A Pre Thanksgiving/Christmas Vacation, Our First Split Stay & Our 5th Trip to Disney!

[Disney Mommy 3]

If you are thinking T-Rex, go for it! My kids liked it and we got a flatbread of some kind...can't remember but it was great! But...it's kinda like the RainForestCafe....we have one down here...so I don't want to go twice when I can try out WPE!!! We don't have anything like that here,so i want to give it a shot!
Just make sure they don't sit you in that Ice Room......it's sooooo weird...the color is so odd that I don't think you could read your menu!!! We met Meghan there last year....she thought the same thing about that Ice Room...kinda creepy!!! Oh---kids loooooved the dino shaped chicken nuggets!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

You already know my thoughts on T-Rex because you read them in my trip report. I'd definitely say go for it. Now, that being said, next year, we are sticking strickly to the dining plan since we have now done the dinner shows.

 

[Monny2AE]

Afternoon PTR friends!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. It's kind of cool out here, I think fall has come early here in PA. Hopefully we will have at least one more warm spell!

DS10 came home from school yesterday not feeling so well. Fever and chills. Yeah, after only 4 days of school. He feels better today but has been sneezing a lot and has a nasty runny nose. Poor little guy. And tomorrow is his first ever "travel" soccer game. He has played in-house soccer since he was 5 and this year he was to the age where he had to try-out and make a team and travel and play other schools. His first game is away. So hopefully he will be all better tomorrow! He would hate to have to miss the first game.

So we are just taking it easy today. Not doing too much. We may order in some dinner later.

Our weather in MD has been just as nice! I love fall!
I hope your guy is feeling better today Somethings going around here too. My kids are making fun of me because I sound so funny. They keep asking to see the frog that I told them is in my throat. I love how literal kids take things!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I hope your son is feeling better and that soccer season goes well. This week sees DD starting her dance career - she will be taking recital Jazz and Contemporary- so we have a busy year ahead!


Joanne

Our weather in MD has been just as nice! I love fall!
I hope your guy is feeling better today Somethings going around here too. My kids are making fun of me because I sound so funny. They keep asking to see the frog that I told them is in my throat. I love how literal kids take things!

Thanks! DS's fever was on and off Friday night and all day Saturday and into the evening. But he woke up Sunday feeling much better.

His teacher sends out an email on Sunday nights (which is wonderful!) telling what all will be going on for the week. In it last night she said that she had several kids out sick Friday and she had heard of others with fevers over the weekend. So that's where it came from. Not that I didn't already know. I just can't believe that we only have 4 school days in and all these kids are sick already. I'm afraid it's going to be a long fall/winter with all these viruses going around already.

I hope your throat feels better Kim!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi Shelley,

I found you're PTR! I am late joining ! I have read through the pages and will provide you with some thoughts and "opinions"

I am so exicted for you and your family to be going again and so soon! I know DHS is your favorite park and we both share the same views on BBP - I am thinking of skipping this this coming trip... maybe by Jan they'll clue in that the Stars and Motorcars should come back! Actualy I would love this . I also will not do Pizza Planet this trip. We did it last trip and it was mad chaos - a Fantasmic day with tour groups. We went because we were hungry and it was there. The food was fine, it was just so loud!
Our other trips we have eaten CS at ABC commissary - never again - Blech!and Backlot Express. Backlot was nice and big and plenty of seating and as another poster said right next to the Jedi Training Academy- eating lunch here we saw Darth Vader out the window and headed out! However I also had the grilled turkey pepper sandwich and it was blech!

My DHS day for Jan has me planning on Studio Catering Co for a light salad - hopefully nothing can go wrong with that!

I am glad you got all your ADRs - you have selected some great choices. I am curious about Captain`s Grille and the Mexico restaurants. They seem to get mixed reviews.

I started my mock up intinery for Jan in hopes to narrow down my ADR`s. I did finish reading The Complete Walt Disney World 2009 this weekend, what a great book, so many hidden secrets.

I hope your son is feeling better and that soccer season goes well. This week sees DD starting her dance career - she will be taking recital Jazz and Contemporary- so we have a busy year ahead!

Happy Planning!

Joanne

Thanks for all your thoughts & opinions! I appreciate it!

I can't wait to hear about your January plans!

Good luck to your DD in dance!

 

[trixiequilts]

Last year, DD9 was out sick on the 4th day of school. Then everyone else got it. As in, the whole school got it. It was a tiny school, but still.

I think stores (grocery stores especially) are just a breeding ground for germs and everyone brings them home, along with their purchases. You should have seen me wiping down my grocery cart yesterday with the sanitizing wipes they give you. I was like a mad woman!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

If you are thinking T-Rex, go for it! My kids liked it and we got a flatbread of some kind...can't remember but it was great! But...it's kinda like the RainForestCafe....we have one down here...so I don't want to go twice when I can try out WPE!!! We don't have anything like that here,so i want to give it a shot!
Just make sure they don't sit you in that Ice Room......it's sooooo weird...the color is so odd that I don't think you could read your menu!!! We met Meghan there last year....she thought the same thing about that Ice Room...kinda creepy!!! Oh---kids loooooved the dino shaped chicken nuggets!!

I think since I already have my ADR's pretty much set I will just wait and see what we think when we get there. I have tried to book T-Rex online a few times and there is nothing available. But several people have told me that they have just called the restaurant directly when we are down there and have been able to get right in. Guess we'll just leave it up in the air for now!

You already know my thoughts on T-Rex because you read them in my trip report. I'd definitely say go for it. Now, that being said, next year, we are sticking strickly to the dining plan since we have now done the dinner shows.

Yes, it was your report and pictures that got me thinking about T-Rex!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Last year, DD9 was out sick on the 4th day of school. Then everyone else got it. As in, the whole school got it. It was a tiny school, but still.

I think stores (grocery stores especially) are just a breeding ground for germs and everyone brings them home, along with their purchases. You should have seen me wiping down my grocery cart yesterday with the sanitizing wipes they give you. I was like a mad woman!

I was never such a germaphobe before. But with that H1N1 Swine flu expected to spread like crazy this fall I am freaking out a bit! You should have seen me following DS10 around all weekend sanitizing everything he touched!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Good morning everyone!

Looks like it is going to be a crazy busy week here. I basically have 3 piles of "stuff" laying around my kitchen. School/PTO. . . Soccer. . . Disney!! They just get moved back and forth from the kitchen counter to the dining room table and back. It drives me crazy!! I am usually such a neat freak, but I need to look at/use this stuff several times a day so there is no sense in putting it away.

Hopefully I will be able to post an update on the Disney plans soon! I have all my days planned out with the exception of Day 1. Because I have no airfare!!! This is so unlike me to be less than 2 months out and not have airfare.

 

[Monny2AE]

No airfare! Are you waiting for some last minute deals?

I hear you on the flu scare factor. We're washing hands left and right at my house. I hate the beginning of the school year. DS made it through 3 days before he was home sick and shared it with us. It's just making it's rounds through everyone in our house. I've been sanitizing like a mad woman too but it's no use I'm afraid. I've heard about the H1N1 vaccine but it's so new and there's a rush to get it out that it scares me that the bugs may not have been worked through fully. I'd hate to get it and find out "ooops" there ARE side effects to it!

 

[JoJo1980]

Good morning everyone!

Looks like it is going to be a crazy busy week here. I basically have 3 piles of "stuff" laying around my kitchen. School/PTO. . . Soccer. . . Disney!! They just get moved back and forth from the kitchen counter to the dining room table and back. It drives me crazy!! I am usually such a neat freak, but I need to look at/use this stuff several times a day so there is no sense in putting it away.

Hopefully I will be able to post an update on the Disney plans soon! I have all my days planned out with the exception of Day 1. Because I have no airfare!!! This is so unlike me to be less than 2 months out and not have airfare.

Hiya

I totally understand, I have loads of piles which just keep moving from one room to another I did a bit of organising yesterday so things arent as bad as they were but I need to 100% sort it as its going to start getting very hectic soon Got lots of stuff on the next couple of months and then add disney and christmas to it and I will become a very stressed chicken

Cant wait to hear more about your plans You need to get some airfare little lady and quick

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I hear you on the flu scare factor. We're washing hands left and right at my house. I hate the beginning of the school year. DS made it through 3 days before he was home sick and shared it with us. It's just making it's rounds through everyone in our house. I've been sanitizing like a mad woman too but it's no use I'm afraid. I've heard about the H1N1 vaccine but it's so new and there's a rush to get it out that it scares me that the bugs may not have been worked through fully. I'd hate to get it and find out "ooops" there ARE side effects to it!

I'm not so sure about the H1N1 vaccine either. The kids doctor usually gets the regular flu vaccine around mid October. . . I'll have to see what he says about the H1N1 vaccine. . .

 

[mickeystoontown]

Good morning everyone!

Looks like it is going to be a crazy busy week here. I basically have 3 piles of "stuff" laying around my kitchen. School/PTO. . . Soccer. . . Disney!! They just get moved back and forth from the kitchen counter to the dining room table and back. It drives me crazy!! I am usually such a neat freak, but I need to look at/use this stuff several times a day so there is no sense in putting it away.

Hopefully I will be able to post an update on the Disney plans soon! I have all my days planned out with the exception of Day 1. Because I have no airfare!!! This is so unlike me to be less than 2 months out and not have airfare.

I know what you mean about stuff being piled up in the kitchen. My snack bar is the "catch all" at our house. But, during the week, there really isn't a way to put it up because it's backpacks, lunch boxes, my purse, etc. Things we use all week long.

And just how long of a drive is it from your house to Disney World? Just kiddin'. You'll get your airfare booked and everything will work out alright. Who knows? Maybe one of the airlines will have a great deal on their flights to Orlando. Some of our friends got tickets from Louisiana to Orlando for just$59.00 each way. Now, why can't I luck up on those kinds of deals?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

No airfare! Are you waiting for some last minute deals?

Cant wait to hear more about your plans You need to get some airfare little lady and quick

Okay here's my airfare story:

Normally I would purchase airfare the first week it is available for my dates. And usually I have paid anywhere from $69-$99 one way. Usually on the lower end of that scale. Last August when airfare prices came out for my January dates I booked it. About 3 months later in November the rates dropped drastically. Southwest does not give refunds, but does give credits. So I now had a $360 credit good one year from the original purchase date, which was August 22nd. Well I knew we weren't flying again before August so I inquired about an extension on the credit. I was told that for $100 I could extend the credit for 6 months and that I had to call the day after the original credit expired. So I called last month on Aug 23rd and had the credit extended for 6 months - it now expires in February. And my $360 is now $260.

So knowing that I had the SW credit I planned to fly with them again. When they released their rates for November they were decent (better than they are now) but nothing spectacular. Plus we were not ready to purchase anyway because the November trip wasn't 100% yet. We were in the middle of selling and buying a house and so on. By the time we were ready to purchase the rates were pretty crappy. So I said - we'll just wait it out. Seeing that last time they came down so much about 2 months before the trip, I was certain that they would again. So I waited. . . and waited. . . and am STILL waiting. . . Now that we are under 2 months I am starting to freak out about it!!!

I had my eye on the 7:00 am flight down. (the only morning flight down they have that is non-stop) It kept fluctuating between $147 and $159. Way too much. I was certain that it would eventually come down. I logged on the other day to see it at $229! The next earliest non-stop flight down they have is at 1:50pm. AirTran has a 1:50pm flight also. As of right now AT is cheaper than SW. But AT has baggage fees and is also known for changing their flights at the last minute. So I am waiting out SW at the moment on that one. . . .

As for the flight back - I ended up purchasing it yesterday. At $124. Not the best price ($500+ for all of us), but we wanted a morning flight back (DH doesn't like getting home late after a week of vacation and having to go to work early the next morning). I used my $260 credit and ended up with a final price of $278. So we do have airfare one way! Not sure how we are getting there yet, but we do have a flight home! And if that flight price comes down between now and before I purchase our flight down then I will be able to use that credit for the flight down.

Anyone confused??? I know I am!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hiya

I totally understand, I have loads of piles which just keep moving from one room to another I did a bit of organising yesterday so things arent as bad as they were but I need to 100% sort it as its going to start getting very hectic soon Got lots of stuff on the next couple of months and then add disney and christmas to it and I will become a very stressed chicken

Oh my, I haven't even begun to think about Christmas yet! And I usually start shopping in August.

I know what you mean about stuff being piled up in the kitchen. My snack bar is the "catch all" at our house. But, during the week, there really isn't a way to put it up because it's backpacks, lunch boxes, my purse, etc. Things we use all week long.

And just how long of a drive is it from your house to Disney World? Just kiddin'. You'll get your airfare booked and everything will work out alright. Who knows? Maybe one of the airlines will have a great deal on their flights to Orlando. Some of our friends got tickets from Louisiana to Orlando for just$59.00 each way. Now, why can't I luck up on those kinds of deals?

Oh yeah, add lunch boxes and backpacks to my mess too!

The drive? Oh only about 20 hours!! Yeah, that's just not happening. I do wish it was closer, then we would definitely drive!

I still have hopes of getting a good deal!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

DAY 1 - Saturday November 7th:

The original plan - Up super early and to the airport by 5:30am for a 7:00am flight. Arrive on Orlando around 9-9:30. Take ME to POR and be there around 10:30. Unpack our carry-ons (if our room is ready), have lunch at the POR food court, explore the resort, and maybe even go for a swim if it is warm enough. Then later head to DHS for dinner at Sci-Fi Dine In and maybe a few rides. DHS is listed as the park to NOT visit on the 7th, so we really aren't expecting to do or see much that day, but we will be back a few days later for the whole day! The 7th is also the end to Jersey Week, another reason we are expecting crowds that day. After dinner head back to POR and unpack the rest of our luggage, which should have arrived by now and go to bed.

The new plan - Not sure! If we end up with a 1:50pm flight we won't get to Orlando until about 4:00 or so. . . Which means we won't get to POR until about 5:30. Therefore missing our Sci-Fi ADR at DHS. I did check online and it looks like Sci-Fi does have some later openings, so hopefully we won't have a problem rebooking it later if need be. So we would check in at POR and head to DHS right away. Have a later dinner and do whatever. It's not like we will have gotten up for an early flight or anything!!

An alternate plan I have been thinking about today (if we end up with a 1:50 flight) is to skip DHS completely arrival day and go to the Boardwalk that evening instead. . . Not make any dinner ADR's and maybe go to Big River Grille (since they don't take ADR's) whenever. And try to reschedule Sci-Fi later in the week. The only problem with this plan is that DS10 really really wants to go to DHS on arrival day - it's his favorite!

So we'll see. . .

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I hear ya on the airfare thing!! We use Continental and most of our trips we have bought around 8-12 weeks out. Before/after that is when they are crazy! I keep checking and they are moving the flight times around!! I always get the 10-ish flight...well, not this time! It's 9, or 7:30 Neither are great, because we have to allow 2 hours to get to Houston Airport, and they want you there 2 hours early. Dh said, we'll just do the 9, and only get there an hour or so early I don't think that's a good idea...but we'll see!!! I will probably get tickets this week.
On your arrival day, if you think DHS is gonna be packed, why don't you go to DTD? That's what we do....don't want to use a park ticket for an evening only. You could do T-Rex that night too! We didn't have an ADR...just walked up---it was only 45 minutes or less to wait.Just my 2cents!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I hear ya on the airfare thing!! We use Continental and most of our trips we have bought around 8-12 weeks out. Before/after that is when they are crazy! I keep checking and they are moving the flight times around!! I always get the 10-ish flight...well, not this time! It's 9, or 7:30 Neither are great, because we have to allow 2 hours to get to Houston Airport, and they want you there 2 hours early. Dh said, we'll just do the 9, and only get there an hour or so early I don't think that's a good idea...but we'll see!!! I will probably get tickets this week.
On your arrival day, if you think DHS is gonna be packed, why don't you go to DTD? That's what we do....don't want to use a park ticket for an evening only. You could do T-Rex that night too! We didn't have an ADR...just walked up---it was only 45 minutes or less to wait.Just my 2cents!!!!

Good luck on your airfare!

Yeah, I have been thinking about DTD or the Boardwalk for arrival day. Just waiting to see what flight we get. DS10 really had his heart set on DHS that day though. We'll see. . .

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Day 2 - Sunday November 8th:

This day we will sleep in and get up whenever and just have a relaxing morning at the resort. Probably have a light breakfast in the room. Around 10:30-11:00 we will head to AK. We will have lunch at Pizzafari. Things I'd like to do include - EE, Dinosaur, FOTLK, the Safari, and possibly the Nemo Musical. We are definitely staying for Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade since we haven't seen it since 2005. After the parade we will take a bus to the WL for our WCC dinner ADR. Hopefully we will enjoy WCC and not think it is stupid!! It seems that some people love it and others think it is pretty dumb! After dinner we will explore the WL and see if we might want to stay there someday. And hopefully they will have some pretty Christmas decorations. After that we will do a monorail resort tour to see what they have for decorations! Then it will be head to POR for the rest of the evening. Maybe some swimming if it is warm out!

 

[danceintherain]

I know how you feel about the airfare thing. If we would have booked months ago we could have gotten each Round Trip ticket for $149.
The departing flight would have been non-stop from Kansas City leaving around 7am with the arrival time around 10am, which would have been lovely.
Now the non-stop flight is full and all the other ones are more expensive.
I think we'll probably drive down, since we can't really book airfare until we're sure we're going on the trip. This would allow us a stop in Georgia to see my sister and nephew. It would be even better if my parents let us borrow their Prius. We'll see though...

I hope your outgoing flight drops in price!