All Deluxe Honeymoon! Wilderness lodge on DxDDP. A January 2015 PTR *Updated 11/27*

[GraceMonica]

Hello humans! (AHHH!)

This is my very first PTR and I'm excited to be able to share my plans with you.



Now lets get to the good stuff!


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[GraceMonica]

The Who:

Me! My name is Grace and I am a new bride to my amazing hubby Ben.

Wedding Day selfie!


A little bit about us: We met on an online dating app back in May of 2013. Our first three dates consisted of us talking for hours about our lives and families. Normally I'm a shy and quiet person, but with him I was more open and outgoing. He brought out a different side of me. He proposed to me on Valentine's Day 2014 and we planned on getting married fall of 2015.



Once we talked about what we wanted in a wedding, we agreed we wanted something very small. We're both from large families and we knew financially we wouldn't be able to invite everyone who wanted to be there. We then decided if we were having a small wedding, we would move it up to this year in October. The more I thought about it, the more I didn't want to wait. So on Easter Day, we asked his family if they would travel the two hours to Baltimore to see us get married at the court house. They said they would. From there we set a date of Friday, June 13th. Yes. We planned to get married on Friday the 13th. Anyway, the court house was out of the question because my immediate family would fill the 10 person limit. We searched for a venue that was inexpensive and I happened upon a cute venue in the City. We got married with 27 close family members to witness this joyous event and then had a delicious sushi reception at the sushi place DH and I frequent.



Welcome to a little history of GraceMonica's Disney experience!
I first went when I was 11 years old with my grandmother and one of my sisters. I don't remember much from that trip, except MNSSHP and POTC.
My parents couldn't afford to take us until 2007 when we went on our first family vacation to Disney World! We were Disney newbies!


The family in January 2013

We went yearly after that (Excluding 2010, thankfully though that was the coldest January in years!) And in 2011 we even trekked over to Disneyland! In 2012 I went twice, once in January and again in December for New Years. In 2013 I went twice. I stayed a month in January and again in March for my 21st birthday!


My 21st birthday, March 2013

Woowee! My Disney history is long compared to my DH's
This is the story of my DH:
He went to WDW with his family when he was 7yo and him and his siblings preferred the pool to the parks.

That was the first and last time he's been.

So I get the pleasure of taking him to Disney for his first adult trip. He's so very lucky he married a Dis addict!


SEE? He's so happy!

Up Next: The Where!

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[GraceMonica]

Let's get to the exciting Disney stuff! Where are we going to stay?

WELL. Here's how my mind ran for the past few weeks
Day one: Let's stay at POP! I loved POP! Its inexpensive and fun and not too far from parks and the busses aren't so bad. But if they are bad, we'll have a vehicle!
Day two: Hmm I wonder how much it would cost to stay deluxe? Let's look at The boardwalk or the beach club! Ohh, wow. That's outside my budget. BUT, It is our honeymoon so maybe we should?
Day three: What about moderates? Let's look at Caribbean Beach, because its not too far from the parks. *looks at map* oh wow! That's a big place!
Day four: POP IT IS! We'll just splurge a little by adding an extra day! OKay! Sounds great!!
POP was my original choice! But since I Can't guarantee that we'll be getting a king bed and the small beds just did not appeal to me, I made the switch to....Port Orleans French Quarter!

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[GraceMonica]

The When:

I officially booked my vacation package today!

We are staying at POFQ from...

January 3rd thru the 7th!
Our plan right now is to drive down the 31st of December. Visit DH's DGP in Tallahassee. Then, we make the trek from Tallahassee to Kissimmee on the first to stay at my DGP's rental place. Finally on Saturday check into the hotel! Then back to the rental house!

SO recap
January 1-3 Offsite
January 3-7 POFQ
January 7-11 Offsite

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[GraceMonica]

What happens when you want an all inclusive vacation? You get talked into the Dining plan. What happens when you're me and the regular dining plan just wont do, you talk you DH into going DELUXE! We were originally going to do just the dining plan. But my taste is just too expensive for that. Signatures don't make sense on the regular dining plan. So naturally I said "Woah there, wait a minute...let's go all out!"


So for the first time ever I will be using the DxDDP. I'm really excited about it. We are paying full price for it, but DH and I love eating, so I think it will work well for us!

SO I have been planning extra hard to make sure no credits goes to waste. This plan also gives me a chance to eat at some restaurants I've never tried.

I haven't finalized my dining plans yet. But I've made a few reservations!

My plans are:
Kona Café Breakfast (Paying OOP)
Flying Fish*
Crystal Palace breakfast
California Grill
Yak & Yeti
50's Prime Time
Narcoosse's*
'Ohana dinner

*Never dined here before

Since we are doing the Deluxe Dining Plan, It's really important to have reservations. For this reason, we're going to stay at a resort for only four nights. The last few nights we will be offsite DH doesn't like to plan so, the first few days will be super planned with ADRs and such and then for the end of our trip we're going to go with the flow!

I'm happy with this decision!

And for my snack credits I'm hoping to use them for CUPCAKES!
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[MrsAyres]

I think cupcakes are an excellent use of a snack credit!

Someone on here posted a picture of an amazing looking chocolate peanut butter one - I need to find that post again and note down the name of the spot so I can pick one up

Looking forward to hearing about your plans and adventures!

 

[GraceMonica]

I think cupcakes are an excellent use of a snack credit!

Someone on here posted a picture of an amazing looking chocolate peanut butter one - I need to find that post again and note down the name of the spot so I can pick one up

Looking forward to hearing about your plans and adventures!

I think I read that there is a choco peanut butter one at Starring Rolls in DHS! That's definitely something I'd like to try as well! Thinking about being able to eat 6 different ginormous cupcakes gets me all sorts of hyped up!

 

[GraceMonica]

Since DH hasn't been to Disney World since he was 7, I'm going to treat this trip like its his first.

I'm going to really show him Disney World the way its supposed to be shown.

So here is an overview of events for the week!

Day 1: Check in day / Hollywood Studios day!

Day 2: Magic Kingdom day!

Day 3: Epcot day!

Day 4: Animal Kingdom day!

Day 5: DAY OFF! OR getting back to DHS if we don't do much the first day. Really, anything can happen!

Days 6-9: Toss up! These days are up to the hubby!

Day 10: Departure day! ​

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[Britbrie]

Congrats on your wedding!! I'm sure you'll convert your new hubby to LOVE Disney in no time! Can't wait to read more!!

 

[GraceMonica]

Congrats on your wedding!! I'm sure you'll convert your new hubby to LOVE Disney in no time! Can't wait to read more!!

Thank you! He hates it when I talk about Disney, so I'm glad I have the DIS to talk all about Disney! I'm sure he'll love WDW because I love it and he loves me!

 

[GraceMonica]

Okay! I’m back and with a bit of exciting news! But before we get to that…I want to show you what I made!

I have to budget REALLY hard for this trip. We went from going out to eat 3 to 4 times a week…to none at all. Which means I have to cook and buy groceries. I love cooking, but with my work schedule being so different every week, it’s hard for me to want to cook. (So now the nights I get off at 9pm, I have many options for DH to eat so I don’t have to worry about him going out and spending more money!)

We haven’t gone out to eat since the 13th of July! Holy smokes! We then vowed to only go out on the 13th of every month, because we got married on June 13th, and it would be a little celebratory dinner.

This month I got two coupons for a free chicken salad sandwich at chick fil A. Hey…I can’t knock free.

So we’ll probably do that on the 13th.

To help me visualize my money goals I made a progress chart.

and…

Here’s a close up of it.

The Mickey head slides up (and down, but we don't want it going down!) so every time we (I) make a contribution to the Disney fund, I get to move it up!

BACK TO THE EXCITING NEWS

Last night as I was folding laundry, I decided to ask DH a very serious question regarding this trip.

Me – “So would you prefer appetizers, entrees, and dessert OR just Entrees and dessert”
DH – “Can we do just appetizers and entrees, No dessert?”
Me – “No. Do you want to do the Deluxe dining plan? We would get to try all these fancy restaurants and eat fancy food and get appetizers with them too. It is our honeymoon, after all”
DH – “Okay, but just realize this will probably be the best Disney vacation we’re going to take until our future kids are out of the house.”​

FINE WITH ME!

So, I talked DH into the DXDDP and surprisingly, it was easy!

He really likes the idea of an all-inclusive vacation. So that’s what I’m going to give him!

PLUS, I really wanted to do California Grill and Narcoossee’s this trip, so going deluxe just seemed logical.

Now I get to do fun things like plan more meals and this means MORE SNACK CREDITS!
So more cupcakes and more credits for other stuff. I just really like food...

Now I get to patiently wait for discounts to come out. Two months wont be that long, will it?​

 

[craedaisy12]

Love the savings bar! Adorable! So much planning to do still!

~October 18-26, 2014~

 

[Britbrie]

That's an awesome craft! I should make one of those!! I definitely need to start saving!!

 

[GraceMonica]

Okay, last night I saw a post from The Disney Food Blog.

Guess what it was about...

CUPCAKES!

I squealed with joy when I saw this!

Naturally I started planning out what cupcakes I NEED to get my hands on!
As of right now I am going to have 8 snack credits on the dining plan. That's 8 cupcakes for my enjoyment.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake: This is quickly becoming a fan favorite after being introduced in late 2010. The red velvet cake topped with cream cheese frosting and the slightest dollop of what seems like real cheesecake is decadent to say the least! Get it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

This one I’m definitely going to try! I make an amazing red velvet and cream cheese icing cupcake and I want to see how Disney’s cupcakes stack up!

Photo and description from DisneyFoodBlog's website

More cupcakes to come!
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[craedaisy12]

Okay, last night I saw a post from The Disney Food Blog. Guess what it was about... CUPCAKES! I squealed with joy when I saw this! Naturally I started planning out what cupcakes I NEED to get my hands on! As of right now I am going to have 8 snack credits on the dining plan. That's 8 cupcakes for my enjoyment. Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake: This is quickly becoming a fan favorite after being introduced in late 2010. The red velvet cake topped with cream cheese frosting and the slightest dollop of what seems like real cheesecake is decadent to say the least! Get it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! This one I’m definitely going to try! I make an amazing red velvet and cream cheese icing cupcake and I want to see how Disney’s cupcakes stack up! Photo and description from DisneyFoodBlog's website More cupcakes to come!

The cupcake looks delicious! Must take pictures of all the ones you get!!

~October 18-26, 2014~

 

[GraceMonica]

After spending the morning getting some cleaning in, I figured it was about time to do an update, So I'm back!

*cue my Disney Pandora station!*

When DH and I first decided to go to Disney in January, my mind could not and would not think of anything else. I was in a Disney coma. That sounds fun, right? For me maybe! BUT not for my poor hubby. I’ve settled down and for the past week I haven’t thought about where I was eating in 5 months.

But now I’m back. Two words. Mickey Mail!

Last week the incredible mail was delivered (to my parent’s house?)

AND yesterday my customizable maps came! (to my house!)

My hubby couldn't care less about the mickey mail…until he saw the customizable maps. He got really happy when he read the words “The Blakey Family” He likes the fact that he’s starting a family of his own. (Yesterday was our two months! Yay newlyweds!) ​

 

[GraceMonica]

Okay, I'm not sure if I'm the only one who does this...but I have made so many ADRs! I feel like I’m constantly confirming and cancelling ADRs! Does anyone else have this problem?

I think I am happy with what I’ve chosen. (For the time being. It can change if we end up not going deluxe, but as of right now we are so these are our plans!)

Day 1 No Reservations

Day 2 Kona Café breakfast.

50's Prime Time Cafe dinner.

Day 3 Crystal Palace breakfast.

California Grill dinner.

Day 4 Tokyo Dining lunch.

Flying Fish dinner.

Day 5 Yak & Yeti Lunch.

Narcoossee’s dinner.

Day 6 ‘Ohana dinner.

Days 7-9 No Reservations

I’m looking forward to every single one of the meals I have planned!​

 

[GraceMonica]

My PTR seems to have fizzled out. Unfortunately I'm not in the Disney Planning mood much anymore. Between working and trying to save as much money as possible before the trip, I've been cooking a lot more and spending some quality time with my hubby.

I really LOVE fall. Like, LOVE LOVE LOVE. Was supposed to get married in the fall. Love it that much. Now I get the pleasure of looking at all the pictures from Disney this time of year. It doesn't help that I'm following a bunch of Disney dedicated pages on facebook. So I get the daily 'OH MY GOD, FALL/HALLOWEEN IN DISNEY' posts. Not to mention, my parents, grandparents and a few siblings are on their way to Disneyland right now. My sister and her fiancé are going to Disney World next month. I'm missing out on my favorite time of year at my favorite place. It's making me sad.


I'm now deciding whether or not to push my Disney vacation to NEXT September or October. It would give me more time to save. It would give me a chance to go during my favorite time of year. Only downside? Waiting LONGER to go back to Disney. Its kind of upsetting. Plus my husband might not go for the idea. He loves Halloween too, but the gory kind of Halloween. Not the cutesy oh my god, look a mickey pumpkin! Halloween. SO now I get to think long and hard about this.

On another note, my little sister will be going to Disney in January with my parents the same time we're there. So I would be missing out on spending some Disney time with my baby sister!

Although, I could go to Disney in January, stay offsite with my grandparents, get annual passes and then go back in October. That is also another option. OHH that sounds like a good option too.

On a lighter note, I started sewing again!

I made this little giftcard holder for my mother. Shes on her way to Disneyland and she wanted one that matched her new dooney and bourke.

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[GraceMonica]

Since this is Ben's first real trip, I've got to plan on the must do's! There are so many things to do in each park that I need to make some sort of a game plan if we're going to get the most out of this trip. Especially since we're planning on eating out of the park for a lot of meals!

Let's start with the first park built: THE Magic Kingdom
There are so many must do's for me here! My plan of attack is to take it one land at a time. This will also depend on FP+ and what I'll be able to get and at what time.

SO I'll start with Adventureland.
There are two things that are a must do for me
First: The Jungle Cruise. I think he’ll get a giggle from this one.

And Secondly: Pirates Of The Caribbean. This is one of my favorites!

Next, we Move onto Frontierland!
I’m not sure if splash will be down for refurbishment. So I’m not going to include that one.
But I’m definitely including Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road.

Next, we’ll move onto liberty square.
We definitely NEED to go on the Haunted Mansion. This is one of the few requests from DH.

From there we move onto Fantasyland.
Yes, I am making it’s a small world a must do. Because everyone needs to do it at least once.

Mickey’s Philharmagic will be a must do because I think he’ll enjoy that one.
I’m a little hesitant on New Fantasyland. I don’t want to stress over it so we’ll see if we have time for that. We’ll also see where FP+ gets us
.
Tomorowland has a few must Do’s
Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, The People Mover, Carousel of Progress, and Monsters Inc Laugh floor.

AND one last thing I’m determined to get him on: The Walt Disney World Railroad. My goal is one loop.

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[GraceMonica]

Officially Booked!

After discounts came out, I tried to change everything around. One bad CM on the phone kind of put that to a halt when I was informed only deluxe was available for the dates I wanted. I can't afford that. SO I cut my current reservation by two days and added deluxe dining! No discount, but still within my budget! YAY!

And The last few days of the vacation will be spent at an offsite rental (free for us to use!) SO I just need to find money for tips and food the last few days! (My parents will be down the same time...so maybe we'll hang out with them! )

Here's to hoping SANTA brings lots of gift cards this year! I should be on the nice list! ​