DISNEY DREAMING! A Nov/Dec 2010 PTR *12/9 ~ Hello Again!

[Mickey_Mom]

glad to hear that you have a definite answer and can move forward. How cool that she is raising her own money for the trip!

what resort are you leaning toward now?

It'll be two rooms at the Pop. We love it, it's cheaper, the bus system is better.... definately the Pop.

 

[jenjolt]

YAY!!! Welcome to Kathryn!!!! Still can't wait to hear more about the trip!!!!

 

[Angies1274]

How exciting!! Welcome Kathryn! Alex must be thrilled that she is able to go! That's so wonderful that she's trying to raise money herself! She's going to have the best time! The first time is always the most magical!

Oh and I almost forgot...YAY! for staying at Pop! I know you had your heart set on POR! But..you're right about Pop Century... it's cheaper and the bus system is so great. Plus.. it's such a fun resort! Good choice!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

YAY!!! Welcome to Kathryn!!!! Still can't wait to hear more about the trip!!!!

I have so many things to take care of !! This holiday weekend is packed pretty busy, but somewhere in there I have to get some planning done!

How exciting!! Welcome Kathryn! Alex must be thrilled that she is able to go! That's so wonderful that she's trying to raise money herself! She's going to have the best time! The first time is always the most magical!

Oh and I almost forgot...YAY! for staying at Pop! I know you had your heart set on POR! But..you're right about Pop Century... it's cheaper and the bus system is so great. Plus.. it's such a fun resort! Good choice!

Alex is very happy Kathryn is coming. She's taken on a few seasonal jobs to help save up and her Mom let me know if for whatever reason she's short by the time it needs to be paid off, she'll cover the rest.

I think the best part of her joining us is the fact that it's her first time. Alex always says our first trip was the best and nothing is going to top it. But this trip, he gets to experience it all over again with her.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Well, it's official. Everyone send a warm welcome to our latest addition to my cast of characters..... Kathryn! (I'll try and get a picture!)

I spoke with Kathyrn's mom this evening just to make sure they understood the costs of her joining us and to gauge how serious they were. She's in. Definately.

Kathryn is jumping out of her skin excited to come with us and is raising the money by herself. She already has some savings and when she visits next weekend, she's bringing the $$ for the flight.

So..... I must bid farewell to Port Orleans Riverside.

I'm happy that Kathryn will be joining you but very sad that you will be saying goodbye to Riverside. Oh well, there is always next trip.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yay for Kathryn coming!

 

[BippityBoo]

HI I am so excited to join your PTR! I just started my Christmastime PTR if you would like to join...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2468950
(link in the siggy too)

I know what you mean about not having lots to talk about for 6 months However, there is so much EXTRA planning for a Christmas trip, you really have to get started so much earlier. I see that you are making your ADRs soon!! Can't wait to hear your final pics

 

[KathyRN137]

A great big to Kathyrn!

She sounds like a lovely, responsible young lady.


Kathy

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I'm late to the party but I'm here!!!! I have to go back to read!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Hi everyone! It's been a busy, busy Victoria Day long weekend and I'm behind on my subscriptions. I'll come back to give proper replies and welcomes, but just a quick update here to say that somehow I missed the December hours coming out until last night!

I'm a teeny tired this morning because I stayed up late getting my days and ADRs planned out.... I'll share the details when I'm back!

Have a great day!

 

[ZeroToHero]

Oh cool! That's so exciting!!!!!! Can't wait for your plans!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

looking forward to the update.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

All caught up! Sounds like you have a fabulous trip planned so far!!! Can't wait for more!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

I'm happy that Kathryn will be joining you but very sad that you will be saying goodbye to Riverside. Oh well, there is always next trip.

I'm still sad myself. But I've officially changed my desktop wallpaper to a Pop picture now and I'm content knowing we'll get back to POR for our next trip.

Yay for Kathryn coming!

I told Alex I need a picture of her for my PTR. I got "the look".

HI I am so excited to join your PTR! I just started my Christmastime PTR if you would like to join...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2468950
(link in the siggy too)

I know what you mean about not having lots to talk about for 6 months However, there is so much EXTRA planning for a Christmas trip, you really have to get started so much earlier. I see that you are making your ADRs soon!! Can't wait to hear your final pics

Ooo, I'd love to join your PTR. I'll do it from home where I can see pictures.

Thankfully the resort change and added person came with enough time to switch gears before my ADR date. Not to mention not even realizing the December hours were out... sigh. I have my ADR picks but I'm already considering some changes!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

A great big to Kathyrn!

She sounds like a lovely, responsible young lady.


Kathy

I think so too. I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time with her this weekend and sharing some plans with her.

I'm late to the party but I'm here!!!! I have to go back to read!

Woo-hoo! Hello!!!

All caught up! Sounds like you have a fabulous trip planned so far!!! Can't wait for more!

I've always been excited for this trip, but once I had my days planned out, I'm VERY excited!!

Oh cool! That's so exciting!!!!!! Can't wait for your plans!

I can't wait to start reading your TR! Have fun and say hi to Mickey for me... I'll see him soon!

looking forward to the update.

Soon! The past few weeks have been crazy busy at work and at home. I'll have updates with my planned days and my ADRs verrrrry soon.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Last Minute ADR Planning!

Hi everyone! Well only two days left until I can book my ADRs, and I'm up in the air about two of them. I really want this trip to be all about trying new things, but two old favorites are slowing creeping their way back in. Oh and a third favorite with a new twist is knocking at the door. Mmmm, does the 'new twist' count as something new?

I want to make sure we visit the different resorts to see the Christmas decorations. Left to our own devices, I'm not sure we'd set the time aside so I've tried to plan some specific ADRs to pretty much force us to go.

Going with my then and now theme, I've included some pictures of past trips. Our dinner with the Stepsisters is missing though. That was the year we took mostly videos of our trip and all of the footage was lost due to a problem with our camera. *sniff*

One of ADRs up in the air is 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. I mentioned before we've been to 1900 Park Fare twice for dinner and loved it.

The "something new" part for this trip was going to the breakfast with Alice and Mary Poppins. But ever since deciding that, I've been leaning towards changing it back to the dinner with the Stepsisters. They are soooo much fun and I think it would just be a better fit for our group.

On the other hand, I love having breakfast reservations because it gives us much more flexibility to do what we want for the rest of the day.

On the other other hand , the park I've scheduled for us to go to that day, DHS, has EMH and we'd be able to return to it after dinner no problem. Actually one of the things we love to do is sit down with our park maps and talk about what we most want to do. Is there anyway I can get from DHS to the Floridian by boat or monorail? I'd love to switch it up from the bus system and I lost my boating option at POR.

So thoughts, opinions, suggestions? Should I keep the 1900 Park Fare breakfast for the new experience, or go with the dinner for the known hilarity?

The other ADR I’m flip flopping on is San Angel Inn Restaurante. Again, basically from the moment I decided it’s where we’d go on our Epcot day, my thoughts were telling me….. uh hello? Le Cellier? What are you thinking leaving it out? As much as George remarked San Angel would a great place to have a meal, I absolutely know he’d prefer Le Cellier.

There’d be no difference park wise, we’d choose one for the other. I’m definitely not changing our other Epcot day ADR, so its San Angel or Le Cellier.

To briefly recap, my ADRs as they stand going into this update:

Old Favorites = 2
New Experiences = 7

If I changed them to what I’m leaning towards:

Old Favorites = 4
New Experiences = 5

Oh, and the old favorite with a new twist I mentioned earlier? Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood and Vine. This one, I’m leaning towards not doing. We went a few years ago, essentially for Demetri, to tie in a lunch with the new Playhouse Disney stage show in DHS. Each segment of the new show was favorites of his that he watched every day before dinner.

The Play ‘n Dine had new character greetings with June and Leo of the Little Einsteins which, at the time, was his hands down favorite show.

Also there were Jo-jo and Goliath and he enjoyed meeting them but he was less interested as he hardly knew them at all. He was under the weather when we went and the excitement of the lunch and show was lessened because he wasn’t having as much fun as we knew he would if he was his normal self.

The new twist? Recently they announced Goliath was no longer going to be a character at Play ‘n Dine and that he is being replaced with Handy Manny. Demetri loves Handy Manny and it’s now his favorite show. So it would be a do-over of sorts for him, with the added element of one of his favorite characters being there.

So if I were to add Play ‘n Dine:

Old Favorites = 5
New Experiences = 4

I think that’s going a bit too far away from one of the major objectives of this trip. That and it would replace ….. Boma. I’m definitely not taking that one out, so the only way around that is to cancel another ADR and have two ressies that day, or pay out of pocket for Play ‘n Dine which I’m really not willing to do. So unless there’s another option I’m not thinking of, that one is out.

So we’re left with:

Old Favorites = 4
New Experiences = 5

Not really what I’d set out for at the start of all this, but not a bad mix in the end. Right? My ADR day is Tuesday morning!!

Once I get my ADRs reserved and MVMCP booked, I'll start outling our days. Even with these possible changes I'm very happy with Itinerary V1.0. Tell me what you think!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Personally having two little boys who adore handy manny I would go with the play n dine, although my kids even loving handy manny would probably run the other way. Could this be a special meal you do out of pocket where say the big kids could go do big kid rides with dad and you and Demetri could have a special lunch?

Am otherwise loving your playful banter back and forth with yourself these are the same types of conversations I have in my head at night that prevent me from sleeping.

Your ADR's look great to me though, I think doing half favorites and half new is good. It's good to keep somethings with old favorites, because at least you already know you like them and that it will be a successful meal. And the other half is filled with excitement of the unknown.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love the idea of having a special lunch with just you and Demetri! That could be an idea.

I say keep the breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. I think the new characters would be fun for all of you, not that I'm partial to Mary Poppins or anything. There is no boating transportation from DHS to GF. But I believe there is boating transportation from DHS to Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn. Do you have any ADRs in that area?

Go with Le Cellier. I hear that people either love San Angel or they hate it. I would be sad for you if you were part of the group that hates it.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Personally having two little boys who adore handy manny I would go with the play n dine, although my kids even loving handy manny would probably run the other way. Could this be a special meal you do out of pocket where say the big kids could go do big kid rides with dad and you and Demetri could have a special lunch?

Am otherwise loving your playful banter back and forth with yourself these are the same types of conversations I have in my head at night that prevent me from sleeping.

Your ADR's look great to me though, I think doing half favorites and half new is good. It's good to keep somethings with old favorites, because at least you already know you like them and that it will be a successful meal. And the other half is filled with excitement of the unknown.

The out of pocket is the tough part, but maybe it could work with just the two of us. I'll price it out or maybe see if even two TS meals could be 'saved' from somewhere else. He really would love it.

I think half and half is looking good. The other element to the old favorites is introducing them to Kathryn.

I love the idea of having a special lunch with just you and Demetri! That could be an idea.

I say keep the breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. I think the new characters would be fun for all of you, not that I'm partial to Mary Poppins or anything. There is no boating transportation from DHS to GF. But I believe there is boating transportation from DHS to Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn. Do you have any ADRs in that area?

Go with Le Cellier. I hear that people either love San Angel or they hate it. I would be sad for you if you were part of the group that hates it.

Oh good gosh, you know what I just realized?? You'd think I'd know this by now, but.... We are booked from Nov 27th to Dec 7th. Our first night is room only, but after that we are going to be there 10 days. I've planned 9 ADRs. November 28th to December 7th would give me 10 ADRs.... wouldn't it?

I'm going with Le Cellier. I ran it past George and Alex. Kinda ruined a bit of the surprise factor but better I find out now if they had a preference. Turns out as cool as San Angel looks, they want their steak! I'm still going back and forth for 1900 Park Fare though. Right now I'm thinking the breakfast is better but ask me later today and I may have changed my mind again.

I do have an ADR planned for Kouzzina at the Boardwalk, but it's on a MK day. I'm going to work a boat trip in there somewhere!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Does the room only reservation have the dining plan???