I thought you said we were not going back for a LONG time?.. Nov. 2013 PTR

[nicynot]

Welcome! to my first ever PTR!

Let me begin by saying that I am a die-hard DIS - 'lurker', and only made an account no more then a year ago. Please be patient with me, i really have no clue what i am doing, all i know is that i am a disney nut, and felt like ranting and sharing my trip planning, and later on my trip.
You will notice rambling from me!

The trip dates?
November 14th until the 25th!

Where will we be staying?
Coronado Springs Resort (is the my first pick? no. Am i okay with this? yes.)

Stay tuned for my actual PTR for our 2013 trip.. Yes see how this works, we go once every other year since 2009!

Not sure how to do this but here,

Continuing Intro
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49716953&postcount=4

The Plans as of October 1st.. these will probably change, since i am hoping for some FP's to MMSEP and Wishes,
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49717491&postcount=5

Update November 3rd
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=49992739&postcount=8


Lets introduce myself and the DBF

This is from our first trip in 2009. We had both just finished college and his parents told us they were taking us to disney! they would pay for everything for us. We got our own room, with a connecting room to theirs, and stayed at CBR. We went the last week of September. We are from Canada! and this was my first time actually leaving our province, let alone my first time on a plane... It was very overwhelming and i told myself i would never go on a plane again, except for when it was time to go home!

Now, this first trip i did not know what i was getting myself into, all i knew was there was going to be " ALOT of fireworks, EVERY night! ". This I was okay with! We had the free dining that year, but for some reason it was the quick serve plan. I had no idea there were forums and websites dedicated to disney for that trip. I had no idea how you would get from place to place, and really i was completely clueless. I had a small camera with me, and i think it held maybe 1000 photos. On the 3rd day of our 5 day trip I remember having to delete some photos i could live without to make room for more.

It really was a bad camera but this was my favourite photo from that first trip..



We came back from the trip and continued on with our lives. His parents however had also told DBF's sister that they would take her to disney as well, but there was no way we could go at the same time, so about 1.5 months later, they were back in disney again! Only this time they were there for christmas! They came back and told me ALL about it. That was their first mistake! They had me hooked. I didn't mention anything for a while about disney again, but after a while maybe 1 year later i mentioned to DBF that i wanted to go for christmas that year. So in his mind, we were there in 2009, and we waited a year so going in 2011 made sense to him, go one year, skip another year, and then go back!
We invited DBF's parents to go with us again!, we gave them a little towards their trip, and they agreed to go with!
If you do not already know, Thanksgiving in Canada is in October.. So i decided to make a 3 month long holiday season! We decided to back to disney before the American Thanksgiving and miss all the craziness at the airports!

2011 Trip
November 13th until November 23rd. Stayed in Port Orleans French Quarter.
This then became my go-to resort. I fell in LOVE with it!
For this trip i planned like there was no tomorrow. We had the regular dining plan this time, I still didnt know about the 180 day adr but still managed to score alot of good places to eat! I had everyday pre-planned on bristol board, that i cut into strips by day and took them with me! I also found a map of any little thing i thought i would need and synced it with my then new iphone4s.
I took ALOT of photos that trip and never had to worry about deleting any, since i have a TON of space on this thing!
On this trip i got sucked in with all the christmas. Christmas was everywhere, it really is a magical place to be!

Oh i guess you can tell i got on a plane again, even though i said it was my last time. This flight wasnt as bad, i took some pills that kept my nasal passage open, and i learned to take a nap on the plane with makes the flight shorter. I wish for the times on year i go to florida they would have a non-stop flight. But NO, everytime i go i have to do layovers.. I think the layovers take ALOT out of me..

Some of my favourite photos from the 2011 trip..


I LOVE THE GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT!!!


and the beach club... okay i really just like the deluxe resorts!


Learned about instagram during that trip.


we had a really good location for the parade, alot of characters were pointing and waving!


okay... not always at me



DBF found a new girlfriend... HAHA, he gets embarrassed way to easy!











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[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[nicynot]

Following along!

THANKS! enjoy

 

[nicynot]

SO
When i left you earlier this evening, i had just rambled on about how i started my love of disney in 2009. SInce my last trip in 2011, DBF and i have purchased a house together (in April) which in most peoples minds would say " ohh lets save up some money, for this house we just bought." But NO! I decided to go back!

Not only are DBF and i going back, in November i may add, we are bringing along are usual vacationing buddies, his parents, which would normally be enough people, correct? I didnt stop there.. Also invited DBF's older sister, who actually is my age. OH and we also invited his uncle, and aunt, and thought well might as well throw in their two kids as well, who are 16 and 13. So, 9 of us in total!

Of course i wanted to stay in my new fav resort, POFQ, so in may we called and book 3 rooms. DBF and I. His parents and sister, and then his aunt, uncle with their kids. I had done a little 'investigating" and picked to arrive on a day i felt would allow us to get free dining if/when it became available. Was i hoping for free dining? Yes! Did a resort get to booked to offer free dining due to people like me? I do not know.. But as we all know, free dining came and POFQ was not on the list.. So what did we do? tried to book riverside.. DId that happen? Nope. Had to book CS with free dining. Oh well. I'm going to disney, and it is in November, and i have free dining! YAY!

Since booking this in May we added a new addition to our household.. A DOGGY!! i was not planning on this until after our trip, maybe sometime in late winter 2014. I went to meet a lady and her house of dogs, to get a feel for how she raises them, and how they act, and she talked me into one of her dogs. For free, since he has allergies. OH and she told me she would watch him for us while we were gone!

Meet, MACK! or mack-a-doodle as i often call him, since he is a labradoodle!



and meet his friend.. lol




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[nicynot]

THE PLANS!!!

Anyone could guess what happened next. I waited. Patiently? For the day to come when i could make the ADR's. When they morning came, i already knew what parks would be happening on what day, and approx. when i needed to make the ADR's. For only 2 tables did i have to make two separate ressies.
Then the loooong wait for online check in. While waiting, i learned i might be getting a magic band, which we all know is new to all of us. I am still a bit baffled, and confused by it all. 60 day mark came, and i could not "customize" the bands, nor could i make and FP+. About a week later, i was able to make the FP+ plans and customized our bands. I got orange! all lower case letters for my name. DBF got Blue. I also have the log-in's and passwords for the two other reservations, so i can make sure we all have the same times booked for things. The other colors in the group will be, 3 more blue, a pink, another orange, a green and a red.

I was able to customize bands for everyone but confirming our shipping addresses. Since living in Canada we will not be receiving this until we get to the resort.


Thursday Nov 14th, Arrival Day!
Our flights leave around 8 am, our time. After a layover in Newark, We should arrive in Florida around 230-3. When we get to the resorts, and check in DBF and i will have to lay down for a nap to re-coup from the morning/afternoon of flying and pressure changes.

We have reservations for 9 people at Rain Forest Cafe in DTD for 730. I actually have not eaten here before
I don't know if i can do this yet or not, but hoping to get my photopass plus activated that night in DTD as well..

If i have time, I will be trying to get to Magic Kingdom, to then mono to GFR to hopfully catch the holiday fireworks! The last trip i tried at the poly from the beaches, which was nice, but i wanted to be a bit closer.

Friday Nov 15th

Dinner - 4pm - 9 people - Hollywood Studios - 50's Primetime Diner
I am a picky eater, this is a tough one for me. Last time DBF's dad had to stand in the corner and sing a song, after he tattle-taled on another man from another table who had his elbows on the table :

We will be going to Mk for the morning, and then making our way to HS where i have our fastpasses booked as follows,
255-355 - 9 people - Toy Story!! (FYI one of my fav. rides)
555-615 - FANTASMIC, for all of us!!
7-8 - Star Tours (just to fill up the last slot) but since the park closes at 8, I don't know if i'll make it in time?

Saturday Nov 16th

Since HS has extra hours, thats what i planned on for the morning, then FP+ came along, so i do not think i would have had to to the extra hours, but i still will.

Fastpasses:
10-11 - RNR
1130-1230 - TOY STORY!
1250-150 - Lights, Motors, Action (anyone do this yet? hows it work with fast passes?)

Around 3 we will probably break up for a nap, or a swim in the pool?

Bus to MK and then boat to GFR for a 6:15 reservation for the first buffet! 1900 Park Fare, for 9 of us.

Then i hope to break up, so i can do some photo taking, and not worry about boring the other people in our party, with my obsession

Sunday Nov 17th

Epcot Morning.
Fastpasses:
9-10 - Test Track
1030-1130 - Space Ship Earth
1205-105 - Living with the land

Did anyone notice Mission Space available for FP+, i didnt notice it.

For dinner we have two groups.. DBF's parents and his sister will be at the Garden Grill. The rest of us will mono to MK and then boat to Wilderness Lodge for Trails End restaurant at 4:45, Just incase i left the reservation open for 9, which might be greedy to anybody else wanting this..?

For the night we will go with the flow and head to HS for xtra hours, and spend them gazing at the Osbourne Lights!!! Hoping the 'Glow with the Show' ear hats will be available like they hinted about..

Mon Nov 18th

We will all just resort hop for the day, and see places such as, AKL, GFR, Poly, WL, YC, BC.

Dinner will be at 5pm at Chef Mickey's for 9 people.

Fastpasses:
240-305 - Dream Come True Parade
740-805 - Main Street Electrical Parade
835-855 - Wishes Fireworks!

Tues Nov 19th
This was a really hard day to get the fp+ I wanted. I plan on doing 2 quick serves this day, to save a table serve for our departure day, so we can get a good breakfast!

Animal Kingdom!

Fastpasses:
940-1040 - Everest
1135-1235 - Dinosaur
1235-135 - Primeval Whirl

Wed Nov 20th

Park Hopping, Magic Kingdom
Fastpasses:

9-10 - Big Thunder Mountain
11-12 - Peter Pan
12-1 - Space Mountain

We split for dinner again this day. DBF's parents and his sister will be going to Teppen Edo, and the rest of us will... Bus to POFQ and boat to DTD so we can see some of it, and then i have a 4:45 reservation for Splitsville luxury Lanes

That night will probably split up again..

Thurs Nov 21st
The day of MAGIC KINGDOM!

Fastpasses:
9-10 - Barnstormer
1010-1110 - Enchanted Tales with Belle
1110-1210 - Dumbo

We will go back to the resort to nap this day!

Diner Reservations for 9 - 4:05 - The Plaza Resturant, for my turkey club and sundae!

Then we have MVMCP tickets!

Fri Nov 22nd

Morning wide open...

Dinner will be 5pm - Cape May Cafe

Fastpasses:
3-4 - Soarin
7-8 - The seas with nemo!
835 - 855 - Illuminations for 9 people!


Sat Nov 23rd

Hollywood Studios planned again

Fastpasses:
9-10 - Toy Story
1025-1125 - Twilight Zone Tower of Terrow
1125-1225 - Star Tours? I would like to change this, but cannot be bothered yet with logging into 3 accounts, just to change one fast pass, the site isn't fun to get around yet.

We have an early dinner in MK for 3:15 at Crystal Palace.

Sun Nov 24th

Again, leaving it open, so others in the party can pick things to do, but i have fast passes for

620-720 - Buzz Lightyear
720-820 - Meet Cinderella and a visiting princess. DBF not so excited, his mom on the other hand got very excited when i told her
820-920 - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Stay for extra hours!

Mon Nov 24th
The day that always arrives to quickly!
We fly out at 3ish, so i booked a reservation (after alot of attempts) for 9 at 1900 park fare for 915, since i wont have any days left in parks..


What do you all think? what would you do different? or try to sneak in?



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[LB1122]

Joining in and so excited for you. Your trip looks like it will be so so so fun.

I will be there about a month after and have not gotten word on Magic bands yet but am keeping my fingers crossed...having the plans for Fastpass will be great as there are a few rides I have not done yet and so want to with the fastpass plus option.

By the way...the dog...and his toy adorable!!

 

[nicynot]

Joining in and so excited for you. Your trip looks like it will be so so so fun. I will be there about a month after and have not gotten word on Magic bands yet but am keeping my fingers crossed...having the plans for Fastpass will be great as there are a few rides I have not done yet and so want to with the fastpass plus option. By the way...the dog...and his toy adorable!!

Welcome!!
I didn't know anything about them until maybe 51 days before.. I know nothing but a random #. But all I could do then was book fast passes. You'd think I'd have to have a band to book rides huh?.

We call him his 'friend' so doodle doesn't chew 'mommys' toy. Lol

 

[nicynot]

Update, November 3rd
Next week i will be in Walt Disney World, and it doesn't seem real at all.
I have made a few updates to my schedule, this includes Monday the 18th, i snagged some better fast passes for my magic kingdom day. The morning i found out i could book the parades and fireworks for November, I was allllll
over it! Managed to get all party members (9) fastpasses for Dream Come True, Electrical Parade, and Wishes!!


I also just wanted to say that with all the negative activity going on the website what with the fast passes not being purple, and now that we can only book one headliner a day at epcot (if you had not made them before the 1st of nebvember), that i am SUPER PUMPED for this trip, and i just don't understand all the negativity going on. Okay so maybe I didn't like not know if I would be getting the bands or not, but thats all. I like planning ahead for a trip, including the food for each day, even if it is 180 days in advance. In the span of a ten day trip i will go on most rides, so why complain about how you don't know what ride you'll wanna do 65 days in advance?? You are going to do all rides you like, and eat all food you like, it is not that hard to just write down a list of these restaurants and then just book them, based on availability.

Ohh and now, since the airport is a 1.5 hr drive away and my plane leaves before 830, we have all booked a hotel room by the airport for the night. Its just about even to park, sleep, and fly, rather then just, park and fly. PLUS we will get the included breakfast!!

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