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

[ariane37]

I also was tempted by business class at CS for my August stay but ultimately decided against it. If I had planned my ADRs differently and would be at the resort in the evening than I could make it worth it with the unlimited sangria, but I plan on being in the parks every evening, so no sangria. I do like the idea of guaranteeing you won't be stuck in ranchos though.

I was actually thinking a little more about being in a preferred section and, since we'll be moving from a deluxe to a moderate, I think we can take any positive extras we can get. As I've said before we love CSR and I wasn't really concerned with moving "down" to a mod, but as the weeks go by I'm just afraid the boys/men will complain more than I'd like! So if we can at least be in a decent location I think switching to BC is a good idea. UNFORTUNATELY, I went to book it today and no more BC rooms are available I knew we waited too long!!

WOW those purchases are all stunning! I am completely in love with the Beauty and the Beast snow globe. I am going to have to find me one of those! And that villain clock looks perfect for you! I love the villain selections and all of their facial expressions. All it is missing is Ursula.

When Steve brought them all home I looked each piece up on Ebay and I did see one or two of the BaTB snowglobes! I can't remember what they were asking for but go and take a look!

Well you know you sold me at Sangria!!!!!!!!!! How did I not even know that CSR had a club level area???? But if you do the math $60/night = about 6 sangrias so you would at least break even

English was my favorite subject back in school, but I do love me some Disney math
CSR's business class isn't really like the deluxe resorts CL (I don't think; we've never stayed CL). It's a lounge in one of the 3 areas, Cabanas, the area that's considered most centrally located and they do have similar breakfast offerings as I've seen in CL pictures. However the CL lounges appear to have a bigger selection in the evenings. I think the reason CSR has this is b/c it's such a big convention resort

Yea, I couldn't remember the site name...and the cheap side of me is trying to justify spending the 13 bucks...which is really dumb if I think hard about it...yea, I'll just sign up. I need those reservations!!

I've heard you can actually use the reservation finder without paying, but back when I joined you had to pay so not sure about that. I hated to pay the money too lol but it was worth it! Plus every now and then I've checked their crowd predictors against easywdw (which is my favorite) just for ha ha's.

Ahhhhh Sangria + breakfast...I would say do it!

I'm not familiar with the layout of CSR or the business class selections for breakfast but if you were to go out and buy breakfast for the 4 of you it would be around $40 or more (Disney prices) so essientially you are paying the extra $20 for preferred location which I'm sure the middle of Thanksgiving week would be worth it. Just anothe way to look at it. Granted may not have as much evening time in the lounge but if you are like me having options for breakfast is better than the same poptart every morning for a week.

Again, love the Disney math! Unfortunately as I mentioned above, we'd decided to definitely switch to BC but as of today there's no availability I'm going to have to keep looking. I looked over my park plans again last night and we'd use the lounge for breakfast every morning we'd be there so that and the location were enough to sway us. Now I have to cross my fingers something opens!
Unless you have a friend booked at CSR business class for our dates who ends up cancelling

I am like this too. My husband can skip breakfast. In fact he hates breakfast. So he thinks I'm nuts because I roll out of bed and go straight to the refrigerator every morning (or night, depends on how I'm working).

Ha! Steve sometimes doesn't eat until he's been up for like 6 hours. I've already eaten 3x by then!

 

[Karabear15]

You definitely have to pay, I checked it...and of course talked myself out of paying for it. I read some stuff and it was back from 2014 on their site, so if I'm going to pay for something, I want for it to be up to date.

 

[Whit64130]

Unless you have a friend booked at CSR business class for our dates who ends up cancelling

Ha I wish I did. They were booked at Yacht Club and cancelled that

Ha! Steve sometimes doesn't eat until he's been up for like 6 hours. I've already eaten 3x by then!

I do not understand how people live like this...obviously can't be healthy

 

[ArielSRL]

Ha! Steve sometimes doesn't eat until he's been up for like 6 hours. I've already eaten 3x by then!

My husband is so like this. He eats like one big meal a day and that's it. I don't understand that at all, because I pretty much graze all day long!

Hope BC opens back up for you!!

 

[ariane37]

My husband is so like this. He eats like one big meal a day and that's it. I don't understand that at all, because I pretty much graze all day long!

Hope BC opens back up for you!!

This is one reason we don't end up booking many TS breakfasts I guess it's a small price to pay since he doesn't really argue with anything else I plan for our trips lol!
BC opened up and we got it Update coming soon!

 

[ArielSRL]

This is one reason we don't end up booking many TS breakfasts I guess it's a small price to pay since he doesn't really argue with anything else I plan for our trips lol!
BC opened up and we got it Update coming soon!

I might book some ppo breakfasts but we might share food. And I'll probably book them as later breakfasts too so we can decide which one we want to do....oops!

Yay for BC!

 

[kclark9830]

You're PTR is such fun to read! We almost planned to go the weekend before and week of Thanksgiving, but in the end we went with the second week of December. And your son Chris sounds like a hoot!

 

[ariane37]

You're PTR is such fun to read! We almost planned to go the weekend before and week of Thanksgiving, but in the end we went with the second week of December. And your son Chris sounds like a hoot!

Thank you for coming over and I'm glad you're enjoying reading my PTR We liked going over Thanksgiving last year, but I think you'll be happy with your December week. Early enough that you won't have the Christmas crowds but you'll still get all the decorations. Your week is supposed to be fairly low crowds!
Oh yeah, Chris is a character Sometimes it's so hard not to laugh at him when I know I should be mad. He keeps life interesting!

 

[Ashley Nadeau]

following!!! Looking forward to seeing all your adventures!!

 

[ariane37]

Mission: Accomplished, Rough Outline Of Park Days, Something Old, Something New​

Yeah baby, lots to say! Trying to get this done before I leave for Georgia Saturday to visit my sister and my nephews for a couple days. So first, we managed to switch our CSR reservation to Business Class I'm looking forward to this more than I thought I'd be! First, breakfast every morning we're there. Second, after coming from a deluxe (BCV) at least I know we'll be in a decent location and hopefully nobody will complain (really who am I kidding? Someone will complain and I give you all 1 guess who it'll be). Since going from deluxe to mod isn't the most ideal scenario, hoping that being close to the main bldg. and not too far from the pool should we use it makes the switch a little softer. Third, if I finagle our schedule right, sangria for me as I walk back to my room at night at least once!

I also mostly kind of know which parks we'll be in each day. At least at this point. Since we get hoppers we really only need to be in certain parks where we're eating, if those don't change. I know a couple of you will be there some of the same days we will so here's what I'm looking at right now:

11/19 MK
11/20 HS, EPCOT
11/21 EPCOT
11/22 HS, MK
11/23 AK
11/24 DS, either HS or EPCOT
11/25 AK or MK morning;EPCOT
11/26 MK

I wouldn't be surprised if at least Steve and I went over to HS on our first night after dinner just to catch the SW fireworks if they're having them, and I also wouldn't be surprised if he and I ran over there first thing on the 23rd before we check out of BCV and go to AK to get a ride or two in on ToT. But I'll get more in to that when it's closer to our trip and I do a day by day

NEXT! I mentioned early on in my PTR that since we go fairly often we try to do something new each trip whether it's all 4 of us or just Steve and I. We try staying at a new resort, and this trip the Beach Club will be new to all of us. We also always try new TS restaurants, which is something we all look forward to since we ALL enjoy our food! Our arrival night dinner will be new and while I've been wanting to try it for awhile, I booked it mainly for convenience and to start Ricky off with some of his beloved mussels:

I don't eat seafood but Ricky wanted some mussels that he didn't have last Nov. The non-seafood offerings look pretty good; more important though is that the desserts look delicious and I'm absolutely fine eating a little salad and ALOT of desserts!

Tokyo Dining will be new to the boys since Steve and I ate there alone in January. Then there are a couple places we've all eaten but it's been quite a few years - Mama Melrose, Liberty Tree Tavern, Whispering Canyon Café. But wherever we eat on Thanksgiving will be new to us all. Where is that again? Oh yeah, either Trail's End or here:

Yes that's right, I'm holding ADR's for both places for the same night. And yes, I'll cancel one in the near future!! Steve prefers the menu at H&V, I prefer Trails End but want the characters in their Christmas outfits. Whichever we choose I'll probably try to get the other at another time, but I have no idea when I'd fit it in..........................
Speaking of Thanksgiving Day, where we eat dinner won't be the only new to us thing. If you remember awhile back I gave the boys 3 choices as far as a non-park thing to do: mini golf, renting watercraft, or seeing La Nouba. They picked this and I'm planning to go as soon as they open in the late morning:

I'm actually pretty excited for this. Whenever we've walked by I think it looks so cool, love the retro style. I also enjoy bowling. And I've heard good things about the food which doesn't hurt. Much better I believe than DisneyQuest! We did that a few years back and other than playing a few games (maybe.......30) of Ms. Pac-Man I pretty much sat on a bench pouting while the other 3 had a blast. We were there for 5 hours. I was just pissed that we were wasting Disney time in an arcade Not my thing, man!
Another new to-do "thing" for Thanksgiving day, after bowling, is actually what the boys are looking forward to most! Being that they're big basketball fans we have to stop in here:

Since the majority of people are not basketball fans I'll explain what this is: Marcus Jordan, Michael Jordan's son, opened this store/museum back in May in Disney Springs. Obviously you can buy Air Jordan merchandise but you can also see MJ's trophies, uniforms, family pictures, etc. on display. I have never been a sports fan and enjoy absolutely no sport whatsoever except basketball, simply because over the last 8 years I've had to watch so much of it that it's grown on me. We've visited the Basketball Hall of Fame in Ct. and I didn't have a terrible time so I'll probably enjoy going here, too. Not for 5 hours, though......and I've already told the boys they need to start saving their own $$!

OH! The SW fireworks will be new to all of us also, even though Steve and I saw the "old" version which were relatively new at the time back in January. Plus we have the "new" Soarin which the boys are looking forward to, FEA which none of us are really into but I'll attempt to FP simply to say I've done it, and Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire stage show which only I seem to be excited about. I haven't read any reviews yet but it sounds interesting
I'm sure I've left something out that at least part of us will be doing for the first time, but this is what comes to mind for now. And because I'm in the mood to post more pictures and my girlfriend just texted me to see if I was free to drink with her tomorrow afternoon, here are a couple "something old" pictures that I will most definitely be partaking of when we get down there:

My favorite snack:

School bread from Norway

And of course, my favorite drink:

France's Grey Goose Slush
More than one of each will be had.

Sorry this is such a mish-mosh of topics but that's kind of what's going on at this point in the trip right now. I do want to focus a bit more on our park days when I have a chance, but the boys got out of school last week so now I have a little less "me" time for awhile. And when I return from Georgia next week my oldest nephew will be coming with me to spend 3 weeks here so not only will that take up more of my time, it'll make July go by quickly!

 

[ariane37]

following!!! Looking forward to seeing all your adventures!!

Hi there and thanks for coming over!!

 

[ArielSRL]

Plans sound great! You are getting it all firmed up! Love it.

So you'll be heading to my neck of the woods. Bring your tank tops, it's like between 95-100 here lately.

So I've never had School Bread and I hear it has coconut so I won't ever be having it. Nope, not a coconut fan. Or cinnamon, but digress. In any case, it tends to make my dessert choices less...but I still always manage to find something!

Anyway, enjoy the time with your friend tomorrow, enjoy visiting GA, and I'll be looking for more from you when you get a chance!

 

[ariane37]

Plans sound great! You are getting it all firmed up! Love it.

So you'll be heading to my neck of the woods. Bring your tank tops, it's like between 95-100 here lately.

So I've never had School Bread and I hear it has coconut so I won't ever be having it. Nope, not a coconut fan. Or cinnamon, but digress. In any case, it tends to make my dessert choices less...but I still always manage to find something!

Anyway, enjoy the time with your friend tomorrow, enjoy visiting GA, and I'll be looking for more from you when you get a chance!

Oh I'm bringing my tank tops, don't worry! Talked to my sister yesterday and she told me hot ridiculously hot it is down there. It's been over 20 years since I've been in Ga. during summer months so I know no matter what I remember, it'll still be a shock
I'm only going from the 2nd-5th and I know we aren't doing much except hanging out. They're taking me to the Disney Store in their mall because I don't have one by me and apparently there's some sort of "Finding Dory" fishbowl you can pretend you're in?? So of course I want to see that lol. And we have to eat lunch at Zaxby's because I LOVE IT! None anywhere around here - in fact, is it only in Ga?

And yeah, School Bread has coconut on top. One of the reasons I love it but like you, my mom can't stand it so when I describe School Bread she just thinks "yuch" lol.

 

[jandlinz]

Your plans looks great. It all seems to be coming together so nicely for you. We'll be at MK on the 19th as well. Maybe we can meet.

 

[Carathryn]

So first, we managed to switch our CSR reservation to Business Class

Yay! I'm glad you were able to get that booked. I am looking forward to hearing about your BC experience and if you guys find it worth the upgrade.

I'm absolutely fine eating a little salad and ALOT of desserts!

I wouldn't eat much at Cape May either (as a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish it's a little pricy for what I would eat entree wise), but if the desserts are good enough salad and desserts sounds like an excellent buffet choice!

Whenever we've walked by I think it looks so cool, love the retro style. I also enjoy bowling

As much as it makes me laugh that your boys chose bowling at Disney over the other options you gave them, I do agree that it is a neat looking bowling alley. I love to bowl so I will definitely check it out while I am on my college program.

I have never been a sports fan and enjoy absolutely no sport whatsoever except basketball, simply because over the last 8 years I've had to watch so much of it that it's grown on me.

This describes my life except I still haven't found a sport I enjoy watching despite my fiancé putting forward a lot of effort to peak my interest over the past six years. Maybe someday I will find one that doesn't put me to sleep

 

[ArielSRL]

Oh I'm bringing my tank tops, don't worry! Talked to my sister yesterday and she told me hot ridiculously hot it is down there. It's been over 20 years since I've been in Ga. during summer months so I know no matter what I remember, it'll still be a shock
I'm only going from the 2nd-5th and I know we aren't doing much except hanging out. They're taking me to the Disney Store in their mall because I don't have one by me and apparently there's some sort of "Finding Dory" fishbowl you can pretend you're in?? So of course I want to see that lol. And we have to eat lunch at Zaxby's because I LOVE IT! None anywhere around here - in fact, is it only in Ga?

And yeah, School Bread has coconut on top. One of the reasons I love it but like you, my mom can't stand it so when I describe School Bread she just thinks "yuch" lol.

Yeh, as far as the heat, just stay inside most of the time! Or in a pool...lol. The Disney Store should be fun! Where we live now, and for the past 5.5 years, is about 45 minutes from a (good) mall. Before this house, we were in an apartment and the mall was right up the road, so it was easy to get there. But now, I never go. Oh well...with two littles, ordering online is so much easier anyway!

Not sure about Zaxby's. I don't like them because one day many years ago I wanted to personalize my order a bit - I wanted all drums on my wing order and offered to pay more - and was told that wasn't possible. I've never gone back. Yes, I hold grudges...haha. I love Chick-Fil-A so much more anyway!

I am a little upset that I won't ever be able to try School Bread. But I'm sure I can find something else to try!

 

[Jfsag123]

So I'm really far behind but I love those snow globes! I plan to try to start collecting Disney snow globes in the not-too-distant future. The ones you've got are gorgeous. Also love that you are at the point at which you are thinking specifically about your park days. I'm excited to see them come together. The rest of my family is begging to try Cape May next time, but I don't eat seafood. And the pics of th school bread and drinks made me drool a little bit...sure do miss my Disney food!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Hi Ariane37! I have really enjoyed reading your pre trip report, and may I just add that I LOVE your villain's dress!!!!!!! I am soooooooo jealous! And, why didn't you snatch up the Alice wear from Kohls????? It's super cute too!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

OMG Ariane37!!! We HAVE to meet one day! I too am a HUGE Dooney lover. I only have one. It's the one with the Castle, Tinker Bell etc (it was one of the first released). I want the Princess one, but it's always sold out!!! If I see it this weekend, it's mine!!!! I also want the new Dumbo one that's coming out soon.

 

[ariane37]

Your plans looks great. It all seems to be coming together so nicely for you. We'll be at MK on the 19th as well. Maybe we can meet.

I actually have my day to day plans much more set, but haven't gotten myself together enough to post yet And when our trips are closer I'll have to pm you about meeting up on he 19th, that would be great!

Yay! I'm glad you were able to get that booked. I am looking forward to hearing about your BC experience and if you guys find it worth the upgrade.

I wouldn't eat much at Cape May either (as a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish it's a little pricy for what I would eat entree wise), but if the desserts are good enough salad and desserts sounds like an excellent buffet choice!

This describes my life except I still haven't found a sport I enjoy watching despite my fiancé putting forward a lot of effort to peak my interest over the past six years. Maybe someday I will find one that doesn't put me to sleep

I will definitely let you know what we think of BC. And not eating fish is the main reason we haven't been to Cape May for dinner yet, but since Ricky is so into mussels not it just makes sense with staying at BCV. We'll be up at like 4:00am on arrival day, so I figure eating somewhat early and at our resort would be good. But you know what's funny about me not eating seafood at all? I actually DO eat tunafish! Steve thinks that's hysterical since its so fishy but any other seafood I've tried (which really isn't much) I gag like a little child forced to eat veggies.

And FYI on the sports: everyone from Steve to my stepsons to my mom and sister have tried explaining football to me for years. Not only do I have absolutely no interest in it, I can't for the life of me understand any aspect of it. But you see basketball games are 1. short, and 2. inside 99% of the time. So I'm never too hot or too cold and never having to watch one for more than an hour