You Want to Stay Where?! A July PTR* TR LINK 8/8!

[marDgreen88]

Thanks for letting me steal your great idea! How should we play? Maybe everyone guesses all 16 (with limited hints) and I'll reply to each guess saying how many you have right. then as I break down each day each player can edit their guesses, until eventually someone will have all of them right. What do you think? too hard? just do it by day? It's your game, I'm gonna need your input here!

I think that sounds great! I'm thinking of modifying the game for the next time I play it (because oh yes, it will be an annual thing ) but I just don't know how yet. Maybe you'll be giving me some ideas!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Oh boy ADR game, I'm in!

So excited that you are going to stay at the beach club! I can't wait to see what Maddie thinks of the pool

 

[afwdwfan]

I'm guessing your reality tastes run a bit more manly than mine? Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Duck Dynasty? I watch those too.

You really are a reality TV junkie then!

Don't forget Ax Men, Ice Road Truckers, Top Gear and the originals like Amazing Race and Survivor.

It pays to read to read my TRs.

I'm just waiting for the rules. If everybody keeps posting ADR lists, I'm just going to go back to your TR and copy and paste your list of favorites.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[shan23877]

When we left off I was busy planning a trip that I wasn’t sure would happen. I had looked into DVC rental, and I had priced 3 different moderate resorts.

At some point last month Bryan and I talked out some financial stuff, and we both agreed that we had enough in the coffers to head back to WDW this summer.

Now the real fun could begin! First we needed to decide when we’d be going. Since Bryan just started his job, he’s not eligible for vacation time until May. Couple that with Maddie’s school not letting out until the last week of May, and April and May were off the table. Maddie’s dance recital is scheduled for the second week of June and we don’t want her to miss that or the last few classes before it, so I suggested that we go the third week of June. Bryan countered with the first week of July, but I said I’d like to avoid Independence Day crowds if possible. After much back and forth, we settled on mid July which means…… we’ll be celebrating my birthday at WDW!

Having settled the whens, we needed to work out the wheres. I asked Bryan a couple of times how he felt about BC vs. CR, renting DVC vs. booking through Disney. He pretty much said he’d leave the final decision up to me, but was worried about the same things that I was with the possible DVC rental. I figured that I’d finish reading the TR update that I was reading and then head over to David’s site to email him about the questions that I had (Mainly: what happens if the DVC owner that you’re renting from stops paying on their ownership? Do you loose your money or does the 3rd party company step in and honor the reservation?). That’s when the following happened:



Shannon: (reading TR)


Bryan: (reading over Shannon’s shoulder) What’s that?


Shannon: What’s what honey?


Bryan: That resort.


Shannon: That’s the new resort I was telling you about. Want to see some more pictures of it? (scrolling through TR to give virtual tour)


Bryan: That’s where we should stay


Shannon: (puzzled) What? I thought you wanted to stay at the Beach Club?


Bryan: I did until I saw that. Now I want to stay there. Maddie would love it!


Shannon: But, it’s a value honey. I thought you didn’t want to stay at a value


Side Note: we’re not snobs, really. (If you could see some of the apartments we lived in in college you’d know that we’ve stayed in some really gross places). However, we only do WDW once per year, so we usually stay in the nicest place we can comfortably afford.


Bryan: I didn’t but that one looks awesome


Shannon: But what about the Beach Club honey?


Bryan: We’ll stay there next time, or we’ll wait until Maddie’s older and will actually appreciate it.


Shannon: Are you serious?


Bryan: Yes, I think she’ll love it. That’s where I want to stay.


Shannon: (secretly overjoyed that Bryan has any opinion about a WDW vacation) Well, okay honey if that’s what you really want. Let me do some research on buses and stuff



15 minutes later...


Shannon: Well, it sounds like the bus service is actually better than at the Beach Club.


Bryan: Good. Book it. And, we can use some of the money we’ll save by staying at a value for me to golf!


And that my friends, is how we ended up booking Art of Animation in a Little Mermaid room!

​

 

[shan23877]

Ok guys, after much discussion, Bryan and I have come up with the rules of the ADR Game!

Round 1

In Round 1 each player will make their guesses ‘blind’. You’ll post a list of the 16 ADR that you think we’ve made with only one hint about our plans. (Hint to come at the end of this update). Each player will have one week to submit their guesses.

Correct guesses in Round 1 will be worth 4 points each. Round one points will carry over to Round 2, and you can’t loose those points!

At the end of Round 1 I’ll reveal all 16 ADR on our list


Round 2


Now, everyone will have that master list of ADR to pull from. As I lay out each day’s plans for you I’ll also tell you how many ADR and for what meals have ADR for that particular day. If you can correctly match the restaurant to the planned meal time you’ll get points! Points for the matching portion of the game will be given on a sliding scale. Correct matches for Day One ADRs will be worth 7 points. Day 2 = 6 points, Day 3 = 5 points, Day 4 = 4 points, Day 5 = 3 points, Day 6 = 2 points, and Day 7 = 1 point

For Example if I say that we have 2 ADR – lunch and dinner on Day 3 (and that we plan to spend the day at DTD) and you correctly guess that we are going to Planet Hollywood for lunch and Raglan Road at dinner – you’d get 10 points!

If you only correctly guess that we’re doing Raglan road for dinner-you’d get 5 points!

When I reveal the plans for Day 7, the game will be complete. The player who has amassed the most points will be the big winner! (maybe we’ll buy a fun pin or something on the trip to send to the winner! Who knows! We’re kind of flying blind here!)

In the event of a tie, we’ve covered our bases (it’s no lightning round, but we’re proud of it!)

We're planning on visiting 3 counter service restaurants on this trip. Each participant should also make an attempt at guessing what those 3 CS locations are. These guesses will only be used in the event of a tie.

Bonus Fun!

But wait-there’s more!

March is hands down my favorite time of year because of two things-Baseball season begins, and the NCAA tournament is held.

So, we’re going to have our own tournament here! My master bracket maker is hard at work creating 2 Disney restaurant brackets (one breakfast, one lunch/dinner). Each week or so I’ll ask you to vote between 2 restaurants in each of the categories. The restaurant that gets the most votes from you guys will move on to the next round. Eventually, we’ll have voted on and chosen our favorite restaurant for breakfast, and our favorite for lunch or dinner! Since PTRs are all about planning, I thought that this would be a fun way for all of us to get some ideas about places we’d like to dine in the future.

OK, is everyone ready?? Here we go!

Round One Hint

There is one restaurant that we’ve made 2 ADR for, so in a perfect list of 16 one restaurant should appear twice

 

[ronnmel]

You're going to stay at Art of Animation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for you guys! Maddie is going to love it so much!!!!!!!!!

I already made my list of ADR before the rules for the game were announced. Can I change it?

 

[shan23877]

You're going to stay at Art of Animation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited for you guys! Maddie is going to love it so much!!!!!!!!!

I already made my list of ADR before the rules for the game were announced. Can I change it?

Of course you can change your guesses! The guessing doesn't start until now!

We told Maddie about AoA, and she's really excited! She thinks the rooms look "so cool"! and LOVES the shower.

 

[RunningthruDisney]

Glad you are going back!!!

 

[shan23877]

I finally made it over here!

I'm so excited that y'all have another trip planned and I can't wait to hear all about it! Especially where y'all are staying....spill the beans!

And you know I don't think you're a freak with your spreadsheets. I have my lists in my notebooks and my spreadsheets on my laptop.

Glad you're here Amanda! I knew you'd get here when you had time.

I had to give this thing some excitement! The trip isn't for 5 months.

Thanks for understanding my mania.

Can I just say I adore your trip reports! I am so excited to take our little girl to WDW this October for many reasons- but reading the interactions you, your husband, and Maddie have makes me even more excited!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that! I love sharing because people like you are so kind!

I really appreciate your feedback about DxDP! We are planning on going doing the same with DD in October for the character interactions (that's her favorite part of our Disneyland trips) and because DH's favorite part is the food. I love hearing positive feedback about it!

We LOVED DxDP. There was one day on the last trip that we thought we couldn't possibly eat any more, but overall it was perfect. DH and I are big on eating at 'nicer' places on vacation. We rarely do it in real life, so it's part of what makes the trip nice for us. And our DD like yours adores the character meals, so for us DxDP is perfect! It's a lot harder to plan for, but I think the planning is fun!

And um...I'm currently toggling between 3 different spreadsheets as we approach our 6 month window to book at AKL (through DVC) so I totally understand.

Yay! another spreadsheet user! I have windows open with my flight price comparison spreadsheet, my ADR spreadsheet, and my master Trip document right now!

Happy birthday to Maddie!! May all her dreams come true!! :

Hope she enjoys her special day! Karen

Thanks so much Karen! She had a great day.

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

Happy Birthday to Miss. Maddie today! I hope she has a great day and I can't wait to hear how she reacts to the news!

Thanks Courtney! I hope your day was as nice as the princess's was.

No problem It was a little nerve wracking to not see my reservation instantly, but the main rental sites (david's and **************, as far as I know) both have really great reputations, always positive reviews, etc so that settled me for the most part. The beds not being made is a minor inconvenience.

You do get maid service if you stay long enough..I think it was on day 4. It is slightly a bummer to not have the mousekeepers leaving towel animals, setting up children's toys in cute scenes, etc. I guess I didn't get so much bummed about it, but it's just a fun touch that isn't there when you stay dvc.

I guess you can look at it as a trade off though..for me, staying in a deluxe is highly unlikely, as we like to take longish vacations (9 or 10 days) and the cost of a deluxe for that long on top of everything else (tickets, ddp, BBB appointment, souvenirs, airfare, etc etc and on and on!) is just TOO much, but by renting points we can afford to stay deluxe if we want to.

So would you trade towel animals for the chance to have a more extravagant vacation? Trade having your bed made for a superb location like BLT? If those sound like fair trades, then renting points is for you!

Also, the reservation WILL be available for you to view online. It just took a little bit..not even a LONG time, it just wasn't instant. I want to say that we had a confirmation number in our email with a day or two of making our down payment. Also, Paul (from dvc rental store) had really great communication with us so I never felt like I was out of the loop. I am sure David's does too!

Another cool thing - I mentioned in conversation on the dis that we were renting through Paul and that we were pleased with his service, and he happened to see the post and emailed me to tell me he gave us a credit toward our vacation! So that was awesome, obviously.

Sorry this was so long..but the point is that I would highly recommend renting points if you decide that one of the dvc locations is where you want to stay!

I really, really appreciate all of your feedback on the rental stuff. It's likely something that we'll do on the next trip because now I really want to! I love hearing about a good experience with the rental places-everyone else I'd talked to rented from friends not strangers. thanks again!

I'm in too! excited to see what you've chosen for ADRs. And I'm a crazy spreadsheet planner too!

Yay! Spreadsheet users unite!

ADRs will be revealed soon!

I am most certainly in!

I loved your last trip report, and can't wait to see what you have in store for this one!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the kind words, and thanks for joining us!

Joining in!! I can't wait, I love your trip reports!!!

Thank you! I love that! I hope that I won't disappoint!

I'm in! I love your TR, you have a beautiful princess and so do I, so I get great ideas from you. Thanks for sharing them with us

Thanks for the kind words! I hope that you'll get lots of ideas for your princesses! If you have any questions, please let me know!

Joining in..

Cant wait to see the ADR's too. I bet there is one for Be Our Guest!!

I agree with your DH- Loved POFQ!

Welcome! Thanks for joining in!

I loved POFQ too, and I'd really like to try Riverside. Those mansion buildings are so amazing. (I have a minor NOLA obsession )
But, CBR was lovely too (I'm also partial to the beach)

 

[shan23877]

I think that sounds great! I'm thinking of modifying the game for the next time I play it (because oh yes, it will be an annual thing ) but I just don't know how yet. Maybe you'll be giving me some ideas!

Between us we'll have the ADR game perfected in no time!

Oh boy ADR game, I'm in!

So excited that you are going to stay at the beach club! I can't wait to see what Maddie thinks of the pool

Yay! glad you're here Marissa!

I hope you're not disappointed in the resort choice (I think I am a little, still trying to work myself up about what Bryan chose). Next trip for sure!

You really are a reality TV junkie then!

Don't forget Ax Men, Ice Road Truckers, Top Gear and the originals like Amazing Race and Survivor.

I really am! If I'm being honest, those are more Bryan's shows, but I've certainly seen my fair share. Top Gear is he and my little bro's fave. They even watch the British version.

New seasons of Survivor and Amazing Race start soon!

I'm just waiting for the rules. If everybody keeps posting ADR lists, I'm just going to go back to your TR and copy and paste your list of favorites.

Not a bad plan!

 

[1000HappyWishes]

You're going to be staying at AoA! Is it a bad thing that AoA is like, my dream resort? I'll have to think about the ADR's...I'm tempted to make a guess.

 

[RGirl]

I'm finally here and super-excited for you to stay at AoA!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!

But I hate waiting to know important stuff like ADRs - I want you to tell me EVERYTHING NOW!

 

[ronnmel]

I think your rules are great!


1. Cinderella's Royal Table
2. Akershus
3. Chef Mickey
4. Via Napoli
5. 1900 Park Fare
6. Crystal Palace
7. Yak & Yeti
8. Sci-Fi
9. California Grill
10. Ohana
11. Tusker House
12. Cape May Cafe
13. Coral Reef
14. Ohana breakfast
15. Hollywood & Vine
16. Be Our Guest


Counter-service:
1. Be our Guest
2. Sunshine Seasons
3. Landscape of Flavors (does the foodcourt at AoA count?) If not I'll guess something else.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

How exciting that you'll be staying at AoA!!! I'm sure Maddie will love it there!

That's so cool that you'll be in Disney for your birthday! (Actually, you'll be in Disney on my birthday too! )

Okay...I'll attempt my (honestly, pretty random!) guesses now!

1. 1900 Park Faire
2. Be Our Guest
3. Cinderella's Royal Table
4. Via Napoli
5. Via Napoli (x 2)
6. Ohana (breakfast)
7. Crystal Palace
8. 50's Prime Time Cafe
9. Tusker House
10. Akershus
11. Chef Mickey's
12. Le Cellier
13. Cape May Cafe
14. Sci-Fi Dine In
15. Chef Mickey's
16. T-REX

Counter Service:

1. Sunshine Seasons
2. Be Our Guest
3. Landscape of Flavors

 

[KristinAnne]

Here are my updated guesses. My problem is that I'm not terribly aware of how many credits you get per visit w/ the DDP or DxDP. But we'll see how I've done.

1. Cinderella's Royal Table
2. Akershus
3. Chef Mickey's
4. Narcoosees
5. 1900 Park Fare
6. Crystal Palace
7. 50s Prime Time
8. Ohana
9. Ohana
10. Mickey's Backyard BBQ
11. Tusker House
12. Cape May Cafe
13. Mama Melrose
14. Garden Grill
15. Hollywood & Vine
16. Be Our Guest

C.S.
1. Landscape of Flavors
2. Be Our Guest
3. Earl of Sandwich

 

[KatMark]

I can't believe you went from Beach Club to Art of Animation.

But I guess we have to please the hubby and let him get in a little golf.

I will come back later with my guess for ADR's...I want to think about this for a day or two.

 

[cheshirecatattack]

I love this game!

1. CRT
2. Akershus
3. 1900 Park Fare
4. Be Our Guest
5. Ohana (B)
6. Ohana (B) x 2
7. Ohana (D)
8. Crystal Palace
9. Chef Mickeys
10. Cape May
11. T-REX
12. Via Napoli
13. Le Cellier
14. California Grill
15. Hollywood and Vine
16. Yak and Yeti

counter service:
1. Be Our Guest
2. Sunshine Seasons
3. Landscape of Flavours

 

[marDgreen88]

Oh man... a Disney birthday is a huge dream of mine. How lucky!!! That will be awesome.

I think Art of Animation looks amazing! I mean, if she grows up to be anything like me, she will appreciate it at any age lmao but I totally agree that full appreciation of the Beach Club will definitely come at an older age. I think it will be great for yall!

Okay... DANG, you just took the ADR game to a whole new level of awesome! I'm gonna take some time to mull over my guesses and come back later!

 

[Aurora1972]

Oh my! LOL! From Beach Club to AOA..... I'm in love with Beach Club and have never been a big fan of the Mermaid rooms. However, my DD's would have loved it, especially at that age I'll have to come back later with ADR guesses. I'll have to think about that some and do some research.