If we can keep this trip a secret, it will be a Disney miracle! *TR LINK ADDED 12/12!*

[hokieinpa]

There is actually a lot...it's just....it's hard to find time to do it all lol

Yes! There is so much to do in Orlando - I guess I never realized until we were planning this trip. We already have a list of things we want to try to do on our next non-Disney trip. We want to see the space center, Universal, etc. too!

That is so awesome! That airport looked so empty!

Yay for sleeping kid for most of the flight....makes it so much easier!!

The Pittsburgh Airport was the perfect size - big enough to have the perks like curbside check in but not so busy like MCO!

Yes - I'm dreading the day we are in the stage they are awake the whole flight but still need lots of entertaining!

The pic of them all sleeping with the glow sticks is so sweet.

There looks like there is so much to do/look at in the airport. We always drive so I had no idea.

Good luck with the secret keeping! I have mine thinking we aren't going until 2018.

Thanks!

The airport is tons of fun! We even spent some time in the Disney store at MCO so helped the ache a little!

It was easy but now I'm starting to want to talk about the trip ALL THE TIME and it's hard to to chat with the boys about it. They love hearing about the details and I'm having a hard time not slipping!

The non-Disney Florida trip is off to a fantastic start!!

It was a fun trip! A total 180 from our Disney trip but still lots of fun...if frustrating at times. More of that to come!

You are a stronger person than me, girl. I would have managed to reason out and justify a day trip, at least!

Oh I pushed that day at MK HARD! But seriously no one was budging! Love my in laws (most of the time, you know...) but I just didn't understand! Why don't you want to go to Disney? Its' only the happiest freaking place on Earth!

YOU SHUT YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!

Right? We had fun but Sea World isn't Disney, you feel me?

What a happy baby! I love happy babies!

Definitely my favorite kind of baby!

Tell me about it, sister.

Oh I know you and driving have a love/hate relationship! Now I understand!

 

[hokieinpa]

****************************************
54 Days until FP+
115 Days until Disney!

Secret Status -
****************************************

I'm back!

I'm not sure if I mentioned it here but we just back from 2 perfect and relaxing weeks at the beach!

I checked in a few times but the WiFi at our beach house was pretty slow so I had a hard time uploading pictures.

But we had a really amazing vacation. Total opposite of a Disney trip since we really only worry about what we're going to eat that night and if our bathing suit is clean!

Here are a few picture highlights!








So in trip planning news...we are getting awful close to double digit dance time!



I think a little warm up dance is totally justified!


And the secret is still a secret!

It's getting a little harder because now I want to talk about the trip ALL THE TIME!
Nate is my little mini me and loves to plan. He loved going over every little detail when I was planning our last trip so it's hard not to share any of that with him. But I'm just keeping that moment of surprise in mind and it's worth it!

There isn't much to report in trip planning news. I'm hoping to get my list of FP+ together after I unpack and get settled down since there is less than a month until FP+ day!

A few new ADR options opened/are slated to open this week. BOG Breakfast is available now and it just isn't going to fit during this quick trip. But there is a HS option...Minnie's Christmas Dinner at H&V. ADRs are supposed to open up tomorrow so I may hop on and grab one if I can. I'm not sure if we'll keep it but options are always a good thing in my opinion!

In other Disney news, I saw that the application process for the Disney Parks Moms Panel opens up September 8th and I randomly decided I'm going to apply! I did some research and it seems like there are 10,000-15,000 applicants each year and they select 20-40. So that makes my chances...almost non existent. But it's worth a shot even if it's a long one! Not only would I get to answer Disney questions every day but the training trip sounds pretty special!

I think that's all for now! I'm going to try to catch up on everyone's reports, finish up my October TR, and then work on my non-Disney TR here. Whew!

 

[Elevationist]

I'm not sure if I mentioned it here but we just back from 2 perfect and relaxing weeks at the beach!

I'm not sure if you mentioned it either, but congratulations! I was wondering where you wandered off to this time!

But we had a really amazing vacation. Total opposite of a Disney trip since we really only worry about what we're going to eat that night and if our bathing suit is clean!

Man, when you put it like that, it totally sounds like a nice change-up!

So in trip planning news...we are getting awful close to double digit dance time!



I think a little warm up dance is totally justified!

Woooooo! Mine is towards the end of this month! I can't wait!

And the secret is still a secret!

Exccellent!

It's getting a little harder because now I want to talk about the trip ALL THE TIME!

Me too, girl. Me too.

There isn't much to report in trip planning news.

Same here! I hate it! We're in a planning slump!

Minnie's Christmas Dinner at H&V. ADRs are supposed to open up tomorrow so I may hop on and grab one if I can. I'm not sure if we'll keep it but options are always a good thing in my opinion!

I'm planning on doing the same. I have us spending very little time in HS, so I have no idea how I'm going to fit it in, but it just sounds so cute! So I'm going to try. I wish they were doing it for breakfast or lunch, I could make that work!

I think that's all for now! I'm going to try to catch up on everyone's reports, finish up my October TR, and then work on my non-Disney TR here. Whew!

Get to work, lady!

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[missangelalexis]

Glad you had a great time at the beach! It's so funny how different those kind of trips are in comparison to a Disney trip!

YAY for the almost double digit dance!

I am beyond envious of this Minnie's Christmas dinner that's happening this year. That's something I TOTALLY would've wanted to do on our trip last year! I hope you go just so I can hear all about it

That's so cool that you're applying for the Moms panel! Best of luck to you!

 

[hokieinpa]

I'm not sure if you mentioned it either, but congratulations! I was wondering where you wandered off to this time!

Oh, you know me...world traveler! But seriously, we usually don't take this many excursions in one summer. It is making the countdown move along nicely, though!

Man, when you put it like that, it totally sounds like a nice change-up!

It was soooo relaxing. I saw an article somewhere recently about a vacation vs. a trip. This was vacation all the way!

Woooooo! Mine is towards the end of this month! I can't wait!

The countdown is getting smaller! I love looking at the ticker and seeing 3 months!

Me too, girl. Me too.

Same here! I hate it! We're in a planning slump!

For real! Not that I want to wish my life away...but you know.

I'm planning on doing the same. I have us spending very little time in HS, so I have no idea how I'm going to fit it in, but it just sounds so cute! So I'm going to try. I wish they were doing it for breakfast or lunch, I could make that work!

Well, they were all snapped up when I checked around 6:45 this morning. Sooo many people were really stalking them. Dinner wouldn't really work for us anyway but I liked the idea of the whole thing! Any luck for you?

Get to work, lady!

Yes, Princess Billie!

Looks like you had a great time! Glad you could get away for some R&R for everyone.

We had a great time - very relaxing and the boys had a blast in the sand and water!

I understand - DD17 says that I am as annoying as she is talking about her hair constantly!

I guess we all have our obsessions!

That sounds like a great idea - best of luck! You have to have your application in to be considered, after all!

Very excited to apply but I'm a little nervous now that I've done more research. Some moms have been applying for 6-7 years!

Glad you had a great time at the beach! It's so funny how different those kind of trips are in comparison to a Disney trip!

YAY for the almost double digit dance!

I am beyond envious of this Minnie's Christmas dinner that's happening this year. That's something I TOTALLY would've wanted to do on our trip last year! I hope you go just so I can hear all about it

That's so cool that you're applying for the Moms panel! Best of luck to you!

We had such a great vacation! It was the total opposite of a Disney trip but we had (almost) as much fun!

Minnie's Christmas dinner does look cute...but sadly I couldn't get one! I tried around 6:45 but none were available. I think I'll keep checking back but not obsessively. I'm not sure it would really work with our schedule but it looks SO CUTE that I can't help but want to try and force it in!

I'm excited to apply for the Moms Panel. But after my research, it's pretty intense! Some moms try for 6-7 years. It will be a fun experience at least!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Minnie's Christmas dinner does look cute...but sadly I couldn't get one! I tried around 6:45 but none were available. I think I'll keep checking back but not obsessively. I'm not sure it would really work with our schedule but it looks SO CUTE that I can't help but want to try and force it in!

If you have the MDE app on your phone I had success booking under Hollywood and Vine for dinner rather than through the website's "Minnie's Holiday Dine Fantasmic" link.

 

[Elevationist]

Well, they were all snapped up when I checked around 6:45 this morning. Sooo many people were really stalking them. Dinner wouldn't really work for us anyway but I liked the idea of the whole thing! Any luck for you?

Yep! Will have an update in my PTR soon!

 

[vleeth]

Did you get Minnie's?

Anyone want to tell me why it's called Minnie's if Mickey is going to be there?

 

[Dugette]

I hope you get that Minnie H&V meal. I just heard about it yesterday on another TR and it sounds really cool.

Good luck with the Moms Panel application! Can't hurt to try, right? I'm sure you'd do a great job!

 

[hokieinpa]

If you have the MDE app on your phone I had success booking under Hollywood and Vine for dinner rather than through the website's "Minnie's Holiday Dine Fantasmic" link.

So THANK YOU! I saw this and checked on my phone - 7:25! We weren't planning on seeing Fantasmic anyway so this may work out. Yay!!

Yep! Will have an update in my PTR soon!

Yay!

Did you get Minnie's?

Anyone want to tell me why it's called Minnie's if Mickey is going to be there?

I don't get the Minnie's Dinner title either - except maybe they are going to theme it like you are going to Minnie's house for Christmas dinner?

I did get one! I think I'll do a quick update with the details!

I hope you get that Minnie H&V meal. I just heard about it yesterday on another TR and it sounds really cool.

Good luck with the Moms Panel application! Can't hurt to try, right? I'm sure you'd do a great job!

I did get one, update coming soon! I'm not 100% we'll keep it but it's a nice option to have!

The Moms Panel is seeming like a much more daunting task than I originally thought. These women literally study Disney handbooks to get the wording just right on their answers. So now I'm pretty sure my chances are less than zero but I think I'll try just for the experience.

 

[hokieinpa]

****************************************
52 Days until FP+
113 Days until Disney!

Secret Status -
****************************************

Two updates in one week! Maybe this gap between ADRs and FP+ isn't going so slow after all!

So last time I mentioned that I was going to try and book Minnie's Holiday Dine for our only Hollywood Studios day. I actually completely forgot until I saw the posts popping up in my planning groups. It was about 6:45 before I checked and no ADRs available.

But thanks to @Lifelong_Dreamer I decided to check on my phone that evening and I saw a 7:25 so I snapped it up! I wasn't sure that we would keep it but I told my mom about it tonight and she was so excited! So it looks like Minnie's Holiday Dine is on our schedule for sure!


Thanks Google Images! I actually like this picture, seeing as Goofy is acting so secretive!

It's a regular dinner, no Fantasmic package. This actually works well for us since we weren't planning on catching Fantasmic this trip. Our main focus this trip is on anything and everything "Christmas" since we'll be back in May. I didn't want to rush our time with the Osborne Lights if we were trying to grab seats for Fantasmic.

Hollywood Studios does have PM EMH this night. Our plan now is for my parents to take the boys back to POP to get them to bed early since we have an early morning at MK the next day. If Jim is up for it, he'll say with me at HS and we'll do some rides and catch the second showing of Fantasmic. If he's too tired, I'll get a little solo time!




So in other news, I was looking over my ADRs and realized a MAJOR PROBLEM!




So Monday 11/30, here is the plan:

8:00 MK EMH
10:30 Crystal Palace ADR
2:20 BOG ADR
3:00 FOF

See my mistake? There is no way we'll be able to enjoy our cupcakes and then make it over to the parade route to get a good spot for the boys to see, right?

So here is the dilemma...do I keep the BOG or drop it to catch FOF?

And I'm torn so here are my thoughts.

-If I keep the BOG ADR...we get a chance to try BOG, we can see the castle decorated for Christmas, we can sneak out to Fantasyland after our cupcakes and hopefully lines will be short due to the parade, we'll be back in May with 2 MK days and chances to see FOF

-If I drop BOG...we get to see FOF (a first for us), we'll be back in May with 2 MK days and chances for another BOG ADR

So what would you do?

And finally, I chatted with my mom about our tentative Disney trips for the next few years (I know at least @Elevationist understands) and we came up with a plan.

November/December 2015 - short trip
May 2016 - long trip
October 2016 - MY SOLO TRIP!!
February/March 2017 - long trip
May 2018 - Land & Sea with DCL!!

Give me your thoughts on everything! Thanks for reading!

 

[Dugette]

But thanks to @Lifelong_Dreamer I decided to check on my phone that evening and I saw a 7:25 so I snapped it up! I wasn't sure that we would keep it but I told my mom about it tonight and she was so excited! So it looks like Minnie's Holiday Dine is on our schedule for sure!

Yay, I'm so glad you got an ADR! Sounds great!

See my mistake? There is no way we'll be able to enjoy our cupcakes and then make it over to the parade route to get a good spot for the boys to see, right?

Hmmmm, you don't have FP+ for FoF, right? You could see where the parade ends and go towards that part of the route to give yourself a little more time, maybe. My first thought was to just show up early at BoG, but given your CP brunch, I don't know how much you'll have worked up an appetite. But it's just for cupcakes, I think?

So what would you do?

Is there any other time where you'd be able to squeeze in BoG? (and get an ADR) Gosh, I don't know what I'd do. Depends on 1.) if you're hungry and 2.) how the weather is for the parade (raining or sweltering - do BoG) Tough call.

November/December 2015 - short trip
May 2016 - long trip
October 2016 - MY SOLO TRIP!!
February/March 2017 - long trip
May 2018 - Land & Sea with DCL!!

Give me your thoughts on everything! Thanks for reading!

Sounds great to me. Given that our current WDW plans are [big blank space]...I like! I fully endorse the DCL plans, by the way.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

So glad you were able to snag a Minnie's Dine ADR.

That is a tough call between BOG and FOF. How decorated is BOG during Christmas time? I think if it is nice and Christmasy that would be my choice since the parade will be there in May unchanged.

 

[Elevationist]

But thanks to @Lifelong_Dreamer I decided to check on my phone that evening and I saw a 7:25 so I snapped it up! I wasn't sure that we would keep it but I told my mom about it tonight and she was so excited! So it looks like Minnie's Holiday Dine is on our schedule for sure!

Yaaaaay! Congratulations!

If he's too tired, I'll get a little solo time!

Yaaaaay solo time!!!

So what would you do?

Keep the BoG and skip FoF. You can always see FoF. BoG is harder to get. Have lunch there on this trip, that way you've done it and don't have to worry about it in May.

And finally, I chatted with my mom about our tentative Disney trips for the next few years (I know at least @Elevationist understands) and we came up with a plan.

I totally 100% understand, girl. My trips are tentatively planned through 2021!

October 2016 - MY SOLO TRIP!!

Soooo.... you're going to make sure that this trip has at least a few dates that fall between October 22-28, right? RIGHT?!

 

[hokieinpa]

Yay, I'm so glad you got an ADR! Sounds great!

I'm really excited!! I don't have high hopes for the food but the characters and atmosphere will be fun!

Hmmmm, you don't have FP+ for FoF, right? You could see where the parade ends and go towards that part of the route to give yourself a little more time, maybe. My first thought was to just show up early at BoG, but given your CP brunch, I don't know how much you'll have worked up an appetite. But it's just for cupcakes, I think?

Is there any other time where you'd be able to squeeze in BoG? (and get an ADR) Gosh, I don't know what I'd do. Depends on 1.) if you're hungry and 2.) how the weather is for the parade (raining or sweltering - do BoG) Tough call.

I don't think I'm going to get a FP+ for FOF. I've heard you need to get there about 30 minutes early to get a spot on the rope. We may be able to sneak around towards the bridge to Tomorrowland and get a glimpse. But I think we'll just enjoy our snacks and cupcakes at BOG (you were right!) and see the parade in May! I think I'll keep looking for a BOG for and earlier or later time but it's hard to find with a party of 7.

Sounds great to me. Given that our current WDW plans are [big blank space]...I like! I fully endorse the DCL plans, by the way.

You guys had such a massive SWW/DCL trip - so much fun!

That is a tough call between BOG and FOF. How decorated is BOG during Christmas time? I think if it is nice and Christmasy that would be my choice since the parade will be there in May unchanged.

I was so happy we got the Minnie's Christmas Dinner - thanks for the tip to check the app!

I think there is a nice tree and decorations. Since this is an all out Christmas trip, I think we will stick with BOG and see the parade in May!

Yaaaaay! Congratulations!

I'm so excited! I can't believe I was so "blah" about it before. Now I'm PUMPED! Santa Goofy!!

Yaaaaay solo time!!!

I'm so excited! Or at the very least, adult time and we can ride RnR and TOT as much as we can stand it!

Keep the BoG and skip FoF. You can always see FoF. BoG is harder to get. Have lunch there on this trip, that way you've done it and don't have to worry about it in May.

I think that's the consensus. I'm excited to see BOG all dressed up for Christmas and FOF will be a new special treat for May!

I totally 100% understand, girl. My trips are tentatively planned through 2021!

It's nice to have someone else who gets the need to know just when we will get our Disney fix over the next decade!

Soooo.... you're going to make sure that this trip has at least a few dates that fall between October 22-28, right? RIGHT?!

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! I'm looking at October 23-28! YAY! Solo girls Dis meet!

 

[scrpbookr]

How exciting that you have lots of fun future Disney plans!

 

[scrpbookr]

Could you get an early morning BOG and then an afternoon Crystal Palace?

 

[Elevationist]

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! I'm looking at October 23-28! YAY! Solo girls Dis meet!

SAY WHAAAAAAT!!! That's the week I'll be there! I'm already booked! Oct. 22-28, Port Orleans Riverside!

 

[RunnerMommyof4]

Just found the link in your last report and headed over! I've got some catching up to do but I'm here for the ride! Can't wait to keep reading on...