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

[emmysmommy]

Yay for a zero balance!!!! That is always so nice to see!

You did an awesome job with Peter Pan movie night. Everything was so cute. You are so creative!!!

 

[TMGosizk]

Following your PTR!! And finally all caught up!! I'm loving your trip plans and all the ADRs you've chosen!!! I've always wanted to see WDW during the holidays!! I can't wait to read a TR!!

We are also planning our next WDW trip for October 2013 and staying at the Contemporary! It's our favorite hotel!! It'll be our daughter's first visit (she will be 15 months!) I'm beyond excited!!! Wilderness has always looked so amazing! And can't wait to hear how it is!!I !

Your movie nights seem like so much fun for everyone!! I wish I could cook well...that's my DH's forte...and do theme meals. My DH would love movie nights since there are sooo many Disney movies he hasn't seen!! Can't wait for our little one to be old enough to watch with us!

Looking forward to reading more!! It's getting so close for you!! :-D

 

[scholastica]

I finished reading through all your report so far, sounds like it is going to be a great time! I also love the pizza pirate ships, so cute! I also really really like the movie themes, how fun for your kids!

 

[heatherlekay]

I know I'm really late but I just caught up on your ptr and am joining along!
You are gonna love Disney at Christmas! It has so much extra pixie dust during the holiday season. Can't wait to see your pics when you return as it brings back great memories
I plan to be back next December but dh is trying to get me to change to October-I just can't imagine going & not seeing the Christmas decor though.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Peter Pan night rocked!! Just look at those smiles!

And a big Congrats to...

Paying off your trip!!


I hope to have it paid off before we drive under the gates of WDW.

Nothing better than a balance of $0.00! The Peter Pan night looks great! I so wish I was creative like that, but I'm totally not.

Yay for a zero balance!!!! That is always so nice to see!

You did an awesome job with Peter Pan movie night. Everything was so cute. You are so creative!!!

Thank you all!! We really enjoyed the Peter Pan movie night. I think it was one of the best ones so far! Although we did have a lot of fun with Lilo & Stitch too

And zero balance, does indeed feel amazing!

Following your PTR!! And finally all caught up!! I'm loving your trip plans and all the ADRs you've chosen!!! I've always wanted to see WDW during the holidays!! I can't wait to read a TR!!

We are also planning our next WDW trip for October 2013 and staying at the Contemporary! It's our favorite hotel!! It'll be our daughter's first visit (she will be 15 months!) I'm beyond excited!!! Wilderness has always looked so amazing! And can't wait to hear how it is!!I !

Your movie nights seem like so much fun for everyone!! I wish I could cook well...that's my DH's forte...and do theme meals. My DH would love movie nights since there are sooo many Disney movies he hasn't seen!! Can't wait for our little one to be old enough to watch with us!

Looking forward to reading more!! It's getting so close for you!! :-D

Hello and welcome!

CR was our original resort when we were booked for Oct of this year. I would have LOVED to have stayed there next Oct, but since my youngest will be 3 by then...they wont allow it Really wanted to stay there, oh well. How exciting for your trip next Oct

The movie nights are super fun. Sometimes my little boys will sit through a movie, other times...not so much. Depends on what we are watching to be honest.

We are very excited about our ADRs!! Lots of variety over the course of the 11 days

I finished reading through all your report so far, sounds like it is going to be a great time! I also love the pizza pirate ships, so cute! I also really really like the movie themes, how fun for your kids!

Welcome!

I have put a lot of thought into our trip, and I put a lot of thought into our dinner/movie nights. I think this trip will be one the kids talk about for a long time.

I know I'm really late but I just caught up on your ptr and am joining along!
You are gonna love Disney at Christmas! It has so much extra pixie dust during the holiday season. Can't wait to see your pics when you return as it brings back great memories
I plan to be back next December but dh is trying to get me to change to October-I just can't imagine going & not seeing the Christmas decor though.

Welcome!

I am SOOOOOO excited to see WDW at Christmas! Everything I see in pics just looks so amazing, and I know it will be so much better in person.

I think after this trip it may be hard for us to go at any other time than during the holidays, but I am hoping the Fall decor is great too next year!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

What time is it??

Time for more ADR tweaks


I thought I was done, but I just keep reading dining reports, and it makes me re-think what I have picked and sends me off to do more research of menus.

So, what have I changed, what have I kept?

Mostly keepers, just a few re-arrangers and 1 cancellation.

The new list looks like this...

* rearrange, ** NEW

Dec 18 - travel day, grab something at airport and then eat our weight in "free" cookies at MVMCP

Dec 19 - bkfst CL / lunch Chefs de France / dinner Coral Reef* (CP package)

Dec 20 - bkfst H&V / lunch Sci Fi / dinner San Angel Inn*

Dec 21 - bkfst Crystal Palace / lunch LTT / dinner Chef Mickey

Dec 22 - bkfst Kona / lunch T Rex / dinner Yachtsman

Dec 23 - bkfst Cape May / lunch Y&Y / dinner WCC

Dec 24 - bkfst CRT / lunch Plaza / dinner Ohana

Dec 25 - bkfst Akershus / lunch Le Cellier / dinner Tutto Italia

Dec 26 - bkfst CL / lunch Via Napoli / dinner Spirit of Aloha

Dec 27 - bkfst Tusker House / lunch Sanaa / dinner Cali Grill

Dec 28 - bkfst CL / lunch Brown Derby**

So, who got the axe??

La Hacienda...

Why? No good reason really. I still like the look of the menu, but I really wanted to eat at Brown Derby and the kids really wanted to eat at San Angel. I think La Hacienda will have to make the list for Oct '13.

Also, if you may remember, La Hacienda WAS our CP restraunt and the little boys were going to Sand Castle Club. Well, Evan, DS2 has decided he really wants nothing to do with potty training and I dont think in my best "mommy powers" can I get him fully potty trained in less than 3 months, so, since you have to be fully potty trained to go to the kids clubs, I decided to go ahead and change our CP package. Coral Reef had a better time available for the show we wanted, so I switched us to that.

Sorry La Hacienda, I didnt want to give you the axe, but had to.

Need to get things going for dinner & movie night tonight, but I will do my best to get day 4 updated this weekend.


​

 

[taaren]

Aww ... goodbye Hacienda. Something to look forward to for '13 though.

Potty training in under 3 months is possible, if your toddler is ready for it. I used the 3-day potty training method, which took us a week since DH and my other relatives who were helping take care of him at the time didn't believe in the program like I did (we had a few setbacks, if I had taken 5 days off work I could have done it in that time, but as it was the long weekend with me + four days with DH & grandma did the trick). Your child has to be ready beforehand though, at the time my DS was 32 months and waking up with dry diapers naturally, so night time was never an issue for us. He doesn't have very many accidents, and any that he does seem to be related to button issues, so as long as he's in elastic waistbands he's never had one.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Aww ... goodbye Hacienda. Something to look forward to for '13 though.

Potty training in under 3 months is possible, if your toddler is ready for it. I used the 3-day potty training method, which took us a week since DH and my other relatives who were helping take care of him at the time didn't believe in the program like I did (we had a few setbacks, if I had taken 5 days off work I could have done it in that time, but as it was the long weekend with me + four days with DH & grandma did the trick). Your child has to be ready beforehand though, at the time my DS was 32 months and waking up with dry diapers naturally, so night time was never an issue for us. He doesn't have very many accidents, and any that he does seem to be related to button issues, so as long as he's in elastic waistbands he's never had one.

I dont think DS2 is ready. He will just sit on the potty and then try and get right back up. I'm going to keep trying (and I'm not cancelling Sand Castle until a week or so before our trip...just in case some miracle happens). DS3 didnt potty train until this summer (he was as uninerested as DS2 appears to be).

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Debra! YOU are influenced by reading dining reviews?? ha! I know the feeling! La Hacienda was one of the ones that got axed for our last trip as well.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Hi Debra! YOU are influenced by reading dining reviews?? ha! I know the feeling! La Hacienda was one of the ones that got axed for our last trip as well.

I could avoid all these changes if I just quit reading amazing DR (like that will happen!)

I think HBD is a much better option and I cant wait for a great departure day meal there

 

[levenhopper]

I love the PTR so far! I especially like the October, 2013 booking part...I'm hoping for a bounce back while I'll be there in December, and I'm already planning on heading back for F+W if we get the bounce back.

Your Oct 15-20 days are the days I'll be on my fall midterm break, so I think I'd probably use those dates, too!

 

[SAT887]

Joining in!! Hopefully I can read through this in the next week or so! Going on vacation (staycation with trips in the White Mountains, Boston & Portland) and I know I won't have time then!!

Read the first page though and it looks great! At least you could book at 499 days! I had to wait for 11 month window even though we started planning our trip in 2010 with family. There was 2 Disney trips since- but still would have enjoyed seeing my room reservation occasionally!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I love the PTR so far! I especially like the October, 2013 booking part...I'm hoping for a bounce back while I'll be there in December, and I'm already planning on heading back for F+W if we get the bounce back.

Your Oct 15-20 days are the days I'll be on my fall midterm break, so I think I'd probably use those dates, too!

Welcome! It would be awesome to get a bounce back while there in Dec, and if we get one, I will definately call and have them crunch the numbers for us and hope for some sort of discount, but DH really wants to stay at WL next time around, so thats why we went ahead and booked.

Joining in!! Hopefully I can read through this in the next week or so! Going on vacation (staycation with trips in the White Mountains, Boston & Portland) and I know I won't have time then!!

Read the first page though and it looks great! At least you could book at 499 days! I had to wait for 11 month window even though we started planning our trip in 2010 with family. There was 2 Disney trips since- but still would have enjoyed seeing my room reservation occasionally!!

Welcome! Nice to have you joining in. Have a great staycation

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Day 4 - Dec 21

Magic Kingdom

** If the world ends today, we will at least have spent it at MK **

Today will be our first full day at MK. I know the park closes early this evening for MVMCP, but I am hoping the lower crowds early in the day will mean we can get quite a bit accomplished.

First on the agenda this morning, EATING

We will make our way over to MK early this morning as we have a pre-park opening bkfst at CP. Very excited to get those empty Main Street photos along the way.

This will be our first time at CP and I am excited about one thing...puffed french toast! Doesnt take much to get me excited, but I do love french toast especially!

So, we have an 805am ADR and the park is scheduled to open at 9am.

I dont have a real touring plan in place yet , but we will probably go over to Peter Pan and ride it and try and grab FP for later. Definately have to check out Fantasyland in all its new glory. Dumbo, Barnstormer are musts.

I HAVE to see the characters at Pete's Silly Sideshow!!! I love the costumes and think this will be a super fun M&G.

BTMRR, Splash & Space Mtns (probably will do rider swap since little short stuff Evan wont be tall enough...nor would I really expect he or Jaxon to do Space Mtn).

IASW...not looking forward to it, but I know we will end up there

Mad Tea Party, Buzz, POTC, HM and Carousel are must do's as well.

We will probably hold off on People Mover (as we will be back on Christmas Eve and I have a feeling the lines for everything will be AWFUL, but at least we could ride this if needed).

Characters...DD really wants to see Merida. Santa, hopefully we will have seen him and Mrs C at Epcot a few days earlier, otherwise we will try and catch him at DTD.

We have a lunch ADR at LTT...Ooey gooey toffee cake.

We will catch the castle lighting tonight and then head out of MK shortly before 7pm since we will have already done MVMCP a few nights earlier.

Where are we headed next...??

Contemporary Resort for dinner at Chef Mickey. OK, OK, OK...I admit, I am not increadibly excited about this as a dinner...BUT, I do want the little boys to experience CM, so that is why we are eating there.

We will check out the decorations at CR and then hop on the monorail to check out the decorations at GF. Cant wait to see that Gingerbread House!!

We will either head back to the hotel OR head over to Epcot as they have PM EMH. The plan is Epcot since the following day is a "no park day" and I want to make the most out of our park hoppers, but it will all depend on the little boys.

Now, just a few pics from our last trip.

Our little family of 4 at the time. This was early Aug and Jaxon was born in mid November.

This was at Toontown. Goofy had just come back from break and he walked out and grabbed my kids by the hand and walked them back to the M&G area. He played with my kids for a few min before posing for pics and autographs. So fun!

I'm soooo sad Mickey & Minnie's houses are gone. DD LOVES cheese, so this was a perfect pic for her!

​

 

[emmysmommy]

What a wonderful MK day plan!! Starting with an empty park and puffed french toast (one of my favorites!) at CP and then ooey gooey toffee cake at LTT... Oh my, that's heaven! I've never done Chef Mickey's even though we stay at CR/BLT every trip. One day I'm determined to try it for breakfast.

Love the adorable antics of Goofy with the kids. I wish there was a different way to expand FL AND keep ToonTown intact so Mickey and Minnie's houses didn't have to be removed.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

What a wonderful MK day plan!! Starting with an empty park and puffed french toast (one of my favorites!) at CP and then ooey gooey toffee cake at LTT... Oh my, that's heaven! I've never done Chef Mickey's even though we stay at CR/BLT every trip. One day I'm determined to try it for breakfast.

Love the adorable antics of Goofy with the kids. I wish there was a different way to expand FL AND keep ToonTown intact so Mickey and Minnie's houses didn't have to be removed.

We are planning on CM bkfst next Fall when we go back. I figure we will be staying close by, so might as well. Plus, I always hear it is better for bkfst.

Goofy was great with the kids! He kept running into the wall and falling on the ground. It was hilarious! Cant wait for my little boys to meet him. Evan runs around the house all the time and says "stinky shoes" just like Goofy would.

I do wish they could have kept Mickey & Minnie's houses, makes me sad they are gone

 

[tofubeast]

I do wish they could have kept Mickey & Minnie's houses, makes me sad they are gone


[/COLOR]

At least they live on at Disneyland!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

At least they live on at Disneyland!!

Guess I need to get to DL someday

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Day 5 - Sat, Dec 22
Downtown Disney

Today is our first "rest" day, and assuming the world did not end overnight (12/21/12), we have a breakfast ADR for Kona this morning so we can get our fill of Tonga Toast and Macadamia Nut Pancakes.

After breakfast we will head over to Downtown Disney and do some shopping. We are headed to Disney's Days of Christmas to pick out Christmas ornaments. Each of us will pick out an ornament to put on the tree in our hotel room. We will also head to World of Disney & Mickey's Pantry. I know oldest DS will want to check out the Lego store too. I love Basin (havent ever been to the one in DTD, but fell in love with the store while in Las Vegas last year), so I definately want to go there. I am almost confident we will end up at Goofy's Candy Co. too (as if the kids will need MORE sugar!)

This afternoon we will be eating lunch at T-Rex. This was one of DS10 picks. I hear the restraunt is pretty loud (similar to Rainforest Cafe), so I will make sure to bring Tylenol with us that day

We will head back to the resort. Perhaps swim a little bit if the weather is nice, otherwise just explore Boardwalk.

Tonight we will be getting dressed up a little to head over to dinner at Yachtsman. I am really looking forward to this dinner. We have never eaten here, but all the yummy reviews I have read here on Dis...cant wait.

After dinner, head back to the resort and head to bed early.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

September Disney movie & dinner nights​

September 2 - Black Cauldron -- Stew, Cornbread, Gurgi's Apple Crisp

September 7 (DH pick for his birthday) - Aladdin -- Chicken Tangine, Couscous, Pita chips & hummus, Raja's tiger stripe cookies

Chicken Tangine (my 1st time making this, but it turned out awesome!)

Raja's tiger stripe cookies & pictures of my little Guinea Pigs seeing if they turned out ok

Aladdin (Jasmine was MIA )

September 21 - Lion King -- Wildebeest (steak), Pride Rock baked potatoes, Savannah salad, Rafiki's banana pudding

We had Zebra stipe plates and napkins