1 Child and 10 Adults--A GG to Celebrate DD's 4th Bday :) TR Link is Posted

[jenny105]

I considered doing the Fantasmic package last year but to be honest I'm not a huge fan of Fantasmic. I would cancel!

 

[Dancegrl624]

H&V was not good when we ate there last year. Looking back, we should have just left the park before dinner. It was raining so hard, so we didn't even know if they would show Fantasmic or not. We ended up eating a not-so-great dinner, paying WAY too much for it and then leaving when we were done. It was a huge waste of money.

 

[lexmas]

I think I'd go with your gut...especially if you're not sure if Lillian will stay up that late. We only went to Fantasmic once, but there was no trouble with lines and such. I know they have fewer shows now, but it will be alright. There's nothing like being unsatisfied with a meal when you're at a restaurant!

 

[petals]

I'm going september as well

 

[wlwilliams9]

Less than 3 months!!!

 

[BabyEeyore]

Less than 3 months!!!

Yay!

 

[mousescrapper]

I think I am driving myself a bit bonkers but I am firm believer in trusting my gut. I have to say, I really doubt the Hollywood and Vine F! package. I keep asking myself would I be willing to spend the money on this if I had to pay out-of-pocket and I keep coming back to the same answer as no. First, the menu does not look really all that appealing and two, we are not buffet people. We already have several on the schedule, so I think dropping the one that seems the least appealing would be a good idea.

So, I booked an ADR at Olivia’s Café in OKW as a backup. What do you all think? Would you give up guaranteed seats for F! and chance the lines or keep with an ADR you have no desire to eat at to have the guarantee seats? I think I would rather have a great meal and then chance F! than to have a horrible meal, in the middle of the day, with guarantee seats. Ugh!! I’m so confused.

Please give me all your thoughts—good, the bad and ugly!!

I'm in the same decision boat whether or not we want to do the CLP dinner package for the seating bonus but then give up precious touring time to do it...

first off it's not guarented (msp?) seating...it's more of a reserved section...you still have to arrive early and deal w/ lines, waiting etc...just have a bit more luck than others w/out the pkg.

I'd say it would depend on how close do you want to be to the front...

If you don't really want to eat at a TS I wouldn't just for the F! pkg...

I agree w/ whoever said you may not have the crowd issue so much.

Can't chime in too much on the other TS options...but sounds like a fun plan to resort hop and then come back.

don't know if you can do this but w/ such a large party maybe some of you can save a few seats and then you and Lilian can arrive closer to show time.

I'd bet she'd last, you'll be surprised how well kids adapt to the Disney lifestyle...if the F! night is early in the week of your vacations days...you'll probably fare better w/ the late night too.

 

[Charlefours]

Hmmm, I think I would cancel it and go with Olivias. I have heard many good things about it, but not many good things about Hollywood and Vine. It doesn't look that good to me, either. And honestly, as many times as we've gone in September, we've never had a problem getting seats at Fantasmic (and no, we don't get there way in advance - maybe 20 minutes tops)

Thanks Rebecca for your input! I need to get back to my planning, but I do know H&V is out! I just don't think it is worth the table service, because I do not believe I would want to pay for it OOP. We will probably shoot for F! but if it does not work out, it is just another reason to go back.

 

[Charlefours]

I considered doing the Fantasmic package last year but to be honest I'm not a huge fan of Fantasmic. I would cancel!

I want to at least see it once but I am not going to do the dining package.

 

[Charlefours]

H&V was not good when we ate there last year. Looking back, we should have just left the park before dinner. It was raining so hard, so we didn't even know if they would show Fantasmic or not. We ended up eating a not-so-great dinner, paying WAY too much for it and then leaving when we were done. It was a huge waste of money.

Thank you for your honesty Meghan! I have a feeling I would be thinking the same thoughts, so I am going to cancel it. I cannot picture us enjoying ourselves there.

 

[Charlefours]

I think I'd go with your gut...especially if you're not sure if Lillian will stay up that late. We only went to Fantasmic once, but there was no trouble with lines and such. I know they have fewer shows now, but it will be alright. There's nothing like being unsatisfied with a meal when you're at a restaurant!

Thanks Christa! I am big believer in gut feelings, so H&V is out. I could not picture us paying the price had we had to pay OOP, so I think it is a good indication that the meal credit should be used elsewhere.

DH just is humoring me at the moment. I am working on some changes to our schedule now.

 

[Charlefours]

I'm going september as well

to my PTR! What are your dates? Hopefully I will get a chance to pop over to your PTR too.

 

[Charlefours]

Less than 3 months!!!

Thanks Wendy!

Yay!

 

[Charlefours]

I'm in the same decision boat whether or not we want to do the CLP dinner package for the seating bonus but then give up precious touring time to do it...

first off it's not guarented (msp?) seating...it's more of a reserved section...you still have to arrive early and deal w/ lines, waiting etc...just have a bit more luck than others w/out the pkg.

I'd say it would depend on how close do you want to be to the front...

If you don't really want to eat at a TS I wouldn't just for the F! pkg...

I agree w/ whoever said you may not have the crowd issue so much.

Can't chime in too much on the other TS options...but sounds like a fun plan to resort hop and then come back.

don't know if you can do this but w/ such a large party maybe some of you can save a few seats and then you and Lilian can arrive closer to show time.

I'd bet she'd last, you'll be surprised how well kids adapt to the Disney lifestyle...if the F! night is early in the week of your vacations days...you'll probably fare better w/ the late night too.

Thanks Julie for offering your suggestions--I really appreciate it! I am going to give up the package, if F! works out for us--great, if not, than it will be another reason to go back.

I am working on updating our itinerary but I think it will be for the best.

 

[Charlefours]

It has been crazy busy at our house, I'm betting it has been for you too! Summer is here in Michigan and we are loving being outside. We have traveled down to my graduate school to kick on my summer classes. Boy did I get a ton of work dumped on my lap!

Even though I have not posted for a bit, sorry about that, a few things have happened, Disney-wise. So here goes:

We are paid in full!!! I am so happy to say that!!

MNSSHP: it is official! We have ordered and received our tickets.

(I wished they were themed, but oh well! I am so excited to attend this. )

Becky blessed us with a postcard for Lilian’s Fairy Godmailer. Brent, her DH, actually wrote it out. Thank you to Becky and Brent for making a bright spot in Lilian’s day!

The postcard:

And Lilian with her postcard:

I also ordered some trading pins from eBay—thank you Connie for the suggestion on who to try. I am really happy with the pins we got, there are some we might keep and others we will definitely trade at Disney.

Here are pictures of the ones we will most likely trade:

Here are some more, which I am debating on keeping:

Does anyone have any good tips on pin trading? We have not gotten a lanyard yet, I think we may just pick it up at Disney or have it in the resort room as part of a gift basket. Thoughts?

What kind of DISer would I be without making some changes over the course of this PTR? You know that we switched resorts, which I am thrilled to be trying at new one. I think POR would have been fine, but I am looking forward to trying a new place and I am drawn to the new décor. I am working on updating our itinerary plans, so stay tuned for those because I would love to get feedback from those of you still reading along!!

 

[mousescrapper]

Does anyone have any good tips on pin trading? We have not gotten a lanyard yet, I think we may just pick it up at Disney or have it in the resort room as part of a gift basket. Thoughts?

We did pin trading for the 1st time last yr...just the older 3 kids did it (then ages 10, 10, & 6), but I think Naomi-Ruth (my almost 4yr old) will get in on the act if she will go up to people...this may be a good social test for her....

Nathan is autistic and it was such a great experience for him to talk w/ the CM's and understand the pin trading etiquite....

my kids only traded w/ CM's so far...CM's have to trade w/ you vs guests can or refuse...

some CM's wear green lanyards which are specifcally for kids trading...

you need to ask if they'd like to trade or if you can look at their pins...they will always say yes. then you point to which one you want and show which one you'll give. You each take your own pins off put on the backs first (which I advise buying a pkg of and keep on you) then trade....

very simple!

 

[-Hope-]

Do you mind sharing what seller you used for your pins? This is one of the things still on my to-do list!

Love your pins btw- too cute!

 

[MHTeacher]

Congrats on having your trip paid off---That's a great feeling!

Love all your trading pins. I need to do the same thing---That might be a great stocking gift at Christmas!

 

[MommyMcQueen]

Congrats on having your trip paid off!!! I'm doing the same today - it is a great feeling!

Love the postcard idea - how cute! I may have to do that for my kids!!

Sorry to hear things have been so crazy, and that you have so much homework to do for your summer class! Hope it goes well for you!

Can't wait to see some of your itininery!

 

[BabyEeyore]

How exciting to be paid in full! And to have your MNSSHP tickets in hand! And what a sweet postcard.