Building Castles in the Sky - an Oct 2012 PTR *Update 9/20- Day 3 Plans!*

[TexasBelle]

Pixie Mom!
Loving your PreTrip Report. Congrats on losing 28 pounds. That is so awesome!!!!

Your PTR caught my eye because we're going to be there at the same time... Just my DH and I tooo. For his Birthday on the 14th....

We just started planning our trip but pretty much have all the details done...
Our plans are to stay at BeachClub resort... From Saturday, October 13th through Friday, October 20th.. We're going to MNSSHP on Tuesday, the 16th...

We usually stay in the Boardwalk area and really love this area but we have never tried Cape May Cafe and we've decided to try it this time. I'm so excited!!!! I read on www.allears.net the dining menu and I love Fried Shrimp and they only serve Fried Shrimp on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays, So I'm planing on eating there on Wednesday night!!!!

I'm going to put my 2 cents in for DHS!!!! Love this park!!! Love the rides and Beauty and the Beast show, parade, Little Mermaid, turkey legs, and Starring Rolls. I am not a big fan of 50's Primetime or Sci Fi. We just usually do a walk up, but this would also be a great time to head over to BeachClub and eat Cape May Cafe! It's an easy boat ride and then ride the boat back to DHS for Fantasmic Show!!!

Sounds like your plans are coming along good, Our 180 days out is next Monday and I think I'm ready!!!

TexasBelle
Carolyn

 

[PixieMama]

Congrats on your 28+ lbs. weight loss! You look great!

Looking forward to hearing about your ADRs.

Thank you! I'm still debating on the ADRs... well, really, it's just one in particular. Where to have dinner on the day we're at Epcot...

Congrats on your weight loss, you look great! Ugh, I gotta get motivated here, I wanted to lose 20 pounds by my May trip and that's just not happening, so now I'm focusing on my Fall trip, I want to lose like, 50 for that trip!

Thanks, Jen! And I hear ya... finding the motivation is tough for me, too!

 

[PixieMama]

Pixie Mom!
Loving your PreTrip Report. Congrats on losing 28 pounds. That is so awesome!!!!

, Carolyn! And thank you!

I'm going to put my 2 cents in for DHS!!!! Love this park!!! Love the rides and Beauty and the Beast show, parade, Little Mermaid, turkey legs, and Starring Rolls. I am not a big fan of 50's Primetime or Sci Fi. We just usually do a walk up, but this would also be a great time to head over to BeachClub and eat Cape May Cafe! It's an easy boat ride and then ride the boat back to DHS for Fantasmic Show!!!

Sounds like your plans are coming along good, Our 180 days out is next Monday and I think I'm ready!!!

TexasBelle
Carolyn

Yeah, we've decided on DHS. And going to Cape May for dinner the day we go to DHS is our plan! The restaurant will have finished being refurbished by then, so I'm looking forward to seeing what's been changed.

My ADR day is Tuesday... and no, I am not ready!

 

[PixieMama]

Wednesday is our day to spend at DHS! As always, the plan is to be there for rope drop… and hopefully we can achieve this, seeing as how we'll have been at MNSSHP the night before. Once DHS opens, we'll make the fast walk over to TSMM. I'm sure we'll ride stand-by, and then grab FPs to use later. Afterwards, it will be down to RnR (for both of us) and ToT (for just me). Yes, I will have to ride ToT by myself. There's absolutely no way I can talk Shane into going on ToT with me… and there is absolutely no way I'm going to go to DHS and not go on my favorite ride!

After we hit TSMM, RnR, and ToT, our day is pretty much open. I'd like to visit the Animation Academy, as that's something Shane hasn't been to before. Other than that, it's really whatever we feel like doing. The Great Movie Ride? Sure! Indiana Jones? Why not! Backlot Tour? Let's go!

Lunch will be a QS meal… probably at Pizza Planet. Or maybe Starring Rolls? We'll leave the park to have dinner at Cape May, but I'm not sure what time this will be. DHS is open until 8 p.m… so do we make an early dinner, and then try to return to DHS until closing? Or push dinner back until 7 or so, in order to spend the majority of the day in the park? Fantasmic! is something we'd skip, even if we were in the park when the show starts. We've seen it once before, and neither of us was really impressed with the show. Also, I do not like the mass exodus that happens once F! ends.

I have a feeling we'll be done with the attractions we want to see at DHS by early evening. So if we do decide to have dinner early, we could spend the rest of the evening walking around the various Epcot resorts. I've only been to the BC in order to dine at Cape May… and I've never been to the Boardwalk or YC. It might be fun to stroll along the boardwalk and take in the sights. Oooo, maybe even check out Jellyrolls!

Once our evening is finished, it's back to POR for some (what I am sure will be much-needed) sleep!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Way to go on that weight loss!! You did awesome!! And you look like a HOT Pixiemama!!
I like your plan to do DHS until dinner and then walk around the Epcot resorts. I think it looks like a beautiful area to walk around at night! A little romantic, maybe?

 

[teekathepony]

I just saw the picture of ToT and my stomach dropped! Can't do that ride. I like the wide open plan here.
It's rare that I see someone who has the same feelings about Fantasmic as I do! Most people love it... I just don't care for it either!
Can't wait to hear about Cape May. Last year was my first time visiting the Boardwalk, I really enjoyed strolling along seeing the sights.

 

[PixieMama]

Way to go on that weight loss!! You did awesome!! And you look like a HOT Pixiemama!!
I like your plan to do DHS until dinner and then walk around the Epcot resorts. I think it looks like a beautiful area to walk around at night! A little romantic, maybe?

Thank you!!

The more I think about it, the more I'm sure we won't go back to DHS after dinner. I bet the Boardwalk looks great at night, all lit up!

It's rare that I see someone who has the same feelings about Fantasmic as I do! Most people love it... I just don't care for it either!

I find people either really love F!... or hate it. There's no in-between, LOL! Glad I'm not the only one in the "hate it" camp! I know it's gone through refurbishment since I've seen in (way back in '07) but even knowing this does not make me have the desire to deal with the mass exodus after the show.

 

[Kat in GA]

I really want to do Jellyrolls. Michael and I tried to do it last summer, but the parking situation at the boardwalk was not ideal...but now that we can use Disney transport, maybe we'll try it in June!

So...are we narrowing down those ADR choices??

 

[PixieMama]

So...are we narrowing down those ADR choices??

I think so! Unless I change my mind, I've chosen dinner at Via Napoli for our Epcot day. Though my mom and sister think I'm absolutely bonkers for NOT choosing to go back to Les Chefs. It was, hands down, our best meal last year!

 

[Chelley00]

I've read GREAT things about Via Napoli. I think you made a great choice!

 

[PixieMama]

I've read GREAT things about Via Napoli. I think you made a great choice!

I hope so! And I've read nothing but rave reviews about it, too!

 

[Kat in GA]

I think so! Unless I change my mind, I've chosen dinner at Via Napoli for our Epcot day. Though my mom and sister think I'm absolutely bonkers for NOT choosing to go back to Les Chefs. It was, hands down, our best meal last year!

But...now you can try somewhere new. I have never eaten in Italy at Epcot - I really want to. I so want to go back and do deluxe dining just to try all the places I've never been!

 

[PixieMama]

But...now you can try somewhere new. I have never eaten in Italy at Epcot - I really want to. I so want to go back and do deluxe dining just to try all the places I've never been!

Yep, that's one of the reasons that drew me to Via... that it's somewhere Shane nor I have been.

And I agree with the deluxe dining... wouldn't that be perfect for another "girls only" trip?!

 

[PixieMama]

(I posted this last night, but I guess the DISboards decided to eat it )

Thursday will be our last day in WDW

And it'll be another morning to sleep in, then possibly lounge by the pool. We may take the boat over to DTD sometime after breakfast, especially if we don't get over there before our Raglan Road dinner on Tuesday. We could grab lunch at Earl of Sandwich... or maybe Wolfgang Puck Express. I've been to EofS (Italian sandwich, YUM) but neither of us have been to WPE. I've heard lots of good things about WPE, and their menu looks promising. So it'll just be whichever we're in the mood for, I guess.

If we go to DTD, we'll have to be back to POR in time to get ready for our evening at the Poly. We've decided to do the Spirit of Aloha luau (Shane is really looking forward to this, and it's the one thing he's had an opinion on!) We're going to try for the 5:15 seating, then hopefully after dinner we can explore the Poly a bit. I'd like to look around, as this is on the list of potential resorts for our next family trip! I'd also like to watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes from the Poly beach.

Thursday is our anniversary, so I think the luau and walking along the beach would be a great way to celebrate!

 

[Kat in GA]

I wanna do the luau as well!!

I am trying to figure out if I could swing a trip during free dining - just Michael and me - and do deluxe dining. I already made dinner reservations just in case!!

I think that your anniversary sounds fabulous!

 

[teekathepony]

Haha I just "aww"'d out loud at the thought of spending your anniversary walking along the beach at the Poly!
I debated between the Luau and the Hoop-Dee-Doo and in the end the Luau's food was too scary for me. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of it though!

 

[PixieMama]

I wanna do the luau as well!!

I am trying to figure out if I could swing a trip during free dining - just Michael and me - and do deluxe dining. I already made dinner reservations just in case!!

I think that your anniversary sounds fabulous!

Oh, that would be nice... hope you guys get to go. But if not, I'll be sure to tell you all about it.

And you are nothing if not prepared!

Haha I just "aww"'d out loud at the thought of spending your anniversary walking along the beach at the Poly!
I debated between the Luau and the Hoop-Dee-Doo and in the end the Luau's food was too scary for me. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of it though!

We're both looking forward to the luau. Being in the South, we have oodles of BBQ and "country cooking'" places around here... so the food at HDDR and Mickey's BBQ would be nothing we can't get here. But Polynesian isn't something we have every day, LOL!

 

[PixieMama]

Well, I have (finally!) decided on where to make our ADRs! I can make my ADRs on Tuesday, and here's what I'm hoping to book:


Monday
You may recall this was the day that gave me the most trouble. Originally I had wanted to try for lunch at Le Cellier, with the plan of snacking our way around the F&W vendors in lieu of dinner. But I wanted a back-up, in case I couldn't get the elusive Le Cellier ADR… which led to me thinking, "Maybe a sit-down dinner is a better idea". I narrowed it down to Les Chefs, R&C, San Angel, and Via Napoli. Since the Sunday Roast is no longer on the menu at R&C, I deleted that option. San Angel was a frontrunner, but my oldest DD reeeaaally wants to eat there (we've never been) so I figured I should save that for our next family trip. I finally decided upon Via Napoli over Les Chefs… I loved loved loved Chefs, and Shane has never been there. But neither of us have been to Via Napoli and I wanted a new experience for the both of us. Added bonus is that I've read nothing but rave reviews about Via, so yay!

Tuesday
We'll head to DTD for an early dinner at Raglan Road before going to MNSSHP! I'm already drooling over the menu… can't wait to try this one!

Wednesday
After spending the day at DHS, we'll make our way over to the BC for dinner at Cape May. Shane has never been, but I had dinner here on my trip last summer… I really liked it, and that's coming from someone who does not care for (much) seafood! The restaurant is going to be refurbished over the summer, so I'm curious to see what the changes will be.

Thursday
For our last night at WDW, we'll head over to the Poly to attend the Spirit of Aloha luau.


Now I just need to decide for what times the ADRs should be. Oy, I have never had this much trouble in making ADR decisions! I think part of the reason is that Shane's opinion (other than on the luau) has been, "Whatever you want is fine with me." On one hand, my OCD loves having all the control… but on the other, if he doesn't like something guess who's to blame? ME.

Also, I think what's giving me trouble is that this is a short trip for us… since we won't have as much time as we've had on past trips, I don't want to rush things or miss out. So I feel a bit pressured to find the "right" times for dinner!

At least I have a few more days to figure this out!

 

[MHTeacher]

Your ADRs are all new ones for me---never tried any of them, but I've heard good things about a lot of them.

I know it's a short trip, but you and your husband can just relax. I remember a few years ago DH and I went for our anniversary just for a long weekend (Thursday night-Sunday evening). We didn't rush around or feel as if we had to do anything. In fact, I remember that one afternoon, we just sat down on a park bench in EP's World Showcase and rested and people watched. That's something we never do with our kids---It's more go, go, go nonstop.

Y'all are going to have a great time!

 

[Nermel9]

Your ADR's all look great! Via Napoli is awesome, you're going to love it! And Cape May is sooo good, I hope they don't change it too much after the summer!

I've never done Raglan Road, but I hear such great things about it, I'd really like to try it someday!