Disney Do-Over - an October 2012 PTR!!

[NOLAdisneymom]

***Disclaimer - I started this PTR MONTHS ago, and it's been marinating in my computer since then.. I'm going to post it as is, and then just adjust things as we go along.. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

This trip was born during my last trip, November 2011. We spent 7 days in WDW, five of those I was sick in the room.. So naturally, I hatched a plan to go back as soon as possible!

As soon as possible ended up being almost a year later, but hey, going back is going back!

The plan thus far: I don’t even know if it’s really a plan, so to speak. I know what days we’re going, I know where we are staying… but I’ve not officially booked yet.
We’ll be in WDW starting on Saturday, October 27th, staying five nights, leaving on Nov 1, as of now.

The “who” – myself, Ang, 34, my DH Chris, 41, and maybe my DS11, Jarrott.

The “where” is a no brainer for us. We tried out Port Orleans Riverside last trip, and I fell in LOVE. It’s kind of weird, because being from New Orleans, we thought we may not find it interesting. Well. NO worries there. It’s as far from what New Orleans is like as can be. Only the music was familiar!

We did a room-only ressie at POP Century on our arrival night last year, and while it was cute, I never need to go back. I’m not super excited by the huge icons, all the crazy colors, or the lack of landscaping. I REALLY hated the parking lot arrangement. Okay, enough POP bashing. Some people LOVE it, and would never consider trying another resort, like this co-worker of mine. Long live the POP lovers.

The point is, I really love POR. I love the greenery, the paths, the river, the views, and especially the REFURBISHED room I waited 6 hours for! I love the food court, some of the dishes we saw going out of there were way better looking than some of the Table Service meals we ate! POR is my new Disney home. I’d like to be in the Mansions again, they were seriously beautiful, but won’t complain whatever they give me, because all rooms will be refurbed by that time anyway. Alligator Bayou wouldn’t be bad either.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

The “how” is still up in the air. (Airplane joke) – we want to fly, as it’s only a 1.5 hour flight from here, vs. a 10plus hour drive. That will be decided based on our budget and flight costs. I would like to ride the Magical Express at least once!

The “when” took a little more thought. We’ve gone the week of Thanksgiving and the week before Thanksgiving, so I’ve seen the Christmas decorations a few times. This time I wanted to see the Halloween decorations, and maybe.. just maybe.. get tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Let me make a little segue here.. while planning for last trip, I joined a Facebook Disney Planners group – let me tell you, they are some of the most fun, interesting and caring people I know. I like them better than some of the people I know in my “real” life. We’ve had a great time sharing our trips, our tips, photos, etc.. I’ve not met any of them in person yet, because our trip dates didn’t jive. That was another thing that helped me choose dates, a bunch of them that I’ve gotten to know pretty well are also going for Halloween, and I can’t wait to meet them in person!

 

[ladytink75]

Hello Ang its Melinda from the our disney planner group on FB.. I'm going to sub since I won't make it out there until sometime next yr and I can't wait to read about your plans for your trip..

 

[bizeemom4]

Subbing.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Hi! I'm going to join in the planning fun here! We are there from Oct 22-30 staying off site this year at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, but we stayed at POR in March of 2011 and LOVED it!! We never got a refurbished room, but it was still great! Hope to see some of your plans taking shape!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Hello Ang its Melinda from the our disney planner group on FB.. I'm going to sub since I won't make it out there until sometime next yr and I can't wait to read about your plans for your trip..

Hey Melinda! Thanks for coming over!

Subbing.

Glad to have you! I was worried that I wouldn't have any readers!

Hi! I'm going to join in the planning fun here! We are there from Oct 22-30 staying off site this year at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, but we stayed at POR in March of 2011 and LOVED it!! We never got a refurbished room, but it was still great! Hope to see some of your plans taking shape!

Welcome! I'm following your PTR too!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

As of now, we are undecided if my DS11 will be coming along. He went with us last trip, and I know this may be a shocker, but he was unimpressed. He liked the main pool at POR, and the new Star Wars ride. That was pretty much it. For everything else he was like “meh”. He could care less if he goes back or not.

That being said – if he does come along, that week would work out well, as he is off 2 days and would only have to miss 3 days of school, which is doable. I know some parents don’t like taking their kids out of school, but he goes to a very small private school and they encourage family vacations and work with us in every way possible.

(Update: He doesn’t want to go. He does, however want to go with us next May, for Star Wars Weekends. Huge Star Wars fans, both he and Chris.)

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Dining. Sigh. This one is so hard. We had free dining the last two trips and the first time, it worked out VERY well. Last trip, not so much, what with me being ill and all. I know that Chris and I could eat for far less than the cost of the Dining Plan. That said, if it’s free.. well, we’ll take it! If not, I think we may skip it. I love the convenience of having all meals paid for in advance, but I guess we’ll see. Now if we got a room discount, I’d add the DP, that would still work with our budget.

IF we were to have the DP, these are the ressies I am wanting so far:

Sci-Fi Dine in at HS – My DH absolutely LOVES this place. I’m not sure if it’s the food, or the cartoons, or the cars you sit in, but it’s a must do for him each time now. We shared the double cheeseburger, fries and shake last time and it was plenty enough food. We would actually do this one OOP, not use a TS credit.

Le Cellier – Oh Em Gee, y’all. I have been reading reviews on this place for a few years now, and we finally decided to try it last trip. That mushroom filet was, without a doubt, the number one, most wonderful thing I’ve ever put in my mouth, hands DOWN. Had I been feeling better, I may have licked my plate and asked for seconds. The sauce, the tenderness of the meat, the risotto.. ok, I might need a moment to myself here………………………… ok, I’m back. Also, that pretzel bread dipped in the cheese soup, HEAVEN. I did NOT find the place too crowded. I did NOT find the food too salty, and for lunch, I think it was well worth one TS credit and then some. I cannot WAIT to go back here. It’s MY must-do. (Nod to Stacy)


Crystal Palace – This one will be new for us. I really want to experience that early-MK-entry deal. I love taking pics, and want to get those empty park ones! I’ve heard good things about puffed French toast too..

Rainforest Café (AK, NOT DTD) – My DH LOVES the Lava Nachos at RFC. We go every trip to get them for him, but last time we hit the one at DTD. BIG mistake. The food sucked. It took FOREVER and had obviously sat in the kitchen, READY, for at least 30 minutes. Cold and nasty. The waiter was also cold and nasty. Had it not been our arrival day, I would have made a stink about it. But I didn’t. I was on the “I just arrived” high. Lesson learned. We’ll go back to RFC at AK from now on.

The last two are undecided. We’re going to skip ‘Ohana and Coral Reef this time. We kind of want to try a few new ones instead. We are considering Via Napoli and 50s Prime Time. The only thing that would stop me from going to 50s PT, is that if they started telling my DH that he couldn’t have dessert or to stand in the corner, that wouldn’t be so good. He’s not into that kind of thing. We may have to skip it, even though I really wanted to try that fried chicken. I’ve also heard good things about Yak and Yeti, but nothing on the menu really grabs me. (I’m open to suggestions here).

Update: These have changed a bit, more on that later.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I am dreading when one or both of our DD's say they don't want to go back to WDW with us. We bought a timeshare dirt cheap on Ebay last year with the knowledge that some day we might want to travel somewhere else...but I am in a state of denial about it right now.

Like your ADR choices so far! LeCellier is one of our must dos as well. DH always gets that mushroom steak thingie too. And we love Sci-fi. It's so much fun there!

O'hana is always on our list, we don't always make it there, we ate at Kona a couple of times instead. Crystal Palace for breakfast we haven't tried yet...I want to, but we just haven't been able to fit it in to our schedule yet. I don't want to do it unless we can get one of the first ADR's of the day.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I am dreading when one or both of our DD's say they don't want to go back to WDW with us. We bought a timeshare dirt cheap on Ebay last year with the knowledge that some day we might want to travel somewhere else...but I am in a state of denial about it right now.

Like your ADR choices so far! LeCellier is one of our must dos as well. DH always gets that mushroom steak thingie too. And we love Sci-fi. It's so much fun there!

O'hana is always on our list, we don't always make it there, we ate at Kona a couple of times instead. Crystal Palace for breakfast we haven't tried yet...I want to, but we just haven't been able to fit it in to our schedule yet. I don't want to do it unless we can get one of the first ADR's of the day.

Can't wait to read more!

I know what you mean. I can't wrap my head around him not wanting to go. It's just.. confounding!

I got the mushroom thingy too and I don't even like mushrooms, but wow. Just wow.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Counter service picks:
Numero Uno – Wolfgang Puck Express. I’ve been here for breakfast twice and will continue to go until Disney figures out that it’s too good to be a counter service credit. Oh the joy that is the breakfast pizza… I’m also dying to try out the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf and their pizzas!

Flame Tree BBQ – Another that I want my hubs to try, he loves all BBQ/Smoked meat, so this one is a no-brainer for him. I also read on the DIS that the seating area near the lake is wonderful for a midday break.

POR Food Court – this one is kind of sad, but I really want to try that make your own pasta thing. I saw a lady going out with one, fettuccine alfredo with broccoli, topped with parm and garlic toast. I almost hijacked her tray. That is MY kind of food. Some of the cheesecakes in there look to die for also.

Columbia Harbor House – I’ve heard great things about the tuna sandwich, and that just sounds like a nice change up from burgers and fries. Plus Chris likes shrimp, also a nice change.

If anyone has any fave counter service meals, we're up for suggestions!

 

[jenseib]

I didn't know you were planning to go again. I'm going to go back and read now

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I didn't know you were planning to go again. I'm going to go back and read now

I kinda gave up on it, lack of readers.