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

[jcmaro]

I'm glad to hear such good things about POR because we will be there April 24-May 3. We stayed at CSR and didnt really like it either. I've seen your posts on the live thread and enjoyed reading your reports.

May 1st is a great day! We will be celebrating our youngest's 4th birthday on this trip as her birthday is May 1st.

 

[MrsB1228]

Hi Paula, followed the link in your sig from my DR, a bit late to the party but I'm here none-the-less.

Firstly, thanks for sharing your wedding photos, you both looked so happy and I LOVE your dress! And that cake?! Oh yeah!!

We have a springtime anniversary as well (May 29th) and we'll be celebrating 32 years this year. We always have to take our holidays in the fall or the winter due to work obligations, but since the fall usually coincides with free dining and F&W, we're ok with that, LOL. We celebrate when we're there, because our WDW trips are our gift to each other. It's too bad we'll miss you, but I'm looking forward to reading all about it!

Love your resort choices! We're big fans of POFQ because of the theming and the smaller size, but we love POR just as much. YeeHaw Bob is a hoot, LOVE his show! WL is absolutely gorgeous, and I hope to stay there one day, if I can ever tear myself away from FQ, LOL.

Your dining lineup looks awesome! Eating good food is always such a big part of any Disney vacation and one of the things DH and I really look forward to each time.

Looking forward to more as you finalize your plans and post updates.

 

[smile4stamps]

hi! found your PTR and just had to join in because 1) I met my DH online also and 2) we're going to Disney this fall to celebrate our 10 year anniversary! sorry I can't really help with your ADR dilemmas since we've only eaten at a few of those places, but i'm sure whatever you choose will be delicious! can't wait to hear more! maybe I can steal some ideas for our trip!

Welcome!! Online relationships if you find the right person are great!!

I will be sharing more details soon!! I've had a crazy month but hopefully will have some more time for the DIS in the next few weeks!

I'm glad to hear such good things about POR because we will be there April 24-May 3. We stayed at CSR and didnt really like it either. I've seen your posts on the live thread and enjoyed reading your reports.

May 1st is a great day! We will be celebrating our youngest's 4th birthday on this trip as her birthday is May 1st.

Welcome!! We both have celebrations on May 1st!! We overlap in POR for a few days! If you see us say hi!

Hi Paula, followed the link in your sig from my DR, a bit late to the party but I'm here none-the-less.

Firstly, thanks for sharing your wedding photos, you both looked so happy and I LOVE your dress! And that cake?! Oh yeah!!

We have a springtime anniversary as well (May 29th) and we'll be celebrating 32 years this year. We always have to take our holidays in the fall or the winter due to work obligations, but since the fall usually coincides with free dining and F&W, we're ok with that, LOL. We celebrate when we're there, because our WDW trips are our gift to each other. It's too bad we'll miss you, but I'm looking forward to reading all about it!

Love your resort choices! We're big fans of POFQ because of the theming and the smaller size, but we love POR just as much. YeeHaw Bob is a hoot, LOVE his show! WL is absolutely gorgeous, and I hope to stay there one day, if I can ever tear myself away from FQ, LOL.

Your dining lineup looks awesome! Eating good food is always such a big part of any Disney vacation and one of the things DH and I really look forward to each time.

Looking forward to more as you finalize your plans and post updates.

Welcome!! It's never too late to join the party!! POFQ is the only mod we haven't stayed in but with out love of Yeehaw Bob it may be hard to convince us away from POR!

We love the WL. It feels like home to us and it helps my husband to relax while we are at Disney!

The dining it always the hardest thing to figure out!! Once we have that set then the other details can fall into place!

 

[emmysmommy]

I think I know what's made the cut thus far. There's so many great options that are must dos and others that you just want to do because it seems like the thing to do!

Ok, so I'm getting the feeling that Y&Y will get the heave ho which is fine. I don't mind doing this one with just Michael and then meeting up for dinner that night.

We definitely need to book HDDR but the TiW seating is 4pm. boo! hiss!

Looks like all your green choices are covered. For your blue choices we need Le Cellier. Not sure if you are doing Via Napoli before we arrive.

 

[smile4stamps]

I think I know what's made the cut thus far. There's so many great options that are must dos and others that you just want to do because it seems like the thing to do!

Ok, so I'm getting the feeling that Y&Y will get the heave ho which is fine. I don't mind doing this one with just Michael and then meeting up for dinner that night.

We definitely need to book HDDR but the TiW seating is 4pm. boo! hiss!

Looks like all your green choices are covered. For your blue choices we need Le Cellier. Not sure if you are doing Via Napoli before we arrive.

I'm thinking you know my plans better than I do at the moment!!

Hunter may decide he wants Y&Y.. I would just leave it for 4 and we will decide later lol... Unless of course we decide not to do AK that day in which case Y&Y would be out!

Le Cellier and Via Napoli still need to find a home.. I think we found one for VN but not LC right?

 

[smile4stamps]

I'm a Bad Bad Bad PTR'er!!

I really planned to do better! And I will!! As soon as I return from DL next week! Yes.. I am leaving for DL on Wednesday... and of course it was precedented by working 9 consecutive night shifts in a row again!!

I'll be back next week and then it will be time to get serious on plans for this WDW trip!

 

[ttcl516]

Followed you over from the dining thread....can't give much help in the way of food as we've only been to Disney once. But I love reading all your reviews....Happy Planning!!

 

[emmysmommy]

Safe travels to you Paula! Bring your rain coat we are supposed to get some rain for a few days. Hopefully by Sunday when we meet up it will be bright and sunny again!

Back to your plans.... yes, VN found a home. Now just Le Cellier. Unless we ditched the early HDDR for a later dinner I don't see where LC fits in while we are there. You may be able to squeeze it in before we arrive. Or we could swap it out for VN but then it would be LC with Cali Grill dinner. Sheesh! Oh well, it will all work out.

Interestingly Michael asked about "that place where you eat in the cars"... Sci-Fi. I told him no room unless he wants to make that our last lunch at Epcot. He's so easily distracted though ...he'll forget about that one I'm sure.

 

[smile4stamps]

Followed you over from the dining thread....can't give much help in the way of food as we've only been to Disney once. But I love reading all your reviews....Happy Planning!!

Welcome!! I'm sorry I haven't been very active over here!! It should be better for the next few weeks as I am not having any visitors or traveling anywhere until this trip!

Safe travels to you Paula! Bring your rain coat we are supposed to get some rain for a few days. Hopefully by Sunday when we meet up it will be bright and sunny again!

Back to your plans.... yes, VN found a home. Now just Le Cellier. Unless we ditched the early HDDR for a later dinner I don't see where LC fits in while we are there. You may be able to squeeze it in before we arrive. Or we could swap it out for VN but then it would be LC with Cali Grill dinner. Sheesh! Oh well, it will all work out.

Interestingly Michael asked about "that place where you eat in the cars"... Sci-Fi. I told him no room unless he wants to make that our last lunch at Epcot. He's so easily distracted though ...he'll forget about that one I'm sure.

I did bring my rain gear and boy oh boy it was really needed!! Certainly got my $10 out of that Poncho!! If only my boots i had gotten hadn't bruised my shins I would have been just dandy!!

We have to do HDDR and I hate to give up the 20% discount.. I sent you a message earlier today on a possible switch to make LC work...

We've actually never been to Sci-Fi.. The only lunch place I'm willing to not do though is Y&Y... I think... lol

 

[smile4stamps]

Hello!! I am here with a real update... I thought I would go over our daily plans...

This day will most likely be just Hunter and I. We will have flown in the night before arriving sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Due to this I have not made any park plans for this day...

Instead when we wake up we will take a boat from POR to DTD.

I am planning to have lunch at Paradiso 37. This is a new place to us but has been on the radar for a long time.

From lunch I am thinking either a movie (something we don't get to do often living apart) or bowling.. We even went bowling on our honeymoon so it fits! Or possible both depending on what we feel like!

For dinner we will still be in the DTD area and will head to a place we have been several times but never for dinner!

I'm hoping this salad is still on the menu!

If that exact salad is NOT on the menu I am hoping for a similar one!

I also hope to save room for dessert

Ger's Bread Pudding!! Haven't had room the last few times we've been so I'm hoping that is different this time!

I'm planning Raglan Road for dinner as I would really like to check out the entertainment!

From there we will head back to our resort for some more fun times!!

Yee-Haw Bob!! Planning to get there early enough to get a seat!!

So while it doesn't have any parks I'm hoping this first day is still fun but a more relaxing start to our vacation!

 

[smile4stamps]

Our second full day at WDW will actually involve going to a park! At least for me lol! I'm not sure yet if Hunter will hang out at the resort or if he will join me at the Park! Either way I am hoping he will meet me for lunch!!

So which park is the plans for today?!?!

Magic Kingdom!!

It was our first park on our first trip together! I wanted it to be so again this trip. Except this time I do NOt have us getting to the resort at 1am followed by an 8am breakfast! That day off in between with no early morning ADR should help my hubby to be a little more interested!

I would like to get there for rope drop.. I haven't yet booked out FP+ but I am thinking will choose some for the afternoon as hopefully lines will be ok in the morning.

For lunch this day I have currently planned the Plaza.. I'm still deciding between here and the Wave which I have been to but my DH has not..

We dined at the Plaza during our October 2012 trip prior to MNSSHP!

I enjoyed a burger with delicious fries

Hunter had the cheesesteak. Both were good solid choices and why I am thinking about eating here.

The Wave... I am NOT impressed by the menu but it would be a new place for my DH so not 100% on this. Will likely stick with the Plaza just for a nice not so big in Park meal.

Although I have also thought about doing Tony's as we have never been there either...

In the afternoon I hope to hit up a few favorite rides with my DH if he hadn't made it in the morning including Splash and BTMRR.

After doing that we will likely head back to the resort for a quick change if we have the time!

Dinner tonight will be at a favorite of our Citrico's!!

We will be joined by one of the fellow December Dining Crew Beth and her husband Wil.

This will be the first of 2 times we will be dining at Citrico's this trip!

The very first time we were spoiled and received 2 desserts from V&A's!

This is also where we met Chef Eddie. Who has become a friend!

When we dined here in 2012 we were introduced to Chef Phillip who arranged for us to have a tasting menu for our meal! This was truly spectacular!
Here is the review of that dinner that I sent to Barb for the live thread.

In 2013 we again has a tasting menu and my only request was that I get the Short Ribs with Trofie Pasta (which in that combo wasn't actually still on the menu... so I was spoiled!)
And again you can find the review I sent to Barb for the live thread here.

I am not planning to ask for a tasting menu... THIS time... However on the following occasion it is most likely a given!

After this meal we will once again head to the River Roost at Port Orleans Riverside for some more Yee-Haw Bob entertainment!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Hi!!

Oh.. yes... I am Waving at myself!! But that is okay!! I understand this isn't very thrilling reading here!!

But on to the next days plans... Oh.. and 5 weeks till my trip!! I will be trying to post plans a little closer together!! If anyone has input of suggestions PLEASE SHARE! I really want this trip to be special but I am out of special ideas!!

So... Day 3. Saturday, April 26

This is a planned DHS day. I need to get on making FP+ for this day!! The problem is I like to let me husband wake up slowly instead of forcing him to the parks for opening so I am uncertain if we should book Toy Story Mania... or Rock and Roller Coaster!

Both rides are favorites so it is a HARD choice!! Why oh WHY can we not choose both!!!

But anyways... along with FP+ I also have no ADR's for this day I mean really... how does an ubber planner not have any plans?!?!

Yeah.. its probably because most of the rest of the trip is so planned with ADR's that this day just hasn't been filled yet!

So what am I thinking to eat this day?

I have several options I will offer to my husband. #1 Lunch at Fairfax Fare. We did this in October for which my review is HERE I really enjoyed the food here! I would definitly be willing to have it again.

Option #2 Lunch at the bar at the Tune-In Lounge. WE spent the afternoon here in October and had a lot of fun so a repeat would be fun!

Option #3 Snacks at the Hollywood Brown Derby new lounge.. haven't done this.. not sure if we would want to but it IS an option

Option #4 See about getting in at Sci-Fi.. Haven't been here either and it might be a fun experience

I'm presuming we will do a few rides here.. maybe Indiana Jones as we haven't done that lately. I REALLY want to do the Animation Academy with my husband! The key to doing that?!? REMEMBERING we WANT to do that! Yeah... I always remember... when we are back home!! Can someone ding me on this day and tell me to do it?!? PLEASE!

Alright so now onto Dinner plans... or lack thereof!

In October we attended the Swan/Dolphin F&W Classic! HUGE FANS! Very VERY sad we won't make it this year as it is 2 weeks AFTER our AP's expire. From IL Mulino they had this FANTASTIC Veal dish. Since then I've been thinking of trying IL Mulino. SO that is option #1

Option #2 dinner at Boatwrights at POR. You don't see many reviews of this place but the ones I have seen have all looked pretty good.

I am hoping that either dinner place we can decide that day what we want as I don't want to pay a cancellation fee but can't make up my mind now!

And Can anyone guess what will follow dinner regardless of where we dine?!?





Did you guess YeeHaw Bob?!? I bet you did! And you would be SO right! This will be our 3rd night in a row seeing Bob and our last... Unless any of our dining companions would like to make a trip out there to see him later in the trip!

 

[jcmaro]

I'm enjoying reading your plans since we will be there at the same time. The 25th is a MK day for us and the 26th is a HS day for us too! Although our meals aren't as exciting since we have 3 kids with us so we are all about the character meals! Lol!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I love reading your plans. Still hoping that Jay and I will take our first couple trip since 1994 in September so I am very interested in your plans. YeeHaw Bob is on my must do list. Planning to stay one night at POR just to see him.

For what it's worth, my vote would be Il Mulino. Boatwright's doesn't always get the best reviews. We ate there back in 2007 and weren't impressed but that was long ago.

 

[smile4stamps]

I'm enjoying reading your plans since we will be there at the same time. The 25th is a MK day for us and the 26th is a HS day for us too! Although our meals aren't as exciting since we have 3 kids with us so we are all about the character meals! Lol!

Too funny that we have planned the same parks!! I imagine your day will be QUITE different though! I do love the character meals though! Sadly none this trip!!

I love reading your plans. Still hoping that Jay and I will take our first couple trip since 1994 in September so I am very interested in your plans. YeeHaw Bob is on my must do list. Planning to stay one night at POR just to see him.

For what it's worth, my vote would be Il Mulino. Boatwright's doesn't always get the best reviews. We ate there back in 2007 and weren't impressed but that was long ago.

This trip started out being just Hunter and I but as I'm sure you are aware Vicki there are plenty to be joining in the fun!! I'm sure your first time with just Jay in September will be quite different for you though!

Yee-Haw Bob performs Weds-Sat I bleive so mack sure its one of those nights!

I've actually heard decent things about Boatwrights but yes I agree its not the same class as IL Mulino.. however it will depend on how we feel that day... maybe it will end up being something completely different lol.

 

[smile4stamps]

Happy Sunday!! (or Monday, or Tuesday or whatever day it happens to be when you read this!!)

Plans for Sunday, April 27th.

So.. I have this day down as an AK day but I'm NOT entirely sure we will make it there!

On this day we will need to pack up as we will be leaving POR and checking into the Villas at Wilderness Lodge! Our home away from home! I'm not sure if I mentioned this earlier but the reason we get to stay here a second time is by exchanging through RCI our timeshare for DVC. That has certainly come in handy for us!! Exchanging into DVC through RCI can be a bit stressful!! The rooms that come available go VERY VERY fast and you have to time being online JUST right to get it! Thankfully I did manage this and I am blessed I did as it meant the trip could now be a longer one!

So with that because it is a RCI/DVC exchange I don't feel the need to go early to check-in since our room type is guaranteed and with the RCI exchange you pretty much get what it left over after the owners and people who book directly get the better views. However we are completely happy if we get the same thing as last time!!

A Happy Hunter!!

But ooopsss. I got ahead of myself! So.. Since we won't get an option on the room we get I will skip checking in and instead we will head out to AK. Depending on what time it is when we get to AK we will either use some of the FP+ reservations I have made or we will head to Animal Kingdom Lodge!

I have FINALLY made a reservation at Sanaa! After reading many wonderful reviews and seeing it featured on a show on the Food Network it was decided that we MUST try this!

After lunch we will head out again. We will grab either a DHS bus or an Epcot one depending on what shows up first.

Our destination... Epcot! This wasn't in my original plans but I think it will mean a fun afternoon! Why is this?! We will be re-uniting with several DIS'ers from our December trip. Now Beth we will have spent Friday with but there is someone else that will be joining! WHO?!?!

The notorious leader of the Live Dining Reports Thread! BARB

I also realized I never included this picture when I discussed joining up with Beth on Friday!

We had a lot of fun with Beth the night this picture was taken so we can't wait to spend more time with her and also her Husband Wil.


So.. The reason for this meeting is Beth will be leaving WDW this day and Barb is just arriving. So we thought it would be fun for us all to be together in the few hours that they overlap at the parks. And It will be Barb's Birthday!!

We are planning to meet up at Tutto Gusto. A Fun place to hang out and hopefully it isn't like a college frat party in there!


After spending some time reuniting we will head out to officially check into the VWL. Call for our bags, freshen up and then head to dinner!

Where is dinner?! Only at ONE of our most favorite WDW restaurants!
This also happens to be Barbs favorite and one of the reasons she decided to go on this trip!

This dinner will be Barb, Hunter and myself.. so where are we going??

We have this dinner scheduled so we will be there to view Wishes... What course we will be on at that time I couldn't guess!

We love visiting with our Favorite Disney Chef here!

From dinner we will head back to our Villa!

 

[emmysmommy]

If it were me I'd keep Plaza Restaurant at MK! One of my favorites. I've only had breakfast at The Wave but I am not the biggest fan so I'm probably bitter and not open to expanding my horizons.

That's awesome that you have CA Grill for Barb's dinner. I'm sad that I'll miss seeing Beth and Wil since I'm not going in late October to see them. Fun stuff for sure! Enjoy the dinner since the next day you have some very special friends arriving.....

 

[jabead]

I literally laughed out loud when I saw this photo. I look three sheets to the wind...maybe even four. Too funny!

I'm sad that I'll miss seeing Beth and Wil since I'm not going in late October to see them.

What??? Et tu, Brenda? When did this happen?

Man, I'm going to have to hijack a plane too in order to fit all the people on my growing list of kidnap victims. Let's see, there's Vicki in New York, Paula in Sacramento, Hunter in Colorado, and now you???

 

[smile4stamps]

If it were me I'd keep Plaza Restaurant at MK! One of my favorites. I've only had breakfast at The Wave but I am not the biggest fan so I'm probably bitter and not open to expanding my horizons.

That's awesome that you have CA Grill for Barb's dinner. I'm sad that I'll miss seeing Beth and Wil since I'm not going in late October to see them. Fun stuff for sure! Enjoy the dinner since the next day you have some very special friends arriving.....

Yes I am thinking I will leave the Plaza in there. Especially since Beth and Wil will be joining us! I hear its rare for Wil to go to MK! Same with Hunter!

Don't forget you had your Mickey Waffle the last time from the Wave lol!

I'm sad you will miss that CA Grill experience but there will be another!

Special Friends?!? In what way do you mean special?!? Ha-ha just teasing you!!

I literally laughed out loud when I saw this photo. I look three sheets to the wind...maybe even four. Too funny!



What??? Et tu, Brenda? When did this happen?

Man, I'm going to have to hijack a plane too in order to fit all the people on my growing list of kidnap victims. Let's see, there's Vicki in New York, Paula in Sacramento, Hunter in Colorado, and now you???

Well lets see... as this point we had been to Tutto Gusto, drank there, shared a few pitchers of Sangria at Via Napoli, had a shot in Germany and now a Slushie!! I actually don't think you look three sheets to the wind.. just a bit tipsy lol. It was the only picture I could find that I could easily crop the other people out and have the 3 of us in the pics! Don't worry.. the one I posted of Beth and us we all really were three sheets to the wind!!

Please don't try and pick my up in Sacramento!! I'm a bit aways from there!! You can rescue me in San Jose!! Do you know the way to San Jose?!?!

 

[smile4stamps]

Onto the next day of our plans...

Monday, April 28th

On this day we will be waking up in our hopefully fabulous Villa Room! From there we will head to Epcot!

This seems to always be a trend for us. Epcot Mondays lol.

I have a few FP+ scheduled for this day but I'm not so sure we will actually do them! We have Test Track, Spaceship Earth and Nemo! (that 3rd one is just a, well.. what else do I choose?!?)

For lunch this day we are planning to Eat our way around the Flower and Garden Booths! We enjoy a lot of the Food & Wine booths so are excited to give these a try! Hopefully Barb will be joining us for this tour around the "world"

After stuffing ourselves I imagine we will head back to the resort to freshen up a little bit. Dinner tonight is at a place that we went to on our Five Year Anniversary trip and did not have a good experience but Hunter is FINALLY willing to give it another try...

This restaurant despite almost always getting fabulous reviews was our least favorite. Hunters chicken was WAY overcooked and my meal just tasted off (that may have been because of the AWFUL cold I had developed but Hunter also said it didn't taste right)

However, on this night it will not just be the two of us. It won't even be the three of us with Barb. Nope.. another celebrating Dis'er is arriving this day! This Dis'er is celebrating a birthday that will have occurred a bit earlier in April.

Who is this person?!? Well.. she kinda gave it away herself a few days ago... Yes, joining us will be Brenda and her husband Michael. I have spent time with Brenda at both WDW and DL and with her and her husband at DL. This will be the first time our husbands will be meeting though!

Here I am with Brenda and Micheal before our dinner at Napa Rose in Disneyland. (Brenda.. sorry.. I stole your picture!)

Primarily when I meet up with Brenda in Disneyland its just for a short time and it revolves around a meal. This trip just multiplies that time and we get to have more park experiences as well! I'm really looking forward to spending the time with her and her husband! (We are sad that Emily needs to focus on her school and is unable to make it for this trip.)

After what I am hoping is at least a good dinner at Jiko we will take a Taxi back to Wilderness Lodge since it will be too late to rely on Disney Transportation.