$5 A Day Means Disney MY Way! Update: OUR DAY OUT!

[meggiebeth]

Our Flights Are BOOKED!

After much searching, price comparing, and hoping, we managed to find some flights for our budget of around £500 each. We got flights for all five of us for £2,509 approx. So... flight details...

Our Flight's Airline:

(Photo from liquidproductions.co.uk)

(Photo from BritishAirways.com)

British Airways is a very reputable airline here in the UK- and about the same standard presumably as Virgin Atlantic. We flew American Airlines on our last trip to WDW (LHR to MIA) and it was terrible- the food and service. The cabin crew were dressed terribly- they were not even wearing a uniform! We were hoping to fly with Virgin Atlantic as they have a reputation for being one of the best airlines in the UK, but we saved approximately £300 by flying with BA.

From:

(Photo taken from guidepal.com)

London Gatwick Airport (LHW)
(This airport is about 45 minutes away from where we live- Stansted airport is only 10 minutes away and would have been great, but is not generally a host to international flights.)

To:

(Photo taken from world-airport-codes.com)

Orlando International Airport (MCO)
We are excited to be flying into ORLANDO! Last trip we flew into Miami and drove the four hour journey to Orlando to save money- about £800. So this trip, we will have time to RELAX on our arrival night, unlike last time when we arrived at SSR at 9pm EST (which was actually 2am GMT- our time in England).

More updates to follow! Hope your 2013s came off to a GREAT start!

 

[risuhill]

Hello there, and thanks for joining! It is great to meet another teen who loves WDW. I can totally relate with you- my parents do sometimes act like I am a little pathetic liking Disney- something that is apparently for children. But, there is a whole world of adult Disney, and adults who love Disney!

Are you going to WDW anytime soon? Any plans? (Planning is half the fun to me!)

I wish I was going soon, but unfortunately no. My mom and sister are going to Germany as my sister's college graduation present, so there's no room in the budget. I'm hoping in 2014 though, so we could celebrate my sixteenth birthday there. We went there last August for my birthday. And I *love* planning. In fact, I love it so much that my parents get annoyed with it. >.< They like me planning it at the same time though, because they don't have to do anything then! For our past trip I set up our plane tickets, ADRs, resort reservations, and everything else, and they appreciated it then. I look forward to hearing more about your trip!

 

[meggiebeth]

I wish I was going soon, but unfortunately no. My mom and sister are going to Germany as my sister's college graduation present, so there's no room in the budget. I'm hoping in 2014 though, so we could celebrate my sixteenth birthday there. We went there last August for my birthday. And I *love* planning. In fact, I love it so much that my parents get annoyed with it. >.< They like me planning it at the same time though, because they don't have to do anything then! For our past trip I set up our plane tickets, ADRs, resort reservations, and everything else, and they appreciated it then. I look forward to hearing more about your trip!

That's a shame- but how great your mum and sister are going to Germany! What a great graduation present! Is your sister really into Germany, then? Or is it just somewhere she'd like to visit? We've been to a German city called Nuremburg, if you've heard of it. Very neat. We went in August too- but 2011. A 16th birthday at WDW sounds pretty amazing!

Oh, I know what you mean about parents getting annoyed at planning. I irritate mine by asking what restaurants to get ADRs at, and etc. Wow, I have never met anyone who actually booked the whole holiday like me before!

 

[TinkerbellM6]

Ohhh that picture of MCO just made my belly do little flip flops! We will be in Disney in just 40 days!!!

 

[risuhill]

That's a shame- but how great your mum and sister are going to Germany! What a great graduation present! Is your sister really into Germany, then? Or is it just somewhere she'd like to visit? We've been to a German city called Nuremburg, if you've heard of it. Very neat. We went in August too- but 2011. A 16th birthday at WDW sounds pretty amazing!

Oh, I know what you mean about parents getting annoyed at planning. I irritate mine by asking what restaurants to get ADRs at, and etc. Wow, I have never met anyone who actually booked the whole holiday like me before!

Yeah, my sister is fluent in German and really wants to go there. My parents thought that we shouldn't make ADRs until we got there, but I eventually persuaded them that we needed to make ours ahead of time. >.< And it's great to know that someone's like me! I hope your trip is magical!

 

[meggiebeth]

Ohhh that picture of MCO just made my belly do little flip flops! We will be in Disney in just 40 days!!!

Oh my goodness! Getting close now! That photo makes me excited too... it is such a colourful and bright shot.

Yeah, my sister is fluent in German and really wants to go there. My parents thought that we shouldn't make ADRs until we got there, but I eventually persuaded them that we needed to make ours ahead of time. >.< And it's great to know that someone's like me! I hope your trip is magical!

Wow- that is impressive! How did she get fluent so quickly? I learn French but do find it hard work, and need to revise lots. Haha, ITA, making ADRs 180 days in advance is something I stress the importance of! Thank you, and I hope your next trip comes sooner rather than later- and that it is magical too!

 

[meggiebeth]

New Year in Scotland

I thought I would share some more pictures of our New Year in Scotland. We took a day trip to Edinburgh (no photos uploaded as of yet) and exchanged presents.

Coming up soon- more planning for WDW! Happy January! All our (me, Willum and Rors') schools were closed today due to snow, but should, sadly be back on tomorrow.

 

[risuhill]

My sister started German in middle school and has been learning ever since, and now she is starting Dutch. >.< And your new year looks like it was fun! Look forward to the next update.

 

[meggiebeth]

My sister started German in middle school and has been learning ever since, and now she is starting Dutch. >.< And your new year looks like it was fun! Look forward to the next update.

Wow- she became fluent so quickly then! Dutch is similar to German I *think* so it should be easy for her. Thanks!

 

[meggiebeth]

ICE Exhibition at Gaylord Palms Resort

I had read about this in 2011 or 2012, and thought it looked great. When we finally decided to go on holiday to WDW in November, I realized that ICE would be a great place to visit. Christmas season in Orlando is just so exciting.

This exhibition is only offputting when you hear about the temperatures- something like -17 degrees celcius, which is so much colder than ANYWHERE I have been before that I can remember. Luckily, they provide winter coats, but obviously you should NOT turn up to this attraction in shorts and a tee-shirt or you will inevitably freeze.

These photos are taken from the DISboards.com.

I remember on our journey from MIA to SSR, it had taken a gruelling 4 hours (after our ten hour flight) to drive to Orlando. We drove past Gaylord Palms, and Willum let out a cackle, followed by my mum and dad doing the same. Rory didn't understand, but the name does make us laugh. Surely other people feel this way? The actual hotel does look terribly impressive from the outside but I have heard that the inside is not as good.

We shall see.

 

[meggiebeth]

Our Trip to the Verulamium Museum and St Albans

Another real-life update that I would like to share. Myself, my dad and my brothers (except for the little black furry one!) went to the Verulamium Museum in St Albans. There is a whole Roman town buried beneath St Albans which was evidently called Verulamium.

Rory has just been learning about the Romans at school so he was excited to go. There were lots of artifacts and interactive activities, including building a minature bridge the way Romans would build a real one. There were also microscopes which is what I believe Rory is looking at in this picture.

There were many mosaics on display, including this rather grand looking one which I think came from a wealthy man's house/ villa. The Romans were around thousands of years ago, so when we touched the mosaics, it did feel weird that a true Roman would have touched it, and walked across it, all that time ago. It is great that things like that still exist because they do make history even more exciting, especially for younger children like Rorsie.

There were also lots of skeletons- which were rather interesting to look at. It is strange to think that they were living, breathing people all that time ago.

After looking in the main museum, we went outside where there was a huge mosaic to view, sheltered of course. They also showed how Roman underfloor heating worked- very sophisticated for the time, I believe!

Then, Rory begged to go to the dreaded playpark. We went in, but saw a different one next door... obviously more for adults, though most of the people in there were children. It had been created for the Olympics the UK hosted last year (which were amazing!).

There were loads of different 'machines' to go on, and we had fun trying some of them out.

Wow... Rory really should get a haircut...

Daddy had a go on some of the 'machines':

I tried some out but couldn't do them properly or well!

And last but not least, Daddy and Rory together

Overall, it was a very interesting and fun day out and I would definitely reccommend the Verulamium Museum as a fun day out for the family (although it is IMO better in the summer). Obviously this won't be of use to many of you who live thousands of miles away, but ya know...?!

 

[tdzaleski]

Hi, I just logged on for the first time since I wrote my last TR (which I never finished BTW) and read it through. I saw this new post in your sig, and I'm glad that you can go again November seems like a good time to be going. I'm personally going again this December by myself this time~

Doing some reading in the post, I do have to agree that American Airlines isn't the best in the world. If you ever fly within the US, JetBlue is the best IMO. But, I've heard good things from BA, although I've never flown them...

 

[meggiebeth]

Hi, I just logged on for the first time since I wrote my last TR (which I never finished BTW) and read it through. I saw this new post in your sig, and I'm glad that you can go again November seems like a good time to be going. I'm personally going again this December by myself this time~

Doing some reading in the post, I do have to agree that American Airlines isn't the best in the world. If you ever fly within the US, JetBlue is the best IMO. But, I've heard good things from BA, although I've never flown them...

Hello there! I never finished my last TR either, I suppose it is hard to when you feel home-sick for WDW. That is fabulous that you are going- and just a month after me! I'd love to go over Christmas but the crowds really put me off. I shall someday, I hope. My family would love it. We've never had a *proper* vacation at Christmas- only gone up to my Grandma's in Scotland.

Isn't JetBlue a budget airline? If so, I find it interesting that so many have reccommended it since our budget airlines are absolutely terrible!

 

[meggiebeth]

Basic Trip Summary

Here are the foundations of our upcoming trip~ from flights, to hotels, car hire, food and tickets!

The following photographs have been taken from the internet.

Our Trip to Walt Disney World

We shall spend at least 4 days in Magic Kingdom, 2 days in Epcot, 2 days in Hollywood Studios and 1 day in Animal Kingdom, along with a waterpark day or two at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach- we are unaware of which will be open and which will be closed for refurbishment at present.

Flights

We shall fly British Airways from LGW to MCO. The flight should take about 9 hours each way.

Car Hire

We shall rent a car from Alamo for the full 17 nights, although we have not booked this yet. We are hoping to rent a 7-seater minivan if possible.

Accommodations

6 nights~ We will stay at Reunion Resort for the first 6 nights in a beautiful three-bedroom condominium.

11 nights~ We will be staying for the remaining 11 nights at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

Type of Accommodation

We will be staying in a dedicated two-bedroom villa at SSR. (Dedicated essentially means it is a two-bedroom villa rather than a two-bedroom-lock-off villa which is a one-bedroom villa with an adjoining door to a studio- hence making it a two-bedroom villa.)

Location of Villa

I will be requesting the Springs area unless I decide otherwise later. This is section D on the map above. It is close to the main pool, check in, gift shop and restaurants.

Tickets

We have purchased Disney's Ultimate 14 Day Ticket...

With the promotion 14 days for the price of 7!

Disney Dining Plan

We have recieved the Disney Dining Plan for free and shall be upgrading to the Deluxe Dining Plan if my savings go to plan.

 

[meggiebeth]

My Handmade Hair Bows

Hello there! Sorry that I have taken so long to update. I have lots of planning news to share with you! But first, I thought I might tell you about my new hobby~ hair bow making! Many of them are 'fairytale' themed, and I have designed co-ordinating packaging!

My bows are improving, and I thought I would share some of my creations!

Hair Bow Number One~

Hair Bow Number Two~

Hair Bow Number Three- A Sleeping Beauty Themed Hair Bow~

Hair Bow Number Four- A Boutique Pink Minnie Mouse Hair Bow~

Hair Bow Number 5- A Festive Gingerbread Woman Hair Bow~

Hair Bow Number 6- A Festive Gingerbread Man Hair Bow~

Hair Bow Number 7- A Pink Pinwheel Hair Bow~

Hair Bow Number 8- A Purple Jasmine Themed Hair Bow~

Hair Bow Number 9- A Blue Belle Themed Hair Bow~

Anyways, I hope you like them! I just love making and wearing all my own designs.

 

[lovingeire]

I remember on our journey from MIA to SSR, it had taken a gruelling 4 hours (after our ten hour flight) to drive to Orlando. We drove past Gaylord Palms, and Willum let out a cackle, followed by my mum and dad doing the same. Rory didn't understand, but the name does make us laugh. Surely other people feel this way? The actual hotel does look terribly impressive from the outside but I have heard that the inside is not as good.
[/FONT]

I think that every time I see these hotels. They are actually a chain of hotels. We've stayed in the one up in the Washington DC area for an event and it was a lovely hotel. Very, very nice!

 

[eeyoresnr]

wow, I just popped in to say hi.... been so busy keeping up with grandson that I haven't been on Dis much.... your trip plans are moving right along... I think you will really like ICE and Gaylord Palms, my husband and I did it a few years back and really liked it... I am still debating doing it again this year with Jaxon....

and your hair bows are adorable !

 

[amberpi]

What Are Your Two Favourite MK Restaurants?

Welcome back! Now I shall be rating each restaurant in MK out 5 depending on how much I would like to eat there. I have made a questionnaire for my family to fill in on their opinions but you can guess how well that went. My mum eagerly filled it in though. Is it considered sad for a 16 year old to be quizzing her family on where they’d like to eat in Disney World? Hmmmmn.


I would be really grateful if you could tell me your two favourite MK restaurants and why so I can make an informed decision! Many thanks!!!

First, I want to commend you for being so enterprising in regards to trip planning I wanted to make a point about the Plaza - it may not be a great value on the DDP but if you want extra signature or dinner shows, it would probably be a great way to eat OOP at a sit down restaurant for a very affordable price. The food is the best you'll get around lunch at MK (I did BOG with the girls in Jan. and the ordering fiscaco was not worth it), and generally I think its a lovely way to get out of the heat during the day. I wouldn't choose it for dinner, but its FAR above CP, Liberty or Tony's for us.

 

[ougrad86]

Really enjoying your pre-trip report, and love the stories and pictures! Although I am a woman and mother in my 50's, I am as crazy and obsessed about Disney as you are. DS and DH come along for the ride, and do appreciate the fact that all my obsessive planning makes the trip so easy and wonderful!

What Are Your Two Favourite MK Restaurants?
Cinderella’s Royal Table
This restaurant is a priority for us because we are so eager to eat in the castle. We regret a little not doing it last time and really want to try it this time. We are big MK fans and love the nostalgia! Me and Mummy also want to meet the princesses. Rory will be pleased with the sword he gets!!!

The Plaza
I am not too sure about trying this one out- really just because there seem to be more interesting options around MK and the MK resorts. Also I am not sure that it is the best value on the DDP. The lunches look really delicious and light compared to other restaurants!

Be Our Guest
This is another priority. I just cannot wait. The food and atmosphere both look great and I am a huge fan of Beauty and the Beast. I cannot wait to see more reviews emerge of this place and am determined to get an ADR there. I do really hope it will be easier to get an ADR there by next year though. William isn’t too thrilled about it though. Hard Rock Cafe is where he wants to go- he loves the one in London.

Crystal Palace
Whilst this meal didn’t stand out to us, I think I’d like to do it again to get into MK early. The food is pretty good (potato casserole- YUM!!!) but we aren’t really interested in the Winnie the Pooh characters. A very pretty restaurant though. We didn’t have a good experience with the lady signing us in which was a disappointment so I am just hoping we do not have the same grumpy, rude lady this time round!

Liberty Tree Tavern
I am not sure about this one- it looks old town America which appeals to me (America loving Brit). I haven’t looked into the menu much or read many dining reviews so I’ll have to look into that one. I would appreciate any advice.

Tony’s Town Square
Again, I have read awful reviews about this place and am not sure. I have space for an ADR here, but just am not sure I want to waste a precious credit dining here. I will have to look into it as yesterday I read a really convincing review for it.

I would be really grateful if you could tell me your two favourite MK restaurants and why so I can make an informed decision! Many thanks!!!

Can't comment on the first four. I would like to eat at Cinderella's castle just for the atmosphere, but will probably go after DS goes off to college - from what I have read there would be nothing he would enjoy eating (he is very picky). And I am looking forward to trying Be Our Guest during our trip next April. The offerings look limited...that has me concerned...but I think the atmosphere will be awesome!

We have ate both at LTT and TTS. I really liked LTT, had a good beef stew and I thought it was a very pretty restaurant. The people we traveled with liked it too. TTS surprised us, I had read many bad reviews and the food was good, and I loved the fountain inside with Lady and the Tramp. No carpeting though, and hard surfaces throughout, I think it would get noisy with a lot of people. We always eat at off hours to avoid the crowds.

We were going to try Crystal Palace our last trip, but then the EMH for the park moved up - we weren't going to waste EMH eating, so we cancelled our ADR.

Shady Hollow is a great place for a counter service lunch or a snack. They have a couple yummy sandwiches, as well as a waffle/fruit/nuttella thing that needs to be shared, it is so big. They also have funnel cakes - it has become a tradition on our trips, stop mid-morning for a funnel cake.

Epcot Restaurants- What are your two favourites?

Welcome back! Now, let me rate the Epcot restaurants with regards to how much I’d like to eat at, on a scale of 1 to 5.
Akershus
I really would like to return to Akershus for breakfast. We loved the food, and the princesses were nice too. It was our first ever meal at WDW so holds a special place in our heart. I also love how you get complimentary photo packs at no extra charge.

Tokyo Dining
Not interested. We don’t like Japanese food much and would rather go to other restaurants in WS.

Teppan Edo
Okay- even though I just said we don’t like Japanese food, Teppan Edo still interests me because of the chefs cooking your meal on your table. I have seen videos and it looks so neat!

Nine Dragons
My parents and Willum love Chinese food, however I have read mainly bad reviews for Nine Dragons so am pretty reluctant to try it. My dad may change my mind though- knowing how much he adores Chinese cuisine. We have it lots at home- there are so many Chinese takeaways near us! And they are cheaper than Indians (my dad’s other favourite cuisine!)

Le Cellier
I would quite like to try Le Cellier, although the 2 credits are a bit of a put-off considering its reviews generally claim it serves average or bad food for the price. But the restaurant looks beautiful and I love the look of the chocolate ‘moose’ dessert! Yum!

So- what are your favourite Epcot restaurants- or even better- do you have any experiences of any I have just mentioned? I would appreciate feedback!

We have ate at Akerhus, not for the princesses but for my DH heritage - he is half Norwegian. He and I both like the food, but many American's seem put off by it, as it is not what they are used to. I think the breakfast is the more traditional fare, but not sure as we did not go then.

Can't commment on the two Asian. We figure we have enough of those in our area that we don't need to visit them while at Epcot. I do love the shops in those countries though, and the shaved ice in Japan is to die for!...it is not something I see much of here.

Le Cellier I liked. We haven't been back since 2006 though, just other things to do. But the cheese soup was very good, the bread was great as well (dip the pretzel bread in the soup) and the meats were cooked just the way we like them. I hear it can feel crowded, but they put us in a booth in the corner, out of the way, so it was perfect. I'll need to try and go back sometime.

Epcot Restaurants

Here are some more Epcot restaurants rated by myself out of priority.
La Hacienda de San Angel
It isn’t really a priority for us to eat here- we aren’t huge fans of Mexican food- however the views for Illuminations are a small draw for us. The decor looks really pretty too.

Biergarten
I am actually quite interested to eat here because of the fun looking atmosphere and entertainment. We love shows and music, plus there would be an opportunity to meet new people (AMERICANS- WOO!) so it looks like a very likely possibility.

Restaurant Marrakesh
I am not sure about this place- just because I have no idea what Moroccan food would taste like and whether we would like it or not. The actual restaurant looks beautiful, though, and that for some reason actually makes me want to eat there.

Chefs de France
I am not too bothered about returning here since we have already been and whilst we enjoyed it, we don’t want to go back when there are so many other restaurants in WS to try. (For anyone wondering, I highly recommend it if you haven’t been, and meeting Remy and his helper is such fun!)

Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room
We do not want to return here by any means. We had the most terrible food (and totally not authentic British cuisine) but it did taste quite processed. I think it was definitely altered to suit a more American palette, but it is a real shame it is not really British... and doesn’t showcase how good the food is our country offers. Raglan Road is a more authentic pub, and it is owned by an Irish family I believe. However one thing is great about R&C and that is the FIREWORKS VIEW! We have heard it can be very crowded on the balcony overlooking the lake, but because the rain had caused them to close it off on the day we were there, it was pretty empty and our waitress let us go down and get a good view.

I would appreciate any feedback or advice regarding any of the above restaurants! Merci beaucoup!

San Angel I have wanted to try but never had the chance. Haven't heard much about it since they reopened. Marrakesh is another one I would like to try, or perhaps the Tangerine counter service. Trouble is, DH does not like spicy foods, so not sure if he would enjoy eating here.

Biergarten was fun, we went there once. But we lived in Germany for two years, and I don't think the food was very good compared to what we were accustomed to over there. It was OK though. If you like to meet people and get good table companions it is interesting, and the show is fun.

Rose & Crown we love! But never made it to England to have some authentic British food. I have enjoyed it each time we have gone, and we were seated on the patio, right on the edge with a perfect view of Illuminations our first trip!

Chefs de France was fun, we met Remy as well. We will probably hit it up for lunch again. We all liked the food there.

We like the bakery in France as well, and the Karamel Kuche in Germany. The last couple of times we have gone during Food & Wine, so not always visiting the restaurants!

Epcot Restaurants- Continued
Welcome back and big apologies for not updating in so long! Christmas has meant we have been busier than usual and I have been occupied shopping for Christmas presents. Rory likes to stand by the tree shaking his presents to try to determine what they are!
Here are the remaining* Epcot restaurants rated. I would appreciate any advice.
Garden Grill Restaurant
We are very eager to try this place. One thing we love about WDW is the amazing theming and this place apparently scores top marks for that and atmosphere. The fact it rotates is really intruiging and I am determined that we shall try GG on our upcoming trip.

Coral Reef Restaurant
We are not keen to try this restaurant. We are not big fans of seafood, except for Mummy, and even she would be put off hearing all of the terrible reviews. The panoramic fish tanks sound really neat, but I am just not too sure it would be worth one of our 33 precious TS credits. That being said, I thought I would dislike Chef Mickey's, Akershus and HDDR and those were my favourites of the trip! I also thought MK would be my least favourite park but in fact it is by far my favourite. I have learnt (...I hope...) to stop assuming...

I would be extremely grateful for any feedback or suggestions! Many thanks and I hope you are all having a very merry Christmas season!

Garden Grill I have not ate at yet, but my friends say it has great food. I will have to try it once of these days.

Coral Reef was a wonderful place to eat. We were right next to the aquarium and it was great fun! None of us like seafood, I had chicken, DS had mac and cheese the first time and some sort of chicken the second time. They also have steak, so there is plenty to choose from. Would feel odd eating fish in front of them!

If you need counter service, in the Land is Sunshine Seasons I believe. That is a pretty good place to eat as well.

Your trip sounds like it will be awesome, I would love to spend two weeks in Florida! We sometimes have to squeeze it in during school break (we can't handle the humidity in the summer, I was born and raised in Wisconsin), and now that DS had discovered Universal, our spring break is a week hitting both WDW and Universal with a split stay. Harry Potter is insanely wonderful (both DH and I are fans, moreso than DS - but his friend we travel with, she is a big fan as well). Hope to take a trip someday to slow down and smell the roses.

My DS is big into Minecraft as well! You said Willum is not always into visiting the parks, do you all know about DisneyQuest? It is in DTD, it does cost to get in, but if you have water parks access on your ticket, I think it is the same thing. If is several floors of gaming, some old arcade games, bumper-type cars, virtual reality, a cyber-coaster simulator (you create your own track in the computer, then ride it in a simulator, we all enjoy that), and a Pirates game that is really fun, but you need a few people to play it. He would probably be able to while away a pleasant afternoon there, maybe while you all go shopping! It is not very well advertised, and not sure if it will survive the renovation of DTD - I hope so, we haven't been there in a few years due to time constraints, but if he goes with us during his college breaks he will probably have the chance to go again, which he has assured me he would like to do!

Looking forward to future entries !

 

[meggiebeth]

I think that every time I see these hotels. They are actually a chain of hotels. We've stayed in the one up in the Washington DC area for an event and it was a lovely hotel. Very, very nice!

That is fascinating- I had no idea there were more! It certainly is an impressive looking hotel in Orlando. I believe it is owned by Marriott but I am not sure. We have Marriotts here and they are lovely. (And you are very lucky getting to go to Washington DC! Sigh!)

wow, I just popped in to say hi.... been so busy keeping up with grandson that I haven't been on Dis much.... your trip plans are moving right along... I think you will really like ICE and Gaylord Palms, my husband and I did it a few years back and really liked it... I am still debating doing it again this year with Jaxon....

and your hair bows are adorable !

Hallo there! Great to hear from you! Yup, plans are all moving along and time to make ADRs soon too! It is exciting to say the least! Good to know you like ICE- would you say it is worth the money? You should go with Jaxon if you can- they are only young once! And thank you! I am improving slowly but surely.

First, I want to commend you for being so enterprising in regards to trip planning I wanted to make a point about the Plaza - it may not be a great value on the DDP but if you want extra signature or dinner shows, it would probably be a great way to eat OOP at a sit down restaurant for a very affordable price. The food is the best you'll get around lunch at MK (I did BOG with the girls in Jan. and the ordering fiscaco was not worth it), and generally I think its a lovely way to get out of the heat during the day. I wouldn't choose it for dinner, but its FAR above CP, Liberty or Tony's for us.

Thank you! It is paying off! Sadly, being on the Deluxe Dining Plan (hopefully!), we don't want to pay OOP after having 3 credits a day! We aren't too bothered about getting the best value from the DDP, so if the Plaza is good, then we'd like to eat there- but if another restaurant is better then we'll go elsewhere. (We are happy to go to an MK resort for lunch- it is more peaceful. We shall do BOG for dinner so hopefully it won't be as frantic as lunch! I have heard very bad things about Tony's Town Square... so really am not sure about that one.

Really enjoying your pre-trip report, and love the stories and pictures! Although I am a woman and mother in my 50's, I am as crazy and obsessed about Disney as you are. DS and DH come along for the ride, and do appreciate the fact that all my obsessive planning makes the trip so easy and wonderful!

Thank you so much! And it is very reassuring to know that women your age love Disney too (my mum is almost 50 and still thinks it is bleh... she just loves WDW...). I do envy you living in the US... your Disney Store products are so much better than ours. I tried to order something from the US Disney Store and was quoted about $50 for shipping! No thanks! So your DS and DH don't like Disney as much as you? It does sometimes suck, but it is good getting to plan all by yourself!

Can't comment on the first four. I would like to eat at Cinderella's castle just for the atmosphere, but will probably go after DS goes off to college - from what I have read there would be nothing he would enjoy eating (he is very picky). And I am looking forward to trying Be Our Guest during our trip next April. The offerings look limited...that has me concerned...but I think the atmosphere will be awesome!

You have the same priorities as me! CRT and BOG are really appealing and we will most definitely try and get an ADR for both. I am very picky like your DS so am a little concerned at what I'd eat too.

We have ate both at LTT and TTS. I really liked LTT, had a good beef stew and I thought it was a very pretty restaurant. The people we traveled with liked it too. TTS surprised us, I had read many bad reviews and the food was good, and I loved the fountain inside with Lady and the Tramp. No carpeting though, and hard surfaces throughout, I think it would get noisy with a lot of people. We always eat at off hours to avoid the crowds.

Good to hear. I think LTT would be good for us because it sounds so patriotic. My family loves a good beef stew! That is what I thought, TTS looks rather cold looking. I am considering booking there and your good experience makes me more keen to try it.

We were going to try Crystal Palace our last trip, but then the EMH for the park moved up - we weren't going to waste EMH eating, so we cancelled our ADR.

We have the same plan this time, but hopefully EMH won't get moved up for us! We like CP for breakfast, but it isn't one of our real favourites.

Shady Hollow is a great place for a counter service lunch or a snack. They have a couple yummy sandwiches, as well as a waffle/fruit/nuttella thing that needs to be shared, it is so big. They also have funnel cakes - it has become a tradition on our trips, stop mid-morning for a funnel cake.

We love funnel cake and waffles so I am keen to try Shady Hollow. Are they included as a snack credit? We don't really get them here so love to indulge in them in WDW.

We have ate at Akerhus, not for the princesses but for my DH heritage - he is half Norwegian. He and I both like the food, but many American's seem put off by it, as it is not what they are used to. I think the breakfast is the more traditional fare, but not sure as we did not go then.

That is so cool that your DH is half Norwegian! How'd he find it? The food to us tasted very fresh, and a lot more like the buffets we had here. We will definitely try it again- it was our first restaurant at WDW.

Can't commment on the two Asian. We figure we have enough of those in our area that we don't need to visit them while at Epcot. I do love the shops in those countries though, and the shaved ice in Japan is to die for!...it is not something I see much of here.

We never even set foot in the Japan pavilion! You are persuading me. We have heard great things about the Pick A Pearl in Japan.

Le Cellier I liked. We haven't been back since 2006 though, just other things to do. But the cheese soup was very good, the bread was great as well (dip the pretzel bread in the soup) and the meats were cooked just the way we like them. I hear it can feel crowded, but they put us in a booth in the corner, out of the way, so it was perfect. I'll need to try and go back sometime.

Oh, I have heard fantastic things about the pretzel bread. Many people say it isn't worth the 2 credits, sadly. I think we shall try it, the soup looks heavenly! And the booth in the corner sounds nice too. I hope we aren't too cramped when we go. Lol.

San Angel I have wanted to try but never had the chance. Haven't heard much about it since they reopened. Marrakesh is another one I would like to try, or perhaps the Tangerine counter service. Trouble is, DH does not like spicy foods, so not sure if he would enjoy eating here.

I sure don't like spicy food either! But my dad is the total opposite of your DH, he loves spicy food! Not sure if he'd like Marrakesh though.
Biergarten was fun, we went there once. But we lived in Germany for two years, and I don't think the food was very good compared to what we were accustomed to over there. It was OK though. If you like to meet people and get good table companions it is interesting, and the show is fun.

Ah, so it was not too authentic? That puts me off alone. I'd like to get an authentic meal, but the meeting people part sounds such fun and is what made me want to go.

Rose & Crown we love! But never made it to England to have some authentic British food. I have enjoyed it each time we have gone, and we were seated on the patio, right on the edge with a perfect view of Illuminations our first trip!

Shame you haven't gotten to England! London is so pretty! The patio view at R&C is heavenly- it was closed when we were there but we were let out to watch Illuminations. It was great!

Chefs de France was fun, we met Remy as well. We will probably hit it up for lunch again. We all liked the food there.

We are considering it too! We've already been and liked it, but there are so many other places to see!

We like the bakery in France as well, and the Karamel Kuche in Germany. The last couple of times we have gone during Food & Wine, so not always visiting the restaurants!

I saw Karamel Kuche, but don't like caramel, lol! We love the bakery in France though.

Garden Grill I have not ate at yet, but my friends say it has great food. I will have to try it once of these days.

Coral Reef was a wonderful place to eat. We were right next to the aquarium and it was great fun! None of us like seafood, I had chicken, DS had mac and cheese the first time and some sort of chicken the second time. They also have steak, so there is plenty to choose from. Would feel odd eating fish in front of them!

So you liked it? Many people don't! My mum loves seafood but the rest of us don't. If there are other options then it'll be a better choice for us!

If you need counter service, in the Land is Sunshine Seasons I believe. That is a pretty good place to eat as well.

Your trip sounds like it will be awesome, I would love to spend two weeks in Florida! We sometimes have to squeeze it in during school break (we can't handle the humidity in the summer, I was born and raised in Wisconsin), and now that DS had discovered Universal, our spring break is a week hitting both WDW and Universal with a split stay. Harry Potter is insanely wonderful (both DH and I are fans, moreso than DS - but his friend we travel with, she is a big fan as well). Hope to take a trip someday to slow down and smell the roses.

You totally should stay for a longer time! It is lovely and relaxing. WDW has so many recreational activities to take advantage of! We hope to rent a boat and explore the lakes. Also, Chip n' Dale's Campfire at FW sounds fun (and free which always pleases my dad!). Good to hear good things about the WWoHP- would you say that it is worth it even for non Harry Potter fans? Wisconsin sounds pretty cold! It is horrible like that here, and so, so rainy. Really gets to me sometime.

My DS is big into Minecraft as well! You said Willum is not always into visiting the parks, do you all know about DisneyQuest? It is in DTD, it does cost to get in, but if you have water parks access on your ticket, I think it is the same thing. If is several floors of gaming, some old arcade games, bumper-type cars, virtual reality, a cyber-coaster simulator (you create your own track in the computer, then ride it in a simulator, we all enjoy that), and a Pirates game that is really fun, but you need a few people to play it. He would probably be able to while away a pleasant afternoon there, maybe while you all go shopping! It is not very well advertised, and not sure if it will survive the renovation of DTD - I hope so, we haven't been there in a few years due to time constraints, but if he goes with us during his college breaks he will probably have the chance to go again, which he has assured me he would like to do!

I guess Minecraft pleases all ages! It gets annoying hearing of 'creepers' and 'Steve' the whole time. I have actually heard of DisneyQuest, but not really looked into it. It totally sounds like Willum's cup of tea, thanks so much for letting me know! I think we'd all enjoy a bit of time in DisneyQuest from how you describe it! My dad and brothers hate shopping, so they can go off to DisneyQuest whilst my mum and I go off shopping in DTD! I never got a chance to look round all of the shops last trip. You should plan an extra long trip for when your DS comes in college break- I feel bad for Americans who just visit for 4-7 days. That isn't long at all! You surely cannot see everything! (Whilst I am envious of you guys being closer to WDW too!)

Looking forward to future entries !

Thanks for all the advice! It has been so helpful! I am off to research DisneyQuest now! We have a 14 day ticket that covers everything- DisneyQuest luckily is included so it sounds like it is worth a visit for sure!