Gearing Up For a Birthmasiversary With the Mouse! - A Dec 09 PTR

[JoJo1980]

Yeah, that's a big part of why I always drive down, since I only live 5 hours from WDW. Once we're there, we'll probably be using the buses primarily, but it's still nice to have the car there if we need it. (Though since we're paying nearly $300 for this thing, we might be using it more than the buses on this trip, purely out of principle! )

We'd planned all along on just driving my car down, but I'm nervous about it since it's not in the best condition. Taking the rental car on the road trip instead definitely puts my mind at ease.

Oh, I'm sure it's perfectly wonderful! But I'd rather have 1900 Park Fare, for two reasons:
(1) We will have already seen the resort/restaurant earlier in the week for dinner, and I don't like repeating on the same trip.
(2) We will have already seen/met all the characters there earlier in the week, at Chef Mickeys.

1900 Park Fare, however, would give us a reason to visit the GF, and meet characters we otherwise won't see, like the Mad Hatter, Alice, Mary Poppins, etc. Sooooo... here's hoping I land a ressie between now and then!

It would be lethal if I lived only 5 hours drive from disney I know what you mean about wanting to make sure you getting your moneys worth out of the car - we think the same We're currently trying to decide which one to rent, we book with a UK company so that everything is all paid for in advance - but we have to pay the full amount at the time of booking with us being less than 8 weeks now, so I want to make sure we're 100% decided on which car before we book. The car tends to be a treat for DH though as its me thats the total disney nut. Am wondering whether to suprise him with a 4x4 depending on the cost - plus I need something that's big enough to hold all my suitcases and shopping

I totally understand why you want to swap We've never done the same restuarant on the same trip and it'll be great if you get to see all the different resorts dressed for xmas We visited the GF on our last trip but just shopped, didnt eat - we've got breakfast booked there this trip so i'll keep my fingers crossed that you get an ADR - i'm sure you will, just keep stalking them until they give in

 

[Elevationist]

It would be lethal if I lived only 5 hours drive from disney I know what you mean about wanting to make sure you getting your moneys worth out of the car - we think the same We're currently trying to decide which one to rent, we book with a UK company so that everything is all paid for in advance - but we have to pay the full amount at the time of booking with us being less than 8 weeks now, so I want to make sure we're 100% decided on which car before we book. The car tends to be a treat for DH though as its me thats the total disney nut. Am wondering whether to suprise him with a 4x4 depending on the cost - plus I need something that's big enough to hold all my suitcases and shopping

Thankfully, DBF isn't so much picky about the car. He told me last night to book the cheapest one, the "Economy class." But it was only $15 more to get the Compact instead, which is still a small car but not as small. And we're both really tall, so I figure with a 5 hour drive each way, even a little bit of extra leg room would be nice.

I totally understand why you want to swap We've never done the same restuarant on the same trip and it'll be great if you get to see all the different resorts dressed for xmas We visited the GF on our last trip but just shopped, didnt eat - we've got breakfast booked there this trip so i'll keep my fingers crossed that you get an ADR - i'm sure you will, just keep stalking them until they give in

Thanks! I've been checking daily, and watching the "Cancelled December ADRs" thread here on the DIS, but so far no luck! I've also been trying to think if there's any other breakfast buffets we'd like to try instead, even if there's no characters. The only one that comes to mind is Trail's End at Ft. Wilderness... But seeing as how neither DBF nor I are much on camping, I don't think either of us would be thrilled with going out there for a meal.

 

[JoJo1980]

Thankfully, DBF isn't so much picky about the car. He told me last night to book the cheapest one, the "Economy class." But it was only $15 more to get the Compact instead, which is still a small car but not as small. And we're both really tall, so I figure with a 5 hour drive each way, even a little bit of extra leg room would be nice.

Thanks! I've been checking daily, and watching the "Cancelled December ADRs" thread here on the DIS, but so far no luck! I've also been trying to think if there's any other breakfast buffets we'd like to try instead, even if there's no characters. The only one that comes to mind is Trail's End at Ft. Wilderness... But seeing as how neither DBF nor I are much on camping, I don't think either of us would be thrilled with going out there for a meal.

Glad you've got some extra leg room, you need to pamper your legs for as long as possible before you hit all that disney walking!

Just stick with it, i'm sure something will come up

Is it just resort breakfasts your looking for? What about the Lilo & Stitch one at the Poly? Mind you, you've got an evening meal there havent you .. hmm ... what about the Whispering Canyon Cafe at wilderness lodge? No characters though.

 

[Elevationist]

Glad you've got some extra leg room, you need to pamper your legs for as long as possible before you hit all that disney walking!

Just stick with it, i'm sure something will come up

Is it just resort breakfasts your looking for? What about the Lilo & Stitch one at the Poly? Mind you, you've got an evening meal there havent you .. hmm ... what about the Whispering Canyon Cafe at wilderness lodge? No characters though.

I looked into WCC, apparently that one is family-style skillet that you order. "Scrambled Eggs, Oven-roasted Red Bliss Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, Waffles, Buttermilk Biscuits, and Sausage Gravy" is what is listed. I think we're looking for more of a selection than that. (And gauranteed MICKEY waffles! )

I just booked Trail's End anyhow as another possible alternative. This meal we're going to be paying for out of pocket, and the Trail's End breakfast is significantly cheaper. So we'll see, I'll also check with Ron and see what he thinks. I'll just decide which one to cancel later!

And yeah. It seems that somehow I managed to book us for dinner at nearly all of the best breakfast buffets. Chef Mickey's, Cape May Cafe, Crystal Palace, Ohana, Boma. Go figure!

 

[Elevationist]

OOH OOH! I just had a flash of inspiration!

I could maybe scratch the Crystal Palace dinner and replace it with breakfast instead! That is one where I don't much care which meal it is, long as we eat there once! And it would also mean actually getting to use our park tickets on that last day, and say good bye to the castle before we head to DTD then drive home.

This also means picking out a different dinner place in or near the MK for my birthday dinner on the 3rd. Hmmmmmm!

Off to check for ADRs.... AGAIN!!!!

 

[Elevationist]

OH. MY. GOSH.

You guys are NOT going to believe what just happened.

So just to recap above breakfast ADR rambling, I've been trying every hour for weeks to try and get a breakfast booking at 1900 Park Fare on our departure day, 12/7. No luck at all, so I've had Cape May Cafe booked as an alternative.

Well, now we're having dinner there one night, so I needed ANOTHER alternative. I was about to rearrange some ADRs and went online to go check and see if I could get Crystal Palace that morning instead.

It wasn't available.

But, as usual, it pops up with alternative options.

Can you guess what one of the alternatives was?

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*

Wait for it.

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*

Nope, not yet.

*

*

Just a little longer now.

*

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I'm sure you've already figured it out.

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Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
Primary Guest: Billie S.
Confirmation Number:: ############
Day & Date: Monday, December 7, 2009
Time: 9:05 AM
Dining Party: 2 Adults

How's THAT for some unexpected pixie dust?! It's an hour earlier than I was looking for, but no way was I walking away from it! I finally got it!

Now to start praying to the ADR gods for an evening res at Le Cellier on 12/4...

 

[Christina3891]

OOH OOH! I just had a flash of inspiration!

I could maybe scratch the Crystal Palace dinner and replace it with breakfast instead! That is one where I don't much care which meal it is, long as we eat there once! And it would also mean actually getting to use our park tickets on that last day, and say good bye to the castle before we head to DTD then drive home.

This also means picking out a different dinner place in or near the MK for my birthday dinner on the 3rd. Hmmmmmm!

Off to check for ADRs.... AGAIN!!!!

That so sounds like me!!! My itenary changes everyday because if I can get one restaurant I have to move a million others. And it's getting so hard now to even move what would have been considered an "easy reservation" restaurant. It's so fustrating. The hardest one for me had been Cinderella's Royal Table for dinner one night while we are there. I have also been trying to make a reservation for a couple of others and it has been nearly impossible. It must be because of the free dining or something. I just don't get it. Good luck on getting what you want though!

 

[jenbear123]

Yay for booking the car rental. It's always nice to have something completed for your trip.

I honestly believe the online ADR system is the most addicting thing Disney could have offered. That, and the online resort reservation system. It just screams for you to constantly change plans or look at different options. I swear I could be on there for 12 hours straight and still not make a solid decision

Oops! Just saw you updated above. Going to read now!

 

[Christina3891]

OH. MY. GOSH.

You guys are NOT going to believe what just happened.

So just to recap above breakfast ADR rambling, I've been trying every hour for weeks to try and get a breakfast booking at 1900 Park Fare on our departure day, 12/7. No luck at all, so I've have Cape May Cafe booked as an alternative. Well now, we're having dinner there one night, so I needed ANOTHER alternative. I was about to rearrange some ADRs and went online to go check and see if I could get Crystal Palace that morning instead.

It wasn't available.

But, as usual, it pops up with alternative options.

Can you guess what one of the alternatives was?

*

*

Wait for it.

*

*

Nope, not yet.

*

*

Just a little longer now.

*

*

I'm sure you've already figured it out.

*

*

Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Primary Guest: Billie S.
Confirmation Number:: ############
Day & Date: Monday, December 7, 2009
Time: 9:05 AM
Dining Party: 2 Adults

How's THAT for some unexpected pixie dust?! It's an hour earlier than I was looking for, but no way was I walking away from it! I finally got it!

Now to start praying to the ADR gods for an evening res at Le Cellier on 12/4...

THAT'S AWESOME!!!! Now send some of that pixie dust my way!!!

 

[jenbear123]

THAT'S GREAT NEWS!!!! I'm with you on the Le Cellier ADR. I'm begging to get a later time on Nov 19th

 

[Elevationist]

That so sounds like me!!! My itenary changes everyday because if I can get one restaurant I have to move a million others. And it's getting so hard now to even move what would have been considered an "easy reservation" restaurant. It's so fustrating. The hardest one for me had been Cinderella's Royal Table for dinner one night while we are there. I have also been trying to make a reservation for a couple of others and it has been nearly impossible. It must be because of the free dining or something. I just don't get it.

It's DEFINITELY because of Free Dining, as far as I'm concerned. This is my first trip since 2006, and back then the only meal you had to worry about getting was breakfast at CRT. Everything else was easy peasy! So this has been hard for me to adjust too, also.

Yay for booking the car rental. It's always nice to have something completed for your trip.

Amen, sister! I loooove the feeling of being able to check one more thing off the ever-growing list!

I honestly believe the online ADR system is the most addicting thing Disney could have offered. That, and the online resort reservation system. It just screams for you to constantly change plans or look at different options. I swear I could be on there for 12 hours straight and still not make a solid decision

I agree! I've been a WDW mega-planner for years, but I've NEVER obsessed over ADRs like I have this time around! That online ADR system is both a blessing a curse, I think!!

THAT'S AWESOME!!!! Now send some of that pixie dust my way!!!

Will do!

THAT'S GREAT NEWS!!!! I'm with you on the Le Cellier ADR. I'm begging to get a later time on Nov 19th

I'm so stoked! My heart is still racing, when I saw that come up on the screen, I literally blinked several times, and re-read it over and over to make sure I wasn't imagining it. ROFL. Then something in my brain clicked and went "BOOK IT QUICK, YOU DUMMY." Haha. Such a rush from a stinkin' meal reservation!

And here's some for your Le Cellier ADR! I still can't get over how this has become such a hot ticket. It makes me wish I had tried it in previous years, pre-FD, when it wasn't that big of a deal.

What a great day this is shaping up to be!

 

[JoJo1980]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY


Breakfast party over here


I'm soooo glad you got it honey Well done!!


I'm going to join in with the praying for Le Cellier too, we've got Marakesh booked - but we've never been to Le Cellier and want it bad!!

 

[Elevationist]

I'm going to join in with the praying for Le Cellier too, we've got Marakesh booked - but we've never been to Le Cellier and want it bad!!

We have Marrakesh booked as our Le Cellier back-up plan too. It was Ron's choice... I think it has something to do with the bellydancers, though he won't admit it.

 

[TiggerAllie]

Congrats on getting Park Fare! I am trying to scrounge up Crystal Palace for our last day in January... nothing! I ended up adding it to our Oct trip, because I didn't want to miss out before the refurb.

As far a rental car stuff, I always go to mousesavers .com which has all the tips on getting discounts and coupons for all the different rental car companies--check it out and maybe you can save another $30. However, that's a pretty good rate--we got $250 from National for a wk in Oct (from the Orlando airport).

I'm totally with you on the ADR obsession-- I should have the disney dining site bookmarked, as I have been checking obsessively every day! (Can't get caught at work though!)

 

[JoJo1980]

We have Marrakesh booked as our Le Cellier back-up plan too. It was Ron's choice... I think it has something to do with the bellydancers, though he won't admit it.

Men!

 

[Wrexie]

We have Marrakesh booked as our Le Cellier back-up plan too. It was Ron's choice... I think it has something to do with the bellydancers, though he won't admit it.

Haha! When we went to Marrakesh and took my stepdaughter when she was about 12, the belly dancer was going around the room picking people to get up and dance with her. She picked...

...

my husband. Who happens to be a choreographer/ballet teacher. So naturally he couldn't just shake his hips a little, he tried to mimic everything she was doing. I was laughing my head off!

My stepdaughter's expression was priceless. She looked like she was plotting to murder him. She's 22 now but we still laugh about how he embarrassed the heck out of her.

We love Marrakesh and plan to go there. I love the food and it's fun to see the belly dancers. If you end up there and like things spicy, be sure to ask for Harissa--it's a hot pepper condiment. At least last time we were there, it wasn't on the menu, but they brought it when we asked. As I recall, the food was good and pretty authentic, but a little bland compared to what I've gotten elsewhere. We used to have a really good authentic Moroccan restaurant in our city but it closed.

But hopefully you will get your Le Cellier reservation. I've never been there but am hoping to try it this time.

 

[Elevationist]

Haha! When we went to Marrakesh and took my stepdaughter when she was about 12, the belly dancer was going around the room picking people to get up and dance with her. She picked...

...

my husband. Who happens to be a choreographer/ballet teacher. So naturally he couldn't just shake his hips a little, he tried to mimic everything she was doing. I was laughing my head off!

My stepdaughter's expression was priceless. She looked like she was plotting to murder him. She's 22 now but we still laugh about how he embarrassed the heck out of her.

We love Marrakesh and plan to go there. I love the food and it's fun to see the belly dancers. If you end up there and like things spicy, be sure to ask for Harissa--it's a hot pepper condiment. At least last time we were there, it wasn't on the menu, but they brought it when we asked. As I recall, the food was good and pretty authentic, but a little bland compared to what I've gotten elsewhere. We used to have a really good authentic Moroccan restaurant in our city but it closed.

But hopefully you will get your Le Cellier reservation. I've never been there but am hoping to try it this time.

Oh my gosh, what a great story! That must have been a hoot!

 

[Elevationist]

OMG, how ridiculous am I right now?

My trip is 59 days out.

And I'm already experiencing "Too excited to sleep" syndrome!

Seriously, I just laid in bed for almost an hour, trying to get to sleep. And all I could do was lay there with a whirlwind of WDW thoughts racing through my mind.

I think I need a 12-step program.

 

[Elevationist]

Congrats on getting Park Fare! I am trying to scrounge up Crystal Palace for our last day in January... nothing! I ended up adding it to our Oct trip, because I didn't want to miss out before the refurb.

Aww, it's a shame that you're not going the same time I am! I have a CP res for 12/5 that I just offered up on the Cancelled December ADR thread. And I'm considering cancelling my 12/3 res as well, still. (I think we may have too many buffets in a row going.) Here's some pixie dust your way, may the ADRs of your dreams all fall neatly into your lap!

As far a rental car stuff, I always go to mousesavers .com which has all the tips on getting discounts and coupons for all the different rental car companies--check it out and maybe you can save another $30. However, that's a pretty good rate--we got $250 from National for a wk in Oct (from the Orlando airport).

I love mousesavers.com! For several years I worked for an airline (that will remain nameless), and it was mousesavers that let me in on the delightful secret of the 50% OFF RESORT ROOMS at WDW for all airline employees. It's the only reason I was able to stay at AKL in 2006.

I checked their rental car discounts, but nothing useful for Enterprise. Ah well!

 

[Elevationist]

Well, after sleeping, I'm at it again, obsessing over these ADRs. Now I'm thinking that maybe I'd rather have Tony's instead of Crystal Palace on my birthday.