Hello Everyone,
Sorry to keep you all out there without a recent post! Again I can only blame the precedents in my life, this comes last!
As an update:
My DS#2 is doing great at a new school, and we are going to get Speech Therapy for him to help with his speech delay. He is really coming along now and we get less tantrums from him and much more cooperation.
On the Trip front
We now have less than 30 days until it is time to make our reservations with DVC reservations. I need to email and contact our DVC renter and just touch base again on what we want in a room:
2 Bedroom Villa with Boardwalk view, closer to the elevator if at all possible since my G-Ma cannot walk long distances.
Also, we will be flying now instead of driving. My DH and I were talking about my G-Ma's latest trip (she is there right now) and she got there in no kidding, 2.5 hours. So this would be much more enjoyable than the 17 hours we spent on the road last time, including all the pit stops and traffic. Also comparitively for gas, mileage, food, etc. the flight just makes more sense. We can also stay longer in the Orlando area and maybe check out Sea World or Discovery Cove while we are there. I think last time we spent over $500 in gas. I think a flight was going to come out to 8-900 bucks, for lessening the headache it's worth it!
Okay, I promised that I would update as far as ADRs to give you all some ideas of where we are thinking of going, and of course why. (These are mainly Table Services that I am talking about, but I am putting a few CS in here as recommendations!)
Day 1- Start the morning right at the Crystal Palace. Both the boys LOVE Tigger, and Pooh of course, but mainly Tigger! My younger son loves Lumpy so I am sure he will be constantly inquiring where he is of the costumed characters. We are planning a VERY early breakfast at the CP so we can be in the parks first thing before anyone else is there.
There is something very magical about walking into MK without thousands of people in the streets. We will be leaving the MK around 1 for a break so we plan on eating our CS at the Boardwalk Bakery which has several paninis and fresh fruits offered which is right up our families alley!
Day 2- There is a lovely restaurant in The Land called the Garden Grille. The Garden Grille is a rotating restaurant and also a character luncheon with Chip and Dale, Mickey and I believe Pluto. Though I have seen Minnie there on occassion. I know it is two chracter meals in two days, but hey the TS credits need to be used and we hate waiting in lines for the character meet and greets and this is a wonderful time saver to eat, the kids get to see their favorite characters and get those autographs they love.
This evening we are planning on a Illuminations Cruise with dining from LeCellier to celebrate all of our family being together and I hope this isn't our last vacation to WDW with my G-Ma, but it is an attempt to make it more special.
Day 3- Both of the selections on this day or Counter Service. However the choices for Counter Services that I selected are based on experiences both bad and good in the parks. A CS that we were impressed with last time was the Tusker House in the Animal Kingdom. The Rotisserie Chicken w/ veggies is WONDERFUL, and their selections for kids are on par with just about every other CS in the parks.
Our second selection for the evening was Columbia Harbor House in the MK. This is one of those out of the way CS that not too many people know about or go in. It is located right across from the Haunted Mansion and I just love this place and how quiet it can be!
Day 4- Our first actual meal at MGM will be at Pizza Planet, which I have been disappointed in before. There was SOOOOO much more I think Disney could have done with the Pizza Planet retaurant than making it into a glorified Pizza Hut that you can hit in any burgh in the nation. But, this isn't about me, it's about the kids. They both love Toy Story and I think it would be a nice switch to be able to say "I ATE THERE MOMMY!"
Now let me preface, based on listening to the Podcasts, and having the utmost respect for Kevin Klose, whom I actually have found myself agreeing with 95% of the time in his recommendations, I made the decision to drop Whispering Canyon from my ADRs, if I hear of an improvement I will change it.
So for the evening I have no ADR plans as yet. This is our Chip and Dale Marshmallow Roast, but I am not in the mood to spend two TS on the Hoop De Doo, unless I drop Le Cellier from the Cruise on our second night. And even then, the seating for
DDP isn't the greatest. For all of us to eat at the Hoop Dee Doo it would be close to $200.
Day 5- I want to do a day at the Food and Wine Festival for Lunch, which I don't think will take a TS or CS, so we can use it in the evening. This will also be a great excuse to go around the WS with the boys and get a late start day in! I promised my son's teachers that since we were taking them out of school for a week we would do the WS and learn to say Hello in different languages and getting our passports filled out.
Right now that is about all I have figured out based on what I am seeing here at the house and listening to the Podcasts, and reading reviews both here and allears.net!