Dec '10 TR:I Will Not Stop Stalking ADRs Until I Get To WDW!(MARCH TR LINK) 3/26

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Megan, Congrats on the birthday trip! Is it before or after the Praxis? (Isn't it awful how other parts of life (like studying) interfere with Disney planning? I have essays to grade and major test prep to plan for --my students take the PSSA in March.

When you take the Praxis, do you get a score right away or do you have to wait? Years ago, when I took my GRE's, I was able to see the score immediately.

We stayed at CSR in the past and I LOVED it.

Debby

Thanks!! The trip is the weekend after my Praxis. My Praxis is on March 12 (sat) and we'll leave for FL at 4:30pm on the 17th. I would have liked to maybe gone the next weekend even though the 19th is my birthday but flights wise, they were $50 more the next weekend so work will have to get over me leaving early on the 11th and then 1/2 day on the 17th and off till the 21st!

When I take the test, I have to wait 3-4 weeks. I think they are in the testing phase of doing the computer testing for that. For PA Praxis I you can take them on the computer.

Yay for a new trip, and a birthday trip no less! A mother daughter trip sounds like fun, I wish I could get my mom to go again, I haven't been there with her since our last family trip which was ages ago, I really have no idea how long it's been. But she refuses to fly now, and unless I go for like, 2 weeks, I'm not driving so who knows?

Can't wait to see what ADR's you picked and where you are staying! I'm guessing POFQ so you can check out the new refurbed rooms!

Thanks! Haha, you know me with my OCD and ADRs. I'm going write down what I start with and what I've ended with!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

WCC DINNER, LIGHTS, AND EPCOT EMH!!

HAPPY SATURDAY DIS FRIENDS!!!!

I went to Dollar Tree today look at clings for the upcoming holidays and oh my, I hit the mother-load when it came to clings! I got $11 worth of clings for Easter, Vday, and St P day! They only had Disney ones for Vday but they are cute! I got Pooh, Mickey, Princess, and they had Tinkerbell but I didn't need anymore.


Now for the trip update!

Friday Dec 10, 2010

When I left off, we were heading to dinner at WCC. If you remember, this was the ADR that I looked for, for weeks and they didn't have an opening. I looked one last time on the airplane (thanks go-go inflight internet free for the holidays!) and scored an ADR for 5:10pm.

We checked in right at 5:10pm and were given a buzzer. We thought the restaurant opened at 5 but there were already totally full tables but by 5:25 we were seated.

I was glad I scored the ADR because at 5:10, they were already at an hour-2 hour wait depending on party size.

We sat down and were greeted by Heada Lettuce! We had her on past trips! She doesn't go over the top, or maybe she didn't bc we/she knew we've had her but she still played along!

I got a milkshake of course!

We all decided on the skillet! Thanks Free Dining and WCC for providing us with this!

We did get seconds but of like only 2 or two things.

For desserts, dad, bro, and I got the apple pie. I can't recall what mom got.

By the time we got out it was just after 6:30 and we rushed to DHS to use our TSM FP and to see the lights!

We got to TSM and had a min wait until our FP time but they let us in anyways! We got out glasses and started up the stairs and waited, waited, waited. From the line-off the ride it was 45 mins

My score with mom:

We would not get to see the lights for very long before we would have to rush to Epcot for Illuminations and EMH!

We did get to hear 3 of the 5 songs that dance which wasn't bad but we usually stay at the lights for an hour-hour 1/2 in past trips. We've also done PP pics which we didn't do, look at the merchandise for Pins which we didn't do, and take more pics of the lights..which we didn't do. Oh well. It was a good 45 or so that we stood there.

It was just after 8:30pm and we rushed out of DHS, drove over to Beach Club, and headed to Epcot!

We walked around WS for a bit and decided to settle on a spot to watch in Germany! Bro and Mom went to get a snack in Germany and dad and I stood and to hold our spots!

After Illuminations (no pics that night!), we decided to stick around for EMH. Our first stop...

TEST TRACK!!! It was Bros first time back since leaving in Oct. He caught up with some BFFs and we were backdoor-ed twice on the ride

After the ride, Dad wanted to ride SPE so we headed towards the front of the park and rode:

After the ride, bro went back to TT to talk to more friends and we headed back to BC to get the car and head back to WL. Bro said he would just take the bus back to WL.

TS DINING REVIEW:

WCC.

We've eaten there in the past but mostly for breakfast. We all agreed that the meal was a great change since we haven't eaten there in a while. We did get 2nds of salad, bread, corn, and chicken. Dad and Bro LOVED the apple pie dessert. I thought it was too sweet and took it to go. I did eat it a few days later (thanks WL for a fridge!) and it was a little better! The milkshake was awesome! Mom and Dad both got smoothies and loved them..not sure if they had free refills or not? I didn't get a refill on my ms but I was asked if I wanted one!

We scored it a 4/5...a 4 because of the wait before we were seated! The food was great, the service was good but not over the top, and we'd go back!

We got back before midnight and Mom and I decided to go use the hot tub before crashing!

UP NEXT...

~WOULD WE MAKE IT TO A PARK FOR ROPE DROP???!!
~CLP WITH WHOOPI!!!

 

[Trentmom]

Love the osborne lights. They are amazing!!

Glad you enjoyed your meal at WCC

Looks like a fun night at Epcot too

 

[Nermel9]

I love WCC! I'm not a big fan of how loud it can get in there, but it is fun and the food is really good!

Love the Osborne Lights pics!

Fun night in Epcot, that's great that your brother can get you guys in Test Track without having to wait in line! I have a newfound love for TT after my trip!

I always want to use the hot tub after a long day in the parks, but never do, I'm always too tired to walk to it!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Love the osborne lights. They are amazing!!

Glad you enjoyed your meal at WCC

Looks like a fun night at Epcot too

Thanks!!

I love WCC! I'm not a big fan of how loud it can get in there, but it is fun and the food is really good!

Love the Osborne Lights pics!

Fun night in Epcot, that's great that your brother can get you guys in Test Track without having to wait in line! I have a newfound love for TT after my trip!

I always want to use the hot tub after a long day in the parks, but never do, I'm always too tired to walk to it!

It actually wasn't that loud at WCC the night we were there! We've found that it can actually be somewhat quiet there Late at night especially it isn't as loud!

Yay for your adventure at AKL in the fall!!! You for sure will have to use the hot tubs there!!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great update!! We love WCC and I always order the skillet, it was my absolute fav! That apple pie looked yummy! The pictures you got in the lobby are gorgeous, I love the log cabin look with Christmas decorations!!

The Osbourne lights....I love them!!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

OMG Megan, how did I miss this?! I'm on now, and catching up.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Okay, I'm caught up.

Bugs = Ewww

I can't believe you were treated so badly at POP. I haven't had a bad experience either time I'm there, but I guess it can happen at any time.

That was awesome about being able to get the reservation for WCC at the last minute on the flight. That's so cool. I ate there for breakfast before, but never for dinner, so I think I'll have to give it a try. We're thinking about going over New Year's again next year, and I think that's the resort we'll pick.

Yay for another trip! Tickers are the best!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Great update!! We love WCC and I always order the skillet, it was my absolute fav! That apple pie looked yummy! The pictures you got in the lobby are gorgeous, I love the log cabin look with Christmas decorations!!

The Osbourne lights....I love them!!!

The skillet is sooo yummy!!! The corn bread is to die for too!

OMG Megan, how did I miss this?! I'm on now, and catching up.

Okay, I'm caught up.

Bugs = Ewww

I can't believe you were treated so badly at POP. I haven't had a bad experience either time I'm there, but I guess it can happen at any time.

That was awesome about being able to get the reservation for WCC at the last minute on the flight. That's so cool. I ate there for breakfast before, but never for dinner, so I think I'll have to give it a try. We're thinking about going over New Year's again next year, and I think that's the resort we'll pick.

Yay for another trip! Tickers are the best!

We thought the same thing about POP. Even mom said that the guy we dealt with was night and day compared to the one she dealt with in Oct when they needed their MNSSHP tix refunded!

You'll love WL and WCC!! I was shocked that my family wanted to eat there for a dinner considering we've been to more breakfast meals but it seemed to be perfect since we were staying there. We did the same thing last year but ate at Artist Point instead which was soooo good too!! They had the best salmon I've ever had!

 

[princessjv]

What a special magical treat you got in your room! I've always wanted to try WCC... and now even more! Your view was awesome.

Congrats on the upcoming trip! Yea!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great update! I just love the WL Christmas decorations! The milkshakes at WCC look really good. Sadly I didn't get one of them when we ate there. Oh well, more reason to go back I guess!

Great pictures of the Osborne Lights too.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

What a special magical treat you got in your room! I've always wanted to try WCC... and now even more! Your view was awesome.

Congrats on the upcoming trip! Yea!

Thanks!! It was an awesome surprise! I for sure mentioned it in the letter I sent to WL thanking them for a magical stay!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Great update! I just love the WL Christmas decorations! The milkshakes at WCC look really good. Sadly I didn't get one of them when we ate there. Oh well, more reason to go back I guess!

Great pictures of the Osborne Lights too.

Thanks

The milkshakes are awesome there and they put sprinkles on top..you can't go wrong!!! I don't see how anyone could drink more than one or maybe two of those in one sitting plus all the food and dessert if you are on the DDP!!

We like the other menu options on there, so I'd love to go back and try something that wasn't the skillet!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I loved WCC when we ate there and the kids had so much fun. You are really making me want to stay at WL for my next trip

 

[onescgirl]

I love seeing the DHS Christmas lights pictures. ONE Day I will go to WDW during Christmas time!

Yay for the backdoor rides on TT. It must be nice to travel with a family with connections!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I loved WCC when we ate there and the kids had so much fun. You are really making me want to stay at WL for my next trip

It was very very good!! We love WL, it's by far our fav resort. Since our first stay in 2000, we've stayed there 7x now. Although we only stayed at Poly one time back in 1998, we enjoy that too (not the price though!) We loved Yacht Club too but once again, not the price! WL is pretty great if you can get over the smaller size of rooms compared to Poly and YC + you don't have monorail access or walking access to Epcot like YC but for us it's still a great location!

I love seeing the DHS Christmas lights pictures. ONE Day I will go to WDW during Christmas time!

Yay for the backdoor rides on TT. It must be nice to travel with a family with connections!

You have to go at Xmas time! My family would have never gone if it hadn't been for me working there (and not being home for xmas). Now my dad doesn't want to go at any other time except for around the holidays!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

MARCH 2011 TRIP DETAILS
**SIDE NOTE**
I guess I never mentioned that on page 1, I have all the chapters listed if you missed a chapter or two since I've updated 3x this weekend!

Happy Sunday Dis Friends!!!

I figured, I would go ahead and post the trip details for the March trip. My week will be crazy! My roster of 11 kiddos will be upped to 13 putting me at a full class (with one teacher). 1 of the 2 kids that I'm getting from the lower class is going to be a challenge!! I'm going to have my work cut out for me because the little girl has a hard time listening and following directions. I've been trying to match her with some of my kids during centers before and after school but she still won't listen even though I figured the older kids would inspire her to listen!. When we watch movies in the afternoon, she will maybe sit there for 5 mins and then will mess with the other kids, whereas all the 3yr olds sit there and don't move at all! She's 4.5 and is able to go to kindergarten in the fall but oh boy, I guess if anything, the sooner she goes, the sooner she might get more individualized attention?!
..anyways, please pray for me and for me to keep sane AND if you have any advice, that would be great!!!!!

MARCH TRIP DETAILS:

DATES:
MARCH 17-21, 2011
..yet another super short trip but I only have 1 day of paid vacation left so I'll be taking 1 day unpaid plus early leave on the 17th (same thing I did last year)

TRAVEL DETAILS:
Mom and I will be flying on:

I have said in other TR but now that we live in Cincinnati, we really do miss SW! The closest SW is in Columbus or Louisville which are both about 2 hours away so unless the deal is too hard to pass up, we won't travel that far! We do have AT about 50 mins away in Dayton but Cincinnati is about 30 mins away. I was able to use some of my miles and I got $100 each off our tickets (what a nice daughter I am to share with mom!) and our flights ended up being $145 each!

March 17:
Leaving CVG at 4:25pm-MCO at 6:32pm
March 21:
Leaving MCO at 4:15pm-CVG at 6:25pm

After we land at MCO, unless bro is off work and can pick us up, we'll take:

RESORT:

I'm going to leave this blank for now. I will say that I did book a resort with my AP discount + DDP but one of my CP roomies who's still seasonal (K from the Oct Trip) is going to see about booking us and upgraded room with discount DDP with her CM discount..
..stay tuned to find out what it is!!!

TICKETS AND DINING

I have my AP to use and mom is going to upgrade her 2day base ticket from Dec and make it a 2 day hopper.

Either way, we'll have the DDP for 4 days (4 nights at the resort) and we've booked:
March 18 at 12:30pm:

(this may be the only one we might cancel and switch to Teppan Edo)

March 19 MY BIRTHDAY!!!:
9:25AM:

March 19 at 8:35pm:

...I know what you are thinking..I HATE the service here and the problem with the restaurant not changing is that people cave and still go like us..hopefully the service will be better! A window seat for my Bday would be nice too!! FW are at 10 that night so if we're still there, we'll watch from inside or go outside to the beach if we eat quickly!

March 20 at 2pm:

..another one of my favorite meals!

That's it as far as ADRs go. If you know me and my OCD with ADRs, you know they will probably change. We decided against a Sig restaurant because I'd like to do 4 meals and I would have loved to do CRT but times were not open. I thought about the Luau but not knowing bro's schedule and having to pay ahead might get a little icky so we decided against that!

We'll us CS for dinner on the 17th, dinner on the 18th, dinner on the 20th, and lunch on the 21st. Those places are TBD!

PARKS:

Since we only have 3 full days, we'll be doing parks on the 17th and 20th. Hopefully the 19th was nice like last year and we can use the resort pool, relax, and maybe go to DTD.

On the 17th, we'll be going to:

On the 20th we'll go to:

More details about when and we're we'll be at those parks will be posted another time!

For now I'll leave you with Old School pics from past Disney trips!
(Onsite trips: 1992, 94, 96, 98, 2000, 2003, 05, 06, 07..and then I became a CM!)
1992 (first week long trip age 7 and 5)

1987 (before I became a big sister..at DL)

1994 and/or 1996 (can't remember!!)

2000:

2003 (with my cousin):

2005:

2006, spring break and first time at WDW without parents!:

2008:

UP NEXT:
*DEC TRIP UPDATE
*RESORT REVEAL!! + OLD SCHOOL RIDE PICS!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm such an ADR freak too. I always have those thought out first and foremost. I love the old school pictures. I especially love the one of your brother with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt. Aaaahhh, memories!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm such an ADR freak too. I always have those thought out first and foremost. I love the old school pictures. I especially love the one of your brother with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt. Aaaahhh, memories!

Thanks! You inspired me!! I just wish we had a working scanner because it would probably be a good idea to scan old pics just in case you know!!

These are a few that I scanned several years ago and now I have no idea why

Glad you enjoyed them!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

RESORT REVEAL!!!

HAPPY TUESDAY DIS FRIENDS!!

I'm feeling a little under the weather but I thought how could I not post this! Plus I already leaked out the choice on another TR so I have to reveal it now!

I figured I would update my 2 new kiddos I got at school. The little boy is fine. He listens pretty well but the little girl on the other hand is going to do this: to me. She decided to sit on her dot today and take her shoes off and throw them at other kids and play with them as the kids were learning about the food groups. I put her aside and told her that she needed to put her shoes on and she could join the others in freeze dance when she did. She refused but the shoes magically went on in 2 mins when centers began I've already started looking at some tips online for kids with her symptoms and how to better their school days and minimize distractions so we'll see how tomorrow goes! It would be so much easier with 2 teachers so I don't have to stop every 2 mins to get her back on track only to do it again in 2 mins! Any advice would be great!!!

Now for the resort reveal!!!

Our previous choice with my AP Discount + DDP was..

And then my CP roomie (K) said she wouldn't mind booking a reservation with her CM Discount (50% off and $27.99 DDP) and when we did that, there was only a $30 difference between my AP room + DDP and...

So we're staying at..

It has not been easy getting to this point! She called (you have to call with a special code bc of the discount DDP) on Monday and the CM couldn't book it bc he said I had my AP one booked. No big deal, I'll gamble my AP ressie in order to get the CM one so I canceled mine last night.

K calls today at 1pm to make the ressie since my AP one is now canceled. She texted me at 2:00 and said it was all done, gave me the total of $1,095 (which matched what is should be) and a deposit of $210. Okay great! She gave me the confirmation # and we were all set.

I never got the email because for some reason, I never get Disney emails when I've had to book over the phone even though they confirm it!
When I got home, I tried to input the # on disneyworld.com, doesn't work.
K tries it on her CM site..doesn't work.

Okay now I'm like So I call reservation line..
CM 1: can't help you if it's a CM reservation, call cast
CM2 at cast: I can't locate the confirmation number, address, or adults on the ressie. It looks like one was attempted but not made. Me: "how could it have not been made if I was given totals and a con #?!" I'm then put on hold for 25 mins to be transfered to IT.
IT CM: um, I can't help you with that, I'll transfer you to reservations
CM 3: Yes, here is your reservation for AKL, 1 adult, NO NO NO!!!!
2 adults. He adds the adult, updates the total and confirms everything twice. Yes everything is set now! He sends another email and says I should get it by tomorrow.

I got the email a little bit ago. I'm listed at Mrs (um no!) my mom as a Ms. (um no!). It does list the total but only for the room not DDP even though it says CM cast + DDP and lists the correct deposit.

At this point, I'll probably wait a day or two until the charge goes through on my Visa and then call back to confirm everything before I call DME.

Now with the resort..

We only booked a standard but it was preferred at POR or upgrade to Deluxe in a standard. I went for the Deluxe. I know it's far out and we might not have a car if Bro works but it will still be nice. I hear they upgrade a lot at AKL so we'll hope for that! The difference between AKL and WL was $150+ so I went with AKL. It will be something different and hopefully after all of this it turns out okay!!


That is it for now! I'll be back with more drama I'm sure..afterall, I haven't even called DME yet which is it's own drama in itself!