Celebrating my Un-Birthday Disney Style-April 2010-New 5/3 - The TR has started!

[DisMomAmy]

This morning I was even lazier than yesterday. I got up around 7 with the kids - Tim is finally getting a morning to sleep late now that Zach's soccer is over. He was playing soccer every Saturday morning & Tim usually lets me sleep late on Sundays. I turned on my computer, checked out Scrappie's latest blog update, logged into Tour Guide Mike to check out my photopass share (we can't do them over here now, right?) then finally made my way to WDW dining. I guess I shouldn't be so lazy tomorrow... I got what I wanted but the times are starting to be off by 5-30 minutes. Maybe people are starting to figure out that they need to get moving on their ADRs or maybe it's because it's the weekend?

So in 180 days, we will be starting the day at Epcot. (Anybody catch the recent reference to 'Epcot Center' on Two & a half Men recently?) We'll plan to be there at rope drop. Here's where things get tricky... I'm not sure when Jeff & family will be joining us. I think it's possible that they could come Thursday - Saturday since Florida residents can get those nice 3 day tickets. (Two of which they have left over from last year when J&K couldn't come.)

We have a lunch ADR at Teppan Edo at 12:00. I made an ADR for 8 and I know this one will be easy to switch to 4 if Jeff isn't with us. I requested 11:30 and got 12:00. I wonder if they are even open before 12? But that's fine - especially if we are with Jeff because I doubt they want to eat lunch too early.

I also made an ADR at Le Cellier for the 4 of us if Jeff doesn't come on Thursday and we end up using our "back up" ADR at Teppan Edo on Monday. I requested 11am and got 11:30 - again not sure when they even start lunch? So far I haven't had trouble double booking things but I know I need to go back and cancel some things soon just in case. (I did use two separate logins, email addresses & cell phones - does this make me a bad person?)

We may or may not take a mid-day break then head over to DHS for the evening. It's only open until 7pm tonight with no EMH and no F! on the schedule (for now). I made an ADR at Sci Fi for 8 of us. I think I requested 5pm (or maybe it was 5:30?) and got 5:35.

We'll be out of the parks by 7 and have a fairly early night in. If Jeff & family haven't joined us today, I'm pretty confident they'll join us on Friday. It's hard to tell how they'll handle the kids & school. J is a senior this year so he'll be at the very tail end of his senior year and probably won't worry too much about missing a day or two. He may even be there for one of the Grad Nights! Let's hope that if he is, it's the weekend we are at Disney and not the weekend we want to spend at their house or I may be switching our plans around quite a bit. K is a freshman this year and ran into some trouble when she wanted to take a couple days off earlier this month for a family trip to New York with her mom. So we'll see...

 

[DisMomAmy]

The kids went out trick or treating last night - I'll post some pictures later.

 

[Happydog]

Hey there! You have ALLLL kinds of wonderful plans!!!! I love your ADRs so far! And CRT vs. Crystal Palace, yeah there were a few times it showed up for me too, when I figured it would have been LONG gone... I am booking it for June, just decided we have too many special things already going on for December -- want to spread it out! For December I did make a few double bookings until I had the whole week done, THEN I went back and deleted that very day, I didn't want bad ADR Karma!!! It is just a way to make sure you get your plans all straight, I know everyone does it -- I am just wondering if too many people do it then DONT cancel what that does to the restaurants themselves....

Anyway HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hey there! You have ALLLL kinds of wonderful plans!!!! I love your ADRs so far! And CRT vs. Crystal Palace, yeah there were a few times it showed up for me too, when I figured it would have been LONG gone... I am booking it for June, just decided we have too many special things already going on for December -- want to spread it out! For December I did make a few double bookings until I had the whole week done, THEN I went back and deleted that very day, I didn't want bad ADR Karma!!! It is just a way to make sure you get your plans all straight, I know everyone does it -- I am just wondering if too many people do it then DONT cancel what that does to the restaurants themselves....

Anyway HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Hi Happydog! I know what you mean about ADR karma. I'm sure lots of people make extra ADRs - I'd just heard that they might start canceling double bookings. But then I read on one of the dining threads, from a CM, that it was just a rumor and not true. I guess once in a while it happens if a dining CM sees something fishy but it isn't an automatic thing.

I may hold a couple extras until right before our trip but most of the "back ups" will be canceled in the next week or so once I have everything straight. I can't imagine if people made tons of ADRs and didn't cancel them. Maybe that's how people get to eat at Le Cellier on 4th of July?

The funny thing is that I was trying to be all tricky about it by using two logins, one with my name one with Tims, with separate phone numbers & email addresses, but then when I clicked on "My reservations" (or whatever it's called), it shows ADRs made under both logins?? Maybe because I had just made them all on the same computer? Anyway - I think they're on to me!

I figure I should take advantage of CRT now before my boys are old enough to refuse to go.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Happy Halloween!!

Your plans look great!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

All of your plans sound Fantastic! A day at the waterpark then HDDR should be perfect.

I love that you can do ADR's online now..can't wait to try that system out! Who knows when that will be, but I'm ready when the opportunity presents itself!

You should try CRT! It's your un-birthday....do it up big!! I bet your boys would enjoy being inside the castle...I'm sure they could do without the princesses, but being IN the castle would be cool!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Happy Halloween!!

Your plans look great!

Thanks!! You are getting so close!

All of your plans sound Fantastic! A day at the waterpark then HDDR should be perfect.

I love that you can do ADR's online now..can't wait to try that system out! Who knows when that will be, but I'm ready when the opportunity presents itself!

You should try CRT! It's your un-birthday....do it up big!! I bet your boys would enjoy being inside the castle...I'm sure they could do without the princesses, but being IN the castle would be cool!

I love making the ADRs online!! I hope you get the chance soon!

I think the boys would enjoy being inside the castle. But even better - I think they get swords at CRT!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yeay for more ADRs! I don't blame you for making back-up ADRs just in case!

Did you make one this morning?

 

[DisMomAmy]

Yeay for more ADRs! I don't blame you for making back-up ADRs just in case!

Did you make one this morning?

Hi Jackie! Just getting ready to post my daily ADR update!

 

[DisMomAmy]

This morning was my "sleep in" day but there was business to take care of! Fortunately with the time change this morning, 6:15 felt like 7:15. I logged on right around 6:15 with one ADR in mind. I initially hadn't planned anything for today, but thought that if there was the possibility of a date night, with the help of Jeff & Karen, tonight would be the night.

So... in 180 days we'll be visiting Animal Kingdom in the morning. We have no specific plans for the evening and no specific group ADRs for today. However with a possible date night in mind, I logged on and made a dinner ADR for 2 at Le Cellier. I don't want a repeat of last time when we wandered around aimlessly trying to find somewhere to eat! I couldn't decide on a time so I just entered 7pm. Availability came up for 4:55 or 7:10! I took the 7:10 - I hope that isn't too early?? I'm thinking I might make it a little later?? Last time Jeff & Karen babysat they seemed antsy to take off as soon as we got back from our night out, but this time they will be staying with us so they won't be in a hurry to get anywhere. And heading out for the night by 6pm or so could be tricky??

I'm somewhat surprised that the 5-7 window had all been filled up. Normally this wouldn't surprise me because it's Le Cellier, but based on how things have been going this week with the online ADRs it was unexpected.

Tomorrow is my last ADR day and I'll be planning our pre-park opening MK breakfast. Tune in tomorrow to see what I decided - will it be Crystal Palace or CRT??

 

[DisMomAmy]

I got up around 6:30 this morning and made the last of our ADRs (for now).

I did it! I booked CRT for our last morning and listed "Mom's Un-Birthday" as our celebration. I'm really excited - now I need to brush up on my princesses and watch a few movies between now & then.

I also booked another Teppan Edo ADR for the group for dinner. I don't want to miss this one!! I need to nail Jeff & Karen down on when they might join us during our trip so I can cancel the extra ADRs. I texted J yesterday to see if his school attends one of the Grad Nights. He didn't know. My only concern about that is if his school is attending the first weekend, when we are planning to be at their house visiting, we'll miss seeing him at home - maybe? If he attends the second weekend (when we are at the World) we can meet up before or after. If he is there the first weekend I don't know if we'll try to flip flop our week - which would totally mess up my ADRs. Hopefully he finds out soon - he promised to keep me posted if he hears anything.

So what's next?
I have booked airfare & the rental car - both of which I check on a regular basis for lower rates. I now have ADRs booked. I can't book our condo until the end of February - 60 days out from our trip.

In the meantime I have to change gears a bit and focus on some Christmas projects and Alex's annual IEP meeting that's coming up in a few weeks. I'll try to post an update once a week until we get past the holidays.

Happy November everyone!

 

[Charleston Princess]

How exciting to be eating in the Castle! I think that will be a very fun meal!!! I wonder if they are going to start including the new princess there.

 

[mousescrapper]

You are always free to highjack Julie - until you get a PTR of your own going. Hint, hint... I know - it will come in time.

I may include little snippets of stuff below in my siggie like when we make the ressie, and start including some stuff in the BLOG soon too...but I may not actually start the real deal PTR till after the Holidays...can you wait that long

Can't wait to hear all about your first DVC experience though. Tim wasn't too excited about the info you shared with me and we haven't talked about it since. But I'm sure it will come up again.

oh bummer....was it the price? it is steep. yes I'm sure it will come up again

This morning I was even lazier than yesterday. I got up around 7 with the kids .... I turned on my computer, checked out Scrappie's latest blog update, logged into Tour Guide Mike to check out my photopass share (we can't do them over here now, right?)

hey thanks for the plug and wow I feel so important you looked at me first before making your ADR

I got up around 6:30 this morning and made the last of our ADRs (for now).

I did it! I booked CRT for our last morning and listed "Mom's Un-Birthday" as our celebration. I'm really excited - now I need to brush up on my princesses and watch a few movies between now & then.

YAY! you picked CRT...that is so so sweet!!!! I love it! and boy I hope you have some major organized ADR spreadsheet or something to keep track of all these #'s and don't cancel the one you really need....

I bet you feel great now that the ADR stuff is over and I find it kind of giggly that you have your dinning booked but not the place you are staying yet....

Happy November back to you...hard to believe huh?

J~

 

[eandesmom]

Oh I remember your date night dining fiasco! Very glad you booked something!!!

Congrats on making all of your ADR's, interesting about LeCellier, I'll keep that in mind when we make ours, even at 6 months out those slots were gone. 7;10 sounds about perfect to me.

I love that you put your Un-birthday!

 

[jordanyosh]

congrats and getting all the ADRs done.

I like your idea of having extra ones and then cancelling as plans become firm. We've done that before, but didnt' do it this time...I may have to do that.

 

[DisMomAmy]

How exciting to be eating in the Castle! I think that will be a very fun meal!!! I wonder if they are going to start including the new princess there.

I'm excited - It will be very cool to eat in the castle!!

YAY! you picked CRT...that is so so sweet!!!! I love it! and boy I hope you have some major organized ADR spreadsheet or something to keep track of all these #'s and don't cancel the one you really need....

I bet you feel great now that the ADR stuff is over and I find it kind of giggly that you have your dinning booked but not the place you are staying yet....

Happy November back to you...hard to believe huh?

J~

What kind of DISer would I be without a major organized ADR speadsheet?

I'm actually feeling a bit guilty about all the ADRs I've made... and I'm not referring to my "backups". HDDR, CRT, Teppan Edo, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, H&V... that's a lot of $$. So we'll see how it all plays out over the next few months and whether we keep them all or not. HDDR & CRT will be paid for ahead of time so maybe I'll feel better about the others once I get those paid off. We'll see...

And yes - It's kind of funny that I don't have a resort booked yet! I'd be stressing about it if I hadn't been through this before. I'm not worried at all.

Oh I remember your date night dining fiasco! Very glad you booked something!!!

Congrats on making all of your ADR's, interesting about LeCellier, I'll keep that in mind when we make ours, even at 6 months out those slots were gone. 7;10 sounds about perfect to me.

I love that you put your Un-birthday!

We certainly don't want a repeat of the date night fiasco of 2009!

congrats and getting all the ADRs done.

I like your idea of having extra ones and then cancelling as plans become firm. We've done that before, but didnt' do it this time...I may have to do that.

I'll definitely be firming things up as we get closer.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Now that everyone is thinking Thanksgiving, I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of our Halloween.

Our area trick-or-treats on the 30th rather than the 31st.

Alex's class had a special snack that day then they carved the pumpkins they got on their field trip the week before:

Zach's class had a little party before they got dressed up in their costumes for the school Halloween parade:

The school had a very cute Halloween parade, but I'm not posting any pictures because there are too many kids in each of the pictures.

Then we headed home, waited around for a couple hours, then went out for trick-or-treat. It was a really fun day! (As you can see Tim hadn't raked yet... )

No new trip updates to report - I'm waiting for Tour Guide Mike to come out with his recommendations for late April to make any changes to my itinerary & cancel some of those extra ADRs. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Fall everyone - I think we are going to go "tag" our Christmas tree today. For anyone who doesn't know what that means - we go pick out our tree, pay a deposit and put a tag on it (and a few construction paper decorations to help locate it again later). Then a week or two before Christmas, we'll go back and cut it down! It's pretty common practice around here for those of us who like a freshly cut Christmas tree. It's way too cold in December to be walking around trying to decide which tree to cut down. Plus if you wait too long all the good ones are already tagged or cut down. I'll try to remember my camera.

 

[Charleston Princess]

The boys are so cute in their Halloween costumes, Amy!

I have never heard of tagging your trees, but it sounds like a really fun outing!

 

[DisMomAmy]

The boys are so cute in their Halloween costumes, Amy!

I have never heard of tagging your trees, but it sounds like a really fun outing!

Some of the Christmas tree farms open up for tagging in September! I can't quite get in the Christmas spirit until at least November.

Are your elves going to be coming out soon? Do they wait until Thanksgiving? I saw an Elf on the Shelf set in a store recently and thought about buying it. I didn't and now I regret it... I think I'll be going back for it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Some of the Christmas tree farms open up for tagging in September! I can't quite get in the Christmas spirit until at least November.

No Christmas spirit for me until the day after Thanksgiving. I can't believe how many people in our neighborhood put up their Christmas lights this weekend.

Are your elves going to be coming out soon? Do they wait until Thanksgiving? I saw an Elf on the Shelf set in a store recently and thought about buying it. I didn't and now I regret it... I think I'll be going back for it.

Our elves arrive the night of December 1st -- I can only handle their antics for about three weeks. Connor is already talking about them and wondering what they are going to do this year. I wonder, too...

You should definitely go back for the elf -- your boys would love him!