10year Anniv trip becomes the trip of celebrations with Dis'ers! I'm back!!

[smile4stamps]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Paula and I've been on the boards just under 5 years! I originally joined the boards for help and resources in planning my 5 year Anniversary trip. So.. If you do the Math... Yup!! That means it's almost time to celebrate our 10 year Anniversary! I haven't done a Pre-trip for my last couple trips but since I again want this trip to be really special and need a sounding board for my plans I thought I would post them here!

A little bit about us!

Hunter and I met online. We talked for a LONG time before we met in person. Once we met in person things moved quickly and I found myself moving from Wisconsin to California just over 4 months after meeting in person. We were married 16 months after I moved.

Some pics of our Wedding Day... Because I don't have much opportunity to share them!

We had originally planned to get married at Walt Disney World and when that hadn't ended up happening my husband promised we would return for our 5 year Anniversary. I was able to pull that trip off with just 6 weeks to plan and it was wonderful! It also bit a bug in me to go more often! I wasn't able to return to WDW till October 2012 but did have several trips to Disneyland in 2010 and 2011 (My first ever trip there!)

Since then I have been blessed to have a few more trips to WDW! Including our first Food & Wine trip Oct 2012, a Conference trip May/June 2013, a second F&W trip October 2013 and my first adult trip during the holidays this past December.

We have 2 more trips in the plans! This one coming up next is so special though as we are celebrating 10 years together! The last trip will also be fabulous but also bittersweet as it will mark our last WDW trip till the fall of 2017.

I feel ultra blessed that I have gotten to have so many trips to WDW with my husband as he is NOT a Disney fan! He does however have an AP so has agreed to these trips as he knows they make me happy! And Eating at WDW makes him happy!

I hope you all will join me in trying to plan this special trip!

Some more recent pics of Hunter and I at WDW.

Soaked after Kali River Rapids!

 

[rachel09985]

Joining in now that I found this! I love your wedding photos!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Joining in now that I found this! I love your wedding photos!!

Thanks for coming over Rachel! We had a wonderful wedding!! Can't believe it's been almost 10 years already!

 

[wilma-bride]

Jumping in too. Love your wedding pictures, you both look so amazingly happy and in love

How come the 3-year hiatus after your fall trip this year

Can't wait to read more about your plans for your upcoming trip.

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[smile4stamps]

Jumping in too. Love your wedding pictures, you both look so amazingly happy and in love

How come the 3-year hiatus after your fall trip this year

Can't wait to read more about your plans for your upcoming trip.

Thank you! I love those pictures! I do love him very much!

It's a 3-year Hiatus due to finances. We've been dropping quite a bit of money on our WDW trips and since I currently live in CA and he lives in CO I need to refocus on saving money so we can live in the same state.

joining in

Welcome!

 

[smile4stamps]

So.. I didn't give really any info in the opening post except for the purpose of the trip! Of course if you look at my signature I'm sure you can figure out the general dates for this trip!

Our Anniversary is May 1! I wanted that to be the middle of the trip! I also wanted to book our dates on cheaper flying days (mid-week) and around my work schedule.

This meant arriving and departing on a Wednesday.

So.. How long are we going for?!?! One Week??? Nah!! Did that in December and it was WAY TOO SHORT! 3 weeks?? While I would love a 3 week trip in October for F&W I didn't think we needed that much time for this one. So that leaves 2 weeks!!

April 23 - May 7.

Of course I ran into a little snaffou with those dates. I have ALWAYS taken the first 2 weeks of May off of Work due to my Anniversary and my husbands Birthday (May 11th). Unfortunately, vacation where I work is granted on a seniority basis. It turns out someone who has almost the exact same schedule as myself is taking off almost the exact same weeks! So.. I have gone to great lengths to find people to work for me and as of right now I have all but one day covered. I'm POSITIVE I will find someone to work that night! I HAVE to!

 

[smile4stamps]

A MAJOR part of our trips is the food at WDW. We usually like to do 2 meals a day. Breakfast/early Lunch and Dinner.

You would think having had booked at least part of this trip in November that I would have ADR's all scheduled... Yeah no.. I haven't been that organized... This is why I need everyone's help!

This is what my prelimnary list of restaurants looks like!

Might be a bit hard to see so I will retype it out along with a bit more info on why its on the list. From here I need help on deciding which restaurants to eliminate!

California Grill x2 This is a favorite of ours and so it must make an appearance twice during the trip!
Citrico's x2. Same as Cali Grill!
Flying Fish - I've been 3x and Hunter 2x. The last time was really good so it makes the list again
Il Mulino - We've loved the food samples from here as part of the F&W Classic so its on the list
Le Cellier - We had a great meal here last October and so it makes the list again
Monsieur Paul - We have only eaten here as part of a French Regional Lunch which was spectacular so would love to give it a try for a Dinner
Shula's - Have heard great reviews. Never been
V&A's - We've eaten here once at the Chef's Table. this would be the regular dining room experience - the down side.. having DH pack a suit!
Hoop de Doo Review - This is a must as it is a favorite!
50's Prime Time - Been a few times. Love the fried chicken!
Chef's de France - Also been a few times and the meals have been good but not spectacular.. not a must
Liberty Tree Tavern - Have been 3x and enjoyed it all 3 times. Best sit-down in MK in my opinion
Mama Melrose - We haven't been since our very first trip but my DH loved it so its on the list
Raglan Road - Wonderful food. I want us to try it for dinner for the entertainment
Whispering Canyon Cafe - Decent Food in a Fun atmosphere!
Boma - We've never been but it gets rave reviews... so breakfast or dinner?!?
Bongos – Never been so its on the list.. any opinions?
Grand Floridian Café - Never been, unsure which meal to choose
Kouzzina – I’ve been for breakfast once, Hunter has never been
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ – never been, any opinions?
Paradiso 37 – Never been, thought it might be a place to try
The Plaza – been once, was good, not a must do but a MK option
San Angel Inn – Been once, it wasn’t great, thinking of giving it another try
Sanaa – never been but reviews are great. I’m not a Spicy food fan so it scares me a bit!
Trail’s End – Never been, good reviews.. breakfast or lunch?!?
Tusker House – I love the breakfast here. Hunter not so much.. Give lunch or Dinner a try or give it a pass?
Via Napoli – LOVE the Pizza and Sangria.. Hunter hates that he doesn’t have much appetizer choices due to a seafood allergy
The Wave – I’ve been once, thinking of bring Hunter
Yak & Yeti – Good, nothing super special, have been several times

I color coded them GREEN means its a must, BLUE means its almost a definite, ORANGE means I'm undecided, convince me one way or another!

So.. are there any on the above list that you would definitely do? Defineitly NOT do??

Please feel free to share your opinions! I really should get some ADR’s made!!

Also if I have missed anything that is a favorite of yours please let me know!!

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Paula! Ok, I'm here to follow along but heck NO, I'm not helping with ADRs... they'll only get changed again my friend!! Oh wait, I will make a recommendation.... Try Shula's. And do it with us! That was one of my favorites from both August and December!

Adorable photos of you and Hunter way back when and now.

I'm glad you have a PTR so I can keep up with your plans and see what changes.

 

[smile4stamps]

Hi Paula! Ok, I'm here to follow along but heck NO, I'm not helping with ADRs... they'll only get changed again my friend!! Oh wait, I will make a recommendation.... Try Shula's. And do it with us! That was one of my favorites from both August and December!

Adorable photos of you and Hunter way back when and now.

I'm glad you have a PTR so I can keep up with your plans and see what changes.

Welcome Brenda!! Awww! Come On! I just need to eliminate 6 places.. unless I come up with other places to try lol...

We can definitely do Shula's together.. just need to know when!

Thank you! Even now Hunter looks different than those pics with his longer facial hair lol.

 

[jseargent]

Paula I love your photos!! Jimmy and I are celebrating 15 years when we go in April because of one of those work conferences!

 

[fizbobunny]

I would drop VandA since it might be a let down doing regular dining and since you have to bring clothes just for this.

 

[fizbobunny]

Love the clear castle cake at your wedding

 

[smile4stamps]

I would drop VandA since it might be a let down doing regular dining and since you have to bring clothes just for this.

I actually had to buy Hunter a suit jacket and pants to wear when we did the Chef's table so it might be nice to get a second wear out of it
Plus V&A's will no longer take the Tables in Wonderland Discount after August so I would like to try the regular dining room one time before that goes away.

Love the clear castle cake at your wedding

 

[smile4stamps]

Paula I love your photos!! Jimmy and I are celebrating 15 years when we go in April because of one of those work conferences!

Sorry! I missed your reply! That's wonderful that you can celebrate your anniversary at WDW attached to a work conference! Doing anything special to celebrate?

 

[JennyWren]

Hello

I followed you over from the Live Dining thread. I always love your contributions, so I can't wait to see your dining schedule for May.

 

[fizbobunny]

Here is our actual cake fizbobunny.. are you Alicia?

Yep, it's me. Good point about the TIW

Are you going to try Spice Road Table?

 

[fizbobunny]

Love your actual cake. Was that Mickey shapes on the castle?

 

[smile4stamps]

Hello

I followed you over from the Live Dining thread. I always love your contributions, so I can't wait to see your dining schedule for May.

Welcome! Any suggestions for my dining?!? So hard to make all these plans!

Yep, it's me. Good point about the TIW

Are you going to try Spice Road Table?

The menu doesn't appeal at Spice Road table but we may check it out one day...

Love your actual cake. Was that Mickey shapes on the castle?

I believe it was supposed to be hearts but we can call it Mickey's!