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

[HeatherLassell]

Hello, hello!

I won a prize from Sunshine Rewards! They ran a contest through most of November and December where you got entered into a raffle for every survey your completed. If you reached 100 entries, you also received a $10 bonus. I reached 100 entries and got the bonus a couple weeks ago. Then I got an email a day or two ago that said I was a raffle prize winner! I won a gift basket from Dale and Thomas Popcorn. Cool! I never win stuff!

I'm off tomorrow and am really looking forward to the day. My sister and I are going to see Kelly Ripa in the morning. I've seen her before (when she was with Regis) and it's a lot of fun. The only downside is that you have to be at the studio by 745, which means waking up around 5-530 am to catch a 630 train into the city. I don't know how people commute to NYC everyday. It's not far from here but I'd be super tired all the time. After the show we're going to have lunch somewhere in the city. I have a Landry's gift card and I think they own Bubba Gump so maybe we'll go there. Never been there before! And since we'll already be in the city, I thought 'why not make a whole day out of it?' So I bought tickets to see the Rangers tomorrow night! It's my first Rangers game of the season. I got a great deal too. I bought the tickets off a season ticket holder which means no service fees and I got them for about $15 under face value. I'm super excited. I'm not sure what we're going to be doing the rest of the day but I'm sure we'll figure something out.

255 days til Disney World!

148 days til the cruise! I like that number a lot better

I couldn't do that commute either. I can barely be alive before 7am! lol

Have a great time at the Rangers game!! It's getting closer to my 2nd ever Jets game down in Minneapolis! It's gonna be a fun 2 days down there. Gonna hit up MOA and go to the DISNEY STORE! Woop woop!

I've started thinking about planning our next trip as a 3 day DisneyLand, 4/5 day cruise!!!! Looks like there are so many activities for all different kid ages and for adults.

 

[jenny105]

I couldn't do that commute either. I can barely be alive before 7am! lol

Have a great time at the Rangers game!! It's getting closer to my 2nd ever Jets game down in Minneapolis! It's gonna be a fun 2 days down there. Gonna hit up MOA and go to the DISNEY STORE! Woop woop!

I've started thinking about planning our next trip as a 3 day DisneyLand, 4/5 day cruise!!!! Looks like there are so many activities for all different kid ages and for adults.

Thanks! I'm so excited. My friend Katie and I are going to another Rangers game a few weeks from now so I get to go to two! I hope they win both.

Our Disney World trip is still 8 1/2 months away and you're already planning your next trip?

 

[oboedm]

Great update! It sounds like you have some exciting plans for your day out! Congrats on the prizes! It is always fun to get unexpected things!

 

[HeatherLassell]

Thanks! I'm so excited. My friend Katie and I are going to another Rangers game a few weeks from now so I get to go to two! I hope they win both.

Our Disney World trip is still 8 1/2 months away and you're already planning your next trip?

I've caught the vacation planning fever!

This fall is Disney with the kids. Next July (2013) I am going on a solo trip to Scotland (and hopefully England/Ireland), and October 2013 I'm going to take my son on a trip for his 16th birthday! Maybe a cruise/disneyland for 2014! hahaha

 

[jenny105]

Great update! It sounds like you have some exciting plans for your day out! Congrats on the prizes! It is always fun to get unexpected things!

Thanks! We had a blast but I am exhausted today. What a long day!

I've caught the vacation planning fever!

This fall is Disney with the kids. Next July (2013) I am going on a solo trip to Scotland (and hopefully England/Ireland), and October 2013 I'm going to take my son on a trip for his 16th birthday! Maybe a cruise/disneyland for 2014! hahaha

You've definitely caught the bug! Sounds like fun though

 

[jenny105]

Hi everyone!

It's snowing. I guess it was too much to ask for one winter without snow. I had enough of it last year. If you can't tell, I am not a snow person! I loathe shoveling and having to drive in it. Plus it ruins my shoes.

So I got in touch with Lynn last night and added another night to our Disney vacation! I haven't bought my airfare yet. I'm still waiting on JetBlue to release their fares. Does anyone know if there is any rhyme or reason to when they release their prices?? Anyway, based on Continental's rates, it was going to be cheaper to fly home on Monday. So rather than spending the extra money to fly home Sunday, I decided that money would be better spent on an extra night at AKL! The only downside is that they do not have any value studio rooms available but they did have a deluxe standard studio so we took it. What does that mean? We have to switch rooms for one night. Kind of annoying but it's better than switching resorts. So our new dates are 9/30-10/8. 8 nights of Disney! A real treat for me because I usually spend about 5 nights there.

So I mentioned in my last post that my sister and I went to see Kelly Ripa on Thursday. We had a blast but wow, what a long day! I woke up at 5:15 am, left the house by 6 am, and got to the studio around 730. We chugged plenty of Starbucks to keep us going. The show was fun - Dana Carvey co-hosted and he was hilarious. Afterward, Kelly taped a couple of promos so we got to stay for that. We left the studio around 10:30-11. Afterward we did a little shopping at Sephora & visited the Disney Store in Times Square. We took a trip to the Museum of Natural History, had lunch at Bubba Gump, a few drinks at the Pig & Whistle, and then headed over to Madison Square Garden to see the Rangers/Penguins game. It was the first Rangers game I attended this season; too bad they got their butts kicked 4-1. They played so sloppy. We still had fun though. I'm going again with my friend Katie on the 9th to see them play Tampa. Hopefully they win that game! I got home around 11pm and was exhausted all day yesterday. Work couldn't go by fast enough. I feel much better today. Here are some pictures!

Gelman!

Ewan McGregor, Dana, and Kelly. She's so freakin tiny!

Elizabeth Banks, Dana, and Kelly

I looked all over the museum for him. 'Dum dum, give me gum gum!'

And me posing with the love of my life...sorry Kris!

Me and the captain

And our leading scorer...

I hope you enjoyed my NYC mini-TR! I'll continue with my day plan posts next week.

Have a good weekend!

 

[Dream426]

Great day trip summary. My husband is a huge penguins fan because of Crosby, who I think is such a wimp. I don't get it since my husband is from NY but whatever. I am an Islanders fan, I know they stink, but I am a true fan I guess...haha Glad you had fun. I need to get back into going to games. They are so much fun.

YAY for adding an extra day!!! I agree about spending the money on an extra day and not on airfare.

 

[jenny105]

Great day trip summary. My husband is a huge penguins fan because of Crosby, who I think is such a wimp. I don't get it since my husband is from NY but whatever. I am an Islanders fan, I know they stink, but I am a true fan I guess...haha Glad you had fun. I need to get back into going to games. They are so much fun.

YAY for adding an extra day!!! I agree about spending the money on an extra day and not on airfare.

I think Crosby is a wimp too! My favorite line about Crosby is 'You can't spell Crosby without C-R-Y.' Ugh, I can't stand him.

The Islanders? I'm sorry. I kid, I kid!

Hockey games are so much fun. MSG is my second favorite place in the world - the first being Disney World of course!

So excited about the extra day!

 

[klacey1]

Sounds like you had an exhaustingly fun day!! Love the picture of you and Hank-- but step away, he's mine!!
Augh, we're snowed in here and I hate it!

 

[Dream426]

I think Crosby is a wimp too! My favorite line about Crosby is 'You can't spell Crosby without C-R-Y.' Ugh, I can't stand him.

The Islanders? I'm sorry. I kid, I kid!

Hockey games are so much fun. MSG is my second favorite place in the world - the first being Disney World of course!

So excited about the extra day!

I will have to remember that line for when my husband watches them again and all I do is make fun of Crosby...haha Aren't I the nicest wife.

 

[jenny105]

Sounds like you had an exhaustingly fun day!! Love the picture of you and Hank-- but step away, he's mine!!
Augh, we're snowed in here and I hate it!

I am prepared to fight you for him!

I will have to remember that line for when my husband watches them again and all I do is make fun of Crosby...haha Aren't I the nicest wife.

You sound like me! My boyfriend thought I was nuts for wanting to go to the Winter Classic because tickets were so much money. He ended up driving all the way to Green Bay last weekend for the game on three days notice. They lost (he's a Packers fan). The first thing I said was 'And you thought I was nuts for wanting to go to the Winter Classic? At least my team WON!'

 

[jenny105]

Hello there!

Just a quick Disney Fund update before I fill you in on my Day 2 plans. I had a bunch of singles in my wallet so I put them in the Disney Fund. $14 deposit, bring my total to $509.40. Hit the $500 mark! That's my cruise money mark and I doubt I'll spend that much in two nights so most of it will go right back into the fund. Made it with a little less than 5 months to spare.

BTW, did you all see that the dates for the Food & Wine Festival were announced? Makes the trip feel closer!

Day 2 - October 1 - Our first full day!

Depending on when we get in and if we go to MNSSHP, I'm not sure what time we'll get this day started. If we get in late, we'll probably wake up whenever we wake up, which is usually by 10 the latest. But either way, today we're going to...

Epcot!

Epcot is Kris's favorite park so we'll be spending plenty of time there. Last trip we were a group of five people and only spent one day here. Definitely not enough!

We'll get to the park and first things first, get a fastpass for Soarin. No major game plan after that. We'll probably see what the lines are like, ride our favorites (Test Track is a must!), and probably eat lunch at Sunshine Seasons or snack around F&W. Since we're planning on spending another day here, whatever we miss, we can do the other day.

Dinner will be at Biergarten! This was Kris's request. When I mentioned ADRS, he said he was ok with anything as long as we could go to Biergarten and Ohana; we went to both last trip. I love Biergarten - the food is yummy, our server is great, and the entertainment is wonderful! Really looking forward to this meal

The plan after dinner, if we're not too tired, is to head over to MK for EMH! It's open until 1 am and I just love MK EMH nights. Sometimes I feel like the park is all mine. If we do not go to MNSSHP the night before, MK EMH IS A MUST! I have to see that castle asap LOL. If we end up doing MNSSHP and we skip MK EMH this night cause we're tired, it's no big deal. In that case we'll probably watch Illuminations and head back to the resort.

And that's day 2!

250 days to go!

 

[HeatherLassell]

Dinner will be at Biergarten! This was Kris's request. When I mentioned ADRS, he said he was ok with anything as long as we could go to Biergarten and Ohana; we went to both last trip. I love Biergarten - the food is yummy, our server is great, and the entertainment is wonderful! Really looking forward to this meal

This restaurant is the only thing my 14 year old so far has given input on. So we'll be having one of our suppers there too!

 

[jenny105]

This restaurant is the only thing my 14 year old so far has given input on. So we'll be having one of our suppers there too!

It's great! Leave room for dessert.
I think Kris is going to regret his decision saying he's ok with anything. He's a chicken fingers, pizza, and burgers kind of guy and I'm planning on making ADRs at Boma and Chefs de France...

 

[jenny105]

Oh and I forgot which DISer TR I saw this on (my apologies!) but I just found out since we're staying on DVC points, we can pool hop! Not to Stormalong Bay (of course) but anywhere else. I'm off to check out photos of resort pools. That could be fun mixed with a waterpark day!

 

[Joyciemc]

I hadn't realized F&W dates were released; that is exciting!

Good Day 2 plans: Epcot is a great park for a sleep-in day!

 

[jenny105]

I hadn't realized F&W dates were released; that is exciting!

Good Day 2 plans: Epcot is a great park for a sleep-in day!

It makes the trip seem a little closer, doesn't it? Next thing ya know MNSSHP dates will be announced!

Epcot has really grown on me. I think it's my second favorite park

 

[Imagineer5]

I didn't know the F&W dates were released either! I'll have to look into that!

Your Day 2 plans sound great!! I look forward to coming up with our day-by-day plans in depth, but I want to get my ADRs sorted out first. IDK why but that always seems to make my days more set in stone I guess!

So excited you were able to add a night!! I think that's a prerequsite to being a DIS'er - adding more nights than you initially planned on hahah.

Glad your NYC day was fun! Looks awesome!

 

[oboedm]

Day 2 plans look great! I have never actually taken advantage of EMH (except for one morning one at AK). I always thought that they would be too crowded. I just imagine every resort guest at that one park during that one time! Maybe I will have to check EMH at MK out the next time I go!

 

[jenny105]

I didn't know the F&W dates were released either! I'll have to look into that!

Your Day 2 plans sound great!! I look forward to coming up with our day-by-day plans in depth, but I want to get my ADRs sorted out first. IDK why but that always seems to make my days more set in stone I guess!

So excited you were able to add a night!! I think that's a prerequsite to being a DIS'er - adding more nights than you initially planned on hahah.

Glad your NYC day was fun! Looks awesome!

I'm being optimistic and assuming I'll get every ADR I want. I'm planning to do it first thing in the morning on my 180 mark so hopefully I'll have no problems.

I can't believe we're spending 8 nights there. I'm so excited!!

Day 2 plans look great! I have never actually taken advantage of EMH (except for one morning one at AK). I always thought that they would be too crowded. I just imagine every resort guest at that one park during that one time! Maybe I will have to check EMH at MK out the next time I go!

I love PM EMH especially at MK. The rides are almost always walk-on and walking around the park late at night just has an extra magical feel to it.