How to convert my “Darth Vader” into a DISNEY fan !! (Updates - 5/28/07 )

[kona-kraft]

Post #1
Since I am such a big fan of the DIS board and enjoy everyone’s pre-trip & completed trip reports, I figured I should finally hop in and create my first PTR too. So, here goes…..

(set to the intro of Fantasy Island)

…..making the visit to our favorite Fantasyland---WDW is……

ME !! – 38 (will be 39 by the time we travel) aka Chinchilla Pirate Princess
Favorite Disney Character - Tinkerbell
I am the perpetrator that started our family obsession with DISNEY. I am a former Cast Member (worked as WDTC agent in Orlando call center from 1999-2000)—according to my family, I am a WDW encyclopedia. I am now exploring my options into getting my Travel Agents license to specialize in Disney. Due to illness, I’ll be in an ECV this trip

DH – 37 (will be 38 by the time we travel) aka Lord Vader
Favorite Disney Character – Donald Duck (especially when he’s ANGRY)
My poor, DH…..alas, he has never gotten into the DISNEY thing (secretly, he thinks our whole family is crazy)…..he just doesn’t get it—yet (*insert Storm Trooper music here…..) He tolerates my obsession, but I do catch his eyes glazing over whenever my family gets to talking about WDW. This will be his FIRST multi-day stay.

DD – mid-60’s aka Grumpy
Favorite Disney Character – Grumpy (who’d of guessed)
My dad is not really that grumpy…..it’s just that it suits him, sometimes. My dad thinks he’s the DISNEY expert, but recently revealed that all of his expertise when it comes to WDW, he learned from me……awwwe, what a sweet daddy !!!

DM – early 60’s aka Grammy (or in my case Momma)
Favorite Disney Character – Mickey
My mother tolerates all the trip planning, but secretly enjoys the fact that she does not have to do it herself. Utilizes an ECV during our DISNEY trips. Eats like a bird at home….but LOVES to eat at WDW (no Kitchen duty)

A bit of background – I made my first trip to WDW in 1996 during the 25th Anniversary (ya’ll remember the big PINK castle cake, right?). Anyway, soon after that, my ex-not-so DH and I sold our house, packed up a truck (ah-la the Beverly Hillbillies) and moved to Orlando. We arrived on NYE 1998/1999---I was hired by DISNEY on Jan 6th 1999 and my parents came for their first-ever WDW visit in May of that year. They bought into DVC at the Boardwalk Villas on day 4 of their visit, so they were hooked too !!!

Fast-forward to 2001—I was mid-divorce, living in DE—I met my (now) DH online and we moved in together in NJ (where he’s from). When my divorce was final, I had to travel back to Orlando to claim all of my personal property from the settlement, so my mom, me and my now current DH drove non-stop to Orlando. We arrived at 3am, checked into the OKW resort, got up at noon and went to storage to get my stuff , packed it up in the truck, drove back to OKW resort, went to Epcot that evening, and we drove back to NJ the following morning……. this is the extent of my DH’s WDW experience, which is why this trip is such a momentous occasion.

Why we’re going – I’ve been sick for the past 1-1/2 years & the last real vacation that my DH and I have had together was our honeymoon in Hawaii in 2003. My parents and I love WDW during the holidays, so we though this would be the IDEAL way to introduce DH to the DISNEY way of life !!!!

When we’re traveling - December 11-18 at the Boardwalk Villas. My dad has booked us all into a 2BR Villa with a Preferred View.

So, the most important thing is DONE….the room is booked. We’ll be getting 7day Park Hoppers & the Dining Plan, so I’ll be working on a dining spreadsheet during the spring, since we can’t start booking dining reservations until June 14th. I am quite bummed about Alfredo’s closing at Epcot---we had hoped to do the Candlelight Dinner Package there…..so we’ll have to pick a different restaurant for that.

My parents usually like to drive to FL, but we prefer to fly. My parents were just down at WDW over Valentine’s Day, and after that drive they said that they’d probably fly the next trip (I think the driving takes a lot out of them). We’ll be flying on Southwest, out of Philly---I have a credit w/ Southwest, so I’ll only have to purchase a ticket for my DH (YAY !!). We hope to get a early am flight, so we can get down there and start enjoying ourselves.

So, this is where we’re at currently. More updates to follow……….I’ll be posting a tentative itinerary next.

** Update **

I was “let go” by my employer, so I am now unemployed.
Good news is, the trip is STILL on……I am not giving up this trip, no matter what !!!

​

 

[NMAmy]

Wow, it sounds like you REALLY need a trip! And planning is ALMOST as fun as going.

Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Yes I agree you are in dire need of a vacation, a magical vacation for that matter. I hope the evil lord Vader crosses over from the dark side, being you will be there for some holiday magic will be helpful. I am looking forward to hearing more of your plans. I will be leaving WDW the day you check in, but I promise to leave some magic behind for you all and not take all of it home with me.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Great start to your pre-trip report. My DH and I are going in December, as well, but towards the end of the month. We're in our 30's, as well, and we met online (though unintentionally)! In fact, we live in NJ.

I'm glad you'll still be able to go, in spite of your recent set-back. I understand about Alfredo's. We were bummed about that, too. We had hoped to do the Candlelight Processional with a meal there, as well, but now have to make alternate plans. Maybe they'll open up another great Italian restaurant in its place, just in time for all of us to enjoy during the holidays.

I look forward to joining you in your pre-trip report. If you want any ideas, feel free to check out my report, but from the sound of things, you are pretty Disney savvy.

 

[kona-kraft]

Post #2


OK, I have honestly decided that Disney has a scam going… …….they have too many great table service restaurants, yet they only give you ONE table service credit, per night when on the DDP !!! What’s that about people ?!? I guess you’d consider me spoiled, as my first EVER trip to WDW (back in 1996) was at the WL, on the Deluxe plan-----three table service meals per day, for 10days……..this princess was in HOG HEAVEN !!!!! I don’t think we ate counter service once during that trip……so yes, I am spoiled. I want to be able to purchase a separate meal plan like that…..NOT that counter service is beneath me…….I just like the variety of the sit down restaurants.

That being said…….in determining just WHERE we want to plan our ADR’s for…..is very difficult. I know that we plan to pay out-of-pocket for some meals--breakfast one morning at Kona Café (must have TONGA TOAST & my POG aka Lilikoi Juice for you MAINLANDER’s), Signature Dining locales, etc…..stuff like that there. Since we only have the SEVEN sit-down meals in our plan, I want to use them to the best advantage.

I have come to the realization that, when it comes to my Lord Vader, strategic conversations about our WDW jaunt are key. I try not to talk about it to him “every day”, and he’s then more receptive (and participating) when I do--this has only taken me 6 years to figure out ! Last night, after a cooking crisis during dinner preparation (problems with the MAIN COURSE…..hey, I’m not a chef……I only “play” one on TV ), we had to proceed out and about to get take-out (he-he…..I rhymed). Since I had a captive audience in the car, I proceeded to discuss a few trip details. Other than the summer beach trips, Lord Vader has never traveled “exclusively” with my parents before, I suggested that we might want to opt to have at least ONE evening on our own, without the ‘rents, so that we don’t drive each other crazy by the end of the trip----AGREED! Yay—one issue down, twenty million to go….. I also brought up different restaurants, especially at Epcot, so that I can gauge what my Dark Lord might be receptive to. He can be adventurous when he wants to…..it’s just that our tastes (and those of Grumpy & Momma) differ greatly…..which is why I have to plan things out, to a TEE---no room for error on this-here adventure !!!

So far, this is what I’ve got planned……

Tues – 12/11
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express
Dinner: Cape May Café

Wed – 12/12
Breakfast: Tusker House
Dinner: Turf Club

Thurs – 12/13
Lunch: 50’s Prime Time (out of pocket)

Fri – 12/14
Lunch: Kringla Bakeri og Café
Dinner: Narcoossee’s

Sat – 12/15
Breakfast: Kona Café (for my TONGA TOAST !!)
Dinner: Jiko

Sun – 12/16
Breakfast: Main Street Bakery
Dinner: Hollywood & Vine (for the Fantasmic Dinner Package)

Mon – 12/17
Lunch: Electric Umbrella
Dinner: Le Cellier’ (for the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package)

Tues – 12/18
Breakfast: Boardwalk Bakery
Ok, I am now thoroughly exhausted, and I have a job interview tomorrow am, so I am off to bed……more coming this week !!!

 

[kona-kraft]

Post #3

You would think that, with the fact that I lived in Orlando for two+ years, I would know of a decent local hotel in the area, since Lord Vader and I are arriving in Florida two days before the parental units. That’s what I thought too……but apparently, I have lost all brain-cell knowledge of anything OUTSIDE of WDW.

I have spent day and night, combing over hotels.com & TripAdvisor, trying to find just the “right” place. Granted, if money were NO OBJECT, I would opt to stay at the Poly , but realistically, as long as it doesn’t have any “bugs” (I am a TRUE arachnaphobe) and it doesn’t reek of cigarette smoke, I’m good. I even considered just driving out to Cocoa Beach and staying there for the first couple of days. Finally, my brain cells FINALLY fired, and I remembered……hey, we could stay somewhere inbetween Downtown Disney AND Universal Studios, and it would be convenient to I-4 (to get over to KSC), plus it would give us a chance to go over to Citywalk one night before we check in at the BWV. So, I booked us at the Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista….and I got it for $69.95/night plus tax. I was so excited, since I wanted to find someplace under $80/night YAY for us !!!!

Next on the agenda is to book the rental car. After talking with “Grumpy”, we agreed that LV and I will rent the car at the airport when we arrive on the 9th, and use it to drive over to KSC, and then he and Momma will take DME to BWV when they arrive on the 11th. We’ll drive the car over to the hotel and meet them there, then keep the car until the 16th, and we’ll turn it back in over at the Dolphin Resort, and then just cut through the hotel and do the walk back to the BWV. Then, all four of us will do the DME back to the airport when we fly home on the 18th. I think that we should get an SUV, but dad thinks that a passenger car should be fine…..any suggestions ???

Still waiting for SWA to release flight scheduling for December……if we were booking on ANY OTHER airline, I could do it now…..so I guess this is the price to pay for inexpensive airfare. And direct flights too…. LV asked me last night….”Do we really have to fly to Disney ?!?” AH…..”YEAH !!! “…..I don’t want to spend another TWO days driving down , and TWO days driving home…..besides, what car would we take ?!? We’d have to rent a car to drive down and back……AND, we already have a credit with SWA, so we really only have to buy ONE ticket……is this man C-R-A-Z-Y ?!? SO, CPP is putting her princess slipper down with THIS one……we are flying…..no IF’s, AND’s or BUT’s about it, mister !!!

**** COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC ****

I GOT A JOB !!! I interviewed on Monday, and the offered me the position this morning. It was a couple dollars less than what I made at my previous job, but it was definitely more than some of the temp jobs I was being offered. I’ll be working in an office, and the business industry is seasonal, which means that I’ll be laid-off from December until March, but that works out PERFECTLY for me---I’ll be able to nest at home during the winter months, and if I want, escape to warm weather and WDW a few times !! So, we are really excited here right now !!!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

First of all, congrats on the job! That's awesome. I'm glad it all worked out.

I'm curious as to what job you'll be working that won't be open from December through March. Is it a company that does landscaping or something seasonal like that?

Anyway, excuse my nosiness. Now, back to Disney. I read through your dining choices and they look good. I haven't eaten at some of them, so I'm interested to know what you think of them.

Here are the ones we've never gone to:
- Wolfgang Puck Express
- Cape May Cafe
- Tusker House
- Turf Club (never even heard of this one)

We'll be going to Narcoossee's for the first time in December. I can't wait. Have you been there before? Any suggestions? I'm looking forward to eating the surf and turf and seeing the fireworks and water parade from the balcony area.

I seriously think you should go for an SUV or at the very least, a mini-van. With four adults, who wants to be sitting that close? My DH and I have gone on road trips before with another couple we know before and space is key! Everyone is happier that way.

Also, congrats on the low hotel rate! That's a great price.

I understand about waiting on airline dates for the sake of price. We've been doing that, too. I feel like once that's booked, it's one step closer to being in Disney.

Going back to your comments about the conspiracy theory with the sit down restaurants and the one table service per night. . .I am so with you on that one! Our first trip to WDW we had the same plan you referred to and loved it. We did do a few counters, but really loved getting to eat at so many great restaurants. I would love for them to modify the DDP to allow more sit down restaurants. Who knows? Maybe the powers that be will read enough of us suggesting this on these boards and make a change.

I'm really enjoying your report so far, and can't wait to read more.

 

[kona-kraft]

First of all, congrats on the job! That's awesome. I'm glad it all worked out.

I'm curious as to what job you'll be working that won't be open from December through March. Is it a company that does landscaping or something seasonal like that?:

Yes, somthing like that.....it's a sprinkler system company. When I interviewed, I told them that we were going to be away in December, and they said "no problem".

I read through your dining choices and they look good. I haven't eaten at some of them, so I'm interested to know what you think of them.

Here are the ones we've never gone to:
- Wolfgang Puck Express
- Cape May Cafe
- Tusker House
- Turf Club (never even heard of this one)

We'll be going to Narcoossee's for the first time in December. I can't wait. Have you been there before? Any suggestions? I'm looking forward to eating the surf and turf and seeing the fireworks and water parade from the balcony area.:

If you like seafood, you'll love Narcoossee's...since they're a two-credit TS, I'd go for the lobster......but their scallops are delicious too.....now I am hu-gry !! As for the others.....Tusker House is typical CS. I like it because of its' proximity to the Kilimanjano Safari. Me and my parents love the Cape May Cafe buffet, and Wolfgang Puck Express has THE BEST mac & cheese (next to my own ). The Turf Club is new.....it's at Saratoga Springs. My parents went over in Feb, when they were down....and said it was really good, so I thought we would try it out.

I seriously think you should go for an SUV or at the very least, a mini-van. With four adults, who wants to be sitting that close? My DH and I have gone on road trips before with another couple we know before and space is key! Everyone is happier that way.

Well, I thought that too, but since we're really not "riding" for long periods of time, we decided to go with the Premium class of vehicle. It was $100 cheaper, and I'd rather spend that on stuff at WDW then on the rental car.

Going back to your comments about the conspiracy theory with the sit down restaurants and the one table service per night. . .I am so with you on that one! Our first trip to WDW we had the same plan you referred to and loved it. We did do a few counters, but really loved getting to eat at so many great restaurants. I would love for them to modify the DDP to allow more sit down restaurants. Who knows? Maybe the powers that be will read enough of us suggesting this on these boards and make a change.

It's a shame they don't do somthing like a "tier" dining plan, so that IF you wanted to buy more TS meals you could do that......heck you'd think that DISNEY would realize they would STILL make alot of money with that . As it stands right now.....we have 4 (four) TS meals that we are planning to pay out-of-pocket for, so that we can dine at more that one 2-Credit locations this trip

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Oooh, you'll be arriving at the World on my birthday!

Great start to your report!

 

[kona-kraft]

Post #4

Wow……weeks have gone by since my last update……so little time, with working, family and trip planning. But I finally got some time this morning, so here I am .

As you know from my #3 post, I had FINALLY found an “offsite” hotel that I could accept (since it really wasn’t the POLY, which is secretly where I wanted to stay). I was very proud of myself… …and thought LV would be too. When I informed him of the choice, I did not get the expected response. “Where is this place? Is it safe? How far away from everything is it? Is it a DUMP??” ”I thought we were staying at Disneyworld??” Oh, NOW you want to be involved in the planning……I see how you are….. [SIDEBAR: This is the ESSENCE of my DH…….he listens to what you say, but only retains about 12%.....and of the 12% he DOES retain, 90% of THAT is just filler. Point being…..always expect to “lather-rinse-REPEAT” when it comes to my DH (love ya babe!! ) ] So, after going BACK over all of the trip plans again, he thinks it would be a better idea to just stay on Disney property for the nights before we check in under DVC with my parents. YAHOO !!!! ……..but wait, don’t get too excited yet. I didn’t get my beloved POLY (although, if he had offered that, I would have been passed OUT on the floor), but instead I booked the POFQ, which I love too. I had momentarily considered Pop Century, but then I realized there would be more kids there then some of the other resorts. Plus, we can take the boat to DTD, which is a nice plus. So we’re 2 nights at POFQ and 7 nights under DVC. Grumpy did get us on a wait list for WLV, so we're still at the BWV, unless we get lucky and get into the Wilderness Lodge.....fingers crossed

I am STILL waiting (sometimes impatiently) for SOUTHWEST to release the flight info for December. UGH---it is taking SO long…hopefully it will be soon. Another kink in the chain is that I found out that NASA has a tentative shuttle launch scheduled for December 8th (which right now is the day BEFORE we plan to arrive), so I am weighing the option of adding more days to the trip. LV would absolutely FLIP if he got the chance to see the shuttle launch in person, so I am seriously considering it for him. This is his vacation too, so I feel I should equally consider doing things he wants to do too (apparently, it’s not ALL ABOUT ME…….even though it REALLY is.....lol). Hopefully, I can get some concrete info about this BEFORE I need to book the flights.

**** OFF TOPIC ****

In todays OFF TOPIC, life has been hectic here in NJ/DE. April is THE birthday month, as we have 6 birthdays in the family this month . Since LV and I both have birthdays’ this month (mine is tomorrow-the 15th, and his is the 26th), we decided to do a nice joint gift and then go out to dinner next weekend (which is in-between our two birthdays). Our joint gift is tickets to see GENESIS in concert here in Philadelphia this September, so that’ll be really nice to do. I saw them in Philly at there LAST tour in the 90’s, so it’ll be great to go back and see them again.

We’re also getting ready for my cousin-Jess’ wedding on May 12th. I am still trying to decide what to wear—I’ve bought two dresses and a pair of pants, so right now I need to decided between these three choices, plus I still need to get LV something to wear. She had her bridal shower last weekend and got a lot of nice stuff. They are going on a DCL cruise to the Western Caribbean for their honeymoon, so I am secretly jealous. Maybe someday we’ll get to do a cruise……

Oh, and the nicest news…..my parents surprised my oldest nephew on Easter with a trip to WDW after he gets out of school in June. My nephew (I call him C-boo) get straight-A’s in school, is well-behaved, but his mom (my sis) never lets him out of school to go on trips to WDW, which is typically when my parents, or we travel, to AVOID the crowds. When we first started planning this trip in December, he got VERY UPSET that we were AGAIN going to the MOUSE HOUSE without him, so my parent’s started secretly planning this trip when they got back from their February jaunt to FL. They are booked under DVC at OKW, but are on a wait list for the Beach Club Villas. It’s just my mom and nephew going, since GRUMPY does not do FL in the summer---too hot. AND, they got a great deal on airfare--$39/pp each way (WOW, I hope they have that deal for December). If I didn’t have to work this summer, I would ask to tag along. But I have money to save for December, so I will be good. He is super excited, and this trip is ALL that he can talk about (hmmm.....sounds like a certain AUNT of his.....LOL )

So, to recap……..waiting on NASA and Southwest Airlines…getting ready for a wedding and a concert….and wishing for December to hurry up and arrive, so I can get my DISNEY fix !!!

……..more to come………..

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I'm glad that you found time to post again. I understand about the time restraints though. I finally got around to the boards again yesterday and am still trying to catch up. Thankfully, the school district where I teach is closed today because of flooding with the Nor'Easter, so I'm doing mega-catch up now. I just re-read that sentence and it sounds like I'm happy it flooded, which I'm not, just happy about how I got a day off!

It looks like your plans are really coming along. I know what you mean about flights. We keep waiting on those too. Some airlines have them posted and we're waiting on others. We really hope the ones who have posted prices already begin to lower them soon. At least we have plenty of time yet.

Keep the posts coming! I'm enjoying it.

Let me know which choice of outfit you pick for the wedding. BTW, this is a big birthday month in our family, too! We have a total of 5 that we need to celebrate. So, we're taking care of them all this weekend, right in the middle of all the dates. As for my DH's birthday, we'll also do an individual celebration at a nice restaurant, on top of the family thing.

Happy birthday!!!

 

[kona-kraft]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the weather. I braved it into work (took me almost an hour), only to get there and find out that all of our techs weren't working today, because of the weather... ...of course no one bothered to call and tell me. Our lane (I'm in a semi-rural area, where my house and another house are on a dead-end road) was flooded this morning, plus the creek was near flood stage. I was at work for an hour, and DH called to tell me that the roads all around us had flooded, and I should be heading home. So, I left work at 9am, and just in time.. ...by the time I pulled in our driveway, the township had all the roads around us closed, and they are currently in the process of trying to pump out all the excess water. UGH....anyway, so I am home today.. ..that, and I'm sure gonna love my electric bill next month, since my sump pump had been running almost constant since Saturday night. Gotta love NATURE !!!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

When are you posting your next installment?

 

[kona-kraft]

Post #5

Wow……4+ weeks with no updates…..you all must think I’d gone AWOL of sorts. Well I kinda did…….so much NON-WDW stuff happened, I just haven’t had the time---job changes, my cousin’s wedding, oh and we almost MOVED. Now that things have finally settled down, I’m gonna concentrate on keeping up my pre-trippie. .

SO MUCH has happened……where do I begin…….We are “officially” on the WAIT LIST for Wilderness Lodge Villas…….dad called and got put on the list. They said that *IF* availability opens up for our dates, they will auto-matically switch us over and just send him a new confirmation in the mail. But for right now….we’re still at the Boardwalk Villas, which I will be perfectly happy with if we don’t get WLV.

We moved our MVMCP date to our arrival---12/11 in order to get the DVC discounted price. And what a way to kick OFF our vacation. Jeff and I are still arriving on the 9th, which is turning out to be our “hang out day”. On the 10th we’re heading to KSC for the day----Jeff is SUPER-PSYCHED about the new launch simulator they have there, so that is #1 to do on the list, after the tour. My DH is such a space “freak”, it’s not even funny. If there was a vacation traveling on the Space Shuttle or to the International Space Station, that we could AFFORD…..he’d be signing up. So, I guess this is the next best thing.

The 11th is when my parents arrive---no sure what time yet. I’d love to try to do Typhoon Lagoon this day, but with us moving resorts AND get ready for MVMCP, I doubt is realistic to try. A big BUMMER for me…….I haven’t been able to get back to Typhoon Lagoon since 1996 Guess no Crush-N-Gusher & Lazy River for me this trip.

So here is our revised schedule…….I should be able to start booking my dining reservations in about 2weeks.

12/9 (Sunday)
Arrival day – Relax & use pool
Dinner @ Sassagoula Floatworks

12/10 (Monday)
Kennedy Space Center – Breakfast & Lunch offsite
Dinner @ Raglan Road
Evening at Pleasure Island—want to show Jeff the Adventurer’s Club

12/11 (Tuesday)
Hotel transfer day—have to meet the ‘rents at DVC resort sometime after lunchtime.
Check out of POFQ….drive to Coronado Springs to have breakfast @ Pepper Market
Go play mini-golf @ Winter-Summerland
Drive over to Publix to pick up groceries for DVC
Meet up w/ parents @ DVC
Check in & get settled
Drive to Poly – Dinner @ Kona Café
Monorail to MK—pick up MVMCP tickets at MK Will-Call
Ride POTC , BTMRR, HM , see the parade & fireworks, ride Peter Pan's Flight & Dumbo

12/12 (Wednesday)
MGM Day
Drive over to POFQ for a late breakfast @ Sassagoula Floatworks
MGM – The Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones; Star Tours , Muppet Vision 3-D
Fantasmic Dinner Package @ Mama Melrose
Osborne Lights before we report to Fantasmic

12/13 (Thursday)
AK Day
Breakfast @ Yak & Yeti ; Lunch @ Flame Tree BBQ
FP for Expedition Everest & Safari, walk through Maharajah Jungle Trek to see my tiger babies; see the Nemo show; do Bug’s Life in the Tree of Life
Back to room to rest & relax
Dinner @ Artist Point
Sleigh Ride @ WL
Evening swim @ resort

12/14 (Friday)
EPCOT Day
Breakfast in room
Soarin’; FP for Test Track; Living Seas, Spaceship Earth, Ellen’s Energy Adventure
Head into World Showcase—Visit France Morroco & Japan pavilions
Lunch @ Boulangerie Patisserie
Back to room to freshen up & change for dinner
Candlelight Processional Package w/ dinner @ Le Cellier’
Pick up EMH wristbands at International Gateway on way to Candlelight Show
Late EMH – do American Adventure, Soarin’ & Test Track

12/15 (Saturday)
Tours Day
Breakfast in room
Head over to MK for Keys to the Kingdom tour @ 9:15am
Lunch @ Columbia Harbour House (included in cost of tour)
Hotel Tours after lunch
Back to room to rest & change for dinner
Drive over to AKL for dinner @ Jiko
Evening swim @ resort

12/16 (Sunday)
Rest Day / MK-EMH
Breakfast @ Kona Café
Drop off rental car @ Dolphin Resort
Bus to DTD to shop & lunch @ either Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck Express
Back to room to rest & change for dinner
Bus to MK—Take monorail around to Grand Floridian
Dinner @ Narcoossee’s
Head over to MK for Late EMH

12/17 (Monday)

Breakfast in room – packing to go home
Head over to Epcot
Lunch @ Kringla Bakeri
Ride Maelstrom, El Rio de Tiempo, Test Track, Living Seas & Soarin’
Take Friendship Boats from International Gateway to Beach Club
Dinner @ Cape May Buffet

12/18 (Tuesday)

Finish packing
Breakfast from Boardwalk Bakery
Magical Express back to airport (around 1pm)
Fly home

***OFF TOPIC***
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I have, in fact changed jobs again.....but found a much better "fit" working for a local moving company as a scheduling receptionist. Better hours, pay and my boss loves DISNEY almost as much as I do, so they don't seem to have an issue with our trip.

Jeff and I were *this close* to packing up our house and moving, but we decided to put that idea off. There really isn't a NEED to move, YET, that is

We did plan our 2008 vacation.....and NO, it's not back to DISNEY ( I know.....please don't HATE on me....). We're doing a Carnival cruise next July with a group of online friends, so it should be real fun !!! Our first NON-Disney trip since our honeymoon

Until next time......I promise.....later this week !!!!

 

[kona-kraft]

I guess I am suffering from PTRE (pre trip report envy)....no one seems to come by and post.

 

[kona-kraft]

To all my DIS friends.....

please follow me to:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1476927

 

[disneyaddicted]

I guess I am suffering from PTRE (pre trip report envy)....no one seems to come by and post.

I am sorry I lost track of this pre TR, but I am on board. wow you sure had alot going on, I had lot's to read. You will arrive on my birthday. Please feel free to have a drink and toast my birth.