Happy Birthday, Dear Dude - A Sept 2010 PTR - 9/22 Trip Report Started p34

[swwake]

OK I was just reading someone else's PTR and realized that we are only 8 days away from booking ADRs! That makes it all so real! I am thinking about sneaking and booking a dinner at Le Cellier without telling Dude. I don't know which night yet. Maybe I'll just let Don surprise me. Or maybe I can check out the crowd calendars and pick a good Epcot day (are there any BAD days when the calendar says 4 and 5 crowd levels all week?)

Any other recommendations out there for a must-do ADR? I'm not sure we want to do any repeats - we like to try new stuff (although we'll probably hit Boma without an ADR one day/night). We have done 'Ohana, California Grill, bluezoo, Boma, Rainforest Cafe, Brown Derby, 50s Prime Time Cafe, Raglan Road, and maybe some others I've forgotten.

Have any of you heard of magicalmouseradio.com? I heard about it on the AKL thread and have become addicted. It plays sounds from park areas, attractions, restaurants, and resort areas all around WDW. It even includes now-defunct attractions like Horizons and Timekeeper. I have to say that sometimes it drives me nuts and I have to turn it off (listening to the Wishes fireworks soundtrack was one I couldn't take for some reason), but other times, it's quite nostalgic.

Still trying to figure out the hotel situation at Universal. I think I've changed my mind from Royal Pacific Resort to Hard Rock Hotel, but I still can't get the Amex site to work allowing me to use points. I need to call them (and they are open 24/7) but I just haven't found the time. I know it will be a hassle to explain the online errors and what I'm trying to do, and I have a feeling at the end of the day they will tell me I can't use membership rewards points at that resort.

I found out yesterday that I may need to be in Vegas for a speaking engagement Sept 22-23. Chris has clients he always visits in Vegas once or twice a year. So now we might need to fly straight from Orlando to Vegas on the 21st. Imagine the calculated packing that will require! I think I'll book our return flights to Austin on the 21st and make the change if I have to as we get closer to the dates. If so, by the 23rd, I am gonna be SO ready to get home!

 

[lildamo]

Congrats on booking your flights - so exciting! I'm still waiting for Southwest to announce their September flights!

As for ADRs, it's been a while, but I remember always LOVING Teppan Edo. I can't wait to go back this trip and it's definitely a lot of fun!

 

[swwake]

Congrats on booking your flights - so exciting! I'm still waiting for Southwest to announce their September flights!

As for ADRs, it's been a while, but I remember always LOVING Teppan Edo. I can't wait to go back this trip and it's definitely a lot of fun!

Thanks - yeah, we're waiting for SW for our return flights. We'll probably use our vouchers.

I think we would like Teppan Edo a lot, but we have 4 different teppanyaki/hibachi restaurants here in Austin and we go about twice a year (or sometimes more). I can't imagine them being able to "Disnify" the experience more than what we see here. If we are in Epcot WS one day and hungry, that might just be our choice. Especially because we also love Sushi.

 

[swwake]

I have another question for my readers and WDW planners. When we went in 2008, I had a chart that told us the most efficient way to use Disney transportation to get between resorts (since the buses don't run between the resorts). Does anyone know where I can find this?

 

[lildamo]

I have another question for my readers and WDW planners. When we went in 2008, I had a chart that told us the most efficient way to use Disney transportation to get between resorts (since the buses don't run between the resorts). Does anyone know where I can find this?

I don't know of a chart, but I downloaded the TWiz iPhone app to my phone which does the same thing and I love it already! I've been playing around with how to get from point A to point B.

 

[swwake]

I looked for that app and couldn't find it. Can you help me?

 

[Native NYer]

Congrats on getting the flights using points.

 

[lildamo]

I looked for that app and couldn't find it. Can you help me?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/olp-wdw-transportation-wizard/id322395516?mt=8

That should take you to it in the App store on iTunes! It costs $1.99 but it has all the info right on your phone and doesn't have to connect to your 3G to access stuff, which is great.

 

[swwake]

Congrats on getting the flights using points.

Thanks, Jen! Hey, I didn't realize you are a DVC member now, until I saw someone else congratulate you. From your ticker, it looks like BLT. I'd love to hear more about your decision and can't wait to hear about your BLT experience. I think that will be our next place to stay.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/olp-wdw-transportation-wizard/id322395516?mt=8

That should take you to it in the App store on iTunes! It costs $1.99 but it has all the info right on your phone and doesn't have to connect to your 3G to access stuff, which is great.

Awesome - thanks! It looks very cool, so I'll probably make the $1.99 splurge.

 

[swwake]

Last night we were talking about the trip, and I told Chris I wish he'd get as excited about it as I am. He asked me why I don't think he's excited. I think it's because I tend to obsess over it most of every day and he will talk to me about it, but I'm the one who brings up the subject.

He did just out of the blue say "We have to go back to Raglan Road this time. That was one of my favorites." Followed by "which park was that restaurant in?" Yep, not quite as obsessed as me.

I didn't realize he liked it so much. I enjoyed it, but felt a little rushed, because that was our La Nouba night and we were trying to fit so much in at DTD that night. We shopped a little, did Goofy's Candy Co, Raglan Road and then La Nouba. Then Mom and the girls went back to the hotel, and Chris and I stayed at Pleasure Island for one last hoorah (since it closed the next month). Oh, and it POURED raining all night.

So I think I'll add Raglan Road to our ADRs for one night. The other one everyone swears by is Narcoosee's. I'm not sure I want an ADR for dinner for every day. As we get closer to Friday, I will have to decide.

 

[Charleston Princess]

You could always just go ahead and book an ADR for every night and then decide once you are down there what you feel like doing.

 

[swwake]

You could always just go ahead and book an ADR for every night and then decide once you are down there what you feel like doing.

OK that's a great idea. I think I'll do it. Since we really want to be flexible and I don't want to get myself stuck with a schedule, only to be upset when things don't go as I planned, I think I'll just take the easiest route by looking at the crowd calendars and booking ADRs each night at or near a park that is a recommended park that day.

So then I have to decide which restaurants. I might book Artist's Point (isn't that the one at Wilderness Lodge?) because we have always wanted to explore that lodge. Maybe Narcoosee's. Maybe Teppan Edo now (or is there somewhere you can just do sushi?).

 

[swwake]

I kept trying to book using Amex points and getting an error. Then today, I was ready to try again, then call Amex and do it by phone, when I got the error code, so I could explain what was happening. Well, today they said my hotel wasn't available for that date!

So I checked the hotel's site and the Universal site and both showed availability. I spent another hour or so researching discounts on hotel and tickets. Finally, I decided that there is a certain value you can place on your time. After all of these hours of researching the best deal for Universal, I calculated the best deal on hotel and tickets is the package deal offered by Universal. Even with the UT extra special discount, which will come out in Mousesavers tomorrow, I would get about the same $15 per ticket discount.

So I got tired of the research and uncertainty and booked the whole shabang for a $50 deposit! I am so relieved. And excited now, at the same time! Again, it makes it all feel so real.

I have been reading my last PTR today, trying to remember ideas I had then, maybe identifying things we planned to do but missed out on, etc. I have also been organizing our pictures from that trip (among other photos). It really inspires me to finish (or at least work on) the 2008 trip report. I know it's a little stale, but it would be more for me than for anyone else. But I do have some great pics that would be fun to share.

So I need advice. Should I just plop the rest of that TR right in the middle of this PTR? Should I start a "Part 2" TR thread? Or should I see if I can get the moderators to open that thread back up and make it editable? What do you think?

 

[Charleston Princess]

OK that's a great idea. I think I'll do it. Since we really want to be flexible and I don't want to get myself stuck with a schedule, only to be upset when things don't go as I planned, I think I'll just take the easiest route by looking at the crowd calendars and booking ADRs each night at or near a park that is a recommended park that day.

So then I have to decide which restaurants. I might book Artist's Point (isn't that the one at Wilderness Lodge?) because we have always wanted to explore that lodge. Maybe Narcoosee's. Maybe Teppan Edo now (or is there somewhere you can just do sushi?).

First, I vote for plopping your TR right here in the middle of your PTR or starting a new one -- either way I know I will reading along.

I think at Tokyo Dining you can order just sushi. Artist Point is the one at the Wilderness Lodge, and I always think the menu looks really good.

 

[swwake]

First, I vote for plopping your TR right here in the middle of your PTR or starting a new one -- either way I know I will reading along.

I think at Tokyo Dining you can order just sushi. Artist Point is the one at the Wilderness Lodge, and I always think the menu looks really good.

OK, I think I'll do that. But I'm going to start with pasting the first couple of posts of that abandoned TR here.

I will research the sushi and Artist Point. I have a lot to think about by Friday!

 

[Charleston Princess]

OK, I think I'll do that. But I'm going to start with pasting the first couple of posts of that abandoned TR here.

I will research the sushi and Artist Point. I have a lot to think about by Friday!

Time to make a spreadsheet!

 

[swwake]

I have so many great pictures from our trip in 2008, I'd really like to share our experience. It also gets me in the spirit for the upcoming trip. So I will share the August 2008 trip report here.

First, I'll post the chapters that were already written and posted in the abandoned TR. The original Pre-Trip Report can be found here: "Do You Mind??"
Disney Adventures with Teens August 2008

"Do You Mind??"

Disney Adventures with Teens August 2008 Trip Report​

​

Our trip was from Friday, August 8th through Sunday, August 17th, 2008. Our actual Disney World vacation was from Saturday, the 9th through Saturday the 16th. We stayed at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

We had a Pre-Trip Report, which you can view here. We had almost as much fun planning the trip as we did on the vacation. Also, had I not become so obsessed with planning, there are some things we may not have been able to experience, so we are all really glad that I planned so much.

We took over 960 pictures and we had over 66 Photopass pictures taken. I also kept a journal during the trip and tried to jot down as many details as possible. This will help with writing the trip report.

We love readers and we look forward to sharing our adventures with you![/SIZE]

 

[swwake]

Cast of Characters​

​

​

Susan and Chris

Chris (aka “Dude”)
Age 36
Enjoys Disney, appreciates “the experience” more than “the objective” (in his words). Has been to WDW three times prior to this: with high school band (late 80’s), 1997 and 1998 with Susan, Katie and Grandma Bonnie. Husband to Susan, step-father and Dude to Katie, Dude to Caitlin, and son-in-law to Bonnie.

Susan
Age 41
Loves Disney, extreme planner, but determined not to go commando. Has been to WDW seven times prior to this: ca. 1975 with Grandma Bonnie, sister (Joann), aunt (Debbie) and cousin (Amy), ca. 1980 with Grandma Bonnie and Joann, 1987 with boyfriend and later (first) husband, 1989 for honeymoon as part of a Premier Cruise Lines cruise & Disney package, 1997 and 1998 with Chris, Katie and Grandma Bonnie. Has been to Disneyland once, at Age 21, with a group of other 21-year-olds. Mother to Katie, wife to Chris, second madre to Caitlin, daughter to Bonnie.

Katie
Age 16
Enjoys Disney, chose our vacation destination for this year, loves her Mom, sleep, her iphone, and her boyfriend (in that order). Has been to WDW three times prior to this trip: 1997 and 1998 with Mom, Dude and Grandma Bonnie, 2008 on a Make-A-Wish trip with “sister” Paxton. Has been to Disneyland once ca. 1999 with Grandma Bonnie, Aunt Joann, and her cousin Haley.

Caitlin
Age 15
Enjoys Disney, Katie’s best friend since Age 7, now lives across town from us (since we moved in ’06), excellent travel companion. Has never been to Disney World. Has been to Disneyland once, a couple of years ago.

Bonnie (aka Grandma Bonnie)
Age 67
Loves all things Disney. Has been to Disneyland at least twice and I think we counted nine visits to Walt Disney World for her.
​

Are you ready to go to Walt Disney World?? Here we gooooo......

 

[swwake]

Part I, Chapter 1
Friday, August 8
And We’re Off…​

When we booked our vacation in January, we determined that it would be less expensive over-all if we drove to Memphis, then flew to Orlando from there. We found non-stop flights for $175 - $225. We would save the nightly boarding fees for both of our golden retrievers (Magic and Harry ) by leaving them with my Dad at the kennel he owns in Jackson, TN. At that time (Jan-Feb 2008), gas prices weren’t so high, so when we the price differential for driving the 700 miles to Memphis, plus the airfare, plus the savings on boarding and , it was less expensive than flying straight from Austin.

Aside from that, we could only find nonstop flights from Austin on Southwest, which at the time were at a high price (roughly $400 each).

Finally, included in this decision was the fact that my Mom and sister both lived in Memphis, so we could travel with Mom, rather than meeting her at the Orlando airport, and my sister could provide airport transportation, thus saving money on transportation and parking.

Or so we thought .

But, as with all things, Murphy’s Law (what can go wrong WILL go wrong) entered into the equation. Not that anything went “wrong”, but circumstances definitely changed. During the Spring, my sister’s family decided to move to Austin. In late June, she secured a great job in Austin, and in early August, the family moved here. There goes our airport transportation.

So anyway, if you read my PTR, you remember that I did spend about 72 hours agonizing over trying to get our flights switched to Austin and leaving the dogs here in town, thereby eliminating the need to leave a day early and return a day later and for the 11-plus hour drive. Ultimately, I determined that it wasn’t worth the change fees to make that change. I just decided to KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid), or so I thought (again).

Alright, so here we go. It’s Friday morning, August 8th (and Mom’s birthday, by the way ). We planned to leave at 6am. This was our first indication that every time we need to leave at a certain time to be at a certain place, we need to tell the girls a good 30 minutes earlier. Mom, Chris and I were ready to leave at 6:00am. The girls, however, took a little longer to rise and shine, and we got out at about 6:30am.

Dogs loaded up, luggage packed, toys and water for doggie pit stops, snacks and water for the road, my whole external drive with over 26,000 songs, ready to hook up to the Denali’s stereo , home alarm armed.

And we’re off…

 

[swwake]

Part I, Chapter 2
Friday, August 8
3 Adults, 2 Teens and 2 Goldens​

So we’re on the road to Memphis now. This should be approximately an 11-hour drive in good conditions at speed limit. But, as you will soon learn, our drive was a bit longer, for very special reasons.

The early hours were easy. Katie and Caitlin snoozed in the car. Katie asked me to remove her photo from the web, but here are shots of what everyone else was doing.

Caitlin snoozing:

Good thing she’s safely wearing her seatbelt, huh?

Mom trying to snooze:

I think the sun was bothering her, and you can tell one or both of the dogs were not giving her a lot of room to stretch out.

Chris driving:

I told him to show his Disney excitement. Do you think he did a good job of expressing his rampant emotions?

Me, sans make-up (who wears make-up for an 11-hour road trip, I ask you?)

By the way, that’s my “MySpace Face”. If you have (or know) kids with MySpace accounts, they somehow always have the same expression and hand signals in their photos. We call it “MySpace Face”.

And finally, Magic and Harry snoozing (once they settled down and figured out we weren’t just going around the corner to the vet’s office):

That’s Magic on the bottom, and Harry sticking as close to his sister as possible. He was a little anxious.

This part of the road trip was pretty un-eventful. Obviously.

Next up: Things to do on an 11-hour drive