Can I Survive another 11 days in WDW w/ Disney-Resistant Husband? *11/25 SURPRISE!!**

[Lovemy3babes]

The kiddos looked adorable all decked out for the wedding! I bet Katie was thrilled to finally be a flowergirl. How sweet is that.

 

[Mom2m&k]

I happened across your trip report for May 2010...we were there at the same time! I enjoyed reading your report. Your family is just beautiful...I would bonk your husband over the head!! I did thank mine last night that although he looks at me like I'm nuts planning out trip a year in advance he does get excited once we are there! Can't wait to hear about your Destination D trip! Have a wonderful time!

 

[DrMomof3]

Fabulous wedding pics!
I'm SO jealous that you're going to the Destination D weekend. I totally wanted to go but have a work conference and Jessica's ballet recital that weekend.

Amanda

 

[MeMom]

What a good-looking group!

Have fun planning and thinking about all the good eating ahead.

 

[eandesmom]

Other News

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Talk about last-minute ADRs!!!

While we were up in Toronto, I ran into a childhood friend from way, way back. He and his wife, and their 3 children were scheduled to make their first trip to WDW with both sets of grandparents less than one week later, just in time for the Easter rush!

Their unhelpful travel agent booked them into the 2 Storey Grand Villa at Bay Lake Tower for 5 days, but apparently didn't advise them that Easter is the 2nd busiest time of year to travel. She also didn't give them a "heads-up" on their 180 day dining reservation window. As a result, when I spoke with them, they had next to no reservations secured for their trip and weren't able to get their 2 most wanted reservations - Cinderella's Royal Table and California Grill.

I tried to help as much as I could, and gave them plenty of other dining suggestions. They were hoping that the concierge service would be able to help them get into both CRT and California Grill at some point during their stay. They just returned this week, and I can't wait to find out how their trip went!


My Upcoming Trip

In just 10 days, I am off again for Toronto, on my way to Muskoka, where I am scheduled to speak at a conference. Muskoka is a beautiful area of lakes about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto, and was just named #1 Summer Vacation Destination in the World for 2011 by National Geographic. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-summer-2011-photos/ The conference is being held at the same resort which hosted the G8 Summit last June, so I am very much looking forward to it.

A few months ago, once my travel plans to the conference were finalized, Carrie (lurkyloo) and I came up with a plan to travel to the Destination D Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary festivities right after my conference. Given the fact that I was half-way there already, I figured, why not, and changed my airfare to fly direct from Toronto to Orlando Friday morning right after my conference.

We will be staying Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the conference at the Contemporary (in a Tower Magic Kingdom view room...my favourite room in all of WDW), and will then be transferring over to the GF for our last nite. Although I have spent a fair bit of time at the GF, I have never actually stayed here as a guest, so I am quite excited about that!

So I probably won't have much by way of further updates on here until I return, but I plan on providing a full report on the Destination D festivities when I get back!

The kids are adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe someone would book them in a room that extravagant and not take care of ADR's for them. I certainly wouldn't use them again, that's criminal.

I have a feeling all of your ADR's will work out and heck, if all else fails, book the illuminations cruise and eat pizza! It's a wonderful way to spend an envening.

Very fun that you are there with Carrie right now, I can't wait to hear about it. Girls trips are SO much fun, we had a blast (TR starting soon I think) I do love that somehow Toronto is half way there I've never been to Toronto and reading this makes me really want to check it out.

 

[cdotla]

It sounds like you were able to book some really great ADRs, so even you don't get everything on your wish list you shouldn't be too disappointed I don't think you'll have any trouble booking Coral Reef, I was able to move that ADR just a few weeks before our trip last May and the time before when I ate there I made the ressie just about a month ahead of time. It's not nearly as popular as some of the other places that you already have secured.

Thanks Michelle! I still have to book Coral Reef, and firm up a couple additional ADRS, but I hope to carve out some time to finalize everything tomorrow. I feel so slack this trip....I am 2 months behind schedule!!!

Your ADRs sound like its on a solid foundation and I wish you luck with the others. I can't wait to see your food porn this time round.

Your kids look lovely, as always. Everyone's kids are growing up.

Yes...I think overall we are still on track for another great slate of ADRs this trip, notwithstanding all of my slacking. At least I knew enough to book Le Cellier and CRT at the 180 day mark! I hope to be able to switch our breakfast ADR at CRT to a dinner ressie instead, but at this point, I don't think that will be very likely. Oh well.

Sounds like you have the reservations that are hard to get such as CRT, Le Cellier and Chef Mickey's! Good luck with getting the others - am sure you will easily get Coral Reef and any others you want.

Your friend's agent does not sound good at all - hope she did manage to secure a reservation at CRT and CG.

Can you believe a couple more weeks have passed and I still haven't gotten around to securing that Coral Reef ADR? I know....I am afraid that I don't deserve to be called a true Disser anymore.

And as for our friends....while their trip was fantastic, they unfortunately were not able to get into CRT or CG. I think they did have an option at least at CG, but it wasn't at an optimal time. (On the bright side, I am somewhat glad to know that money and conceirge service can't buy access to everything at the World....at least not yet! ) Nevertheless, they still had a fantastic trip, and will likely be regular visitors.

I still shudder to think about what kind of commission their agent rec'd for absolutely deplorable service. Their trip had to be the financial equivalent of 10-20 of my type of trips.

 

[cdotla]

The kiddos looked adorable all decked out for the wedding! I bet Katie was thrilled to finally be a flowergirl. How sweet is that.

Yes, Katie really enjoyed herself at the wedding. So glad she was able to cross this one off her list before she grew out of the flowergirl stage.

I happened across your trip report for May 2010...we were there at the same time! I enjoyed reading your report. Your family is just beautiful...I would bonk your husband over the head!! I did thank mine last night that although he looks at me like I'm nuts planning out trip a year in advance he does get excited once we are there! Can't wait to hear about your Destination D trip! Have a wonderful time!

Thanks for posting, and glad you found me here! Hope you stick around!

Fabulous wedding pics!
I'm SO jealous that you're going to the Destination D weekend. I totally wanted to go but have a work conference and Jessica's ballet recital that weekend.

Thanks Amanda. Too bad you couldn't make it to Destination D! Hopefully you will get a chance to attend one in future. Great opportunity for a quickie solo trip away to recharge batteries, and get a Disney fix that not everyone in the family may feel to the same degree!

Have fun planning and thinking about all the good eating ahead.

Thanks! For me, plotting out ADRs is one of the most enjoyable and stressful aspects of the vacation planning. So much of the trip for me rides on the food and restaurant experiences.

The kids are adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe someone would book them in a room that extravagant and not take care of ADR's for them. I certainly wouldn't use them again, that's criminal.

I have a feeling all of your ADR's will work out and heck, if all else fails, book the illuminations cruise and eat pizza! It's a wonderful way to spend an envening.

Very fun that you are there with Carrie right now, I can't wait to hear about it. Girls trips are SO much fun, we had a blast (TR starting soon I think) I do love that somehow Toronto is half way there I've never been to Toronto and reading this makes me really want to check it out.

Hey Cynthia...you are so right about that terrible agent...that is exactly how I felt.

As for the Illuminations cruise and pizza....well, I just read up on this from your TR, and I must say...you definitely have me thinking.

I had an absolutely wonderful (but short) trip...got home very early Wednesday morning. More on that momentarily....

 

[cdotla]

Drat! I just prepared an update and went to post it and lost it. Off to bed now, but I will try to update tomorrow nite!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sleep well Trish. Glad to see that the End of the World also missed hitting Canada.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Welcome back Trish! I look forward to reading all about your visit to Disney World!!

You still are a true disser. Life has just got in the way - am sure you will still be able to secure an ADR at Coral Reef. I will keep my fingers crossed for you

I was pleased to read that your friends had a great trip and having a bad agent did not frighten them from future visits. I shudder to think how some agents manage to get their job. Though I suppose there are great agents out there as well - it just depends on luck.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Welcome Home Trish I hate when I lose a post....but now I have something to look forward to a little later on! Hope you're enjoying your long weekend!

 

[cdotla]

Sleep well Trish. Glad to see that the End of the World also missed hitting Canada.

Welcome back Trish! I look forward to reading all about your visit to Disney World!!

You still are a true disser. Life has just got in the way - am sure you will still be able to secure an ADR at Coral Reef. I will keep my fingers crossed for you

I was pleased to read that your friends had a great trip and having a bad agent did not frighten them from future visits. I shudder to think how some agents manage to get their job. Though I suppose there are great agents out there as well - it just depends on luck.

You know, I suspect (although I didn't really inquire about it) that the agent is likely their agent for business travel and they just got her to book this trip because she wld have all of their information, not knowing or realizing how critical it is to have an agent familiar with Disney.

Welcome Home Trish I hate when I lose a post....but now I have something to look forward to a little later on! Hope you're enjoying your long weekend!

Gee Queen....you are up EARLY!!!!

Yes, that is so annoying to loose a post. I kept hitting the back arrow trying desperately to get it back, but it vanished into cyberspace.

I am just off now with the kiddos to go meet Chris at the finish line of his latest Half Marathon. This might be the last one before the Disney Wine & Dine on Oct. 1st. He is desperately trying to get under 1:30, but this is not the course to do it on...it's a very, very hilly and slow course. We shall see...

I still think he is going to shine at the Wine & Dine. It will be his 1st Disney race, a relatively fast course, and very likely great weather. I hope that all the excitement, entertainment, ect will prompt him along to finish under his 1:30 goal. Then, what better way to celebrate....after party around Epcot!
Later tonite I will finally get that post up!

 

[cdotla]

Can I just say that I finally now understand why people do tickers? Just put my 1st ever ticker in my siggy and it is already getting me so excited!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Congratulations on your first ticker! It is fun to see the little counter slowly move to the right!

Hope Chris enjoyed the race today. I'm sure he did great and will love the Disney race as well!


Can't wait to hear more about your recent get-away!

 

[eandesmom]

Hey Cynthia...you are so right about that terrible agent...that is exactly how I felt.

As for the Illuminations cruise and pizza....well, I just read up on this from your TR, and I must say...you definitely have me thinking.

I had an absolutely wonderful (but short) trip...got home very early Wednesday morning. More on that momentarily....

Well you know...if you are doing it with another family, it's not nearly so painful $$ wise. Sandie and I split it and it really was worth every penny. I had many of the same thoughts and hesitations you expressed about it but she was SO hot on the idea we went for it and I am so so glad we did! It was a highlight of the trip, very possibly my favorite evening.

YAY for new tickers, I love them!!! Huge bummer about the post, that's why I do everything in word first anymore, it's so frustrating when that happens.

 

[Native NYer]

Katie and Declan look adorable!

 

[LilAnn]

As I am in serious Disney withdrawal, it's still exciting to at least follow along on yours. I have to say that we had a similar experience close to Easter weekend. My little girl was also the flower girl in a wedding the weekend after Easter. However she is only 3 so I was pretty nervous on how she was going to do. Of course, I tried to get as many family pics as possible since we were all in the wedding and all dressed up to match! I'm sure you can appreciate that effort!

Looking forward to your review of Destination D as well! Good luck with the ADRs that you still have to get. It's still quite a ways out so I am sure you'll be able to manage most of them.

 

[cdotla]

Congratulations on your first ticker! It is fun to see the little counter slowly move to the right!

Hope Chris enjoyed the race today. I'm sure he did great and will love the Disney race as well!


Can't wait to hear more about your recent get-away!

Tickers are fun, aren't they? What am I going to do in Oct when I won't have one?

Well you know...if you are doing it with another family, it's not nearly so painful $$ wise. Sandie and I split it and it really was worth every penny. I had many of the same thoughts and hesitations you expressed about it but she was SO hot on the idea we went for it and I am so so glad we did! It was a highlight of the trip, very possibly my favorite evening.

YAY for new tickers, I love them!!! Huge bummer about the post, that's why I do everything in word first anymore, it's so frustrating when that happens.

Hmmm....I probably should start doing posts in Word too. This certainly isn't the first time I lost one as well.

As for the cruise, even splitting the cost, it is still a hefty price tag...$185 each if we get the balloons, which if we were going on the cruise I would want for the sake of an additional $25, or $12.50 each. I am still mulling it over...still seems like a lot.

Katie and Declan look adorable!

Thanks!

As I am in serious Disney withdrawal, it's still exciting to at least follow along on yours. I have to say that we had a similar experience close to Easter weekend. My little girl was also the flower girl in a wedding the weekend after Easter. However she is only 3 so I was pretty nervous on how she was going to do. Of course, I tried to get as many family pics as possible since we were all in the wedding and all dressed up to match! I'm sure you can appreciate that effort!

Looking forward to your review of Destination D as well! Good luck with the ADRs that you still have to get. It's still quite a ways out so I am sure you'll be able to manage most of them.

I am sure your adorable daughter stole the entire show. I would love to see her in her dress...can you post some of your photos on here???

 

[cdotla]

Sorry I never got my Destination D post up last nite....when I went to post Photobucket was down. Apparently me and a million other users couldn't get into our accounts.

I am at work now, but should be able to get the post up tonite once I can access Photobucket again. I don't have a lot of photos (in fact, I have very few) but I do want to include what I have in my post.

In the meantime, I am still absolutely stunned by Chris' Half Marathon time yesterday. To recap, he ran 1:31 in his last couple Halfs over the last 6 months. Then, out of nowhere, on a fairly hilly, slow course, he ran 1:27 yesterday!

To put it into perspective, based on last year's results, if he runs this time at the upcoming Wine & Dine (which I believe will be an easier course), he would have finished 20th out of 7287 runners, or 3rd in his age category.

All very amazing to me considering he only started running 3 1/2 years ago, is entirely self-taught, never read a book or took a course, never runs with anyone, and doesn't wear a watch or own a Garmin.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wow!! That's amazing! Good for Chris!

And good for you... you may have stumbled upon the secret to future WDW vacations... scheduling them to coincide w/ a race!