Boo to you Oct 24th-30th...Booked 78 days out!

[ginerjenny]

So, we are doing a spur of the moment trip to Disney. Is it sad that "spur of the moment" for me is over 2 months away?? LOL

Will I have enough time to plan everything?

The ink on my vacation time card isn't even dry or approved officially but I have faith it will be. Cross your fingers!

So a little about us. I'm Jen. My husband Kevin will be coming as well as the two kids. We went last August in the HOT summer heat and loved Disney! It was our first trip to Disney together as a family and we couldn't wait to go back. Last year we stayed at wilderness lodge.

who wouldn't want to stay at the lodge and wake up to this each morning

Where would we stay this year??

Well, we decided this would be a "budget" trip and we wouldn't spend as much as we did last year at WL. So we thought we would try POP or maybe All Star movies.

Then I learned All star movies has only full size beds?? Really?

We will be attending during the Halloween party and Epcot food and wine festival. Both are new experiences for us. FREE DINING!!! Can it get any better...well it could if we didn't stay at POP or Movies which is quick service only....

What to do What to do...


Stay tuned to find out where we are staying.

 

[ginerjenny]

Saving a spot to add links later

 

[ginerjenny]

76 days til the magic!!

So, we really debated about where to stay. We wanted this to be a budget vacation and we were going during free dining so it shouldn't be too hard right? But this IS disney.

Anyway we really considered POP cause we have heard the best about them as far as values go. Then I considered All Star movies cause I think my Kids would really get a kick out of giant Woody and all those fun characters.

But I wanted to upgrade from the quick service (free) to regular dining. So, I did that and was ok with the price.

Next I thought about how at moderates you get regular dining free. I did a search and the cheapest moderate was Coronado springs. With adding the regular dining it was only $200 more for the week for me to stay at a moderate vs a value. I think that is 200 well spent. Plus I think I would be grouchy sleeping in a full size bed all week vs a queen.

The Coronado is not a resort I've ever considered before but the price was right. I've looked up a few things about it online and it looks pretty. So we shall see!

 

[ginerjenny]

Bookings on our last vacation took place very early. I think at around 110 days! LOL So booking this time had me nervous. Would be be able to get any of our favorites??? This spur of the moment thing is for the birds!


Day 1 -Ohana's
So our arrival day is October 24th. We will be in Magic Kingdom that day.
We have dinner reservations as Ohanas. I couldn't not get a decent time there and our reservation is currently at 930PM. I'm hoping we will all be running on adrenaline and not be too tired. I'm a night owl anyway but the kids are not so much. We went to Ohanas last year and it was our favorite meal of the entire stay!

Day 2- Biergarten at normal dinner time!
Spending the day in Epcot. For lunch we will graze on Food and wine festival foods. The festival is new for us and so is Biergarten. We have never ate there before so trying something new.

Day 3 - Animal Kingdom...Tuskar house at 920
Last year I was able to get one for 800 before the park opened. This year I figure it doesn't matter much. There are extra magic hours that day anyway. So again this is a repeat of last year but we liked it.
Yak and Yeti for lunch- I know a lot of people have mixed reviews on this but I loved it.
We only use a day in this park and then go to Downtown disney for the evening.

Day 4- Hollywood studios.
I never feel like there is anything good to eat here. We are going to eat lunch at Starring rolls or maybe abc for the kids. Then We made reservations that night at Boma around 5pm. We have never ate here before so branching out. Plus I thought it would give us a chance to see the Animal kingdom lodge.

Day 5- Back to Magic Kingdom Finally! I could stay there most of the days and be just fine and happy!
We are going to the Wilderness lodge this day to the whispering canyon cafe. We never made it there when we stayed at WL last year. Planning on doing lunch there and a qs later in the park for dinner. Hopefully something will be open. We are doing the Mickeys not so scary halloween parade that night.

Day 6- Epcot
We are doing akershus for dinner. We did this last year too. My daughter will love the princesses. I'm sure she would be just as happy meeting them in the parks but oh well. I liked the mushroom ravioli thing they have. Mmmmmmmmmmm

Day 7- Magic Kingdom...going home day


So, we haven't decided on our quick service's yet but what do you recommend? For table service we are trying 3 new ones and sticking with 3 old ones. Is it so boring to stick with 3 old ones?! lol I dont want to give up ohanas for anything. Loved that. The other I could give up if something else was recommended.

 

[ginerjenny]

OMG I just totally changed our plans to have my sisters family come with us. So now instead of a party of 4 we are a party of 8. This will be a trip of a lifetime with our family like this. We have never done anything like this with all 8 of us. I'm super excited!!! I can't wait. This really puts a wrench in my plan and i'm not sure where to go from here. Lots of new plans to make!

 

[ginerjenny]

So a little about my family

I'm Jen!
My Favorite park is Magic Kingdom
Favorite character is Minnie mouse!

My husband is Kevin
Favorite park is Magic Kingdom/epcot I dont think he can decide
Favorite character Donald

My son is 6 and his favorite park is magic kingdom
He loves stitch

My daughter is 9 and her favorite park is magic kingdom
Favorite character is Little mermaid!!



We are now going with my sister and her long time boyfriend and their two kids! they have never been so they don't have a favorite park! Hope they love Magic Kingdom!

My two nieces are ages 7 and 10. My one niece will be turning 11 on the trip there! What a wonderful birthday for her!!!

 

[ginerjenny]

So, of course now that my sisters family is coming I had to do some scrambling to change all my ADR's!! Did I mention that there are only 73 days til the vacation of a lifetime!!?

Arrival day! Magic Kingdom of course. I really love to start and end with magic Kingdom!
So far no dining plans this day but we will get a quick service that night. Any suggestions?

Day 2 -epcot. We are planning to use either a few snack credits or a quick service at food and wine festival for dinner but I've never been during food and wine festival. Is this a good idea for 4 children??
Dinner: adrs at biergarten (how do you say this) at 5:40

Day 3 -Hollywood studios
I know I want starring rolls for lunch for that turkey sandwich they have! mmm Everybody else can eat here for a quick service or go to abc
This is also my nieces 11th birthday!
I was able to score Ohanas for 8 people at 5:15pm. I'm so excited about this reservation but I think it will mean missing fantasmic. We went to that last year but my sisters family didn't go. I think they will be ok if they do miss it because I'm sure going with our family they will be on disney overload at this point! Do you think this is a good plan for the day with it being my nieces birthday?

Day 4-Oct 27th
Animal kingdom
Tuskar house at 10:15 I kinda like getting there at opening but I figure this could be brunch? No quick service that day?
Boma at 6:10pm

Day 5.
Magic Kingdom
Whispering canyon cafe at 1:10 pm
Halloween party that night for my family. My sister isn't sure if they want to spend the money on it yet. I agree its kinda expensive but I want to go cause i don't know if we will ever go during that time frame again.

Mainly going to see the wilderness lodge again and to show it to my sister.

Day 6 Epcot again
Akersus at 6:25 pm. Maybe we can do downtown disney sometime this day...I don't know if we should do it in the morning or afternoon or what. Epcot is not my favorite park but I'm giving it another chance. Last year we went in August and it was so hot and muggy on our epcot days I just wanted to leave or stay indoors. this year it will be much nicer weather.

Day 7 is Magic kingdom for a few hours and then home Not sure what time our flight leaves yet but we will get the latest one possible.


Any thoughts on how my Adr's are? are they spread out ok? Not too much travel? Good variety?

I'm kind wishing we did 1900 park fair or crystal palace or even hoop dee doo but i'm trying to try a few new things too. My husband doesnt want to do to many character meals. BOO I like the buffet type meals though cause i feel everyone can find something they like. He wanted to do teppan edo again but we did it last time and we have a similar place here at home.

 

[JessiMommy]

The Coronado is not a resort I've ever considered before but the price was right. I've looked up a few things about it online and it looks pretty. So we shall see!

My family stayed once at the Coronado when we couldn't get in at POR. I was so bummed we were having to settle for something else. When we arrived I was pleasantly surprised, it was very nice. Our room was located way in the back so the walk to the main building was a bit of a hike but it was very pretty and we actually enjoyed the walk. I think you made a great choice, the extra $200 will be well worth it!

 

[JessiMommy]

Arrival day! Magic Kingdom of course. I really love to start and end with magic Kingdom!
So far no dining plans this day but we will get a quick service that night. Any suggestions?

If you have any interest in leaving the Magic Kingdom for a bit I would suggest the quick service at the Contemporary, The Contempo Cafe'. We ate there twice on our last trip because it was sooo yummy! If you want to stay in Magic Kingdom I would vote Columbia Harbor House.

Day 2 -epcot. We are planning to use either a few snack credits or a quick service at food and wine festival for dinner but I've never been during food and wine festival. Is this a good idea for 4 children??
Dinner: adrs at biergarten (how do you say this) at 5:40

One year we were in World Showcase during Food & Wine and it was pretty crowded. We did notice several groups that had been drinking heavily and acting a bit rowdy but I didn't see anything inappropriate and my DD just thought they were very happy and having a lot of fun! We were glad we experienced the festival, it was a lot of fun! And Biergarten is pronounced Beer Garten.

I was able to score Ohanas for 8 people at 5:15pm. I'm so excited about this reservation but I think it will mean missing fantasmic. We went to that last year but my sisters family didn't go. I think they will be ok if they do miss it because I'm sure going with our family they will be on disney overload at this point! Do you think this is a good plan for the day with it being my nieces birthday?

'Ohana is one of my favorite restaurants on property! YUMMM! Congrats on scoring that one past the 180 mark! I would not sweat missing Fantasmic. There is so much else to see and do and IMO Fantasmic is just OK.

Halloween party that night for my family. My sister isn't sure if they want to spend the money on it yet. I agree its kinda expensive but I want to go cause i don't know if we will ever go during that time frame again.

I've always wanted to do the MNSSHP just to see the Headless Horseman before the parade! I say it's one of those things you have to try at least once...

I think you have made good ADR choices and sounds like your trip is going to be fun, especially with the addition of your sister and family!

 

[ginerjenny]

our flights are booked! Can't wait to get back to the Magic Kingdom!

Hope we get some pixie dust for my nieces birthday like we did my daughters! she got happy birthday played to her in Magic Kingdom! My favorite memory from the last trip!

 

[ginerjenny]

been trying to decide if i want to take a point and shoot or my big canon rebel xti...right now i'm leaning towards both

 

[ginerjenny]

Well, looks like the canon rebel and point and shoot will both be coming on this trip. My husband surprised me with a new lens so now I have to have fun trying it out!


The kids got their halloween costumes today for the party! They don't know about our trip yet! Its a surprise!!! I wanted to make sure they fit so I had them try them on today.

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