Before the Shenanigans: A Christmas 2012 PTR (TR Link Posted 1/12/13!)

[SoNotAPrincess]

The Divas have left the building! We had so much fun...I only wish it could've been a week instead of a weekend. Sigh. We are trying to figure out when we can do it again and stay longer...there's much too much to do, and staying for a weekend, although fantabulous, is a little like a tease, too.

I will try to get the first installment of the TR up tonight or tomorrow. Here's a little teaser for ya...

(Sorry for the quality of the last photo...it was very dark, and when I lightened it, it got a little grainy.)

Now off to catch up on my subscribed PTRs and TRs!

Up next: Click here for the link to the Divalicious World Excursion trip report!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Welcome back!!! I'm glad you guys had a good time! Can't wait to hear all about it!!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Okey doke...the first installment of the Divas' TR is up and can be accessed here: A Divalicious World Excursion!.

I figured it would be easier to start a thread on the TR board rather than making this thread a TR within a PTR.



Up next: Click here for "The Ever-changing, Never Stable Trip"

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Hi, y'all! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday...personally, I morph into a four year old at Christmas (oooh, lights!). Happy almost New Year!

It's been a while since my last update, and, SURPRISE, things have changed. To begin with, the Princess Jaden's Party in February has whittled down to just me and her; and I'm actually OK with it. Even using an ECV on park days, my knee took such a beating during the Divas World Excursion that I'm not quite up to another weekend so soon. I changed the BBB ressie from MK to DTD, and we'll eat lunch at Rain Forest Cafe, which, lets face it, is practically a theme park to a kid who doesn't go to Disney very often.

I found out that everyone else was bailing out on Christmas Day, and I expected Jaden to be completely bummed, but she wasn't. As long as she gets to become a princess, she's good to go. Whew!

So, we're down to our BIG DISNEY EXTRAVAGANZA in October, and there's a potential change for that, too.

That's a lot of changes, even for me...and I'm the Queen of Planet Change!

Anyhoo, Erica took a Disney Cruise brochure home with her, and her daddy now thinks this would be an AWESOME vacation. No driving, no walking all day in parks, and Disney, too? He's sold. But the kids don't just want to do a cruise, so now we're looking at a land 'n sea package.

And they're counting on me to make all this happen.

Honestly, I brought this on myself!

I haven't made any reservation changes yet, but I just about have all the pricing figured out.

Because I'm that good.

Just to stoke the fire a bit, I rode out to the port (about 20 minutes from my house) and got some pictures of the Dream, which I promptly emailed and posted on facebook.

And I'll share them here, too!

Sooooooo, I think I know how this is all gonna shake out, but nothing is carved in stone yet; so stay tuned, and we'll all be surprised together!

Up next: Click here for Not an Update just a Great Photo

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Lots of changes!!! But everything still sounds great!! I think the land and sea package really does sound like the best of both worlds! How fun would a Disney cruise be??!?!?!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

No trip planning update today...I just wanted to share a photo. My young cousin and her BF went to MK yesterday, and the park closed because it was at capacity. She said it was INSANE but also a ton of fun. Keep in mind that she's 14! She texted me this picture of them on Splash, and I have to admit it sure looks like fun even though it was 50 degrees and they got soaked!

Up next: Click here for the "The Final Answer"

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Lots of changes!!! But everything still sounds great!! I think the land and sea package really does sound like the best of both worlds! How fun would a Disney cruise be??!?!?!

I reallyreallyreally hope we can make it happen...I've been wanting to do a Disney cruise for a long time. My friends keep going and taunting me when they get back, and I want to taunt someone, too! If not this year, then next year for SURE.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Happy New Year everyone! It's grand knowing that the year in which I'll be together in Disney with all my favorite people is finally HERE!

So, here's the shake-down breakdown on the trip.

The final answer.

Lock it in.

No more lifelines.

This is IT.

Not everyone has the bucks to add a cruise to the 2012 trip; and we're all pretty hopped up on goofers about a whole week on property, so the cruise is being shelved for now. There are high hopes that it will surface as a 2013 extravaganza. Fingers crossed!

Now that it's carved in stone, I can start (or re-start) the ADR wishlist, which is pretty long, as you can imagine with a group this size.


Up next: Click here for Real Life Update #1

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Welcome to my first real-life update...I know, exciting, right?

I've been away from the Dis for a while because I was in the hospital for nine days. I was released today, and it feels good to be getting back into the swing of things. I have a lot (a lot) of catching up to do on my subscribed threads, which I'll be doing over the next few days.

Without going into gory detail, I was extremely dehydrated, had a a massive infection, and my kidneys were hours from shutting down on me when I went to the ER. Needless to say, it hasn't been a fun few days...needles, tests, meds, oh my! I have a ways to go to full recovery, but I will get there, and that's the most important thing.

There's no impact on our October trip, as I have more than enough time to be stronger and better than ever by then, but Jaden's princess day will have to be postponed a month or so. I don't have the energy to stay awake through Tangled right now, much less do a day at MK with an energetic nine year old!

So, that's it...hopefully the last real life update like this! I hope everyone else is fit as a fiddle and feeling fine!

Up Next: Click here for "Photo Alert!"

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that you were in the hospital!! I hope that you're feeling much better soon!

 

[Joyciemc]

Booo for being sick! Very glad to hear that you are feeling better and can continue on with planning!!

 

[oboedm]

Signing on! Still need to read through the last few pages, but I am looking forward to reading more! I am going with a big group in 2013, so I will be following your plans and your TR closely! =)

 

[aboveH20]

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea???

The Skyway???

You're bringing back VERY fond memories of trips past.

But that's not why I'm posting. I just have to say that I your name -- SoNotAPrincess. I smile every time I see it.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that you were in the hospital!! I hope that you're feeling much better soon!

Thank you! I'm progressing MUCH faster than the docs thought I would, so I feel very blessed to have been in pretty good health before all this happened!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Booo for being sick! Very glad to hear that you are feeling better and can continue on with planning!!

Thanks! Nothing shall stand in a true Disney planner's way for long...I'm back at it full force!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Signing on! Still need to read through the last few pages, but I am looking forward to reading more! I am going with a big group in 2013, so I will be following your plans and your TR closely! =)

Glad you're here! Doing Disney as a grand gathering is tons of fun...you're in for a rare treat!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea???

The Skyway???

You're bringing back VERY fond memories of trips past.

But that's not why I'm posting. I just have to say that I your name -- SoNotAPrincess. I smile every time I see it.

Thanks for posting! I think I miss the Skyway most of all...ahh, memories!

Thank you...I'm glad it makes you smile (it does me, too)!!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

For anyone who's interested, I added some new photos to the Divalicious World Excursion TR. Erica finally got me "some" of her pictures!

I'm hoping to post my first pass at our ADRs for October tomorrow...I need input, so don't spare the comments on my choices. Reviews welcome!

Up Next: Click here for "ADRs - Take 1"

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

OK, below is my first pass at ADRs for the October Extravaganza of Disney Awesomeness. Things to keep in mind: 1) park calendars aren't out yet (or if they are, I couldn't find 'em), so depending on EMH, park days will change, thus changing everything; 2) it feels a little "character dining" heavy to me, which is good for the kids, but the adults may start to rebel eventually; 3) there are restaurant requests that have not been met this go 'round, and depending on the level of pouting, changes may have to made to accommodate the whiners.

Please don't hesitate to offer input, especially if you had a particular good or bad experience at a given place!! All comments are welcomed and appreciated!

Up Next: Click here for "A Few Minor ADR Changes"

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Your dining plans really do look great!! The only suggestion I have, and if you're really interested in going there, I so don't want to talk you out of it, is considering swapping out Narcoosees for somewhere else (I'd suggest Citricos if you want to stay in that area). Narcoosees was really the only Signature restaurant that we were disappointed by, the atmosphere really is wonderful, but the food wasn't as great as we were hoping.

We LOVED Artist Point though, I'm happy to see it on your list!!