Dear Santa, I'd like a double-deluxe Disney Xmas!! Dec'12 PTR! Upd 1/20 TR & DR links

[My2Qtz0205]

Back in October we decided to start doing Disney dinner & movie nights a few times a month. Here is what we have done so far...

October 21 - Haunted Mansion ~ mummy dogs, Master Gracey's spooky tots, Madame Leoda's blood brew (red Kool-Aid), boneyard brownies (I made little tombstones like some of the ones you see waiting in line for the ride). The kids loved the movie.

Oct 29 - Legend of Sleepy Hollow/Lonesome Ghosts ~ Halloween cookies

November 5 - Toy Story 3 ~ Pizza Planet pepperoni pizza, To Infinity and Beyond breadsticks, Sheriff Woody sugar cokies (star cut out cookies)

November 12 - Hercules ~ Greek chicken pasta, rolls, peanut butter cookies

November 22 - Pirates of the Carribean On Stranger Tides ~ BBQ chicken legs, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes

November 26 - Pochahantas ~ Thanksgiving "feast"...turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, apple pie

December 3 - Bedtime Stories ~ French toast, sausage, milk, OJ. We watched the movie in our PJ's.

December 21 - Santa Clause ~ no special dinner

December 22 - Santa Clause 2 ~ Christmas cookies

December 23 - Santa Clause 3 ~ no special dinner (we just wanted to get all 3 movies done with before Christmas)

January 14 - Three Caballeros/Saludos Amigos ~ Chicken/spinach enchiladas, black beans, chips/salsa, Jarritos Mexican soda, Mexican vanilla cookies

January 21 - Mulan ~ Chicken stir fry, jasmine rice, "faux-tune" cookies (I couldnt find fortune cookies, so I just used yellow Easter eggs and wrote out WDW related fortunes). We also discussed Chinese New Year and I told everyone their Chinese zodiac sign and meaning.

On the calendar for February...Mary Poppins, Mickey & Minnie Sweetheart Stories, Lady & the Tramp, Princess & the Frog I will update at the beginning of each month as to what we did the month prior with our movie nights. We have lots more planned between now and the time the trip rolls around in Dec.

I am joining in! We will be there Dec. 7-15th.

I did Disney theme nights to rev us up for our last trip, but these are new ideas! I'm adding them to my list! Geez, if you've been doing them since October, I guess I'd better get to it!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I am joining in! We will be there Dec. 7-15th.

I did Disney theme nights to rev us up for our last trip, but these are new ideas! I'm adding them to my list! Geez, if you've been doing them since October, I guess I'd better get to it!

Welcome!!

Another Dec visitor...yea! Have you been during the holidays before?

We love our movie nights!! So much fun!

 

[DizNee Luver]

The program we started out with was Wii Fit and Biggest Loser for Wii. The program we are doing now (Insanity) is a set of DVDs which I really enjoy much more than the Wii programs. We also do Wii Just Dance with the kids. That game really gets you sweating!!

We love Vegas. We have been a few times. We always see a few shows while we are there. We have seen 3 of the Cirque shows. Not sure what we would see this time around...probably another Cirque show or perhaps Blue Man Group. Not sure, but we would like to see all the Cirque shows in Vegas.

Did you like the Biggest Loser for the Wii?? I actually enjoyed doing the step & got the Wii wedge that elevates the board so you're doing a bigger step. Not sure how much weight someone could lose doing this....but it was an exercise I enjoyed. You can do it while watching tv or listening to music.

I've never seen a Cirque show.......but I've also heard the Blue Man Group is really good. Have you ever seen Terry Fator?? The only America's Got Talent winner that went on to success..........

I am joining in! We will be there Dec. 7-15th.

I did Disney theme nights to rev us up for our last trip, but these are new ideas! I'm adding them to my list! Geez, if you've been doing them since October, I guess I'd better get to it!

Hi....we're there the 7th thru the 16th!!!! Where will you be staying?? We're staying at the POFQ!!!

I love this Disney Movie & Dinner night ideas.........my entire family (including the grown boys) love watching all the movies......so it would be fun to set a family night a couple times a month!!!! Is there a place you can go to get ideas or care to share more!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Did you like the Biggest Loser for the Wii?? I actually enjoyed doing the step & got the Wii wedge that elevates the board so you're doing a bigger step. Not sure how much weight someone could lose doing this....but it was an exercise I enjoyed. You can do it while watching tv or listening to music.

I've never seen a Cirque show.......but I've also heard the Blue Man Group is really good. Have you ever seen Terry Fator?? The only America's Got Talent winner that went on to success..........

I love this Disney Movie & Dinner night ideas.........my entire family (including the grown boys) love watching all the movies......so it would be fun to set a family night a couple times a month!!!! Is there a place you can go to get ideas or care to share more!!

We did enjoy Biggest Loser for Wii. It was fun and you could pick the difficulty of the workout. I didnt really care much for the challenges though.

Never have seen Terry Fator. We actually did not start watching AGT until this past season. Pretty excited it comes back on next month.

We typically do 3 movie nights a month. Sometimes I do really good with the theming of the meal vs the movie, other times...not quite as good. I found a thread here on the Dis that has a TON of ideas!! Here is the link...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1707141

 

[RooRach0906]

I hope you are still doing well with your exercise program. A kid free trip to Vegas sounds like so much fun. We have never been to Vegas and its one of those places my DH would love to go. I would love a kid free anything as I don't get that except on rare occansions.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We did enjoy Biggest Loser for Wii. It was fun and you could pick the difficulty of the workout. I didnt really care much for the challenges though.

Never have seen Terry Fator. We actually did not start watching AGT until this past season. Pretty excited it comes back on next month.

We typically do 3 movie nights a month. Sometimes I do really good with the theming of the meal vs the movie, other times...not quite as good. I found a thread here on the Dis that has a TON of ideas!! Here is the link...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1707141

Here's a link for Terry Fator.....check it out.....he's amazing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agfXQTLXnZ0

Thank you for the link......I bookmarked it so I can read it during quiet times......(I said quiet times...... )

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Here's a link for Terry Fator.....check it out.....he's amazing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agfXQTLXnZ0

Thank you for the link......I bookmarked it so I can read it during quiet times......(I said quiet times...... )

I watched the Terry Fator video...I was not at all expecting a vantriloquist, but he was awesome!

That link for the movie nights is super long. I just picked out a couple movies I was interested in at the time and read those posts to get inspiration.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

March movie nights​

March 2 - Cars 2 (Hunter's choice) ~ we did concession stand type food you would get at a race. Chili dogs, cheese nachos, Cracker Jacks. For dessert we had Mater's motor oil and brake fuid sundaes (hot fudge and strawberry sauce).

March 9 - Tangled (Harper's birthday pick) ~ Angel hair pasta, Scali braided rolls, boats on water dessert (blue jello with orange slice and sail).

March 24 - Lilo and Stich ~ Hawaiian marinated chicken, Jasmine rice made with coconut milk and crushed pineapple, Coconut shrimp with pineapple dipping sauce, fresh pineapple slices, King's Hawaiian rolls, pineapple upside down cake, virgin strawberry daiquiri.

I purchased Luau plates and napkins from a party supply store. I also purchased flower leis for each of us. I also purchased coconut cups. This was by far our favorite dinner and movie night so far.

For April, we are doing Swiss Family Robinson (DH pick), Snow White (my pick) and Enchanted (Harper's pick).

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Day 3 - Dec 20​

Hollywood Studios​

This is our one day at HS. We will wake up this morning and either walk or take the boat over to HS. Hopefully we can get a pre-park opening ADR to Hollywood & Vine. We took Hunter & Harper here are few years ago, and while they arent terribly excited about eating here again because of the Disney Jr characters, I know Jaxon & Evan will get a kick out of it.

Here is a pic of Hunter & Harper at H&V back in 2008.

We have several things we want to get accomplished on this day. DH will make the crazy, mad rush to TSM to score FP...while I take Hunter to wait in line for Jedi Training Academy. He really wants to do this and still makes the age requirement, so we are hoping he can get in.

For lunch, we will be eating at Sci-Fi. Hunter really thinks the idea of this place sounds really neat.

We would like to see the Pixar Pals Parade because we have never seen the parade at HS.

For dinner we will be eating at 50's Prime Time. I am really hoping we have a CM who is totally "into" their part.

Rides...DH & Hunter really want to go back on Star Tours, DH & I want to ride RnR and Hunter wants to go on ToT. I didnt think much of that ride when I went on it a long time ago, but I do remember how awesome the ride cue was themed. I think I would like to go on it again to see all of that.

We will probably try and plan a ride the little boys wont be going on around Disney Jr live on stage, that way the little boys can be having fun doing something. Hopefully one of the show times will coincide with a FP we have for something.

Characters...we had SO much fun with Woody & Buzz last time we were here. Definately have to see them again, plus, Jaxon loves them. Hunter & Harper want to have their pic taken with Phineas & Ferb. We also HAVE to get a pic with sorcerer Mickey. We have a family pic hanging in the hallway from 2008 and Jaxon always looks at that pic and holds up his sorcerer Mickey stuffed animal.

I am sure we will also be spending some time at this place...

I shutter to think about keeping up with 4 kids in this place!!! Chaos!!

Overall, lots to get done in one day...hoping for low crowds

 

[DizNee Luver]

Ventriloquists are usually not my thing....but he's amazing.....I've never seen one sing & imitate so many different voices. I would love to see him!!! For being the winner he was offered a one year deal.......he was such a huge hit, he got a bajillion dollar contract for 5 or 10 yrs. Biggest winner off that show, hands down!!

Love the dinner ideas.....so much fun!!! I'm pretty crafty.....I just need to do this!!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Ventriloquists are usually not my thing....but he's amazing.....I've never seen one sing & imitate so many different voices. I would love to see him!!! For being the winner he was offered a one year deal.......he was such a huge hit, he got a bajillion dollar contract for 5 or 10 yrs. Biggest winner off that show, hands down!!

Love the dinner ideas.....so much fun!!! I'm pretty crafty.....I just need to do this!!!

I'm not crafty AT ALL, so I can only imagine what a crafty person like yourself could come up with

 

[francis6306]

I love all your meals! I can't wait til my girls are a little older and we can do things like this!! And I've heard good things about 50's Prime Time.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I love all your meals! I can't wait til my girls are a little older and we can do things like this!! And I've heard good things about 50's Prime Time.

Thank you! We are having so much fun with the dinner/movie nights. Jaxon & Evan dont always stick around for the movies, they usually get distracted with toys pretty early on, so its usually just Hunter & Harper watching with DH & I. We will probably do some sort of Mickey Mouse Club House movie or something towards the end, just so they can really be a part of it.

Really looking forward to 50's PT! I think it will be so much fun

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Just a quick update on our Oct & Dec trips...

October trip...our 180 day window opens up on Friday!!! Super excited to book those few ADR's. Only booking 4, but still...it means the trip is getting closer!

So...since the Dis boards have been all wacky the last few days, I have not spent a whole lot of time here. Instead I have been playing around with the Disney website and trying to figure out if there is any way we could possibly stay 1 more night . CR tower is booked for the additional day (other than club level), but there is availability at Poly & GF. I am not at all willing to give up CR Theme Park View, so if we add an additional night, it would require us moving hotels. Not sure what I want to do. Still looking at different flight options. I dont want us to get in too late on Sunday b/c the kids would have school the next day. Not sure what I will do. Not jumping on any plans just yet. Would love, love, love to stay at Poly...just dont know if I can justify the additional cost for the night. Again, not 100% sure, but I will let you all know what I decide. As for now, the trip is still as is, no changes, no additions.

I will post on Friday to let you know how I fare with our ADRs!

December trip update...just waiting until any real booking windows open up for this trip...still waiting for airfare to open up with SW...still waiting patiently to hear from the itinerary planning office (which wont be until probably 2 weeks or so before our ADR date)...waiting patiently for that ADR date...waiting patiently for MVMCP tickets to go on sale (and hopefully we can get to that last party)...waiting patiently for Candlelight Processional info to come out...waiting patiently for Disney Florist to put the Christmas trees up online...ugh, waiting, waiting, waiting.

I will post a park day update in the next few days if possible. Things are about to get super hectic around here with Harper's dance recital coming up and Hunter's spring soccer tournament this week/end.

I also have lots of clothing pics I need to start posting. Harper told me a few weeks ago that she wanted a Disney shirt for every day we would be there. I had already planned on doing that for Jaxon & Evan (think I need maybe 2 more shirts for them). Hunter just wants a couple shirts...Star Wars, Phineas and Ferb...and in his words "I'll only wear a Mickey shirt if he looks cool". I think I came up with something for him...I will start posting those clothing pics slowly over the next few weeks/months.

Ok, gotta go work out...still trying to earn our Vegas reward trip! Week 6 is complete! 3 more weeks to go!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Today marked our 180 for our trip in Oct. I woke up bright (uh...dark) and early this morning at 445am and cleared cookies from my computer and signed into the WDW website at 457am. I wasnt sure what to expect...would I only be able to book my arrival day online and then have to call?? Or would I luck out and be able to book everything I needed without issues and go back to sleep??

At 459am I went to the dining section and was able to link my reservation , so I immeadiately started booking. My first priority...

Ohana dinner!

I GOT IT!!

Arrival night - Ohana 645pm (I would still like something closer to 6pm, so I will keep trying...but at least I got this!)

Next to tackle, Chef Mickey for our departure morning meal...

I was able to book Chef Mickey for 805am

I was able to book the other 2 places without issue, MK day we will eat bkfst at Kona at 8am, Epcot day, Via Napoli dinner at 745pm.

Overall, pretty happy! I must say though, I am looking forward to NOT having to get up and deal with those in 2 months for this trip...I will just let the IPO do them.

 

[newtexan]

congrats on booking your meals with no issues

DHS day sounds nice and low key, we are going to try and do the same thing with dh going for TSMM fp and me taking little man to sign up for Jedi Training

looking forward to seeing the shirts

your movie nights are incredible

 

[vikkil70]

I love the themed dinner and movie nights. We do movie night often but I've never themed dinner to go with it. I might have to try that out and see how my picky eaters go for it.
It's official now that we are going in December. I got a pin code last month and DH said go ahead and book before it expires.
We are not booking any ADRs but like you am waiting patiently (kind of) for the Candlelight Processional dates to be announced, we really want to do the package.
Great work so far with doing the Insanity, I saw info on it and not quite sure if I could do it. What a great incentive too, a trip to Las Vegas. I am trying to get in better shape before our trip. We have Wiifit plus but got bored with it. We do Just Dance with our boys also and I agree that makes you sweat, I've also tried the Zumba for Wii which also leaves me sweaty and tired.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

congrats on booking your meals with no issues

DHS day sounds nice and low key, we are going to try and do the same thing with dh going for TSMM fp and me taking little man to sign up for Jedi Training

looking forward to seeing the shirts

your movie nights are incredible

I really expected to have to call Disney dining , so glad I didnt have to!

I think we will be able to get everything done at DHS...or at least I hope so.

I will start posting more shopping pics soon. I was just trying to hold off while the boards were acting so crazy. I still have Easter basket pics to post too. I did MM theme for the little boys.

I love the themed dinner and movie nights. We do movie night often but I've never themed dinner to go with it. I might have to try that out and see how my picky eaters go for it.
It's official now that we are going in December. I got a pin code last month and DH said go ahead and book before it expires.
We are not booking any ADRs but like you am waiting patiently (kind of) for the Candlelight Processional dates to be announced, we really want to do the package.
Great work so far with doing the Insanity, I saw info on it and not quite sure if I could do it. What a great incentive too, a trip to Las Vegas. I am trying to get in better shape before our trip. We have Wiifit plus but got bored with it. We do Just Dance with our boys also and I agree that makes you sweat, I've also tried the Zumba for Wii which also leaves me sweaty and tired.

Thank you about the dinner & movie nights! The Lilo & Stich one has been the only movie we have gone ALL OUT on! It was just such a fun theme and we love Polynesian style food, so it was a win/win.

Congrats for booking with a PIN for Dec!! Thats super exciting What are the details for your trip?

Insanity is definately tough, but we are determined this time around. Each day we get a little bit closer to officially booking that Vegas trip. We did sit down and look at dates last night, and I booked reservations at several restraunts (only b/c we wanted some pretty specific times based on the shows we want to see), but thats it...no hotel, no air, no show tickets...wont book any of that until we finish Insanity.

I didnt know they made a Zumba for Wii...we always see the infomercial on TV and keep going back and forth if we want to try it. Trying it on Wii might be the way to go though.

 

[Corjack]

Dinner and movie nights look AWESOME!!!!! YAY for getting your ressies all set!

 

[vikkil70]

Thanks so much. I am so excited about our Dec trip. We are going Dec 8-16 staying at Pop Century. We stayed there last time and the kids adored it.
Reading yours and other PTR and TR I am getting inspired to try a PTR myself. I've never done one and not sure if I can coherently get my thoughts together but it might be fun.
Zumba for Wii definetely wears me out. The first time I did it I could only get through the short workout on the beginner setting. Now that the weather is nice I try to do walk/jogs outside but I still like to do some Zumba along with it.
Good luck with the Insanity and your Vegas planning!