Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It's Off to Celebrate We Go!--LAST UPDATE!!! PG 62 ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

[MegansMom]

We really enjoyed Rose & Crown, (Bangers and Mash) and Chefs (French Onion Soup) any chance of getting a later ADR for Rose & Crown, it's a great place for viewing Illuminations.......

I couldn't get a later Rose and Crown ressie---I was thinking the same thing.....we have made a decision....more on that in a bit!

I can't say enough good things about Rose & Crown. LOVED IT!

I think your ADRs look really good!

Thanks sweetie!!! They make me hungry when I think about them!

Those ADRs look GREAT!! We ate at Kona last summer and it was easily our favorite meal of the week. I don't know if you love tuna, but the tuna oscar was AMAZING!

I know...that is a good place to eat!

We loved the Grand Floridian Cafe! The food and desserts were awesome! I have also heard several good things about Kona Cafe. We were going to eat there in 2007, but decided to go with Ohana's instead. (Which is another amazing selection!) Dbf and I's philosophy about Rose and Crown is that all we want there is Fish and Chips and we can just order that at the CS Yorkshire Fish Shop and we're both not French food people. Good luck with your talk with your DH, can't wait to hear what you pick!

I liked GFC a lot too---yummy desserts indeed!

Hey there. I've only eaten at one of the restaurants on your decision list there, and that's Chefs de France. It's not my cup of tea, in the sense that there's very little on the menu I can order that won't make me sick, but that probably won't be the case for you! I also know that Remy is visiting there right now, and I can't remember how long into September he'll be greeting guests at their tables. Have you heard about that? Don't know if Megs would like it or not?

I'm sorry you didn't get everything you wanted, but at least you got the most important CRT ressie for your little princess. I know she'll be just thrilled! And you never know, it's possible that things could open up, and with the advent of the online system, I'm sure it'll be easier to check on things when you want.

Exactly TK!!! I'm not going to go around complaining....no way!!! I'm very happy with that which I did get!!!

Hey Jenn,

Found you!!! You will love Sci-Fi good burgers... we loved Kona Cafe, one of our best meals food wise...

To bad we will miss you.... I am planning on taking Emma for her 6th bday (her bday is sep 19th) to Disney on her bday...for the weekend, just me and her... providing the babies are sleeping through the night by then... don't think Hubby will let me leave him all alone if they aren't...

Anyway I too have a ressie as a surprise for lunch at CRT on that saturday... I can't wait to hear all about your planning and trip!
Annette

So glad you found me!!! YEAH!!! So excited for you and Emma.....I want all the details you know!!!!

Oh, Annette!!! How exciting!!! Do you have time to do a PTR so we can join in all of your fun?

I want in too!

All your ADRs sound great. I'm so happy that you got your ressie at CRT. Congratulations!!

Thanks hon--I'm so glad I got that one!

About Remy, as of now he is only there til 6:30 pm, so a 7 pm ressie would be too late to see him. Hope that helps in your decision, Jen! (and sorry to be the bearer of bad news )

Good to know!!! Thanks---I wonder why though?!?!?!?!

oh and congrats on all the great ressies!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

 

[IluvXU]

Glad to catch up! Looks like some yummy meals.... many of which we loved last week! 1 is a great time for CRT... gets you lots of time to get the rides in and a nice break from the heat!

 

[MegansMom]

That is the one thing I hate about making the ADRs so far out---you get in the mode to hurry up.................and WAIT!!!! It makes the trip feel SO close, but we know it is still SO FAR AWAY!!! That's what makes me so grateful for all of you....I feel like sharing this time with you all makes the wait at least a little more bearable, and sometimes makes the time seem to pass so much more quickly!!!

SO, when I last spoke with you all on Tuesday---I don't know why but that feels so long ago to me today (That should tell you what kind of week it has been )--anyway, I did not have a Tusker House ressie, and had four made for our evening at EPCOT! WELL, since then, I have spent a lovely HOUR on the phone with the WDW Dining, and STILL have no ressie for Tusker House, only one ressie for our EPCOT evening....will share on that in a bit...and had to cancel 12 RESERVATIONS ON MY ACCOUNT that I have no idea how they got there! It was quite an interesting phone call to say the least! But, when I was finished I had the eight reservations that I needed to have---including our reservation for Kona Cafe at 5:20pm on the 23rd...our EPCOT evening. After discussing all our options with Tom, he chose Kona!! I was surprised, but happy because not only did I enjoy my meal there, that means I still get to go in and smell that delicious aroma of the Polynesian lobby at one point on my trip!!! YEAH!!! We will spend the morning at MK, go over to Kona via the boat or monorail, and then take the monorail over to EPCOT for the evening......I think it will be GREAT!!! I am very happy with our decision!

I did try again to see if they had anything available at Coral Reef or Tusker House, and both were still completely unavailable. Oh well....moving on!!!

I have been MIA the past two days due to HORRIFIC storms that rolled through our area and knocked out our power. They caused some flash flooding right over the main street our neighborhood is off of too!!! It has been two very scary days so far, and tonight promises more storms! Last night we literally had golf ball sized hail---yes, Jackie....you would NOT have been a happy camper up here at my house yesterday or last night AT ALL!!!! I am just hoping that we continue to be safe, and our house holds up through this....I know my landscaping has NOT!!!

This week has been busy...but a happy busy---Megs has enjoyed her Summer Camp week at her preschool program SO MUCH!!! Each day she is so happy, but SO tired from all the fun!!! BUT, never too tired to think and dream about Disney. Our favorite activity lately has been looking at our WDW maps and "planning" what rides we are going to ride in which order---she will probably remember this when we are down there too! AND, we have been spending our evenings (when possible) snuggled up the three of us watching videos of our past WDW trips. It has been so much fun! DISNEY is definitely on ALL of our brains!!! The two of them enjoyed listening to our plans all laid out on Tuesday night at dinner after my long day of ADR planning. I want to make a Disney meal soon to celebrate....so I will be scooping out some Disney recipes online to create hopefully at some point over the weekend. Of course, there will be pictures of that to go along with the recipes!!! Look forward to it....hopefully it will be mouthwatering!!!

I'm off to go pick up Megs now.....will update again later!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

It must have been the week for screwiness and bad luck when dealing with Disney this week. You didn't get stuck dealing with the same unitelligable, unhappy Disney CM that I dealt with did you? Glad it all worked out for you!

 

[lmillercrew]

Sorry to hear about you not getting your ressies that you wanted. Here's to hoping that someone will cancel and you can get in.
Not sure if you had an anwer to your FP question or not. But, I think that if you just go and get the FP's that you want as soon as you enter the parks, it should be o.k. We never had a problem. The only exceptions to that would be Toy Story Mania and Soarin. I would think that those would run out quickly.

 

[Lady Lallie]

That's too bad that there still isn't a Tusker House ADR available. I bet one will open up for you!

 

[cherbear]

be VERY persistent on the Tusker House ressie. I got Le Cellier of all places at 80something days out (yes, it looks like we are really going!! especially since I got Le Cellier. ) and in my opinion that is the HARDEST place to get into. I managed to get in for the past 2 years as well, even though last year it took me calling like 20 times and finally got a 4:00 ADR for the last day in our trip. Someone in another thread called me "the Le Cellier whisperer" after I got this year's ressie (1:15 by the way)

Keep calling occasionally, and if you still don't get it (or get an undesirable time and want to move it) then be sure to try at 46/45 days out because that's when people have to cancel their trips and still get deposits back.

How cool that you are planning a "disney home meal" -- can't wait to see what you cook up! (PUN intended!)

 

[MegansMom]

Glad to catch up! Looks like some yummy meals.... many of which we loved last week! 1 is a great time for CRT... gets you lots of time to get the rides in and a nice break from the heat!

I can't believe you are already back!!! I hope you had LOTS of fun!!! I thought that would be the perfect time for CRT too!!!!

It must have been the week for screwiness and bad luck when dealing with Disney this week. You didn't get stuck dealing with the same unitelligable, unhappy Disney CM that I dealt with did you? Glad it all worked out for you!

All I will say is that mine was really slow in moving through the process....I was shocked because I am not used to that!!! I also tried out the new online reservation system----yeah it made like 9 ressies for me with confirmation numbers and everything that I didn't want or need!!! It was CRAZY!!!

Sorry to hear about you not getting your ressies that you wanted. Here's to hoping that someone will cancel and you can get in.
Not sure if you had an anwer to your FP question or not. But, I think that if you just go and get the FP's that you want as soon as you enter the parks, it should be o.k. We never had a problem. The only exceptions to that would be Toy Story Mania and Soarin. I would think that those would run out quickly.

Thanks for the input about the FP!!!! I am glad to know that we will still be okay for the most part!!! YEAH!

That's too bad that there still isn't a Tusker House ADR available. I bet one will open up for you!

I keep hoping!!! If not we will be there at rope drop for sure!

be VERY persistent on the Tusker House ressie. I got Le Cellier of all places at 80something days out (yes, it looks like we are really going!! especially since I got Le Cellier. ) and in my opinion that is the HARDEST place to get into. I managed to get in for the past 2 years as well, even though last year it took me calling like 20 times and finally got a 4:00 ADR for the last day in our trip. Someone in another thread called me "the Le Cellier whisperer" after I got this year's ressie (1:15 by the way)

Keep calling occasionally, and if you still don't get it (or get an undesirable time and want to move it) then be sure to try at 46/45 days out because that's when people have to cancel their trips and still get deposits back.

How cool that you are planning a "disney home meal" -- can't wait to see what you cook up! (PUN intended!)

I will keep trying!!! Look at you getting the LeCellier ressie!!!! YOU ARE GOING!??!?!?!?!?! WHEN!?!?!?!? I need details girlie!!!

 

[Trentmom]

THat is awful about those storms. Stay safe

WOW...12 ressies under your names....that is so strange

Glad you got it all worked out

 

[Charleston Princess]

Stay safe through all this horrible weather, Jen!!! I hope it leaves you alone soon!

Keep trying on Tusker House and Coral Reef -- maybe someone will change their mind and you can nab their ressie.

 

[MeMom]

But, when I was finished I had the eight reservations that I needed to have---including our reservation for Kona Cafe at 5:20pm on the 23rd...our EPCOT evening. After discussing all our options with Tom, he chose Kona!! I was surprised, but happy because not only did I enjoy my meal there, that means I still get to go in and smell that delicious aroma of the Polynesian lobby at one point on my trip!!! YEAH!!! We will spend the morning at MK, go over to Kona via the boat or monorail, and then take the monorail over to EPCOT for the evening......I think it will be GREAT!!! I am very happy with our decision!

We have not eaten at Kona yet, but I'm really wanting to!

Delicious food at Kona, the beautiful Polynesian, and Epcot - sounds like a wonderful evening!

 

[cherbear]

oh I almost forgot, do you think you will be enjoying a Lapu Lapu?

 

[micandminforever]

Your ADR's said great keep trying on Tusker House, the characters are so cute in their outfits.

 

[MegansMom]

THat is awful about those storms. Stay safe

WOW...12 ressies under your names....that is so strange

Glad you got it all worked out

I think the 12 ressies had something to do with some glitch in the online booking....still trying to get the kinks out I think!!!

Stay safe through all this horrible weather, Jen!!! I hope it leaves you alone soon!

Keep trying on Tusker House and Coral Reef -- maybe someone will change their mind and you can nab their ressie.

The storms have been no fun---that is for sure! I know you would not have enjoyed the hail storm and the flash flooding from the other night....way too scary for words!

We have not eaten at Kona yet, but I'm really wanting to!

Delicious food at Kona, the beautiful Polynesian, and Epcot - sounds like a wonderful evening!

Thanks MeMom....I can't WAIT!!! I think you will have to try Kona at some point soon....it is YUMMY!!!! I am just so excited to have a reason to go to Poly....I love the smell of the lobby...my FAVORITE smell EVER!!!! I can still remember it as a child from wonderful, fortunate trips with my family when we stayed there!!! Speaking of resorts, I was wondering if you have any comments, advice, and/or pictures from ASMO that might help me in my uneasiness in staying there. I know I can always trust your word on any subject....please be honest!!

oh I almost forgot, do you think you will be enjoying a Lapu Lapu?

HMMMM????? You think?!?!??!?!

Your ADR's said great keep trying on Tusker House, the characters are so cute in their outfits.

I'm going to keep trying for Tusker House for sure!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Hi!
Just read your update.
The ADR process is frustrating and now with this 90-day change it seems more frustrating.

We were able to get ours and everything we wanted with one exception. We wanted Chef Mickeys dinner but got brunch instead. That's ok, though! We did get Coral Reef lunch and Tusker House both bfast and lunch -- keep trying!!!!! Check online, too. You never know what you're going to find!

 

[MegansMom]

Hi!
Just read your update.
The ADR process is frustrating and now with this 90-day change it seems more frustrating.

We were able to get ours and everything we wanted with one exception. We wanted Chef Mickeys dinner but got brunch instead. That's ok, though! We did get Coral Reef lunch and Tusker House both bfast and lunch -- keep trying!!!!! Check online, too. You never know what you're going to find!

Congrats on getting what you wanted!!! YEAH!!! I'm going to keep trying....I'm thinking I will have even better luck around the 45 day mark when everyone needs to be PIF!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Jen!! What a great update!! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for you so you get all the ADRs you want. I'm a huge fan of the online system and checking each morning, the last two days I have had some great luck and can't wait to share that with all of you!

Paula and I are also going to eat at Kona Cafe but we are going in the morning for breakfast...I cant' wait to eat Tonga Toast!!!! YUMMY!!!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[MegansMom]

Jen!! What a great update!! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for you so you get all the ADRs you want. I'm a huge fan of the online system and checking each morning, the last two days I have had some great luck and can't wait to share that with all of you!

Paula and I are also going to eat at Kona Cafe but we are going in the morning for breakfast...I cant' wait to eat Tonga Toast!!!! YUMMY!!!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

I can't wait to hear all about your ADRs!!!! Eat a piece of Tonga Toast for me.....it sounds SO good!!!!!

I have another Update coming tomorrow......today I was boggled down by a HUGE playdate here at my house.....8 kiddos all under 5 and 2 adults.....yeah, it was CRAZY....but fun!!! BUT, UPDATE TOMORROW!!!! Yeah...MORE FUN!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hi Jen! Looks like you made out fairly well with your ADRs!! Wow an hour on the phone w/ dining and 12 reservations you hadn't made?! Too bad none of them were Tusker House! I agree that you should remain persistent. As packages need to be paid in full maybe things will open up. I have also *heard* that sometimes if you put in a different party size that tables "magically" open up b/c of the way the system works. So maybe try a party of 2? Would think you could easily pull a chair over even to a two top for Megs.

Kona! I am eating there for the first time this trip too!

Hurrah for Disney planning. That sounds like a lovely way to end each day and to get excited for the trip -- not that you guys need any help there!

 

[MegansMom]

I'd like to start off this update with an apology of sorts.....My dear PTR readers, I have not been feeling like my normal PTR-writing self lately.....and I apologize. There is a little cloud, a funk, maybe a fog hanging over us and our Disney trip, that I think finally affected me so much that it impaired my PTR writing abilities....I feel it has just been a little dry, a little boring, a little lifeless lately.....and I'm sorry! I beg for your forgiveness. This case of Resortitis has flared up into a serious case of Vacation Woe!!! There are just too many things going on right now with our trip that leave me feeling a little "bleh," a little unsettled, that I just haven't had the will or the oomph to come and produce "PTR Greatness" for you all. I am ashamed!!

BUT, I am going to attempt to rise above it...share it with you all a little...in hopes that it will go away and we can get back to partying like "Rockstars!"

I know that I really don't need to go into my angst over our Resort situation. You know it, you have heard it, and I think you can feel my pain. I did much research on these here DISboards in hopes to make it better....but I think I have actually made it worse....by a ton! There are not too many positive comments or threads on here showering praise upon ASMO. I know you probably are REALLY shocked, huh???? So in reading them and sharing the details of them with Tom, we have both grown even more concerned about our resort selection. To make matters worse, I have been poisoned with envy by many recent photos of DISfriends who have stayed at other LOVELY WDW resorts that are calling to me.....making me yearn "TO GO THERE" in such a bad way. It has now become our almost nightly dinner conversation....what to do about our resort!!!! Everytime we try to calm ourselves and get happy about it, we hear about negative experiences of others and get scared even more. I am afraid that we have been WAY too tainted to ever give ASMO a chance. Yet, nothing has happened....no changes have been made....and that makes me even more unsettled.

To add even more icky residue to my thoughts about our trip, we didn't get two of the ADRs we were hoping to get....and even though I wasn't upset at the time, I am downright pouting about not having them now. SO very unlike me!!! I know that I need to keep trying...and I will...but it just irritates me everytime I try and get left empty-handed!!!! I am sure I will get over this....because I really am not the type to dwell or pout...but it has just added an even thicker sludge to my funk...my fog!

AND LASTLY.....but oh so very importantly.....I am having wardrobe and park bag drama!!!! I haven't had to experience this in quite some time, and it has thrown me askew from my normal, happy, pleasant self. Let me give you some history:

During the course of our first two trips to WDW as a family, I very much fine-tuned my wardrobe and park bag to what I believed perfection on our June 2008 trip with my family. My perfect park bag finally came to me during a trip to the annual Vera Bradley sale in Ft. Wayne, IN---the hipster!!! It was perfect for me....fit me comfortably, wasn't too heavy or bulky, great ease in wearing with the rides, and held everything I needed to have on me while in the parks....SHEER PERFECTION!!!! It was supplemented by our perfect organization system in our wonderful Maclaren stroller....we were a well-oiled, fine-tuned DISNEY MACHINE BABY!!!! After all my success with that bag on that trip, I was relieved to know that I would never long for a different park bag again...I had found my match! So why the bag drama????? Well, some things have changed since that trip...specifically my BABY, my Megs!!!! She truly has graduated from the stroller. She can still fit in her stroller fine now, but no longer has the need or desire to use one. How do I know this? We are season pass members to the Kings Island theme park near us, and she has been a walking machine this year in touring that park on our many trips that we have already taken so far this summer. When I asked her if she wanted to use her stroller in Disney, her response was a very confident..."No Mommy, I am a BIG girl now!" Now, we are intelligent people, the stroller will still be in the back of our SUV just in case but our plan is to be completely STROLLER-FREE!!!!! Ahhhhh.....what it must be like to travel the World, and not have to worry where you last parked your stroller!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! Except for the one small problem it has caused me.....am I going to have to find a new park bag now to accomodate the things the stroller would have normally stored!?!?!?!?!?! I am so frazzled by this new revelation that I have completely forgotten the things I normally carried with me in order to reassess this situation!!! YES LL, I need to make a list!!! (It is on my TO DOs for today!) Then I am going to need input people....I will be heavily relying on you!!!!

AND TO BOOT, there is wardrobe drama too!!!! Not with shoes---because I have found my match there too---but with my actual clothes. Over the course of the past three trips, I have acquired an extensive collection of Disney shirts....I found my daughter was quite excited each time I would wear a Disney-themed outfit while there. I now have enough to have a complete Disney wardrobe while there....but there is one problem.....it really is all t-shirts! Some of them are cute fitted-cut shirts, but the others are the shapeless box of a shirt that is the traditional t-shirt. I like my shirts, but at times, I feel a little frumpy in them. I want to look like I do in my everyday life---pulled together and chic---but feel like I look a little sloppy in those outfits. I know peeps that we are in Disney, and there are a whole new set of guidelines for fashion that apply there, but I want to feel a little less frumpy and a little more fabulous, but don't know how to achieve it! I want to still make Megs happy with Disney-themed apparel, but want to somehow find form-flattering fashions that I won't feel so frumpy in. I also want to figure out what to do about my hair while there. I have two favorite Disney visors that I like to wear, but how can I make that look seem fashionable?!?!!??!!?

So here in lies my funk....my fog....ICK!!!! I am not a very venty person, but I felt I needed to share it, get it out, and hopefully find some answers from all of you to help me move past it, and get back to my "Rockstar" ways!!!

Okay, I am allowing myself just this one update to be like Eeyore....the next I will promise will be much more FUN!!!!