Happy Birthday to Joe, May 2011. . Trip Report Link

[pinkxray]

I have seen both you and AKL Lover mention the Playsport. I looked it up on Amazon but don't really get it. Is it more of a camera or more for video? Have you tried yours yet, how do you like it?

 

[AKL LOVER]

I have seen both you and AKL Lover mention the Playsport. I looked it up on Amazon but don't really get it. Is it more of a camera or more for video? Have you tried yours yet, how do you like it?

It's a video camera. It records digitally and it's HD. The Playsport is also waterproof! It does take still pictures (I believe) but I haven't tried this function yet. I did use it to record DS's birthday and really liked it. I need to finish playing around with the video and post a portion of it on my PTR so everyone can see how it looks

 

[Moira222]

Switching things around? You've been spending too much time on my thread

I am going to have to head to Dollar Tree and see if I can find any of the wands. I went there last week to look for Easter window clings and don't recall seeing them.

Great job tracking points so far. I have been tracking everything too. I even got in a little treadmill time the last two days. Can't wait until Sat. which is my first weigh in. As long as I don't order a few pizzas Friday night it should go okay.

My travel agent calls it "DISNEYCHANGEITIS" ... it is particularly catchy when you are a distance out from your trip

RESIST the PIZZA.....(says the girl who ate an entire bag of cheesy rice cakes today....9 points...yeah, I tracked it)

You can take a bus from AK to DHS.

If that bus line looks too crazy or you just missed one I would take Swan/Dolphin bus as the boat stops there last before DHS.

oh cool, I didn't think that there were park to park busses -- only park to resorts. thanks!

I think it is a requirement to change your plans atleast a few times. Good thing that you realized your omission of Fantasmic now, not when you were on your trip.

Yeah I logged on to touring plans last night and found out now that I rearranged my plans that they changed the nights for Fantasmic!! I am actually glad (sort of) because now Fantasmic will be held on the day that we plan to spend all day (minus dinner at Chef Mickey's) at DHS.

but then I went and double checked my whole listing of park times, EHM, parades and fireworks and found that there have been other changes since I started planning in January.

on my only AKL day, there is now a morning EMH. Oh yeah, I am dragging DH there for 7:30 am...or maybe DD and I will go and he can catch up when he feels like it? we'll see.

Guess what I meant to tell you? I was able to return my Playsport at Target and order one with the bundle pack from Amazon, just like you. Very excited to get all the extra goodies that go with it. It's just a better deal than the one I had.

AWESOME! I transferred some video from my PS to a DVD the other night and it really takes NICE clear video. I especially like the automatic stabilizing....normally my videos all look like I"m taping during an earthquakebut this one makes me look rather professional.

I have seen both you and AKL Lover mention the Playsport. I looked it up on Amazon but don't really get it. Is it more of a camera or more for video? Have you tried yours yet, how do you like it?

I do really love it. I have acutally not yet figured out how to do still photos with it. I saw it on AKL's TR and knew it was just what we wanted - something small & durable and water resistant so that we can use it at parks, and camping. I've been trying to test it out regulary and I do really like it. and the battery holds up decently. I used it on a weekend, waited a week, used it again, waited another week and only then did I get the recharge light.

 

[jm106]

Finally catching up on PTRs. Great job on the Tshirts!
I looked at ther kodak HD video but went with the flip. You got some goodies though. Im trying to figure out how to do the still shot, its from a video you can do it. I did figure out sharing though. Neat toy. Now I need to jiggle that, a point and shoot and a DSLR! I may need to forget my cell phone or I need a bigger bag.
Happy planning

 

[teachermommy78]

Subbing! I don't know why I didn't see this before! I will catch uo tomorrow.

 

[Moira222]

Finally catching up on PTRs. Great job on the Tshirts!
I looked at ther kodak HD video but went with the flip. You got some goodies though. Im trying to figure out how to do the still shot, its from a video you can do it. I did figure out sharing though. Neat toy. Now I need to jiggle that, a point and shoot and a DSLR! I may need to forget my cell phone or I need a bigger bag.
Happy planning

DH and I figured out (aka read the directions) how to do the still photos and how to change video settings for online video vs watching it on TV yesterday.

DH is still insisting that he is bring our 8 YO camera as well. Its clunky compared to current video cameras, so I am trying to talk him out of it. He usually doesn't realize I'm right until he's totally committed to the wrong idea

Subbing! I don't know why I didn't see this before! I will catch uo tomorrow.

I have been slowing down a bit, pacing myself.

 

[Moira222]

Just a short update--and thanks to everyone who is so friendly and chatty here for popping over. I know its hard to read every TR every day (heaven knows I can't manage it!) so I appreciate you taking time to read my ramblings

I have been reading lots of TRs and dining reviews, and have been really reconsidering our ADR at Coral Reef. Its on our "play" day -- on past trips I wouldn't have even made an ADR on this day but we've only been to WDW in January, when ADRs are not always needed. Anyway, I made this ADR to get good seafood (its Florida, right?) but all the reviews and pics I saw were of chicken and pork. whhaaaaa?? Then I considered the Cape May Clambake...but clambake style food (here in NE PA anyway) are a lot of fried foods, and clams (yeck) mussels(blech) and BBQ chicken and pork. what's with the chicken and pork? We eat chicken or pork 4 or 5 nights a week at home. I want something different!

Then I remembered the reviews and pictures of Raglan Road. (have I mentioned being part Irish?) and then remembered that we will be in DTD that day anyway. BINGO! I read the menu to DH who about drooled, and then read the kids' menu and said WHOPPEEEKatie can pick from real food here, not chicken fingers and mac & cheese.

SO at 11:45 pm I emailed my TA to ask about changing our ressies. I could have done it online but think there's a protocol to this whole travel agent thing, right? So I am waiting to hear a confirmation from her.

I have also been working on my mini touring plan and making little tweaks here and there. i found that some EMH's have changed, some fire works have been moved (like Fantasmic) so I had to allow for that.

So now I am wondering....am I falling into the run run run trap again? i really want to enjoy so much more that WDW has to offer this time. I get so excited though I find it hard to pace myself. As I consider my daily plans, I wonder if I am trying to jam too much into individual days instead of trying to pace myself.

what do my well traveled friends here have to say? Am I going to make myself crazy jamming too much into my first few days? Will we be happier eating at Raglan Road? Will park hours change again?

 

[Lidian]

I have been reading lots of TRs and dining reviews, and have been really reconsidering our ADR at Coral Reef. Its on our "play" day -- on past trips I wouldn't have even made an ADR on this day but we've only been to WDW in January, when ADRs are not always needed. Anyway, I made this ADR to get good seafood (its Florida, right?) but all the reviews and pics I saw were of chicken and pork. whhaaaaa?? Then I considered the Cape May Clambake...but clambake style food (here in NE PA anyway) are a lot of fried foods, and clams (yeck) mussels(blech) and BBQ chicken and pork. what's with the chicken and pork? We eat chicken or pork 4 or 5 nights a week at home. I want something different!

Then I remembered the reviews and pictures of Raglan Road. (have I mentioned being part Irish?) and then remembered that we will be in DTD that day anyway. BINGO! I read the menu to DH who about drooled, and then read the kids' menu and said WHOPPEEEKatie can pick from real food here, not chicken fingers and mac & cheese.

SO at 11:45 pm I emailed my TA to ask about changing our ressies. I could have done it online but think there's a protocol to this whole travel agent thing, right? So I am waiting to hear a confirmation from her.

I have also been working on my mini touring plan and making little tweaks here and there. i found that some EMH's have changed, some fire works have been moved (like Fantasmic) so I had to allow for that.

So now I am wondering....am I falling into the run run run trap again? i really want to enjoy so much more that WDW has to offer this time. I get so excited though I find it hard to pace myself. As I consider my daily plans, I wonder if I am trying to jam too much into individual days instead of trying to pace myself.

what do my well traveled friends here have to say? Am I going to make myself crazy jamming too much into my first few days? Will we be happier eating at Raglan Road? Will park hours change again?

FYI - Your TA can assist with your ADRs and such, but you only HAVE to go through them for changes when it comes to your resort package. I use a TA, but I handle all of my own ADRs, so I don't have to wait for her to make time for me between her other clients. And that way, if I can't get exactly what I want, I can make changes immediately instead of back-and-forth communications.

I'm sad that we changed our Raglan Road ADR (we changed it to Maya Grill so we didn't have to leave resort) ... so you'll have to save me some leftovers.

As far as your planning, as long as you stay flexible and realistic, you're A-Okay! I dunno how they determine park hours, so not sure if they'll change on you again ... but definitely keep an eye on them so you're prepared.

 

[Moira222]

FYI - Your TA can assist with your ADRs and such, but you only HAVE to go through them for changes when it comes to your resort package. I use a TA, but I handle all of my own ADRs, so I don't have to wait for her to make time for me between her other clients. And that way, if I can't get exactly what I want, I can make changes immediately instead of back-and-forth communications.

I'm sad that we changed our Raglan Road ADR (we changed it to Maya Grill so we didn't have to leave resort) ... so you'll have to save me some leftovers.

As far as your planning, as long as you stay flexible and realistic, you're A-Okay! I dunno how they determine park hours, so not sure if they'll change on you again ... but definitely keep an eye on them so you're prepared.

Thanks and ! I just popped over to your PTR -- you'll be coming as we are going . I caught your first entry -see that you have upgraded from POP to CS. We stayed there in '07 and LOVED it. the pool and hot tub are AWESOME.

i"ll have to sneak read your ptr as I work today

 

[pinkxray]

Raglan Road looks so good. It was on my short list but I just couldn't imagine us getting over to DTD again since we already have T-rex and I still need to try EOS and WPE.

Coral Reef on the other hand doesn't impress me much.

I hope you eat at RR so that you can take a bunch of pictures of the yummy food for me

 

[AKL LOVER]

Will park hours change again?

Boy am I hoping that park hours don't change a lot! I've already printed all our stuff and glued everything into my planning binder!

 

[Moira222]

Boy am I hoping that park hours don't change a lot! I've already printed all our stuff and glued everything into my planning binder!

You are brave! No more changes for you now. I haven't printed my final versions yet....you know, just in case....

 

[Moira222]

Raglan Road looks so good. It was on my short list but I just couldn't imagine us getting over to DTD again since we already have T-rex and I still need to try EOS and WPE.

Coral Reef on the other hand doesn't impress me much.

I hope you eat at RR so that you can take a bunch of pictures of the yummy food for me

I am so glad that we changed our adr, I have been wantring to try RR after reading a few write ups on trip reports. I love that they have regular menu items for kids too.

I have a confession....I totally fell off the wagon and bounced along behind it for a few miles. Katie and I went to Friendly's last night. It was good, though I was a bit sorry later

 

[Lidian]

I am so glad that we changed our adr, I have been wantring to try RR after reading a few write ups on trip reports. I love that they have regular menu items for kids too.

I have a confession....I totally fell off the wagon and bounced along behind it for a few miles. Katie and I went to Friendly's last night. It was good, though I was a bit sorry later

Just jump right back on that wagon and don't look back!

 

[blessedmom4]

Your trip is SO CLOSE and your plans look fantastic...I love reading about all of the changes and new plans! Thanks for sharing with us all.

What an AMAZING Birthday this is going to be for Joe!!!

 

[pinkxray]

I am so glad that we changed our adr, I have been wantring to try RR after reading a few write ups on trip reports. I love that they have regular menu items for kids too.

I have a confession....I totally fell off the wagon and bounced along behind it for a few miles. Katie and I went to Friendly's last night. It was good, though I was a bit sorry later

Mmmmmm,Friendly's. I wouldn't worry about it. I would just get right back on the wagon. Even though I am still in the early stages I have been strangely motivated the last two weeks. Maybe since our wagons on taking us straight to the pools at Disney?

Every few weeks my mom goes to Hometown Buffet with my aunt and uncle and since they love to see Caitlin they usually invite me to come along. My uncle, who is a big guy, told my DH once he was impressed with the amount of food I could pack away(just want a girl wants to hear). Anywho, my mom invited me to go tomorrow and I actually said no! Not like it's too hard to try down hometown buffet, but I really do just love large amounts of food at one time, good or not

 

[Moira222]

Mmmmmm,Friendly's. I wouldn't worry about it. I would just get right back on the wagon. Even though I am still in the early stages I have been strangely motivated the last two weeks. Maybe since our wagons on taking us straight to the pools at Disney?

Every few weeks my mom goes to Hometown Buffet with my aunt and uncle and since they love to see Caitlin they usually invite me to come along. My uncle, who is a big guy, told my DH once he was impressed with the amount of food I could pack away(just want a girl wants to hear). Anywho, my mom invited me to go tomorrow and I actually said no! Not like it's too hard to try down hometown buffet, but I really do just love large amounts of food at one time, good or not

I hear ya!!! We have a chinese buffet right down the street from us - it is our "go to" spot when we are tired/really hungry/in a hurry. They know my daughter's name and greet her when we go there We still go but have tried filling our plates with mostly vegetables & fruit. I'm proud of myself for NOT having a dish of ice cream there the last time we went rolleyes1which was Tuesday)

I just keep picturing the clothes that I want to wear....I have this really cute white summer skirt with built in shorts, its great for being out and being cool but looking nice. it has a very pretty beaded belt. I really want to wear it at WDW and need to make sure that I can do so without splitting the seams!!! so I keep going down to the basement (where we keep off season/off sized clothing) and trying it on..I"m in trouble when it fits ...I"ll have to pull out something smaller yet!

 

[pinkxray]

Just a quick question... I know that you have stayed at WL before, have you eaten at WCC? Right now I have it booked for dinner on our MK night but I just found an opening for Tony's instead. I feel like since this may be the only time we stay at WL, we have to try it but I just don't know. I noticed it's not in your plans, just wondering what you thought if you tried it. We might be able to try it for breakfast.

 

[Moira222]

We did eat there -- twice. We enjoyed lunch, which we had the day we arrived in 2009. Katie loved the lincoln log table and the horseplay around the restaurant, and we adults enjoyed our meals--a lot. Actually so much that we were sure dinner would be fantastic. but.....

We did not love dinner as much -- I didn't know about taking food pictures then so can't remember exactly what we had, but what I do remember was that we were expecting a different type of menu (Umm like Salmon since its a Pacific NorthWest themed resort) and that the food did not inspire us to return. We also were not happy with the kids menu for dinner.

I see now that its listed as a Signature restaurant, but in 2009 Artist Point was on the regular meal plan. Now THAT was a dinner worth repeating! I remember commenting what a great value we got for our meal plan that night.

 

[fadingjamie]

I just keep picturing the clothes that I want to wear....I have this really cute white summer skirt with built in shorts, its great for being out and being cool but looking nice. it has a very pretty beaded belt. I really want to wear it at WDW and need to make sure that I can do so without splitting the seams!!! so I keep going down to the basement (where we keep off season/off sized clothing) and trying it on..I"m in trouble when it fits ...I"ll have to pull out something smaller yet!

oOo if only I could find a skirt with built in shorts! I want to wear skirts at WDW but all that chafing I hate trying spandex bike shorts under skirts because double elastic waist bands make me cranky by the end of the day. Any chance you remember where you got yours?