****August, 2012!!!****

[dixiegirl76]

Finally we got our ME packet today, I was getting a bit nervous!!! Its a big thing getting that packet in our house! Well for me and our girls, I know its the same thing every year but it just makes it more real!!! But I had to switch things around, look for old "Saratoga Springs" tags(so the kids think thats the only place we're staying) and cut the date off and finadle a bit, but good thing I keep everything from previous trips!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Our last trip was a bounce back with free dining and I am really hoping that they offer the same this year. I MUST return next summer since Fantasyland is not completed. Already warned my husband! haha

Okay-- obsessing over my ADRs for the hundreth time. I need EPCOT recommendations!! I booked Garden Grill but then read some not too good reports on it and I already have two character breakfasts booked- which is more than enough. What WS restuarants do you recommend? We have eaten at Biergarten (loved and would return but have eaten there every trip) and at Marrakesh (did not enjoy our meal there.) What places do you all love? I keep trying for Le Cellier, but it's booked.

PS sorry if we have talked about this before, sometimes I skim quickly and might have missed food talk! I am going to head over to the Disney Dining page too.

Also, Nikki, thank you sooo much!!

We ate at Via Napoli last time and it was really great!

 

[dixiegirl76]

We ate at Via Napoli last time and it was really great!

And Great Sangria too!!!

 

[KarmaLady]

Finally we got our ME packet today, I was getting a bit nervous!!! Its a big thing getting that packet in our house! Well for me and our girls, I know its the same thing every year but it just makes it more real!!! But I had to switch things around, look for old "Saratoga Springs" tags(so the kids think thats the only place we're staying) and cut the date off and finadle a bit, but good thing I keep everything from previous trips!

Awesome idea! They are going to be thrilled!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I forgot to weigh in on the photopass thing. I think we may take pictures with the photopass then look at them and if there are one or two really good ones we will order just those.

However, I have a nice Nikon D3000 I plan on bringing and assuming these CMs know their cameras I trust them with my camera and will have them take a picture with that, thus hopefully, my pictures will be just as good as theirs.

I have that same camera! Love it!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I made a folder in my photobucket account for Team August tags! I've made exactly 20 so far! That's a lot of us but I know there's WAAAAY more! So if anyone else wants one, or I missed anyone, PM me! You can post here too but with the amount of posts lately, I"m afraid it will get lost in the shuffle! Just as a reminder, here is what they look like!

Also, the current list of ADRs is on the top of page 89. Here is the most updated version. If anyone has ADRs you want me to add, PM me!

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

jm106: 'Ohana - 7:50am

August 5

jm106: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 5:30pm
Parrotheadgoofy: Restaurant Marrakesh - 6:00pm

August 6

Parrotheadgoofy: Boma - 6:10pm

August 7

jm106: Tusker House - 8:25am
jm106: Boma - 7:00pm
Parrotheadgoofy: California Grill - 7:15pm

August 8

jm106: San Angel Inn - 6:00pm
Parrotheadgoofy: Raglan Road - 7:15pm

August 9

jm106: Mama Melrose (FDP) - 4:45pm
Parrotheadgoofy: Kouzzina - 5:25pm
Parrotheadgoofy: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 5:40pm

August 10

disneybarbie: Tusker House - 8:00am
jm106: Kona Cafe - 2:30pm
Parrotheadgoofy: 'Ohana - 8:25pm
jm106: Wishes Dessert Party - 9:00pm

August 11

jm106: Boma - 8:00am
Parrotheadgoofy: Le Cellier - 2:10pm
disneybarbie: Wishes Dessert Party - 9:00pm

August 12

disneybarbie: Sci-Fi Dine In - 12:15pm
LifeIsDis: Cape May Cafe - 6:20pm

August 13

LifeIsDis: Garden Grove - 6:00pm
StephLS: Liberty Tree Tavern - 6:30pm
disneybarbie: Teppan Edo - 7:00pm

August 14

StephLS: Coral Reef - 1:35pm
LifeIsDis: 'Ohana - 5:20pm
StephLS: Biergarten - 8:40pm

August 15

StephLS: Sci-Fi Dine In - 11:45am
LifeIsDis: The Plaza - 1:10pm
StephLS: Hollywood Brown Derby - 5:00pm
Halloween Baby: Mama Melrise (FDP) - 5:50pm
disneybarbie: Sanaa - 6:40pm

August 16

StephLS: Tusker House - 8:00am
LifeIsDis: Yak and Yeti - 12:30pm
StephLS: Yak and Yeti - 1:00pm
mrstomrice: Via Napoli - 4:30pm
julieanddanny: 1900 Park Fare - 5:40pm
StephLS: Jiko - 8:10pm

August 17

StephLS: Crystal Palace - 8:05am
julieanddanny: Yak and Yeti - 11:00am
LifeIsDis: Hollywood Brown Derby (Lunch with Imagineer)
NikkiLovesWDW!: Le Cellier - 2:15pm
Victoriasmom98: Paradiso 37 - 6:15pm
mrstomrice: The Turf Club Bar and Grill - 6:20pm
StephLS: 'Ohana - 6:50pm

August 18

StephLS: Kona Cafe - 7:30am
Victoriasmom98: Tusker House - 8:05am
julieanddanny: 1900 Park Fare - 9:20am
disneybarbie: Les Chefs de France - 1:00pm
StephLS: Whispering Canyon Cafe - 1:00pm
NikkiLovesWDW!: Sci Fi Dine In - 1:45pm
mrstomrice: Hollywood and Vine (FDP) - 5:05pm
LifeIsDis: Via Napoli - 5:45pm
StephLS: California Grill - 9:10pm

August 19

StephLS: Chef Mickey's - 8:45am
Halloween Baby: Biergarten - 12:00pm
LifeIsDis: Teppan Edo - 12:30pm
NikkiLovesWDW!: Tusker House - 1:15pm
StephLS: Restaurant Marrakesh - 1:15pm
mrstomrice: Cape May Cafe - 5:15pm
julieanddanny: Garden Grill - 5:20pm
Victoriasmom98: 1900 Park Fare - 5:35pm
StephLS: Le Cellier - 7:30pm


August 20

Victoriasmom98: Akershus - 8:05am
julieanddanny: 'Ohana - 9:20am
StephLS: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 12:30pm
mrstomrice: Hollywood and Vine (FDP) - 3:20pm
StephLS: T-Rex - 6:00pm
julieanddanny: Chef Mickey's - 6:25pm
NightAngelX: Crystal Palace - 6:55pm
NikkiLovesWDW!: 'Ohana - 8:15pm
RetroCOTfan: Wishes Dessert Party - 9:00pm

August 21

julieanddanny: Mama Melrose - 12:30pm
Victoriasmom98: Sci-Fi Dine In - 5:10pm
NightAngelX: Tusker House - 6:50pm
NikkiLovesWDW!: Tokyo Dining - 7:50pm
Stan Solo: Wishes Dessert Party - 9:00pm

August 22

NikkiLovesWDW!: Crystal Palace - 10:00pm
julieanddanny: Crystal Palace - 11:45pm
Victoriasmom98: Planet Hollywood - 1:00pm
taylor3297: Crystal Palace - 5:10pm
RetroCOTfan: Whispering Canyon Cafe - 5:30pm
NightAngelX: Mama Melrose- 6:50pm
Halloween Baby: Garden Grill - 6:55pm
disneybarbie: Akershus - 7:00pm

August 23

DisneyMomFanatic: Raglan Road - 1:00pm
Victoriasmom98: Whispering Canyon Cafe - 5:15pm
taylor3297: Biergarten - 5:55pm
NightAngelX: Biergarten - 6:45pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Yachtsman Steakhouse - 8:00pm

August 24

Halloween Baby: Chef Mickey's - 7:50am
RetroCOTfan: Tusker House - 8:10am
DisneyMomFanatic: Akershus - 8:30am
DisneyMomFanatic: Teppan Edo - 2:00pm
Victoriasmom98: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 5:10pm
taylor3297: Sci-Fi Dine In - 5:30pm
NightAngelX: Fulton's Crab House - 7:10pm
DisneyMomFanatic: La Hacienda - 7:30pm

August 25

taylor3297: Tusker House - 8:10am
Weluvdisny: Tusker House - 8:20am
DisneyMomFanatic: Tusker House - 8:30am
DisneyMomFanatic: Yak and Yeti - 2:00pm
4Joyces: 1900 Park Fare - 4:50pm
crostorfer: 1900 Park Fare - 6:55pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Maya Grill - 7:15pm

August 26

SenecaWolf: 'Ohana - 7:35am
Victoriasmom98: 'Ohana - 8:00am
ashmarie06: Cinderella's Royal Table - 8:05am
DisneyMomFanatic: 1900 Park Fare - 9:05am
crostorfer: Tusker House - 9:10am
DisneyMomFanatic: Tony's Town Square - 2:30pm
Queila: Via Napoli - 4:30pm
KarmaLady: Akersus - 5:20pm
GillianP1301: House of Blues - 5:30pm
cinnderly: The Plaza - 6:10pm
crostorfer: Sci-Fi Dine In - 6:25pm
ashmarie06: 'Ohana - 6:55pm
DisneyMomFanatic: 'Ohana - 8:00pm

August 27

GillianP1301: 'Ohana - 7:55am
mommys3: Akershus - 8:30am
KarmaLady: Tusker House - 10:15am
ashmarie06: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 11:05am
4Joyces: Tusker House - 12:20pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Sci-Fi Dine In - 1:30pm
mommys3: Via Napoli - 2:00pm
Nicole722: Cinderella's Royal Table - 4:45pm
crostorfer: Le Cellier - 4:45pm
Victoriasmom98: Garden Grill - 5:15pm
GillianP1301: Biergarten - 5:15pm
Queila: Kona Cafe - 5:30pm
DisneyMomFanatic: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 7:00pm
cinnderly: Sci Fi Dine In - 7:10pm
Stan Solo: 1900 Park Fare - 8:10pm
ashmarie06: Sci-Fi Dine In - 9:20pm

August 28

Victoriasmom98: Chef Mickey's - 8:10am
PoohsFan1: Kona Cafe
GillianP1301: Crystal Palace - 1:15pm
4Joyces: Akershus - 12:15pm
KarmaLady: Spirit of Aloha - 5:00pm
ashmarie06: Via Napoli - 6:50pm
Stan Solo: Hoop Dee Do Review - 7:15pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Spirit of Aloha - 8:00pm
4Joyces: Teppan Edo - 8:20pm
mommys3: Cape May Cafe - 8:35pm
netnurse31: Chef Mickey's - 9:00pm

August 29

Queila: Hollywood and Vine - 8:10am
Stan Solo: Crystal Palace - 8:20am
mommys3: Crystal Palace - 8:40am
4Joyces: 'Ohana - 9:55am
cinnderly: Coral Reef - 1:15pm
PoohsFan1: Sci Fi Dine In - 1:20pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Le Cellier - 1:30pm
netnurse31: 'Ohana - 5:20pm
KarmaLady: Crystal Palace - 6:00pm
PoohsFan1: 50's Prime Time Cafe - 6:45pm
Nicole722: 'Ohana - 6:45pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Biergarten - 7:00pm
Queila: Boatwright's - 7:15pm
Cape May Cafe - 7:20pm
4Joyces: Raglan Road - 7:30pm
SenecaWolf - Rose and Crown - 7:40pm
mommys3: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 8:15pm

August 30

GillianP1301: 1900 Park Fare - 8:20am
DisneyMomFanatic: Crystal Palace - 8:30am
Stan Solo - Segway Tour - 9:00am
ashmarie06: Crystal Palace - 9:40am
mommys3: Sci- Fi Dine In - 11:20am
KarmaLady: Cinderella's Royal Table - 11:55am
PoohsFan1: Liberty Tree Tavern - 12:30pm
4Joyces: Sci-Fi Dine In - 12:45pm
Queila: Crystal Palace - 1:20pm
DisneyMomFanatic: Liberty Tree Tavern - 1:55pm
netnurse31: Teppan Edo - 3:40pm
mommys3: Hollywood and Vine - 4:40pm
cinnderly: Tusker House - 4:55pm
Nicole722: Le Cellier - 5:15pm
Stan Solo: Biergarten - 6:40pm
crostorfer: 'Ohana - 7:50pm
netnurse31: Wishes Dessert Party - 9:00pm

August 31

GillianP1301: Hollywood and Vine - 8:20am
Nicole722: Chef Mickey's - 9:15am
ashmarie06: Kona - 10:00am
netnurse31: Sci Fi Dine In - 11:20am
PoohsFan1: Tusker House - 1:40pm
GillianP1301: Sci-Fi Dine In - 4:00pm
Queila: Cape May Cafe - 5:10pm
mommys3: 'Ohana - 5:15pm
cinnderly: Les Chefs de France - 6:30pm
netnurse31: Crystal Palace - 7:20pm
PoohsFan1: California Grill - 7:30pm
crostorfer: La Hacienda de San Angel - 7:30pm

September 1

GillianP1301: Tusker House - 8:05am
cinnderly: Chef Mickey's - 8:25am
Queila: Tokyo Dining - 1:20pm
mommys3: Kona Cafe - 2:30pm
GillianP1301: Rainforest Cafe - 4:30pm
cinnderly: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 6:30pm
netnurse31: 50s Prime Time Cafe - 7:40pm
4Joyces: Chef Mickey's - 7:40om

September 2

cinnderly: 'Ohana - 8:55am
GillianP1301: Liberty Tree Tavern - 4:20pm
netnurse31: Coral Reef - 4:20pm
Queila: Cinderella's Royal Table - 8:35pm

September 3

GillianP1301: Cape May Cafe - 7:55am
netnurse31: 1900 Park Fare - 5:00pm

 

[jamnich314]

We will be there from Aug 24-Sept 3. From what I can collect:

1) RD is important
2) Crowds aren't too bad the last week of Aug
3) It will be HOT

Anybody ever gone the last week of Aug before? We are planning on doing RD every morning so that won't be an issue. Leave around lunch, back around 5 or 6 for dinner. We just had a week of 100 degree weather here so low 90s with high humidity won't kill us. We usually go the first week or two of June or during Spring Break in March/April so it sounds like the crowds we will see will actually be less than we are used to...?

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

taylor3297: Tusker House - 8:10am
Weluvdisny: Tusker House - 8:20am
DisneyMomFanatic: Tusker House - 8:30am

Looks like we will all be partaking of the great buffet that is Tusker House during the same time frame on the same day. Do you also have the tags for Team August? I will have mine and if you all have yours, I will be sure to say hi if I see your tags.

 

[elaine amj]

Hi everyone!
This will be the first trip my husband and I have ever made to WDW without the kids! Decided it would be a perfect way to spend our 16th wedding anniversary, just hope it's not too crazy hot.
Hope to see some of you in 50 days!!!

Woohoo - a kid-free WDW trip! That's my dream....but don't know if I would be able to go through with it LOL!

Now to decide whether or not to bring a stroller. It will be our first time without one with the kids. We are so used to having somewhere to put things when we ride, I think I will be lost without it. I think I would rather have it than find out we want it...Dh disagrees. Thoughts?

I travelled with another family with a stroller. It was certainly nice - but there is a lot of freedom without a stroller. Weaving through crowds is MUCH better without a stroller. Less backtracking to get it from parking. You just move so much faster. We started our trip with a full bag every day(I had a bag packing list ) - by the end, we went to the parks with pretty much nothing extra. This trip, I'm going for minimalist packing, esp. with the heat.

Sounds like a great day planned. I was thinking about getting the PhotoPass +, but am not sure it is worth the money, even at the discounted pre-purchase price.

I'm with you on that one. I keep looking at it and adding it to my cart, then I back off. I can't make myself pay that much money for it.

i like the idea of the photo pass + but since hubby got the new camera I'll have a hard time buying it. Who know though, I may change my mind when the kids go with us again. I get a good laugh because I will have been there at least 3 times before they go back. Mean mom--huh?

That's why I'm organizing a share on Facebook. Just makes it so much more affordable. My last trip, I only spent about $30, which was awesome. Plus, the share leader and I hit it off and we spent half our trip together - our kids had a blast hanging out together.

I was fortunate as there was no one else in the share that I'm in that was interested in the plus part. So, I am able to be part of the share, but I did pay $70 extra for the plus part. I have a voucher that I am taking to DTD the first night to exchange for the card. I just don't see how more than one family could be on the plus at the same time. I think it's a wonderful value as I always buy the ride photos and dinner photos. It's so worth it to me. I even plan on doing it next year!

I can see a Photopass+ share working - you do get 48 hours to add ride photos to the card. It would take a little more work though. I can see it working better if vacation dates work out perfectly and the card just gets handed along during the 14 day window. I only want it myself for 5/6 days so another family or 2 could use the other days.

I figure I'll organize a conventional Photopass share to cover the regular Photopass and then just upgrade to Photopass+ for myself and hope another family or 2 whose dates work can also share in the upgrade costs.

I loved my Photopass pics last trip - all our other vacations, no one will ever know I was there as I take all the pics.

 

[elaine amj]

About what time do you think you'll be checking in and what do you normally do first? Park? Pool? Shop? Eat?

We always fly in the night before so we start off with a full RD day. We take the 7:30pm flight in and arrive in MCO about 10pm. (Check in about 11:30/12am) This means we can work all day and leave about 5pm for the airport. Otherwise we would have to use a precious vacation day as a travel day.

Is anyone else sad that Test Track will be down while we're there? DH is kinda upset about it. When we watched those videos that was one he really wanted to go on. Oh well....NEXT TIME!

We're bummed. It's DS' and DH's fave ride. Oh well - this trip is all about the WATERPARKS! Only 6 park days so those will be packed.

 

[taylor3297]

taylor3297: Tusker House - 8:10am
Weluvdisny: Tusker House - 8:20am
DisneyMomFanatic: Tusker House - 8:30am

Looks like we will all be partaking of the great buffet that is Tusker House during the same time frame on the same day. Do you also have the tags for Team August? I will have mine and if you all have yours, I will be sure to say hi if I see your tags.

I should have my tag on my purse. If not, I will have a green DIS button on my black purse. We will be easy to spot. I am short and round, Dh is a total computer geek (he will just be missing a pocket protector), dd 9 and ds 5.
If I new how to insert a picture I would.

 

[mrstomrice]

About what time do you think you'll be checking in and what do you normally do first? Park? Pool? Shop? Eat?

My answer:
We plan on hangin out at Pop for a little while, having lunch at AoA. Then we're hopping the Epcot bus for dinner at TeppanEdo and Illuminations! A perfect end to the start of our awesome week!!

We will be checking in to SSR around 1:45-2:00, dropping off our bags, then heading to MK for 4:30 appointments at Harmony Barbershop for cuts and mickey heads, grab a dole whip, then head back to relax and prepare for the whole week

 

[elaine amj]

Nikki: Here are my ADRs. Thanks so much for putting that list together - it is fabulous! I tried to format mine so that it's as little work for you as possible. I thoroughly appreciate all your work on this. Hopefully some of us on Team August can get some Dismeets together

Aug 23
elaine amj: T-Rex - 6:45pm
Aug 25
elaine amj: Le Cellier - 11:30am
elaine amj: Teppan Edo - 6:50pm
Aug 28
elaine amj: Tusker House - 8:15am
elaine amj: Boma - 5:30pm
Aug 29
elaine amj: Ohana - 5:00pm
Aug 30
elaine amj: Le Chefs de France - 12:00pm
elaine amj: Garden Grill - 6:30pm
Aug 31
elaine amj: 50s Prime Time - 2:00pm
Sept 1
elaine amj: Ohana - 6:50pm
Sept 2
elaine amj: CRT - 10:20am
elaine amj: 1900 Park Fare - 5:00pm

 

[julieanddanny]

QOTD: we arrive at MCO at 4pmish. We will take ME to AoA and check out our room, eat in the food court and explore the resort. We'll be hitting RD at the next morning's EMH at MK.

I'll take a MickeyHead! My name is Julie 'surprise!' I'm a bit shy so I'm not sure yet if I'll actually use it...

And WE GOT MICKEY MAIL! Our ME tags came yesterday. It's getting soooooo close!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

I should have my tag on my purse. If not, I will have a green DIS button on my black purse. We will be easy to spot. I am short and round, Dh is a total computer geek (he will just be missing a pocket protector), dd 9 and ds 5.
If I new how to insert a picture I would.

WOW, that is kindof how I would describe me and my hubby as well. I am very pooh-shaped and my hubby is 6 feet tall and a total computer geek. We have a 13 year old son who is as tall as me and a not quite 10yr old daughter who has very curly dirty blonde hair (the more humid, the curlier it gets). I will have my team august tag on the back pack my DH will be carrying. hope to see you there!

 

[ashmarie06]

We land at MCO around 230. We are checking in and heading straight to Epcot. I figured we would have lunch in Norway or at Sunshine Seasons, and then start exploring the world showcase. Going to skip illuminations and either go back to the resort, and eat if hungry or head to dtd for some wpe. If we aren't hungry maybe a late night swim! Big day the next day with our 8am CRT ressie

 

[RetroCOTfan]

About what time do you think you'll be checking in and what do you normally do first? Park? Pool? Shop? Eat?

We land about 2:30 p.m., so we plan on checking in, making a grocery run, heading to DTD to pickup the Photopass+ card and get supper, and then back to the resort to explore a bit and an "early" bedtime to be up early for the MK!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Nikki: Here are my ADRs. Thanks so much for putting that list together - it is fabulous! I tried to format mine so that it's as little work for you as possible. I thoroughly appreciate all your work on this. Hopefully some of us on Team August can get some Dismeets together

Aug 23
elaine amj: T-Rex - 6:45pm
Aug 25
elaine amj: Le Cellier - 11:30am
elaine amj: Teppan Edo - 6:50pm
Aug 28
elaine amj: Tusker House - 8:15am
elaine amj: Boma - 5:30pm
Aug 29
elaine amj: Ohana - 5:00pm
Aug 30
elaine amj: Le Chefs de France - 12:00pm
elaine amj: Garden Grill - 6:30pm
Aug 31
elaine amj: 50s Prime Time - 2:00pm
Sept 1
elaine amj: Ohana - 6:50pm
Sept 2
elaine amj: CRT - 10:20am
elaine amj: 1900 Park Fare - 5:00pm

Added!

 

[NightAngelX]

I have that same camera! Love it!

Me too! I got it for Christmas a few years ago and I'm still learning on it. I mainly use the preset settings instead of messing with manual. I need to practice fireworks somehow...lol I know those will look better in manual, especially if I have my tripod (which i do have a little travel tripod).

Meanwhile if we're not too tired and its not too late when we arrive we may hit DTD to do some pre park shopping. I really want minnie ears but they only have girls online in what I like. They only have one pair of women's and their hot pink which is fine I just really wanted classic black with red bow. Oh well...

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Me too! I got it for Christmas a few years ago and I'm still learning on it. I mainly use the preset settings instead of messing with manual. I need to practice fireworks somehow...lol I know those will look better in manual, especially if I have my tripod (which i do have a little travel tripod).

Meanwhile if we're not too tired and its not too late when we arrive we may hit DTD to do some pre park shopping. I really want minnie ears but they only have girls online in what I like. They only have one pair of women's and their hot pink which is fine I just really wanted classic black with red bow. Oh well...

I actually got a "Nikon d3000 for dummies" book an was able to figure a few things out for one trip but since then forgo pretty much everything! I plan to bust that book out soon so I'm ready!