"I"m Only Going Because My Teacher Told Me To" Nov. 2016 PTR * update 12/2 TRIP REPORT STARTED! *

[Bamfield]

I can't quote properly as I am not on my regular computer but your dress is Awesome! What a great Mother's Day gift.

Your ADRs looked great! As for the Grand Floridian Cafe, we have eaten breakfast there several times. The service was really good the Ladies were very nice. It seems to be a nice place and a good location. I ate Thanksgiving one year at Tony's at the MK. It was a hoot having turkey there.

I am sad that the BCVs having come through yet for you. Hoping you luck!

 

[kastoney]

Happy Mothers Day to you! Looks like you had a great day. Love your villains dress. Must be nice to have men in your life who really know what you like. How was Jungle Book? Considering taking Casey to see it but it looks like it may be a bit scary for her.

Looks like you have some great dining plans (and lots of opportunities to eat mussels ) We've enjoyed Artist Point and Citricos, but IMO Narcoossee's blows them both out of the water. So good choice Ricky!!!! Whispering Canyon is also a ton of fun and I'm sure all those boys of yours will really enjoy it.

 

[ariane37]

Sounds like you have a great ADR plan. I have heard a lot about that Ooey Gooey Toffee cake - really want to try that on a future trip! I love that finalizing plans for dining that won't happen for another 6 months with two weeks to spare is cutting it close for us Disney planners! The outside world just wouldn't understand. Love that dress, BTW!

I know, it's crazy right? I mentioned to my Goddaughter yesterday that I had pretty much figured out where we're eating-she's 18 & was just at Disney in March but of course her mom made all the plans - and she was like, "you ALREADY know where you're eating??!"

I'm late, but I'm here! I still haven't finished reading your other trip reports, but I have been enjoying them, so I know I have to jump into this one too

Hello! Thank you for reading up on my TR's and to this one! I need to catch up on your TR and take a look at your PTR

I think for our next trip we're actually in the air for over 6 hours, and that doesn't include layovers.

Ugh, plus layovers? We really want to head to DL soon but Chris is......annoying on planes, and that's a 6 hour ride for us w/o stops.

I always see so many cute things on Etsy, but they charge an arm and a leg for shipping to Canada! No thanks to buying a $20 shirt, and spending an additional $15 for shipping. The city I live in finally got a Hot Topic last fall, which has saved me so much money - I was ordering online, and again the international shipping cost was outrageous! Shopping is so much better in the States, I'm jealous of you all.

I've read others complain about the ridiculously high shipping charges to Canada Buy yay to getting a Hot Topic! Waaaaaay back when I was in college I had a roommate from Australia and she felt the same way about shopping here. Prices of things like Nike sneakers and designer jeans were much more reasonable here.

I saw the Jungle Book last weekend. I loved it! I originally thought it would be too much CGI effects and not enough of a story but I really enjoyed it and loved the music. I hope you liked it as well!

I did love it! I will say it was a bit darker than I thought it would be - it's been about 5 months since I saw the animated version but, no animals died in that, right? Or is my memory failing lol? And there was no jungle fire, of course no bloody scratches on Mowgli lol. But I loved all the CGI animals, the music, and I did shed a tear or two. BMy boys and the 2 boys we were with, also 10 and 14, all enjoyed it and Ricky didn't really want to see it in the first place!

All of your ADRs sound great! I do not know if I could skip BOG though, but I'm sure you will get enough delicious food in the rest of your ADRS. You have a lot of places that I want to try on your list.

Well, after discussing with the menfolk I think it's going to be worked into the schedule I've been feeling rather incomplete not having it on there lol!

We make ours in 6 days! Eep. I better get on that

So do you have yours all set? 4 days as of tomorrow, right?

I'm sorry the owners wouldn't take off the last two days. You could always just add on the two days! I know, I know, your kids have school, but it's nice to dream, right? Good luck

OMG I would love to extend 2 days!! But yes, unfortunately they'd miss another day of school. It would only be the 3rd but since it's Ricky's first year of HS I don't want to push it. And Chris will have a conniption and go on and on for hours about missing his "morning work" I know, I should be happy one kid loves school so much! That owner did actually get back to Steve again and say that if it gets closer and she still hasn't rented the days out she may be willing to chop it up.

OMG that dress! I may need to check that out. I always order Hot Topic online bc with a full time job and 2 young kids, I buy as much online as I can! So in a lot if ways, it keeps me from buying here and there bc I hate paying shipping!

I did see the SW tank you got - very nice! When I was in the store yesterday it was buy one tank get another for $10. Did they have that offer online?

I'm hoping for a PPO Garden Grill June 2017.

See, I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it but I was just reading Josh's take on the GG PPO on his FB page yesterday. He doesn't think it's worth it - not because of the food but because you aren't close to TT to beat the RD crowd there unless you're out by like 8:45, you're totally not near Norway to get to FEA or the M&G before RD crowd (which we won't need) and he doesn't think you'll necessarily need a PPO ADR for Soarin' since he thinks capacity will be better with the extra screen. But if I do my FP's the way I'm thinking it'll still help us.......I love him and his advice but I do think it's a good choice for a PPO ADR unless you want Akershus to be in Norway. Sorry that was long-winded!

 

[ariane37]

Hope you had a fantastic Mother's Day!

Thanks, I did!

Oh how I love Whispering Canyon! Seeing this made me realize we might get to see it decorated too! I sure hope they have the big tree up at least!

They might! I know they do a lottery to decide what order they decorate the deluxe resorts in but I'm not sure what the schedule is for mods. Since you're there through the.....22nd, right? I would think just about every resort will be decorated minus maybe the last deluxe on the list

I was wondering where this fell on you list! After such great reviews and convincing me to try it solo I'm starting to doubt it since it didn't even make the cut! Lol Just kidding, I can't wait to try it!

lol! Don't doubt your ADR! If you didn't see where I mentioned it in my response post above, I'm 99% sure now that it's going on the list. I haven't felt right with it not being on there Just not sure where to fit it in and I don't want to take anything off!

As for the Grand Floridian Cafe, we have eaten breakfast there several times. The service was really good the Ladies were very nice. It seems to be a nice place and a good location. I ate Thanksgiving one year at Tony's at the MK. It was a hoot having turkey there

So how was turkey at an Italian restaurant? I'm leaning more toward GFC for Thanksgiving so your comment helped me

I am sad that the BCVs having come through yet for you. Hoping you luck!

Thank you! I've said this before, I KNOW I'll be happy once I get to CSR but the more I think about it the more I know I'll be pretty darn sad to leave the Beach Club, too.

Love your villains dress. Must be nice to have men in your life who really know what you like.

I just came back from a PTA meeting and my friend I drove with made a similar comment........believe me, it took LOTS of training!

How was Jungle Book? Considering taking Casey to see it but it looks like it may be a bit scary for her.

We did all enjoy it but, I do think it has the potential to scare the younger ones. In fact, the family in front of us had two littles, probably about 5 and 3? And one ended up crying while the other just jumped in dads lap at one point. While most Disney movies have an animal parent dying (it's not a Disney movie if that doesn't happen!) this one had a couple deaths and the CGI made them more "real" than an animated movie. Also what I see as "scuffles" Mowgli got in to in the animated version were more pronounced life our death situations in this movie........I'm not making it sound particularly appealing but it really was good. Something to think on though before going.

We've enjoyed Artist Point and Citricos, but IMO Narcoossee's blows them both out of the water. So good choice Ricky!!!! Whispering Canyon is also a ton of fun and I'm sure all those boys of yours will really enjoy it.

Believe it or not, when I was typing my ADR list I thought of you while writing the part about picking Narcoossee's over Citricos! I know you prefer Narcoossee's and that Citrocos isn't high on your list. Steve and I were completely happy with Narcoossee's so his choice is fine by me! Also glad to hear you prefer it over AP. I'm looking forward to WCC, too! We ate there back in 2010, Ricky remembers it but Chris doesn't even though he was 5.

 

[jandlinz]

So do you have yours all set? 4 days as of tomorrow, right?

Nope! I'm still working on it. My parents are joining us. They have annual passes and have been to Disney often. My mom has her choices on where she would like to eat and I have my own ideas. I told her we could split up, but she wants to stay together. Her birthday is on the 19th and that reservation will be granted. I'm trying to think of the kids and pick where they want or where I think they'll enjoy. My oldest son has severe food allergies so I also have to consider where would most likely be accommodating. We haven't been to Disney in three years and most likely won't be back for two years after so I want to do things that count. When it gets closer and you know your park days pm me and maybe we can meet up.

That owner did actually get back to Steve again and say that if it gets closer and she still hasn't rented the days out she may be willing to chop it up.

That's awesome. I hope they can accommodate you.

 

[ariane37]

When it gets closer and you know your park days pm me and maybe we can meet up.

I definitely will That would be great!

 

[ariane37]

DIS VETERAN? FAIL!!​

OMG guys, I'm so embarrassed to admit this I was at the dentist this morning and do you know what I realized?? I can't make all my ADR's on the 23rd because we have a split-stay

I SHOULD KNOW THIS!!!!

I've certainly been enough times and we've done split-stays before; the thing is, I never booked ADR's at 180 days when we did those split-stays so it didn't matter that I technically had to do it on 2 different days. CRAP. So on May 23rd I can book the 19th-23rd and then on May 27th I can book Thanksgiving day through the 26th. Now the worst part of this is that I have to be up and at the ready by 6am two days instead of one, and the kids have off on the 27th so I would otherwise be sleeping nice and late But the other thing that sucks is that I have to wait those extra days to make our T-day ADR and that's really the day I care most about. I honestly don't think with my 2 choices that I won't get what we want but Narcoossee's on Black Friday might be a challenge with having to wait a few more days. Think I'm going to do some re-arranging.

And I was having so much fun cleaning the bathrooms and mopping all my floors today, too. Now I have to do Disney stuff instead..........

​

 

[ArielSRL]

We are taking your DIS veteran status away! LOL

But truthfully, that stinks. I hope you still get what you want.

 

[jandlinz]

I have a split stay too. I called member services and asked about having a waitlist and ADRs. The CM on the phone told me he could get around the split stay and book all our ADRs over the phone. The bad thing is that I have to call at 9 to do this. At 6 I can get the first part though. I am a member though so I'm not sure if this will work for you. Do you know the people well enough to ask them if they could book the rest of your ADRs?

 

[Whit64130]

They might! I know they do a lottery to decide what order they decorate the deluxe resorts in but I'm not sure what the schedule is for mods. Since you're there through the.....22nd, right? I would think just about every resort will be decorated minus maybe the last deluxe on the list

This makes me happy!

lol! Don't doubt your ADR! If you didn't see where I mentioned it in my response post above, I'm 99% sure now that it's going on the list. I haven't felt right with it not being on there Just not sure where to fit it in and I don't want to take anything off!

Lol! I've added yet another one to my list too, well I think. We will see next Thursday what I decide!

 

[ariane37]

We are taking your DIS veteran status away! LOL

I deserve that

I have a split stay too. I called member services and asked about having a waitlist and ADRs. The CM on the phone told me he could get around the split stay and book all our ADRs over the phone. The bad thing is that I have to call at 9 to do this. At 6 I can get the first part though. I am a member though so I'm not sure if this will work for you. Do you know the people well enough to ask them if they could book the rest of your ADRs?

I think you get some special treatment because you're a member lol. Although I have heard of a few people with split stays, not DVC members, who have made their ADR's over the phone and gotten a CM who will override the system and make them for their whole trip - just the luck of whomever you get on the phone. So I could make the first few days of mine online at 6 that morning (I prefer making them online) and then call at 7. Except it would actually be 8 because I have to get Ricky out the door by 7:10 and then 5 minutes later wake Chris up to get the bus by 7:55.....
This time we rented points from Chris's teachers SIL. So I don't know her but I know his teacher pretty well. That's not a bad idea to bring the situation up to his teacher and see if she thinks her SIL would help out

Lol! I've added yet another one to my list too, well I think

Ooh what one do you think you added??

 

[Whit64130]

Ooh what one do you think you added?

I think I may try Boma on arrival night. Chelsy is dead set on Planet Hollywood but the foodie in me wants to break free! I may change my mind a thousand times before Thursday but we shall see. I can't remember from your precious TR if y'all have ate there. If so how is it???? (Ps. The main reason I'm wanting to do this is to explore AKL)

 

[Bamfield]

So how was turkey at an Italian restaurant? I'm leaning more toward GFC for Thanksgiving so your comment helped me

The location was great but it seemed like the food was prepared in a central location and bused in, I am not sure that the dinners are that much different that day? I think for more of a family meal feel, if you are looking for that would be at the GF. Nice choice.

And I was having so much fun cleaning the bathrooms and mopping all my floors today, too. Now I have to do Disney stuff instead..........

Well, even though you knew the split ADR thing, I didn't so you should feel good about yourself as you taught me something. AND, boy do you know how to have a good time.

 

[ariane37]

I think I may try Boma on arrival night. Chelsy is dead set on Planet Hollywood but the foodie in me wants to break free! I may change my mind a thousand times before Thursday but we shall see. I can't remember from your precious TR if y'all have ate there. If so how is it???? (Ps. The main reason I'm wanting to do this is to explore AKL)

Oh PLEASE switch to Boma! We haven't eaten dinner there since 2011 but it was very good then; Steve and I ate breakfast there in January and it was fantastic But Boma compared to Planet Hollywood?? Oh man, you've GOT to do Boma! Plus exploring AKL is so great

The location was great but it seemed like the food was prepared in a central location and bused in, I am not sure that the dinners are that much different that day? I think for more of a family meal feel, if you are looking for that would be at the GF. Nice choice.

I'm pretty sure my first choice for Thanksgiving is now GFC!

 

[Jfsag123]

I ran into the split stay issue with my current trip as well. It's annoying that dining and FP+ work differently. You'd think since they open up that FP+ window for the whole stay on the first day, they could figure out how to do that for dining too. At least you realized it before your actual booking day!

 

[kastoney]

Thanks for all the jungle book details. Definitely sounds like it may be a bit intense for Casey. Think we'll wait for it to come out online and preview it first (provided of course her chicken Mom can make it through the snake scenes, major phobia)

Ugh, I totally didn't think about the split stay issue either. I'm sure I'm wrong, but I thought you could make ADRs for 180 + 10 days. Do you have to have a reservation to cover the whole time? If not do you have a Thanksgiving backup plan? I'd imagine that would be the hardest day to come by.

 

[ariane37]

I ran into the split stay issue with my current trip as well. It's annoying that dining and FP+ work differently. You'd think since they open up that FP+ window for the whole stay on the first day, they could figure out how to do that for dining too. At least you realized it before your actual booking day!

I agree, I don't understand why it's not the same for ADR's. If my first booking day next Monday goes well I'll probably take my chances with the 2nd day. But if I have problems the first day I may try calling at 7 and see if I can get a nice CM to give me a break and book all my days

Thanks for all the jungle book details. Definitely sounds like it may be a bit intense for Casey. Think we'll wait for it to come out online and preview it first (provided of course her chicken Mom can make it through the snake scenes, major phobia)

I hate snakes too (but I hate spiders more) and the scenes with Kaa were icky

Ugh, I totally didn't think about the split stay issue either. I'm sure I'm wrong, but I thought you could make ADRs for 180 + 10 days. Do you have to have a reservation to cover the whole time? If not do you have a Thanksgiving backup plan? I'd imagine that would be the hardest day to come by.

I thought that, too. But, and I do hate when there's something about Disney I'm not SURE of, but that I believe means at 180 days you can book up to 10 days of ADR's if you happen to be staying that long. For instance, if you have an on-site reservation for 12 days you wouldn't be able to book the last 2 days at 180 from your first day, you'd have to book the last 2 days at 180 from your 10th day - does that make sense Most math makes no sense to me! But if your on-site res. if for less than 10 days, say 5 nights, you'll only be able to make ADR's for those 5 nights at your 180th day from your check-in day.
SO, since our first res. is only through the 23rd the system will register our 180th day for the 24th on as May 29th. OMG that was exhausting writing out!!!!! Bottom line I do have a back-up plan for Thanksgiving which is the only day I would think I might have an issue with. However, neither my first nor second choice are at overly popular places so really, I assume I'll be ok.

But we all know what happens when we ***ume............

 

[Whit64130]

Oh PLEASE switch to Boma! We haven't eaten dinner there since 2011 but it was very good then; Steve and I ate breakfast there in January and it was fantastic But Boma compared to Planet Hollywood?? Oh man, you've GOT to do Boma! Plus exploring AKL is so great

There is a girl at work who talked me into it. I am more excited about going to AKL than the food. I will see what I can come up with Wednesday morning.

 

[jandlinz]

I booked our dining this morning. Our first night is booked and has a wait list that coincides with the rest of our stay, so online I could only make reservations for that day. I called and they were able to get me the next day even though I couldn't do that online, since technically that would be a check out day and you can book a breakfast or lunch. I did have to call DVC to book the rest, but I was able to get the rest of the reservations even though we have a split stay. The DVC CM CAN override the system and make the reservations. I was on the phone from 9-11. I didn't get everything I wanted or even back up number 4. In some cases I had to settle for choices I never even had considered. Tomorrow is our official day where I can book myself, so I may need to tweak. If you know your friends well I would suggest asking them to do a three way call to book your remaining dining on your wait list. Member services open at 9. I really hope you get what you want. There was some slim pickings for the dates we wanted. I'm sorry if this makes no sense to you. I'm still trying to process what transpired. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

 

[ariane37]

There is a girl at work who talked me into it. I am more excited about going to AKL than the food. I will see what I can come up with Wednesday morning.

Good luck Wednesday! I'll be watching your PTR for an update

I booked our dining this morning. Our first night is booked and has a wait list that coincides with the rest of our stay, so online I could only make reservations for that day. I called and they were able to get me the next day even though I couldn't do that online, since technically that would be a check out day and you can book a breakfast or lunch. I did have to call DVC to book the rest, but I was able to get the rest of the reservations even though we have a split stay. The DVC CM CAN override the system and make the reservations. I was on the phone from 9-11. I didn't get everything I wanted or even back up number 4. In some cases I had to settle for choices I never even had considered. Tomorrow is our official day where I can book myself, so I may need to tweak. If you know your friends well I would suggest asking them to do a three way call to book your remaining dining on your wait list. Member services open at 9. I really hope you get what you want. There was some slim pickings for the dates we wanted. I'm sorry if this makes no sense to you. I'm still trying to process what transpired. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

WOW. I'm actually shocked That's crappy, I'm so sorry you didn't get what you wanted or your backup choices. There's FD during the days you booked today, right? Last year getting ADR's during FD was such a mess.......what you wrote does make sense. That also stinks Member services doesn't open until 9, that's 3 hours after people can start booking online and 2 after they can book on the phone I'm going to school again on Wed. so I'll talk to Chris's teacher then for sure.

If you don't mind me asking, where did you want to book that you couldn't get? I know I've said this before but since last Thanksgiving is the only time I've ever booked at 180 days I'm just so used to getting what we want anywhere from 4 months to 30 days out, and in many cases even a week or two before we go! Big downside to going in Nov (but so far the only one I see ).