ARE WE THERE YET? Tinks **LIVE** August Adventure with LOTS OF PICS *LEAVING TODAY*

[TinkerBelle_325]

*scribbles down on her Tinkerbell notepaper*

Scour the DISboards endlessly....check

Listen to Disney music on Live 365....check

Watch WDW Resort TV on Google Video....check

Plan, book and then change (at least twice) all ADRs.....check

Reminisce about the smells, sounds, foods of "the world" while staring at the darn countdown that refuses to move any faster despite your begging, pleading and constant whines of "ARE WE THERE YET?!?"....check

oh HI!!!!


Welcome to my Trip Report!!!

I'm Tinkerbelle, 23 years old, a college graduate and a Walt Disney World Obsessive. As you will see, I'm also a slightly compulsive planner, but I swear a go with the flow when the trip actually rolls around.... .....ok at least I *TRY* to go with the flow.

This upcoming trip will be my 30th to WDW Can you tell I'm just a little excited??

Now, lets get down to the good stuff!

Trip Details

Who?
Me, 23, 30th trip to WDW, Obsessive WDW veteran, Compulsive Planner, Foodie, Picture Taker
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Ride: Splash Mountain....and The Haunted Mansion....and Soarin....and Tower of Terror....ok...ok...I don't have A favorite...i have several
Favorite WDW Snack AND Food: Oh god, this is harder than the ride lol....Hmmm I'll say Dole Whips...and Mickey Bars....and anything from Goofy's Candy Co....as well as Le Cellier Cheddar Cheese Soup...Srimp Tempura Roll from California Grill....Sticky Wings from Kona and Bread Pudding from Ohana....told you I'm a Foodie

DMom, 35th trip to WDW, Time Keeper (think White Rabbit ie: "we're late! we're late!" as opposed to the Robin Williamd character hehe) People Watcher and Pool-time lover
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Ride: Impressions de France
Favorite WDW Snack AND Food: Popcorn from Main Street and French Onion Soup from Chefs de France

DDad, 35th trip to WDW, Fellow Foodie, People Watcher and Soup and Sushi Lover (LOL I will explain)
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Ride: Pirates of the Caribbean
Favorite WDW Snack AND Food: Dole Whips....and Shrimp Tempura Roll from California Grill...and Hurricane Roll from California Grill...and Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier...and Potato and Leek Soup from Rose andCrown...and French Onion Soup from Chefs de France (see what I mean about sushi and soup?)

What?
Our 30th WDW Vacation as a family

When?
August 15th - 25th 2008

Where?
August 15th - 18th at Coronado Springs
August 18th - 25th at Wilderness Lodge

How?
Driving from Toronto to Buffalo and flying AirTran to Orlando

Pre-Trip Report
Introduction
Itinerary & ADRs
Kona Cafe & California Grill
Garden View Tea
Magic Kingdom
Planning - Tools
Vintage Food Pics (2005)
Attractions I've never done/must do & WL/CSR pics
Planning - Itinerary Cards
Planning - Spreadsheet
Polynesian & Liberty Tree Tavern
Le Cellier, Polynesian, MK
California Grill & Kona Cafe
Favorite Snacks! Poly, GF, Kona Cafe
Ohana, Raglan Road, California Grill, Chefs de France, Wolfgang Puck Express
Chefs de Frane & Yachtsman Steakhouse
Beach Club & Food & Wine Festival
MK, Liberty Tree Tavern & Wolfgang Puck Express
Buffalo & Cheesecake Factory
Buffalo & Sushi & Sake Tasting Oct 06
WDW Traditions
Party for the Senses 2006!
1 month today!
18 days to go!
OMG I'm Leaving in 8 Days!!
5 days!!!!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Fri August 15th (Travel Day)
- drive to Buffalo
- lunch at Cracker Barrel (a tradition)
- afternoon flight to MCO
- arrive at Coronado Springs Resort in the evening

Sat August 16th
- Morning at Typhoon Lagoon
- Afternoon at Dig Site Pool at CSR
- Evening at Downtown Disney Marketplace

Sun August 17th
- Morning at the Magic Kingdom
- Afternoon at the Dig Site Pool at CSR
- Evening at Epcot

Mon August 18th
- Morning check-out of CSR
- Late morning at Downtown Disney - get groceries at Publix
- Check-in to WL
- Afternoon at Silver Creek Springs Pool at WL
- Evening at the Contemporary

Tues August 19th
- Morning at Animal Kingdom
- Afternoon at Silver Creek Springs Pool
- Evening at Epcot

Wed August 20th
- Morning at Typhoon Lagoon
- Afternoon at Downtown Disney
- Evening at The Magic Kingdom

Thurs August 21st (DDad's Birthday)
- Morning at Epcot
- Afternoon at Silver Creek Springs Pool
- Evening at the Contemporary

Fri August 22nd
- Morning at Typhoon Lagoon
- Afternoon - Grand Floridian
- Evening at Epcot

Sat August 23rd
- Morning at DHS and Epcot
- Afternoon at Epcot and Silver Creek Springs
- Evening at Polynesian

Sun August 24th
- Morning at The Magic Kingdom
- Afternoon at Silver Creek Springs Pool
- Evening at Epcot
Mon August 25th

Advance Dining Reservations and Dining Plans

Fri August 15th
Lunch @ Cracker Barrel
Dinner @ Airport

Sat August 16th
Breakfast @ Pepper Market
Lunch @ Pepper Market
Dinner @ Wolfgang Puck Cafe, OR, Red Lobster (another family tradition)

Sun August 17th
Breakfast @ Kona Coffee Bar
Lunch @ Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner @ Chefs de France

Mon August 18th
Late Breakfast @ Wolfgang Puck Express
Lunch @ Roaring Forks
Dinner @ California Grill

Tues August 19th
Breakfast @ Tusker House (not TS...CS window)
Lunch @ Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner @ Biergarten

Wed August 20th
Breakfast @ Typhoon Lagoon
Lunch @ Roaring Forks
Dinner @ Kona Cafe

Thurs August 21st
Breakfast @ Sunshine Seasons
Lunch @ Le Cellier
Dinner @ California Grill

Fri August 22nd
Breakfast @ Typhoon Lagoon
Lunch @ Garden View Tea
Dinner @ Yachtsman Steakhouse

Sat August 23rd
Breakfast @ Starring Rolls
Lunch @ San Angel Inn or Rose & Crown Dining Room
Dinner @ Ohana

Sun August 24th
Breakfast @ Main Street Bakery
Lunch @ Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner @ Tokyo Dining

Mon August 25th
Breakfast @ Roaring Forks
Lunch @ Wolfgang Puck Express

 

[meloneyb21]

HI!

I'm onboard! Sounds fun!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Woohoo! My first reader Thanks!!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I thought that I would add some pictures from my last WDW vacation, starting with some yummy food pics!

Kona Cafe Visit 1

Margarita from Kona

Bread and Macadamia butter

Sticky Wings

Lump Crab Cakes

Beef Teriyaki

Coconut Almond Chicken

Panko Shrimp

California Grill

Soy Sauce, Wasabi and Pickled Ginger

The best platter of sushi in the world

California Roll

Shrimp Tempura Roll

Spicy Tuna Roll

Ahi Tuna 3 ways

Sourdough Bread, butter and olive oil

Lobster Salad

Green Goddess Salad

Four Cheese Flatbread

Goat Cheese Ravioli

Year of a Million Dreams Honey Crunch Cake

 

[MAJ RN]

I am really excited to read your report! Your food pics are amazing. That sushi at California Grill looks to die for, I love sushi!! Can't wait to read more.

Melissa

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Garden View Tea

Menu

Tea Cup and Strainer

Tea Selection

The Grand Tea

Place Setting

Champagne

Tea Cozy

Tea - Floral

Tea Sandwiches

Scone, Jam Tart and Devonshire Cream

Petit Four and Eclair

Chocolate Strawberry and Fruit Mousse Swan

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

MAJ RN,

Thanks for reading! The sushi at Cali Grill was AMAZING. Very crave-able lol

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

We're HOME!!

Beautiful site even when its raining

"Garden" View from Fiji

Early morning Frontierland

Liberty Square

The best shot I've ever taken of Cinderella Castle

An equally beautiful shot of Spaceship Earth

The Magic Kingdom from California Grill

The Castle is on FIRE!!! (Actually its the fireworks from the castle show)

Astronaut Mickey!

Pirates!

Captain Jack

 

[meloneyb21]

Kona Cafe Visit 1

Margarita from Kona

Sticky Wings

Year of a Million Dreams Honey Crunch Cake

I could SO go for these right now. That margarita looks fantastic right about now. It's gonna be 99 degrees here today!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

As I mentioned earlier, I am a compulsive planner. To me, planning is what builds the anticipation of the vacation and that is why I am so in love with it. You get to decide what you want to do every single day, where you want to eat, what you want to see, its just so darn fun!

However, my last few trips I had a slight over-planning wake-up call and came face to face with the realization that even the best laid plans can come undone. This is why I constantly remind myself of the little things about WDW that make me smile and make my day. Often these unexpected experiences are more fun than what you had originally planned. For that reason I've become a lot more flexible.

But I still get like this whenever I'm asked to plan another Disney vacation.

This post is going to outline my planning tools, as well as a few essentials that I've already set aside to pack.

First and foremost....

my macbook! I got it a little under a month ago and it has been a wonderful planning tool. iWork has allowed me to play with new fonts and even make itinerary cards inspired by another DISer who is also a mac user.

My Disney Binder! Every year I make a binder that contains airline reservations, car rental confirmations, resort reservations, ADRs, a Rough Itinerary, Resort Maps, a spreadsheet "Master Plan", restaurant menus, park maps and much more! It never leaves the resort once we arrive, but it is usually consulted each morning.

My two best planning tools

My Disney File! This comes to Disney empty and leaves full of restaurant menus, napkins, drink stir sticks, park maps, key to the world cards etc. Basically, I collect anything I find interesting and take it home to scrapbook.

Some essentials to pack....

My Disney Travel Wallet! I found this in The World of Disney a few years ago and fell in love with it. I have a matching messenger bag as well and both come with me to "the World". This little wallet holds all my confirmations, my key to the world card, my passport, boarding pass, rental car reservation, and basically anything else I need on hand for my travel day.

The World's Cutest Umbrella! My aunt gave this to me for christmas and i LOVE it! It is very slim and small, and will easily fit into a small purse. I'm not a huge poncho fan and would prefer a small umbrella in most cases (outside of the lovely rain of biblical proportions that happens nearly every august afternoon where you better be inside or even with a poncho "you will get wet"!

Notebooks! Now, as much praise as I have for my macbook, there is something to be said for writing trip notes out by hand. I spent 3 years at university taking notes by hand and it just feels right. So I carry a few notebooks to WDW with me and jot down observations, resort and food reviews, weather etc...and then type it all out afterwards.

So that's about all for now, I've given you all a glimpse into my over-planned world and I hope you have enjoyed it.

Thanks so much to those that have read so far, and for you lurkers dont be afraid to post! I know I haven't viewed this thing 90 times myself Please feel free to jump in

 

[ktdaiwik]

Definitly joining,it sounds like you have evrything set up so well and for a first time family going in December I think I could learn alot from you!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Hi ktdaiwik

Thanks for joining in If you have any questions please feel free to ask. You will love love love WDW in December. All the decorations are so amazing. Be sure to go and see the life size gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and the decorations at Wilderness Lodge

 

[ktdaiwik]

Thanks TinkerBelle,it seems like i have umpteen things to plan,look into etc etc.Hubby says can you let it go for a bit...ummmmmmmm nope!DS who is 4 wants to get on here everyday to look at pics etc,I guess since it is the first trip for him and I we are just too excited to let it be for a bit!Oh well any advice you can give me please feel free to go ahead and give!Am keeping books with everything written in,I have to sort it out though as they are kind of jumbled!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

My biggest piece of advice is to book your restaurant reservations at the 180 day mark. Are you staying on disney property? If so there is something called the 180+10 rule. Let's say the first day of your vacation is December 15th....this would mean that June 18th is your 180 day mark. However, lets say your entire stay is Dec 15th - 23rd. That is 9 nights to book dining for. If you are going to be a disney resort guest, Disney dining will allow you to book all 9 nights on June 18th, even though that is only the 180 day mark for your first day.

With a 4 year old son, character meals would be great. I'd recommend The Crystal Palace if he likes Winnie the Pooh, or Ohana if he likes Stitch.

 

[ktdaiwik]

Yup we are staying at All Star Movies as that was the one we thought was most suited to him for this trip,he is a huge Buzz Lightyear and Star Wars fan right now!
I booked my ADRS but of course am second guessing everything I booked,I look at what others have booked and think gee maybe we should try and fit that in too!lol
We are going to the Crystal Palace for breakfast our first full day there , since I am a huge Poobear fan and it is my B Day that day we are excited about that one!I am also dragging the boys to CRT for a breakfast,since they were not giving me any input other than choose what you want I am hoping I have chosen something for everyone as we are also taking Grandpa with us too.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Nice Trust me, its impossible to fit everything that you want into your first Disney vacation. Just go and enjoy the small things along with the big. We still find new things to do each trip and we've been 29 times! Another huge piece of advice is to simply go with the flow. Everything about WDW is magical and if you are blazing through it commando style with your intense schedule in hand you might miss out on some of the amazing little details along the way.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

65 days to go!!

Yay!

I'm so happy dancing and I thought that today I would entertain you with some Vintage food pics.

May 2005

Happiest Celebration on Earth Chocolate Cake with Blood Orange Coulis from Artist Point

Hatfield Porkchop with Tilamook Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese - Artist Point

Complimentary Seared Scallop Amuse Bouche - Artist Point

Guinness Beef Stew - Rose & Crown

Smoked Salmon Appetizer - Chefs de France

Happiest Celebration on Earth Macaron with Orange Sorbet and Caramel - Chefs de France

Caesar Salad - Alfredo's

Rolls & Olive Oil - Alfredo's

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad - Alfredo's

Trio of Pasta - Alfredo's

Osso Bucco - Alfredo's

Chocolate Mousse - Alfredo's

Every single one of those items are no longer available

I'm so sad that Alfredo's closed and I'm hesitant to try Tutto Italia.

Hope you guys enjoyed. I'll post some examples of my itinerary cards and planning tools in my next post

 

[podsnel]

You are my new hero- your food pics are AMAZING!!!! I have an ADR at CG for our last night in Nov after our 7 day DCL western. I can't WAIT for all that sushi- and the flatbread- YUM!!!! Your planning system is incredible-
can't wait for more!!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

podsnel,

Thanks so much! California Grill is our new favorite restaurant, everything there is wonderful, the service, the food, the view.

I'm a bit planning obsessed LOL And I'll give you some more insight as to just how organized i am. But my best approach to a vacation is to go with the flow once I'm there, you miss out on the little things if you blaze through to get from ride to ADR to ride etc...