Anyone Up For a Little MAYcation?!! A May 2012 WDW PTR with a side of.....

[mari360]

SHEESH this thread moves fast. You blink and it's 2 new pages. Gotta go back and read up on the thread.....

 

[mari360]

SHelly - YAY on LL. i hope your DS enjoys it. Even if he doesn't at least you tried. I most likely will stay in CBR. If i do deluxe it will be CR. It will only be me and DD on this trip so i don't really want to pay too much just for us. DH will be staying home. He can never get off of work between April and November. so it will be just us 2 again. So far i have us staying 7 days. and 6 nights. I'll be getting the DxDD. I would stay in POP again if it meant i got to go again. I'm actually thinking of trying AOA. we'll see what happens. I'm going to book the moment i can book and if any pins or offers come i will add it to my reservation then. Can't wait to hear more about your trip.....

 

[mari360]

BTW JoBird.... this nursing thing is HARD.... I have a whole new respect for nurses and the schooling that they had to go through.....

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

You know I always ship our stuff!! It's so much easier, then it's there when you check in you just have them send it to the room. I do breakfast stuff like granola bars, a box of cheerios maybe and some bags I make up for each day for snax.Trail mix, stuff like that...small toiletries and cheapo toothbrushes,and all that I can throw away or use up throughout the week--no bringing it back home. Last year I shipped it all in one good sized box and it was $35..If I were going to ship drinks, I would just put them in a separate box and have 2...do UPS and you can track it...If we are coming in on a Sat, I usually ship it by Tues...this year I shipped on Monday it arrived on WED!!!!! So, check it out,..give yourself a few more days if you need them...also, just call the BC and ask for the exact address and how they want it labeled.
As far as skipping parks, we only do AK once in a while,..somehow we just find so many other things to do!!! The kids wanna go back this time and do the safari....but we never do a whole day there...it's just not our favorite place to be..I know some people freak when I say that! We would rather be at the other 3 places as much as we possibly can!!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Shipping sounds like the way to go.
If you're considering the shipping thing- I would if you can't get MD at garden grocer.
Check the BC/YC thread I know I've seen people talk about shipping things. Dee or Teena have posted the address before.
Shipping a box sounds like a good idea but we're staying in a villa this time and will be cooking b-fast in morning. I know we'll need eggs and milk so we'll just stop at grocery store like we usually do.

 

[JoBird]

Well I'm glad I made it into this thread before you posted another update. Besides I may or may not be shopping today, sooooo.............


Okay seriously-- bomp the whole waiting on Garden Grocer that first morning and/or shipping a package. You'll have a car, go to Publix. Cheaper and you can buy the whole store if you want to. Mountain Dew included--- bottles, cans, Liters-- whatever floats your boat.

There's a Publix close to that offsite resort called Caribe Royale. GPS it. If you can't find it, I'll find it for you. (Plus, you really need to know where that store is for when we move there. )
AND... they sell beer n wine inside the store. So your DH doesn't have to go looking at a gas station for some. Or pay the $$$$$$$$$ at the hotel pool bar.


I'm just full of ways to spend money aren't I?

Matter of fact, I think I'll go do that myself. Spend money I mean, not buy beer at a gas station.





Have a great day!





PS--- MARI--- you are doing good. It's hard-- hardest thing I ever did in my life. But you're almost there.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I tell ya, I go to the grocery store and I'm 2 pages behind!

I looked into garden grocer on our 2nd trip (when we flew) and decided that I could ship myself a package much cheaper than using them. Plus they didn't have certain items that I wanted (or the brand I wanted). The main thing I 'needed' were my two cases of Mountain Dews. You don't know anything about that addiction do you? So anyway, I just packed them in a box with a few other things and mailed them to Pop Century. I picked up the box when I checked in and it all went very smoothly. This option won't work though if you want fresh or refrigerated stuff so... And it seems that postal rates have really increased since then too so I guess you'd have to do the math.

As for your trips plans... we are probably going to have to do some things differently this time too. It looks like we might be cruising again and that is cutting into my park time. We might have to give up DHS or AK too and we have never done that before. Not sure I like it either. It just doesn't feel right without going to all four parks. Is that dumb? And I don't blame you for wanting that extra Epcot time since you are staying so close. That is exactly how I'd feel. Man it really stinks how your airfare has worked out! But driving is going to do the same thing to us. We always lose 2 days b/c of that. We need a Jetson mobile!

I hope your boys LOVE LL! That is so neat that you have that big secret for them. I can never do that. I'm horrible at keeping something a surprise. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that DS12 likes it too. Don't you hate it when they start outgrowing things. It makes me so sad. We had an episode of that on our last trip.

We've never had a Lego lover in the house, but I'm still interested to see what you guys do there. And you are smart to go in not expacting Disney magic. I didn't do that on our first trip when we went to Seaworld (on the last day of the trip) and I had that same let down. NO park can give you that same warm fuzzy feeling that WDW can, so you are very right to prepare yourself so that it doesn't ruin your fun.

We are considering an off property stop next time too. I'm trying to talk DH into going to Discovery Cove. It's a hard sell though when we could add a day to our tickets and go to a WDW park SOOOO much cheaper. Disney marketing is very sneaky like that!

And by the way, I feel like such a ding dong! I knew that your surprise was LL (I have no idea how I knew that ) but for some reason when you said he was dissapointed about TT being closed, all I could think of was the Richard Petty racing thing. I just kept thinking though that surely they don't let kids do that even with a parent. I don't know if it's the pollen or what, but I think I am losing my mind these days!

Good grief, I've written a book!

See what you get for going to the grocery store?!!

Unfortunately shipping has gone way up. Like everything else. I don't like the idea of shipping at all. Especially when I would need to ship Mtn Dew and water and they will weigh a ton.

Garden Grocer does have Mtn. Dew!!

I'm still not sure what I am going to do there.....

I didn't realize you were planning on cruising again this year. I thought you had sworn it off for awhile after your last night on the ship. Will you do a 3 or 4 night cruise before WDW again?

IDK how I will feel once I am there about skipping AK. It might seem weird. IDK why, it's not like I love the place or anything. But it IS Disney!!

You are right, nothing or nowhere is going to give you that warm fuzzy WDW feeling. No way, no how!! So going in knowing that, I am just hoping for my little Lego lover to have a good day!

Richard Petty racing Wouldn't that be something if they let a 10 year old do that!

I guessed the surprise!! Do I win anything? I'm sure most of your regular readers guessed it, too.

First question: how do you know one of your boys won't read your PTR and find out? Do they only have access to your home computer, which you can monitor?

I am surprised to learn that Legoland has rides! I thought it was just a mega-super-sized store full of Legos. My DS played with Legos a good bit, but I wouldn't say he was a big fan. And I quit being a fan after stepping on a few.

It's a great time for y'all to try it out though, while your DS10 is young. I know what you mean about expectations and comparing it to Disney. We did Universal/Islands of Adventure one year, and just from parking in the garage and our first encounter with a CM in the ticket booth, DH and I looked at each other and said, "This isn't Disney World!" It was like you had heard about Legoland - the CM's weren't the friendly, informed kind you get (mostly) at WDW. We had a really good time and were glad we went, but I don't know if we would go back. But heck, the place is probably full of new attractions since we went. It would be like going somewhere new!

I don't think I could go to Disney and leave out a park entirely. But again, we go so seldom, and I'd probably feel differently if we went every year or so. You can just tell your DS to pretend that EE is down for renovations this trip.

It's a shame you had to lose your whole first day because of the flight times. Maybe you'll get lucky and be able to switch to a better flight as the time gets nearer. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

P.S. I hope you're not flying JetBlue!

I figured you guessed it!!

Well DS12 knows about LL. I broke down and told him awhile back. And DS10 hardly ever uses the computer and when he does it is just to go on his Lego account and look at things and play games. I doubt he would even know how to find the DIS! So I think we are safe there!

Legoland has quite a few rides. I was really doing my research yesterday. And writing up a nice long post about the place. So we'll get to that soon...

That's why we've never been to Universal. I know it just won't be the same as WDW. I do think DS12 would love the rides there, so I'm sure we will go one of these times. It's just that WDW brings so much more than rides. You know?

Nope, no Jet Blue for us!!

SHelly - YAY on LL. i hope your DS enjoys it. Even if he doesn't at least you tried. I most likely will stay in CBR. If i do deluxe it will be CR. It will only be me and DD on this trip so i don't really want to pay too much just for us. DH will be staying home. He can never get off of work between April and November. so it will be just us 2 again. So far i have us staying 7 days. and 6 nights. I'll be getting the DxDD. I would stay in POP again if it meant i got to go again. I'm actually thinking of trying AOA. we'll see what happens. I'm going to book the moment i can book and if any pins or offers come i will add it to my reservation then. Can't wait to hear more about your trip.....

Thanks Mari, I hope he likes it too!

Well there's lots and lots of choices for resorts with just the 2 of you. Maybe you should try the new AOA. It looks pretty cool! But I know how you love CBR!

I hope you get a great PIN!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

You know I always ship our stuff!! It's so much easier, then it's there when you check in you just have them send it to the room. I do breakfast stuff like granola bars, a box of cheerios maybe and some bags I make up for each day for snax.Trail mix, stuff like that...small toiletries and cheapo toothbrushes,and all that I can throw away or use up throughout the week--no bringing it back home. Last year I shipped it all in one good sized box and it was $35..If I were going to ship drinks, I would just put them in a separate box and have 2...do UPS and you can track it...If we are coming in on a Sat, I usually ship it by Tues...this year I shipped on Monday it arrived on WED!!!!! So, check it out,..give yourself a few more days if you need them...also, just call the BC and ask for the exact address and how they want it labeled.
As far as skipping parks, we only do AK once in a while,..somehow we just find so many other things to do!!! The kids wanna go back this time and do the safari....but we never do a whole day there...it's just not our favorite place to be..I know some people freak when I say that! We would rather be at the other 3 places as much as we possibly can!!!

IDK the last few times I have shipped packages (not even very big packages) it has cost a fortune. I checked into it last year and it was cheaper to pay the baggage fee for the extra piece of luggage than to ship. Of course we are wanting to bring water and pop, and they weigh a ton.

I forgot you guys skip AK sometimes. It doesn't mess up your vacation, does it? We just enjoy the other 3 parks so much more!

Well I'm glad I made it into this thread before you posted another update. Besides I may or may not be shopping today, sooooo.............


Okay seriously-- bomp the whole waiting on Garden Grocer that first morning and/or shipping a package. You'll have a car, go to Publix. Cheaper and you can buy the whole store if you want to. Mountain Dew included--- bottles, cans, Liters-- whatever floats your boat.

There's a Publix close to that offsite resort called Caribe Royale. GPS it. If you can't find it, I'll find it for you. (Plus, you really need to know where that store is for when we move there. )
AND... they sell beer n wine inside the store. So your DH doesn't have to go looking at a gas station for some. Or pay the $$$$$$$$$ at the hotel pool bar.


I'm just full of ways to spend money aren't I?

Matter of fact, I think I'll go do that myself. Spend money I mean, not buy beer at a gas station.





Have a great day!





PS--- MARI--- you are doing good. It's hard-- hardest thing I ever did in my life. But you're almost there.

I figured you would be shopping today!! I wanted to shop, but only made it to WM for Easter stuff. Maybe I will get to the mall next week. After cleaning out my closet this week I realized I hate my clothes and need new ones!!

Oh yeah, the rental car!! Totally forgot about that......Hmm.....We will have it on our third day of the trip, second day really since day one is shot....I could just grab a few things from the airport for the first day and then we could stop for stuff on LL day. Great idea!!

And then DH won't have to walk to Hess for a few Beers. Although I think he enjoyed it!!



Yes Mari -- Hang in there!! You are almost done now!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Well I feel like this was a very successful week overall! Especially considering that last week we weren't even sure if we were going to be taking this trip.

This week I have:

Bought airfare
Bought Legoland tix
Bought WDW tix
Changed several of my ADR's around
Brought the luggage upstairs
Brought summer clothes upstairs
Got all my little travel toiletries ready
And started this PTR!



Not too bad!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Let's talk MK!

DS12 and I love DHS so much and DS10 & DH love Epcot so much, that MK usually falls somewhere around 3rd as our favorite park for us. But on our last trip we spent a lot of time at MK and we really enjoyed it. We even chose it over Epcot on our last park day. We've always loved and enjoyed MK very much and of course we all find it to be the most magical place ever!! But as far as attractions, DHS & Epcot have always beat it out. I'm not sure what made us spend so much time there last year, especially when it was all torn up. Maybe it was being able to see it from our resort (Poly) that made it so special to us!

As far as rides and attractions – POTC is our all time favorite at MK! We all enjoy it very much.

We also enjoy the Fantasyland traditions – IASW and Peter Pan. And I just love Mickey's Philharmagic – best 3D show ever!! The kids really enjoy the Tea Cups and the Carousel as well.

It's a real bummer that Fantasyland is still all torn up and won't be ready for our visit this year. Although I did hear that Dumbo may be open now. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Never been a huge fan of the Dumbo ride, but of course the new one sounds like fun!

Moving onto Tomorrowland – DS12 and I love Space Mtn. Well, I like it, he LOVES it!! I used to love it, but apparently my age is catching up to me and I can only enjoy it once, while DS can keep going over and over and over. We all enjoy Buzzlightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the TTA, as well as Monsters Inc. We did Astro Orbiter once and thought it was okay. Same with the Carousal of Progress and the Tomorrowland Speedway.

Over in Adventureland, I already mentioned how much we love the POTC ride!! We also enjoy the Jungle Cruise very much. The kids like to climb the Swiss Family Treehouse. And sometimes they will ride Aladdin's Magic Carpets. We saw the Tiki Birds once and that was enough for us!

Onto Frontierland and Liberty Square – DS12 and I love Splash Mtn, but only with ponchos on, after a very bad and wet experience once!! We all love BTMRR, especially DS12 and I, but unfortunately it will be down for a refurb when we are there. That is a huge disappointment. We saw the Country Bear Jamboree once and DS10 (4 then) fell asleep! We all love the HM, except for DS12. And we did Tom Sawyer Island once and the Hall of Presidents once, we enjoyed them both but they definitely aren't a 'must do' on every trip.

Continued in next post....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued.....

We used to see the daytime parade on each trip, as in stake out a spot and get there early and wait and all that. On the last few trips we have just happened upon it when leaving the park and have gotten some great pics!

I loved Spectro and I hope they bring it back someday soon! Last August DS10 and I saw MSEP and we really enjoyed it a lot. I just missed the music from Spectro.

And of course Wishes! You can't go to WDW without seeing Wishes. I just LOVE it!

I think that's about it. There are a few things we have never done at MK and they are: Stitch's Great Escape and the Liberty Square Riverboat. No one is too interested in doing the Stitch ride – have heard that it is uncomfortable and hard on your shoulders (I have had surgery on both my shoulders in the past) and that it is stinky in there!! I'm not sure why we have never done the LS Riverboat. Just haven't made time for it I guess. Well that and we have riverboat rides/tours in PGH!




Next Up: Epcot anyone?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

If you know already the shipping is gonna be crazy, then just do the extra suitcase thing...more room for souvies!! And you know little man is gonna want some LEGOs for sure!! The last few trips, we just took the packages out of the LEGO box and put them in the suitcase with the instr. manual and threw the box out...it was waaaay to big for a suitcase or to be hassling with all the way home!!!! Just a thought!
yep,..you have got a lot accomplished this week!! I can't believe you hate ALL your clothes!! Some of that new stuff you just bought for Disney should def go back this trip!!! There were some precious outfits! Now, I dont know about all your other clothes,...I was thinking that last week,..I am so ready to ditch some of my stuff!!!I am on the lookout for some cute skirts and Ts for this summer...heard Old Navy had some great ones come out recently, but the problem for me is being short-ish,..lots of skirts look boxy and I end up looking frumpy or fat,you know just in general...but, I am taking the kids to the mall later.DD needs new church sandals,...maybe we will drift over to ON......

 

[ddluvsdisney]

You aren't missing anything with the Stitch ride. We did it our first year and NEVER again. It was awful!!!
We are extremely disappointed about BTMRR!!! It is our family's favorite ride we all enjoy it. My family is again similiar to yours with rides- one kid likes and maybe the other not so much. DS10 is the fearless one and likes every ride. DS14 doesn't really like the thrill rides. I think the fastest ride he'll do is Space Mtn.

 

[seacrestpromo]

Hey Shelly

I am here!

Need to catch up on these posts now -

Sea

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

If you know already the shipping is gonna be crazy, then just do the extra suitcase thing...more room for souvies!! And you know little man is gonna want some LEGOs for sure!! The last few trips, we just took the packages out of the LEGO box and put them in the suitcase with the instr. manual and threw the box out...it was waaaay to big for a suitcase or to be hassling with all the way home!!!! Just a thought!
yep,..you have got a lot accomplished this week!! I can't believe you hate ALL your clothes!! Some of that new stuff you just bought for Disney should def go back this trip!!! There were some precious outfits! Now, I dont know about all your other clothes,...I was thinking that last week,..I am so ready to ditch some of my stuff!!!I am on the lookout for some cute skirts and Ts for this summer...heard Old Navy had some great ones come out recently, but the problem for me is being short-ish,..lots of skirts look boxy and I end up looking frumpy or fat,you know just in general...but, I am taking the kids to the mall later.DD needs new church sandals,...maybe we will drift over to ON......

I usually bring the big ziplock bags for DS's Legos! There is no way we could fit all those big Lego boxes in our luggage!

Okay, so maybe I don't hate all my clothes. Just a good part of them. I do have quite a few new dresses from the last trip that haven't been worn since. So they can come again. But I still need to do some shopping!!

I might head to Old Navy tomorrow. Looks like they are having a sale and I have a $10 off of $50 coupon!

I know what you mean about being short!! Skirts & dresses have to be just the right length to look okay on.

You aren't missing anything with the Stitch ride. We did it our first year and NEVER again. It was awful!!!
We are extremely disappointed about BTMRR!!! It is our family's favorite ride we all enjoy it. My family is again similiar to yours with rides- one kid likes and maybe the other not so much. DS10 is the fearless one and likes every ride. DS14 doesn't really like the thrill rides. I think the fastest ride he'll do is Space Mtn.

That's what everyone says!! I wonder why they don't replace that ride? It never has a line when we are there.

Yeah it sure stinks that BTMRR is down.

Hey Shelly

I am here!

Need to catch up on these posts now -

Sea

Welcome Sea!! Hope you get caught up soon!

 

[JoBird]

Well at least ya'll can WEAR skirts. My legs are so dang long and skirts so dang short that most of the time I look either like I'm walking on stilts or either I'm trying to sell something I shouldn't.



Yes I said it.

And a Good Afternoon to YOU.

Shelly just go shopping-- you know it won't be the same if you don't. Don't even try to pretend you'd be happy wearing last years fashion. It just isn't DONE, m'dear.




I love MK. Love it. I hope that maybe you will get lucky and it won't be torn slap up when you are there. If it is, there's always next year.

The kids made me go to Stitch in Sept and then promptly exclaimed they never wanted to go back. To which I said "told you."

Now when you see Wishes---- make a wish for me. I'll be there in spirit with ya.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Well at least ya'll can WEAR skirts. My legs are so dang long and skirts so dang short that most of the time I look either like I'm walking on stilts or either I'm trying to sell something I shouldn't.



Yes I said it.

And a Good Afternoon to YOU.

Shelly just go shopping-- you know it won't be the same if you don't. Don't even try to pretend you'd be happy wearing last years fashion. It just isn't DONE, m'dear.




I love MK. Love it. I hope that maybe you will get lucky and it won't be torn slap up when you are there. If it is, there's always next year.

The kids made me go to Stitch in Sept and then promptly exclaimed they never wanted to go back. To which I said "told you."

Now when you see Wishes---- make a wish for me. I'll be there in spirit with ya.

Boohoo your legs are long!!



Oh to have such problems!


Selling something you shouldn't!!!!!!!!!!!


Actually some of those dresses from last year never even made it out of the luggage. I need to go thru my pics and figure out which ones didn't get worn! And I need to shop! And soon!! I feel like I need some new shoes too. DH would tell you otherwise though...

I'm thinking MK should look somewhat better than last year. But who knows, maybe it's worse at this point. We'll find out shortly! And yes, there is always next year!!

I didn't know you went on Stitch last year.


I will make a wish for you during Wishes. And text. And sent a pic. And call. Don't worry, it will be like you are right there!!

Hmm....maybe I could just put my phone on speaker and you could listen!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Well, as I was reading through I realized that our likes and dislikes at MK are almost identical to yours. Although you didn't say that you detest the Country Bears and I would say that I do!

I definitely think that staying at the Poly made you enjoy MK more on your last trip. Did you feel that way about Epcot when you stayed at the Boardwalk?

I think that's a great idea to wait and get groceries with the rental car!!! Very smart!

To answer your questions from earlier... I had sworn off cruising for a while but my DH and DD are nagging the crap out of me to go back this year. They loved it so much! And I did too, I'm just really worried about getting sick again. That was such a bad experience. And if we do cruise again, it will have to be at the end of our trip which means the day the cruise ends, we will be driving home for 10 hours. If we have another bad experience and are up all night, there is no way we will be able to drive all day. So I'm kind of worried about it. Honestly, I'm trying to talk DH into going to Discovery Cove one day and save the cruise for 2013. Wish me luck with that. Oh and it would be another 3 day cruise. I know now what I liked and didn't like so I don't feel pressure to do it all and I think 3 days will be enough.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We have skipped a park on a number of our trips. Sometimes AK, sometimes DHS (I know you wouldn't skip DHS!). It doesn't matter at all!

I agree with Jo - take that car and go to Publix. That's my plan too.
I wouldn't want to ship soda. It would get a bit shaken up I think.

You've had a very productive week!

 

[lmillercrew]

We are skipping a park this year too. Just not enough days and we don't have hoppers this year. (well, not yet anyway) We're thinking no Epcot this year. I know, the horror!! There really are only two attractions that we REALLY want to ride there, TT and Soarin. Since TT is not going to be up and running while we are there, just doesn't seem like a good use of a day off of our ticket.