It’s Not Christmas Till We Visit The Mouse! Dec. 2006

[PrincessV]

Wow - 76 posts and there's still a bit over 3 weeks to departure!!! THAT's a sure sign of a good trip in the making!!!

Thanks so much to you and everyone who's contributing to the fun around here! it really is so much more fun to write these when you have active audience participation I am a tad worried that potential new readers may be turned off by the post count later on, thouhg... maybe a new thread for the actual trip report(?)

Come on, I'm dying to know...what ADR's will you be making? Changing any??? Huh, huh? Did you book the Nemo show??? I can fock you from across a crowded theatre!!

And are you going to the taping on Friday? So many questions....

All in good time, my friend, all in good time......

 

[PrincessV]

Adding on a night is always a great plan!

Absolutely! AND, I no longer feel guilty about such moves, now that I've found my enablers, er friends, on the DIS

 

[PrincessV]

Muahahahaha!!! Great minds think alike, girl!

I pulled the ol' "Less Stress" on DH and decided to add a day to our next trip. I mean, it does take us 1 full day to travel and I told him if we take an afternoon flight and get to WDW in the late evening, then we can just go straight to POFQ and go to sleep and be ready bright and early in the morning.

Less stress by not having to get up at the crack of dawn to make an early flight and less stress about rushing to the resort to get some theme park time so late in the afternoon. HE BOUGHT IT!!! Muahahahaha!!!

EXCELLENT work DM! I need to start utilizing the "Less Stress" methodology with everything involving my DM

Hey, hope your sugery went well and wasn't too serious. I did miss ya! Noticed no new posts... and thought you were slackin' off. Well, now that I know what's going on.... get crackin' girl! Your trip is less than 30 days away!!

Thanks so much! No, nothing very serious, but I'm seriously happy to be done with it!

I KNOW, am I under 25 yet??? Ack, I can't check while I'm posting!

 

[PrincessV]

It's getting close now! Can you feel it? That Disney Holiday Magic? I look around our local stores and see all of the Christmas stuff lining the shelves, and then it hits me - We'll be in WDW for the holidays! WooHoo!

Good luck with adding/changing your ADR's! I just tried to do that yesterday and it was like pulling teeth to try and get something for our party of 5! Luckily, it all worked out, and I'm not going to try and change my ADR's again! LOL!

-Michelle

LOL, my DS pointed out some holiday decorations going up in our neighborhood this morning! Still never feels like holiday season till I get to WDW, though

I'm almost embarassed to say I've had ridiculously good luck with my ADR's. All I can think is we must have the ideal combination of party size (3) and preferred times (11:30 lunch, 5:30 dinner). If you're still looking for some ADR's, I've been hearing stories of good luck getting them once they arrive at The World, though

 

[Lauralee131]

... had the undesireable effect of totally screwing my short-term memory. When I got to work yesterday, I seriously had no memory of dropping Leo off at school!

That's scary, but on a more humorous note, the 80's had that same effect on me!!! To quote my buddy Peter Frampton, "Who's wine? What wine? Where the hell did I dine??"

 

[PrincessV]

Before I get started, I’m ready to re-name DM. Since this is how Leo and I refer to her, and she refers to herself, she will now be Gramma.

One of the things I like most about living in Florida is the WDW FL Resident Seasonal Annual Pass, (phew! Say THAT 5 times fast!). If you’ve not been introduced, this is the one that saves the user big bucks on the price AND prevents her from making the critical mistake of visiting during the busiest times of year. I can visit any of the four major parks any day, for as long as I want, except for two weeks over Spring Break, Christmas week, and most of summer. Shhh, don’t tell… I’d actually pay MORE not to visit during those times!

But that’s not what I love most about my AP. What I really love is not having to navigate the minefield of Disney ticket choices each trip. We grab our AP’s, head out the door, and enter our park, or parks, of choice each day. That’s how we’ve done it for eons. (That’s 5 years in Vspeak.)

Did you notice anything wrong with that plan of attack?
Anything missing??
Some room for improvement???

Good DISers, of course you did!

I can almost hear you over the cyber-lines, “WHAT?? That’s all they’ve ever done, the parks?!”
And you are correct. Okay, not-so-DH and I once went to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. And we do usually wind up at Downtown Disney (DTD) at some point. But that’s it. No special events, no tours, not even much time at the resorts. There’s a “whole new world” out there, just waiting to be explored!

So, this year, I got busy and looked for some new things to introduce to our little trip.
And the first thing I thought of: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

I’ve avoided MVMCP like the plague up till now, fearing it could only mean swarming crowds, cold cocoa, and unhappy children. Then I found the DIS. ((AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!)) Where I learned that MVMCP tickets are limited, the cocoa may not be hot but will likely be warm, and kids LOVE the parade. We’re in! Bought our tickets early to save a few dollars and we’re all set for some “snow” and fun with Ole Saint Mick on Dec. 4.

I also have tentative plans for some pony riding for little Leo at Ft. Wilderness. I say tentative because last fall, Leo refused to go anywhere near the Shetland ponies at his school’s Fall Festival. So we’ll see.

Leo and I scoped out the carriage rides at POR in September and thought that might be a fun thing to do, so that’s on our list of possible extras, too. For sure, we’re going to spend some time exploring both POR and BWI.

At Epcot, I believe we’ll actually stop not just to smell the roses, but to check out the Kidcot stops, as well!

And I have a couple surprises in store for Leo and Gramma. Psst, ever hear of pin trading?! I think it’s time to introduce Leo to the finer points of this classic Disney activity. And who better to help him learn how to trade than Gramma? I ordered a set dirt cheap from Ebay so he can trade his little heart out.

Surprise number two…. Well, you’ll just have to wait for that one! Don’t worry, it’ll be good.

Next up: A Sneak Peak, or the Trip Report within the Trip Report.

 

[lexmelinda]

Alright, V! Gotta love that Florida-gotta-go-during-the-unbusy-no-line-season pass. Almost makes me wish I lived in Florida. Sounds great....and hey, also sounds like your working the itinerary???

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

V,
We considered the carriage at POR, too, but went for the surrey (yeah, you'll read about it!) Next time, it's carriage ALL THE WAY!

 

[Lauralee131]

Before I get started, I’m ready to re-name DM. Since this is how Leo and I refer to her, and she refers to herself, she will now be Gramma.

One of the things I like most about living in Florida is the WDW FL Resident Seasonal Annual Pass, (phew! Say THAT 5 times fast!). If you’ve not been introduced, this is the one that saves the user big bucks on the price AND prevents her from making the critical mistake of visiting during the busiest times of year. I can visit any of the four major parks any day, for as long as I want, except for two weeks over Spring Break, Christmas week, and most of summer. Shhh, don’t tell… I’d actually pay MORE not to visit during those times!

But that’s not what I love most about my AP. What I really love is not having to navigate the minefield of Disney ticket choices each trip. We grab our AP’s, head out the door, and enter our park, or parks, of choice each day. That’s how we’ve done it for eons. (That’s 5 years in Vspeak.)

Did you notice anything wrong with that plan of attack?
Anything missing??
Some room for improvement???

Good DISers, of course you did!

I can almost hear you over the cyber-lines, “WHAT?? That’s all they’ve ever done, the parks?!”
And you are correct. Okay, not-so-DH and I once went to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. And we do usually wind up at Downtown Disney (DTD) at some point. But that’s it. No special events, no tours, not even much time at the resorts. There’s a “whole new world” out there, just waiting to be explored!

So, this year, I got busy and looked for some new things to introduce to our little trip.
And the first thing I thought of: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

I’ve avoided MVMCP like the plague up till now, fearing it could only mean swarming crowds, cold cocoa, and unhappy children. Then I found the DIS. ((AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!)) Where I learned that MVMCP tickets are limited, the cocoa may not be hot but will likely be warm, and kids LOVE the parade. We’re in! Bought our tickets early to save a few dollars and we’re all set for some “snow” and fun with Ole Saint Mick on Dec. 4.

I also have tentative plans for some pony riding for little Leo at Ft. Wilderness. I say tentative because last fall, Leo refused to go anywhere near the Shetland ponies at his school’s Fall Festival. So we’ll see.

Leo and I scoped out the carriage rides at POR in September and thought that might be a fun thing to do, so that’s on our list of possible extras, too. For sure, we’re going to spend some time exploring both POR and BWI.

At Epcot, I believe we’ll actually stop not just to smell the roses, but to check out the Kidcot stops, as well!

And I have a couple surprises in store for Leo and Gramma. Psst, ever hear of pin trading?! I think it’s time to introduce Leo to the finer points of this classic Disney activity. And who better to help him learn how to trade than Gramma? I ordered a set dirt cheap from Ebay so he can trade his little heart out.

Surprise number two…. Well, you’ll just have to wait for that one! Don’t worry, it’ll be good.

Next up: A Sneak Peak, or the Trip Report within the Trip Report.

Ok, so were you peeking at my papers?!?!? The water parks, the Kidcots and pin trading...hmmm...sounds like you're copying my plan!

Ok, well it's more of an outline at this point, but those are things on our list too...DS got a few pins and a lanyard last trip, but the lanyard is the kind that closes with velcro and kept coming undone so he needs a new working one but otherwise he's ready to start...As for me - I'm not sure how I'd do at trading...I'm more of a collector...or should I say hoarder?

 

[mmmcq]

Hi, glad you're back so soon.

You really have led a "sheltered" life at WDW - not leaving the Parks. But I think that naturally comes on multiple trips and on vacations where you "add a day". It helps alleviate possible WDW boredom - like that would ever happen to my family.

Just a warning on the pin trading. It is fun and addictive...but it can also be expensive. Over the course of 5 or so trips my girls had amassed enough pins to warrant a case. Said cases were purchased and one long night at WDW the pins were painstakingly organized by my then 13-10 year old daughters.

Unfortunately, at the fountain just outside the castle where we stopped to take a picture, one of my DD's put the case down (4x4) on a bench and forgot it when we walked to the first store outside the castle near Dumbo. She remembered 1 minute later....but the case was gone and despite hours of searching and daily trips to Lost & Found the case was not returned. That case was full and had probably $200 in pins. Needless to say there were lots of tears and the pins and case had to be replaced. We don't trade pins anymore.

 

[aldisneygrl]

Princess V! I am so glad I found this Pre Trip Report. I got sucked into the Good Morning Celebrity Guess What Our Secret Project Is Thread for a while. Now that we know it will be revealed next week, I have time to explore other threads. So of course I came right over here!

Can't wait to see if Leo will ride the horses or not. Waiting to see if Gramma and Leo enjoy pin trading... Since I am not going back for a long time, I am enjoying riding along with you.

Keep up the good work! BTW, I did get rewarded for my hard work on the GMCGWOSPI (Good Morning thread)! I got tagged! The Tag Fairy is the ONLY true celeb!

 

[jaycns]

I'm hooked (in a good way ). Please keep up the updates!! I read your last trip report today also...I LOVED the picture of the shuttle taking off with the Epcot stuff in the foreground. What a neat shot!!

 

[PrincessV]

Alright, V! Gotta love that Florida-gotta-go-during-the-unbusy-no-line-season pass. Almost makes me wish I lived in Florida. Sounds great....and hey, also sounds like your working the itinerary???

It is great, BUT I'll be forced to upgrade soon - Leo enters Kidnergarten next year, so the days of taking a few days off here and there are coming to an end. Oh yes, the itinerary is working so hard right now, smoke's coming off the spreadhseet!

We considered the carriage at POR, too, but went for the surrey (yeah, you'll read about it!) Next time, it's carriage ALL THE WAY!

LOL! I considered the surrey for about 3 nanoseconds. It only took that long to realize just who would be doing all the pedaling

Ok, so were you peeking at my papers?!?!? The water parks, the Kidcots and pin trading...hmmm...sounds like you're copying my plan!

Ok, well it's more of an outline at this point, but those are things on our list too...DS got a few pins and a lanyard last trip, but the lanyard is the kind that closes with velcro and kept coming undone so he needs a new working one but otherwise he's ready to start...As for me - I'm not sure how I'd do at trading...I'm more of a collector...or should I say hoarder?

Nope, no copying here, honest!
Check - I need to find a lanyard and I shall look for the non-velcro variety. Thanks for the tip!

Just a warning on the pin trading. It is fun and addictive...but it can also be expensive. Over the course of 5 or so trips my girls had amassed enough pins to warrant a case. Said cases were purchased and one long night at WDW the pins were painstakingly organized by my then 13-10 year old daughters.

Unfortunately, at the fountain just outside the castle where we stopped to take a picture, one of my DD's put the case down (4x4) on a bench and forgot it when we walked to the first store outside the castle near Dumbo. She remembered 1 minute later....but the case was gone and despite hours of searching and daily trips to Lost & Found the case was not returned. That case was full and had probably $200 in pins. Needless to say there were lots of tears and the pins and case had to be replaced. We don't trade pins anymore.

Yikes, that's awful! I'm not too worried about Leo getting out of hand with it at this point, but I am worried that he'll suck up all our touring time picking out a pin! This guy is one selective shopper; he'll easily peruse the Matchbox car selection for an hour before deciding on one. I don't want to discourage this, but we need to stay on schedule, too!

Princess V! I am so glad I found this Pre Trip Report. I got sucked into the Good Morning Celebrity Guess What Our Secret Project Is Thread for a while. So of course I came right over here!

Can't wait to see if Leo will ride the horses or not. Waiting to see if Gramma and Leo enjoy pin trading... Since I am not going back for a long time, I am enjoying riding along with you.

Keep up the good work! BTW, I did get rewarded for my hard work on the GMCGWOSPI (Good Morning thread)! I got tagged! The Tag Fairy is the ONLY true celeb!

Welcome aboard! And, CONGRATS on your tag!!!! I've given up all hope of ever being tagged - I guess I'm as un-tag-worthy as Elaine's date was un-sponge-worthy.
I was semi-sucked into the GMCGWOSPI, but I just could not keep up with the posts and clues! It'll be very interesting to finally see the reveal. Hope it lives up to our expectations!

I'm hooked (in a good way ). Please keep up the updates!! I read your last trip report today also...I LOVED the picture of the shuttle taking off with the Epcot stuff in the foreground. What a neat shot!!

Thanks so much! That was so funny - it was so bloody hot, I'd stopped caring if we ever saw the shuttle when the CM's pointed out that it would be happening right there in a minute! I got lucky with that one.
Thanks for joining in!

 

[monymony3471]

Ok, that sounds like a great plan for the boys. Pin trading. Yep, I think it's time.

 

[mlill]

Pin Trading is a dangerously addicting sport! (You have been warned!) I'm not too sure about doing the pony riding at Fort Wilderness, unless your son is really into horses, but I would recommend doing a Holiday Sleigh Ride. Leo will love making masks at the Kidcot Stations in Epcot. Make sure you buy him a passport so he can have all of the Kidcot CM's write his name in the passport in their native language! My kids always loved putting the stamps on each page, too. While you're in World Showcase, see if the candy lady is there in Japan. She's fun to watch and I'm sure she would make Leo his own candy pop thingie. We still have ours from a few years ago! Last but not least, you're going to love MVMCP! The snow falling on Main Street is worth it for me. You guys are going to have so much fun!!!

-Michelle

 

[PrincessV]

Pin Trading is a dangerously addicting sport! (You have been warned!) I'm not too sure about doing the pony riding at Fort Wilderness, unless your son is really into horses, but I would recommend doing a Holiday Sleigh Ride. Leo will love making masks at the Kidcot Stations in Epcot. Make sure you buy him a passport so he can have all of the Kidcot CM's write his name in the passport in their native language! My kids always loved putting the stamps on each page, too. While you're in World Showcase, see if the candy lady is there in Japan. She's fun to watch and I'm sure she would make Leo his own candy pop thingie. We still have ours from a few years ago! Last but not least, you're going to love MVMCP! The snow falling on Main Street is worth it for me. You guys are going to have so much fun!!!

-Michelle

Thanks so much Michelle! I forgot all about the Passport.

 

[PrincessV]

I promised a “sneak peek” and a “trip report within the trip report”, right? Well, here it is…

I spent last weekend at WDW, ostensibly to hit Epcot’s Food & Wine Fest with some friends, but surreptitiously to also make some pre-trip purchases.

I won’t actually do a trip report, but I’ll share the highlights. (This may or may not be because I’m a little fuzzy on some details. Because I may or may not have had a few (ish) drinks around the World. Or something.)

I arrived at 10am and checked into the Coronado Springs Resort, where my room was ready and waiting! No upgrades, but it was ready for me, so who’s complaining? I have to say, I was very impressed with CSR. I stayed there years ago, just after they opened, and did not like it at all. Too wide open-feeling. But the foliage has grown in nicely and this really is a beautiful resort now.

My room was immaculate, and even came with a towel animal in the window – my very first ever! I never did figure out what it was, but I’m honored just the same.

After I dumped my bag in the room, I set out on Dec. Surveillance Mission #1 – try out the Disney transportation. In all the years we’ve been going to The World, I’ve never used WDW buses. So I marched over to the nearest bus stop and had a seat. The MK bus came. Then MGM. Then DTD/Blizzard Beach. Then Animal Kingdom. FINALLY, I spied the EP bus pulling in and climbed on board. I sat down and my cell phone immediately began to ring. See, we had 4 parties staying at 4 different locations trying to coordinate our entrance to Epcot. And we were all running late. I quickly became the sole loud-cell-phone-talker on the bus. But it was a quick ride, and when I arrived, I quickly found Parties #1 and 2. #4 showed up soon after, for a total of 6 of us, and we made our way around the World.

The rest of the day was pretty much the same routine:
Eat.
Have a drink.
Laugh.
Eat more.
Drink more.
Laugh louder.
Eat again.
More drinks.
Laugh really loudly and obnoxiously.
Skip the food.
Double the drinks.
Laugh so hard we run to the ladies’ room.

You know those groups you often see at events like this – the ones that make you say “Good grief, can you believe those people?! They’re way too old to be behaving in such a juvenile way!”??

Yeah, that was us. Here’s the evidence…

But a good time was had by all and I happily stood in line for my Disney transport back to CSR.

I have to say, I sure didn’t save any time by taking the Disney busses, but I do see the value in feeling like you’re really on vacation by letting someone else handle the driving. It was sort of fun! I definitely think we’ll utilize the busses for at least some of our Dec. trip.

I’d been looking forward to spending the night at a nice hotel, all by myself, for months. But guess what? I was LONELY. I missed Leo!! I woke up at my usual 6am and no amount of talking myself into it could get me back to sleep. I gave serious consideration to using this early awakening to my advantage and hitting Expedition Everest before my planned morning of shopping, but I really didn’t even want to go to the parks alone. My hat is off to those who travel WDW solo, but it’s just not for me, I guess. Turns out I’m more social than I thought!

After a not-so-great breakfast at CSR, I headed over to Downtown Disney for Dec. Surveillance Mission #2 – pre-trip purchases. See, with my AP, I get a little discount on merchandise at World of Disney, so I’ve been saving all my purchases for here. I got a Mickey stocking for Leo, and a bunch of little toys, games and treats to fill it up. This will mysteriously appear in our hotel room on Day 1, and will be a surprise for Leo when we come back from dinner! (It will also be a nice little treat for Gramma and me, as all items were carefully selected to provide ample entertainment to a certain 4 year old during meals.) I also bought him a pint-sized lanyard for his new pin-trading activity. And one more item…. which shall remain a secret until its unveiling in the real TR!

I also got sucked into the Christmas shop, where I fell prey to the Disney Merchandising Machine once more. Thinking ahead, I got a Boardwalk Inn 2006 ornament and a box of Mickey ear glass ornaments.

There! All my shopping is complete, I’ve tested the Disney transportation system, and we’re ready to go! How many more days???

Next: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

 

[monymony3471]

I am reading about those of you who have had the opportunity to do a girls mini trip and I've decided, that yes. That will happen for me. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[mlill]

I am SOOOO jealous! I would love to get away and do a mini-trip, especially during Food & Wine! That's it! We're moving to Florida!

-Michelle

P.S. It looks like you had way too much fun!

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

V,
How is February looking???? My men are too busy riding to shop and I could use some company!