Disney Dollars, Deals, and Delights - A PTR - Update 5/9 - We're Here! - GKTW update

[Becc1]

How exciting is it for you guys to get to volunteer? I would love to do something like that at GKTW!

 

[hurleysweety]

How exciting is it for you guys to get to volunteer? I would love to do something like that at GKTW!

I know. I think about it often when we're planning a trip. I'm hoping to be able to give those that want to a bit more information about how it works and encourage them to do the same. I know its not for everyone, but for young couples who have the time, or older families on a long vacay, its a break from the parks and giving back to help others have fab vacations!

I can't wait to tell ya'll about it. Sometimes its easier to do and plan things when you've seen someone else do it first! Although. I hear that they have so many volunteers, you have to "book" your day to help months in advance. Now there is one problem I actually like!

So if anyone is reading this for info about it, make sure you contact them well in advance so they can schedule you on a day that works best for you. They'll work around time/schedules as well, so you can request to be done before dinner if you have dinner package booked or something. I selected the day that worked best for us, and they gave us a schedule from 12pm-9pm, but said it could be changed if we'd like. In summary, they're super simple to work with and very nice about all/any requests you might have.

 

[hurleysweety]

So most PTRs usually have info like dining plans, park touring plans, general itineraries... It seems I've fallen behind on my planning. Life keeps getting in the way!

Here's our dining plans!
We plan on picking up some food at the store for breakfast at some point during the trip, hopefully earlier rather than later - we have a tendency to put grocery shopping off...
Saturday - Yak & Yeti - Birthday Dinner
Sunday Sci-Fi* - Lunch
Monday - GKTW day
Tuesday - Captain Cooks* - Breakfast (need a plan for Dinner probably)
Wednesday - Earl of Sandwich - Dinner (need Lunch plans)
Thursday - Tokyo Dining* - Dinner (hoping for a glimpse of illuminations, we don't need to see the whole thing)
Friday - Kona Cafe* - Lunch
Saturday - Beaches and Cream* - Dinner (ya, we're crazy to do this one...hoping for an early dinner time to avoid long lines)
Sunday - Mama Melrose* - Dinner
Monday - Staring Rolls Cafe - Lunch (need dinner plans)
*First time to eat there!

As you can see, I've booked no signature dining. DH said we could have a nice night out, but I cannot justify the prices in my head. Someday. Someday.

So subscribers...What do you think about my plans? I would LOVE your opinions and advice!

 

[DLR29]

Are you getting a dining plan or just paying OOP? If you're eating at Earl of Sandwich, I HIGHLY recommend Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD. I review it multiple times in my WDW QSDP dining review.

 

[hurleysweety]

Are you getting a dining plan or just paying OOP? If you're eating at Earl of Sandwich, I HIGHLY recommend Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD. I review it multiple times in my WDW QSDP dining review.

OH! I should have added that. We're not doing the DP this time. It just isn't worth it to us to be scheduled like that with our dining. We rarely eat dessert at a restaurant and I would love to just eat an appetizer as my entree. We also aren't huge fans of lots of the counter service meals, and would prefer to split just one meal, instead of two meals with drinks and desert.

That said, I too love the value of Wolfgang Puck Express! We ate there for dinner last year and I was floored that it was going to count as a counter service. I think I had pizza and I remember DMIL having this giant enormous salad! I think both DH and DFIL had the salmon. We aren't crazy about the atmosphere there, or the lack of service we received, but considering it was around $20/pp, we got our money's worth!

 

[hurleysweety]

Any more dining feedback? We still got at least 1 if not 2 TS meals to make ADRs for - then onto my CS choices!

 

[blessedmom4]

Any more dining feedback? We still got at least 1 if not 2 TS meals to make ADRs for - then onto my CS choices!

I don't have any suggestions; however, still here, following along...and now I am hungry!

 

[AKL LOVER]

Any more dining feedback? We still got at least 1 if not 2 TS meals to make ADRs for - then onto my CS choices!

What park will you be in on Wednesday? I see that you will be in DTD for dinner, but can't remember if you've said what your plans are for during the day.

What about Ohana for Monday night (where you still need a dinner). I've never eaten there, but have read such good things about it recently here on the boards that I'm thinking of changing on of my ADR's so we can try it out. I saw a picture on someone's TR of the food there and it looked yummy!

 

[hurleysweety]

I don't have any suggestions; however, still here, following along...and now I am hungry!

Thanks for reading and letting me know you're there! I always get hungry too when making dining plans or reading about them...so I gotta be careful what time of day I'm doing it!!

What park will you be in on Wednesday? I see that you will be in DTD for dinner, but can't remember if you've said what your plans are for during the day.

What about Ohana for Monday night (where you still need a dinner). I've never eaten there, but have read such good things about it recently here on the boards that I'm thinking of changing on of my ADR's so we can try it out. I saw a picture on someone's TR of the food there and it looked yummy!

Ohhh, my touring plans. If they ever stay the same for more than a week, well pigs will fly. I have a giant excel sheet going, and its such a disorganized/yet somehow very well organized 12 tab mess of plans, ideas, ADRs, finances, and more that most business people might hire me on the spot for my color coordination abilities.

Anyway, currently we'll be at Epcot on Wednesday morning. I'm thinking we'll stay until late afternoon, take a late break, and then spend our nighttime hanging out and taking it easy at DTD. DH keeps reminding me this is a relaxation trip and not a "lets-see-how-much-we-can-possibly-see-in-one-day-before-we-all-fall-over-in-exhaustion-and/or-complete-grumpiness."

Annnnyway...Ohana is super yummy...I think I ate a good 75% of our bowl of potstickers for 4 people on our last trip with my In-Laws! We were eating there late, so we didn't get the best of the meat. We waited forever for steak, only to not have our high expectations met. However, I think we'll return to it someday when we either are with a big group or have kids. Its very family friendly/big gathering friendly. But since we've already done it, we're excited to try new things! I think your family would have an absolute blast! They do all kinds of fun games for the kids and the guy that leads them is hilarious. Be sure to book an earlier dinner, rather than later, and get there plenty of time in advance. I've heard that they are one of the strictest restaurants on WDW property when it comes to giving away no-show tables! I'll dig up my review on it and post it on your PTR. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[AKL LOVER]

Anyway, currently we'll be at Epcot on Wednesday morning. I'm thinking we'll stay until late afternoon, take a late break, and then spend our nighttime hanging out and taking it easy at DTD. DH keeps reminding me this is a relaxation trip and not a "lets-see-how-much-we-can-possibly-see-in-one-day-before-we-all-fall-over-in-exhaustion-and/or-complete-grumpiness."

I think your family would have an absolute blast! They do all kinds of fun games for the kids and the guy that leads them is hilarious. Be sure to book an earlier dinner, rather than later, and get there plenty of time in advance. I've heard that they are one of the strictest restaurants on WDW property when it comes to giving away no-show tables! I'll dig up my review on it and post it on your PTR. Thanks for the suggestion.

If you're going to be in Epcot Wednesday, have you ever tried Chefs de France? I was reading about it on another TR and like the pics and review so much that I went back and added it in on one day for our trip. Apparently they have this lunch special that's a really good value (the UG mentions it too)--you get an app, entree and dessert. It looked yummy.

I would really appreciate a link your review on Ohana! I really think that it would be something we'd enjoy. My biggest problem for this trip is that we have too many places that we want to eat for dinner and not enough nights!! I just have to keep telling myself, there will be other trips, there will be other trips!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I am subscribing as well.. We will be there the same time as you guys.. May 4th through the 9th.. Can't wait to read more..
I like all your ideas for ADR's... Mine are completely different.. But, i am trying to eat more signatures this time than the past..

 

[blessedmom4]

Looking good!!! May will be here before you know it!

 

[hurleysweety]

If you're going to be in Epcot Wednesday, have you ever tried Chefs de France? I was reading about it on another TR and like the pics and review so much that I went back and added it in on one day for our trip. Apparently they have this lunch special that's a really good value (the UG mentions it too)--you get an app, entree and dessert. It looked yummy.

I would really appreciate a link your review on Ohana! I really think that it would be something we'd enjoy. My biggest problem for this trip is that we have too many places that we want to eat for dinner and not enough nights!! I just have to keep telling myself, there will be other trips, there will be other trips!

Here is the link to my Ohana Review. I just read through it and it shows Ohana in a negative light. But remember we went late, we were tired (been on planes all day) and no kids in the group. Both my MIL and DH really could've just done a low key CS meal that night in retrospect. And when you're with people who you can tell aren't having the best time, it always hurts the review a bit. I would go back with a big group and try brunch for sure! Or just sneak up to someone's table at grab their potstickers during dinner. Maybe we'll go again in about five years when kids are in tow.

As for Chefs de France for lunch, that sounds good! Also, it'd be fun to see Remy and try the prix fixe menu. I've messed up my dining plans so much, I should post my new ones today...also with a bit of a possible fun surprise!!

I am subscribing as well.. We will be there the same time as you guys.. May 4th through the 9th.. Can't wait to read more..
I like all your ideas for ADR's... Mine are completely different.. But, i am trying to eat more signatures this time than the past..

Oh man...I would love to do signature. I'm thinking we might maybe try and fit one in...not sure yet. Maybe we'll run into you at some point! I always look for DISers and not once have I found one. I did meet a family at rope drop in DCA (disneyland) once that was a micechat person (their son or daughter was one of the prominent members or founders, can't remember). But they seem more interested about trying to get me on micechat then talking about Disney stuff. Totally weird and a bit awkward since I couldn't really go anywhere, we had 35 minutes til rope drop!

Looking good!!! May will be here before you know it!

I KNOW! I can't believe how fast its coming. I almost already have to make ADRs for our October trip for Food and Wine with my In-Laws. Talk about hard to plan!!!! Took me a solid 2 weeks to come up with ADRs for one week last time. With just me and DH, I just nudge him on the couch and he usually responds with, "I don't care..."

 

[hurleysweety]

Ok. So DH and I were talking about dining plans. Yes, I actually had a good conversation about planning last weekend. It was great. We were able to discuss some really good things that helped me plan. Then the next more I had a sort of epiphany...haha.

What if we got the dining plan for the last three days of our trip?

I thought it sounded like an excellent plan. It would be $270 for three days and we'd use each of the 3 TS credit at three of the more expensive places we want to eat! We'd have three nights at the Boardwalk and eating delicious food.

This would kind of be a deal and a delight too. What a great way to end the trip. We'd have 6 snack credits, so we'd use them for breakfast the last three days at the boardwalk bakery, since we won't have the full kitchen at OKW. We'd use the CS for lunch Sat, Sun, and Monday. TS for Dinner Sat, Sun, Mon. We'd take full and complete advantage of the plan!

Does anyone see any problems with this plan? I would appreciate your suggestions or insight!

 

[hurleysweety]

So the last two days have been exhausting. On Wednesday night, after both DH and I were at our desk jobs all day, we headed down to GCU (our alma-mater where we first met!), and DH's part time "kinda-fun" job (he works in the athletic dept). His job is basically running the required athletic council required by the NCAA. This year, our school has decided to not charge admission but instead ask for a donation to charities. About 60-75% of the games are given to his committee, so the donations go to Make-A-Wish. To prepare for the MAW night on Thursday, we spent from 7-9 pm hanging stars. It was very tiring, but we kept reminding ourselves why we're doing it - for the kids. Here's some of the stars. I tried to make it a pretty picture from DH's circa 2005 cell phone...

Last night, after accompanying DH to his actual "fun" job down at the Brewers (spring training starts in less than 2 weeks!!!!) which was my day off, we headed back to GCU to get ready for the families. We got the pizza, we set up the tables, created a nice environment to hang out in before the basketball game started, all in about an hour. It was nuts, we were tired, and bad attitudes were approaching as grumpiness was trying to take over...

But then the families arrived. And let me tell you about these awesome kids, and amazing parents. There was one dad who's son was in the hospital as of that morning, and the kid's friends and pastor came because the son wanted them to go have fun. Another mom came with her four kids that were completely content to chow down on "FREE??!" pizza and candy. You could tell how something so simple meant so much to them. Just incredibly touching and such a blessing to see so much love and family all in one place.

I also had the pleasure of hanging out with a family I had remembered from last year. And later, I found out that they went to GKTW (AHHH! I tried to contain my excitement and Disney-obsessiveness)!!!! I searched on the boards in hopes maybe they were on here, but no such luck. Anyway, their kids were a delight to talk to - and like you may have read on the disAbilities board and Wish TRs, many of these medical conditions/illnesses are completely invisible. Another child was running around with soo much energy all night; he was all boy, all hyper, all the time. At the end of the night, we found out he was missing 3/4 of his lungs. You would never know that these kids were suffering, I love that I got to be part of bringing them so many smiles.

"Can I have this?" YES! "Can I do this?" SURE. In their lives, I've learned that they are often told, No, sorry, not able, not allowed, too dangerous, not healthy, too hard, too much, too little, too late. It was so humbling to me to see how the little things, like an extra cookie, would excite them so much.

One girl taught me a special handshake and ran over to me at the end of the night just so we could "officially" say goodbye. I could go on and on about these families all day. Once the game was over, and DH and I were beyond tired, but it was sad to see the families go. So, I cannot wait to help out with GKTW. DH and I are kinda concerned that once we go on Monday, we might not want to continue our regular vacation! I wish I had more pictures from the night, but I didn't ask any for permission to share their faces, so just imagine about 15 kids who got to eat free pizza, run around, cheer in front row seats, and get loved on by some college kids, and a Disney-obsessive tired couple.

If you've never read their stories, I encourage you to hop over to the disAbilities board and hear about these incredibly strong parents and courageously hopeful children. Their stories will change your life, and your perspective on life. God Bless these children - for their smiles (and attitudes) are priceless.

 

[tinytreasures]

I am just seeing your report now
Thank you for all your work at MAW you are going to love GKTW
What day are you going to be there. We having picked dates yet but are hoping to go back in May *fingers crossed we get dates soon*

 

[hurleysweety]

I am just seeing your report now
Thank you for all your work at MAW you are going to love GKTW
What day are you going to be there. We having picked dates yet but are hoping to go back in May *fingers crossed we get dates soon*

You are so very welcome! I am so excited to join two of my favorite things together - Disney and my compassion for kids. We'll be at GKTW on May 9th, and if we can, we might try and squeeze a trip back there - as we're not leaving Orlando until May 17th. I'm really really really hoping that you get your dates soon!!!!

 

[4monkeys]

. Just found your ptr and LOVE it. We arew a MAW and GKTW family.. thank you for all you do for both organizations. We plan to volunteer for both. We want to make a difference to families like they did for us. I can't wait to follow along.

 

[blessedmom4]

God Bless you for being so involved with MAW and for giving to so many precious families. I literally was choked up and crying as I read your post.
It is hard, rewarding work I know...

Notice the stars...

 

[hurleysweety]

. Just found your ptr and LOVE it. We arew a MAW and GKTW family.. thank you for all you do for both organizations. We plan to volunteer for both. We want to make a difference to families like they did for us. I can't wait to follow along.

You're welcome! Thanks for joining along! I just read some of your TR and looks like you guys had so much fun. I'm learning so much about GKTW each day through TRs like yours and I loved seeing Allison get her wish for Harry Potter world! Hope you all feel better soon!

God Bless you for being so involved with MAW and for giving to so many precious families. I literally was choked up and crying as I read your post.
It is hard, rewarding work I know...

Notice the stars...

Ohhh! You are so sweet. You are welcome too! I think last time I checked you guys were thinking October might be the new dates for your trip...well guess what? We're hoping to go back in October too!! We'll just have to wait and see. Sending some love, hope and pixie dust your way today for little Lisa today.