Christmas time is here....almost! A December 2018 PTR (Final thoughts)

[shannie102]

Welcome to my first crack at a PTR! “The only thing predictable about life is its unpredictability.”..and Disney trips!!

Hi! Im Shannan! Im a 30-something Nurse Practitioner by day, Disney fanatic by night. (or in between patients when I have a chance to stalk the boards here ) My favorite movie is Tangled and I am still learning what my favorite rides are at the parks- they change every trip.

(me after finishing the Remy challenge, it was awesome!)

This is the other star of the show, my DH Adam. ( I already know I am going to forgot to change Adam to DH at least 100 times during this so thought I would just give his name now before I forget!) A 30-something Nurse and my biggest Disney supporter- he just gets it! He loves ratatouille (aka why the quote) and Everest is his favorite ride.

We both have always loved Disney and went to WDW as kids in the 90’s and early 2000’s but only have sporadic memories of those trips. For our honeymoon we always said we would go to WDW but when push came to shove we had to spend that money elsewhere . However we did eventually make it in January 2016 and knew we needed to go back ASAP. Our last trip was October 2017 and while there we saw the bounce back offer and could not resist. So now, going for the trifecta, we will go December 12th-December 16th 2018. We are staying at the Coronado, stayed there in October for ½ the trip and the construction didn’t affect us as all. We also have the dinning plan for “free” as part of the bounce back.


What we WANT to do:

*Ohana- had an amazing experience there this past trip and feel like it will be a “Must do” from here on out

*Fantasmic- My Favorite!

*BOG for lunch- We did this in 2016 and thought it was great for a quick service credit.

*Jinko wine tasting- We are big wine fans, me; whites- him; reds. We live near the Finger Lakes in NY and love trying wine from all over!

*Ride splash mountain till I puke! (still upset that it was closed this last visit and only open for 1 day in 2016 when we went…..)


What we HAVE to do:

*The new toy story land- know I won’t be able to plan this till after it opens but we will definitely use some fast passes here

*Tiffins- Spent a lot of time at the nomad lounge in October and thought the menu looked awesome.

*See Happily Ever After (I want from inside the park, my husband’s not too sure about crowds so from the poly beach worked well in October)

*MVMHP- Loved MNSSHP and I am more than willing to spend some money for a few less people



Hope you follow along!

 

[shannie102]

Special thanks to @StarWarsMomofGirls! Her and many other PTR gave me the courage to do this, hope it doesn't become one of those no further update PTR I see around

My tentative plan:

Wednesday 12/12:

Flight in 1030 am- ish (that’s the typical time our flights make it in)

Not sure if we should do AK or HS 1st- guess it will depend on fast passes and how awesome toy story land looks. We loved FOP, but also love TT and RrC.

Jiko wine tasting 3pm (if we are going to do this, so a little worried about the FP window in case of delays)

Sanaa dinner after this. We had an awesome time at the lounge this past trip just getting the wine flights and some apps, want to do this again and if we are already at AKL might as well just take the mini bus over and do this now.

Then here is where I have one conflict- there most likely will be time for MK and I love seeing MK on 1st day of a trip. If the schedule follows its normal pattern, there will also be EMH here this night. Should we

1) do the dessert party tonight instead of during MVMHP?

Or

2) watch from outside the park somewhere? If so should we do dinner somewhere else and try to time?

Thursday 12/13, Friday 12/14, Saturday 12/15:

Not sure when we should do MVMHP (I think Thursday would be less busy but Friday might fit better into the plans…) Not sure where to fit in fanstamic dinner package or Ohana. Would like to plan Tiffin’s lunch and AK FP if we don’t do that the first day and make that the MVMHP day so we have a planned nap time, I’m just not sure!! *This is where I really need some help!*

Sunday 12/16

Epcot or MK, unsure if truly any Epcot FP we need this trip….

BOG lunch- maybe 1-2-ish so that we can get back for….

Tragical express 5pm-ish, flight home 8 pm.

Monday 12/17- start planning next trip


So what would you do with this list? We have park hoppers so that’s not a problem, and are 2 adults on this trip so we can handle a lot, but also want to build in some rest time so we don’t need a vacation from our vacation

 

[becalubob]

Following along! This sounds fun! My next trip is October 2018, but I would love to go in December at some point!!

 

[shannie102]

Random thoughts/questions:

1) Memory maker- we have gotten this both times before, but they were much longer trips. Truthfully I think I have enough photos of us for right now and made my husband stop at almost every photographer last time. Your thoughts? I thought I read that if you ask they will take a photo with your camera, and I have friends who have just snapped a picture from the MDE app, the funny bubble words are there but for general experience, I’m not sure it’s worth the $169 for 5 days.

2) What shows are must sees with only this amount of time? My husband and I were talking the other day and he mentioned he was upset we didn’t see the Nemo show at AK this past trip. (I clearly remember telling him we could get in line but he wanted to go on Everest instead, but I digress) I enjoy shows and they are a great little break time, but with only a few days I don’t want to fill up on large blocks of time occupied.

3) We have not been back to Disney Springs since 2016. We had a terrible experience there and got lost and it was a terrible way to start the trip that year. Any reasons why we HAVE to go back? Anyone have any MUST DO’s there?

4) Since we will be there for the holidays should we try to make more time for hotel decoration hopping and things like the candle light processions, jingle bell, jingle, blame ct. Has anyone been to these and have a favorite?

 

[Newsies]

Joining in! All of your plans look great so far!

I'm excited for Toy Story Land too. I really hope my we'll be able to get to it during our trip, but the crowds might keep us at bay!

I'm in the same boat as you wondering when to do MVMCP. I'm waiting for those dates to be released so that I can start planning!

If EMH is going to be the Sunday you arrive, I would do the dessert party then, rather than doing the MVMCP dessert party-- save that precious party time!

I think you should definitely make time to see at least the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House. It's so cute. I would grab breakfast at The G-Flo Cafe then stop by the gingerbread house for some treats and pictures before heading onto the park that day!

 

[stitchfan75]

Following along!!!
My kids and I are headed to POFQ in November! Last time we went in 2015, I got the MemoryMaker and did absolutely nothing with the pictures. In fact there are still some zipped folders I haven't even opened. Meanwhile I took A TON of photos with my phone so we will not be doing that this time around. We didn't go to Disney Springs last time and I kind of regret it so I'm making that our 1st stop after we check in and possibly eat dinner. I planning this out more than the last trip. Last time we didn't leave DFW until 1pm and dragged ourselves into Mobile way to late. Getting up early to hit the road again was a huge PIA. This time we will leave early Saturday morning and drive through to Pensacola or Tallahassee.

 

[shannie102]

365 days till our trip
185 days till we can book dinning
305 days till we can book fast passes

Schedule, 1st draft…. (based on this year’s Wednesday-Sunday time frames and show times, ect)

whatcha think? Still learning how to use photobucket to upload screen shots and stuff, so sorry for the size. I am really banking on that friday having JBJB at 630 then being able to see fantasmic too!

 

[piglet1979]

I think the plan looks good except I am not sure you will need so many days at HS. That might be something to play around with as time gets closer. I am not sure how TSL will affect HS. That would be something to watch for.

 

[shannie102]

357 days till our trip
178 days till we can book dinning
298 days till we can book fast passes

T-shirt ideas for MVMCP:

So, any good idea for shirts?

It seemed that for MNSSHP there were a lot of themed shirts or couple shirts/costumes and I was wondering if people do this for MVMCP also. It seems 50/50 based on the boards. It would be a cute Christmas photo card (for 2019) if we had some theme shirt but so far I am blank on ideas. I did see some cute shirts on Etsy and purchased them, but think they will be more my day shirts not my MVMCP shirt.

Ears:

When we were there in October I told my husband all I wanted for my birthday (which was during that trip) was for him to pick out a pair of ears for me. Well, he wanted to get me the rose gold ones and shocker there were none, so it was an I.O.U for Christmas, Valentine ’s Day, ect. Through someone else’s PTR (sorry, no idea who right now!) I saw a pair that matched my park bag and just HAD to have them

And while on the Etsy site I just HAPPENED to find a really cute pair that were rose gold enough for me. I sent hubby the site and while wrapping presents a few days ago he thought that box was for the nieces -he does all his Christmas shopping online so we had about 15 boxes to go through, open, and wrap. So I opened it to wrap and saw these!!

Consider me a VERY happy girl!! Now to just plan outfits to go with these


Flight update:

Just waiting on Jet Blue to release their December 2018 schedule, why isn’t everyone planning a year before? I have 22,000 blue points with them (credit card and survey points) so think I can get one of our flights free so will just have to pay for the other

 

[shannie102]

349 days till our trip
169 days till we can book dinning
289 days till we can book fast passes

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you were all good boys and girls! Santa was very nice to me, not only did I get my ears from above, but also a ton of Thomas Kinkade Disney puzzles, calendars, print outs, and a beautiful wine glass set from my sister in law.


A colleague of mine is going back to the world in 2 weeks and we have had fun planning her trip here at work in-between, well, work. I even managed to find her a BOG reservation she was dying for- Merry Christmas to her!

Well, having some time off made it so I could nail down a few more details about our trip- FOOD! Well, not nail down but start thinking about it anyways. Plus my DH actually started reading the blogs and had some input- much better than the normal 3 days prior to the trip “can we do this/ can we go here/ can we eat this….” We do have the dinning plan, it was “free” for our bounce back offer, so I would like to use it as much as possible, but will not not get something just because it’s not part of the dinning plan. Examples include alcohol, I like a cocktail or 3 on vacation, and charcuterie boards (DH loves his meat and cheese plates!) So far here is what we are thinking:

4 table services

1) Mama Melrose

2) ‘Ohana

3&4) Tiffins

8 quick services:

1,2,&3) Hubby likes breakfast, me not so much, so he will most likely go to pepper market and get some form of breakfast our sleep in days and check out morning

4&5) BOG lunch

6) Pizza Rizzo for snack before fantasmic or 1st thing Saturday (bonus, they have alcohol!)

7) Meal from pepper market for after MVMCP

8) Something in Epcot for lunch the first day (substituted with snacks around the world) Maybe Yorkshire fish and chips or Tangerine cafe

16 snacks:

1) Zebra domes at Mara (I love these things!!)

2&3) Pepper jack cheese pretzels from The Launching Pad (we don’t share these very well, almost a great substitute for jalapeño pretzels….)

3&4) German artisan cheese plate (if the selections are similar to this year’s holiday kitchens) Epcot

5) Something from Mexico because I like something to go with my margarita

6) Dole Whip

7) Popcorn at some point- why does it always taste so much better at WDW?

8,9, 10, 11, 12,13,14,15,16) ???

Almost always have a few extra credits, makes great souvenirs/snacks for the flight home.

So any suggestions or must have snacks we should add to this list?

 

[disney castle days]

Following along!

We are still working out the exact dates, but we are going around the same time!

The ears and shirts are so cute! We are also getting Christmassy shirts for MVMCP.

 

[shannie102]

Following along!

We are still working out the exact dates, but we are going around the same time!

The ears and shirts are so cute! We are also getting Christmassy shirts for MVMCP.

Thanks for following along- when you get your shirts feel free to share, might have to copy!

 

[shannie102]

338 days till our trip
158 days till we can book dinning
278 days till we can book fast passes

Second draft (of Wednesday only, see below….)

After thinking about it, 3 days in HS might be too much. And while there is not too much at Epcot we love and HAVE TO do if I’m not going to MK for our first stop I would like to see the giant golf ball for my first view of vacation =)

I think that this would be the best because:

1) If for some reason we are delayed I won’t die if I miss any of the fast pass I would plan for Epcot (Frozen, Spaceship, Nemo—I can’t get enough of that big blue!)

2) We could use some of our snack credits at the holiday showcase and get something to eat before our wine tasting

And

3) I could start my Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree (I’m such a sucker for a scavenger hunt!)

Plus I think if we are done with our FP by 2-ish I might be able to get a 4th FP for at MK before our dessert party, so that would be nice!

Wednesday 12th

Flight in 10 am

Epcot (FP 11-12, 12-1, 1-2)

Jiko Wine tasting 3pm

Sanna lounge 5pm

HEA Dessert party 9pm

MK EMH?



I know the 11-12 and maybe even the 12-1 FP will be throwaways, most likely spaceship earth and nemo as there is a good chance we might miss them, but as long as I get my trip through Norway/Frozen it will be fine. Plus then we will get a snack/light lunch while in the world showcase.

Originally I had the rest of the week up, but what fun would planning and re-planning be if you didn’t change your mind a 1000 times?

After reading @kastoney ‘s report on brunch at the California grill I absolutely want to do that. I have read many others too but that report sealed the deal. So now trying to figure out do we:

1) Skip Tiffin’s and use those credits for the brunch

Or

2) Pay OOP for brunch?

Also need to start thinking about what to do with that BOG lunch, I think I can forgo BOG this time, but not next!! So that leaves 2 extra quick service- do we use those at AK instead of Tiffins lunch or if we keep Tiffins lunch where else can we use them?

Decisions, decisions, decisions…..

 

[piglet1979]

So that leaves 2 extra quick service- do we use those at AK instead of Tiffins lunch or if we keep Tiffins lunch where else can we use them?

We have used them for breakfast before. We tend to use quick service credits for lunch and table service. There are days we don't end up eating lunch or a few of us share and that frees up extra credits for breakfast. Other then the one breakfast at Tusker House on our last trip we always just eat at the food court at the hotel before heading to the parks. Then we fill up our mugs and take them with us. Once we are done drinking what we brought we rinse them out and put them in our backpack.

 

[teetee830]

357 days till our trip
178 days till we can book dinning
298 days till we can book fast passes

T-shirt ideas for MVMCP:

So, any good idea for shirts?

It seemed that for MNSSHP there were a lot of themed shirts or couple shirts/costumes and I was wondering if people do this for MVMCP also. It seems 50/50 based on the boards. It would be a cute Christmas photo card (for 2019) if we had some theme shirt but so far I am blank on ideas. I did see some cute shirts on Etsy and purchased them, but think they will be more my day shirts not my MVMCP shirt.

HI, just found your PTR my son and I will be there the 11/29 - 12/3. Following along. I can't wait! I'm planning for the Friday MVMCP. I love these shirts what Etsy shop did you get them from?

 

[shannie102]

BranchBirds was the name of the Etsy shop for the shirts. They took a little longer, like 4 weeks, but since there is lots of time worth the wait! Enjoy your tip and let me know how MVMCP is, in like 11 months

 

[MiracleCream]

349 days till our trip
169 days till we can book dinning
289 days till we can book fast passes

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you were all good boys and girls! Santa was very nice to me, not only did I get my ears from above, but also a ton of Thomas Kinkade Disney puzzles, calendars, print outs, and a beautiful wine glass set from my sister in law.
View attachment 290662

A colleague of mine is going back to the world in 2 weeks and we have had fun planning her trip here at work in-between, well, work. I even managed to find her a BOG reservation she was dying for- Merry Christmas to her!

Well, having some time off made it so I could nail down a few more details about our trip- FOOD! Well, not nail down but start thinking about it anyways. Plus my DH actually started reading the blogs and had some input- much better than the normal 3 days prior to the trip “can we do this/ can we go here/ can we eat this….” We do have the dinning plan, it was “free” for our bounce back offer, so I would like to use it as much as possible, but will not not get something just because it’s not part of the dinning plan. Examples include alcohol, I like a cocktail or 3 on vacation, and charcuterie boards (DH loves his meat and cheese plates!) So far here is what we are thinking:

4 table services

1) Mama Melrose

2) ‘Ohana

3&4) Tiffins

8 quick services:

1,2,&3) Hubby likes breakfast, me not so much, so he will most likely go to pepper market and get some form of breakfast our sleep in days and check out morning

4&5) BOG lunch

6) Pizza Rizzo for snack before fantasmic or 1st thing Saturday (bonus, they have alcohol!)

7) Meal from pepper market for after MVMCP

8) Something in Epcot for lunch the first day (substituted with snacks around the world) Maybe Yorkshire fish and chips or Tangerine cafe

16 snacks:

1) Zebra domes at Mara (I love these things!!)

2&3) Pepper jack cheese pretzels from The Launching Pad (we don’t share these very well, almost a great substitute for jalapeño pretzels….)

3&4) German artisan cheese plate (if the selections are similar to this year’s holiday kitchens) Epcot

5) Something from Mexico because I like something to go with my margarita

6) Dole Whip

7) Popcorn at some point- why does it always taste so much better at WDW?

8,9, 10, 11, 12,13,14,15,16) ???

Almost always have a few extra credits, makes great souvenirs/snacks for the flight home.

So any suggestions or must have snacks we should add to this list?

Following along! Since I’m planning to go last week of November 2018 and wanted to look at people’s PTR for ideas Snackwise, have you ever gotten baked goods from Les Halles at Epcot? I love almost everything there and didn’t see it on your list. My bad if it’s in there!

 

[shannie102]

Following along! Since I’m planning to go last week of November 2018 and wanted to look at people’s PTR for ideas Snackwise, have you ever gotten baked goods from Les Halles at Epcot? I love almost everything there and didn’t see it on your list. My bad if it’s in there!

We stopped there for the bathrooms after the France video but the line was crazy, will have to make it a point this time, thanks!

 

[MiracleCream]

We stopped there for the bathrooms after the France video but the line was crazy, will have to make it a point this time, thanks!

The lines were long when I went but it moved really quickly. They seem very efficient at moving the line along. We got sooo much stuff and was pleasantly surprised how low priced it was compared to other countries.

 

[Jon E Roorda]

Glad I found my way here. Going Dec 9-19 and just have to follow. We have 2 kids so that changes it up