CHRISTMAS VACATION (The Trip, Not the Movie): 12/19 - We're back, TR link on p. 25

[annnewjerz]

Split a meal at dinner and keep the dessert party! You don't have to stuff yourselves at either place - you can just taste!

Very great suggestion---but here's the predicament I face. With 3 people in our party, 2 of us would split and the other would get their own meal. Typically, DM and I would split and DH would get his own. However my Mom looooves chicken pot pie. I do not. The Wave has chicken pot pie for dinner (which is one of the reasons I picked this for her), so our normal splitting situation would have to be slightly re-worked. If I order an extra app, I think I can probably convince DH to split with me....

.....maybe.

See all the conversations I end up having (with myself, naturally) to come to a final decision?

 

[MyMuse]

Hmmmm......

Keep Wave and order less as per your above post. It sounds like a good solution.

If you wanted The Wave and your DM love chicken pot pie and Kona is the next day, then I think you have a winner and a lower food bill.

I checked out The Wave as well and really wished I booked there as well! I thiink it will be on my Wish List for any future trips.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Ok.. stick with wave, see if you can get an earlier time slot and split meals with an extra app!

 

[exwdwcm]

Hmmm. I'm wondering if I need to cancel my dinner at The Wave on 12/14 since we will be doing the Wishes Dessert Party that night.

Here's my two thoughts:

1. I should cancel the dinner ressie and make a lunch ressie for Kona instead. This way, we will have time to digest and fill up on as much dessert as we can for the party.

2. I should keep my dinner ressie since I really wanted to do The Wave. The reservation is at 5:30 and if we skip dessert with dinner (nothing looked too fantastic anyway) we can just go ahead and eat dessert at the Dessert Party at 7:30.

Opinions? Our other reservation that day is for a 8:15am breakfast at the Crystal Palace, so we definitely will be hungry by the time the afternoon rolls around---I just figured we'd grab a snack and head to dinner. The main appeal of the dessert party (for me) was the fact that DM didn't care to watch Wishes in the first place, so I thought sitting at a table versus fighting the crowds might make it a little more enjoyable for her. The dessert was just an added bonus---the icing on the cake, so to speak. (pun intended)

i would keep the WAVE- i have heard great things about it- just eat light? share a meal? just skip dessert at the meal and save it for the party!

congrats on the pin- love it-so awesome!!!!

so happy you got the wishes party- i am excited about it. i read they cap it at 35 guests per night, have you heard that? that seems really low, but then again that isn't a huge area there either. if it is 35, that is pretty cool, since my party will basically be half of that number ! lol

 

[disneygirlinnj]

hmm... I say keep the Wave. While we didn't have dinner there (yet!), the service and restaurant and breakfast we had was all VERY good. I was never impressed with Kona's lunch though. Skip dessert at the Wave (or take a small bite!) and then you'll be ready for the party!

 

[annnewjerz]

Alright everyone, we're back from our October trip, so it's time to get this Christmas PTR back on track!!!

I'm having a serious problem. After having a grand old time at MNSSHP, I'm debating whether or not I should add MVMCP back onto our trip during December. There are still tickets available for the December 15th party and I can just go ahead and switch around a few ADRs and we'd be set.

Thoughts?

 

[exwdwcm]

welcome back- can't wait to hear all about it!

we are actually booked already for the 12/15 party- so my vote is yes!!!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Have you done the MVMCP? If not, I'd say to add it. It's a different holiday, different season, different party!!! Plus, your mom didn't get to go with you in Oct!!

 

[creativeamanda]

I say go for it!

 

[annnewjerz]

welcome back- can't wait to hear all about it!

we are actually booked already for the 12/15 party- so my vote is yes!!!!

Have you done the MVMCP? If not, I'd say to add it. It's a different holiday, different season, different party!!! Plus, your mom didn't get to go with you in Oct!!

I say go for it!

Thanks for the input, everyone! I've never doen MVMCP and didn't want to because we aren't big fireworks/parade people, but after attending MNSSHP I think we would have a really good time. Even if we don't want to partake in the special events, if the rides are even half as empty as they were during MNSSHP, we'll have a great time just doing attractions.

So, I guess it's official. I'm off to WDW's website to buy my MVMCP tickets for the 15th right now. Who knew they had an advance purchase discount? Not me---BONUS!

Now I just have to rearrange some pesky ADRs. I have a feeling California Grill is going to be the toughest to change, but we'll make it work.

 

[khertz]

I know I didn't comment on whether you should or not, but I'm happy y'all are going to the MVMCP! I'm glad you had a good time at the Halloween party...gives me high hopes for our Christmas party! I'm heading over to your Oct TR right now...

 

[creativeamanda]

Congrats on getting the tickets! I am really excited about the party simply because of the shorter ride lines!

 

[annnewjerz]

Sooooo...

Now that I have added tickets to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on December 15th, that suddenly changes some of our other plans. Because I have absolutely nothing of interest to write about, I'm going to do an updated itinerary that now includes our new dining reservations, as well as the changes in park days.

Day 1 --- Dec. 12, 2009
9:30 - 11:30am / Flight arrives, take Magical Express and check-in @ Boardwalk Villas
11:30 - 2:00pm / Relax around the Boardwalk, unpack if our room is ready
2:00 - 5:00pm / Downtown Disney (lunch @ Earl of Sandwich)
5:00 - 8:00pm / Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba
8:00 - 10:00pm / Dinner at Todd English's bluezoo @ the Dolphin hotel

Day 2 --- Dec. 13, 2009
9:00 - 2:00pm / Disney's Hollywood Studios (lunch at Brown Derby @ 11:30am)
2:00 - 7:00pm / Relax at Boardwalk Villas (dinner at Flying Fish @ 5:30pm)
7:00 - 10:00pm / Disney's Hollywood Studios (shakes/onion rings at Sci-Fi @ 9:00pm)

Day 3 --- Dec. 14, 2009
7:30 - 1:00pm / Magic Kingdom (pre-opening breakfast at Crystal Palace @ 8:15am)
1:00 - 3:00pm / Relax at Boardwalk Villas, change for dinner (lunch at ESPN Club)
3:00 - 5:30pm / Tour Wilderness Lodge and Grand Floridinal Hotel
5:30 - 8:30pm / Magic Kingdom for Spectro @ 7:00, Wishes @ 8:00pm
8:30 - 10:30pm / Dinner at California Grill in Contemporary Resort @ 9:00pm (hoping to snag an earlier time)

Day 4 --- Dec. 15, 2009
9:00 - 11:00am / Breakfast at Kona Cafe @ 9:30am
11:00 - 3:00pm / Relax at Boardwalk Villas, prepare for MVMCP
3:00 - 12:00am / MVMCP (dinner at The Plaza @ 4:00pm)

Day 5 --- Dec. 16, 2009
(sleep-in morning after MVMCP)
11:30 - 7:00pm / Animal Kingdom (lunch at Yak & Yeti @ 12:30pm)
7:00 - 9:30pm / Dinner at Jiko in Animal Kingdom Lodge @ 8:00pm

Day 6 --- Dec. 17, 2009
9:00 - 11:00am / Epcot's Future World
11:00 - 12:00pm / Behind the Seeds tour
12:00 - 9:30pm / Epcot's World Showcase (dinner at Le Cellier @ 8:00pm)

Day 7 --- Dec. 18, 2009
8:00 - 9:00am / Breakfast at Kouzzina on the Boardwalk @ 8:00am
9:00 - 11:00am / Pack, check out of Boardwalk Villas
11:00 - 3:00pm / Magic Kingdom (lunch at The Plaza @ 1:30pm)

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Your new and improved itinerary looks good. I'm glad you were able to get your MVMCP tickets. Are they going to be a surprise, or does everyone know?

 

[annnewjerz]

Your new and improved itinerary looks good. I'm glad you were able to get your MVMCP tickets. Are they going to be a surprise, or does everyone know?

Nah, everyone knows---had to get the okay for such a late night, plus I'm horrible at keeping surprises anyway (as I've demonstrated multiple times in this TR) so at this point, why even try?

 

[skier_pete]

Well, I guess we'll miss seeing you at CG on 12/15....but maybe we'll see you one of the other days! (12/13 at DHS evening - 12/14 at MK - 12/17 at Epcot) If not, it still seems like a great itinerary! Personally, MVMCP doesn't turn me on at all...whereas I would love to try MNSSHP. But I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

SkierPete

 

[creativeamanda]

OHHH. . .it looks like we are going to be at Epcot the same day--I have 4:10 dinner reservations for Chefs, but I am hoping to try for a Le Cellier at 45 days out.

 

[annnewjerz]

Well, I guess we'll miss seeing you at CG on 12/15....but maybe we'll see you one of the other days! (12/13 at DHS evening - 12/14 at MK - 12/17 at Epcot) If not, it still seems like a great itinerary! Personally, MVMCP doesn't turn me on at all...whereas I would love to try MNSSHP. But I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

SkierPete

Yup, no more identical reservations but it looks like our park plans will overlap quite a bit, so I'll still keep an eye out!

OHHH. . .it looks like we are going to be at Epcot the same day--I have 4:10 dinner reservations for Chefs, but I am hoping to try for a Le Cellier at 45 days out.

Good luck with the Le Cellier reservation. I was going to try this week to get a better time for California Grill since our current ressie is at 9:20, so far nothing---but I know people sometimes have luck getting something this close to their trip. I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya!

 

[annnewjerz]

A bit of a vent---sorry guys!

We got back from The World on Monday night and noticed on Tuesday that our water was draining from the sinks/tub/washer/toilets craaaaazy slow. Thinking it was just a normal clog, we got some Drano and plunged a bit, but still no dice.

So the next day when trying to do laundry, we hear a splashing and go into the powder room to see the toilet overflowing with water as the washer was draining. This would happen every time we flushed another toilet, used the dishwasher, etc.

Soon enough, not only was the toilet overflowing---it was starting to get backed up. Without going into too much detail, let's just say that things that should be heading out to the sewer seemed to be gurgling back up through the sewer line and into our powder room toilet.

DH went out and bought some like industrial strength blockage breaker stuff, as well as a snake to run through the plumbing. It didn't work.

We ended up calling Roto-Rooter and had them come out to take care of it.

The grand total for them to snake our sewer line and put a bottle of chemical down the drain to clear everything out was...


$400!!! Insane.

Combine that with the $50 DH spent on supplies and today was a definite financial hit---so close to our trip and more importantly, so close to Christmas. My Christmas gift may end up being a trip to Disney and a clean sewer line. It's times like these I hate being a home owner.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

I second that!! Last February we all of a sudden woke up one morning to no water. NONE! So, a family friend that has a plumbing business came to check it out. Well, the well pump went. However, our pump was too deep for him to switch out. So, we called a larger company. They had to use a crane truck...our well is apearently really deep! And, what we were thinking would cost about $600 turned into $2000!!!!!
On top of all that the day after the pump issue, out daughter was hopitalized for pnuemonia!! What a week we had!
Point being...if we were renters...never would have had the $2000 expense!