Cruising, Wining, and Disney Dining - Two 2012 PTRs in One! **TR LINK UP**

[HeatherLassell]

Nope. Too big & too expensive for just the two of us. Plus, I think that place looks like an eyesore from the pictures I've seen.

My kids think AOA looks awesome. Pretty sure the buildings and outdoor themeing are directed at the kids liking them. lol Well I totally like them. I plan on going over there from Pop to take pictures in the outdoor areas of all the buildings!

 

[jenny105]

My kids think AOA looks awesome. Pretty sure the buildings and outdoor themeing are directed at the kids liking them. lol Well I totally like them. I plan on going over there from Pop to take pictures in the outdoor areas of all the buildings!

The outdoor theming looks cute. It's the indoor theming I can't deal with. It's just too bright and over the top for me. If I were a kid, I'm sure I'd love it, but I'm just not feeling it!

 

[arbolita]

That makes sense. I'm not sure I'd stay there without kids, either. Maybe once my nephews are old enough to go, I'm sure they would LOVE it.

Hrm...I'm out of ideas for now, I'll just wait for your next clue!

 

[jenny105]

That makes sense. I'm not sure I'd stay there without kids, either. Maybe once my nephews are old enough to go, I'm sure they would LOVE it.

Hrm...I'm out of ideas for now, I'll just wait for your next clue!

I wanted to stay there until I heard the regular rooms were strictly Little Mermaid themed. I don't know what it is but I just do not like her.

 

[HeatherLassell]

So what do you think your plans are going to be for the first night you get there? I'm hoping to get there in the afternoon and then spend some time at Downtown Disney and at our resort (maybe in the pool).

Ya know we have to plan a meet eh? We're gonna know eachother pretty well I think after this whole year of planning!!

 

[jenny105]

So what do you think your plans are going to be for the first night you get there? I'm hoping to get there in the afternoon and then spend some time at Downtown Disney and at our resort (maybe in the pool).

Ya know we have to plan a meet eh? We're gonna know eachother pretty well I think after this whole year of planning!!

I'm not sure. I'm hoping to get in late morning/early afternoon. Maybe we'll have lunch at DTD or hang out by the pool. Judging from this year's schedule, there's probably going to be a MNSSHP our first night so I'm thinking we may go to that so we have candy to snack on the rest of the week

I'm definitely up for a DIS meet.

 

[jenny105]

Hi all! I hope everyone is doing well on this Wednesday morning. I've been busy packing and getting ready for this move. We get the keys on Monday so we can start moving stuff little by little. The big move is on Oct 2 and we'll be officially in our new apartment that day. I'm excited but also stressed! Moving is such a pain in the butt. Plus work has been a real drag lately. They keep piling more and more stuff on us & not offering us any incentive for it. I feel like I have people breathing down my neck everyday about one thing or another. Everyday I leave work with a pounding headache & feel sick to my stomach. I took a week off following our move in date so hopefully that will help me unwind a little bit.

Has everyone heard about the Avatar land they're planning to build in AK? I don't know how I feel about it. True, Disney has built attractions around non-Disney movies before: Indy, Muppets, Star Wars. But those to me have staying power. I never even saw Avatar because I had absolutely no interest so is it really in the same league as the movies mentioned above? I know this is Disney's answer to WWoHP but....I feel like Lord of the Rings would've been a better choice. That's just my two cents!

I heard on the radio this morning that Continental is going to start charging $400 to check a bag that is over 70 pounds. That is just insanity!

Kris and I saw the Lion King on Friday night. I teared up a little bit during the opening credits. I forgot how much I absolutely love that movie. I saw it 3 times in the theatre when it first came out and I had the soundtrack memorized. SUCH a great movie

No big news regarding the trip or Disney Fund. All of my extra cash has been going toward the apartment. I can't wait to be moved in already. I promise pictures once we are.

Have a great day & thanks for reading!

 

[HeatherLassell]

Has everyone heard about the Avatar land they're planning to build in AK? I don't know how I feel about it. True, Disney has built attractions around non-Disney movies before: Indy, Muppets, Star Wars. But those to me have staying power. I never even saw Avatar because I had absolutely no interest so is it really in the same league as the movies mentioned above? I know this is Disney's answer to WWoHP but....I feel like Lord of the Rings would've been a better choice. That's just my two cents!

I have read a little about it. I am not impressed. I also never watched it and really have no desire too. I own it. lmao My kids watched it once I think and don't seem to be interested in watching it again. I guess we'll have to see. It isn't going to start being made till 2013 and not completed till like 2015 or something.

Good luck with the move. And I'm sorry work is so sucky. No one wants to go home with a headache and sick tummy every day.

And YAY! Meet up! If our flights end up getting in around afternoon we'll probably end up hanging at the hotel and then also maybe doing the MNSSHP too!

 

[jenny105]

I have read a little about it. I am not impressed. I also never watched it and really have no desire too. I own it. lmao My kids watched it once I think and don't seem to be interested in watching it again. I guess we'll have to see. It isn't going to start being made till 2013 and not completed till like 2015 or something.

Good luck with the move. And I'm sorry work is so sucky. No one wants to go home with a headache and sick tummy every day.

And YAY! Meet up! If our flights end up getting in around afternoon we'll probably end up hanging at the hotel and then also maybe doing the MNSSHP too!

I'm just not feeling the Avatar thing. I guess it ties in somewhat with the environmental theme and it's a push to get more people through the AK gates but... Left me cold.

Thanks. I'm really looking forward to a break from work. Everything/one here has been driving me nutso lately.

Fun! Maybe we can meet up at the party!

 

[arbolita]

I am not impressed by the Avatar idea either. I mentioned this in another thread, but Star Tours and the Indiana Jones stage show inclusions at DHS are very different than the idea of Avatarland because of the fact that they are single attractions within the park, not an entire land. Even the Muppets do not have their own land, just a themed area within the "Backlot" area of DHS, and they've proven that they have decades worth of staying power.

I am trying to reserve judgment until I see concept art, but at the moment, I'm in the group that would so much rather have had the inclusion of the once-rumored Beastly Kingdom at AK instead of something devoted to a non-Disney entity.

 

[jenny105]

I am not impressed by the Avatar idea either. I mentioned this in another thread, but Star Tours and the Indiana Jones stage show inclusions at DHS are very different than the idea of Avatarland because of the fact that they are single attractions within the park, not an entire land. Even the Muppets do not have their own land, just a themed area within the "Backlot" area of DHS, and they've proven that they have decades worth of staying power.

I am trying to reserve judgment until I see concept art, but at the moment, I'm in the group that would so much rather have had the inclusion of the once-rumored Beastly Kingdom at AK instead of something devoted to a non-Disney entity.

I agree 100% Indy, Star Wars, and Muppets have been around for years and proved their staying power. Avatar? Really? They think this movie is in the same league? I never even saw it, don't care to, I have zero interest in it. Like I said, if they really wanted to devote an entire land to something, maybe they should've gone with Lord of the Rings. Those books have been around for a long time and the movies were pretty good. Or even Narnia. I'm just not feeling Avatarland.

 

[HeatherLassell]

I agree 100% Indy, Star Wars, and Muppets have been around for years and proved their staying power. Avatar? Really? They think this movie is in the same league? I never even saw it, don't care to, I have zero interest in it. Like I said, if they really wanted to devote an entire land to something, maybe they should've gone with Lord of the Rings. Those books have been around for a long time and the movies were pretty good. Or even Narnia. I'm just not feeling Avatarland.

Well aparently there are 2 more Avatar movies in the works...

 

[klacey1]

Augh, I am not excited for Avatarland. Hated that movie. I'll try to reserve judgment until I see it though-- if it's going to open in 2013, it seems like they're going to whip it together pretty fast.
Moving in together is so exciting! Can't wait to see pictures of your new place!

 

[HeatherLassell]

Augh, I am not excited for Avatarland. Hated that movie. I'll try to reserve judgment until I see it though-- if it's going to open in 2013, it seems like they're going to whip it together pretty fast.
Moving in together is so exciting! Can't wait to see pictures of your new place!

Starting to BUILD in 2013. Aparently it won't be open till 2015. Which is aparently around the time the 3rd movie would be being released.

 

[jenny105]

Well aparently there are 2 more Avatar movies in the works...

Ya but I don't see it being this epic trilogy like Star Wars was (well before they did three more movies). Does Avatar really have that big of a fan base?

Augh, I am not excited for Avatarland. Hated that movie. I'll try to reserve judgment until I see it though-- if it's going to open in 2013, it seems like they're going to whip it together pretty fast.
Moving in together is so exciting! Can't wait to see pictures of your new place!

Construction starts in 2013 so this thing won't be open for 4 or 5 years at least. I'm not excited for it either. I'll check it out but I'm not gonna be bouncing off the walls for it like I was for WWoHP.

 

[jenny105]

Just a quick entry to say I added a small amount to my Disney Fund today. $12.16 brining the grand total to $179.66. I surpassed the 10% mark $1,570.74 to go!

I also forgot to mention that Kris and I went to Englishtown last Saturday (flea market) and made $105. That didn't go to Disney though. We put it toward a new tv for our place. We're going to go again this weekend if the weather holds up.

That's all for now!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

I'm all caught up on your trip report!!

I'm starting a Disney fund for our trip next year! You've inspired me It'll be so nice to have all the extra money saved up before we go.

About your exciting news that you can't give away just yet... I think I know what it could be from your clues. Renting DVC points for AKL?!?!

 

[jenny105]

I'm all caught up on your trip report!!

I'm starting a Disney fund for our trip next year! You've inspired me It'll be so nice to have all the extra money saved up before we go.

About your exciting news that you can't give away just yet... I think I know what it could be from your clues. Renting DVC points for AKL?!?!

Hi! So glad you're on board for the PTR.

I got your PM. I've been able to cash out for something every month. I'm 50 points shy of another $10 PayPal reward this month but with the referral points I should hit the mark so thanks!

DING DING DING! You are CORRECT! Now to do an official post for it.

 

[jenny105]

So I know you've all been wondering and I wasn't going to post this until it was official but Lauren guessed so the secret is out....

WE'RE STAYING AT ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE!

I told you if I could make this happen, I would switch again!

A DISer I am friends with on facebook (Lynn) posted that she was looking to rent her DVC points next year. I jumped on that as fast as possible. She sent me the point chart and I crunched the numbers. For a week at AKV Jambo in a studio value room, it's $760 for the week! You can't beat that. The best part is that the studio value's have different views: standard, pool, and savanna. We're going to request savanna and hopefully we'll luck out with a great view. I'm ok with pool too. I just don't wanna be staring at a parking lot for a week. Honestly, I don't really care because we'll be staying at AKL! I'm sooo excited.

Since I'm a TA, we get a 50% discount on select tickets. I can by a 7 Day Park Hopper with Water Park for $200 each. Those tickets are normally $400 apiece! We're also going to add the dining plan to our DVC reservation. I believe you have to pay for it up front when you add it but we have until 48 hours prior to our trip to do so. Plenty of time! The dining plan will run about $730 for the two of us.

The package I have currently booked at Coronado, if the free dining promotion were to apply, would be approx $2300. Doing it this way we get to stay in a deluxe and the total cost would be around $1900. Heck yeah, we're doing this!

I didn't want to post anything at first because it's not 'official' yet. I've been in contact with Lynn and she can't make the reservation until 11 months out, October 30. I will be so happy once I see that confirmation email and I know it's all squared away. Fingers crossed it doesn't fall through!

I'M SO EXCITED! Time to change my ticker

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hi! So glad you're on board for the PTR.

I got your PM. I've been able to cash out for something every month. I'm 50 points shy of another $10 PayPal reward this month but with the referral points I should hit the mark so thanks!

DING DING DING! You are CORRECT! Now to do an official post for it.

That's so exciting! I hope it all works out for you. I've always wanted to stay at AKL. I know Jake and Mallory would love being able to see all of those animals outside of our room!