS much, but now that I have a trip to look forward too, it's a lot easier to read about everyone else's

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here! Can't wait to hear about your plans!

 

[annmarieda]

I have to add... I started my PTR for my trip at almost a year. (it was over 11 months but not quite 12) I am amazed at how fast this year has gone by. I think you will find that 10 months from now you will be wondering the same thing... "where has the time gone?"

 

[AKL LOVER]

I'm in too! I randomly went to the TR boards and randomly clicked on Ben's freshly started TR. Funny huh? By reading that I saw your new PTR. By the way, Ben has to be the best DH ever. I mean writing your TR for you, so all you have to do is sit back, make witty comments and enjoy the memories?? Sweet. If I asked my DH to write a TR for me he wouldn't even know what I was talking about!

I've been itching to start a new one for our April trip, but I was worried that 6 months out was too long. And then I told myself that I HAVE to finish my TR before I can start my next PTR. That's probably a rule somewhere here on the DIS, right? I will finish my TR this weekend, I will!

Can't wait to read more about your trip. I want to go to F & W so badly, but traveling in the fall just doesn't work well with the kids school schedules which is a bummer

 

[Joyciemc]

I'm here! Can't wait to hear about your plans!

Thanks! I can't wait to plan them

I have to add... I started my PTR for my trip at almost a year. (it was over 11 months but not quite 12) I am amazed at how fast this year has gone by. I think you will find that 10 months from now you will be wondering the same thing... "where has the time gone?"

Good to know! Part of me feels guilty that I want an entire year to disappear, but mostly I want to go to Disney!

I'm in too! I randomly went to the TR boards and randomly clicked on Ben's freshly started TR. Funny huh? By reading that I saw your new PTR. By the way, Ben has to be the best DH ever. I mean writing your TR for you, so all you have to do is sit back, make witty comments and enjoy the memories?? Sweet. If I asked my DH to write a TR for me he wouldn't even know what I was talking about!

I've been itching to start a new one for our April trip, but I was worried that 6 months out was too long. And then I told myself that I HAVE to finish my TR before I can start my next PTR. That's probably a rule somewhere here on the DIS, right? I will finish my TR this weekend, I will!

Can't wait to read more about your trip. I want to go to F & W so badly, but traveling in the fall just doesn't work well with the kids school schedules which is a bummer

Seriously, it's pretty cool that Ben wanted to write the TR!

It might not be rule, per se, but it is definitely good ettiquette to finish your TR But a PTR would be fun to read, too!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Joyce, I had no idea you started a PTR! I'm definitely here and excited to follow along.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I'm in! Yours is the second PTR for an October 2012 trip I've seen on the DIS...I may as well start one, too. Three will surely make it a trend and get the party started properly! Looking forward to your next post....

 

[blancah76]

Subbing. I'm planning/hoping to be going to WDW around the same time also, so it'll be fun to follow your PTR
And I just changed my banner, yay so excited!!!

 

[Joyciemc]

Joyce, I had no idea you started a PTR! I'm definitely here and excited to follow along.

I haven't got too far with it yet, but just knowing the PTR exists makes me feel like the trip is more real. Thanks for reading!

I'm in! Yours is the second PTR for an October 2012 trip I've seen on the DIS...I may as well start one, too. Three will surely make it a trend and get the party started properly! Looking forward to your next post....

I am ALWAYS happy to start a party
Will be looking for your PTR!

Subbing. I'm planning/hoping to be going to WDW around the same time also, so it'll be fun to follow your PTR
And I just changed my banner, yay so excited!!!

Yay! Doesn't it just make everything better to have a banner? I think October 2012 is going to be the BEST time to be in WDW.

 

[Joyciemc]

As I was starting to write an update, I was going through pictures from the first trip to WDW that Ben and I took together, in September 2007. Apparently, we have a signature pose:

I am apparently having an issue with Photobucket. There are supposed to pictures here. Okay, problem solved... I think.

My best guess is that 'armsies upsies' is supposed to convey the fact that we are HAVING FUN! In future trip photos, this pose disappeared. Does that mean we were no longer having fun, or we were just better at getting creative with poses?

Let me get back to where I was going with this post before a trip down memory lane distracted me:

I have been mentally creating a wish list of new stuff to do this trip. Some of it is completely reasonable and super likely to happen. Some of it is ridiculous in terms of cost or otherwise ease of doing. I figured a year out is a good time to still be brainstorming and not have to cut anything off this list, yet.

1) Wishes Cruise. We could never, ever do this with just the two of us. But four people seems a little more reasonable. Still kind of extravagant, though.

2)Wishes Dessert Party. This would obviously be the more reasonable alternative to the cruise. Plus, it comes with desserts. Awesome! Downside? No boat.

3)Keys to the Kingdom tour. Ben and I did Backstage Magic last year and really enjoyed it (except for our tour guide...) Keys to the Kingdom is different because it gives a better look at the attractions.

4)Segway Tour at Epcot. Riding Segways? Sounds fun! We already know Hilde and Sebastian aren't in for this one (apparently our friends hate Segways. Or they just don't want to do this tour.), but they also want to do a water park and Ben and I won't be. So this could be a nice 'let's not do everything attached at the hip' activity.

5)Hoop Dee Doo Revue. Ben and I saw it two trips ago and knew we'd wanna go back. Friends have already agreed to this one.

6)Haunted Halloween Carriage Ride at Ft. Wilderness. If we are staying at BLT, getting there shouldn't be too tough. And I'd like to see more of the campground.

7)Halloween Horrors Night at Universal. I am actually super-duper scared of haunted houses. But I love the idea of them. And I think the other three people in the group would really enjoy going. But there's a not-so-minimal cost involved (including transportation). Plus, I may spend the whole night hiding in a bathroom.

8)Yee-haw Bob's show at POR Riverside. Another thing Ben and I have done that we would like to share with our friends.

9)Ice cream at Beaches & Cream! Will be a bit more plausible if we are staying at the Boardwalk. But I love sweet stuff, and have never been here.

This is a list that I haven't shared with Hilde and Sebastian yet, even Ben only knows of a couple of these things. Most of the planning is going to be up to me, and I'll probably cut out a few of these things before putting them up for a vote.

 

[Kez250]

Subbing. love planning trips, currently driving myself crazy planning for 3 days in Dec and an entire week in April

 

[annmarieda]

I like your wish list. I don't think anything sounds too crazy. And...since it will be four adults I think much more manageable

 

[AKL LOVER]

I'm liking that list too! I've always thought the haunted carriage ride sounded like fun. And if you go that means we get to see pics and find out just how good it is!

 

[Joyciemc]

Subbing. love planning trips, currently driving myself crazy planning for 3 days in Dec and an entire week in April

Welcome and thanks for reading! Having multiple upcoming trips planned is the BEST!

I like your wish list. I don't think anything sounds too crazy. And...since it will be four adults I think much more manageable

I wanna do it all! But I also want time to relax. So much pressure planning for 4 people!

I'm liking that list too! I've always thought the haunted carriage ride sounded like fun. And if you go that means we get to see pics and find out just how good it is!

I'm aiming for a TR full of new and exciting experiences