2011 MNSSHP trip! Need help figuring out DD's costume!

[Parla]

Hi Parla!

We've used DME several times and have been at our resort within 90 mins from landing at MCO. I think you'll be fine booking lunch at 2pm. One time we landed at 4:15pm and made our dinner ressie at 6:15pm at LeCellier.

Your plans sound great! A few days before you leave, you'll get an envelope on your door telling you your DME departure time. You can leave your bags with bell services and enjoy your day and then pul them before you get in line for DME. Pick up time is generally 2 1/2 - 3 hours before your flight.

You were very brave with that 6:15 LeCellier ressie. I think we will try to eat there next trip. The 2 TS credits are holding me back this time. Our next trip I think we will of had our fill of the HDDR and Spirit of Aloha so the credits will be a little more free flowing. If we love Jiko though and we continue to stay at AKL it will have to be a common thing. I think they are making more places 2 credits to get more people to go DxDP. They're so good at marketing! Luckily they still make good movies and will always have my heart. Or else I would boycott, just like I do Walmart.

I hadn't even thought about what we would do with our carry-ons. Thanks for that. So many details that will hopefully fall into place without me forgetting a bunch of stuff.

I agree with PP on Sunday, I Think 3 TS and BBB and party are too much. Don't want you to be running around and all stressed out


But the rest looks great

I think 2pm ressie would be find on our arrival day.

We love the garden grill. I am not a big fan of vegetables, but they are so fresh and are so delicious. I like that the character interaction is quiet and not too intense.

Your trip looks like it is going to be a blast

2PM! So we're gonna be eating fish and chips as soon as we get to the world. Last trip we walked from BWI to the Yorkshire County Fish Shop first thing. I love fish and chips. But after looking at the Rose and Crown menu I would really like to try the cottage pie or the chicken and mushroom pie. I love savory pie! Decisions, decisions! I am definitely trying a scotch egg though. I see them make those on Top Chef and Food Network and always wanted to try one.

Oh, Kelly. I've really been thinking about that Tonga Toast. I want to try it! I'm considering leaving super early one morning and heading over to try it at Captain Cook's Snack Company before jumping back on the monorail to MK. I'm thinking Friday morning. How soon do the buses start running? I know it's at least an hour before park opening but since the restaurants start seating an hour before it's gotta be more than that. The other option would be to just have breakfast at Kona Cafe that morning but I was really hoping to make it as close to RD as possible (hopefully a little before).

I feel so out of the Disney loop. A few years ago I would have known in a heartbeat when the buses started running. My thoughts were filled with abbreviations (telling people how DD loved the ToT would take a few extra seconds so I wouldn't actually say the letters T O T) and now I can't remember how some things are shortened and don't recognize half of what people are talking about. They really need to update the abbreviation list.


Also, I edited the post with tentative ADRs since we definitely won't be doing that third TS on Sunday and will be using a credit on Friday.

 

[Trentmom]

Hmm

I believe like you said buses start an hr before parks open

Since restaurant is at a resort, not in the park, it would not affect the time buses run. That is what I am thinking

So if you want to get there super early, you could take a cab if you want to put out the dough for that.

 

[Parla]

Hmm

I believe like you said buses start an hr before parks open

Since restaurant is at a resort, not in the park, it would not affect the time buses run. That is what I am thinking

So if you want to get there super early, you could take a cab if you want to put out the dough for that.

Just searched out a thread a little while ago and found that buses actually start at 6:30AM. Can't wait to make these ADRs and see how they all turn out. Will definitely plan on Tonga Toast on Friday since it's a quick hop on the monorail to MK from GF.

 

[Trentmom]

Just searched out a thread a little while ago and found that buses actually start at 6:30AM. Can't wait to make these ADRs and see how they all turn out. Will definitely plan on Tonga Toast on Friday since it's a quick hop on the monorail to MK from GF.

oh good..glad you found that info

I had no idea, as I dont do mornings

Seriously, that is awesome. I hope you love it

 

[Parla]

oh good..glad you found that info

I had no idea, as I dont do mornings

Seriously, that is awesome. I hope you love it

Thanks Kelly! Really, if you hadn't said it was your favorite food right after someone else had mentioned it to me I wouldn't be making this plan. I'm really looking forward to the adventure of just going to another resort to try their cafeteria area. Even though it may turn into a breakfast.

 

[Parla]

So, I've been thinking a lot about what makes a good PTR and why a raven is like a writing desk. Is it ok to post mundane details of our lives that remind us of Disney or does each post have to specifically refer to some detail of your trip? How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? You have to remember that I personally started the longest thread in disboards history where we would wait 40 seconds and post one word of a song at a time. OK, I'm not trying to make this the longest PTR in disboards history. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill. Some of them go on for years!

All that being said, last night we went to dinner at City Barbeque. For some reason my spell checker tells me that it's spelled barbecue. I had to go check the cup in the trash to be sure! DH met us there as the kids and I went directly from DD's soccer practice. After DH sat down I was just happy he was there and not working late and a little euphoric because my sandwich was REALLY good. I looked at him and was thinking how I wanted to tell him how we were going to bus super early to TTC and monorail to GF just so we could eat what sounded like the most wonderful breakfast food in the world. Tonga Toast. But I knew he wouldn't be nearly as excited as me so I continued eating my awesome pulled pork sandwich. Then DH says, "Anything new on the Disney front?" and didn't laugh at me when I excitedly told him about the amazing qualities of Tonga Toast and where it may be acquired. It's the little things really that can make you fall in love with your spouse all over again.

Coming up: my comparison of food prices to the DxDP

 

[PrincessV]

Hi Parla! I've been away from the DIS for a few weeks - looks you've been busy planning! FWIW, I've had no problems this past year getting ADRs fairly last-minute, so I say go with Plan A for now and if you need to make changes later I think you'll be fine.

 

[Marshay]

the longest thread in disboards history where we would wait 40 seconds and post one word of a song at a time.

Oh, yeah! That was a funny thread!

 

[Trentmom]

Glad your dh getting exciting and wanting to talk Disney

I love hearing trip and life related stuff

so share away

 

[Parla]

Hi Parla! I've been away from the DIS for a few weeks - looks you've been busy planning! FWIW, I've had no problems this past year getting ADRs fairly last-minute, so I say go with Plan A for now and if you need to make changes later I think you'll be fine.

I'm honored that you would stop by my PTR. You sound so busy! Have you set your blog up to email when you update yet? I didn't see a way to do it when I was reading your last update. Thought maybe you had to allow it or something. Or, I may have just fried my brain thinking up an ADR schedule.

Oh, yeah! That was a funny thread!

IKR? Good times. Good times.

Glad your dh getting exciting and wanting to talk Disney

I love hearing trip and life related stuff

so share away

I'm glad too! I think he's really happy that I just up and decided we need to go to MNSSHP. NOW!

Thanks for being interested. For the moment I can't stop thinking Disney and coming to check the boards every few minutes to see if anybody posted on the PTRs and TRs that I'm following. By the way, way to freak me out with the messed up luggage! Hopefully our tub does not do what yours did.

 

[Parla]

So we all know that kids are a great deal on the dining plans. A few character meals and the thing more than pays for itself. I was really curious to know how the DxDP was measuring up with our eating arrangements. Mostly because I was planning on doing QS at Pizza Planet on our last day and then ended up with an extra TS that I didn't want to take too much park time for so I'm planning on an early ADR to Kona now to get Tonga Toast and not worry about a crowded cafeteria. Both of those are rather cheap compared to something like Tutto Italia or Yak & Yeti. Most of the breakfasts are pretty cheap though. Today I sat down and wrote out everything I would eat at all of these restaurants. Glad I can walk most of it off!

The DxDP is $78.99 per night. We'll be there for seven nights. That's $552.93 just for me! But at least there are a couple of shows to be watched in that. Makes me feel a little better.

The amount I would have spent if we ate at all of these places without DxDP follows. Keep in mind that I used a combination of WDWinfo, allears and even the Disney World website to compile these. A few prices are probably wrong and a couple don't have drinks written down because I couldn't find their soda prices.

Saturday 10/15
Lunch at Rose and Crown
Scotch Egg $8.99
Shepherd’s Pie $17.99
Chocolate Scotch Cake $5.99
Soda $2.69

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show-assuming category 2 seating $56.99 = tip $11.40

Sunday 10/16 Magic Kingdom
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare $22.36

CRT Lunch $48.54 + tip $9.71

Monday 10/17 Epcot!
Lunch at Tutto Italia
Prosciutto di Parma $16.00
Spaghetti $25.00
Cannoli $12.00

Dinner Garden Grill $34.99

Tuesday 10/18 Animal Kingdom
Breakfast at Tusker House $24.49

Lunch at Yak & Yeti
Pork Pot Stickers $8.49
Crispy Mahi Mahi $22.99
Chocolate Cake $6.99

Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo revue-assuming category 2 seating $56.99 = tip $11.40

Wednesday 10/19 DHS
Lunch at Sci-Fi
Spinach and Artichoke Dip $7.99
Angus Chuck Burger $13.99
Cheesecake $6.99
Flavored Soda $3.19

Dinner at 50's Prime Time Café
Blue Claw Crab Cake $8.49
Mom's Old Fashioned Pot Roast $16.99
Seasonal Cobbler ala mode $7.49
Flavored Soda $3.19

Thursday 10/20 Epcot/swimming
Lunch at Biergarten $25.99

Dinner at Jiko
Taste of Africa $9.00
Seared Barbarie Duck Breast $39.00
Tanzanian Chocolate Cremeux $10.00

Friday 10/21 Magic Kingdom
Breakfast at Kona Café
Tonga Toast $10.99
Can I get the smoothie? $4.69

Early dinner at CP $36.99

Late dinner at Boma $39.40

Saturday 10/22 Check out and DHS
Lunch at Pizza Planet
Vegetable Pizza with mixed greens salad $8.49
Mickey's Crisped Rice Treat $3.49
Root beer $2.19

Refillable Mug $13.49

14 snacks @2.92 each $40.88
Took an average of the three things we got most last time we had DDP. Of course we weren’t at F&W.

This comes up to a grand total of... drum roll please....

$716.92

That's a difference of $163.99. Multiply that by myself, DH and DS. Plus DD probably has a pretty hefty savings averaged in to hers. I'm pretty happy with that. The hardcore DDP peeps would probably faint if they saw where I was using TS credits on the last two days but I am happy to see that I can do that and still come out ahead. Just don't tell them I'm using a TS credit for Pizza Planet. I don't want to be the cause of anyone having a vein burst in their forehead.

Of course when DH asked tonight what were the day's Disney happenings I told him of my addition and how happy I was about the savings. He asked if I had already faxed my orders in so they would be ready when we got to each restaurant.

 

[Trentmom]

I'm honored that you would stop by my PTR. You sound so busy! Have you set your blog up to email when you update yet? I didn't see a way to do it when I was reading your last update. Thought maybe you had to allow it or something. Or, I may have just fried my brain thinking up an ADR schedule.



IKR? Good times. Good times.



I'm glad too! I think he's really happy that I just up and decided we need to go to MNSSHP. NOW!

Thanks for being interested. For the moment I can't stop thinking Disney and coming to check the boards every few minutes to see if anybody posted on the PTRs and TRs that I'm following. By the way, way to freak me out with the messed up luggage! Hopefully our tub does not do what yours did.

Sorry girl

I stayed at Pop twice and first time was great

It was probably just a fluke

But if you do end up with bad room, stay calm but firm and you will get moved to a new location....like Steve made happen

We might be back to flying airTran if southwest does not come down. Even airtran is up there.. We were still able to use our luggage, so was not ruined.

It will be fine


I love what your DH said..did you fax your orders in?

Great job on the savings

 

[Parla]

Oh dear! I haven't posted on my own PTR in five whole days!

Lots happening, not all Disney related and some would take too long and too many tears. Let's just say DS is wearin' me down. He and DH head out of town for boy scouts this weekend though so it looks like me, DD, Papa John's and PS3 Toy Story 3. It's our favorite thing to do about once a month now since the boys tend to have one weekend every month that they participate with camping.

On the Disney front I have decided I want to do an Illuminations Cruise. I'm really looking forward to trying to score the reservations. In reading the Cruise thread where everyone is looking for people to share the expense with it looks like it's easy to find fellow cruisers and relatively easy to get a reservation if you call pretty far in advance. It also looks as if you can call at 180+10. So I'm hoping to get my really big wanted ADRs done online and then call to get the cruise right at 7. Well, I'll start calling at 6:55.

The other thing I have decided to do is make a scrapbook of drinking my way around the world. I'm following -Hope- and Twoboysnmygirl's PTRs. Both of which have drunken pictures which made me laugh. I have picked up quite a few new facebook friends at work that want to see the real time posts of these pics. DH thought I was nuts when I told him I want him to snap a picture of me each time I try some new frozen concoction. He has never fully embraced food porn either so I'm not letting that stop me. DS will be happy to take my pic. I just won't tell him it's because it's alcohol and have him take all the pics with regular food and drink too so he doesn't get suspicious. I was thinking of posting them to Twitter instead but I don't know a lot of people that do Twitter and figure my niece (youngest facebook friend) has seen way worse considering some of the stuff she "likes."

 

[Trentmom]

Drinking around the world pics sound fun

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Parla!!!! First off, how is it possible that you have a PTR that I didn't know about??? Maybe too many drinks? You must document drinking around the world, I insist!

Is it ok to post mundane details of our lives that remind us of Disney or does each post have to specifically refer to some detail of your trip?

My dear, this could not possibly be a serious question...didn't you realize that EVERYTHING comes back to Disney. give me a mundane detail of your life and I can make it relate to Disney before you blink! It's ALL about Disney!

Ok, so I'm subbing now and next time you should just yell at me to get over to your PTR or something!

 

[exwdwcm]

been so super busy at work, i haven't had a chance to come back and visit until now. Great plan and of course we are there the same week.

bummer on your disney store. our closet one closed too and like you, i wasn't impressed with the upgraded one they have at another location. the 'interactive' effects are pretty limited and it is so much smaller than the regular disney store we had before. luckily, i have that interactive disney store about 20 minutes away, a disney OUTLET about 20 away and a regular disney store about 15 away. the outlet has a ton of great park stuff lately- disneyland and WDW- including shirts and stuff too.

i love your budgeting and figures for the DLXDP! definitely a great savings. can't wait to hear your cruise experience too!!!! good luck on the ADRs- you make them on Monday? my day is tomorrow- since we arrive ont he 14th.

Alrighty, here we go. I spent a good two hours (at least) trying to figure out a schedule so I will be prepared to make our ADRs when the time comes. I’m hoping you guys have lots of input. I love input.

Saturday 10/15
Our flight is scheduled to leave Indy at 7 AM and arrive in Orlando by 9:13. I’m nervous about planning anything because this is the first time we will be using Magical Express and the Unofficial Guide said it could take three hours to get to your resort. Really it says 45 minutes to three hours, but I’m a worst case scenario kind of girl. Do you think I would be pushing it if I made a reservation for Rose and Crown for around 3 PM? Would really rather have 2 but don’t want to miss out on it entirely. I would think you can totally do 2pm. I haven't done ME, but i know it won't take you that long and you don't have to wait on your bags, they'll deliver them anyway while you are out having fun. just take what you need on the plane carry on. arriving at 9:13am, i would guess you could be checked in and heading to epcot by noon at the latest. Will eating at 2pm and 8pm be too close together though? don't they have a ton of food at the dinner show? but since you are doing the DLX plan, i guess it doesn't matter anyway.

Then I want to do Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at 8 PM. Kind of sad that we’ll be so close to the Polynesian’s beach and not get to watch the fireworks from there.

Sunday 10/16 Magic Kingdom
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, I never thought about eating breakfast here but the kids saw Mary Poppins on the list and asked if they could.

Then I thought we would try to do dinner at CRT but I’m looking at menus and liking CRT’s lunch a little better than dinner and now I’m all confused. I just want to be sitting down somewhere between 3 and 5:30 because we will be doing MNSSHP this night. Plus, don't we all want the most expensive meal we can get for those dining plan credits? I also have to try and get DD into BBB earlier in the day so she’ll be ready to party that night. I’m a little worried about that since I’m sure lots of other people have the same idea. OK, so that day isn’t as planned as I thought it was.
i would agree, that is a lot to fit in this day- will the kids be well rested enough for MNSSHP with all of that going on? if so, great! i know everyone's kiddos are different and some can handle a lot.
Monday 10/17 Epcot!
We’ll eat a quick bite in the room and head over to Epcot for rope drop (hopefully, depending on how late we were at MNSSHP and how long it took us to get back). Planning on using lots of snacks at F&W.

Also want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. We talk about it every time and I really want to have it in place and ready to go.

Lunch will be at Tutto Italia. This could change to La Hacienda depending on what kind of mood I’m in when calling to make reservations.

Dinner will be at the Garden Grill. Mostly because I remember them saying that so much of the produce from the Living with the Land ride gets used there. Just thought it would be cool to have dinner there after having done the tour.

Tuesday 10/18 Animal Kingdom
Breakfast at Tusker House as early as we can get. I’m torn between asking for this first or CRT. Do I make BBB reservations with the same number or call someplace else? Those are the three most important things to me (Tusker House mostly because of timing).
you can make the CRT ressie online- it lets you pay online. i think you still have to call for BBB, but don't know the number off hand.
Lunch at Yak & Yeti

Dinner will be a showing of the Hoop Dee Doo revue. Can’t wait to see it again. Only this time I won’t have just ridden Mission Space and be having gastrointestinal problems. love HDD- sorry you had stomach issues last time,t hat's no fun!! especially with the all you can drink sangria! lol

Wednesday 10/19 DHS
Quick breakfast in the room and head to rope drop at DHS.

Lunch at Sci-Fi.

Dinner at 50's Prime Time Café.

Thursday 10/20 Epcot/swimming
This will technically be the third trip to Epcot. Plan on hitting Soarin’ again and catching anything we missed the first time since we’ll be doing the seeds tour and I’ll personally be pigging out around the world.

Plus we want to have lunch at Biergarten.

Then it’s back to AKL and letting the kids swim for Pete’s sake.

Plus it will be easier to meet the dress code for Jiko after a swim and change back in the room.yum for JIKO!!!

Friday 10/21 Magic Kingdom
Since we’ll have spent a good portion of our first Magic Kingdom day eating at 1900 Park Fare and getting all gussied up for the party I thought we would have another Magic Kingdom day. Plus, if the kids loved the first MNSSHP and we feel like we would get something out of it maybe another party tonight?

We'll have one TS credit to use today that I'm not sure about. I think we'll eat a QS at CHH with it.

Then an early dinner at CP.

I’m actually hoping that we don’t feel the need for a second party and can just head back to AKL for more swimming and a trip to Boma.

Saturday 10/22 Check out and DHS
Our flight doesn’t leave until 6:40 PM. Does that mean we should catch ME from AKL at about 3:40? I’m assuming I check out first thing in the morning and they go ahead and take our luggage to the front desk? I’ll be glad to have some ME experience under my belt to help me decide whether we should drive or fly our next trip.yep, catch ME at 3:40pm. yeah, i believe they can go ahead and take your luggage anytime. we don't use ME, but we use the Resort Airline service (RAC). you call the number the night before to pay for your checked bags (if needed), then we just took our bags down and checked them, got our boarding passes and we put our carry ons in our car and then went and played in the parks until time to leave. so convenient not messing with the big bags!

DHS has AM extra magic hours this day. I’m not a fan of EMH (except for other people since it draws them away from me) and try to avoid them but this is a park I would like a little extra time at and Touring Plans really doesn’t give good crowd level numbers to Epcot or Magic Kingdom on a Saturday so switching it with either of those for my Thursday or Friday days didn’t seem like a good idea. This is also why I’m hoping we don’t feel a strong need to hit the party again Friday night. That would make it a bit harder to get up and get moving for EMH and make sure we get another shot at TSM. I think we would need to leave the park by 2:30PM to give us plenty of time to get back to AKL and head to the airport. i think on this day (our departure day too)- we will sleep in, pack and late breakfast - 10:45 at Ohana. then hit whatever park we feel we missed- or MK. our flight is at 8pm.

I also plan on surprising DS with a trip to Pizza Planet to use our last meal credit. I hate using a TS credit for QS but unless we end up eating another meal to use it earlier in the trip I will use it. If we do use it earlier then this will obviously be the best meal of the trip to pay OOP for.

Oh, and we’ll eat up whatever cold food we have left for breakfast.

 

[Parla]

Parla!!!! First off, how is it possible that you have a PTR that I didn't know about??? Maybe too many drinks? You must document drinking around the world, I insist!



My dear, this could not possibly be a serious question...didn't you realize that EVERYTHING comes back to Disney. give me a mundane detail of your life and I can make it relate to Disney before you blink! It's ALL about Disney!

Ok, so I'm subbing now and next time you should just yell at me to get over to your PTR or something!

You're here now and isn't that all that really matters?

been so super busy at work, i haven't had a chance to come back and visit until now. Great plan and of course we are there the same week.

bummer on your disney store. our closet one closed too and like you, i wasn't impressed with the upgraded one they have at another location. the 'interactive' effects are pretty limited and it is so much smaller than the regular disney store we had before. luckily, i have that interactive disney store about 20 minutes away, a disney OUTLET about 20 away and a regular disney store about 15 away. the outlet has a ton of great park stuff lately- disneyland and WDW- including shirts and stuff too.

i love your budgeting and figures for the DLXDP! definitely a great savings. can't wait to hear your cruise experience too!!!! good luck on the ADRs- you make them on Monday? my day is tomorrow- since we arrive ont he 14th.

Definitely smoothing the edges on the ADR list. Now I'm just concerned about Biergarten and why nobody is able to get a reservation in October.

 

[Parla]

So, I finally got around to taking pictures of the shirts we bought at the Disney Store the other day.

DD has taken to wearing nightgowns instead of the old PJ Pals. So she got this one and a Tiana one. I had to ask them to get the Tiana one off of the wall. Same thing happened last time. I guess size 10 is popular. Didn't take a picture of Tiana because it was worn last night and DD's room has turned into the Bermuda Triangle. I'm afraid to get too close.

They didn't have DS's size in hardly anything. He liked this one though. Luckily he got a few shirts at Target the week before.

DH had the same problem with sizes. He let me get him this one to complete the two for sale that was going on. I came home and ordered two that he had been looking at but the size wasn't available.

I love my shirts! I really liked the idea of darker shirts for a Halloween trip.

The girls shirts were really picked over. More than half of the styles only had size 2T left.

DD found this one on the clearance rack. That is our very old dog that doesn't go very far away these days. We have a sitter lined up for her but in all honesty think she may not make it until October. She pants constantly now and my friend thinks it's congenital heart failure (google searching and all). I don't want to take her to the vet because it stresses her out so much.

Look what DH got me!

Does anyone else think that The Unofficial Guide's Color Companion to Walt Disney World kind of borrowed a color scheme from somewhere? This same "balloon" design is on several pages.

Since I was clicking away with the camera I thought I would snap a picture of our bookshelf. It is more than 50% Disney at this point. We were starting a piggy bank shelf to save for 2013 and it kind of got out of control. The kids brought all of their Disney items out and I actually got a couple of things specifically for the shelf which seems counterproductive for a "saving" shelf.

 

[Trentmom]

Great buys

Love the grey shirts you got. They are cute

Poor doggie, hope he is okay

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Piggy bank shelf! Genius! Buying stuff for the shelf is exactly something I would have done!

I LOVE your shirts! Those are awesome! I wish we had a Disney Store, but I don't think there is even one in St. Louis, 100 miles from here.