Can we? Should we? A Spring 2009 PTR - New 5/6 - The TR has begun!

[mousescrapper]

I like the updated version very much!

I think it's smart to plan for FUN but you need to have some limits as KathyRN says you don't want to hit that wall.

Having some nights to just relax will be nice for all of you and take advantage of enjoying your 1st Family stay on Property. Can't wait to see pictures of the boys soaking up the CBR!

J-

 

[MRYPPNS]

I think your family will really enjoy hanging out at CBR with the beaches, the pools and the little island in the middle of the lake (which I never made it to)!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Scheduling R&R time is sooooo important! You don't want to hit that wall....

Kathy

p.s. make sure to double check park hours the week before you go to factor in any last-minute changes!

I like the updated version very much!

I think it's smart to plan for FUN but you need to have some limits as KathyRN says you don't want to hit that wall.

Having some nights to just relax will be nice for all of you and take advantage of enjoying your 1st Family stay on Property. Can't wait to see pictures of the boys soaking up the CBR!

J-

I think your family will really enjoy hanging out at CBR with the beaches, the pools and the little island in the middle of the lake (which I never made it to)!

Thanks everyone for the feedback on my new itinerary!! I think DBIL was waiting for me to get it finished up (using his ESP of course) to call and tell us they are going to stay at CBR for a couple nights.

This is of course great news as far as us staying at CBR rather than the condo.

However, I had assumed that if they came to visit us during the Disney portion of our trip, it would be on the weekend. Their kids are in school - they are both in high school now -and they wouldn't want to pull them out. Right?? Wrong... Last night the phone rights around 9:30 (we don't usually get calls that late - not that I would mind, but we don't usually). I have a cold & was in bed half asleep until I heard DH say "Caribbean Beach Resort" then my ears perked up. I jumped out of bed and came out to living room and tried to figure out who he was talking to and why on earth HE would be talking about CBR. DH finished up the call and then I grilled him - but of course, he didn't know the dates!! He said that they were going to come and hopefully stay at CBR for 2 nights MIDWEEK!

I am going to look for some Florida resident discount codes and then call his girlfriend - she'll give me the scoop. I need to have it figured out before Tuesday. I know she wants to visit AK because she's never been. We'll have to work this into our schedule - which means... a new itinerary... Maybe.

I'll keep you posted........................

 

[DisMomAmy]

I thought I had posted about my new park bag, but I can't find it... I guess I posted it on someone else's PTR (Charleston Princess) but never put it over here... Well here it is...

I got a Vera Bradley hipster - this is one of the colors/patterns they are retiring so they had it on sale for $20 - vs. the usual $54!! I got it a couple weeks ago. I think it will be a good fit for me. I like the across the chest thing - but my bagallini that I used last time had a buckle that rubbed on my collar bone. The bagallini is really only meant to be worn one way - this one can go on either side and you can flip it over to have the buckle on your back if needed.

And then today I got...

Yay!! Disney Mail!! I know, I know... I already know most of that stuff, but it is so fun to have more tangible Disney stuff - I think they keep sending you stuff so you won't think about canceling. As if to be telling me, "no condo for you!"

(I took the pictures on our bed. My mother made us that quilt for Christmas - it took her over 2 years!! She has made quilts for each of the boys too.)

 

[carissanboys]

You got a hipster!!! Can I ask where you bought it? I can never pass up a good bargain!

Yay for Disney mail!!

I love homemade quilts. My MIL made us one. And she made each of the boys one when they were little - meant more for a crib, but they still have them.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Don't you just love your new hipster???

Hurray for Disney mail -- I got Disney mail in the form of another one of those packets to join the movie club (which I would never do) -- they included labels that say This Disney DVD is owned by (and then our last name). I was so excited about them. I am planning on sticking them on all of our Disney films this weekend.

 

[Hedy]

I used a Hipster in Vegas and loved it.

 

[DisMomAmy]

You got a hipster!!! Can I ask where you bought it? I can never pass up a good bargain!

Yay for Disney mail!!

I love homemade quilts. My MIL made us one. And she made each of the boys one when they were little - meant more for a crib, but they still have them.

I got it from verabradley.com. I love our quilts too! Zachary has bunk beds in his room so now my mother is going to make him a second quilt!

Don't you just love your new hipster???

Hurray for Disney mail -- I got Disney mail in the form of another one of those packets to join the movie club (which I would never do) -- they included labels that say This Disney DVD is owned by (and then our last name). I was so excited about them. I am planning on sticking them on all of our Disney films this weekend.

I do love my new hipster!! Thanks for the idea! Disney mail is the best - I can't wait for our ME tags (that we probably won't end up using...) and the other fun stuff that comes after you pay.

I used a Hipster in Vegas and loved it.

I haven't used it yet - but it seems perfect.

 

[carissanboys]

I got it from verabradley.com.

Thanks. I just ordered it - and the wallet.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Thanks. I just ordered it - and the wallet.

 

[KathyRN137]

Yay for the D-Mail!

It just makes it so much more real, you know?

Gorgeous quilt...what a lovely heirloom.

Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

Hey I have that same pattern/color I think in my VB backsack that I got for Disney last summer on ebay

Please don't stress too much over the itinery in re to DBIL and family. If you have the hoppers you can do your thing and always meet up w/ them where they go... JAT

 

[DisMomAmy]

Yay for the D-Mail!

It just makes it so much more real, you know?

Gorgeous quilt...what a lovely heirloom.

Kathy

Thanks about the quilts - I just love our new one - my mom worked on it forever - it's so nice to finally have it on our bed. I'm sure we'll treasure them forever.

And yes - D-Mail does make it seem so real - I can't wait until Tuesday when I can make my ADRs!! Now if I could just get those darn May hours...

Hey I have that same pattern/color I think in my VB backsack that I got for Disney last summer on ebay

Please don't stress too much over the itinery in re to DBIL and family. If you have the hoppers you can do your thing and always meet up w/ them where they go... JAT

Maybe I subliminally liked the red color/pattern because I saw it in your TR??

I'm not stressing over the itinerary. I've spent a little time playing around with it and I think I have a plan that I like - maybe even better than our original one... I just need to confirm their dates - hopefully before Tuesday. Once I know for sure, I'll post this version.

 

[xoktenox]

You're going to LOVE the VB hipster! I got one a while back in a retiring pattern too, totally worth it!

 

[DisMomAmy]

You're going to LOVE the VB hipster! I got one a while back in a retiring pattern too, totally worth it!

I can't wait to actually use it!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I feel like I've been disconnected from the DIS for days!!! Yesterday we went to Coco Key indoor water park again. I didn't take any pictures but for those of you who want to see what I'm talking about, I posted some pictures in my TR from October 2007. We had a ton of fun - but it was a little cold.

Just before we left, DH turned off the computer... cue the scary suspense music...

When we got home it wouldn't turn back on!!!!!

Mind you this is less than 48 hours before I have to make my ADRs!

So he runs off to the nearest Best Buy (almost 30 minutes away) to get parts to fix the power supply. When he gets home ($100 later at almost 7pm) and tries to switch out the parts - one of the cables doesn't match up. Yes - DH is an engineer - a SOFTWARE engineer - we needed a HARDWARE engineer - STAT!

Best Buy closed at 7! Luckily DH wasn't working far from home today so he went back to Best Buy and fortunately they let him return the part and get the correct part without a problem - I was worried because the package was opened. Wonderful DH rushes home in time for a conference call at 11am today so that he can fix my computer before returning to the office. Now I'm all better - but had a lot of catching up to do.

Plus - we confirmed dates with DBIL yesterday - they will be with us 3 full days (staying over 2 nights). They will meet up with us sometime Thursday morning (4/30) and leave sometime Saturday afternoon/evening (5/2). Of course I learn of this information about 36 hours before ADR time and without access to my computer! Let's just say I did a lot of chicken scratching on paper last night.

Here is what I have come up with for our itinerary and ADRs. I still need to look it over quite a bit - and it may change before the day is through, but here it is:

Monday (4/27) - arrive/check-in/Epcot and Garden Grill for dinner

Tuesday (4/28) - Rope Drop at AK/break/MK for the evening and Wishes. I'm thinking Tony's or Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner? Any thoughts on a good TS dinner at MK? (I tried to move Chef Mickey's to tonight but they don't have anything early enough)

Wednesday (4/29) - Epcot (probably not at rope drop unless everyone is up). Le Cellier for lunch. Break then Chef Mickey's for dinner at 5:00. Early night.

Thursday (4/30) - Rope Drop? at DHS - meet up with family. Mid-day break then back to DHS for dinner and Fantasmic! Will try for FDP at Mama Melrose, but we are a party of 8 and I'm hearing that people are having a hard time getting the package. If we can't get FDP we'll do 50's PTC - may do it for lunch though instead. This is a Spectro night at MK so hopefully it will be a good night for Fantasmic!

Friday (5/1) - Animal Kingdom when we get there - stay until we are ready to go. Break then Whispering Canyon for dinner with the group. I'm really looking forward to this ADR.

Saturday (5/2) - Rope Drop at Epcot - lunch at Biergarten? - it looks like a lot of fun. Any advice for picky eaters? Will I starve? I'm sure DH and of the other adults (including teenage niece and nephew) will like it. Atmosphere sounds fun. Break - end the day at MK with spectro? Not sure how late DBIL & family will stay.

Sunday (5/3) - Last day - on our own today - AK morning (Tusker House - probably do late breakfast to see Donald rather than the 8 am breakfast since we'll be up late the night before and maybe tonight too). Break then off to DHS. If we don't get a FDP ADR on Thursday, I'll make one for this night for the 4 of us to see Fantasmic - this is probably a spectro night too so another good night for Fantasmic! I'd love to end the trip at MK, but I think it will be an EMH night... we'll see when the hours finally come out - which by the way, most likely won't be until AFTER I have to make my ADRs.

I will have more than 7 ADRs so that we have some flexibility built into our schedule.

I'd love your feedback - quick!!! Tomorrow morning at 7:00 I'll be on the phone making my ADRs.

 

[DisMomAmy]

By the way... check out my ticker. I think that's from the 25th when we arrive in Florida. But it's still nice to see it under 3 months.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Oh no... I guess I need to work on this some more tonight - I don't have a morning at MK.

But I'll still take some advice on restaurants...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hello my loyal followers! Anybody still out there??

Well I made it through my itinerary crisis of yesterday, got up this morning and made the call at 7am. I spoke with a lovely CM named Mary and was able to make all of my ADRs (except one)- plus a whole bunch of extras - just in case.

Here is what I ended up with:

Monday 4/27- Epcot/Garden Grill at 4:30pm

Tuesday 4/28- AK morning/DHS pm - Sci Fi at 5:15pm (don't know if we'll keep this one or not - but I need something on this day)

Wednesday 4/29- MK all day (with break?) followed by Chef Mickey's at 5:00pm

Thursday 4/30- DHS all day - family arrives this day but I'm not sure how early... we may go to Epcot in the morning if they aren't arriving until later?? I made two ADRs - we won't use both... Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose's for 8 (2 tables of 4) at 3:40 pm and 50s PTC at 11:05 (1 table of 8).

Friday 5/1- Sort of an open day - Magic Kingdom? - Whispering Canyon for dinner (1 table for 8 at 5:15pm) I'm really looking forward to this - it should be a ton of fun with the bigger group.

Saturday 5/2 - Animal Kingdom - Tusker House 8am character breakfast - I reserved 2 tables of 4 so we can keep our reservation if they decide not to join us. They may go out late the night before... plus their kids are teenagers. Epcot pm - LeCellier 5:15 (again 2 tables of 4 in case they are gone by then or just decide not to join us - also not sure if they want to park hop).

Sunday 5/3 - If we miss Epcot and/or Le Cellier on Saturday I made a lunch ADR at 11:30 (opening time) for just the 4 of us - DH REALLY wants to eat here. Also in case we opt out of the FDP and/or F! on Thursday night I tried to make a FDP ADR at Mama Melrose's for the 4 of us. Couldn't get this ADR yet because the FDP depends on F! - which depends on the May calendar... I'll have to call back.

Plus I still have extra Chef Mickey's ADRs on Monday and Friday nights. Don't worry folks, I'm sure I'll make somene very happy when I cancel those ADRs well in advance of our trip.

So there you have it... Once I decided to make a bunch of extra ADRs I stopped stressing so bad - I called it "scheduled flexibility" and got laughed at by one of my friends...

 

[MRYPPNS]

It won't be much longer now!

Have you heard any reports yet on how crowded F! is now that they are only showing it a couple times a week?