For the past 10 trips, our day off has been Chef Mickey's. This year I am thinking of making it a breakfast instead of dinner....that way, once we are through, we have the complete day to do with as we want...without any place we 'have' to be at a certain time.
This is what I am thinking of doing too.
I have made the dinner ADR early (right at 5, the great part about that is we were chosen as family of the day and got to open up the restaurant being escorted by none other than Mickey himself!) and late (I think it was at 8:30...we were really tired waiting for the time to eat) and a couple of times in the middle at 7.
If, by chance, we changed our mind about breakfast - I would definately do an early dinner. I just have a feeling we will be so tired from our trip that we will want to do a late breakfast, then back to the resort to relax.
For us, it depends on exactly what you have planned for your day off...we will be spending it looking at the decorations at all the resorts, and doing a bit of shopping a t DTD.
Nini
I don't have much planned for our days off. I know the girls want to go back to DTD - they are still grumbling that their last day there was cut short - LOL. And I know they will want to go back to FQ to swim - even though that pool was for "little kids" - they loved it. I also know they will want to spend some time at the POR big pool. But other than hanging out at the resorts - and me taking a little snooze... I really want to keep these days empty. OH - and since we will have the WPF&M passes, we might hit DQ? We've never been there - but I am not sure I want to waste more than an hour or so there either?
I like your idea of either a late breakfast or no ADR at all. If it's a breakfast, you will get it over with and have the rest of the day to do whatever you feel like. As for Chef Mickeys, go! We had breakfast there is 2010 and it was really good and a whole lot of fun!
Yup - This is exactly what I am thinking. Then we can go about our day and just eat where ever we land.
Did I read that right ?
This has been a Public Outcry from......
Luv Chef Mic
just sayin.......
ROFL Ruthie... But, as you can see below - there are many people who have never been to CM - I am not the only one. LOL
hear you on the ticket issue...I made a mark on which one I had to use so I ddin't mix them up...wasn't hard!
be careful "watching" the hot guys LOL
Good idea - I still think that I'd rather not mess with it all - especially the way I have our days all planned out... Most of our meals are at the end of our trip, so I just don't think it would work with our dining to do a split stay.
LOL The only "hot guy" watching I will be doing, is to make sure they aren't watching my girls.
doing what you do with the computer in a scrapbook fashion would be tough, lots of paperpiecings which take lots of time. I just do a large master sheet and then bring 3x5 index cards with the days info in my purse, nothing fancy but it works for me
Well, you don't necessarily have to do what I do... You could do it your own way, just using the 4x6 book... use some stickers, some markers - you know... Exactly what you do to make everything look fabulous... I bet you could make a very nice one with very little effort.
Well who knew that all of the hot guys stay at POR? lol Split stays really involve a lot (2 plans, key switches, packing, unpacking) it is definitely something to think about. I love your calendar! You did a really great job with it. On our August trip in 2011, I made those little mini photo album planners for everyone, and they were a huge hit!
Yes, I am not sure it is listed over on the resort thread, but I guess it's common knowledge?
I really think the resort switch is out... Once I realized I would have to pack up... Nah - tha'ts too much work for me.

Not to mention I would have to use up all of our dining and tickets... Sigh.
Thanks! See... I love those Mini Planners - they are super convenient. And because I have sooo many different bags I carry on each trip - it's so nice to be able to just pluck everything out and put it into a new bag... That MP is perfect for that.
Glad you got a lot done in your sewing room yesterday. I got a lot of housework done, which I really needed to do! Sewing is a lot more fun for sure!!
I know - I need to do the house work this weekend too. Some how our dishwasher cycles have been off all week and we can't seem to catch it up - so I have had piles of dishes on my counters all week and it's driving me crazy!
I like what you have so far for possible ADRs. I vote for breakfast at Chef Mickey. A later breakfast would probably be just the thing. Then you can head to DTD or back to your resort or do whatever the heck you want. Another choice would be to get an ADR in DTD if that's where you think you'll be that day. We like Raglan Road and WGPuck really well. It's so hard to decide when it's so far away, isn't it? And don't tell LuvChefMickey, but I've never eaten there either! I tend to stick to ones I love instead of trying new ones. But I plan to try at least two new ones every time we go, so CM is on my short list.
Have a great day!
Yes, I think that is exactly what we are going to do. I am going to try for the latest breakfast ADR that I can get at CMs. Even if we get a 10:30am adr... That still means that V has to be out of bed by 8:30. That gives her and hour to get ready and gives us an hour of travel time.
I heard that Lois
Put it on top of list
ROFL... FYI to all my friends... You probably shouldn't mention if you haven't been to CMs yet... Ruthie will haul you there herself.
I've never been to Chef Mickey's either, but we are planning on doing a late breakfast there on the next trip. I like to try different restaurants each time we go and the only one that we've done more than once for dinner is Boatwrights - just because its convenient on our "easy" day.
I feel better to know I am not the only one who hasn't been there. Unfortunately, CMs is a little inconvenient, and we usually only have one day off. It's very difficult to try and go there on an actual park day - unless you want to sacrafice park time to go? Personally, I would rather save my in park ADRs for the days we are in a specific park, and whiddle away at the resort eateries on our days off - which is slow going, because O'Hana always seems to make our "must do" list, we don't tend to make it much further than the Poly. This time we got lucky, because I specifically planned 2 days off.
Have you ever done the Hoop Dee Doo Revue? That is a ton of fun, but it does take 2 TS. Hokey, but lots of fun anyway.
I have not, but since the girls really want to do CRT this time, I think a dinner show is out. Unless FD comes out - and I have a bit of extra cash. Then, of course, there's the finding time issue - and our trip is already full, I am not sure I could even squeeze a dinner show into it.
I know what you can give me for my mini fans.....a ride from the airport in May! Done deal
Oooh - awesome! I can do that!
IHow about for your "day off" you guys try a quick serve at a hotel you haven't tried. Either lunch or dinner. Captain Cooks at the Poly is awesome. And I've heard great things about Roaring Forks' sandwiches and salads. Or Pop or AoA food courts. It would be fun to tour around a new resort and not have an ADR to meet.
This is an excellent idea too... I've been dying to see AoA... And I am hoping to talk the girls into seeing some of these resorts that we have never seen. I have also heard that AoA has one of the best food courts ever?
I am also dying to try the pasta bar at POR... After our last trip with such heavy foods - on our last day we all ordered the Freedom Pasta at LTT, and it was just so perfect - I know with the cream sauce, it's so bad for you - but after endless days of heavy food, it really hit the spot. So, I am hoping to eat a bit more pasta and a few more salads this time around.
The Pop food court is AMAZING. Possibly the best. But it was the first resort I stayed at so maybe I was just really impressed.
Hmmm... I've heard great things about AoA too? How in the world are we going to choose?
I have not been to CM either.

DH has multiple times, but it's never really fit into the schdule. I want to try it sometime...maybe in 2014
I am so relieved that I am not the only one. I am not kidding when I say that it is always first on my list - I have always wanted to try it... But what mom wants is usually the first to get bumped by the rest. LOL I agree, I think it's a very hard restaurant to schedule - unless you are staying at the Contemporary.
So many choices and great advice. I know Marianne would suggest Raglan Road. They have great entertainment and it is in DTD so if you were planning on going there anyway. The counter service idea is nice for flexibility. HDDR is lots of fun - might be a good choice for your b-day trip next year, but it does take a long time to get there since you have to take a bus once you arrive via bus to Ft. Wilderness.
I hope to try Raglan Road one day.
And HDDR has been on our list for every trip - if only it wasn't so expensive and inconvenient... I agree - I think it's been pushed off again and I'll have to try for next trip.
Chef Mickey is fun and you could plan to hit the other monorail resorts that day and/or watch the fireworks and the Water Pageant (not sure if that is the right name) from one of the monorail resorts.
I am not sure of our plan for that day... I am pretty sure we will be heading back to our resort after to rest and maybe let the girls swim for a bit.
We enjoyed Saana at AKL when we went there for lunch, had fun at Whispering Canyon (that was a few years ago) and we also like Kona Cafe for dinner (but I know you are going to O'Hana).
I'm sure what ever you decide will be yummy.
I have also wanted to try Saana too, I have heard very good things about it.
YES!!!! WCC was also on my list with CM this time... I really want to do WCC for breakfast... I just wish it wasn't such a pain to get to.
I have heard that - and I really want to go!
it is a pain to get to. We took a cab home. I wanted V to get a swim at night then bed asap!
Yes... I have heard this too - and that is why it's been vetoed once again, I just don't know when I can squish it in, and I don't want to really commit to something like this on our off day - because then we will be exhausted the next day. I purposly scheduled our off days before our early days, so that we are sure to be ready to go the next day. I also intermingled our Water Park days in there too, because they tend to be parks where you finish up early... I think. LOL I guess I better go find some water park info on here - since I haven't really read much about them. LOL
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I was able to get soooo much done in my sewing room yesterday - despite my late start.
First off - Ruthie started off my day with a phone call... It was super fun to get to talk to her! Me with my MN accent and her with her NY accent... I am horrible with accents - so I had to ask her to repeat herself every other sentance. LOL BUt it was great talking to you Ruthie! I look forward to meeting when we are in WDW.
Then, I got a text from a co-worker... I'd forgotten that I'd made an appt with her to come over and get measured for a dress I have to make her this spring... So, I had to quick tidy up the house a bit.
By the time all of this was said and done - it was almost lunch time, and I hadn't had breakfast yet... Sigh.
I spent the remainder of the day in my sewing room. I finished my current bag - it turned out really cute! I have to admit that my heart wasn't in this one when I started, but once it started coming together - I really like the look of it. It's definately a fun bag! I was also able to start the wallet... I have to do the applique on it this morning - but I hope to finish it today.
Then I have to work on my auction item... Seeing as the 3rd Thursday is THIS Thursday!!! ACK~!!!!! Can you believe it? It snuck up on me again!

And even though I really need this auction to be a bag, because I have to pay for this trip some how... It's going to have to be a small item, because I just don't have the time to do anything bigger.
I see another Crazy Days type auction on the horizon this spring...

As this is the only way I am going to get this trip paid for in time. I still have 6 months before the pay off date, but I am still feeling the crunch.
No other exciting plans this weekend - I have no idea what Josh has on his agenda??? But I try to hard to be out of my sewing room by noon on the weekends, so that I can really spend some time with the family... Seeing as they all sleep in anyways - except for me.
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Oh... Oh... Oh...
I was going to update on what we decided for dining... In no particular order...
On both of our AK days... We plan to do early breakfast ADRs at Tusker House.
Our MK days are kind of chaotic for meals... Unfortunately, there are 4 places that we must eat at MK, and LTT must be lunch... So, that kind of thows a wrench in our plans, since it will fill us up and we want to be hungry for our next meal. I was able to reconfigure, and hopefully this works a little better. One day, we are going to do the earliest lunch possible at LTT, then that evening, we will do a later dinner at CRT. Then on our other MK day, we are going to do an early breakfast at Crystal Palace, and that evening, we will do a dinner at BoG... I hope. This way, on our LTT lunch day -we can leave the park right after lunch and rest for a bit - then go back later for dinner and evening rides. Same with our other day...
On our days off... We will have late breakfasts both days - one at O'Hana and one at Chef Mickey's.
Epcot will be lunch or dinner (haven't decided yet) @ Chefs de France.
DHS will be Sci-Fi... We've never eaten here either... A little sad to not be doing 50's this time, but we will just belly up to the bar and order a PB&J malt later in the day.
So, along with our must dos (Tusker house - twice, LTT, O'Hana & Crystal Palace) - we will be trying several new places (CRT, Sci-Fi, Chefs de France, Chef Mickey's and BoG) - so I think it's a good mix of new and old.
I hope you all have a wonderful day today! And a wonderful weekend!
D~