Good Grief, You're Going Again, and Taking How Many Others?!? - PTR for Dec 11-16 '08

[PoohNRoo2]

Yup, once again we're heading down to the world. Just kinda happened. We had just returned from WDW last September.

We took my parents and had such a great time, thought it would be great to go again this year with the in-laws. OK, so when I asked my parents to go last year, I think it took all of 30 seconds for them to say yes. Took a little arm-twisting to get all of the ILs on board, as we are going in December 2008, and we're taking MIL and BIL (school teachers) and FIL (school superintendant) away from their school-year element for a few days!!! We all decided we wanted to see the 'World with Christmas decorations, without the crowds.

So I guess I should be throwing out the vitals:

Who:
Me , DH Jon , and DD Rhi
My MIL Barb and FIL Ray
My BIL Sean , SIL Becky , DN Maddie , and DN Patrick

What:
Our first trip together to WDW. This will be our third trip since 2004, but I don't think that BIL and SIL have been there since 1993 and goodness only knows when MIL and FIL were there last, mid-80's I think. Good reason why my DH and I are planning a pretty good chunk of this trip.

Where:
Coronado Springs Resort - Water view cabana rooms is what we requested. A grand gathering is allowing us to stay in adjacent rooms.

When:
December 11-16. Can't get here quick enough!!!

Why:
Need we ask?


Anyhoo, we should be getting there via our respective airlines and ME by around lunchtime. Probably grabbing tacos at the pool before heading over to DHS for the rest of the day for dinner and Fantasmic!

For a group this size, I called for dinner ressies on T-180 days. Here's what I got:
12/11 - Dinner at Hollywood and Vine
12/12 - Dinner at Cape May Cafe
12/13 - Dinner at Garden Grill
12/14 - Princess Breakfast at Akershus, Late Lunch at Restaurant Marrakesh
12/15 - Dinner at Boma

Nothing's saying that we don't add another character breakfast sometime else. I'm thinking a review thread will be in order!!!

Plugged this all into my magical MS word table (a work in progress that I'm willing to share, just PM me...)

So, it looks like we're on our way. Have a lot of stuff planned, which I will feed in the time between now and December.

Later!

 

[PoohNRoo2]

Just stoppin' by. Before I started this thread, I ordered WDW postcards through the store at thelaughingplace.com. I'm going to start sending them out around the week of October 6th to my neice and nephew to start getting them wound up about the trip. Of course, they're going to be "signed" by the characters pictured on the front!!!! Fortunately, they're young enough not to notice the postmark is from Harrisburg, PA!!

Otherwise, a quick pic of Rhi at EPCOT to get this party started...

 

[luvthattink]

Heyyyyy....I live right near HBG! I'm in Etown! how fun...nice to meet ya!

 

[PoohNRoo2]

When ya goin' next? (Duh, if I'd look at your timeline I'd know that answer!) I'm trying to make my neice and nephew's 1st trip to the world a really cool experience!

Pleased to meet ya!

 

[PoohNRoo2]

Just checked my flights with Airtran. So far... so good. Only have slight changes in our times since booking in May! Hoping it stays that way for the rest of our waiting time. I've been panicked most of the summer watching the other threads and their nightmares with the airlines. But hey, if Airtran can shuffle my sorry behind to Florida and back without a huge hitch, I'll consider it a success!!!

Just had our 12th anniversary over the weekend. What did I get my DH? Disney trivia books and a camera card, of course!

Talk at you soon!

 

[PoohNRoo2]

My apologies, took a little time away from this in anticipation to follow my husband to the Firefighter's Combat Challenge this weekend. It was great!!! He finished, which is saying a lot since this was his first go around at this. After watching about 40 people do this, I know why its called the toughest two minutes in sports.

Anyhoo, still dreaming and trying to decide what I want to do at the World. Fortunately, I'm finally feeling at this point that I don't have to run from attraction to attraction. This is my 6th trip. I'm hoping maybe on the day we get to WDW (12/11) that we can hit Indiana Jones or Star Tours (or, maybe we'll get lucky and the line for Toy Story won't be too long! ) before dinner. I think that I'll just be so happy to be there, and pretty tired too, that I'll be happy with whatever we end up doing.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'm in. We're also going to be there in December, though we get there the day you leave. Can't wait to hear your plans! There's nothing like Disney around the holidays.

 

[PoohNRoo2]

... but the week before us. They are having a "week to themselves" down there. That's great, but I'm expecting a live trip report at least once!!!!

Hey!! That's the top of my head in the seat in front of them on ME!

The time's approaching, never quick enough, but my husband is getting into the spreadsheet thing, coming up with a pre-order grocery list and a list of clothes and things for Rhi to pack.

Speaking of the groceries, has anyone out there had any experience with the delivery service? We need everything from breakfast items to diapers to probably at least a case of water. I'd rather not have to take a cab or lug it down on the plane, esp. the water!!!

 

[PoohNRoo2]

I had to do it!!!! I think its rained here in PA for the past three days. How depressing... Fortunately, I have the Modern Marvels Disney episode. Pop that into the DVD player, and life is so much better!!!

One more week to wait until I can start sending out the postcards to my niece and nephew!!! I hope that it gets the kids and their family excited about going. They live in NJ, so I don't see them all of the time.

Anyhoo... still thinking of trying to get into the CP without a reserved seat. There's a couple of days that we're eating in EPCOT in which our finishing coincides nicely with giving the line a shot. Any opinions on any days that are better than others? We'll be there from a Thursday thru Monday nights. Would love to see it, as would my MIL and FIL as they are traditional Christmas Story junkies.

Later!

 

[PoohNRoo2]

What a great day here in PA!!! Took DD for a walk at one of our local parks, and got to talk about another possible character breakfast. Been to most of them. Just not sure which one we want to do again!!!

I can't believe that we're already in October. Going to have to start chasing down the rest of the folks in our grand gathering to get their final payments so we can pay the whole thing off!!! If I'm lucky, and I think I will be, we should have our trip "packets" to give out at Thanksgiving!

I think I'm going to head over to zazzle.com and make my Dis'er ID button today. I would love to meet some of you while we're down there, but that's not going to happen unless I identify myself....

For now, here I am waiting for a call from Mickey at EPCOT...