A Rolex Vacation on a Timex Budget: Sept '11 PTR (TR is Live!)

[TanzUnited99]

Love the fun fund pig!

I'm going to guess $75.27

 

[jenneth79]

Can someone tell me how to link to posts within the threads? I'm trying to make my Table of Contents easy to use, but all I can do is link to the post where it opens up in a separate window.... I assume it's some sort of "#" link, but I can't figure out how.

Help, please?

 

[TanzUnited99]

Can someone tell me how to link to posts within the threads? I'm trying to make my Table of Contents easy to use, but all I can do is link to the post where it opens up in a separate window.... I assume it's some sort of "#" link, but I can't figure out how.

Help, please?

Hi Jen, will try my best to explain but am not sure if it will help.

First right click on the top of the post and click on copy link location. Then go to your table of contents and click on the url link (the world with a clip) - paste the copied link and click ok. Then it'll have some highlighted text where you can put what you want to call the link. That's how I do it. Am not sure if I have explained myself clearly. Let me know if it doesn't work

 

[jenneth79]

Hi Jen, will try my best to explain but am not sure if it will help.

First right click on the top of the post and click on copy link location. Then go to your table of contents and click on the url link (the world with a clip) - paste the copied link and click ok. Then it'll have some highlighted text where you can put what you want to call the link. That's how I do it. Am not sure if I have explained myself clearly. Let me know if it doesn't work

Thanks! I am able to insert a link, but when I do that, it opens the post (just that specific number) in a new window... it doesn't go to the location in the overall thread.

I don't think I'm explaining myself well either... need coffee!!

 

[photographymom517]

I came over to your PTR from your post on my PTR. Your plans all sound amazing so far!!! I can't wait to hear more about your trip!!!

 

[jenneth79]

I came over to your PTR from your post on my PTR. Your plans all sound amazing so far!!! I can't wait to hear more about your trip!!!

Welcome, and thanks for joining in! Hopefully I'll have an Event update this week, otherwise, please join in on the Fun Fund Pig game!

I'm serious people, there really is a prize!

(how's that for shameless advertisement? )

 

[Stefy]

Love Mr Fund Pig, so cute I'm guessing once full you will get about $100 out of him

 

[jenneth79]

I counted before they hatched!

So, it now looks like our event will NOT be at Tamu Tamu... because someone else (with a bigger group and more money) reserved it before we got it.

That being said, it's still looking amazing! There is one space now on hold for us (Upcountry Docks) and another more intimate space that the park is looking to offer to us. We'll see how that turns out.

In BETTER news, it looks like we will have a private space at the GF to watch the fireworks (Whitehall Patio is on hold for now, but that might move), have champagne, and our custom cake, which will be completed by the GF bakery. This has me super excited!

More updates to follow next week. They are promising me pictures of this "new" space for our event at AK, but I think either way it will be magical and a great surprise for the DH!

Next research item for today.... Photography sessions / costs. (Going to try and get creative with this one!)

I also have to come up with a menu! I'm thinking North African / Mediiterranean inspired..... any thoughts?

 

[TanzUnited99]

That's a shame about Tamu Tamu not working out but the other plans also sound great and am sure you will both have a magical experience with the finalised plans

Watching fireworks from GF sounds soo romantic

Am looking forward to reading about the photography research.

Good luck with the menu - sorry but nothing springs to mind at the minute. Think I'm a bit brain dead, lol! If I think of anything, will let you know

 

[Nermel9]

Oh, I'm sorry Tamu Tamu didn't work out! I hope you find something else! How do you find out about all of these private locations, anyway? I'd love to do a private dinner sometime! And watching the fireworks from GF sounds fantastic!

I wish I could help with the menu, but I'm not really familiar with those types of food...maybe check out the menus at Jiko and Kouzzina for inspiration?

What kind of custom cake are you getting? Another thing I want to do someday!!

 

[Stefy]

Sorry Tamu Tamu didn't work out, but it looks like there is a Plan B and C being plotted

What kind of cake have you ordered from the bakery?

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

Hi!
sorry Tamu Tamu didn't work out...I hope you end up with a space somewhere fantastic!
Cute pics of your husband....
Your trip is really going to be fantastic!

I'll say $87 in is the piggie....

 

[jenneth79]

This is a repost from the YC/BC forum, but I thought it would fit perfectly in my PTR as well...

So, while going through old pictures, I came across a notebook/journal I made when I was 6 years old. My mom used to make me keep a "Summer Journal" every year, and this was one of our Disney trips. Some of the things in here (besides my atrocious spelling!) are simply priceless, and I wanted to share:

The start of my journal:


Getting autographs: Bonus items.... behind Pluto, check out the (brand new!) Ghostbusters shirt....and the woman smoking the cigarette in front of Chip.... those were the '80s!



I actually remember this. It started raining while we were on the ride, and it shut down as we were climbing the first hill. We stayed there, at an angle, for about 10 minutes. (Also, note my excellent spelling...ha.)



This is perhaps my favorite. Remember when they had the little ink stampers? I'm almost certain these were the original Park Hopper passes:



And finally:


Yeah, that is a postcard. I loved it that much.

Just thought some of you would enjoy a little walk down memory lane! I didn't scan them, but apparently I had the parking passes too. They were a WHOPPING 2 dollars!

 

[jenneth79]

That's a shame about Tamu Tamu not working out but the other plans also sound great and am sure you will both have a magical experience with the finalised plans

Watching fireworks from GF sounds soo romantic

Am looking forward to reading about the photography research.

Good luck with the menu - sorry but nothing springs to mind at the minute. Think I'm a bit brain dead, lol! If I think of anything, will let you know

Thanks! I'm starting to think more and more that losing Tamu Tamu actually helped us out in the long run. The space was huge for only two people, so we would have had to sink quite a bit of money into making it more intimate feeling.

I cannot wait to see how the GF space/fireworks turns out myself, shouold be so very romantic!

They sent me both the Disney Events (mostly corporate) and Wedding/Engagement Sessions paperwork to review. I really didn't find out anything that I liked in what they sent, so I made up my own "request":

Pictures of "event space" w/o Mike and Jen taken. (Tables, candles, flowers, food if available etc.) Close up on details, artistic shots.

Pictures of arrival. (Trying to get the expression on his face just so I can give him a hard time for years to come.) Perhaps a few "posed" shots together.

No Photography During Meal (unless they can be sneaky about it....)

If lighting (artificial or natural) permits (around 7:30 once meal ends) a few portrait style pictures around event space, and any other AK locations on the way back to the van. I'm sure they are plenty of romantic and fun locations we can take advantage of during that walk!

Pictures of cake at GF, a few posed shots of Mike and Jen, and no posed shots during the fireworks, but I would love some spontaneous pictures of the two of us together watching the fireworks.

All pictures (full res) on CD/DVD afterwards. (For personal use only, no professional/commercial printing outside of Disney, which I would happily sign/agree to.)

We shall see A) if they agree to it and B) how much it would cost!

Oh, I'm sorry Tamu Tamu didn't work out! I hope you find something else! How do you find out about all of these private locations, anyway? I'd love to do a private dinner sometime! And watching the fireworks from GF sounds fantastic!

I wish I could help with the menu, but I'm not really familiar with those types of food...maybe check out the menus at Jiko and Kouzzina for inspiration?

What kind of custom cake are you getting? Another thing I want to do someday!!

I contacted the Events and Catering group at Disney (I can send you the number if you'd like) and spoke to someone on the phone about what I was thinking, my budget, etc. She put me in touch with a planner at the YC where we are staying (I get the feeling you can only do this if you are in a Deluxe Resort based off that, but I could be wrong) and she and I brainstormed until we came up with a plan.

It's a lot like planning a wedding, dealing with caterers, etc. I will say they are slightly less responsive however, so you have to keep on them a bit.

You can also do special dining experiences by calling Private Dining. Same kind of idea and a LOT cheaper!

Sorry Tamu Tamu didn't work out, but it looks like there is a Plan B and C being plotted

What kind of cake have you ordered from the bakery?

I haven't sent over the cake pictures yet for the GF to review, but we have requested a cake that is inspired by our own wedding cake top. So 6 inch square almond cake w/ raspberry filling, buttercream frosting covered in fondant (white) with peacock feathers etched in gold. (or stamped) Topped w/ flowers, either fondant or real. (Ours were real, but I wasn't entirely happy with them either.)

Hi!
sorry Tamu Tamu didn't work out...I hope you end up with a space somewhere fantastic!
Cute pics of your husband....
Your trip is really going to be fantastic!

I'll say $87 in is the piggie....

Thanks! I'm excited to hear what they come up with next week. I'm adding your guess to the list, hopefully he'll be ready for "cashing in" in a few weeks!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Thanks! I'm starting to think more and more that losing Tamu Tamu actually helped us out in the long run. The space was huge for only two people, so we would have had to sink quite a bit of money into making it more intimate feeling.

I cannot wait to see how the GF space/fireworks turns out myself, shouold be so very romantic!

They sent me both the Disney Events (mostly corporate) and Wedding/Engagement Sessions paperwork to review. I really didn't find out anything that I liked in what they sent, so I made up my own "request":

Pictures of "event space" w/o Mike and Jen taken. (Tables, candles, flowers, food if available etc.) Close up on details, artistic shots.

Pictures of arrival. (Trying to get the expression on his face just so I can give him a hard time for years to come.) Perhaps a few "posed" shots together.

No Photography During Meal (unless they can be sneaky about it....)

If lighting (artificial or natural) permits (around 7:30 once meal ends) a few portrait style pictures around event space, and any other AK locations on the way back to the van. I'm sure they are plenty of romantic and fun locations we can take advantage of during that walk!

Pictures of cake at GF, a few posed shots of Mike and Jen, and no posed shots during the fireworks, but I would love some spontaneous pictures of the two of us together watching the fireworks.

All pictures (full res) on CD/DVD afterwards. (For personal use only, no professional/commercial printing outside of Disney, which I would happily sign/agree to.)

We shall see A) if they agree to it and B) how much it would cost!

No probs - things happen for a reason so like you said maybe you were meant to get something more appropriate for both you and Mike.

Lol at making your own request!

It sounds like you have it all under control - fingers crossed that they agree to it. Let us know what happens.

Btw am loving the walk down memory lane - can't believe the prices for parking!! You won't see that happening now!

 

[jenneth79]

No probs - things happen for a reason so like you said maybe you were meant to get something more appropriate for both you and Mike.

Lol at making your own request!

It sounds like you have it all under control - fingers crossed that they agree to it. Let us know what happens.

Btw am loving the walk down memory lane - can't believe the prices for parking!! You won't see that happening now!

Yeah, my best friend just emailed me and told me I was insance for the amount of information I'm giving these poor event planners (her words.) I suppose it could be that way, but I just look at it as more information they can choose to use or not!

And, I suppose she's right, I'm crazy.

BTW- I do believe things happen for reasons that aren't always apparent at the time. I think this is one of them

Heading down to a winery this weekend to get away from the city, going to talk to a friend of mine who is a chef to see if she can help me wtih a menu!

 

[Nermel9]

I contacted the Events and Catering group at Disney (I can send you the number if you'd like) and spoke to someone on the phone about what I was thinking, my budget, etc. She put me in touch with a planner at the YC where we are staying (I get the feeling you can only do this if you are in a Deluxe Resort based off that, but I could be wrong) and she and I brainstormed until we came up with a plan.

It's a lot like planning a wedding, dealing with caterers, etc. I will say they are slightly less responsive however, so you have to keep on them a bit.

You can also do special dining experiences by calling Private Dining. Same kind of idea and a LOT cheaper!

Thanks! I don't really need the number now, I'm not going to do anything like this on this trip, but maybe IF we go in May for our 2nd anniversary...something to keep in mind! Did you specifically want Animal Kingdom, or did they just give you a list of places in each park that fit your budget and you went from there? I'd love to do something in Epcot, or even DHS!

I love the journal! I wish I had things like that from my childhood trips! I remember those old park hoppers with the stamps...I wonder how much they cost back then?

 

[jenneth79]

Thanks! I don't really need the number now, I'm not going to do anything like this on this trip, but maybe IF we go in May for our 2nd anniversary...something to keep in mind! Did you specifically want Animal Kingdom, or did they just give you a list of places in each park that fit your budget and you went from there? I'd love to do something in Epcot, or even DHS!

I love the journal! I wish I had things like that from my childhood trips! I remember those old park hoppers with the stamps...I wonder how much they cost back then?

We actually started looking at locations in DHS, which there are a TON of. The one thing they won't do is share all the locations, so it helps to go in with a budget number and a general theme/location.

We ended up leaning towards AK because of the timing (the park closes the earliest so it is easier to set up events there around dinner time) and the lush scenery options, the colors that pretty much matched up with what we had at our wedding.

As for the tickets, I'm rather ashamed to say I have no idea how much they cost, as they were free to us. However, I do know they weren't cheap, because my family couldn't have afforded to go if we had to pay!

 

[jenneth79]

So, my DH and I went on a trip to Virginia wine country this past weekend, and I brought along with me my father's D70 camera that I inherited. It takes AMAZING pictures, but I'm wondering.... do I want to lug around that camera in the parks with me? It's not cheap, and I would hate to lose it, but the thought of how many spectacular shots I could get with it.....

Do people feel safe "stowing" a camera in one of the lockers?



On a side note, my DH hates taking pictures of me. Is this a vain thing to say? I wonder. For example, on our last trip... went something like this:

Vineyard! Tree! Horse! DH! DH w/ wine! Another Vineyard! Tree! Another Horse! DH!....

It's as if I wasn't there at all......

 

[TanzUnited99]

Good luck with deciding on whether to take the camera or not - I can't really be of much help on that topic.

However, lol at DH taking pictures of everything else but you! Maybe you should park yourself in front of one of the shots and say right 'I'm ready, shoot!'