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

[SoNotAPrincess]

I can't believe how soon your trip for Jaden's birthday is coming up!!!

A solo trip - that's so exciting!!! Of COURSE you're going to stay in a Royal Princess room! I wouldn't expect anything less!!

Your dining plans sound great - definitely a bunch of fun restaurants! Those breakfasts at Kona really do lurk in your dreams for months afterwards, don't they?? Mmmm..pancakes and Tonga Toast!

I know! It's always fun to got with someone who's never been before...especially a child!

I know, right? I've been wanting to stay in a princess room since I heard about them. It's going to be glorious!

Yes, indeed...so much good food! I can't wait for the pancakes!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Jaden's birthday plans sound awesome!
Love the solo trip plans, I've always wanted to do a few days solo!
Hmm bad things about Tony's? Interesting... I haven't heard those things and my fam ate there in September and all 6 of us loved it! Oh well, I guess we caught them on a good day! lol

I'm so glad I get to be the one to give Jaden her first Disney day! It's hard to believe that she's lived so close her whole life and has never been.

I am excited to go solo for a few days...I just have to take them one day at time instead of thinking of them all together like I've been doing.

Y'know, I always enjoyed Tony's, too, but lately it seems like I've been hearing more and more negative reviews. It's kinda sad because I really like it! Maybe it's just a bad spell and they'll get their act together soon. Fingers crossed!

 

[marDgreen88]

You know, the best part about Disney is that it's really not weird to do things by yourself! I'm sure the characters are used to meeting solo people and don't think it's weird at all!

Your plans sound great! I think I mentioned this before but the only negative thing about Yak and Yeti when I went (which was almost 2 years ago now) was the waiter making it clear that we needed to tip him. It could have been just the waiter though, and everything else was great. The food is delicious.

I know Tony's has gotten some bad reviews lately but when I went for lunch I had a flatbread, and it was SO GOOD. And the tiramisu for dessert was AAAAAMAAAAZING.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

You know, the best part about Disney is that it's really not weird to do things by yourself! I'm sure the characters are used to meeting solo people and don't think it's weird at all!

Your plans sound great! I think I mentioned this before but the only negative thing about Yak and Yeti when I went (which was almost 2 years ago now) was the waiter making it clear that we needed to tip him. It could have been just the waiter though, and everything else was great. The food is delicious.

I know Tony's has gotten some bad reviews lately but when I went for lunch I had a flatbread, and it was SO GOOD. And the tiramisu for dessert was AAAAAMAAAAZING.

You're right...I've never felt odd or out of place at Disney by myself. I'm just being goofy!

It's discouraging that the waiter was like that at Yak & Yeti; hopefully, he's been re-trained, or I'll get a different server. The food sounds really good though!

I'm still considering changing something to add Tony's because I've always enjoyed it, too. With faith, trust and pixie dust, they'll have gotten their ac together!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Jadens' Practically Perfect Princess Palooza was a rousing success and one of the best days I've ever had at Disney! Click here for the trip report: "Jaden's Practically Perfect Princess Palooza!"

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I have a not-so-happy real-life update. My knee (which has featured prominently in my recent TRs) has finally "blown" for lack of a better word. Which means that the repair surgery I was trying to put off 'til summer is being moved up considerably. Like this month.

On the upside, I'll be out of pain, mobile, and fully recovered well in advance of our October trip!

The downside, of course, is that my solo trip is officially off the calendar. I'm beyond bummed, but it simply cannot happen.

My new words to live by: BUY TRIP INSURANCE...I'm SO glad I did!

Up next: Click here for 180-day Window Success!

 

[Joyciemc]

Sorry to hear about your knee and what that means for the solo trip

But glad you will be better for October!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'm sorry to hear about your knee, and that you won't be able to take your solo trip! But think of how much better you'll be feeling in October!

TRIP INSURANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER. I learned that lesson too after my surgery! I never ever book a trip without it! I'm glad you had it on your trip!

 

[marDgreen88]

I'm so sorry to hear about your solo trip being cancelled! But as much as we love Disney, health does need to come first (so we can enjoy Disney for as long as possible! ) I hope your surgery goes well and I'm glad that it won't affect your October trip!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Sorry to hear about your knee and what that means for the solo trip

But glad you will be better for October!

I'm sorry to hear about your knee, and that you won't be able to take your solo trip! But think of how much better you'll be feeling in October!

TRIP INSURANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER. I learned that lesson too after my surgery! I never ever book a trip without it! I'm glad you had it on your trip!

I'm so sorry to hear about your solo trip being cancelled! But as much as we love Disney, health does need to come first (so we can enjoy Disney for as long as possible! ) I hope your surgery goes well and I'm glad that it won't affect your October trip!

Thanks, guys!

I'm not looking forward to the surgery...or rather, to the rehab...which is why I was trying to delay it until summer. The knee, however, has it's own mind!

BUT!

I'm definitely a silver-lining girl, and I'm looking forward to walking around WDW in October!!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

So, after a long holding pattern during which I spent way too much time looking at my spreadsheet and rearranging ADRs and park days only to move them back the way the were, our 180-day window opened yesterday.

Just in time, too...I was thisclose to losing my mind!

Two hours online and one thirty-minute phone call later, our ADRs were made, and we got everything we wanted!

I called to share my limitless joy with my sister and got a less than enthusiastic "Oh, good. That's great."

Good?

Great?

At the very least, it's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious to infinity and beyond!!!

Up Next: Click here for "Why Can't Things Just Stay the Same?"

 

[teekathepony]

YAY for getting all your ADRs! Gotta love it when everything works out!

 

[marDgreen88]

Hooray! That's great news. It makes the trip seem that much more real to me when I make ADRs so I bet you're really excited!

 

[PirateKate]

I'm sorry to hear about your knee. That solo trip staying in a Royal room sounded awesome. I guess it will be good to have it done with though, and not hanging over your head any more.

Congrats on getting all the ADRs you wanted. It's always kind of funny when people don't realize exactly how big a deal ADRs are.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I’m back!

I know it’s exciting, but, please, a standing ovation at your PCs? That’s not necessary! No, really, thank you, but sit down!

OK, now that order has been restored (it has been restored, right?), obviously my absence from the Dis and this PTR has been considerably longer than I anticipated. Knee surgery is now on my list of the top 10 things I wish I’d never experienced, and rehabbing the knee is on my top 1 list of things I wish I’d never experienced. Not fun. ‘Nuff said.

Now on to what you’re really interested in…Disney!

I solemnly vow that I will never again try to plan a 10-day WDW trip for 15 people a year in advance while chronicling it on the Internet.

Cross my heart and hope to die.

During my recuperation, the trip pretty much fell apart; so it was a good thing I was on heavy-duty pain medication. Otherwise, there would have been a debacle of monumental proportions. There were a lot of mitigating circumstances, none of which I’ll bore you with.

Suffice to say that as I was going through the cancellation process for resorts and ADRs, I was bummed. I may have been dramatic about it. There was probably extreme pouting.

I am so glad that I had fronted everyone’s deposits and bought trip insurance. I know I said it before when my solo trip was canceled, but please, for the love of Heaven, buy trip insurance!

Lucky for me, Gabriel was by my side during the drama, urging me in the sweetest way possible to suck it up and move on. We decided to do a long weekend for my birthday in October and stay at YC (my first time to stay there), so that softened the blow a bit. There won’t be a TR for that trip because he gets annoyed with me taking photos of our food and trying to capture every single moment in photos. Since he’s sweet enough to cater to my Disney addiction, I figure it’s the very least I can do!

But all is not lost!

Even though the grand family reunion won’t happen, my brother and his family are still in. There was no way they could disappoint Brianna, who is completely hopped up on goofers about going to Disney. To hear her tell it, she’s the last child on the planet who hasn’t met The Main Mouse in person. The other big change is the dates, from October to December 24 – January 3.

That’s right, we’re doin’ Disney at Christmas!

Which explains the change to the title of this PTR.

So the gang has whittled down to five, and we’re all staying at POR in princess rooms. I have such a soft spot for POR, and I’m really looking forward to staying there again. My brother and his family are coming from Indiana (where it gets seriously cold), so I’m hoping we’ll have 10 days of warm weather and sunshine for them.

But honestly, as funderful as any WDW trip is, I’m not all that excited about the dates. I love Christmas. I love Disney. I’ve enjoyed all that Disney offers at Christmastime but never during “that week”. You know which week, one of the busiest of the entire year for Disney.

I hate dealing with the maddening crowds, which is why I like to take advantage of “slow” weeks. Needless to say, I’ll be making use of every trip planning tool I can get my hands on in order to make this trip a good one.

The first challenge will be ADRs. Our window opens on June 27th, and I’m in the process of compiling top choices and alternates. So, if you’re still along for the somewhat bumpy ride, stay tuned!!

Up Next: Click here for "Christmas ADR Success!"

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Welcome back!!!! I hope your knee is feeling better each day!!

I'm sorry to hear that your big family plans fell apart! But thank goodness you got trip insurance! Believe me, I know how important that is to get!!!

I think you guys are going to have a totally magical time during Christmas week!!! Definitely plan ahead, but don't let the thoughts of crowds stress you out! How fun is that going to be to be in the happiest place on earth actually DURING the holidays??

 

[marDgreen88]

YOU'RE BACK!!!

So sorry about your knee but I hope everything is healing well!

I bet you can still have a wonderful time during Christmas week! I bet if you went early enough to the parks and took advantage of any and all EMH, you'd still have a wonderful time!

 

[teekathepony]

Heyyyy welcome back!
Sorry to hear about your big family plans. I also know the value of trip insurance. I'm along for the rest of the ride, however bumpy it may be!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Welcome back!!!! I hope your knee is feeling better each day!!

I'm sorry to hear that your big family plans fell apart! But thank goodness you got trip insurance! Believe me, I know how important that is to get!!!

I think you guys are going to have a totally magical time during Christmas week!!! Definitely plan ahead, but don't let the thoughts of crowds stress you out! How fun is that going to be to be in the happiest place on earth actually DURING the holidays??

Thank you...I'm so glad you're still here!

I'm sure it will be magical, and I'm definitely excited about waking up on Christmas morning AT DISNEY! My family is counting on me to lead them through the merry madness, so it's a good thing I actually like planning!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

YOU'RE BACK!!!

So sorry about your knee but I hope everything is healing well!

I bet you can still have a wonderful time during Christmas week! I bet if you went early enough to the parks and took advantage of any and all EMH, you'd still have a wonderful time!

YAY! You're still here!!

I KNOW we can have a wonderful time, but the pressure is on me to make it memorable for good reasons and NOT for the crowds and craziness. I'm doing my "little engine that could" imitation...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!