Bring on the Pixie Dust! Going Back to Disney with Mom - a May 2016 PTR 5/18: LIVE UPDATE!

[LindseyJo22]

Bring on the Pixie Dust!
(A Disney Vacation with Mom)
May 2016 PTR​

Hi everyone! I know I haven't even finished my TR from our Honeymoon yet (or really even gotten very far), but I'm just so excited about this trip that I had to create a PTR! Now, I created a PTR for our Honeymoon trip that was quickly abandoned - but I'm determined not to do that this time. With wedding preparations, graduating with my MLIS, and moving, the honeymoon PTR didn't really stand a chance. But we're moved, married, and generally settled in now, and I have lots more time to devote to Disney Things!!

Trip Details:

Who: Myself, my husband Will, and my mom Nancy!
When: May 17-23, 2016
Where: The Boardwalk Villas - a 1BR with our shiny new DVC points
Why: Because why not? But really, my mom's last Disney trip was less than stellar, and we want to make this one Magical!

About Me:

(with my favorite character!)

Well, I'm a 25 year old Disney fanatic! I went a few times (probably 3-4) with my family when I was younger, in high school, and in college. We went to Disney quite a lot for a family from Arkansas! However, I didn't really get bitten by the Disney "bug" until I went with my then-boyfriend and his family. We stayed in a 2BR DVC villa in Bay Lake Tower. This was easily the greatest trip ever! We all got along, had plenty of space, and we were within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom. This trip was the first time I remember seeing Wishes, and in a lot of ways the first time I was able to do Disney on my own and prioritizing what I wanted to see.

And if that wasn't enough, after a wonderful dinner at Chefs de France, my wonderful now-husband proposed to me at the wedding pavilion on the Boardwalk! It was just perfect - I had a wonderful trip with my favorite person, and after that I just couldn't wait to go back! It definitely helped that Will's family was super in to Disney - his parents own DVC, so they go often and talk about it a lot. I really think it was only a matter of time before I became the crazy Disney fan I am now When planning our honeymoon, I really discovered and started participating on the Disboards, and now I'm here to share my semi-obsessive planning with all of you!

Favorite Character: Winnie the Pooh (and all his friends)
Favorite Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Princess: Belle
Favorite Song: It really depends - but I love Circle of Life and anything from Pocahontas
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom! It's the classic, but EPCOT runs a very close second for all the wonderful food!
Favorite Rides: Splash Mountain, Living with the Land, Rockin' Roller Coaster, and Kilimanjaro Safaris
Favorite Show: It's a tie between Wishes and Fantasmic! We used the Fantasmic exit music at our wedding, so it's got some awesome memories, but Wishes is just so wonderful

 

[LindseyJo22]

Table of Contents

Introductions
Preliminary Speculation
ADR Wishlist
Actual ADRs!

Mini January TR
Live Update I
Live Update II
Epcot
Beaches & Cream
MK, Les Halles, and Goodbye for Now!

 

[LindseyJo22]

Taking a cue from Billie, who writes fabulous PTRs:

16 (ish) days until Park Hours
26 days until ADRs!
146 days until Fastpasses



Preliminary Speculation -

Well, because I am slightly obsessive, and I'm starting this PTR with 26 days until our ADR time, most of my speculation has centered on ADRs and food - however, I'm also wanting to try and plan out which parks we'll be at on which days (to help with said ADR selection, of course). But park hours aren't out yet!

Apparently they should be out in about 16 days, since the hour calendar on the Disney site has slowly been creeping day by day into the end of April and now is into the beginning of May. But I want the hours now! We have so many ideas about where we want to eat and what we want to do, but none of those can really be finalized until we know about EMHs and everything else

I can say that we will probably spend a decent amount of time in Epcot and Magic Kingdom this trip, especially since we'll be at the Boardwalk!

I can't wait to (hopefully) see a renovated one bedroom. However, I'll still be perfectly happy with a non-renovated room because we've reserved a Boardwalk View!

So hopefully I'll be spending some time looking out over the Boardwalk, people watching, and seeing all the antics from the performers

We've got a 6 night stay booked, so Will and I will have 5 full days of park fun and likely a half day on Tuesday whenever we get down to Florida. We're in Georgia, so it's only about a 5 or 6 hour drive, depending on stops and traffic

I'll have to see what flights my mom books to know if Tuesday will be a half-day where we can do our own thing or if we'll want to plan something together.

It's a lot different trying to plan a trip with another person - mom's always done vacations with our family, so it's a whole new ball game planning a trip where we can all do whatever we want!

I think we'll try to do a decent amount of stuff together (big rides, dinners, etc.) but also give each other some space - this worked really really well with my husband's family trip, and I think it's a good approach.

With 5 park days, I'm thinking we'll spend 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, and 1 day at Hollywood studios - HS may turn into a half day if we are tired or want to chill around the pool, but that's my preliminary plan!

Animal Kingdom will probably take a back seat this trip just because of our proximity to Epcot, HS, and Magic Kingdom with the Boardwalk.

I'm really hoping we'll be able to have a "Disney planning meeting" with my mom in November (she's coming to visit, yay!) so we can figure out the most important part of a Disney vacation - the food!

So stay tuned, I'm sure I'll be back with a large wish list of my dream ADRs, which we will definitely narrow down so that we don't end up giving Disney our entire paycheck

 

[Elevationist]

Hi everyone! I know I haven't even finished my TR from our Honeymoon yet (or really even gotten very far), but I'm just so excited about this trip that I had to create a PTR!

NEVER too soon to start your PTR, girl! Heck, I have two PTRs for two different trips going!

my wonderful now-husband proposed to me at the wedding pavilion on the Boardwalk! It was just perfect

How could anybody not fall in love with Disney after that?

Taking a cue from Billie, who writes fabulous PTRs:

D'awww. Thanks, girl!

But park hours aren't out yet!

Or are they? You're welcome...

https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_May.pdf

we've reserved a Boardwalk View!

Super jelly!!! If I ever get over my fear of the creepy clown pool and book myself this resort, I'm totally springing for this view!!!

so we can figure out the most important part of a Disney vacation - the food!

Guuuuuuurl, I like your priorities!!!

 

[LindseyJo22]

NEVER too soon to start your PTR, girl! Heck, I have two PTRs for two different trips going!

Too true! I'm just so excited about this one! I'm excited about the December one too, but it's so short that we don't really have super complex plans - but this one has all sorts of stuff going on

How could anybody not fall in love with Disney after that?

It's true! I mean, I loved Disney before, but now I'm at full on Disney fanatic

Or are they? You're welcome...

Ahhh! This was the best surprise ever We're probably going to sit down with my mom when she's here in a couple of weeks and make a game plan - nice to have the hours earlier though, so I can start plotting on my own

Super jelly!!! If I ever get over my fear of the creepy clown pool and book myself this resort, I'm totally springing for this view!!!

The clown pool doesn't really bother me, but I have to say I hope we won't be able to see it at night Then it is kind of creepy! But being able to see the performers and stuff will be awesome

Guuuuuuurl, I like your priorities!!!

Food is basically the best part! Especially since I've been on a few trips now where I can actually pick what to eat instead of just doing whatever my family does - it's a whole new world!

 

[Saphire5742]

Following along....
I'm also planning for May 2016 but from 8-16.

 

[Chelley00]

Following along. I've done 2 trips with my mom and she's so much fun at Disney. She really turns into a little kid!

 

[LindseyJo22]

0 days until Park Hours (thanks for the link @Elevationist!)
11 days until ADRs!
131 days until Fastpasses

ADR Wishlist!

Well, if I had to be honest, my ADR wishlist for every Disney trip would be about a mile long - I want to eat everywhere! However, we're trying to not go quite as crazy as we did on our honeymoon for this trip

My mom did have a few special requests that we're going to try and get -

Be Our Guest for lunch

Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party

I'm assuming the dessert party opens up at 180 days just like everything else (I hope so!). I am planning on being on the phone ASAP the day we do reservations to make this happen.

Because I really can't stay away from the Disney food, I think we may try to do a couple of other Table Service meals while we're there - it's not the every night TS-fest we had in September, but I'm pretty happy about it! Plus, there are plenty of delicious counter service and snack things that I haven't tried yet

Right now the park hours for our park days look like this:

5/17
Magic Kingdom - 9:00am-10:00pm
Epcot - 9:00am-9:00pm (EMH 9:00pm-11:00pm)
Hollywood Studios - 9:00am-8:30pm

5/18
Magic Kingdom - 9:00am-10:00pm (EMH 10:00pm-12:00am)
Epcot - 9:00am -9:00pm
Hollywood Studios - 9:00am-8:30pm

5/19
Magic Kingdom - 9:00am-10:00pm
Epcot - 9:00am-9:00pm (EMH 8:00am-9:00am)
Hollywood Studios - 9:00am-8:30pm

5/20
Magic Kingdom - 9:00am-10:00pm (EMH 8:00am-9:00am)
Epcot - 9:00am-9:00pm
Hollywood Studios - 9:00am-8:30pm

5/21
Magic Kingdom - 9:00am-10:00pm
Epcot - 9:00am - 9:00pm
Hollywood Studios - 9:00am-8:30pm

5/22
Magic Kingdom - 9:00am-10:00pm
Epcot - 9:00am-9:00pm
Hollywood Studios - 9:00am-8:30pm (EMH 8:00am-9:00am)

Because of the EMH schedules, we're thinking we'll try to do the dessert party on 5/20 and BOG on 5/18.

That leaves a couple more options for food -

Our first day, we don't know exactly when my mom's plane will get in. Will and I can be on WDW property by lunch time if we leave early enough! I love living 5 hours away from Disney

So we may get lunch and/or dinner when we get there, and I'm guessing it'll either be Disney Springs, Epcot, or perhaps ESPN Club on the Boardwalk.

The next day will likely be a Magic Kingdom day - I'd like to make the opening show, but I'm not sure that will happen if we also want to hit evening EMH. We'll definitely try for Be Our Guest this day, and probably have another QS meal for dinner. I'm voting for Columbia Harbor House because the lobster roll is divine!

I'm planning on the 19th being an Epcot day - we'll be super close to the park so we hopefully can make opening EMH. We'll probably do snacks or another QS for lunch, and I'm seriously hoping we can do a Garden Grill Dinner.

We ate here on our honeymoon and we've been talking about it ever since! I'll have to see how my mom feels about character meals, but I'm pretty sure she'd be up to it

The 20th will probably be our other MK day. It's got early morning EMH, so I'm hoping to make rope drop and blitz through the park hitting whatever we didn't get or really want to ride again. Maybe hit up FoF this time, but we'll see. At some point, I'm hoping we can grab a somewhat early boat over to Wilderness Lodge to have lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. We have looked at the menu here and it seems pretty reasonable for a table service lunch (especially those all you can eat skillets)! After a hefty lunch, we should be good to go until we hopefully get to go to the Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party!

We're potentially resort hopping the next day and may just grab food wherever - I'd be totally happy to stick in another TS meal, but it might be a little more than we want to deal with this trip If we do end up hanging around the Boardwalk or close, I may try to talk everyone into trying to get a spot at Beaches & Cream for a delicious sundae!

Our last day will probably be a Hollywood Studios day, so we might hit up Pizza Planet or the ABC Commissary (a new to us spot), or just grab whatever seems yummy to snack on at Fantasmic!

So it's definitely not the super reservation-packed trip we just had, but I think there will be plenty of food to review (after all, we have to eat)!

Have any of you eaten at Whispering Canyon? Or do you have any great QS places we should try in any of the parks?

I am so hoping we are lucky with the dessert party!

As usual, these are my neurotic preliminary plans, so after my mom is here this weekend there might be some changes made to our list - but I think it looks good so far!

 

[kadrachb]

Joining in!

When: May 17-23, 2016

I'm going about the same time! May 17th - 25th!

Well, because I am slightly obsessive, and I'm starting this PTR with 26 days until our ADR time,

Don't worry, I just started my PTR for our May trip too! Never too early to start a PTR!

Be Our Guest for lunch

Love love this lunch. One of my favorites! We've done it the past two years and its going to become a tradition, I think.

BOG on 5/18.

I'm actually planning lunch at BOG on 5/18 too!

Your trip looks like it'll be great! Can't wait to learn more.

 

[LindseyJo22]

Following along....
I'm also planning for May 2016 but from 8-16.

Awesome!! I seriously can't wait

Following along. I've done 2 trips with my mom and she's so much fun at Disney. She really turns into a little kid!

I'm really hoping this will be a good trip for my mom! Our last big family trip was kind of a bust when my brother got sick in the middle, and I know she didn't really enjoy the solo trip with my dad for a variety of reasons. So I'm hoping we can really have a great vacation together

Joining in!

Woo hoo! I love that there are actual people reading this

I'm going about the same time! May 17th - 25th!

Super awesome! We traded a park day for the 1BR villa. I kind of hate doing it, but the space will be so much more enjoyable than trying to cram three of us in a studio

Love love this lunch. One of my favorites! We've done it the past two years and its going to become a tradition, I think.

We did it in September for the first time and really enjoyed it! I want to try the Grey Stuff, but really liked the Strawberry cupcake too - hard decisions!

I'm actually planning lunch at BOG on 5/18 too!

Awesome! I'd love to actually meet some Dis-ers one of these days

Your trip looks like it'll be great! Can't wait to learn more.

Thanks! I really am so super excited 190 days!

 

[Chelley00]

Have any of you eaten at Whispering Canyon?

We ate there a few years ago. People really either love it or hate it. Personally I really liked it, but we are pretty simple with our food tastes and really like "homecooked" type meals.

 

[kadrachb]

I love that there are actual people reading this

haha, its a great feeling!

I want to try the Grey Stuff

You can get the Master's Cupcake, the frosting is the Grey Stuff! But the Strawberry Cupcake is also really good.

Awesome! I'd love to actually meet some Dis-ers one of these days

Who knows? Maybe we'll be eating at BOG around the same time, or doing something else around the same time!

I really am so super excited 190 days!

You and me both! 189 days is just too far away...

 

[Elevationist]

0 days until Park Hours (thanks for the link @Elevationist!)

My pleasure!

As usual, these are my neurotic preliminary plans, so after my mom is here this weekend there might be some changes made to our list - but I think it looks good so far!

Gosh, reading this post has made me SO hungry!!! And my crappy little microwave lunch that I'll be having in 30 mins or so suddenly sounds very very unappealing!

 

[LindseyJo22]

My pleasure!

Gosh, reading this post has made me SO hungry!!! And my crappy little microwave lunch that I'll be having in 30 mins or so suddenly sounds very very unappealing!

Oh I know! Since we are going out for a big dinner tonight, I have been trying to eat light the rest of the day - but I'm already hungry!! And reading about Disney food definitely doesn't help

 

[LindseyJo22]

0 days until Park Hours (thanks for the link @Elevationist!)
0 days until ADRs!
120 days until Fastpasses
180 days until DISNEY!


Real ADRs!!!

Ahhhh!!! I woke up so so excited this morning - because it's ADR Day!

One step closer to an awesome family Disney trip, check!

Now, of course the whole schedule got switched around when we actually started talking with mom about the trip - but I think the way we've done it will be really awesome for everyone - plenty of park time, some rest time, and a few fun events to highlight the trip. Plus, mom seemed ok with doing more food! Which, really, you don't have to convince me to make more reservations!

I woke up bright and early this morning to try and snag everything I wanted - I loaded up my restaurants in their own separate tabs (thanks again for the awesome tip @Elevationist )

I had my gym clothes on so I could head out the door right after ADRs were made - I've actually been really good about working out lately, but the gym has to wait when there are coveted Disney Dining spots to secure!

So, what happened?

Honestly, the whole process was so easy! I don't know if it's because they have improved the website some from past iterations, or whether there just weren't that many people as crazy as me online this morning - but as soon as the clock on my computer hit 6:00, I refreshed my Wishes Dessert Party page and saw all my trip dates ready to make reservations!!!


So what did we get? That is of course the all-important question!

5/18 - Be Our Guest - 12:05

I cannot wait to have another delicious roast beef sandwich and Strawberry Cream Cheese cupcake!

5/20 - Sci Fi Dine In - 12:10

So excited! This is new to all of us I think - the lunch menu looked good, not to heavy, and actually reasonably priced for a TS meal. So yay! Plus, milkshakes!!

and I can't wait to sit in a car booth and watch campy movie clips

(picture from Disney site)

5/21 - Garden Grill - 12:10
Yes!!! It's not dinner, since mom prefers her big meal to be at lunch - but I'm so happy we're doing this meal again! I think they have changed the dessert since I was there last, which is a little sad, but the food is so amazing, I'm sure anything they have on the menu will be wonderful.

Can't wait to get another picture with Farmer Mickey - maybe we can get another group selfie!

5/22 - Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party

So so so excited for this! We did a dessert party two years ago and it was super fun - the price has gone up a little bit, but this was the one thing my mom really wanted to do on the trip, aside from Be Our Guest. So we're doing it! Hopefully Tinkerbell is able to fly out this time - when we went, there was a little lightning in the area, so they didn't do that part. I'm so glad I was able to snag this!!

(picture from Disney site)


That's all for now! We decided to focus more on bigger lunch meals - though we still have two days of resort relaxing to plan around, and more ADRs may get added. We are mostly just weighing our many options for those two days and figured that we could probably get reservations to say, Whispering Canyon if we want later - while BOG and the Dessert Party were definitely going to fill up!

I am so happy with how smoothly the whole process went - now, time to start tweaking the rest of our park plans And I may do a little Disney shopping at some point for this trip


Have to run to work, but I'll update sometime soon with our new park schedule!

 

[kadrachb]

Ahhhh!!! I woke up so so excited this morning - because it's ADR Day!

One step closer to an awesome family Disney trip, check!

Woop!
When I woke up this morning to do mine I pretty much tripped over all my shoes and my laptop cord... ahahah...

5/18 - Be Our Guest - 12:05

Yay! We got out lunch on 5/18 at BOG for 12:15pm!

5/20 - Sci Fi Dine In - 12:10

So excited! This is new to all of us I think - the lunch menu looked good, not to heavy, and actually reasonably priced for a TS meal. So yay! Plus, milkshakes!!

We did Sci Fi last year, and WE LOVED IT. The cars are so cool. We didn't try the milkshakes though.

 

[Chelley00]

We've eaten at Sci Fi a couple of times. I love it. It's really a lot of fun and the food has always been decent. The milkshakes are amazing!

 

[Saphire5742]

Plus, mom seemed ok with doing more food! Which, really, you don't have to convince me to make more reservations!

I like the way you and your mom think!

Honestly, the whole process was so easy!

I had to leave it to my TA since I had a shift at the time. She only started almost 2 hours after the window opened, but I still managed to get everything I wanted. Hopefully this means it won't be too crowded. That or I'm much too obsessed about food.

5/22 - Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party

So so so excited for this!

That's awesome. So happy for you.

 

[LindseyJo22]

Yay! We got out lunch on 5/18 at BOG for 12:15pm!

Woo hoo!! I am so excited to eat there again - and maybe we can sit in a different room Though we sat in the music box room last time and it was pretty amazing

We did Sci Fi last year, and WE LOVED IT. The cars are so cool. We didn't try the milkshakes though.

Awesome! This is a place Will and I have wanted to try but haven't gotten around to - we were pretty happy with the lunch prices and the food, which had good options for mom (who likes somewhat lighter stuff sometimes) and us (definitely not light eaters on vacation).

We've eaten at Sci Fi a couple of times. I love it. It's really a lot of fun and the food has always been decent. The milkshakes are amazing!

I may have to get a milkshake - they sound so good!

I like the way you and your mom think!

Me too!

Hopefully this means it won't be too crowded. That or I'm much too obsessed about food.

I definitely hope it won't be too bad - though we went in May a couple of years ago and it really was good for crowds. And hot, but not like when we just went in September. So I think it'll be good!

So happy for you.

Me too!!! We did this with Will's family a few years ago, and it was the one thing my mom really really wanted to do - so I'm super excited that we're going to get to go with her

 

[Elevationist]

Wishes Dessert Party! I've NEVER done this! It looks SO CUTE. Someday! Maybe I'll even work it into my October trip for next year!