April 2012- Ready or not here come some new DVC owners Trip Report! MAJOR update 5/23

[LuvsTigger80]

Yes you read that correctly April 2012. 606 days to be exact. And I have nothing better to do with my time than plan plan plan. Then change those plans and plan some more. I figured who better to share my obsession with then my fellow diser's. I'm sure most of you will understand where I am coming from. So help me plan my trip. Or give some useful advice. I'll take it all.

**Update**
Since there has been a change in people that are going...i thought that I would update this post!!



So this is the whole party for our April 2012 trip! From left to right.... my hubby of 8 yrs. This trip will be his 4th trip! He is very excited to be eating at Victoria and Alberts! And also now that we are staying at the Poly, he is excited about that too! Next is me! I was a late bloomer when it came to my love of Disney! I wasn't sure what the hype was all about. And then I married into his family! Now I love everything Disney! This will also be my 4th trip to the world. And I am also excited for all the same things! I'm over the moon about staying at the Poly(it is my dream resort). No one can really understand except for my fellow Dis'ers. Next is our son Carl. This will also be his 4th trip! He loves everything Disney! We have AP's for Disneyland....so he gets Disney about once a week. He has the Disney point down and can tell which way to any ride! He just recently began to love all thrill rides(except Tower of Terror). He will be 6 on this trip. Last is my mother in law! the best that anyone could ask for! It is her fault for everyone's love of Disney. Whoo hoo!! This will be her 3rd trip. I think she is most excited for the Poly and of course her Tonga Toast! That is all she can talk about...=0)

So that is my little update for this part of the post!

 

[LuvsTigger80]

So here I am to tell you when and where we are going....
We decided..more like i decided and everyone went along with me. Anywho, I decided to go about the same time we did our first vacation. First I was tired of all the rain and second, we wanted to go back to the water parks(we haven't been since our first trip and my MIL,BIL,have never been to a disney water park!) and third...we love the flower and garden festival. So we are going April 18-28. 10 nights and 11 days!! Can hardly wait.

Where you ask? Well if my plans go as they should...we will spend those days at the Beach Club villas. This has me so excited. On all of our previous trips we have stayed at the POP. Don't get me wrong, we do love POP but it is time to try something new and exciting. Plus the Beach Club is walking distance to Epcot. My favorite park in Florida! We are going to try for a 2 bedroom villa by renting points. Fingers crossed we get it. I've never done the renting points thing. So I'm still kinda nervous about it!!

Not sure yet what I will be posting next. This is still all kinda new to me. Maybe stuff we haven't done yet...or stuff that we would like to do....or there's even the dining......the yummy yummy dining!! Hopefully some people will come and join me...I'm kinda lonely talking to myself...

 

[LuvsTigger80]

So here I am still talking to myself...but that is alright.
Anywho...on to what things we still haven't done at Disneyworld!! Let's start with Magic Kingdom first!

Magic Kingdom, dare i say it, is my least favorite park in Florida. I have Disneyland at home....I can go to Walt's "Magic Kingdom" whenever my pass allows. But we have still not done everything here.Let's see....haven't done the carousel of progress(which i've never done even at Disneyland), hall of presidents. We have not ridden Dumbo here...but then again..we have it at home. I think that is pretty much it for the Magic Kingdom. We pretty much plan on spending half a day here. And the only reason for going is so my BIL can compare Splash mountains(that's the ride he operates here at home. Otherwise we would probably just go for breakfast and leave!

Next let's go to Animal Kingdom... I like this park. It's not my favorite...and there are still some things we haven't done here. We haven't done Festival of the Lion King. I'm kinda interested in seeing this. And we haven't done Rafiki's Planet Watch(never really wanted to wait for the train). And I think that that is it for this park. Normally we would probably only spend half a day here....but with the BIL going, we might make it a full day.

Up next....Hollywood Studios. The only things we haven't done here is the Voyage of the Little Mermaid(is this a show) and the Beauty and the Best stage show(my MIL loves Beauty and the Beast..so this will be a must do). And One Man's Dream. So these are on our list of must do's this time.

And save my favorite for last..... EPCOT. Actually we've done pretty much everything here. Maybe we will watch more of the performers from each country. But otherwise we have done it all.

So that pretty much sums up the stuff we haven't done. Until next time....BYE!!

 

[LuvsTigger80]

So onto more details...even though i think that i will be talking to myself for the next 600 days or so....At least i have someplace to write it out.

So when we went on our last trip be decided to do MVMCP and it was ok. We had also signed up for pirates and pals cruise..but canceled it when we relized that it would interfere with our California Grill ADR. And we were ok with it. But sometimes I think that we should have done that over the Christmas party. But oh well. There is always a next time.

Which brings us to our new trip. I definatly want to do something similar if not the the same crusie. My SIL loves Peter Pan...and I think would be on with the Pirates and Pals wishes cruise. And I think that the rest of us would enjoy it. But then there is always the Illuminations Cruise. Illuminations is one of my hubby's favorite firework shows. So i'm sorta torn between the two. If we did the Pirates and Pals we would have to pay individually. And it would have to be a non signature dining evening.If we did the Illuminations than we would pay one sum for everyone. And I think we could do a little later dining. Not sure though!!

Has anyone done either of them?? what were your experiences? I know I still have a year to decided...but I love to have things planned out so that I can start saving for them.

My hubby and I were also thinking about bringing a family friend with us and paying for her. She would have no idea. It would really only cost us another $1600. I think I really need to run it by the rest of our party. We will have the room...a 2 bedroom villa sleeps 8. So that is also something else we are thinking about.

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Just thought I would check in and say hi to all my followers...

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

Just thought I would check in and say hi to all my followers...

I'm here luv!

 

[LuvsTigger80]

I'm here luv!

WHOO HOO!!!!! Someone responds.....



So for a little update....maybe not so much to do with our vacation...but still an update.....went to Disneyland on Friday night...had a good time. Stayed for Magical.....we were very sad....no tinkerbell or dumbo flying that night...oh well. We are not renewing our passes come September....the money issue is a bit tight....i will renew them come May though(plus I do have family that work there...so will still be able to go). And we will get the premier pass. That way we can use them on our vacation!! Plus who doesn't want to show off that cool card. So anywho today my hubby found a fun recipe on a Disney Blog....and this is what the finished product look like



Chocolate Peanut Butter Mickey Mouse Cookies!!! I know it is kinda small, but I took the picture on my cell phone!! If anyone wants the recipe just let me know...I can post it. Until later...hope everyone has a great week!!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Jumping on over to follow you in your planning goodness!

I'm slightly jealous that you only have 18 months till your trip...and I have over 2 years still.

Anywho! Those cookies look (and sound) delish! Recipe please?

Anywho...I have to be off...we're going after bit to take my bro, SIL and their kids to lunch/dinner for bros birthday (and I'll be honest, I'd rather not...but that's a story for another day...and another forum).

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Jumping on over to follow you in your planning goodness!

I'm slightly jealous that you only have 18 months till your trip...and I have over 2 years still.

Anywho! Those cookies look (and sound) delish! Recipe please?

Anywho...I have to be off...we're going after bit to take my bro, SIL and their kids to lunch/dinner for bros birthday (and I'll be honest, I'd rather not...but that's a story for another day...and another forum).

let me find the recipe...they were really good...but whenever we ate them it felt like something was missing....it was a peanut butter cookie with oatmeal and chocolate chips....odd i know. But good....i think you could almost do any recipe... but let me go and get the recipe and copy and paste!!

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER MICKEY MOUSE COOKIES
(Makes about 2 ½ dozen cookies)

Ingredients:
2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
2 cups (12-ounce package) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided in half
1 cup Quick Oats
1 cup (2 sticks) Butter or Margarine, softened
1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs

Dough Directions:
Combine flour and baking soda in small bowl.
Beat butter, peanut butter, sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy.
Beat in eggs.
Beat in flour mixture.
Stir in 1 cup morsels and oats.
Freeze until slightly firm but not hard.

Baking Directions:
Roll dough into 1 ½-inch ball; press down slightly on ungreased baking sheet.
Roll a 1 ¼-inch ball; cut in half.
Attach halves to first ball as ears.
Repeat with remaining dough; place 2 inches apart.
Bake in preheated 350° oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until light brown and centers are still soft.
Let stand for 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool.

Decorating Directions:
Microwave remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds.
Knead; microwave at additional 10 to 20 second intervals, kneading until smooth.
Cut tiny corner from bag.
Squeeze to pipe chocolate to create Mickey Mouse faces.
Allow chocolate to set.

my hubby actually found the recipe on Main Street Gazette's Blog.


Well I hope that you at least had a yummy dinner!! We'll be taking my hubby out to Buca for his birthday on Thursday!! yummy!!

 

[LuvsTigger80]

So I thought that I would do a little update...or just basically throw out some ideas!

We plan on getting the Deluxe dining for our trip! That means 10 days of alot of food! All I can say is bring it on!! On our first trip in 2008 it was just my hubby son and I. We had no clue about anything! We honestly thought that that trip would be our one and only lifetime trip. Little did we know! So on that trip we had no dining plan. We actually didn't know what it was. So we mostly ate CS! We had a few TS. But I think only 4 and they 2 were at the Hollywood and Vine(which we happen to really like). The other one was Chef Mickey's(we will never eat there again..but that dislike didn't come until our second trip). The 4th was Crystal Palace.for breakfast which we canceled. Actually we had an ADR on our last trip in Dec for breakfast and it got canceled too...lol. So now it is a must do!!

On our second trip we had the Basic DP! Which we enjoyed...but we still wanted more.lol! so on our last trip we did the DDP! And we were eating like King's and Queens! Signature dining...and lots of food! Perfect for us! I don't think we can ever go to the world and not get the DDP!

So here is a rough idea of the places that we want to dine at....be aware..it will be a long list as i plan to use every credit possible...(30)!Weither we make it to all of them will be determined in 565 days or so!!

Let's start with breakfast:

Cape May*x2
Crystal Palace
Tuskar House*
Kona*x2
Akershus
Kouzzina
1900 Park Fare*
Captains Grille

LUNCH:

Sci-Fi
Beaches and Cream
Via Napoli
Earl Of Sandwhich*
Afternoon Tea*
Chef's De France
Misc CS depending on where we are

Dinner:

La Hacienda de San Angel
Citrico's
Rose & Crown*
Narcoosee's
Ohana's*
Flying Fish
Yachtsman(for BIL and SIL)
Mama Melrose's
Victoria and Alberts
Biergarten*
Teppan Edo*

So everything with a * we have eaten at before. V&A's is a very big must do for us! I'm sure this list will change as the days go by, but so far this is it. How can I plan what I want to eat when i still have over 500 days to plan...easily...we are a roll with the flow kinda family. We can always find something on any menu that we want to eat. As long as there is food in the tummy we are a happy family!!

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Here we are only 519 more days to go...whoo hoo!!!!! are we there yet?? I'm super excited for the new year to get here. it just puts me that much closer to my vacation. Planning wise..we just keep chaning our minds on where to eat...otherwise everything is pretty much set.

We are thinking about leaving a day early and flying into Savannah,GA then driving to Hilton Head to eat at Chef Robert's resturant. Then driving to Orlando. Not sure about that part of the trip though. Right now it is all in planning stages. But it sounds like fun. Plus we won't be able to chef Robert at California's Food and Wine since it got canceled for the next 2 years...BOO!!!!

I also gave my hubby 3 choices for his birthday next year since our money situation will get better after Feb. The first choice was a 3night/4day trip to WDWs food and wine. but he didn't want to leave our son behind so we axed this one. The next choice was a 2night/3day mini Grand California stay. Will yummy eats. Disneyland is in our backyard, but how fun would it be to be able to relax and actually enjoy all that Disneyland has to offer without leaving. We would be eating at Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55. The third choice was a 7 day cruise on the Disney Wonder out of LA! We would have to leave our 5 year old at home if we choose the cruise. I can't pull him out of school for 2 family vacations in one school year! But I would allow him to miss one day if we choose the Grand California. So many decisions. We have till Sept to decided!! Which would you choose?

 

[pwdebbie]

Just started planning an April 2012 trip and found your pre-trip report.

I want to tell you not to miss Festival of the Lion King. It is our favorite show. Animal Kingdom is our favorite park, people just don't realize all that there is to do. Not a lot of "rides" but plenty of other attractions. And make sure you take some time (allow at least 30 minutes, if not longer) to do Rafiki's Planet Watch. The train comes every five minutes or so, there really is not much of a wait. There are many interesting things to look at once you get to the Conservation Station and there are some interactive things to do also. I still haven't had as much time here as I would like.

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Just started planning an April 2012 trip and found your pre-trip report.

I want to tell you not to miss Festival of the Lion King. It is our favorite show. Animal Kingdom is our favorite park, people just don't realize all that there is to do. Not a lot of "rides" but plenty of other attractions. And make sure you take some time (allow at least 30 minutes, if not longer) to do Rafiki's Planet Watch. The train comes every five minutes or so, there really is not much of a wait. There are many interesting things to look at once you get to the Conservation Station and there are some interactive things to do also. I still haven't had as much time here as I would like.

Thanks for the tips!! Those are two things we have yet to do at that park!! So they are on the list! We also like animal kingdom...but Epcot is our favorite park! I will be sure to take enough time for Rafiki's. The funny thing is on our very first trip to WDW in 2008 we were actually in line waiting and then changed our mind. We just hadn't got back to it since! Maybe our paths will cross in 2012!! Can't wait only 511 days to go!! lol

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Hi there!!! Well it's a new year and time to get ready for a hopefully busy 2011 (I just want the year to fly by)

So we have changed a few things. We will now be a party of 7 for the first 5 days. My hubby's Aunt has decided to join us. Which meant we had to move our vacation up by a week. Whoo hoo!! Less days to count down. We will still be staying at the Beach Club Villas and all that fun stuff. Have to figure out of the resturants we have picked...which ones to eat at first with her. We will definatly be doing Victoria and Alberts with her. She would really enjoy this...plus the wine pairings are right up her alley.

Since she has decided on joining us...i now have a few questions?? maybe someone will help....

We are doing the dining plan....since she will only be with us a short time..it's not worth getting the dining plan for her. Since we are doing V&A's. I know with DVC we have to have it paid for in full within 30 days or something like that. The question is...not everyone going has to get the dining plan do they?? Because she will only be there for 5 days..i know that they won't let her just pay for the days she is there it would have to be the total stay of our visit. Which would suck for her.....

And then...my BIL is in the process of signing up for the Army...(probably spring or so)....We know that his wife will still go with us....but if for some reason he can't get the time off by that time...how difficult will it be to change the names on the reservation? We already have a back up plan is case this happens. We would just take my SIL's Aunt!

So we only have 463 days left till our disney vacation....

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Hi there!!

Well here we are 438 days out from our vacation! Are we there yet?!?!?!? We have decided to switch hotels. So instead of the Beach Club we will be staying at AKL! Hopefully in a 2 bedroom villa! We are all looking forward to this change. And it will save us a boat load of money! Over $2000! That is a savings for us. LOL! We won't have a great view. But who really needs that. I will be at my other happy place. So no complants from me!

We recently renewed our AP for Disneyland and DCA! And we have been taking advantage of them fully! We are going on Saturday and Sunday! Saturday to go and meet some fun charaters at the Charaters Fan Meet. That will be fun! All the 7 dwarfs, king louie and baloo(we see them at Disneyworld all the time..never at disneyland) and clarabelle and horace, donald and daisy, esmeralda and clopin, and captain hook,smee, and wendy. So that will keep us busy in the morning. On sunday we are going to Goofy's Kitchen to celebrate my son's 5th birthday and then to the Jazz Kitchen for dinner. And I plan on doing some shopping with my BIL and his 40% discount. Can we say doone and burke wallet...SCORE! Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Maybe I will post some pics from our busy/fun weekend!

 

[pwdebbie]

Hi there!!! Well it's a new year and time to get ready for a hopefully busy 2011 (I just want the year to fly by)

So we have changed a few things. We will now be a party of 7 for the first 5 days. My hubby's Aunt has decided to join us. Which meant we had to move our vacation up by a week. Whoo hoo!! Less days to count down. We will still be staying at the Beach Club Villas and all that fun stuff. Have to figure out of the resturants we have picked...which ones to eat at first with her. We will definatly be doing Victoria and Alberts with her. She would really enjoy this...plus the wine pairings are right up her alley.

Since she has decided on joining us...i now have a few questions?? maybe someone will help....

We are doing the dining plan....since she will only be with us a short time..it's not worth getting the dining plan for her. Since we are doing V&A's. I know with DVC we have to have it paid for in full within 30 days or something like that. The question is...not everyone going has to get the dining plan do they?? Because she will only be there for 5 days..i know that they won't let her just pay for the days she is there it would have to be the total stay of our visit. Which would suck for her.....

And then...my BIL is in the process of signing up for the Army...(probably spring or so)....We know that his wife will still go with us....but if for some reason he can't get the time off by that time...how difficult will it be to change the names on the reservation? We already have a back up plan is case this happens. We would just take my SIL's Aunt!

So we only have 463 days left till our disney vacation....

As far as the dining plan goes, I am pretty sure that everyone booked in the room has to have the dining plan, it is either all do or none do. If hse booked a separate room, then she could do without the dining plan if she wanted.

As for changing the name on the reservation, I don't know about that as I haven't had to do that. I'm sure someone on the DIS has posed that question before, so you could try searching the DIS. (It is actually easier to search the DIS by doing an advanced search on google. Just put in what you are looking for and then limit your responses to disboards.com.)

 

[PinkPrincess1908]

Hi there LuvsTigger80!
I'm currently planning an April 2012 trip too, so I'm subscribing to the thread and will be here with you through the long haul Right now we're looking at arriving on the 4/23/12 and trying to do at least 10 nights. I thought I was starting to plan waaaay too soon, as I called Disney two days ago and was informed I could not book a package yet since the dates were so far out, so I'm sooooooo happy to see you here planning for April 2012, I know I'm not alone, LOL!

 

[pwdebbie]

Pink Princess, I think you can book a room-only reservation now and then convert it to a package later. We are planning to be there at the same time as you (our 35th anniversary is that date, dh's birthday is a few days before, so we will probably arrive the Monday before that date and go home the Friday after, but I haven't really spent time looking at a calendar yet, so not sure where the dates fall. I'm holding off booking at this time. I booked our last trip just 2 1/2 months out and had no problem getting our room or dining reservations. We plan to stay at POFQ.

 

[LuvsTigger80]

As far as the dining plan goes, I am pretty sure that everyone booked in the room has to have the dining plan, it is either all do or none do. If hse booked a separate room, then she could do without the dining plan if she wanted.

As for changing the name on the reservation, I don't know about that as I haven't had to do that. I'm sure someone on the DIS has posed that question before, so you could try searching the DIS. (It is actually easier to search the DIS by doing an advanced search on google. Just put in what you are looking for and then limit your responses to disboards.com.)

Thank you so much for your input...i still am not sure as what to do....seeing as though my hubby's aunt will not be with us the whole 10nights/11days! She will be arriving with us on wednesday and then leaving that sunday! I will figure it out! I still have time....

Hi there LuvsTigger80!
I'm currently planning an April 2012 trip too, so I'm subscribing to the thread and will be here with you through the long haul Right now we're looking at arriving on the 4/23/12 and trying to do at least 10 nights. I thought I was starting to plan waaaay too soon, as I called Disney two days ago and was informed I could not book a package yet since the dates were so far out, so I'm sooooooo happy to see you here planning for April 2012, I know I'm not alone, LOL!

Hi there!! I actually have more dissers responding!! Yippy!
There seems to be alot of us planning for 2012. Looks like we will just miss you! we are leaving on the 21st. Our orginal plans would have had us there at the same time. But we moved the dates up so that my hubby's Aunt can join us! We are going to purchase DVC points from a member and will be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. So I get to do that in May!! Makes the year go by faster!!

 

[LuvsTigger80]

Hi there!! Here is another mini update! We went to Disneyland again today! There are still doing family fun weekends! This weekend was Happy Lunar New Year Festival! We had a good time! Mickey and Minnie where there dressed in Traditional Chinese costumes and Chip and Dale also Mulan and Mushu! We had fun! I will have to add pics from this weekend and last as soon as we order the photopass. We are always going....so we decided to use the card as much as possible in the next month!

On Thursday, the hubby and I went and got us some cool looking tattoos(we at least we think they are cool.)

Here is the hubby's

And here is mine