Ethan's Magical Make-a-Wish WDW PTR (November 11-17, 2012):

[Emmaswishtrip]

Your planning is going so good! Can't wait to follow!

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you! I know...I just need to take a breath and not get all worked up.

Our dates have actually changed by one day. There must have been a miscommunication between the wish manager and our wish granters. We are actually set for November 11th-17th. I just found this out today. At first, I misunderstood and was thinking we were going Saturday-Saturday (which was AWESOME b/c it kind of gave us an extra day). I was until about 5 minutes ago. I just picked E up from "school" and sat down here to check email and reread the one from the WM this morning. "So glad Nov. 11th-17th works out for y'all!" Oh. Sunday-Saturday. I had planned out our week (finally!) during lunch today so I'll need to go back and re-tweak.

We can extend either way, if we want to. When we thought we were departing on Fri the 16th, extending to Sunday worked b/c DH doesn't have to miss any more work than he planned. Oh well!! No worries. We get to add the Pirates and Princesses Party to our plans as a possible option now (or the MVMCP if we don't go on Monday).

Ok. Back to the planning! I'll have an itinerary for you soon!!!

OH!! Character meals like Chef Mickey won't require a park ticket b/c it's at a hotel (the Contemporary). At least, that's one we can hit w/o needing an extra ticket (in case we decide to do a meal after we've used our park hoppers up).

Hope y'all are having a great Monday! The allergies are running rampant here...E has been sniffling and swiping (He's still not mastered the art of nose-blowing...it sounds like it's full but then he blows and nothing comes out??) but, thankfully, he hasn't had a fever and was able to go to school today. He is rocking it this year, by the way! Two days in the books (with a weekend in between) and no tears! Woot!

Bummer about Chef Mickey. Tusker House was fun at Animal Kingdom! Donald does not circulate around the dining room, he is stationed outside. They had us visit him before we were seated. Then while dining the photopass person came around to see if we wanted to buy the picture they took. It was so good, how could we say no? It wasn't cheap though.

The Cape May Cafe has a nice character breakfast at the Beach Club. So that's also at a resort instead of a park.

Don't worry about the crowds too much. You are going at a great time.

Be sure to use the wish lounges in the park! If they close too early, you can always use the baby care center or first aid too.

 

[carebearkidney]

Bummer about Chef Mickey.

The Cape May Cafe has a nice character breakfast at the Beach Club. So that's also at a resort instead of a park.

Just suggested this on the Wish thread.

 

[aym4Him]

The Cape May Cafe has a nice character breakfast at the Beach Club. So that's also at a resort instead of a park.

Just suggested this on the Wish thread.

Great minds

We will definitely look into doing breakfast at Cape May. Just trying to see which day will work out the best. The disboards info shows it's a Minnie, Goofy and Donald character interaction but also says "Characters are subject to change."

Is the $15.99 I'm seeing for kids and then the $35.99 for adults? Just trying to figure that out so we can give my in-laws an estimate of how much it is gonna cost them to dine with us. (Ha..that sounds kind of cold, doesn't it?)

Do most of you do CS meals other than the character ones?

 

[lovethattink]

Great minds

We will definitely look into doing breakfast at Cape May. Just trying to see which day will work out the best. The disboards info shows it's a Minnie, Goofy and Donald character interaction but also says "Characters are subject to change."

Is the $15.99 I'm seeing for kids and then the $35.99 for adults? Just trying to figure that out so we can give my in-laws an estimate of how much it is gonna cost them to dine with us. (Ha..that sounds kind of cold, doesn't it?)

Do most of you do CS meals other than the character ones?

Yes, great minds do think alike!

Yes, the lower price is for kids and the outrageous breakfast price is for adults. That's why I like the buffet at the Yacht club's Captain's Grille. No characters, but great food for $15.99 or so, including drinks.

We tend to eat either breakfast or lunch at a table service restaurant and then supper at either a counter service at a park or a restaurant or fast food off property. Lunch prices at table service is much cheaper, usually, then the dinner prices. One exception I can think of is the Coral Reef. Their prices are the same for lunch as dinner. Most other places charge about $10 more per plate for dinner prices. The counter service restaurants charge the same prices all day.

 

[carebearkidney]

Same here! If we are eating table service, it is always for lunch and dinner counter service. Which I think is best for our family anyway. It allows for snacks and drinks and a rest at the resort we are staying at, without the pressure of being back or being hungry by a certain time frame.

 

[Moodyzblu]

Do most of you do CS meals other than the character ones?

We usually do CS meals. It just cost SO much for TS meals and my kids just don't eat that much !! I'd rather use the money for souvenir's !

But it is fun to see the characters but don't forget ... With your special pass and GKTW pin .. You'll be able to meet all the characters without waiting in line .. and you don't have to pay for an expensive meal to do it ! Mine don't normally meet with the characters but since we had the pass we decided to go for it and we saw every character and they spent lots of time with them. it was lots of fun !

 

[aym4Him]

Same here! If we are eating table service, it is always for lunch and dinner counter service. Which I think is best for our family anyway. It allows for snacks and drinks and a rest at the resort we are staying at, without the pressure of being back or being hungry by a certain time frame.

Hmm...I guess it would be good if we were staying at a resort to do that (oh man, the character breakfast would be SO much easier- wake up and you're there). Then again, there's Crystal Palace and other TS restaurants in the parks.. Can you eat at a buffet w/o it being a character meal? Just curious. DH asked me that today.

We usually do CS meals. It just cost SO much for TS meals and my kids just don't eat that much !! I'd rather use the money for souvenir's !

But it is fun to see the characters but don't forget ... With your special pass and GKTW pin .. You'll be able to meet all the characters without waiting in line .. and you don't have to pay for an expensive meal to do it ! Mine don't normally meet with the characters but since we had the pass we decided to go for it and we saw every character and they spent lots of time with them. it was lots of fun !

See? I know. This is what I'm thinking. Plus, I can't plan on what everyone else is going to feel like doing so eating CS meals on the fly just seems easier to me. Then again, having a guaranteed seat in the A/C sounds good, too. My MIL, FIL, and SIL will be with us. SIL has just now booked a room at a hotel near GKTW (Well, MIL did it for her). We didn't even know she would be able/want to go.

Next question: Universal and Sea World (I can't even REMEMBER if I've already asked about them..so sorry if I have . DH doesn't think Sea World will take a day b/c he just doesn't see anything there that will interest E. I'm half and half. I can see him liking the Sesame Street things but I have no idea about the other shows. We've taken him to the aquarium here (Dallas) and he loved the stingrays. Stayed there pretty much the whole time (it was the only interactive thing other than touching horseshoe crabs). That was last spring, though.

Anyway, we had thought we would do one 1/2 the day and then the other for the other 1/2. Now, I don't know. I hear that some kids LOOOOVE Sea World and that Universal takes 2 days to see everything. We don't care about seeing everything, though. There's a Sea World in San Antonio we could visit in the future (of course, we'd have to buy tix and hotel, etc). BUT, I just saw where Sea World will be doing their Christmas celebration starting November 17th. We COULD add on to the end of our trip and go on Saturday instead of flying back home. There is a Polar Express thing and E is all about that movie. Thoughts???

Ah, since SIL will only be in town Sun-Wed, I need to decide what parks we are going to do so she can buy her tickets. Do you guys know if she can buy tix the day of and if it costs LESS to do so before the fact??

Ok. Gonna take out my handy-dandy notebook and get back to work AFTER I fix the boy some "chockit miwk."

 

[lovethattink]

There are some character meals that are only character during certain meals, yes. There are also several great buffet's or family styles that are not character meals. Whispering Canyon is one of our favorites. It's family style. It's loud and it's fun.

The Pepper Market at Coronado Springs is buffet, not character for breakfast and lunch. For dinner it is ala carte.

I can't think of others off the top of my head.

 

[aym4Him]

Do any of you know if we don't use all of our park hoppers during our MAW week if we can use them during our extended days?

We are thinking of extending to the 20th to give us some time to chill at GKTW during the week. We would go ahead and do Sea World on the 17th (our normal departure day), move to our hotel and then do something Sunday and Monday, just the 3 of us (in-laws will fly back Saturday).

What do you think? I guess it wouldn't be to our advantage b/c we wouldn't have our GKTW button or MAW button, but for things to go smoothly during the week, I think this is a good idea.

Here's our proposed itinerary:

Sunday- arrive, GKTW
Monday- Magic Kingdom/Epcot (even if we just ride the monorail over and back)
Tuesday- Universal/IOA
Wednesday- Animal Kingdom/Hollywood Studios
Thursday- GKTW (rest) Christmas party at GKTW
Friday- ??? then Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (MK at 4pm)
Saturday- Cape May Breakfast/Sea World (inlaws fly home at some point)
Sunday-Hollywood Studios (may go back to the MK to see the electrical parade?)
Monday-Universal
Tuesday-Return home

Any issues you can pick out? I really wanted to see Wishes but I guess that wasn't meant to be

Ok. So, now that I have an idea of what we want to do, I imagine something is going to pop up that throws a wrench in it. QUICK! Note that I, Amy Durham, posted an itinerary at 9:20pm, CST. I DID IT! Even if it doesn't stick!! I. DID. IT!

 

[Lilfoot93]

Yay for getting a start on your itinerary That is great that you can extend. I'm hoping we will be able to do the same thing. I think I read somewhere that you can use them after your wish trip but I am not positive on that...

Jackie

 

[carebearkidney]

Ok. So, now that I have an idea of what we want to do, I imagine something is going to pop up that throws a wrench in it. QUICK! Note that I, Amy Durham, posted an itinerary at 9:20pm, CST. I DID IT! Even if it doesn't stick!! I. DID. IT!

Atta girl! Looks good too. I started "planning" before Matthew's wish even was granted and I have already changed it a million times. Tomorrow will be a million and one.

 

[aym4Him]

Atta girl! Looks good too. I started "planning" before Matthew's wish even was granted and I have already changed it a million times. Tomorrow will be a million and one.

Thanks

I emailed E's Wish Manager with some questions yesterday evening. I'm patiently waiting to hear from her to see if my plans are a go.

I even scheduled a character meal! Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine for Sunday the 18th at 8:15. Tusker House was unavailable the entire week. That's ok. I'm now to the point where, if it's meant to be, it will happen.

 

[aym4Him]

Yay for getting a start on your itinerary That is great that you can extend. I'm hoping we will be able to do the same thing. I think I read somewhere that you can use them after your wish trip but I am not positive on that...

Jackie

Thanks!! (OOPS. Should have multi-quoted you guys)

I sure hope you're correct. I would be one happy camper! If not, we'll just roll with it and see what we can come up with. DH is doing his best to help me come up with a strategy. Just pray for him-he can be sort of inflexible and get a little WONKY. I can only handle one three year old this trip He's not really good with crowds and I know that, if we extend, the crowds may be a bit heavier on Sunday and Monday. I can get a little high-pitched and cranky, too. Send me some chill vibes

 

[nesser1981]

Joining in! What a cute little guy! I need to go back & read everything, but I wanted to join it, in case you have any questions.

 

[aym4Him]

Joining in! What a cute little guy! I need to go back & read everything, but I wanted to join it, in case you have any questions.

Thank you and welcome!!!

 

[aym4Him]

I haven't heard from our Wish Manager if we can extend til Tuesday but I did go ahead and make another character meal rezzie. Cape May for 10:10 on 11/16. We are planning on relaxing that day til we go to the MK at 4 so I may end up canceling it so we're not schlepping out to the resort to eat, going back to GKTW and then coming back at 4 for the MVMCP. Hmm. I'm just realizing I didn't plan that too well

It's no accident that both character meals are for later on in the week. 1. I want to make sure E is comfortable around them before I subject him to a meal where, not only does he need to be still and eat, he has to duck characters as they pass by . 2. If we need to cancel, being able to have the flexibility to do so as early as possible (yet being able to kind of get an idea of how E is enjoying himself) is good. I don't want someone waiting around for a slot and not finding out one is open til just before. I'm hoping to know by Monday or Tuesday if we will keep our reservations or not.

Of course, all this may be null and void if we hear back that we can't extend for as long as we'd like.

OH! I have been reading about how magical Sea World is when they do their Christmas shows and such. I called to check on the Polar Express Experience to make sure it was something E can do (no height restrictions) and she said that the ride itself (simulator) is open on 11/9. The Christmas shows, etc don't start until 11/17. So, I guess if we can't extend for as long as we'd like, we can still take him to do that (and see Santa for, what probably will be, his 3rd time on the trip!). I believe the Sea World in San Antonio has the same thing, though I haven't found it on their website. I guess we could always do that later on but tickets are $$! I've only been to SW once (in the early 90's) and my parents paid for our tix. The only time I went to Disney with my family was when they took an offer for listening to a time share spiel when I was 7. I guess free park tickets were the perk back then Other than that, I went once with my youth group in '93. It's been awhile!!

 

[Lilfoot93]

Just pray for him-he can be sort of inflexible and get a little WONKY. I can only handle one three year old this trip He's not really good with crowds and I know that, if we extend, the crowds may be a bit heavier on Sunday and Monday. I can get a little high-pitched and cranky, too. Send me some chill vibes

I understand this very well! My husband is the same! He has been stressed out since May when Trev made his wish to go to Star Wars Weekend and be a Jedi. I remind him that Trev will be a couple months shy of 8 and the twins will be 4.5 when we go. But that doesn't console him at all

Good vibes being sent your way

Jackie

 

[carebearkidney]

Just pray for him-he can be sort of inflexible and get a little WONKY.

Just caught this - you said WONKY!

 

[aym4Him]

Just caught this - you said WONKY!

Yes ma'am, I did.

Yesterday was wonky.

Today is better.

Hmmm..I feel like I was starting a Haiku, so I am now continuing on in paragraph form......it's better b/c I'm back to taking this trip as it comes and not planning. Geesh. I should have just stuck with that philosophy from the beginning I'm going to keep the reservations I have (and keep checking to see if Tusker House ever opens up, other than lunch and dinner) and just cancel them should we find out we can't extend. I wonder if anyone has ever just bought the return flight tickets themselves so they can get home? Wait...though I think I read about someone who asked about that yesterday and their chapter said no. OH! It so doesn't matter! God knows what this trip is going to be like and His plans are WAY more better than ours!

I've been going to different stores in hopes of finding rash guards (you know, swim shirts) with Disney characters on them on clearance. I think I had my epiphany a lil too late. I thought they'd be nice and cool for E to wear to the parks and then, if he gets wet, quick-drying. Swim shorts are great, especially since he still sometimes has accidents and I know that being busy at Disney or GKTW is going to keep him from remembering to go potty! Anyhooooo, just about everyone has sold out or has already sent their extras back to the warehouse. The only ones I found yesterday were at Old Navy and they were either too small, too big or Thomas the Train (his absolute FAVORITE but Sir Topham Hatt won't be at WDW!). I did find some Cars trunks the other day at a thrift store (in excellent condition) in a 4T. Naturally, this should be E's size. He's not natural. He's itty bitty (30 lbs and about 38" tall). Some 24 mos shorts still fit him!! BUT, I also got 3T ones (Children's Place) thinking they'd fit him next year but they actually fit! It's so confusing getting clothes for him, sometimes!! I bought XXS Umbro shorts for soccer and they looked like windsails! I got 24 mos Nike shorts and still have to turn down the waistband to keep them from falling off! Hahahaha...I tell ya. I can't decide if I spend more time shopping or returning b/c I buy the same thing in 3 different sizes just to see which fits!