Gonna Finnish this one I swear! May 11

[zhazhazsu]

Hi,

I am Amy and I love WDW. This will be my fourth trip since September 08


What are we celebrating? Well for starters We are celebrating my DHs 36th birthday ( a few weeks late) and me getting my groove back. We have had a rough year and I need to get back to feeling like me again! Our main reason for booking this trip is Flower and Garden. DH has never been and he has been dying to go.

Anyways my last trip was in May 2010 with my Mom. We did a girls only trip and stayed @ POR. The trip before DH and I stayed @ POR in the deep freeze of January. Our first choice for this trip was POFQ. We loved how romantic it seemed and we loved the beignets. We were also looking forward to the newly rennovated rooms.

However we booked a little later than usual and only King rooms were left. This is a budget trip ( will explain more later) the small bump in cost was a factor. I have always wanted to stay @ CSR. I was attracted to the pool area, the theme ( The Three Caballeros are one of my fave attractions) and the fact that it has been recently rennovated. So after some thought the ressie has been switched to CSR.

Then I got an idea, and once i get an idea I am a dangerous lady! LOL! I realized that I could rent points for a value studio @ AKV for cheaper than I could stay @ CSR with a 35 percent off pin! DH was skeptical but after I showed him the dis he wanted to go for it. However I am financing this trip with my Disney Visa and using the full 6 months to pay it off. So renting points does not work out for us in the end.

So there we go staying @ CSR decision made! DH and I spent hours pouring over the pictures online and are now excited to try something new. In fact trying something new could be a sub theme of this trip new resort and ADRs at some new places. Hmmm wonder what they are?

Anyways leaving you with some pics of DH and I on are last triptogether in January 10

That's DH the wild lion attacking his prey at Flame Tree

That's me the lite weight after one margarita at La Cava!

anyways hope you enjoy. Next installment a little more about us and a our ADRS

 

[zhazhazsu]

Anyways, As you can tell from the title I suck at finishing trip reports. I never did finish my Dining Report from Jan 2010, never started a trip report for May 2010 either I am such a bad bad diser LOL! Anyways I vow to finish this pre trip and a TR after this trip. It is one of my three New Years resolutions in fact. The other two are to pay off this trip in 6 months, and to lose the 8 pounds I recently gained slowly and healthfully.

Well a little more about me ...

I am 30 and I work with Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Specifically I run arts programming for them. I am an artist and I love the artistic side of Disney. I think of IASW as the Mary Blair museum LOL! My favorite ride is The Three Cabelleros, My favorite Disney restaurant is Saana ( fave in the whole world actually) my fave character is Stitch and my fave snack is Dole Whip float.

When I am not Dising I love to do yoga, hit consignment shops and try out new restaurants. I also try to walk when it is nice out and hit the gym once in a while ( not enough) when it isn't

Now on to DH ...

DH is 35 ( will turn 36 on Easter) he is Systems Administrator for an Architecture firm in Boston. He is also a Graphic Designer, and loves details, art and design. His favorite character is Goofy, his favorite ride is Space Mountain and his favorite restaurant is Saana. I think his favorite snack is cupcakes, but I will ask him later.

His other hobbies include working in his woodworking shop, and eating ( he loooves to eat!)

Since eating is DH's favorite part of the trip ( and LIFE ) I will let you in on our ADRS and our feelings about each of them.

First night is La Hacienda. Our flight lands in Orlando at 10am, so we will have plenty of time to get to our 8pm ADR. We are hoping to watch Illuminations from the restaurant, but if we don't get a good view we can fit it in another night. I am kind of nervous about this ADR, because this restaurant is new and has VERY mixed reviews. That said we like San Angel Inn while many others don't so we are going in with open minds.

Second Day is No ADR day ! GASP I know right! I feel like Anthony Bourdain with No Reservations LOL! Anyways our plan doesn't really fit in an ADR so we plan on eating CS for lunch and dinner.

This brings me to the point that we do a Garden Grocer order and eat in the room most mornings. I am a RD kinda girl, so I like to be able to have some cereal and a piece of fruit and go in the morning. In fact we only have on breakfast ADR, but more on that later.

Third day is an early dinner @ Saana! Saana is my favorite restaurant in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, not just Disney. I am so so so psyched to be going back.

Fourth Day is lunch @ Via Napoli. After reading Mickey Nicki's reviews on this site of eating there three times on one trip I am truly thrilled to be eating here. Again new to us in terms of WDW dining.

Fifth Day is our catch up day. The only Must Dos this day our our Ressie @ Cape May Clam Bake and to make it over to MK after to catch MSEP.

Sixth day ( our flight leaves at 6pm and I use every last minute until our MK p/u time ) Pre RD Crystal Palace, a first for DH but not for me. I love to end the trip with a PreRD ADR in MK and Crystal Palace was closed last trip for refurb ( we did LTT which was awesome!) Luckily I got to go in May with my Mom, so this time I have to bring DH to meet Eeyore ( he can def. be an Eeyore type at times ) and have some puffed french toast YUM!

Well that is it with this installment... coming soon the plan and how the heck am I paying for this??

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Subscribing! We will be there at the same time, also staying at CSR. Maybe we will see you around.

 

[zhazhazsu]

Subscribing! We will be there at the same time, also staying at CSR. Maybe we will see you around.

Yay! A subscriber! So exciting! Seems like alot of Disers are going to be at CSR that week. Maybe we will run into each other @ The Pepper Market

 

[zhazhazsu]

THE PLAN and PAYING FOR THE PLAN DUNDUNDUH!

Hi there my one subscriber! How are you doing

Anyways if there is anything I love better than a Disney Vacation it is a Disney Vacation that I can plan ( obsessively for months). I know I am not alone on the DIS in that regard, so without further ado:

THE GRANDEST PLAN OF ALL! DAY 1

Plane leaves Logan @ 7:00 am , that means we need to be up @ 3:30 and on the road by 4:30! On trip days my Mom ( the bestest Mom in the whole wide world BTW ) usually drives us in. The major problem? I am gonna be wiped out! I have the International Gem Show the day before for work and will be hiking all over a larger convention center buying gemstones, silver and crystals ( and lugging gemstones silver and crystals) for all three art programs I over see. It is a fun day, but I am gonna be pooped! Hopefully I can go on the Friday instead, but gotta check with my boss on that one.

Anyways Mom will drive us to the airport ( where I will engage in my pre flight ritual of magazine and Dunkin purchases ) and then before we know it we should land in MCO around 10:10. I anticipate being @ CSR around 12:00 at the latest via ME. I have never not been able to check right into a resort room, but who knows ??? I have also never stayed @ CSR. Hopefully we will get to check out the Pepper Market or the Pool Grille ( Siesta's) for lunch

The plan for the rest of the day is to check out the resort, wait for our GG order to be delivered ( more on that later) listen to Stacey about 100 times, maybe take a nap and make our way over to Epcot around 4:00pm. At Epcot I would like to do a few things before dinner the plan is

1) Spaceship Earth! DH can NOT go into Epcot without riding this it is one of our favorite rides and holds lots of memories for us ( like the time I had a few too many adult beverages and dozed off on it during EMHs only for the camera to catch me dozing! So embarrasing)

2) A KP mission. I hope that they are not sold out for the day already, but if they are we will be back another day this trip. DH has never done one and I know he would love it.

3) Grab a snack at the new Caramel shop and a pre dinner cocktail at La Cava and then go on my favorite ride Three Cabelleros

4) Then it will be dinner time. I have an 8pm ressie @ La Hacienda. I hope it is good and we can get a fireworks table. I plan to check in around 7:30 and ask for a fireworks view, but it really is the luck of the draw. Anyways the theme of this trip is TRY NEW THINGS so we are going to try it. I am a little scared my Micky Nikki's review of it, maybe she hit it on an off night.

5) After dinner and Illuminations, catch a bus ( pray to bus gods for good service ) and fall into bed @ CSR visions of Panchito dancing in my head! Gotta hit the hay early the next morning is our rush to TSM



Now onto the little stuff paying for the grandest plan of all.

Budget

We are getting some of the $$ back from our taxes and some of it was a gift however I still have to cover over 1/2 the cost myself. Budget time. I have been spoiled by buying work lunch nearly every day for about 6 months. I am so off that now. Now I am on a strict budget of 20.00 a week for pocket money. Everything else goes straight to the Disney fund. So far this week I have spent 2.00 @ IKEA for a soda and an ice cream, and 2.75 @ the IKEA sale on candles and a vase. Looks like I am doing good. Any money I have left from my 20.00 will go into my souvies envelope. I am not a big souvie buyer but I do get an ornament, a Tshirt and a Vinylmation every trip. I will post periodic updates on how the budget is coming here. to keep me on track.
To keep me motivated here is a pic from last trip since this edition was about our day @ Epcot, I figured I would show yoi our BEVERLY FACES!

Wow sorry that was so long, guess I had a lot to say. Next installment the Grandest Plan of All day 2 and stuff I need for the trip!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That sounds like a long but fun first day. Hopefully the room will be ready for you so you can take a nap. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get into my room early as well.

 

[marcikira]

Subbing in.. we'll be there the same time!

 

[zhazhazsu]

That sounds like a long but fun first day. Hopefully the room will be ready for you so you can take a nap. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get into my room early as well.

It will probally be exhausting, but I know DH will not want to rest when we just got to DISNEY!! He will probally be jumping on the bed ( not that he does that ) dying to get going. LOL !


I will cross my fingers for you too.

 

[zhazhazsu]

Subbing in.. we'll be there the same time!

Yay! Two subscribers!

I hope you deciede to write a PTR I love reading about others plans. Maybe we will run into each other!

 

[zhazhazsu]

So I have today off

Not really a day off b/c I have flex scheduling and am working tomorrow ( running a jewelry and wine party at a staff members house so fun)

So I thought today was a good day to post

THE GRANDEST PLAN OF ALL! DAY 2

This is our morning for the MAD DASH to TSM. I love TSM, I totally think it is worth the hype, and is a really unique interactive experience. My plan is to be @ The bus stop by 7:15 am ( so we would need to be up around 6:30) to try to hit DHS by 8am for a 9am opening. I find getting there an hour before RD is a great way to ensure multiple rides on TSM as well as TOT and RnRC. Not only is today a crazy hectic day but it is also a NO ADR day! Eeek!

So the plan is

1) Standby TSM
2) get FP for TSM
3) One Man's Dream
4) TOT
5) RnRC
6) Get FP for TOT
7) Animation Academy
8) Ride TSM w/ FP ( maybe pray for another FP )
9) lunch @ Starring Rolls ( OMG CUPCAKES YUMMO!)
10) Animation Academy again
11) Muppets

Then leave park around 1pm witha TOT FP in hand for that night and maybe a TSM.

The plan is then to go back to the resort and swim and then take a good long nap (like at least 2 hours or more). After the nap shower and grab dinner @ CSR Pepper Market, and then head back to the studios around 6pm.

Back at the Studios I plan to use our FPs for TOT and TSM, and then
get in line for F! around 7:30 for the show at 9pm.

After F! I want to hop a bus to CR and walk over to MK for EMHS! YAY!

@ MK EMHs I want to do the following

1) Get PP pics @ night in front of castle
2) ride IASW, teacups, PP, and Philharmagic
3) ride Buzz, TTA, and SM
4) ride the carousel last before leaving.

I plan to stay for almost the whole EMH leaving around 1:30 or 2:00am. I am hoping the crowds will thin around 12:00 as they usually do.

Well thank god the next day is a quiet one, because even with our long rest we are gonna be pooped !

I am budgeting this trip as I previously posted, and want to make the most of it. I did go ahead and spend 15.00 on a pair of Teva Mush's out of our clothing budget this month. I have awful problems with my feet at the parks, and am hoping that these will be the answers to my prayers.

Anyways thanks for reading. I have been doing really good on my budget this week only spending about 10.00 in pocket money! Yay! It's really motivating every time I wanna buy something dumb to say would you rather have that or WDW? WDW wins like every. single. time!

 

[zhazhazsu]

Sorry I haven't had time to update this lately ( not that I have a ton of readers ) but we had an emergency this past weekend.

We came home on Saturday night to find our 6 year old rescue dog Mayzie had eaten a whole package of sugar free gum!!

After some quick Googling turns out that Xylotol in sugar free gum in HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs and can kill them.

We rushed her to the animal ER and they pumped her stomach and kept her overnight for observation. The vet said it was a good thing we got there quick ( we were out for about an hour, and got her to the vet within a half an hour of getting home) because she could have had a seizure and died! OMG my poor baby.

Anyways luckily she did not seize, her bloodwork was good and she came home with me the next morning. She was totally traumatized when she came home and I was a wreck from being up all night and worried about her.

Today we have to go back to the vet and take her for more testing ( The Xylotol could have long term effects on her liver) The vet said we might have caught it in time, but wants to due testing just in case.

Aside from the emotional rollercoaster we were worried about money. Luckily we have VPI pet insurance, so we will file a claim and see what we can get back as a reimbursement. I am so glad we have paid into the insurance for the last three years. When you need it, it is a huge relief.

Anyways I promise my next update will be all about the trip. In the mean time thoughts and prayers are welcomed for Mayzie

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Yikes! I'm glad that you got home in time. Keeping my fingers crossed that there are no long term effects.

 

[zhazhazsu]

Yikes! I'm glad that you got home in time. Keeping my fingers crossed that there are no long term effects.

Thanks, Great News, Mayzie's liver panels came back excellent. Only one more round of testing to go until she is 100 percent out of the woods. Thank God!

Anyways here is a pic of Mayzie * new nickname "Trident" lol!

 

[zhazhazsu]

Sooo there is like 2 feet of snow outside ! Psyched that I got a snow day ( DH had to take a personal day ) but that's still a TON of snow.

So I thought I would update on Day Three. of THE Grandest Plan of All EVER!!

Day Three is a relatively quiet day, however we will eat @ my favorite restaurant of all time this day.

We plan to sleep in a little since we will be out till 2am the night before, grab a light breakfast in the room, and head of to AK. I love AK, it is not so much a ride park, but an experience park. I found the path to the base of the Tree of Life ( behind the hair wrap cart on Discovery Island.) on my trip in May with my Mom. DH has never been on this path, so I can't wait to show him.

I have also realized that I am going to need to be brave today as I really really want to try and ride THE SAFARI. I am petrified of elephants. I know it sounds silly, but they are so big, and they could totally rampage and trample me at any minute. I get all sweaty and nervous whenever I see them. However I know that no one has ever died on the safari ride, so maybe I am being a bit silly. However just the other day I read an article about how elephants have very complex social structures, and have been known to seek revenge when there family members are killed by trampling whole villages in Africa. Yup that freaked me right out.

So the plan for the day is to

1) FP KRR
2) Standby KS / ( try to catch Devine )
3) Pangini Trail
3)Ride KRR
4) FP Everest
5) Nemo
6) Lunch @ Flame Tree Yum!
6) Ride Everest
7) Tiger Trail ( I forget the name )
8) Paths by Tree of Life on the way out
9) Leave by 4:15 for 5pm Dinner Ressie @ Saana.

Saana is my favorite restaurant ever. of all time. period. I love Indian Food, and I love the view of the Savanna. It is so relaxing to eat there and watch the giraffes just amble by to eat. I figure our plan is going to be pretty tight. We might skip KRR that will make things a little easier. I am not a fan of getting soaked, but I think the ride is fun, and usually just bust out a poncho.


I have been doing really excellent on my budget, and have not spent any pocket money this week yet. Tomorrow I plan to eat out with my coworker, but we usually just split a salad or something, and it never comes in above 10.00. However I am having a hard time finding cheap airfare. I am afraid to book too early, but my Kayak quote just keeps going up. Uggh!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I figured I may as well join you since you joine me .. I think you may be out of luck with the cheap airfare.. I booked my airfare first as it was continuing to go up. I think because the price of oil continues to go up, that you may want to grab your flights now. I got the flights I wanted.. 7:00am departure and 7:00pm returning both direct flights and for 3 of us 568.. now we will have to pay for our luggage, but even when I priced that out it was 100 cheaper..

 

[zhazhazsu]

I figured I may as well join you since you joine me .. I think you may be out of luck with the cheap airfare.. I booked my airfare first as it was continuing to go up. I think because the price of oil continues to go up, that you may want to grab your flights now. I got the flights I wanted.. 7:00am departure and 7:00pm returning both direct flights and for 3 of us 568.. now we will have to pay for our luggage, but even when I priced that out it was 100 cheaper..

Hi LPM! Thanks for joining I am realizing I should have grabbed airfare sooner. Your flights sound great. I love flying in early and flying out late, gotta maximize every last second at THE WORLD!

Do you ride the safari? How close are the elephants to the ride cars? I would really like to be able to ride this time, and just get over the fear. LOL!

 

[zhazhazsu]

So I have today off

Not really a day off b/c I have flex scheduling and am working tomorrow ( running a jewelry and wine party at a staff members house so fun)

So I thought today was a good day to post

THE GRANDEST PLAN OF ALL! DAY 2

This is our morning for the MAD DASH to TSM. I love TSM, I totally think it is worth the hype, and is a really unique interactive experience. My plan is to be @ The bus stop by 7:15 am ( so we would need to be up around 6:30) to try to hit DHS by 8am for a 9am opening. I find getting there an hour before RD is a great way to ensure multiple rides on TSM as well as TOT and RnRC. Not only is today a crazy hectic day but it is also a NO ADR day! Eeek!

So the plan is

1) Standby TSM
2) get FP for TSM
3) One Man's Dream
4) TOT
5) RnRC
6) Get FP for TOT
7) Animation Academy
8) Ride TSM w/ FP ( maybe pray for another FP )
9) lunch @ Starring Rolls ( OMG CUPCAKES YUMMO!)
10) Animation Academy again
11) Muppets

Then leave park around 1pm witha TOT FP in hand for that night and maybe a TSM.

The plan is then to go back to the resort and swim and then take a good long nap (like at least 2 hours or more). After the nap shower and grab dinner @ CSR Pepper Market, and then head back to the studios around 6pm.

Back at the Studios I plan to use our FPs for TOT and TSM, and then
get in line for F! around 7:30 for the show at 9pm.

After F! I want to hop a bus to CR and walk over to MK for EMHS! YAY!

@ MK EMHs I want to do the following

1) Get PP pics @ night in front of castle
2) ride IASW, teacups, PP, and Philharmagic
3) ride Buzz, TTA, and SM
4) ride the carousel last before leaving.

I plan to stay for almost the whole EMH leaving around 1:30 or 2:00am. I am hoping the crowds will thin around 12:00 as they usually do.

Well thank god the next day is a quiet one, because even with our long rest we are gonna be pooped !

I am budgeting this trip as I previously posted, and want to make the most of it. I did go ahead and spend 15.00 on a pair of Teva Mush's out of our clothing budget this month. I have awful problems with my feet at the parks, and am hoping that these will be the answers to my prayers.

Anyways thanks for reading. I have been doing really good on my budget this week only spending about 10.00 in pocket money! Yay! It's really motivating every time I wanna buy something dumb to say would you rather have that or WDW? WDW wins like every. single. time!

So DH and I were talking about this the other day, and I think we are going to switch the plan for this day up. Neither of us is really excited about going to see Fantasmic again. Although we enjoyed it the only time we have been in January we feel it is just not worth it to wait in line for it. I think we would rather use that time either resting at the resort or hitting MK a little early ( and hitting the rides while everyone else is watching fireworks)

Also I am starting to think maybe I should book a ADR at Sci Fi for this day and just pay Oop for it. I just have a feeling that DH will love it and it would be a fun ADR. The prices on allears seem very reasonable ( comparable to what I pay at home for a lunch )

If we did that we would skip dessert and share a cupcake at Starring Rolls later

Does this sound like a good plan?