PTR for December 2012

[disney212]

Disclaimer: This is the first trip report of any type I have attempted so please bear with me.

Cast of characters: me (45), DH (43). We have 2 "kids" 23 and 24 but they will not be joining us, much to their dismay.

We hadn't planned on going at Christmas but after surviving 2 surgeries for cancer in 10 days and finding out they got it all and no radiation or chemo was needed we decided that it was time to start living some of our dreams. We were EXCELLENT at planning for tomorrow but not so great at the living for today. I have been to WDW over 30 times (starting as a small child) but never right before Christmas.

DH had never visited any Disney park. We went for the first time as a family 5 years after DH and I married (2nd marriage for me) in 2004. He immediately fell in love even though it had taken me 3 years to talk him into it. My dad goes with us (also DVC owner) and he and DH are like two kids together which I love since DH doesn't have the best family on his side.

We will be flying in the morning of December 15 and returning to reality on December 23. (even though they are grown I couldn't bear to be away from my kids for Christmas). We have a standard view studio at BLT. We don't have meals (except for our morning coffee and light breakfast fix) in our room and are pretty much park commando's so no need for a large room or better view.

Back to the Olympics, I will post more info tomorrow. Any tips on writing a good PTR would be appreciated.

 

[disney212]

DH and I are both huge foodies. We spend way too much time figuring out what we plan to eat. Keep trying new things, hit old favorites, table service or quick service. Ooh the possibilities! (You should see us plan for F&W!) We settled on a mix of some favorites and some places we have wanted to try and couple based on convenience. WE are doing Garden Grill for the CP since we haven't tried it. Besides that here is our list of TS (we do have TIW card):

Whispering Canyon Cafe
Chefs de France
GF Cafe
Biergarten (lunch)
Sci-Fi
LTT (lunch)
The Plaza - before MVMMCP

More to come tomorrow. Time to watch the Olympics.

 

[disney212]

As a Christmas Gift (albeit a bit early) for DH I am planning on booking him a haircut at the MK Barber Shop! He is a huge kid at heart so he will love it. If anyone has enjoyed a haircut there as an adult I would love to hear about it. More to come tomorrow......can't seem to pull myself away from the Olympics too much.

 

[disney212]

We always rent a car if we fly down. We use Alamo or National at the Disney Car Care Center. For this trip the car was almost $800 for the week. I ended up making 2 reservations wiith the car place picking up the car on 12/15 and dropping it off on 12/19 we then pick up immediately on 12/19 and drop off on 12/23. Same 8 nights antd it is less than $300 for the same 8 nights with the same company.

 

[disney212]

we try to do a couple new things each trip. Here are a couple we are trying this time.

MVMCP-first time at Christmas so this is new, we LOVED MNSSHP
Candlelight Processional - see above
Biergarten - because you have to eat at least one new place each visit

 

[disney212]

Almost forgot the most important first - eating at BOG. Can't wait for the ADR's to open for bookings!

 

[disney212]

Quick update, just saw that we should be able to make ADR's at BOG on August 20th if we call. I know where I will be at 7 am!

 

[DeeCee735]

Wow! Congratulations on being cancer free! I love the way you are thinking to start living for today. I have been thinking and living the same way since my surgeries and treatments 6 years ago. Unfortunately, the fear never leaves me, but lets enjoying talking about living life instead....

You sound a little like me, with it taking 3 years to talk your DH into going and then him falling in love with WDW! Same for us. We are approx. the same ages as you and he, and we have 23 year old kids too!

I say...GO FOR IT! I was in Disney, I think only once in December out of my 26 trips so far. It was wonderful! We did have some rain, but worked easily around that, and it rains there way more often in the summer, so you should be good to go. I attended the MVMCP in Magic Kingdom and absolutely loved it. I suggest it if you are up for a ticketed event. Seeing snow on Main Street and Mickey and Min dressed in their Christmas outfits tugs at the child in my heart The stage show is wonderful and the decor around the park is really beautiful.

There is also the Candlelight Processional in EPCOT, and I did do that as well, but unless it's something you just must do, I'd say skip it. It rained heavily and we were absolutely soaked. But moreso, you can see and hear it just by hanging around the American Pavillion. It is beautiful, but for me, I wouldn't pay for it again. That, of course, is just MHO.

EVERYTHING is decorated to the nines and it is absolutely gorgeous! Animal Kingdom park's trees are so beautiful, as are all the parks decorations. The resorts are beautifully decorated as well. Check out the chocolate house in the middle of the lobby at the BWV, and the gingerbread house in GF! You could actually spend at least a huge part of the day just resort hopping to see the decor and enjoy a snack or drink here and there!

Since it's just you and hubby, perhaps a night at Jellyrolls on the BW??
I went with my daughter and her BFF and her BFF's mom, for their 21st birthdays and we had an absolute blast! It's alittle different when I go with my husband, he's not as "out there" as the girls can be, but it still a fun fun night out!

I want to wish you many many happy healthy years ahead, and many celebratory trips to WDW just enjoying your life! Everytime I call to make a reservation and they ask me if we are celebrating anything, I say "yes, being alive!"

Happy planning,

 

[DeeCee735]

oops, one question....what's BOG?

 

[disney212]

oops, one question....what's BOG?

Be Our Guest which is the new restaurant in Beast's Castle at MK. It is part of the Fantasy Land expansion.

Congrats on beating the big "C". I can say I didn't care for the surgeries but I am glad it opened my eyes to Living For Today! DH and I normally go in October, February or March. I have been a couple days after Christmas as a kid but never right before. It will be DH's first time at the holidays and I think I am just as excited to see his reaction as I am to see all the wonder for myself. We are doing MVMCP. We did MNSSHP last year and LOVED it! We plan on a resort day to see all the decorations. Thanks for the tip on Jellyrolls. We thought about it for out last trip but were so tuckered out we never made it. Maybe we will run into each other sometime we are in the "world". It sounds like we have a lot in common. We very rarely run into folks our age who have "grown" kids. Most folks we know our age still have little ones!

 

[disney212]

We bought tickets for MVMCP! First time DH will see the parks decked out for the holidays! We also booked the Candlelight Processional package since we have never seen it. We went back and forth on it but decided we would go for it. We booked a TBD narrator date so keep your fingers crossed we get someone we love!

 

[disney212]

I was able to get an ADR for BOG for the day and time we wanted!

 

[jekjones1558]

I hope this celebratory trip is perfect in every way. The Christmas stuff at WDW is amazing. Enjoy!
P.S. I think you should change the date in the title of this thread to December 2012!

 

[disney212]

I hope this celebratory trip is perfect in every way. The Christmas stuff at WDW is amazing. Enjoy!
P.S. I think you should change the date in the title of this thread to December 2012!

Nice catch, I never noticed that I put in the wrong year!!!

 

[disney212]

anyone have a clue of how to change a thread title

 

[disney212]

I hope this celebratory trip is perfect in every way. The Christmas stuff at WDW is amazing. Enjoy!
P.S. I think you should change the date in the title of this thread to December 2012!

I figured out how to change the title!!!

 

[kato0627]

I just wanted to say Congratulations!! I hope you have a wonderful time and remain healthy!! Kudos for your live for today attitude. I so agree with you.

 

[disney212]

I just wanted to say Congratulations!! I hope you have a wonderful time and remain healthy!! Kudos for your live for today attitude. I so agree with you.

Thanks! It is nice to meet a kindred spirit!

 

[disney212]

Our flight out of Dayton leaves at 11:30am and we have about a 45 minute drive to the airport. So......knowing hubby and I we will be leaving the house at 9 am! We will stop for breakfast but something light in case it is a bumpy flight. True story, on our last trip there was a young man in his early 20's seated directly across the aisle from me. Once the plane started to taxi he put his head in his hands and quietly cried the entire flight, one we landed he dried his face, stood up and departed the plane like nothing happened. I told my DH that he must have really wanted to go to MCO if he was that afraid of flying. I did ask and he said he was fine.

We figure we will arrive at BLT by 3 pm since our flight lands at 1:20. We will then head over to guest relations at MK to pick up our season passes (got out vouchers before the price went up), grab a TIW card and maybe take our first peek at the holiday decorations at MK. We will head over to WL for dinner as we have ADR's for 8 pm. Maybe after dinner we will head to the TOWL for a quick night cap. Then off for a good night's sleep!!!!!!

 

[disney212]

Our first full day at Disney this trip. This morning it is up very early to get ready. Then off to the front desk to ask them to call the car care center, Alamo will pick us up, we will show our receipt and away we go. It has never taken more than 20 minutes to be on our way. With the rental car we figure this is as good a day as any to look at the various resorts decorations where we don't have ADR's. Maybe swing by POFQ for our beloved beignets and then our next stop will be AK since I love this resort, no Boma this time (trying something new) so this will be a perfect time to check out the holiday decorations and maybe pick up a gift or two in the gift shop. Then off to BCV and BWV. We have dinner at 7:30 at Sci-Fi so we can see the lights at DHS! After DHS maybe another quick trip to TOWL for a nightcap before sweet dreams.