32 + 24 + 20 + 4 = 5 Fantasmic Days in the World --4/2 update

:yay::yay::yay::yay::yay: MaryEllen, I am so excited for you. That is just too darn exciting. The Beach Club is the last deluxe we want to try (we've done Contemporary, Poly and then AKV and OKW for DVC). Lucky, lucky you.

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

I am really excited, and Joe is too. Maybe we can follow your path backwards:goodvibes - for some reason the Contemporary does not appeal to us much but we've not walked around a lot, just to Chef Mickey's and the lobby.
 
Congrats on CL at the Beach Club. That will be an amazing way to celebrate!
Thanks Diane!
You will all laugh when I tell you that this morning I awoke to Joe surfing the Disney resort photos, and asking if we could stay at the Yacht Club instead......he loves the white bedding and nautical theme.

Even before I had coffee I emailed my TA Jen to change us to YC - Club level. And THAT will be our only resort change!!
:rotfl:
 
YC looks sooooo pretty! I like that you will definitely have a balcony too. Good choice:thumbsup2
 



Let’s Talk Food!

Okay, five days in the world – and we want to try new places and NOT buffets (except Ohana, I really want to go to Ohana for breakfast with surf clad Mickey & Lilo & Stitch—okay I read through the menu description, and recall more than a few mixed reviews, and think that Kona would be a better dinner at Poly if we go that route.) We’ll be doing the Disney Dining Plan – with a table service a day. So now I have to come up with restaurants. the hard part is not coming up with them – its picking! How can I narrow it down to 4 ?

TS Places I think everyone would enjoy:
Raglan Road, DTD (we had an ADR here in May but had to cancel it)

Le Cellier, Epcot (ate here in 2009 before it became a Signature Restaurant)

Liberty Tree, MK (ate here in 2007 when it was still a character/table service restaurant but it was so good then)

Crystal Palace (a buffet, I know but the food is good!)
La Hacienda, Epcot

Rose & Crown, Epcot
Tutto Italia, Epcot
Coral Reef, Epcot
50’s Prime Time Café DHS
…wow I did not know there was a bar next to 50’s Prime Time Café. gotta check that out!
Sci Fi Dine In … was not wild about it in 2007 but the menu looks different now. and the movie part was sort of fun but I remember wishing they’d play more than just commercials..
Yak and Yeti, Animal Kingdom
Sanaa AKL
Captain’s Grille, Yacht Club
Kouzzina Boardwalk (we ate here in May 2011 and really really enjoyed it)

Kona - Polynesian

ok so I marked my current picks. but there are six and we will only be there for five days. Joe just totally loved the food at Crystal Palace so I highlighted it for him, but I’m not sure. I really also like to try new places … we’ll have to see. I just realized this morning that my 180 day mark is Sunday. WOW! I totally want to get my ADRs set up. Not sure what the crowds are like in early June, and I don’t want to be wandering aimlessly hungry. It gets ugly fast.

I’ll have to work on counter service picks later once I know what park I’ll be in. I haven’t even looked at crowd levels yet, although happily my DU reservation lists AM and PM EMH parks, although I am not sure if these are sure dates or not.

I seriously toyed with the deluxe plan – actually I toyed with the “Premium” plan --because in one of my dream trips, we can do upscale signature restaurants whenever we want and can do all of the tours that Disney offers. silly, right? Not silly but just overly extravagant at this point. Tomorrow is another day!


Have restaurants comments, feedback? Please share them!!:hug:
 



Whew…so much to do! Seems like I had a lot more time to sort through everything in January when we were planning for our May trip. Now between life, basketball, Girl Scouts, and oh, yeah, that whole job thing, plus getting ready for Christmas I feel rather behind schedule. My 180 day mark is TOMORROW!!! can you believe it? and I am trying to think my way through our travel plans. My rough draft:

I already know that I will have to work on Friday & Saturday, June 1 and 2. The plan of the moment is for Katie to head over to my sister’s on Saturday afternoon – Joe will have to take her. I will work until about 9 pm and then will head home. We will have to load up my car after I get home – its more comfortable to drive than Joe’s car, and has more room for stuff.

We will get on the road about 11 pm – midnight. Joe likes to drive at night, traffic is minimal, and we could get through the congestion of Philly and DC pretty easily. Lesley & Colin will be in NC by then, so that is our destination. I’ll snooze in the car (If I am not too excited!) and we’ll get there around 8 am or so. Joe will for sure crash for a few hours, I may as well depending on if I slept in the car. We’ll hang out and have an easy evening catching up with our BFF;s and very likely checking out their new home for the first time. We’ve been watching the pictures as it goes up online….Hopefully June won’t be the first time we get to NC, but, well, the way our lives have been going it probably will!

We will all maybe TRY to get some sleep but right now I am thinking that again we head out around midnight again. According to Google its about 11 hours drive from Lesley’s to the Yacht Club. I know that check in is not till 3 ish, but we will take a shot at seeing if our room is ready (or rooms? that part is out in the air).

Day 1


Depending on whether or not our room is ready, we could either grab a snack at the concierge lounge and crash for an hour or two, or we could to have something to eat at Hurricane Hannahs’ and relax around or in the pool. Sleeping or hanging by the pool either one is a good reward for the drive!

Obviously this will be a low key day. I am inclined to indulge in that awesome walk into Epcot and have dinner. If Lesley & Colin are going, then we will have dinner at La Hacienda. Actually even if they are not with us, this is a restaurant I have been wanting to try for a while. We can walk over leisurely and tour some of the World Show case as we head to Mexico.

(this is the benefit of writing a PTR – I am totally working my way through the day and figuring out our ADRs)

After dinner, we can continue enjoying the world showcase, maybe grab some yummy adult beverages and find a place to watch Illuminations. Its Joe’s favorite fireworks display so it will be a great way to end our first day.

oh, did I say “end our first day”? but wait! its EMH at DHS till midnight! we will have to play it by ear to see how much energy we have left. but really, TSM at night is fun! and I really do think that DHS shops are fun at night, the lights are pretty and it has a real Hollywood feel to it. It could well be just Lesley and I by this time, as the boys are much more likely to crash early.
 
Here I was expecting LOTS of pictures from you of the Beach Club for me and you go and change your resort. :confused3:confused3 I still look forward to your pictures even though we don't want to stay there. :lmao:

Love Raglan Road and Yak & Yeti! I don't eat Mexican food so I can't comment on that restaurant. We also LOVE Crystal Palace but will only do it for breakfast (I don't like Disney's lunch/dinner buffets).
 


Here I was expecting LOTS of pictures from you of the Beach Club for me and you go and change your resort. :confused3:confused3 I still look forward to your pictures even though we don't want to stay there. :lmao:

Love Raglan Road and Yak & Yeti! I don't eat Mexican food so I can't comment on that restaurant. We also LOVE Crystal Palace but will only do it for breakfast (I don't like Disney's lunch/dinner buffets).
I know we are awful!!! I was laughing at Joe--I made the deposit at like 10:45 pm, and told him after his run. at 6 am the next morning I find him at the kitchen island,:surfweb: surfing the disney resorts pages, comparing room decor between the Beach Club and the Yacht Club. You just can't imagine how funny that is to me.:rotfl:

we will still walk around the beach club and I may consider dragging him along to a DVC tour so we can take a peak at the villas.

I like Mexican but HATE HATE HATE starchy beans ( I like fresh beans and jelly beans. that's it for the bean family) so we don't do Mexican a lot because most places drown everything in those nasty things.

I still really want to try Raglan Rd and Yak & Yeti but I don't think I will get to this time. Unless I can't get into Sanaa at AKL (You have me totally wanting to tour that resort) then I will try for Yak & Yeti. Its just SO HARD to pick just one a day!
 
[FONT=&quot]Just a few life updates. This is a slow paced PTR – I am taking my time doing updates to stretch out my planning process. The longer I stay in my happy place in my head, the better![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]This weekend my BFF Lesley came down for the weekend. Friday night I headed to girl scouts, Joe took Katie to basketball practice, then dropped her off at girl scouts, and Katie and I got home about 5 minutes before Lesley arrived bearing PIZZA. Yay![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Lesley’s house in NC is pretty much done, and they are just waiting for the US Army and the VA to determine the date and the financials of C’s retirement. I am thrilled:goodvibes and a sad:sad1: at the same time that they will be headed south soon. Their house is beautiful, and it’s on the EAST COAST. YAY 11 hours is much better than California, where they spent the past few years. Sad because these spur of the moment weekends of just hanging out and catching up will be much much further spread apart. 11 hours is much longer than 1 ½. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]SO psyched to hear that C is really getting into coming to WDW with us. We learned this weekend that we have (can I hear the applause people?) A FIRST TIMER :banana::banana:to Disney World!!!! Now let’s just cross our fingers and pray that all goes well and they can commit. Actually I nearly called my TA this weekend to have her just add 2 adults to our room package, but held off to see if L & C wanted to reserve their own room with a military discount. They could potentially save $ by doing this and getting the military 4 day tickets, and doing meals on their own if they wanted, so I will have to try very very hard to keep my patience.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Friday I had a few bites on improving my income :thumbsup2 and hopefully something will come to fruition for me.
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[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I also made all of my ADR’s for June. WAHOOOO but I did not, at the last minute, make them for 4. I am not sure which is the best way to go, so I will keep them as is for the moment and change them to 4 as soon as I know for sure. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]My ADR’s:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Monday June 4: 6:30 pm La Hacienda, Epcot[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Tuesday, June 5: 7:40 pm Sanaa, Animal Kingdom Lodge[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Wednesday, June 6 Our 20th wedding anniversary 7:00 pm Captains’ Grille, Yacht Club (Food reports anyone?? better pick than Kouzzina?)
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[FONT=&quot]Thursday, June 7: 8:30 am Kona for breakfast (I SO want to try that Tonga Toast!), Polynesian; 9pm Wishes dessert party (you can't reserve yet but I asked the cast member at the Yacht club and he made a note to make the ADR as soon as it becomes open )
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[FONT=&quot]Friday, June 8: 1:55 p.m. Liberty tree Tavern lunch[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]So we are not planning any character meals, nor are we planning any signature service meals. DH does really enjoy the Crystal Palace and I considered it, but was hoping to try something very new (Sanaa) and indulge in that dessert party I keep reading about on everyone’s TR’s and food reports. I know that Lesley is not a big buffet eater, nor does she care for seafood (but is happy if there is chicken or steak on the menu) so buffets are not the best choice. I realized that we have only two park restaurants and the rest are resort restaurants, which messes a bit with travel times etc, but hey, we’ll be on vacation, right? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
 
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: for a visit for a friend.

And even more :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: for ADR's made. You are going to LOVE Kona...it was so good. :goodvibes
 
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: for a visit for a friend.

And even more :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: for ADR's made. You are going to LOVE Kona...it was so good. :goodvibes


I admit that I am very lucky to have an understanding hubby and a spare guest room -- I have two wonderful friends :hug: who live 1 1/2 - 2 hrs away that come to stay overnight. With DH's schedule & an 8 YO, me going to their houses is not that easy to coordinate, but they come visit me, stay over, and we can stay up late chatting, have a drink or two without needing a designated driver, run errands, make dinner together and do girlfriend stuff. Its my sanity saver! I love my hubby but he is a home-body and I am a social butterfly.


Kathy between your & Tim's posts on Tonga Toast we just HAVE to go there!!!
 
Ack! I had no clue you started a new PTR! I'm totally in! A bit lost with all the "IFs" :lmao:, but totally in for the long haul. :cloud9:
 
Ack! I had no clue you started a new PTR! I'm totally in! A bit lost with all the "IFs" :lmao:, but totally in for the long haul. :cloud9:
HI Lidian!!! No worries, I am moving slow to pace myself here. I find that this year I am always behind on my reading....so sad, not like I have anything else to do. :rolleyes1
 
[FONT=&quot]Just a fun post about Christmas happenings. Is everyone ready? I am not quite there yet. I wrapped a ton of gifts for my siblings, nieces, nephews, parents, etc. I still have to wrap Joe & Katie’s gifts and do just a little bit more shopping.
[/FONT](sorry pics are huge because I borrowed them from the internet)

[FONT=&quot]Check out Joe’s Christmas present: [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]I was browsing the Hallmark store the other day and this guy just jumped out at me. He is so cute! I also ordered this
DSW_PoliceOfficer_full.jpeg
[FONT=&quot] from my neighbor who sells Scentsy but it has not come in yet. Better come soon! (YAY she has it now and will bring it by this weekend. I can get wrapping!)[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Katie’s big wish item is an American Girl Doll. Ugh! Sorry kiddo,:santa:Santa has a tight budget! So she will be getting the BFC Noelle doll
41nlq7gqokL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
[FONT=&quot] and a
410y7n6SuXL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
[/FONT][FONT=&quot] as her two main gifts. I hit a lot of video sales this year so she is getting movies, a Wii game, and a Silvermist doll. [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We do a Secret Santa here at work and apparently EVERYONE knows I love Disney. (wonder how they all know that!:laughing:) So yesterday & todays’ gifts are Mickey themed:[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
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[FONT=&quot]And of course I immediately highlighted our next visit to Mickey![/FONT][FONT=&quot]
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[FONT=&quot]We are all decorated at home, tree up, lights outside though I need to hit the after Christmas sales for new lights, most of ours died last year. Boo. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next up is baking cookies. OH! And a Gingerbread House! I bought a Kit. Hmmm wonder where I put it? Guess I have a mission tonight.
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[FONT=&quot]I will try to post a few pictures of Katie helping when we bake this weekend. Can you believe that Christmas is a week away?:scared1: Yikes! I have too much of this :laundy: to do! Maybe I can borrow the elves from Santa?

TGIF folks! I'm off to basketball practice with Katie

[/FONT]
 
HI Lidian!!! No worries, I am moving slow to pace myself here. I find that this year I am always behind on my reading....so sad, not like I have anything else to do. :rolleyes1

That's the best way to do it ... pace yourself. :thumbsup2

Totally love :love: the Officer Mickey! It's wonderful and perfect!

Is that a Fijit or the "friend" thing? DD wanted a Fijit, but they just can't be found. I should have gotten it at Target before the BF sale. They had a whole shelf of them. :sad2:

I'm mostly ready. I need two more gifts, for my cousin's kids. Most everything is wrapped. I need some bags to place the items that are too odd to wrap. :goodvibes

We just got our tree up today ... and it's not even decorated. :lmao:
 
That's the best way to do it ... pace yourself. :thumbsup2

Totally love :love: the Officer Mickey! It's wonderful and perfect!

Is that a Fijit or the "friend" thing? DD wanted a Fijit, but they just can't be found. I should have gotten it at Target before the BF sale. They had a whole shelf of them. :sad2:

I'm mostly ready. I need two more gifts, for my cousin's kids. Most everything is wrapped. I need some bags to place the items that are too odd to wrap. :goodvibes

We just got our tree up today ... and it's not even decorated. :lmao:

Yes it is a mmmm a baby Fijit??? something like that.:lmao:I know that it was about $18 when the "regular" Fijits were about $40 on amazon. I know how my girl is with her toys so it seemed a good idea. I didn't even know what a fijit was - I googled it. DD must have seen it on :happytv: or something .

do you usually decorate your tree close to Christmas? I know some people that do it on Christmas eve.

I just bought the last thing today for my niece. I finished wrapping everything last night after baking oatmeal cookies with Katie. sheesh. Naturally because I have so much cooking to do this week, on Sunday evening when I was draining asparagus I stupidly burned my thumb with steam. pirate:-like was my language when that happened:scared1: So now I am trying to wash dishes without getting my left thumb under the faucet or bumping it or anything like that.:headache:
 
So, did that gingerbread house get done? I love the Fireman Mickey (I have a Winnie the Pooh by Jim Shore that Andy bought me last year).
 
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I just love when Christmas and Hanukkah fall at almost the same time. My family is Christian and we celebrate Christmas. My sister's family are members of a Messianic Jewish congregation, and follow Hebrew traditions and customs. Many years I am scrambling to get gifts to my nieces in early December for Hanukkah, long before Christmas. WHEW that this year I am on top of things and had that taken care of. but more importantly I just think its an awesome thing when many people of different religious customs are all celebrating high holidays and worshiping God at the same time. :hug: I get all warm and mushy at the thought.


okay, that said, I don't have much updating as far as my Disney trip goes because I am just too busy getting ready for Christmas. We host all of the family holiday at my house, so there is always :laundy: to get done, errands to :moped:baking cookies and cakes, cooking appetizers and snacks, never enough :hourglass for me to get to this: :drinking1
:goodvibes

This week is cookie baking week, which will culminate in the baking and decorating of a birthday cake for Jesus on Friday & Saturday (depending on the timing of it all!). When Katie was a baby I started a new tradition for our extended family of making birthday cake for Christmas dessert. There is so much commercialism everywhere, that I wanted Katie, and all of us, to have a moment to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I got a real warm fuzzy this week when DH mentioned that his dad requested "chocolate cake for Jesus" :laughing: It may seem a small thing but I really appreciate that he remembers I do this and thought to request a flavor :goodvibes

Tomorrow afternoon & evening Joe and I are surprising Katie with our yearly trip to Hershey Park for Christmas. (cross your fingers for no rain!) We love seeing the lights, riding the rides, and of course visiting Santa and seeing his reindeer. We will have some cookies baked by then (we did oatmeal last night & I think chocolate chip are tonight's plan) so we can take some cookies to Santa (he was so surprised when Katie gave him cookies last year!) and a carrot or two for the reindeer.

Sunday we finished Katie's gingerbread house. Sort of. I made the icing too thin, and it was a bit runny. So last night I let her use food coloring to paint decorations on the house since all of her swirlies ran down the side of the roof. Here are pictures of the unpainted house:
2011-12-18%2B19.42.40.jpg
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I will take pictures tonight of the painted house.

speaking of things to do tonight, I have successfully wasted about an hour on the DIS and have to go home now :rotfl2::rotfl2: See ya later!
 
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: Yay for booking and for booking the YC! We loved the BC this summer and the YC looks beautiful, too. More adult and more upscale. I think it will be perfect for your anniversary! And you can't beat the location, either. :goodvibes And SAB really is all that. Seriously. We loved it. The lazy river was fantastic and, for the record, despite being their in the middle of July, we never had a problem with overcrowding.

So happy to hear that your trip is coming together for you!
 
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: Yay for booking and for booking the YC! We loved the BC this summer and the YC looks beautiful, too. More adult and more upscale. I think it will be perfect for your anniversary! And you can't beat the location, either. :goodvibes And SAB really is all that. Seriously. We loved it. The lazy river was fantastic and, for the record, despite being their in the middle of July, we never had a problem with overcrowding.

So happy to hear that your trip is coming together for you!

we can't wait Tina!
 

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