Introducing WDW to my Fiancee's family - A January 2013 Pre-Trip Report

rachel09985 said:
Great plans!! Are you originally from the US?? You type with really good English!!!

No, I'm Brazilian born and raised, but I've decided to learn English as soon as I returned from my first trip to WDW when I was 5 (Disney influenced me on even that!) I started getting private conversation lessons with a relative that was an English teacher and never stopped studying it.
Nowadays I'm a computer engineer but I also have a degree as a translator and interpreter between English and Portuguese.
 
Eduardo, your plans are looking good:thumbsup2, I know your going for The WOW Factor have you thought of any special little things to do:confused3, remember it's the little things that mean the most, plenty of things around the parks that will not even cost anything except maybe a little effort, and in the future she will always remember them:thumbsup2
 
Eduardo, your plans are looking good:thumbsup2, I know your going for The WOW Factor have you thought of any special little things to do:confused3, remember it's the little things that mean the most, plenty of things around the parks that will not even cost anything except maybe a little effort, and in the future she will always remember them:thumbsup2

Hi Ron! Thanks for stopping by! :thumbsup2

For now the only little things I have planned are the Silhouettes at MK, the Pearls at the Japan pavillion and to take them all to Ohana for a different breakfast, hopefully they'll like a character meal!

Another thing planned is to visit more resorts and enjoy the theming of those places, including the different modes of transportation (I'll try to get all the cards as well! ;)) I've never visited Port Orleans for example and I believe that is a nice stop on our way from park to DTD, using their ferries!

I don't know if I mentioned, but I'm planning on getting the Photopass+, specially for the ride photos, but once I have the PhotoCD I'll make sure that we take lots of pics around the parks, including Magic Shots!

I've seen some details around the parks that I'll make sure to show them! Need to get Debbie's Secret Document, I've e-mailed her but she never replied! :confused3

Do you have any other suggestions? Reading your TRs I've thought about the Harmony Barber Shop, but that would be mostly for me though! :lmao:
 
Hi Ron! Thanks for stopping by! :thumbsup2

For now the only little things I have planned are the Silhouettes at MK, the Pearls at the Japan pavillion and to take them all to Ohana for a different breakfast, hopefully they'll like a character meal!

Another thing planned is to visit more resorts and enjoy the theming of those places, including the different modes of transportation (I'll try to get all the cards as well! ;)) I've never visited Port Orleans for example and I believe that is a nice stop on our way from park to DTD, using their ferries!

I don't know if I mentioned, but I'm planning on getting the Photopass+, specially for the ride photos, but once I have the PhotoCD I'll make sure that we take lots of pics around the parks, including Magic Shots!

I've seen some details around the parks that I'll make sure to show them! Need to get Debbie's Secret Document, I've e-mailed her but she never replied! :confused3

Do you have any other suggestions? Reading your TRs I've thought about the Harmony Barber Shop, but that would be mostly for me though! :lmao:

Your on the right path, but let's take the fork in the road and go for some added zing:cool1:
Maybe try some of these:confused3
-MK Look for the Horse drawn trolly when it stops at the train station on Main Street, now what you want is The Dapper Dans to be on the back (usually near the time of the Main Street show they will ride), get on board but as your getting on talk to them and ask if they can sing When You Wish Upon A Star to your Fiancee, this is sure to bring a Happy tear to her eye:thumbsup2

- Watch the Electric Water Pageant from the dock of the Contemporary, hardly anyone there quite romantic:cool1:

- While in AK, go to the Thailand booth and have her make a fish or bird weaved from grass for your Fiancee

These kind of things are free, might take some effort, but you can't put a price on them if you can pull it off:thumbsup2
 


Your on the right path, but let's take the fork in the road and go for some added zing:cool1:
Maybe try some of these:confused3
-MK Look for the Horse drawn trolly when it stops at the train station on Main Street, now what you want is The Dapper Dans to be on the back (usually near the time of the Main Street show they will ride), get on board but as your getting on talk to them and ask if they can sing When You Wish Upon A Star to your Fiancee, this is sure to bring a Happy tear to her eye:thumbsup2

- Watch the Electric Water Pageant from the dock of the Contemporary, hardly anyone there quite romantic:cool1:

- While in AK, go to the Thailand booth and have her make a fish or bird weaved from grass for your Fiancee

These kind of things are free, might take some effort, but you can't put a price on them if you can pull it off:thumbsup2

Thanks! Great ideas!

I've read about the trolley and will keep an eye out for it!

About the pageant I was already thinking about it, specially on our second MK night, which has EMH until 10pm and its Superbowl night so it will probably be less crowded and if we leave the park a bit before 10 we'll surely see it in front of either MK or the contemporary! Do you think that is doable?

Where exactly is that Thailand booth? :confused3 Never heard of it! It seems a great memory in the making! :thumbsup2
 
Thanks! Great ideas!

I've read about the trolley and will keep an eye out for it!

About the pageant I was already thinking about it, specially on our second MK night, which has EMH until 10pm and its Superbowl night so it will probably be less crowded and if we leave the park a bit before 10 we'll surely see it in front of either MK or the contemporary! Do you think that is doable?

Where exactly is that Thailand booth? :confused3 Never heard of it! It seems a great memory in the making! :thumbsup2

I think it's doable, as long as the pageant is going on that night, if you can check into the club while you are there we can get you the exact time it will be passing the Contemp (usually a few minutes after the fireworks)

I'm sure alot of people have no clue on this one, it was something I heard of but wanted to confirm before I shared, Confirmed:thumbsup2, talked about it a bit on the Commando Club posts 2058 & 2206
 
I think it's doable, as long as the pageant is going on that night, if you can check into the club while you are there we can get you the exact time it will be passing the Contemp (usually a few minutes after the fireworks)

I'm sure alot of people have no clue on this one, it was something I heard of but wanted to confirm before I shared, Confirmed:thumbsup2, talked about it a bit on the Commando Club posts 2058 & 2206

Great! Can't wait to try that booth! :thumbsup2

I'll surely check into the club!
I'm planning on getting a pre-paid chip for my iPhone at AT&T or some other mobile company as soon as I land in Miami Airport (with a 3.5 hour layover! :scared1:) to make sure I have access to the Disboards and things like the Lines app at all times. I know that now there is Wi-Fi in the parks, but I've read that it isn't a particularly fast connection and that on off-site parks there is none! I just can't be there without being able to contact my fellow commandos! :lmao:
 


Finally I believe our package has reached its final form!

This morning I spent almost 2 hours on the phone with Disney! But it all paid off because I changed our 14-night at Pop with 8 day MYW tickets (Hopper and Fun) to 11-night still at Pop and same tickets but now with QSDP for only $7 more.

It will add up to $200 if we include the 3 extra nights at the off-site hotel!

Basically traded 3 nights at Pop for a lot of food! LOL! :lmao:
 
Well, after this morning's resort changes I'll have to make some adjustments to my dining schedule, specially considering we'll have 22 CS credits each instead of 28 as it would have been if we had kept the 14 nights.

I'm thinking that breakfast at several locations have certain platters that can surely be shared, allowing us to spend just a couple CS credits on breakfast for 4 on some occasions. Is that correct?

I believe some other lunch/dinner locations might also have large entrees so that 3 might be enough for 4 adults (I doubt we could get less than that because my DBIL, like most teens, can eat quite a bit! popcorn:: )

Considering all that and the nice offers we manage to grab today, I'll thinking on splurging a little on a special dinner. I have a couple ADRs that I'd love to try (both new to me): Be Our Guest (seems amazing, but we would be getting lunch there on the other MK day anyway!) or Le Cellier (heard a lot about their steaks and about the Maple Creme Brulee, but it is a bit over our budget!)
Any suggestions?

About Le Cellier: what is the size of the steak? Is it enough for sharing? Any other worthwhile entrees?
 
Well, after this morning's resort changes I'll have to make some adjustments to my dining schedule, specially considering we'll have 22 CS credits each instead of 28 as it would have been if we had kept the 14 nights.

I'm thinking that breakfast at several locations have certain platters that can surely be shared, allowing us to spend just a couple CS credits on breakfast for 4 on some occasions. Is that correct?

I believe some other lunch/dinner locations might also have large entrees so that 3 might be enough for 4 adults (I doubt we could get less than that because my DBIL, like most teens, can eat quite a bit! popcorn:: )

Considering all that and the nice offers we manage to grab today, I'll thinking on splurging a little on a special dinner. I have a couple ADRs that I'd love to try (both new to me): Be Our Guest (seems amazing, but we would be getting lunch there on the other MK day anyway!) or Le Cellier (heard a lot about their steaks and about the Maple Creme Brulee, but it is a bit over our budget!)
Any suggestions?

About Le Cellier: what is the size of the steak? Is it enough for sharing? Any other worthwhile entrees?

I'm a little confused CS credit is:confused3 , I know QS is Quick Serve and TS is Table Service

As for Le Cellier, I love the place don't get me wrong, I would never use 2 credits to go there, we are doing lunch next trip while it's still 1 credit, but once it goes to 2 most likely will never go again, the strip steak is 12ozs,at $40 something & the rib eye is 16ozs also at $40 something, If you are paying Out of pocket I would look at Shula's you can get a 32oz prime rib for like $46 that would be enough for 2, even though sides are ala cart they are big portions at about $10 each so if you got 2 sides with a prime rib your looking at roughly $65, add say a wedge salad (enough for 2) at $10, now your looking at $75, with sodas and without dessert, you would be at the same price as LeCellar if you got 2 steaks only with a lot more food, if your paying out of pocket it's something to consider:confused3
 
I'm a little confused CS credit is:confused3 , I know QS is Quick Serve and TS is Table Service

As for Le Cellier, I love the place don't get me wrong, I would never use 2 credits to go there, we are doing lunch next trip while it's still 1 credit, but once it goes to 2 most likely will never go again, the strip steak is 12ozs,at $40 something & the rib eye is 16ozs also at $40 something, If you are paying Out of pocket I would look at Shula's you can get a 32oz prime rib for like $46 that would be enough for 2, even though sides are ala cart they are big portions at about $10 each so if you got 2 sides with a prime rib your looking at roughly $65, add say a wedge salad (enough for 2) at $10, now your looking at $75, with sodas and without dessert, you would be at the same price as LeCellar if you got 2 steaks only with a lot more food, if your paying out of pocket it's something to consider:confused3

CS is counter service, same as Quick service.

Thanks for the suggestion of Shula's! I've only been inside the Swan/Dolphin once when we went to rent a car there a couple of trips back. Might be a nice idea for either one of our Epcot or Hollywood Studios nights.
 
Ok, now that the resort reservations are complete and we have our QSDP for 11 nights I had to make some small adjustments to our meal plan. (Changes)

  • January 20th
    • D - Miami International Airport
  • January 21st
    • B - off-site
    • L - Orlando Premium Outlets
    • D - Outlets or off-site
  • January 22nd
    • B - off-site
    • L - Voyager's Smokehouse @ SW
      [*]D - Sea World or off-site
  • January 23rd
    • B - Citywalk
    • L - Thunder Falls Terrace @ IoA
      [*]D - Pastamore, Bubba Gump or another @ Citywalk
  • January 24th
    • B - Citywalk
    • L - Some Universal CS
    • D - Amway Center
  • January 25th
    • B - Mara @ AKL (CS1)
    • L - Gatorland
    • D - DTD CS, maybe Cookes of Dublin (CS2)
  • January 26th
    • B - Ohana @ Polynesian
      [*]L - Sharks Underwater Grill @ SW
    • D - Wolfgang Puck Express @ DTD (CS3)
  • January 27th
    • B - Landscape of Flavors @ AoA (CS4)
    • L - Busch Gardens
    • D - DTD CS, Pop or off-site (depends on the time we return from Tampa)
  • January 28th
    • B - Boardwalk Bakery @ Boardwalk (CS5)
    • L - Sci-Fi Dine In @ HS
    • D - Pizza Planet, Toluca Legs or other CS @ HS (CS6)
  • January 29th
    • B - Everything Pop @ Pop Century (CS7)
    • L - Mythos @ IoA
    • D - Cheesecake Factory @ Mall at Millenia
  • January 30th
    • B - Landscape of Flavors @ AoA (CS8)
    • L - Sunshine Seasons @ Epcot (CS9)
    • D - Sommerfest @ Epcot (CS10)
  • January 31st
    • B - Main Street Bakery @ MK (CS11)
    • L - Be Our Guest @ MK (CS12)
    • D - Casey's Corner @ MK (CS13)
  • February 1st
    • B - Everything Pop @ Pop Century (CS14)
    • L - Flame Tree Barbecue @ AK (CS15)
    • D - T-Rex @ DTD
  • February 2nd
    • B - Starring Rolls @ HS (CS16)
    • L - Beaches & Cream @ Beach Club
    • D - Katsura Grill or Tangierine Cafe @ Epcot (CS17)
  • February 3rd
    • B - Contempo Cafe @ Contemporary (CS18)
    • L - Columbia Harbor House or Pecos Bill @ MK (CS19)
      [*]D - Be Our Guest @ MK
  • February 4th
    • B - Pizzafari @ AK (CS20)
    • L - Anandapur Local Cafes @ AK (CS21)
    • D - Backlot Express @ HS (CS22)
  • February 5th
    • B - Everything Pop @ Pop Century (CS23)
    • L - Le Cellier @ Epcot
    • D - Orlando International Airport :sad:

I've listed 1 above our quota of 22 CS/QS credits because I'm pretty sure than on many breakfasts we'll share platters that will save us some credits to use for that and on some unmarked meals like the dinner on January 26th after we return from Busch Gardens. That one will probably be either Everything Pop or Wolfgang Puck Express again back in DTD and would make use of some CS credits.

I'll manage our credits throughout the trip and if it seems that we'll have some leftovers I'm thinking of one or more of the following:
- dropping Be Our Guest dinner (we should have had lunch there already, so this is the least important ADR) for CS dinner at Pecos Bill or Columbia Harbour House (depending on which of those we have done for lunch).
- getting some items at places like the Boulangerie @ France pavillion in Epcot. Do you know if they still have the option of using 1 CS/QS for 3 Snack items (and where else can we get such an option! :confused3)?

I've thought between Shula's and Le Cellier, but Shula's is only open for dinner (I was thinking of ending our trip with a special meal!) and Le Cellier has a nice Le Cellier Experience with appetizer, entree and dessert for lunch. Those entrees might not be enough for me or DBIL but would surely fit well for DFi and DMIL and then they can share their appetizers (Cheddar Cheese Soup most likely) and desserts (Maple Creme Brulee! :thumbsup2) with us! :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:
Has anyone tried that Experience?

Another change was between Ohana and Mara for 2 reasons:
- Now we're changing hotels on January 25th and would probably drop the bags at Pop before going to breakfast, so keeping a 7:30 ADR for Ohana could be too time restraining.
- I'm thinking of getting the Photopass+, mainly for the ride photos, but also for our only character meal, Ohana. And I can only activate it on certain places (parks, DTD and some hotels). We wouldn't have had the chance to activate it before the 25th as we wouldn't have stopped at any of those places.
With our first visit to DTD of this trip being on the night of the 25th, I'll have the chance to activate the Photopass+ just in time for Ohana!
 
I've been also thinking about Snacks. I've copied the giant list from this thread and now I'm wondering how to use our combined 44 SCs so I've made a list of must dos and other ideas for snacks.

Must Dos that I've tried before
Dole Whips (4 SCs as I think everyone will want one to themselves! :rotfl2:)
Plaza Ice Cream Sundae (2 SCs as 1 sundae is surely enough for 2 people!)
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich (2-4 SCs depending if we'll take it once or twice, also 1 is enough for 2 people)
simple Churros (4 SCs, probably in 2 separate occasions as 2 can share 1 for a quick snack)
Funnel Cakes (2 SCs)
French Crepes (4 SCs)

Must Dos that I haven't tried before
Churros con Cajeta (2 SCs)
Strawberry Shortcake Sundae (2 SCs)
Norwegian School Bread (2 SCs)
Napoleon or other Starring Rolls delicacies (4 SCs)
Sea Salt Caramel Hot Chocolate from Ghirardelli (2-4 SCs)
Paw Print Brownies and Zebra Domes @ Mara (4 SCs, 2 each probably)

Other snack ideas
Kaki Gori
Items from Karamel Kuche and Boulangerie
Kringla Sweet Pretzel
Mickey Pretzels
Goofy's Candy Co items
AK Bugs Sundae

Just those must dos are 34-38 SCs already (might have to drop some of those because we might want to distribute them throughout the days and therefore the parks and there might be too many from a single park like MK or Epcot).

Some we might also get as desserts or using CS credits like I mentioned on the previous post.

Any other must do snacks that you can suggest? popcorn::
 
Great plans! We will be there during the same time!

We are doing Universal 1/26-1/28
and then WDW 1/29-2/7

This is the first time we are going during January. We have only ever been in May.

We stayed at Pop both times and really loved it! I think you all will like it.

This time we are staying at POFQ. (took advantage of the s/p/d discount)

This trip is a surprise for our kids, so no ticker or ptr. Unless I can think of a way to do it that they won't notice. :scratchin

Terri
 
Also, last time we went we did Busch Gardens. You mentioned that you all like the tigers? Dh and our oldest dd did the tiger and Orangutan Keeper Experience. It is $199.95 but that cost is for all of you. Don't know if that is something that may interest you. They had a blast.

http://seaworldparks.com/buschgarde...riences/Tiger-and-Orangutan-Keeper-Experience

Interesting idea! :scratchin I've checked those experiences out, but when I saw the price I instantly dismissed them. Didn't notice it was a group price instead of per person. Therefore being 199 for all 4 of us it might be something to consider! :yay:

Do you know if Annual Pass holders have discounts on those? Because I'm getting an Annual Pass for myself and regular tickets for them as it will save on parking, food and merchandise. If it also gives a discount on this experience, then its even better! :thumbsup2
 
Interesting idea! :scratchin I've checked those experiences out, but when I saw the price I instantly dismissed them. Didn't notice it was a group price instead of per person. Therefore being 199 for all 4 of us it might be something to consider! :yay:

Do you know if Annual Pass holders have discounts on those? Because I'm getting an Annual Pass for myself and regular tickets for them as it will save on parking, food and merchandise. If it also gives a discount on this experience, then its even better! :thumbsup2

I don't know for sure but I imagine they would get a discount. We got our park tickets for free when we went to Discovery Cove.

DD9 and I did the safari tour (the one that you get to feed the giraffes) and we really enjoyed it. It was much less expensive than the tiger one. We could not do that with dd17 and dh because you have to be 10.

For the tiger one, they got to feed the tigers and stuff too.
 
I have some photos from the tiger experience that I will post as soon as photobucket starts working again..it is giving me fits right now.
 
Ok here are some pictures from the tiger thing.

Here is one of the Orangutans.
DSCN3152.jpg


Here is them working on training with a tiger
DSCN3158.jpg


Here DD is feeding one of the tigers
DSCN3182.jpg


And this is some artwork done by one of the tigers, that they gave to dd to keep. (she has it hanging up in her room)
DSCN3187.jpg


And this was just some of the behind the scenes things. Since it was up to DH to take the pictures, they didn't take as many as I would have. lol
 

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