A Disney-addicted mom plans a trip in August, 2010! *New pics #574*

[DrMomof3]

Guess who's spending 2 nights at YC in April??? Can you guess???

That would be ME!!! I'm not too excited or anything.
I asked the chairman of my department about the conference. I didn't even finish explaining when he said, "Yes. Absolutely. You should definitely go." WOOHOO!!!! So I registered for the conference and booked the hotel. It wasn't a flawless process. After I paid my $500 registration fee (which will be re-imbursed, of course), I try to book the hotel room. The website wouldn't let me (there was a link from the conference website to the Disney conference website). So I called Disney. And waited 10 minutes for someone to pick up. Who then explained that she couldn't make a room reservation for me. And this point I was worried. A lot worried. What's the point of going to a conference at YC if you aren't staying at BC??? So I called the guy who's organizing the conference. He had me on one phone and Disney on the other. Luckily, it's all settled! We have a room at YC for 2 nights in April.
Now I have some serious planning to do...

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Amanda - I am just getting into your report, but the Bachelor finale calls. I stayed at YC for a conference awhile back, so I am anxious to read all about your plans. Look forward to catching up tomorrow nite!

I saw that in your PTR so I want to hear about your experience!!! Enjoy the Bachelor!

Amanda

 

[junderwood99]

We're also going in August (20-29th). We'll be at CBR. It is our first time to WDW with a toddler. Any suggestions?

P.S. So jealous of your April weekend! Have a great time!

 

[-Hope-]

Guess who's spending 2 nights at YC in April??? Can you guess???

That would be ME!!! I'm not too excited or anything.

Amanda

 

[Charlefours]

Another Disney trip that will be here so soon!!!​

 

[DrMomof3]

I booked my flights for the April trip. Airfare is expensive right now! My job will pay for my ticket (not Tom's) but it's $350 per person. That's annoying! We have an ADR for Yachtman Steakhouse on Friday night at 7:05pm. I told them it's Tom's birthday (his bday is 4/6). He may kill me for that but I couldn't resist! I bought 2 days of park tickets for us (we're landing at 11:30am on Friday so we'll actually get extra park time!). I also got Tom a tee time for The Palm (I think that's the name?) golf course for 9:06 on Sunday morning. That way he can't complain that he's bored while I'm at conference! I requested DME now that I know my flights.

I still need one more ADR for dinner on Saturday night. I want someplace a little more "adult" and romantic. Opinions welcome! Right now I'm thinking Tokyo Dining (we love sushi) vs. Bistro de Paris vs. Flying Fish. I'm open to other suggestions. I loved California Grille but it was SO noisy. Victoria and Albert's seem a bit too much for this trip.

I also need to think about which parks. I'm definitely doing an Epcot day because I love the Flower and Garden Festival. Which other park? Or 2 Epcot days? Touringplans says the weekend is a 9 crowd-wise, which is a bit stinky for us because we've been lucky enough to avoid crowds in the past.

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Yay for booking! I'm so happy that it all worked out for you.

If it were me going with no kids I'd do two Epcot days. JMHO

I'm not sure what I'd do about dinner because I didn't even bother looking at menus for the places that I didn't want to take my kids.

 

[DrMomof3]

Thanks Hope! I know, the concept of an adult dinner at Disney seems odd. I was just researching and MK has pm EMH on Friday. Maybe we'll spend a few hours at SAB after arrival, have our dinner, and then head to MK to use the late hours. Do the pm EMH get really crowded?

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

I think the concept of an adult dinner seems HEAVENLY! Now that I think about it my original plans (when I thought DDP would be offered to all instead of QS to the values and when my parents were supposed to come with us) included a dinner out for Robbie and I. It was at Big River Grille on the Boardwalk. I haven't heard anything wonderful about the food but the eating under the stars at the outdoor seating on the Boardwalk sounded so romantic and it reeled me in so that's a consideration.

I have no real experience with EMH but FWIW I've read here on the DIS that evening EMH is less crowded than morning EMH. Since you're getting a late start to the day it's a great idea to utilize those extra hours.

 

[cdotla]

Hey Amanda! Things are coming together nicely for you I would say!

As for dinner, I would have immediately said CG, but if you already tried it and found it noisy, what about Narcoosees?

Whatever you do, try to book as late as possible when hopefully the toddlers have been fed.

 

[DrMomof3]

I think the concept of an adult dinner seems HEAVENLY! Now that I think about it my original plans (when I thought DDP would be offered to all instead of QS to the values and when my parents were supposed to come with us) included a dinner out for Robbie and I. It was at Big River Grille on the Boardwalk. I haven't heard anything wonderful about the food but the eating under the stars at the outdoor seating on the Boardwalk sounded so romantic and it reeled me in so that's a consideration.

I have no real experience with EMH but FWIW I've read here on the DIS that evening EMH is less crowded than morning EMH. Since you're getting a late start to the day it's a great idea to utilize those extra hours.

That's what I was thinking, too. My only issue is that I don't want to spend the money on a park hopper because I don't think it's worth it for 2 days. So we have to pick one park per day....

Hey Amanda! Things are coming together nicely for you I would say!

As for dinner, I would have immediately said CG, but if you already tried it and found it noisy, what about Narcoosees?

Whatever you do, try to book as late as possible when hopefully the toddlers have been fed.

I was definitely thinking that a late dinner would be best!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm still trying to figure out my April trip so I can return to planning my August trip!

I feel SO undecided. It's hard because DH isn't as much of a Disney fan as I am so I'm trying to make sure he enjoys this trip. The difficulty is that he doesn't have opinions about anything!

Here's what I've already decided:

Flights: Jet Blue from JFK on Friday morning and returning late Sunday night. DME: scheduled. Will await packet arriving.
Dining: Yachtman on Friday night at 7:05pm. Need ADR for Saturday. Will likely eat in Epcot. Bistro de Paris vs. Tokyo Dining. Leaning towards Tokyo because it'll be a lighter meal (and lower calories!) and I love sake!
Parks: Saturday at Epcot. Not sure about Friday. Totally undecided.
Recreation: Tom has tee time for Sunday morning at 9:06 at Palm. I will be at conference all day.

Still to decide:

Itinerary for both days. Pool time. Park time. What do we want to do??? What are our priorities for this trip? I'm ok with not having breakfast and lunch plans as we'll likely do QS for both.

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

I don't have any words of advice Amanda because it seems like you are already asking yourself the right questions. Once you decide what your priorities are for the trip then you'll be able to make your decisions based on that.

 

[Charlefours]

Hang in there Amanda! I think you will get everything figured out--just keep reviewing your options and you will come up with the best plan for you and DH. What food sounds really good? Can you look at it that way and then find something that would have it??

 

[DrMomof3]

So I made a decision. We're having dinner at Bistro de Paris at 8pm on Saturday night. It just seems like it'll be the quietest and most romantic choice. I also made my DH discuss the trip long enough to develop a plan. We're going to do MK on Friday, take a break for dinner at Yachtsman, and then return to MK for pm EMH. Saturday will be an Epcot day with dinner at Bistro de Paris.
I'm so relieved! Now I can start dealing with touring plans for the trip...

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Today I printed out some possible Touring Plans for our April trip. My DH is ok with going to MK on Friday afternoon, returning to YC for dinner, and then going back to MK in the evening. Which is good bc I can't justify the cost of a park hopper for only 2 days!
Saturday will be an Epcot day, including dinner. I'm guessing that we'll want an afternoon break to nap or swim. Luckily YC is close to Epcot!

Amanda

 

[cdotla]

Great plans Amanda!

I totally forgot about Bistro de Paris...great choice. Next to Victoria & Albert's (which completely forbids children), I think Bistro is the next best on property for being least likely to have children present.

Not that I think children don't belong in great restaurants at WDW - they do. And I will be bringing my toddler along to CG, Jiko, ect. However, I think there should be an unspoken rule that the toddlers have to be out by 8pm!

Kinda hard to have a romantic dinner with kids at the next table! Even if they are perfectly behaved, at least in my case, they would be making me think of my own children, and then feeling guilty because they weren't with me. Not the killjoy you want for a nice, adult romantic meal!

I am glad I am not the only one whose spouse doesn't quite "get" Disney the same way I do! I am laughing at your reference to finally getting your DH to have a brief chat about your trip. I can totally relate! I don't know what I would do without the Dis, as my husband is the exact same way! I just try to focus on the positive side of it - I never have to battle someone over where we are going to stay, dine, or tour.

 

[DrMomof3]

Great plans Amanda!

I totally forgot about Bistro de Paris...great choice. Next to Victoria & Albert's (which completely forbids children), I think Bistro is the next best on property for being least likely to have children present.

Not that I think children don't belong in great restaurants at WDW - they do. And I will be bringing my toddler along to CG, Jiko, ect. However, I think there should be an unspoken rule that the toddlers have to be out by 8pm!

Kinda hard to have a romantic dinner with kids at the next table! Even if they are perfectly behaved, at least in my case, they would be making me think of my own children, and then feeling guilty because they weren't with me. Not the killjoy you want for a nice, adult romantic meal!

I am glad I am not the only one whose spouse doesn't quite "get" Disney the same way I do! I am laughing at your reference to finally getting your DH to have a brief chat about your trip. I can totally relate! I don't know what I would do without the Dis, as my husband is the exact same way! I just try to focus on the positive side of it - I never have to battle someone over where we are going to stay, dine, or tour.

Thanks for the support! I'm happy to hear that someone else thinks Bistro is a good choice. Tonight at dinner my DH told me about his friend who had a great dinner at Tokyo Dining. The day after I finally made a decision to eat elsewhere. When I explained about "no children's menu" and "not on the dining plan" he perked up quite a bit. And we both agree that we have very good sushi near our house (we eat there about twice a month for date night!) but not great French food (which we both love). So we're good!

And I agree that children are expected at Disney but it is nice to be able to enjoy a meal without children - ours or other people's! I was surprised when we ate at CG (we had a 7:30pm reservation, I think?) and there were plenty of very young children seated after us! I know it shouldn't surprise me but it did! I guess if you're still on West Coast time, it's not that weird but my kids would fall asleep on the table!!! (Even with early dinner ADRs, we've had a kid or 2 fall asleep during a meal at Disney!)

The funny thing about Tom is that he truly appreciates the planning that I do - as long as I just do it and don't require his opinion very often. Or I can present a choice of A vs. B. He just finds it a bit overwhelming do have to plan a trip from scratch. He always makes a point of telling the children, "We have to all thank mommy for doing such a good job with our trip." And he means it. I do like the fact that he accepts my plans without much interference but sometimes I feel a bit insecure about a decision and then I wish he'd show more interest!

Amanda

 

[cdotla]

You are right! Not only don't they have a children's menu, but not on the dining plan! I think you have struck gold girl!

You are a wise, wise woman.

 

[-Hope-]

Sounds fabulous! You are making me think that if dh and I can't get away for a long weekend at WDW then at the very least we need a date night.