Can We Ride the Boat 1st? A first timer's Jan 2015 PTR - link to TR

[TheMaxRebo]

Congrats on doing the double digit dance as well as saving money! I have heard nothing but good things about POR (we were going to stay there last trip before switching to the Contemporary).

In general we don't do the meal plan as I feel like I am swayed to order the most expensive thing on the menu just to get the best "value" - plus we often like to share things (and get adult beverages) ... but to work it out that you will get it and save money that is great to not have to worry about paying for meals while there etc. or feel bad about trying a dessert you normally wouldn't have paid out of pocket for, etc.

 

[librarygeek]

Yay! POR is our favorite non-deluxe hotel (and frankly, we like it better than a number of the deluxes too - not that I've stayed at that many!). It's so beautiful and while it's big I like that there's so much space. They have a really good food court there too if you need to grab any quick meals at the resort.

 

[ach222]

We loved our recent POR trip in September. It is a big resort, but is nicely laid out so it isn't bad to deal with. Take a look at the maps and info at www.portorleans.org and you can get a feel for what to request. Garden view can either be in the Mansions or Alligator Bayou, but either way the rooms are the same size. You can figure out which locations will fit your preferences and make an informed request.

The resort does have four bus stops, but they aren't very far apart and the bus goes around the outside perimeter of the resort so you can cut distance by walking through the middle. The buses tend to follow the same route going and returning from the same park, so for a round trip you will likely hit all of the stops, but just one time each. Overall we planned on about 10 min for the bus loop and it sometimes was quicker than that.

Congratulations on the dining plan too. We absolutely love having it for our trips.

I'm thinking we might go for Alligator Bayou so that G can have the little fold down bed, I think he'd like that

Congrats on doing the double digit dance as well as saving money! I have heard nothing but good things about POR (we were going to stay there last trip before switching to the Contemporary).

In general we don't do the meal plan as I feel like I am swayed to order the most expensive thing on the menu just to get the best "value" - plus we often like to share things (and get adult beverages) ... but to work it out that you will get it and save money that is great to not have to worry about paying for meals while there etc. or feel bad about trying a dessert you normally wouldn't have paid out of pocket for, etc.

Yes, I'm not convinced that we will do the dining plan after this time but I figure we can try it this time at a discount and see how we like it.

Yay! POR is our favorite non-deluxe hotel (and frankly, we like it better than a number of the deluxes too - not that I've stayed at that many!). It's so beautiful and while it's big I like that there's so much space. They have a really good food court there too if you need to grab any quick meals at the resort.

I'm very excited - it looks gorgeous!

 

[ach222]

Just checking in to say 'hi' and that I'm still around and now anxiously awaiting my FP+ day. I'll be staying up late on the 19th to grab as many as I can!

I've been slowly collecting Disney gift cards when I go to Target and received several for my birthday from my family.

We had a great Halloween, we had a cowboy and a pumpkin in our house and at least the cowboy had a blast!

I'm kind of in a holding pattern, I've done just about all the planning I can until my FP day comes and then I'll get my daily schedules done.

I finished up my busy season a couple of weekends ago with my last wedding. Now I'm just working with brides for next year. We are going to Disney BEFORE my next wedding, which makes it seem very real!

We've strayed a bit on our Disney movie nights the past couple of weeks as How to Train Your Dragon 2 came out on iTunes, so G has been watching that, but we'll get back on track soon.

We've become friends with the parents of one of G's school buddies and they are Disney fans, have been a couple of times a year the last few years. I was talking to the mom about something a few feet away from DH who was talking to the dad. DH turns to me and says 'where are we staying again?'
REALLY DH? After all of the talking about this I've done and all of the emails I've sent you, you don't even know where we are staying???? haha!

But talking to our friends about it seems to have gotten DH more excited about it. I mentioned to them that we had booked the Pirates and Pals cruise and said something like 'it's pretty pricey' and the dad just goes 'it doesn't even matter though, it's so awesome and your kids are having so much fun.' (meaning Disney in general, they haven't done the cruise) It got me more excited and helped me let go of the pricing of things a bit.
I also felt cool as I told her about Memory Maker shares, she had no idea- thanks Dis! LOL

Ok, I'll stop rambling and get back to reading TRs! I'll be back for FP day!

 

[SarahDisney]

I love the Halloween costumes - they look so cute!

Isn't it great to make Disney-loving friends?

I'm looking forward to FP+ day and seeing what you get. I hope you get everything you want!

 

[ashw100]

Halloween costumes are adorable. Glad you found some friends to talk Disney with. Looks like everything is coming together for your trip. Waiting for the FP day is torture but it will be here soon, then before you know it, Magic Bands are arriving and its time to go.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

aw, look at those little Halloween cuties! adorable!

it's so fun to talk Disney with people, isn't it? but it doesn't surprise me DH didn't remember where you are staying. mine doesn't ever remember either. he was actually talking to his parents in front of me about our last trip and kept spouting out wrong info (wrong date, wrong airline, wrong resort). eventually, i'd see him just glance at me when they asked a question and i'd tell them the answer. I love him, but the man has the attention span of a gnat, I swear!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Best of luck with the FP+ getting ... you may be aware of this already but for our last trip I found that my "window" didn't open until 1am vs. midnight, just as an FYI

Great to have some Disney friends to share the fun with - and to get to drop some DIS knowledge on them

BTW - I hear that Big Hero 6 will be a meet and greet (possible replacing Wreck it Ralph) ... not sure of the timing but you might want to go see the movie before your trip (we saw it this past weekend and love it)

 

[ach222]

I love the Halloween costumes - they look so cute!

Isn't it great to make Disney-loving friends?

I'm looking forward to FP+ day and seeing what you get. I hope you get everything you want!

Thanks! I actually just got a reminder in the mail and it looks like I'm staying up on the 18th not the 19th - yay!

Halloween costumes are adorable. Glad you found some friends to talk Disney with. Looks like everything is coming together for your trip. Waiting for the FP day is torture but it will be here soon, then before you know it, Magic Bands are arriving and its time to go.

I'm so ready, I know with the holidays it will go quickly!

aw, look at those little Halloween cuties! adorable!

it's so fun to talk Disney with people, isn't it? but it doesn't surprise me DH didn't remember where you are staying. mine doesn't ever remember either. he was actually talking to his parents in front of me about our last trip and kept spouting out wrong info (wrong date, wrong airline, wrong resort). eventually, i'd see him just glance at me when they asked a question and i'd tell them the answer. I love him, but the man has the attention span of a gnat, I swear!

LOL too funny - sounds like our poor guys would be lost!

Best of luck with the FP+ getting ... you may be aware of this already but for our last trip I found that my "window" didn't open until 1am vs. midnight, just as an FYI

Great to have some Disney friends to share the fun with - and to get to drop some DIS knowledge on them

BTW - I hear that Big Hero 6 will be a meet and greet (possible replacing Wreck it Ralph) ... not sure of the timing but you might want to go see the movie before your trip (we saw it this past weekend and love it)

I did read about the 1 am thing - I don't sleep much anyways with the baby not sleeping through the night (sure you know all about that!) so I guess it doesn't matter haha!

Yeah, I think I'm the one you were talking to about the meet and greet switch up on your TR actually - I'm planning on taking him soon!

 

[librarygeek]

Exciting that your FP day is coming up! And your kids are adorable in their Halloween costumes

 

[ach222]

Exciting that your FP day is coming up! And your kids are adorable in their Halloween costumes

Thanks! It's today, eek!

 

[ach222]

It's FP Day! (Well, after midnight or maybe 1 am depending on how the system is working!) - for some reason, I was thinking it was the 20th but I checked a few days ago and it's the 19th so here we go ...

So of course, in time for me to stay up later than usual, my younger son has hit an intense teething/growth spurt phase where he screams all night. So this is me ....

Hopefully my brain will engage and it will go well - I'll check in tomorrow with results!

 

[ach222]

Well friends, it's done - I have my fast passes!

Here we go :

Monday :

9:40 - 10:40 7DMT

10:45 - 11:45 Peter Pan's Flight

1:50 - 2:50 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Tuesday :

9:35 - 10:35 TSMM

10:50 - 11:05 - Indiana Jones (I know we don't need this, it may change)

12:50 - 1:10 - Lights, Motor, Action (again, I know we don't need it)

Wednesday :

10:05 - 11:05 The Seas with Nemo

11:15 - 12:15 - Soarin'

12:30 - 1:30 Character Spot

Friday :

1:10 - 2:10 7DMT

2:25 - 3:25 Peter Pan

3:30 - 4:30 Anna & Elsa

I just wanted to note that I used my computer and had NO issues, the site worked perfectly. When I couldn't sleep a bit later I played around with times on my app and that also worked perfectly. More detailed plans to come!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Congrats on getting your FP+ set up and glad that the site (and app) worked great for you!

And awesome that you got mine train twice and the coveted Anna & Elsa!

I definitely think you probably don't need some of your selections for DHS and EPCOT but you can probably adjust that as you go and see how wait times are, etc. We had done one for the Character Spot in EPCOT and while it probably isn't *needed* it was very nice to have and basically walk in and meet them with no wait

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm glad to hear that things went well.

Those are great selections - and yay for getting A&E and 7DMT (twice!)

For HS & Epcot I find that the Tier II ones aren't really always necessary, but since you have to make the FP+, you might as well use them. You can always change them day of based on wait times.

 

[ursalita]

Hi there! Joining in!

I have the same dilemmas with Epcot and HS FP+. My family isn't into the scarier rides so I'm going to end up making reservations for attractions that don't necessarily merit FP. But I figure any time you save no matter how little is extra time you can spend enjoying the parks. I, too, hope to get 2 7DMT and an Anna & Elsa greeting at MK when I visit in April. Looking forward to hearing more of your plans.

 

[desheag]

Hi!! We will also be there January 18 - 23 and we are staying at POR!! loved seeing all your plans!! Not much longer until we are there

 

[ashw100]

Glad to hear you got all the FP you wanted. One more thing down and one step closer to Disney yay!

 

[ach222]

Congrats on getting your FP+ set up and glad that the site (and app) worked great for you!

And awesome that you got mine train twice and the coveted Anna & Elsa!

I definitely think you probably don't need some of your selections for DHS and EPCOT but you can probably adjust that as you go and see how wait times are, etc. We had done one for the Character Spot in EPCOT and while it probably isn't *needed* it was very nice to have and basically walk in and meet them with no wait

Yeah, I found FP selections difficult outside of MK - but like you mention, at least the character spot will be nice to have at least - thanks!

I'm glad to hear that things went well.

Those are great selections - and yay for getting A&E and 7DMT (twice!)

For HS & Epcot I find that the Tier II ones aren't really always necessary, but since you have to make the FP+, you might as well use them. You can always change them day of based on wait times.

I am hoping that changing things around will be fairly easy since we are going during off season, although it seems there is less and less of an off season so who knows! Thanks!

Hi there! Joining in!

I have the same dilemmas with Epcot and HS FP+. My family isn't into the scarier rides so I'm going to end up making reservations for attractions that don't necessarily merit FP. But I figure any time you save no matter how little is extra time you can spend enjoying the parks. I, too, hope to get 2 7DMT and an Anna & Elsa greeting at MK when I visit in April. Looking forward to hearing more of your plans.

Absolutely, I figure even if we save 5 min we are ahead! And welcome! Fingers crossed you get everything!

Hi!! We will also be there January 18 - 23 and we are staying at POR!! loved seeing all your plans!! Not much longer until we are there

YAY! So fun! It is getting sooo close and with all of the Christmas craziness I'm sure it will be here in no time. 47 days until we head out!

Glad to hear you got all the FP you wanted. One more thing down and one step closer to Disney yay!

Thanks! It's for sure a relief!

 

[ach222]

Paid off the balance yesterday ... getting real!!!