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

[shalom]

Originally Posted by redoschi

and requested a lake view room at the 70s building.

Crossing my fingers for you.

[redoschi]

Originally Posted by shalom

Crossing my fingers for you.

Thanks! I hope it works out fine!

I'm excited about Limited Time Magic that is starting this week! The continuous New Year's party seems fun and so do the special Ear Hats that will be released throughout the year! I guess we'll have to get at least one of those!

Can't wait to see what surprises they're planning for the weeks we'll be there!

[redoschi]

Two weeks and counting!

This weekend I sat with DFi and DMIL to review our plans, changed a bit our schedules, but almost nothing of parks, just when to hit certain bridal shops and malls.

And we're thinking of going to Gatorland's Night Shine to see the gators in the dark, has anyone here tried it?

[redoschi]

Starting countdown for liftoff!
10 days!

Today I started updating my packing list in order to not forget anything! I'll probably start packing this weekend or early next week.

Last night I finally ordered my Christmas present to myself. A new camera, DSLR this time!!!
I ordered a Canon Rebel T4i on Amazon with a camera bag to be delivered at our first hotel! It should be there when we arrive so I can start using it since day one!

I forgot to mention that I'm audioreading Walt Disney's biography by Neal Gabler while commuting to give me a bit of Disney fix everyday!
I've read about a third of it and it has been really interesting! I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about how it all came together!

[redoschi]

1 week left!!!

With all the changes that happened recently at the WDW website, I had to make online check-in again because it wasn't showing that I had done it on the older version of the site. I again asked for the 70's room with lake view and included our expected times for arrival and departure. Hopefully they'll manage to get us a room like that!

[Xclusive2WDW]

Originally Posted by redoschi

Yeah, maybe I didn't miss those longer hours, they were simply changed recently.

About the Premium Outlets, I believe that there is a Martin Luther King weekend sale (we arrive late on sunday of that weekend to hit the outlets on Monday), At least I remember reading about MLK sales in the past.

I'm a member of the Premium Outlets VIP club (used it on both our last trip to Orlando in 2007 and on a trip to NY last year), but I didn't know about the Sentinel sales flyers! As we'll be at MCO on sunday evening, I'll try to get one of those!

Let's see how people are keeping up with my Commando touring tactics and if needed I'll include some more downtime for the second part!

I haven't tried Capt. Grille's yet, but I doubt I'll give up on Beaches & Cream. That burger was the best I've had in WDW (and is surely on my top 3 ever!) and their desserts are also amazing!

I am glad to know someone who is a member to the Premium outlets VIP. Do you think I should join right before I leave in May or now I want to leave to time to receive and use the coupon they give for signing up, but I don't want it to expire before we get there. We're going mother's Day weekend so perhaps they will have some good sales the week prior to that as well I am loving your plans, your making good use of the QSDP and having me re-think it as a option for future trips even. Are you going to do a DR when you return? I think you should because between the places your going to eat and the snacks you want, I would enjoy reading it.

Originally Posted by shalom

Huh, I'd heard the Beaches and Cream desserts were great but I got the impression that the burger was only okay. It's admittedly on the Disney Food Blog's "Three Best Burgers" list, but then they describe it as "pretty flat, pretty thin, and pretty standard," and go on to say it's all about the environment and the sides/desserts.

Although people could be raving about it and I suppose I wouldn't notice, since I tend not to pay attention unless there's something different being offered -- the cheeseburger at the Captain's Grille is supposedly good, but it's the Captain's Burger, with the crab meat and choron sauce, that I think sounds interesting. Whether I'd actually order it if I was there, I dunno. I'm thinking about hitting the Captain's Grille while we're at Hollywood Studios, which is early in our trip, so I might give it a shot -- I'm a more adventurous eater at first, but then the longer we're gone, the more I start craving the familiar!





Martin Luther King Day sales are pretty common, so maybe if they don't have one there, the Sentinel will have some great ads for somewhere else. Heaven knows there are plenty of outlet malls in Orlando, although admittedly that one's the most convenient to WDW. There are a lot of outlet stores out by the Festival Bay mall, at the far end of International drive, basically the other side of I-4 from Universal Studios. There's another Premium Outlet there, but there's also VF Outlets (whatever that is ), Outlet Marketplace, and a bunch of individual stores I think.

And now I realize you don't mention which Orlando Premium Outlet mall you meant to go for (I had it in my head you were going to the one off Vineland), so you may already know all this!

I am an adventurous eater as well Shalom, I even thought about implementing a "rule" that I could not repeat entree's on my various trips, we will see if I can commit to that.

Originally Posted by redoschi

1 week left!!!

With all the changes that happened recently at the WDW website, I had to make online check-in again because it wasn't showing that I had done it on the older version of the site. I again asked for the 70's room with lake view and included our expected times for arrival and departure. Hopefully they'll manage to get us a room like that!

Here's to hoping with you!!! I am soooooo excited for you, ONE. MORE. WEEK I have not been in 5 years either so I understand missing Disney and they excitement of going back You all travel safely and talk to you soon my brother commando (we even joined the Commando Club @ the same time, your #215 and I'm #216, how cool).

[redoschi]

Originally Posted by Xclusive2WDW

I am glad to know someone who is a member to the Premium outlets VIP. Do you think I should join right before I leave in May or now I want to leave to time to receive and use the coupon they give for signing up, but I don't want it to expire before we get there. We're going mother's Day weekend so perhaps they will have some good sales the week prior to that as well I am loving your plans, your making good use of the QSDP and having me re-think it as a option for future trips even. Are you going to do a DR when you return? I think you should because between the places your going to eat and the snacks you want, I would enjoy reading it.

The premium outlets vip club is free, so you should certainly sign up on their website! It has several printable coupons as well as a coupon to get a free copy of the regular coupon book that they sell at the information services.

I don't remember seeing a coupon given to people who sign up for the club. You just log in and select one of your favorite centers and print the coupons.

I haven't really thought about doing a DR. I'd just include some reviews into my TR, but maybe I'll make a thread with a compendium of those and extra thoughts!

Originally Posted by Xclusive2WDW

Here's to hoping with you!!! I am soooooo excited for you, ONE. MORE. WEEK I have not been in 5 years either so I understand missing Disney and they excitement of going back You all travel safely and talk to you soon my brother commando (we even joined the Commando Club @ the same time, your #215 and I'm #216, how cool).

I hadn't noticed we joined the club @ the same time, this sure is cool!

Thanks for all the happy thoughts!

[redoschi]

4 more days!

Last night I almost finished packing (just need to get some emergency medicine and print all outlet coupons).

The others still haven't packed though, I'll probably help DFi with her packing tonight!

touringplans.com changed some crowd levels on their calendar and when I went to check them out I discovered some great changes in park hours. Putting it all together I believe we will really do that secondary plan that I thought of.

Due to crowd level differences it is best to do AK on 30th, Epcot on 31st and MK on Feb 1st, the only thing that we would miss with this is Main Street Electrical Parade (if we don't see it on Monday as described below) and Liberty Belle Riverboat (which starts its refurbishment on Feb 1st).

HS is staying open until 10pm on Mondays (considering EMH), so this gives us an extra hour on Jan 28th and another on Feb 4th!

MK is staying open until midnight on Superbowl sunday! Hopefully people won't crowd these EMH because of Superbowl!

AK is staying open until 8pm on weekends, so my plan is to stay until 7, 7h30 on Feb 3rd on AK (doing EE at night!) and then taking a bus to either MK or Contemporary (any ideas which would be faster?) for EMH at MK until midnight as I mentioned earlier!

Then on Monday 4th we'll need to decide between doing MK until mid afternoon than hopping to HS or to do it until early evening and leave just after Main Street Electrical Parade (watch it in Main Street and leave as soon as possible after and take the bus from Contemporary to HS as Ferries and Monorails are bound to be crowded).

[Xclusive2WDW]

Originally Posted by redoschi

4 more days!

So close, yay

Last night I almost finished packing (just need to get some emergency medicine and print all outlet coupons).

The others still haven't packed though, I'll probably help DFi with her packing tonight!

touringplans.com changed some crowd levels on their calendar and when I went to check them out I discovered some great changes in park hours. Putting it all together I believe we will really do that secondary plan that I thought of.

Due to crowd level differences it is best to do AK on 30th, Epcot on 31st and MK on Feb 1st, the only thing that we would miss with this is Main Street Electrical Parade (if we don't see it on Monday as described below) and Liberty Belle Riverboat (which starts its refurbishment on Feb 1st).

HS is staying open until 10pm on Mondays (considering EMH), so this gives us an extra hour on Jan 28th and another on Feb 4th!

It's cool that they touring plans changed in your favor. That is much better than changing and it messes you up.

MK is staying open until midnight on Superbowl sunday! Hopefully people won't crowd these EMH because of Superbowl!

AK is staying open until 8pm on weekends, so my plan is to stay until 7, 7h30 on Feb 3rd on AK (doing EE at night!) and then taking a bus to either MK or Contemporary (any ideas which would be faster?) for EMH at MK until midnight as I mentioned earlier!

I would say to catch a bus straight to MK if you could, however a bus to the Contemporary would only mean you need to monorail or walk over to MK.

Then on Monday 4th we'll need to decide between doing MK until mid afternoon than hopping to HS or to do it until early evening and leave just after Main Street Electrical Parade (watch it in Main Street and leave as soon as possible after and take the bus from Contemporary to HS as Ferries and Monorails are bound to be crowded).

Have fun

[redoschi]

Originally Posted by Xclusive2WDW

Have fun

Thanks!

And I believe there is no park-to-MK direct buses. AK to MK would take me to TTC and therefore a ferry or monorail from there. So going to Contemporary would allow us to take a single mode of transportation and walking the rest of the way.

[redoschi]

1 more day, in about 20 hours we'll be boarding for Miami!

Thanks you all for reading this PTR! I'm starting a TR now! Not sure if I'll make time to log into DIS during the trip to post some updates, but once I'm back in Brazil I'll post the details of our trip!



Here's the link to the new TR: A Disney addict's journey to show the magic to the in-laws!

[Xclusive2WDW]

Originally Posted by redoschi

1 more day, in about 20 hours we'll be boarding for Miami!

Thanks you all for reading this PTR! I'm starting a TR now! Not sure if I'll make time to log into DIS during the trip to post some updates, but once I'm back in Brazil I'll post the details of our trip!



Here's the link to the new TR: A Disney addict's journey to show the magic to the in-laws!

OMG one day!!! Only a few hours, how exciting Enjoy yourselves, I will see you over on your TR when you get back. Be safe and YAY!!!!!!!!!

[redoschi]

Originally Posted by Xclusive2WDW

OMG one day!!! Only a few hours, how exciting Enjoy yourselves, I will see you over on your TR when you get back. Be safe and YAY!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

[shalom]

Originally Posted by Xclusive2WDW

I am an adventurous eater as well Shalom, I even thought about implementing a "rule" that I could not repeat entree's on my various trips, we will see if I can commit to that.

We didn't repeat any entrees but did repeat some desserts -- it was interesting how many variations there were on "chocolate mousse"! It was so hot that, after the first day (when I was starving and had four meals including the breakfast I had at home), I really didn't eat much.