Childfree (by choice) Disney Lovers!

[HockeyKat]

I hate free dining too, but from my experience, almost all DVCers do. We can't take part, of course, and it really crowds up the place during my fav time of year (Sept), and messes up ADR making/flexibility.

 

[chloe4ever]

Hello there! I guess you can count me in! I am engaged. Right now my fiancee and I are happily living with my 3 cats.Or rather they are happily living with us as they rule the house!!!
We are going to visit WDW in 10 September (09/06 till 09/20) with the free DP. We're having a so funny week plannning our ADR and days (with the angelic help of our TA Kim from DU!).
We do hope it'll be a fun and lovely adventure.
We're gonna stay in Port Orleans riverside, hopefully on Mansion section as I think their rooms are a little more romantic!
I do hope to meet fellow diser on solo/couple trips at the same time!

M bf and I have 7 cats!! And yes, they rule the house, not us!! It is hard to fall asleep with 7 cats on you. And then I try not to move because I don't want to wake them....and.......yes, I sound like a crazy cat woman.....

 

[chloe4ever]

Welcome!! You will find we are an eclectic group. But are mostly harmless to ourselves & others.

The one piece of advice I have for your trip is plan together time with everyone (a special meal, a few hours in Fantasy Land, etc) and then go do your own thing. We went a few years ago w/my extended family (12 total including 5 kids) and it is much easier.
Logistically it is harder to keep a bigger group together; you find different interests so people don't all want to do the same thing or in your case the wee-ones won't be able to ride things you may want to; and it preserves your sanity & family bonds.
And it doesn't always have to be you & bf while the others go off. Maybe steal your sister for a few hours while he keeps the kids, or the 3 of you take the kids while he grabs a round of golf.

Great suggestions I was trying to figure out how to preserve my sanity! Which is getting harder and harder I miss hanging out with my sister. We use to do everything together, but now ALL she talks about is her kids, kids, kids, kids......and it can be tough. I told her that I am going to kidnap her for a few hours here and there so we can actually spend some time together sans screaming kids.....and then I am going to have to find a way to make her not talk about her kids the WHOLE time we are alone together

I think parents make me more annoyed with kids then the actual kids themselves. It is fine to talk about them, but not 24/7 (which most parents do).

Welcome to the group!!!

ITA with Cheryl- plan some alone time to keep your sanity.

DH and I took our (then) 4yr old niece on her very first Disney trip in 2005, JUST us 3!!! It did not go bad. And then our next 3 trips after that were with the same niece, her younger brother, BIL and SIL. THIS IS HOW I KNOW I ENJOY DISNEY MUCH MORE WITH JUST DH AND I!! It's called, first hand experience.

I would not mind doing future trips here and there with my niece and nephew, but for the most part- I prefer the Disney experience I have when it is just DH and I.

Have fun!

Tammy- enjoy your cruise and the concert!

Thanks for the welcome!!

 

[chloe4ever]

A woman today in a grocery store got kinda mad at me....

She was standing by her 5ish son and he was screaming. Well she looked over at me and said, "He wants another toy, but I just bought him one yesterday." And she had this look like she wanted me to help her or something (like he was my kid)......

So I said, "Well, don't buy him another one."

And she said, "But he is upset!"

And I said, "So??"

And she looked at me like I was pure evil. Yes, imagine not giving into your kid and letting him be upset!!

 

[maddhatir]

Welcome Fairygirl and Miriade!

Also, I think I'm the only person who is completely turned off by the idea of free dining. 1. I don't want to make ADRs in advance..I have NO CLUE what I'm gonna want to eat that far in advance and 2) we eat 99% counter service and only a few table service and it's just not a good deal for us...plus I wouldn't want to deal with the crowds it brings out...yuck.

I hate free dining too, but from my experience, almost all DVCers do. We can't take part, of course, and it really crowds up the place during my fav time of year (Sept), and messes up ADR making/flexibility.

I agree that free dining has ruined the food quality and the spontaneity of Disney dining. I hate making ADRs 180 days out not b/c I don't know WHAT I will want to eat, (I love Disney's menus and it is always fun to try something on it no matter what place we chose to eat 180 days beforehand LOL) but it is WHEN I will want to eat that I don't like. If I get hungry I like to walk into a place and eat. Now you have to even PLAN your hunger pains!

But this year, they are only offering free TS to Mod and Deluxe resorts and free CS to Values. Right? Maybe offering the free CS to the values might free up more TS space for everyone else??

Tiffany- They now have CS plans. I would not mind getting that for free! No planning at all. I think DH might want to try that next trip. He loves to have a good meal- but he thinks some of the CS options are good enough that he would like to try it. You can't beat Wolfgang Pucks Express @ DTD for CS!

.....and then I am going to have to find a way to make her not talk about her kids the WHOLE time we are alone together

Alcohol! LOTS of alcohol! Geez, I can't even say take her to the Adventurers Club b/c they took it away! That place was so much fun it would make anyone forget most anything Maybe Jellyrolls!!?

A woman today in a grocery store got kinda mad at me....

She was standing by her 5ish son and he was screaming. Well she looked over at me and said, "He wants another toy, but I just bought him one yesterday." And she had this look like she wanted me to help her or something (like he was my kid)......

So I said, "Well, don't buy him another one."

And she said, "But he is upset!"

And I said, "So??"

And she looked at me like I was pure evil. Yes, imagine not giving into your kid and letting him be upset!!

I think a lot of those parents give in all the time b/c they don't want to hear the kid whine. The kids who's parents DON'T give in, know better not to whine b/c they won't get it .

 

[HockeyKat]

Great suggestions I was trying to figure out how to preserve my sanity! Which is getting harder and harder I miss hanging out with my sister. We use to do everything together, but now ALL she talks about is her kids, kids, kids, kids......and it can be tough. I told her that I am going to kidnap her for a few hours here and there so we can actually spend some time together sans screaming kids.....and then I am going to have to find a way to make her not talk about her kids the WHOLE time we are alone together

I think parents make me more annoyed with kids then the actual kids themselves. It is fine to talk about them, but not 24/7 (which most parents do).



Thanks for the welcome!!

I couldn't agree MORE!! Then again, I talk nonstop about my cats.

But seriously, there are other topics than baby wipes and snotty noses and the latest cute thing the kid did.

My mom is the worst for that. I love my niece and nephew, don't get me wrong, but geez. Can't you talk about something besides the grandkids? I think she is trying to get me to have them...

 

[zima-cheryl]

Hi there-I just found this thread and have had a great time reading it!

Welcome to the loony bin. You'll find us mostly harmless to ourselves & others.

I'll leave you with this cute cartoon

I have a dining suggestion! Marrakesh (Moroccan) in Epcot is great if you haven't been! Really fun and great food.

I can't second this one emphatically enough!!! Love, love, love Marrakesh!! Had the most amazing salmon there last time. We never miss it.

I am looking forward to stopping at the Tequila bar in Mexico

Well worth giving it a couple hours. The staff is really friendly & helpful and it is just a nice place.

Make sure to hang back in the parks at the end of the night as all the cattle are heading towards the exit. Stay back and take a stroll to the back of the parks- it is so peaceful! Don't rush for the bus. Where is everyone running to anyway? A bus line

ITA... depending on the park we usually grab something (ice cream @ MK, a Dos Equis @ Epcot, etc) right before closing and then pull up some bench and hang out for 30 - 45 minutes. You can people watch, rest your tootsies and different things happen too if you pay attention. Cast memebers are still around entertaining folks, some nights you can catch the burn off @ Epcot or the Kiss Goodnight @ MK. And realistically by the time you do that & get queued up for the bus is probably about the same spot you would have had in line had you rushed out in the first place.

I agree that free dining has ruined the food quality and the spontaneity of Disney dining.

I hope I'm not about to jinx myself, but I don't worry so much about all the ADR's. I do about some certain ones, but I let the rest go. We've always had good luck getting ressies at the last minute. We use the resort conceirge (sp?) or guest relations at the park. Despite what they say, I think they must hold some # back for them to use. Plus being a party of 2 it is easier to work us in as long as we are flexible...but I don't mind eating at 7p or 8p either. Many a day we've stopped by the front desk mid-morning on our way out & snagged a good ressie for that evening.

Ok everyone, some advice. I am a frequent visitor to the world with our kids, however, this time it will be only me and my DH for our 25th! I have the segway tour planned and one of the kingdowm tours. I don't golf, but we do plan on hitting the spa/fitness center. We do like alcohol and nice dinners I am open to all suggestions. This will be the first time that we aren't doing Disney commando style! We are staying at the Contemporary and are on the dining plan (deluxe). Can't wait to hear some great suggestions from you all - thanks! Lisa

Along w/seconding a lot of what others said, I would also suggest DTD. They have some good restaurants over there (Paradiso 37 & Ragalan Road are our 2 favs). Paradiso has live music sometimes and Ragalan has dancers (think Lord of the Dance). DTD will have street performers and different things going on. Don't be afraid to join in on the street party. Catch "La Nouba" and maybe try the balloon ride (I enjoyed it...different view of things). I know others here like the Rainforest Cafe too. And if either of you like there is Fuego the cigar bar & at Sosa's some nights they actually have a guy there you can watch rolling cigars. Lots of cool shops to check out too.

Since you are on the monorail line maybe try the Luau (sp?) at the Poly? Or check the times, maybe you can catch a hula demonstration or the torch lighting.

Over at Ft. Wilderness they have carriage rides (very romantic).

I think you'll really enjoy being able to do things your kids may not have the patience to sit through or may not be old enough to participate in (depending on their age).

Which Segway tour did you book? We did the Epcot one last Sept. and it was fantastic!

 

[zima-cheryl]

I couldn't agree MORE!! Then again, I talk nonstop about my cats.

But seriously, there are other topics than baby wipes and snotty noses and the latest cute thing the kid did.

My mom is the worst for that. I love my niece and nephew, don't get me wrong, but geez. Can't you talk about something besides the grandkids? I think she is trying to get me to have them...

No snotty nose conversations here... unless it is the dog w/a snotty nose

 

[Joyciemc]

Thanks for the welcome messages!

I actually like the dining plan. We usually go in very early September and the crowds are very low.While I make ADRs ahead of time, we've never had trouble changing or adding things while we are there so I don't feel tied to them. I agree that it's tough to know what you're going to want to eat 180 days before the meal!

 

[mskayjay]

Thanks for the welcome messages!

I actually like the dining plan. We usually go in very early September and the crowds are very low.While I make ADRs ahead of time, we've never had trouble changing or adding things while we are there so I don't feel tied to them. I agree that it's tough to know what you're going to want to eat 180 days before the meal!

We love September and October too. Much quieter at the parks and last year we managed to go during food and wine strictly by accident! THAT was a lot of fun! Didn't appreciate the jerks drinking with their kids there (and I mean drunken heavy drinking with kids in tow) but that seems to happen more and more lately. Leave the kids home if that is what your plans are! Sheesh!

 

[mskayjay]

Ok everyone, some advice. I am a frequent visitor to the world with our kids, however, this time it will be only me and my DH for our 25th! I have the segway tour planned and one of the kingdowm tours. I don't golf, but we do plan on hitting the spa/fitness center. We do like alcohol and nice dinners I am open to all suggestions. This will be the first time that we aren't doing Disney commando style! We are staying at the Contemporary and are on the dining plan (deluxe). Can't wait to hear some great suggestions from you all - thanks! Lisa

Our favorite dining experience at Disney is Cali Grill right at your hotel during Wishes. We spent our 25th anny there and did it again last year for our 26th too! Just awesome! We really enjoyed just the slower pace....no rush to do it all, eating when you want, shopping if you want, late nights in the hot tubs, etc etc......very nice. We missed the KTTK tour last time but it is a must for us next trip.

 

[HockeyKat]

Thanks for the welcome messages!

I actually like the dining plan. We usually go in very early September and the crowds are very low.While I make ADRs ahead of time, we've never had trouble changing or adding things while we are there so I don't feel tied to them. I agree that it's tough to know what you're going to want to eat 180 days before the meal!

Oh, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the dining plan. I just hate free dining, selfishly because I can't take advantage of it as a DVC member, and only get to face the disadvantages (higher crowds, harder to get ADRs).


Cheryl, I will listen to stories about your snotty dog noses all day, ok?
I owe you an email.


I tried Zumba tonight. I have a feeling I will not be able to get out of my chair tomorrow...

 

[Alesia]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the dining plan. I just hate free dining, selfishly because I can't take advantage of it as a DVC member, and only get to face the disadvantages (higher crowds, harder to get ADRs).


Cheryl, I will listen to stories about your snotty dog noses all day, ok?
I owe you an email.


I tried Zumba tonight. I have a feeling I will not be able to get out of my chair tomorrow...

I love Zumba!!!

 

[book_junkie]

Our favorite dining experience at Disney is Cali Grill right at your hotel during Wishes. We spent our 25th anny there and did it again last year for our 26th too! Just awesome! We really enjoyed just the slower pace....no rush to do it all, eating when you want, shopping if you want, late nights in the hot tubs, etc etc......very nice. We missed the KTTK tour last time but it is a must for us next trip.

ITA! We do Cali Grill for our first dinner during Wishes every trip, although last time we went was during free dining and we got stuck next to a very tired "angel"... Luckily the weather was wonderful so we went onto the walkway/balcony and watched the fireworks; the first time we went we were able to watch from our table- they used to dim the lights and pipe the music into the restaurant.

We've also done the Keys to the Kingdom tour, and it was wonderful- so interesting to find all the little bits and pieces that others might not know. You get a special pin at the end of the tour, and when you show that pin to a CM, they will usually answer your more "unusual" questions- my husband loves to try and find out more information that available to the "general public" from MK CMs.

Another favorite of ours for romantic meals and great wines is Artist's Point at Wilderness Lodge- make a later dinner reservation to miss some of the crowds, and you time it right you can watch the Water Pageant from your table.

We love walking around the boardwalk... Or taking a carriage ride at Port Orleans or one of the other places...

 

[zima-cheryl]

I tried Zumba tonight. I have a feeling I will not be able to get out of my chair tomorrow...

That is the dance one right? Besides evidently being tough, how did you like the class?

 

[HockeyKat]

That is the dance one right? Besides evidently being tough, how did you like the class?

Yeah, it's some sort of latin fusion dance + fitness moves thing. I liked it a lot, actually, although it was really hot and crowded in there.

I was looking for one other cross-training thing besides hockey to add to my 3 runs a week, and I think it might be it.

My other new happiness is Pilates... going to try to add that in twice a week as well.


I find the actual classes work a lot better for me than DVDs... I will wind up sitting on the couch and watching.

 

[mskayjay]

Yeah, it's some sort of latin fusion dance + fitness moves thing. I liked it a lot, actually, although it was really hot and crowded in there.

I was looking for one other cross-training thing besides hockey to add to my 3 runs a week, and I think it might be it.

My other new happiness is Pilates... going to try to add that in twice a week as well.


I find the actual classes work a lot better for me than DVDs... I will wind up sitting on the couch and watching.

I bought the home tapes! When they come and I try them, I'll let you know what I think of them. I just am not comfortable being with a group doing this right now so this was an easier option. Back to walking 5 a night too and loving it!

 

[zima-cheryl]

Joined the YMCA tonight

Loving the steam room & sauna
The class schedule is crazy-good and they are literally right across the street from my office. Going Monday for my orientation on the equipment. May try to sneak over this weekend & check out a yoga class. After the past few months it will be good to get back & get into a routine again.

Not sure about Zumba... but I do think I may try the beginners spinning class. At least on a bike you don't have to worry about rembering your right from your left.

 

[Joyciemc]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I LOVE the dining plan. I just hate free dining, selfishly because I can't take advantage of it as a DVC member, and only get to face the disadvantages (higher crowds, harder to get ADRs).

Ahhhh, I was confused! I can see why free dining is less enticing if you can't use it. This year we have a great resort discount that was a much better deal than free dining, so we paid for the dining plan for the first time ever.

And now for an unrelated vent:
Can I tell you all how much I hate having to hire someone? Can I also tell you how ridiculous some people's cover letters/resumes are? I almost want to interview some just to meet the people who wrote these gems.

I feel better now. Thanks.

 

[HockeyKat]

Joined the YMCA tonight

Loving the steam room & sauna
The class schedule is crazy-good and they are literally right across the street from my office. Going Monday for my orientation on the equipment. May try to sneak over this weekend & check out a yoga class. After the past few months it will be good to get back & get into a routine again.

Not sure about Zumba... but I do think I may try the beginners spinning class. At least on a bike you don't have to worry about rembering your right from your left.

Yay on the Y!!

I avoid spinning. Not really a fan of biking, in general.

Ahhhh, I was confused! I can see why free dining is less enticing if you can't use it. This year we have a great resort discount that was a much better deal than free dining, so we paid for the dining plan for the first time ever.

And now for an unrelated vent:
Can I tell you all how much I hate having to hire someone? Can I also tell you how ridiculous some people's cover letters/resumes are? I almost want to interview some just to meet the people who wrote these gems.

I feel better now. Thanks.

I couldn't feel you more on the hiring people and the crazy resumes. I have seen some doozies.