DIS Dad's Boardwalk PTR - This time I'm bringing the DW too!

[colinsdad]

To start, I'll explain the title of my PTR.

When I married my lovely DW in 1997, she knew she was marrying a Disneyphile. I was fortunate to have GP's who took me growing up (First visit was at CR in '73) and ever since I've been hooked. She has let me go almost every year since we've been married, often without her (I'd go with my DB).

When we started to think about having kids, I told her that I would like to bring him or her (we didn't find out beforehand) to Disney......a lot......so we struck a deal.

I could go to Disney every year, with or without her, as long as I took the kid. Well since having our son Colin in 2004, I've done 3 "Boys Only" man time trips with my DS (at 9mos, 15mos, and 3yo).

Well, we just had a DD (5mos) and I was thinking since I'd be outnumbered, I'd better bring the DW this time.

The Cast:
Me - Jason (38) - As I noted I grew up Disney. I am a full card carying member of the DIS Dad's Club meeting over 50% of the joining requirements.
Favorite Disney Experiences - EPCOT's DiveQUEST, Food and Wine Festival, MNSSHP, Getting in "Who Want's to be a Millionaire" Hot Seat 4 different trips (got to $250,000 question).

DW - Tina (40) - Not a Disneyphile (been 4 times, twice with me). Partly my fault as I think I scared her one visit going all Disney Comando on her, but hey it was a weekend trip we had to get everything in.

DS - Colin (4) - Love's all things Disney like his Dad (I'm brainwashing him ). Right now as I type this, he's playing with his My Friends Tigger and Pooh Super Sluths Changing Tree he got for his birthday 2 days ago.
Favorite Disney Experience - MNNSHP (he loved it), Little One's Toddler Time last October (saw Ralph's World and Choo Choo Soul live at Disney) and rode Dumbo with Stitch!, PlayHouse Disney Live on Stage (see my avitar for Colin rock'n out).

DD - Ava (5mos) - Will love all things Disney like her Dad.
Favorite Disney Experience - None yet, but it will be going to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique with her Dad for the Princess makeover.

The Christmas Con...Err I mean The Trip:
Boardwalk Villas - September 13th to 20th

I've always liked this area of Disney. Probably because I usually go to Disney during football season and I'd plan my EPCOT visits specifically on Sunday's so I could slide out the International Gateway to have a beer at the ESPN Club. I love the atmosphere, the water, and love the boats that take you between MGM the hotels and EPCOT. And did I mention I love Beaches and Cream at the YBC? No Way Jose!!! More on that later......

DW and I have a timeshare (not DVC) and when the availability to trade into the Boardwalk arose (during a week that happend to include our 11th Wedding Anniversay) the con, (why do I keep saying that) er... the wheels were set in motion. Knowing the Boardwalk availability could dissapear at any time, the next part of the story took all of 30 minutes on Christmas night 2007.

DW was 6 months pregnant at the time (we didn't know it would be a princess yet) and the conversation started with something like, "You know hun, we should definately start thinking about a vacation in September or October of next year, but where could we go with a 4 y/o and a 6mos old?" She wanted to go to a beach destination like Aruba or St. Lucia but I put the kabosh on that (with what I think is good reason) with, "I don't like that idea. What if something happens. Kids get sick, we need a hospital. We're out of the country with 2 kids." Then the conversation turns......"We'll where do you think we should go?" "How about DisneyWorld?"....."No Way!!!" Then I use my powers of persuation (much like a Jedi mind trick) that could get a starving dog off a meat truck. "Hun, Disney is the perfect family vacation. We won't go 'Comando', I promise. And we can enjoy the beach, Blizzard Beach and it just so happens that I was checking timeshare availability this evening and we can trade into the Boardwalk. The available week includes our Anniversary too . We'll have a great time. You are going to love it....."

Maybe it was the Christmas spirit, maybe it was raging hormones of a 6mos pregnant woman, but when she agreed I ran to my computer before she knew what hit her. I put the Boardwalk Villa timeshare on hold and had 20 minutes to book our flights. Knowing the dates, I had flights using our FF miles in 10 minutes.

Now the fun for me begins. Let the planning began....

More to come...

 

[OhMari]

How is the planning going?

 

[colinsdad]

Being a bean counter, some would say I have a bit of OCD. All though I think it stands for Obsesive Compulsive Disney.

Since my trip was booked so far in advance (9 months), I had a full 3 months to figure out exactly where I wanted to eat. I had some ideas, but with the extra time I had, I went through every single menu of every single restaurant on Disney property. I figured since we were staying at the Boardwalk Villas, I could focus my dinners on some places I'd never been to in that area, and since we have Hopper passes, we could do a park during the day, take a late afternoon break, and then walk over to the World Showcase in Epcot a few times.

Using my handy dandy DIS Dining Calculator, I called at exactly 180 days out and made my dining reservations for my trip. And boy did my OCD payoff, because I had no idea that Disney was going to offer FREE DINING during our week.

Since we traded into a DVC property, and since we had tickets left from a previous visit (I usually buy 10 Day, Park Hopper, Water Park Fun 'n More, No Expiry), we were not eligible for Free Dining. But I have since learned while trying to tweak the ADR's as the trip got closer, ADR's are next to impossible to get for the good places when free dining is offered.

But I digress. This is what I got on my initial call:

Day 1 - Sept. 13th arrival at BWV and not going into a park. I wanted to make an ADR to eat at Big River Grille and Beer Works, but they don't do ADR's through 407-WDW-DINE. They do take reservations (at 60 days or so at 407-560-0253 direct line) and we got 6PM outside on the Boardwalk!
Day 2 - 11th Wedding Anniversary . This day had to be special, so I made an ADR for Le Cellier at 6pm. Calling for the special cake in a few days.
Day 3 - This day is set aside for DS4. His choice...Play "N Dine @ Hollywood and Vine. He had such a good time last year, it had to be a must do this trip.
Day 4 - We are going to Blizzard Beach and then MNSSHP. No ADR's, this will be a CS day.
Day 5 - Back to Epcot for Tutto Italia at 6pm. I loved Alfredo's ambiance, so I figured we'd give Tutto a try.
Day 6 - No initial ADR's made at 180 days out, but that changed when I talked to DVC customer service. More on that later in the post.
Day 7 - Last full day at the World, so it HAS to be a MK Day! Initially I had an ADR for Ohana at 8:15, but that changed later when I realized it would be too difficult to travel from resort to resort and get there on time. It was subsequently changed to the Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends at 9:15am. I could have changed the time for Ohana, but figured this way we'll already be in the park when we finished breakfast. So in the end Pooh beat out Stitch.

The great call to DVC
I call DVC to update my reservation with flight times and get Magical Express information since we have an infant with us, and during the conversation the DVC rep asks me if I need any help with my ADR's. "Well No.", I said. Explaining that I did it 180 days out on the main dining line. "Well have you considered the DDP?". I hadn't. I knew nothing about it, thought you had to purchase a "MYW package with dining" to get it, and I wasn't eligible. Well apparantly since I'm staying with DVC (and paying a $95 user fee) I am eligible. At $38 per day for myself and DW, and $11 for DS4, this seemed like a good deal, but I wasn't sure. "Do I have to book it now?". "No, you can look over the materials and call us back."

Yippie, more planning, more number crunching, and I get to look at the menus again. Only this time, I'm not looking at what I like, this time I'm looking at what I can order! Prices be darned! The menus took on a new life of their own. Immediately I knew the DDP was great for DS4, as on CB costs more than the plan for the day. His meal at Tutto Italia was also going to be about $20, so now I only had to check how good a deal it was for adults.

This is what the numbers said. If I do a TS for a Character Breakfast, on that day I basically break even. However, if I use a TS for dinner, in a place like Le Cellier and Tutto Italia those dinners alone cost more than the daily price. I already had 4 TS's booked (soon to be 5 when I booked Big River later) so it looked like I would be the thing to do. I called back and booked the DDP.

During the same call I booked 2 more ADR's. Spoodles on the Boardwalk and Goofy's Liberate Your Appetite Dinner at MK. Goofy's dinner was changed later when I found out MNSSHP would be that evening, and didn't want to eat dinner then have to leave the park. We're going to MNSSHP earlier that week.

The last dinner on the last evening turned out to be SO HARD to book. By then all the ADR's were filled up untill late at night at all the places I wanted to go to. Having a 4 y/o and 6 mos old really limits the times you can eat. 1900 Park Fare, GF Cafe, Kona Cafe, San Angel Inn, Chefs de France, and I could go on all either sold out or nothing till 9pm. But then all the menu searching earlier paid off. I remembered another restaurant in the Boardwalk Area that looked interesting. The Cape May Cafe for dinner. Its a New England Clambake. And being from New England I like that style of food. I asked the rep to check, and they had a 5:45pm seating. It wasn't my first choice, or even second or third, but I'm happy that we got it.

Next up...The Daily Planner with Parks, ADR's, Counter Service Meals and Snacks!

 

[colinsdad]

So all the hard work, combing through menus, making the ADR's has paid off. I think we're all set.

Saturday September 13th
4 PM Arrival to Boardwalk Villas
6 PM Big River Grille and Beerworks. (TIP - Sign up for their emails and receive a FREE appetizer of your choice with entree purchase!)
9:30 PM Meet Me at the Kitchen Sink - Beaches and Cream Mini DIS Meet. Organized by Paparazzimama and Mom_of_3_70737, this is looking like its going to be.......wait for it.......LEGENDARY. Check out the link if you want to join in the fun!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1819141

Sunday September 14th - Anniversary
Being our Anniversary, I figured I'd let the wife sleep in and hit the Boardwalk Bakery and bring her back some breakfast in bed (coffee and croissants). Then we're off to Epcot. Leisurely morning/early afternoon at park with break at Luna Park (Boardwalk's Pool).
Evening at Epcot 6pm ADR at Le Celier. Anniversary Cake on order.

Monday September 15th
DHS- 8:30 ADR Play 'N Dine at Hollywood and Vine
Spend day at DHS, with early CS Dinner before heading back to Boardwalk.
Kids Nite Out!!!!! Going to Adventurers Club!!!! KUNGALOOSH!!!!

Tuesday September 16th
Blizzard Beach AM - Lottawatta Lodge for CS
MK PM - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!! Colin will be Capt. Jack Sparrow, Arghhhh! Dinner at Cosmic Rays (Dance Party )

Wednesday September 17th
Animal Kingdom AM
Epcot PM - 6PM ADR for Tutto Italia

Thursday September 18th
Typhoon Lagoon
Leisurely evening on Boardwalk after 5:50PM ADR for Spoodles

Friday September 19th
Magic Kingdom AM - 9:15AM ADR for Crystal Palace Pooh and Friends
Epcot PM after 5:45PM ADR at Cape May Clambake at Beach Club

Saturday September 20th
Departure after Belle Vue Room breakfast.

 

[figment74]

Sounds like you are gonna have a blast!!!! I am also an Exchange DVCer. I will be at the DWL DVC in Oct, I wanted to add the dinning plan as well. Did DVC let you prepay for the plan, or did you have to wait till check-in. I only ask as I am concerned that the price of the plan may go up, and I want to "lock in" if at all possible.

 

[colinsdad]

We didn't have to "pre-pay" but we had to "pre-book it".

If I remember correctly when I called, I specifically asked if I had to make a decision on DDP during that call.

She said "No", but we did have to book it at least 2-3 BEFORE we arrived and "we would not be able to get it at check in".

When I decided to do it, I called back and they added the price of the DDP to our bill (which was already $95 for the DVC user fee), which we owe. The amount of the DDP cannot change, its locked in.

If you were to book it now, you'd be locked in for the price. I think cancelling is also allowed up until that 2-3 day window as well.

Have a great trip! October is awesome (we usually go that time of year for Food and Wine Festival). I'd love to try WL. Maybe we'll try for that one in the future.

 

[ANTSS2001]

Saturday September 13th
4 PM Arrival to Boardwalk Villas
6 PM Big River Grille and Beerworks. (TIP - Sign up for their emails and receive a FREE appetizer of your choice with entree purchase!)
9:30 PM Meet Me at the Kitchen Sink - Beaches and Cream Mini DIS Meet. Organized by Paparazzimama and Mom_of_3_70737, this is looking like its going to be.......wait for it.......LEGENDARY. .

back! I hope all went well with the baby and Collin and the wife... It was great meeting you... heard from the UK Trio that you guys did manage to sample some dairy at B&C. How I wish I could have stayed longer... but due to panic that I would miss the ferry.... I miss all the calories Again ... it was great meeting you!!! Hmmmm now where are you going to say Hoopla in 11 months and some days inquiring minds want to know since PI is closed by the end of this month!!!

Now get to work and stop slacking.. we want pictures.... we want stories.. and Dreams...

 

[colinsdad]

It was great meeting you all as well. It didn't turn out to be LEGENDARY, but I still enjoyed it tremendously. It was great being able to actually meet up, talk and share stories with others who share a common passion.

It's too bad you couldn't stick around but we all understood your traveling dilema. The UK gals and I did make our way into B&C a little after 10pm. I wasn't going to miss out on my "No Way Jose!"

I saw your pics on the Meet Me at the Kitchen Sink post

As for the HOOPLA, although I wish I were, I won't be doing it in 11 months. My count down timer went all kooky on me. Isn't supposed to say "2 days since I got to say HOOPLA"? or something like that? I took it out of my signature.

I did get to go the the Adventurer's Club on 9/15. They are taping all of the shows on puting them online. I was able to find 2 of the 9/15 shows already on Youtube (Tahlula the Maid's last show, and Pamelia doing an imitation of Otis). I should have been on one of them but someones head was blocking me from the picture!

I have to download the photos, but there are many. And some real good ones of the kiddos. I want to do a Post Trip Report or something of the like very soon.

See you on the disboards.