From the Frozen Tundra to the Flurry of Disney...a December 2011 PTR!

[sunnysideup3]

Hey! We're planning to go down to Disney at the same time.

Disney during the holidays is always so beautiful.

While I've never been to V&A my parents used to go there every time we went to Disney. However, Citricos was the highlight meal of my last vacation to Disney.

Can't wait to read more. (=

Thanks for joining! I love the rainbow Mickey topper in your picture, it's great. I think for our "date night" meal, we'll end up at Citricos or the California Grill place in CR. I wish I could justify spending the $$ at V&A, but with the extra cost of MVMCP and perhaps surprising my fam with the dessert party a different night, I think I'll be spent out

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hey Jill! I'm joining in the fun too!!!

We were in Disney this past year the week you all are planning to go this year! And guess what you are checking in on my birthday! Shh don't tell anyone, but it will be my 30th b day this year too!!! I know, I know just the thought of it makes me cringe!

My fingers are crossed you have warmer weather then we did this past December. One thingabout traveling to Florida that time of year the weather is HIT or MISS! When we were there is Dec 2008 is was in the 70's or above most days! This past Dec I think we had a few days in the mid 60's to low 70's and after that I swear it was in the 40's! So be sure to pack for EVERY season!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip. I just made a payment toward my trip today as well. I'm hoping to have my portion paid off by May if all goes well!

 

[sunnysideup3]

Hey Jill! I'm joining in the fun too!!!

We were in Disney this past year the week you all are planning to go this year! And guess what you are checking in on my birthday! Shh don't tell anyone, but it will be my 30th b day this year too!!! I know, I know just the thought of it makes me cringe!

My fingers are crossed you have warmer weather then we did this past December. One thingabout traveling to Florida that time of year the weather is HIT or MISS! When we were there is Dec 2008 is was in the 70's or above most days! This past Dec I think we had a few days in the mid 60's to low 70's and after that I swear it was in the 40's! So be sure to pack for EVERY season!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip. I just made a payment toward my trip today as well. I'm hoping to have my portion paid off by May if all goes well!

Thanks for joining in. I've been MIA this past week. In Vegas for a work conference. . . . I learned a lot... about work... (and also about my alcohol limits and my new found love of $.01 slots.

When we went 2 years ago the weather was really hit or miss. There was one day we went to MK early and I had to have my MIL bring another pair of pants with her because I was sweating through my jeans. Then 3 days later we were bundled up in jackets, long sleeves and jeans for the MVMCP.

I am luckily not dreading 30 too much. I think when I actually hit it, I'll be in an OMG panic, but right now it's just another birthday. Maybe a little beer will make it better

Can't wait to hear more about your trip too! I have a lot to catch up on!

 

[jngwright]

Hi from another scrapbooking, midwestern Jill! (MN, not WI-but DH is from WI if that counts? Waukesha, Chetek)

Your plans look great so far! December is such a pretty time to go and POR is so wonderful

Eli is adorable-what a cutie! I bet his grandparents are so excited to have a Disney trip with him.

 

[sunnysideup3]

Hi from another scrapbooking, midwestern Jill! (MN, not WI-but DH is from WI if that counts? Waukesha, Chetek)

Your plans look great so far! December is such a pretty time to go and POR is so wonderful

Eli is adorable-what a cutie! I bet his grandparents are so excited to have a Disney trip with him.

Yay for scrapbooking Jills I'm excited to go in December!!

My parents are THRILLED to go with him. I don't know if anyone else gets the competitive grandparent thing, but when my in-laws took us two years ago, I know there was a lot of "oh, we wanted to take him to Disney, too!" So, this is their chance to have some quality Eli time....

Thanks for joining in!

 

[jngwright]

Yay for scrapbooking Jills I'm excited to go in December!!

My parents are THRILLED to go with him. I don't know if anyone else gets the competitive grandparent thing, but when my in-laws took us two years ago, I know there was a lot of "oh, we wanted to take him to Disney, too!" So, this is their chance to have some quality Eli time....

Thanks for joining in!

I am picturing a big grandparent smackdown, purses and canes a-flyin'... We have both sets of grandparents AND a great grandpa coming on our November trip. Should prove interesting

Hope you aren't getting all this snow that we are getting here

Jill

 

[sunnysideup3]

Sorry I have been gone so long. Busy busy around work (Way to go Marquette-Sweet Sixteen!!) so that means less time on the DisBoards . Not a lot of changes since my last update. The MVMCP dates have been released and it seems that they aren't having it the Thursday, so we will switch our planned date to Tuesday.
I get to make my ADRs on June 6th, so gearing up for those..... Still debating what I think my family would like. Lots of debates going on in my head...

Chef Mickeys or Crystal Palace?
Is Sci Fi Cafe worth it?
Is seeing Fantasmic worth it? With the dinner package?
What are everyone's favorite things to do that are "out of the ordinary"?

 

[Caretames1]

Chef Mickeys or Crystal Palace? I love them both CP better for food, CM for Character

Is Sci Fi Cafe worth it? I'm hoping, we're going to try it in Sept.

Is seeing Fantasmic worth it? YES
With the dinner package?YES!, unless you don't mind standing in line for a while

Carey

 

[mphalens]

Hi!!!
We're going Nov 27-Dec 3 and I have a 3yr old (well, he will be by then) as well. I've also got an older DS who is 6.

This is our first "real" trip as my DH & I are calling it ... we've been before just the two of us and stayed at the Yacht Club and had this crazy deluxe dining plan that they used to have in 2002 ... but we haven't stayed on site with the boys yet ... just in the in-laws time shares ...

It's not fun to go with my in-laws either ... they HATE Disney so you can imagine DH & my's dismay when they've wanted to do not one, but TWO family vacations in ORLANDO with their only grandchildren (grandsons who happen to LOVE Disney).

So ... this trip, it's with MY parents too... and they LOVE Disney. And they love to travel with us... and my DH LOVES them ... and I can't wait!!!!

So ... can't wait to see what your plans are ... I keep thinking I'm going to start a PTR too... lord knows I'm on the computer wasting time often enough

Yay! for special Disney trips with OUR parents

 

[sunnysideup3]

Hi!!!
We're going Nov 27-Dec 3 and I have a 3yr old (well, he will be by then) as well. I've also got an older DS who is 6.

This is our first "real" trip as my DH & I are calling it ... we've been before just the two of us and stayed at the Yacht Club and had this crazy deluxe dining plan that they used to have in 2002 ... but we haven't stayed on site with the boys yet ... just in the in-laws time shares ...

It's not fun to go with my in-laws either ... they HATE Disney so you can imagine DH & my's dismay when they've wanted to do not one, but TWO family vacations in ORLANDO with their only grandchildren (grandsons who happen to LOVE Disney).

So ... this trip, it's with MY parents too... and they LOVE Disney. And they love to travel with us... and my DH LOVES them ... and I can't wait!!!!

So ... can't wait to see what your plans are ... I keep thinking I'm going to start a PTR too... lord knows I'm on the computer wasting time often enough

Yay! for special Disney trips with OUR parents

Yay for OUR families! To hear DH say how excited he is to go with my parents vs. his parents made me about fall off the chair. I have to say as a person who likes to get up and get things done and be productive, they are unnecessarily slow moving to the point of annoying, and it's not like they're slow because they're incapacitated in any way, they're just dilly-dalliers and on their own time.

I'm getting so excited about the whole "plan" coming together. Right now it just still seems like so far away, even though we have been doing "Mickey Stickers" on the calendar religiously since January. I think when I get to make my ADR's in June that it will be more real....

You SHOULD do a PTR, then we can plan together.....I hope you do it!

 

[mphalens]

Yay for OUR families! To hear DH say how excited he is to go with my parents vs. his parents made me about fall off the chair. I have to say as a person who likes to get up and get things done and be productive, they are unnecessarily slow moving to the point of annoying, and it's not like they're slow because they're incapacitated in any way, they're just dilly-dalliers and on their own time.

I'm getting so excited about the whole "plan" coming together. Right now it just still seems like so far away, even though we have been doing "Mickey Stickers" on the calendar religiously since January. I think when I get to make my ADR's in June that it will be more real....

You SHOULD do a PTR, then we can plan together.....I hope you do it!

I did! I did!!! Check it out ... we'll have fun planning together

 

[sunnysideup3]

I am BACK! The end of the school year is always a flurry of events and graduations and students leaving. Finally I get to catch my breath and say AHHHH!

So, what's changed since last time? We are pretty close to paying off our trip, and the flight schedules are FINALLY out...if life goes our way we will be:

Leaving Milwaukee on 12/3 at 7:45am, Arriving at Orlando at 11:29am.
We would leave Orlando ( ) on 12/10 at 6:10pm, Arrive back in Milwaukee at 8:03pm.

I'm glad the return flight gives us some time during the day that day if we wanted to go to a park or something.

Here is the homemade spreadsheet I came up with. It allows me to pick parks for the day and switch them out and switch meals if I need to.

​

It's working out really well. I want to get everything set before Monday, when I can make my ADR's. Does anyone know what time you are able to make them at? I have jury duty Monday and Tuesday, and if it's not until like 9am, that's a good activity for me to stay busy.

My brother might be joining us for a couple days on this trip now. I made the suggestion to him a couple months ago expecting him to brush it off, but he seemed really excited about it and is planning to come on the front half of the trip for a couple days.

So, everyone, please welcome Uncle Craig:

He's my younger brother, a little crazy and out there, but that's what makes him who he is. He's a bartender at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans, LA. He's loving life as a single guy down there. He's excited to ride the monorail with Eli.

Favorite Character: Mickey Mouse
Favorite Ride: Tower of Terror
Favorite Park: Ecpot

We have definitely decided on MVMCP. We'll be going that Tuesday night. I'm so excited about that, I loved it so much last time.

So Far, this is our trip "layout":

Saturday, December 3rd
Arrive @ ORD
Magical Express to POR
Rest, relax, explore, pool
DTD for the night, Earl of Sandwich for dinner

Sunday, December 4th
Magic Kingdom
Breakfast @ Crystal Palace at 8:00am
Dinner TBD

Monday, December 5th
Epcot
Breakfast @ POR
Lunch-Sunshine Seasons??
Dinner @ Coral Reef @ 6:30pm

Tuesday, December 6th
Animal Kingdom in the Morning
MVMCP
Breakfast @ POR
Lunch-Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner-Cosmic Rays

Wednesday, December 7th
Hollywood Studios
Breakfast-Starring Roles
Lunch-Sci-Fi Dine-In @12:00pm
Nate and I get a date night, grandparents take Eli.
We will have California Grill @7:30pm

Thursday, December 8th
Epcot
Breakfast @ POR
Chefs de France @ 12:0pm
Mom and Dad date night, we take Eli.
They will be at Le Cellier @ 7:30pm

Friday, December 9th
Magic Kingdom
Breakfast @ Chef Mickey's-8:00am
Lunch-MK somewhere
Dinner @ 'Ohana @ 7:00pm

Saturday, December 10th
Either relax around resort/DTD or AK in the AM
Fly out around 6:00pm

I tried to avoid a lot of ADR's/TS meals, but we like to sit down and eat, it's a good break for us. Eli will power through a whole day at Disney with no nap and be okay through the night, so I have to keep that in mind, he's not always going to want to go back and nap, and we don't always have to plan on that.

Anyone have suggestions for a TS meal on that Sunday, December 4th date? I think we have one more TS credit to use, so I wanted to get that booked.

We might bring Eli to the Wishes Dessert Party that night my parents have a date night, I thought that might be fun. It won't be something I will book right away, but if we have the extra $$, it will be a fun night.

So, so far so good, Disney planning back in full effect and I'm excited to get back on here again! Thank god for summer

 

[mphalens]

Yay!
You can start booking ADRs online at 6am EST and 7am by phone. I was able to get over half of mine online before I started having issues with the system and by that time I only had to wait 10 minutes until 7am and then I did the rest over the phone with a fabulous CM.

Your ADRs look great, btw my suggestion for a fun place for all on Sun night is Raglan Road in DTD. We went for lunch on our last trip and the food was to die for (the Mac and Cheese was SO good!) and it was super kid friendly. The entertainment at night is supposed to be great, so we're going to try it this trip for dinner

 

[sunnysideup3]

Oooh, I just looked at the menu for Raglan Road and it sounds yummy....

Here's the dilemma, and maybe some more experienced DIS-ers can help me out.

We hope to have the AM reservation at Crystal Palace and then do lunch at MK at a CS place. I don't know if we are going to want to have dinner around MK (So I was thinking Grand Floridian Cafe or The Wave) or go back to POR and head on the boat to DTD and go to Raglan Road?

Thoughts???

And if anyone has been to The Wave, what are your opinions on it. We went to GFC 2 years ago and it was pretty good, and it would give us a chance to see the GF Christmas decorations......

Hmmmm.......:

 

[sunnysideup3]

Well, I have all my ADR's made. Only one that didn't work out was Coral Reef. I'm on hold right now with the reservations people to see just in case I was missing anything online. Luckily, it's 6:10am here and I'm listening to "It's a Small World" ....Ugh..

Here's what I got:

12/4
Crystal Palace @ 8:10am
Grand Floridian Cafe @ 5:35pm
Raglan Road @ 7:30pm

12/5
Biergarten @ 6:30pm
HOPING FOR CORAL REEF

12/6
none

12/7
Sci-Fi @ 12:10pm
California Grill @ 7:30pm

12/8
Les Chefs de France @ 12:20pm
Le Cellier @ 7:45pm

12/9
Chef Mickey's @ 8:10am
'Ohana @ 6:30pm

Fingers crossed on Coral Reef. I'll just keep checking back for the next 180 days. It's the ONE place DH wanted to go .....grrr!

 

[mphalens]

Well, I have all my ADR's made. Only one that didn't work out was Coral Reef. I'm on hold right now with the reservations people to see just in case I was missing anything online. Luckily, it's 6:10am here and I'm listening to "It's a Small World" ....Ugh..

Here's what I got:

12/4
Crystal Palace @ 8:10am
Grand Floridian Cafe @ 5:35pm
Raglan Road @ 7:30pm

12/5
Biergarten @ 6:30pm
HOPING FOR CORAL REEF

12/6
none

12/7
Sci-Fi @ 12:10pm
California Grill @ 7:30pm

12/8
Les Chefs de France @ 12:20pm
Le Cellier @ 7:45pm

12/9
Chef Mickey's @ 8:10am
'Ohana @ 6:30pm

Fingers crossed on Coral Reef. I'll just keep checking back for the next 180 days. It's the ONE place DH wanted to go .....grrr!

I'll think happy thought for Coral Reef for you ...
I LOVE the food in France ... it's the one place I WANT to go this trip (well, every trip really) that I didn't even try for a ressie ...

 

[sunnysideup3]

I called the dining reservations people and she said something about Coral Reef not having their schedule loaded yet and that's why it wasn't showing any availability at all (I checked lunch and dinner the whole week we are there and nothing). She told me to check every day and that it would probably be corrected by the end of the the week......here's hoping!

 

[sunnysideup3]

Good news! I had been playing around online and saved some vacations and I got an email with a Pin Code! It was only for 10% off room, but that cover that payment I was going to make for June! Still holding our for a good one

 

[Colleen27]

Looks like you've got a good handle on planning, sounds like a much better trip than your adventure with your inlaws! Our family is the same way - my mom is great to travel with but my inlaws' travel style just does NOT mesh with ours.

Don't give up hope on Coral Reef. It, along with Le Cellier and Rose & Crown, is blocked out right now while the details of the Candlelight Processional dinner packages are finalized. Hopefully some non-package times will open up when the packages times are set. We're probably going the week before you, coming home to frosty Michigan (by then anyway, not now when it is still 90 at 11pm!) the day you're arriving in Orlando, and the situation with Coral Reef is the same every day starting 11/25 when the CP starts for the season.

 

[sunnysideup3]

So, to try and keep this PTR alive (without it just being me talking to myself.....which is fun, because at least here it doesn't seem like I'm crazy!), I'll do what I've seen others do....updates on the lives of the PTR participants!

So...me.

Busy with work, even with it being the "off peak times." Guess that's a good sign the economy is coming back around, the conferences are coming back! My DM and I are having a rummage sale next weekend to raise some $$ for Disney. Hopefully we can make a good dent in whatever our airfare is going to be. I have a TON of baby clothes, nice stuff, to get out of our basement. Here's hoping someone who is having/has a little boy wants some nice clothes.

We are also taking a trip to San Fran with my MIL and FIL. Taking the train out from Chicago to San Fran and then some time in wine country and enjoying all of Northern California. I'm looking forward to it, better than trying to go to something that needs to be somewhat scheduled again, like Disney, which at first left me like this....

Hubby found a job in the beginning of March. He's working at a Home Depot and likes it a lot. He has a lot of opprotunity for advancement and enjoys the people he works with a lot.

Eli, he's a riot as usual. Still really excited for our trip and watches the "Disney Behind the Scenes" episodes on Netflix. He's 39 1/2 inches without shoes so I think he'll definitely make the 40" height requirement, as he's really looking forward to riding some of the bigger kid rides.

I'm sure all moms are like this, but pretty much the only thing I take pictures of are him...so here are couple new shots of "the life of Eli"....

Fishing near our cabin....

Enjoying breakfast....

Mr. Cool with "Soft Woody"...

Soft Woody should be his own "cast member" in this PTR. He travels everywhere with us and it's always one of those heart-stopping moments when you can't find him. I'm sure you will see him throughout the TR.

My DM and DD are still rockin' it, enjoying life in the northwoods of Wisconsin. My DB is working hard, so I don't get the time to talk to him like I'd like to....

That's the update on this family....still SUPER EXCITED for our trip!