It's ALL about the FOOD! An October 2012 PTR! - Trip Report Started.

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Joining in!!

First, I'm very sorry to hear about what your mom is going through! I hope she is feeling well soon, and that her treatments are quick!

I'm super jealous that you'll be going for Food & Wine! That's my dream time to go to Disney! I think Coronado Springs sounds like a good choice, you won't be too far from Epcot then! Have you decided if you're going to go to the Swan & Dolphin foodfest?

 

[smile4stamps]

Joining in!!

First, I'm very sorry to hear about what your mom is going through! I hope she is feeling well soon, and that her treatments are quick!

I'm super jealous that you'll be going for Food & Wine! That's my dream time to go to Disney! I think Coronado Springs sounds like a good choice, you won't be too far from Epcot then! Have you decided if you're going to go to the Swan & Dolphin foodfest?

Thanks for joining!!

My mom isn't doing so well with the Chemo. She says she is exhausted and just can't sleep. Her body aches all the time and despite drinking tons of fluids keeps needing to go in for IV fluids a couple times a week.

Aww! Don't be jealous of the F&W festival trip! Just book a trip to join in the fun (Don't you wish it were that easy!!)

My dream time to go to Disney is actually End of October through beginning of Nov (like Oct 30-Nov10) That way you can hit Halloween, Holidays, and F&W! However I really love the sound of the Swolphin F&W Classic so I altered my dream time to accommodate that! So YES we will definitely be going to that. What I haven't decided is if we should just go the day we arrive or if we should go both the Friday & Saturday!!

I like the thought of Staying at Coronado Springs sometime but am really hoping to get a DVC resort for this trip. I have the weeks (in RCI) that are going to expire and can't think of a better place to use them!

 

[PixieMama]

Came over from my PTR to yours!

Now going back to catch up...

 

[smile4stamps]

Came over from my PTR to yours!

Now going back to catch up...

Thanks for stopping by!! I just redid my intro! Not sure if you will find the old or new version!!

 

[PixieMama]

Thanks for stopping by!! I just redid my intro! Not sure if you will find the old or new version!!

I read the new version, LOL!

First, I'm so sorry your mom is going through such a hard time. Will definitely send good thoughts her way!

I am so excited for DH and I to finally experience F&W! I need to find out more info about it, though. Like can you use dining credits? And more info on the special events.

I thought about getting tickets to La Nouba as a surprise for DH, but since there aren't any shows on Sundays and we may do MNSSHP on Tuesday, I'm not sure we'd be able to make a show.

Looking forward to reading more about your plans!

 

[smile4stamps]

I read the new version, LOL!

First, I'm so sorry your mom is going through such a hard time. Will definitely send good thoughts her way!

I am so excited for DH and I to finally experience F&W! I need to find out more info about it, though. Like can you use dining credits? And more info on the special events.

I thought about getting tickets to La Nouba as a surprise for DH, but since there aren't any shows on Sundays and we may do MNSSHP on Tuesday, I'm not sure we'd be able to make a show.

Looking forward to reading more about your plans!

I wish I could be there for my mom but there is lots of family around to give her support.

Snack credits can be used at the booths for food items (at least in prior years!) All Alcohol is of course OOP.

I'm so very excited to be going to F&W as well! Some of the special events are pretty pricey but I think they have some smaller tasting ones that are more reasonable. I am of course planning the expensive ones lol!

The good thing about La Nouba is it has been there for a long time and I imagine it will continue to be so if it doesn't work out this trip you can try again in the future!

 

[DLB]

Will be joining in. We are looking forward to F&W as well..

 

[tutti]

HI! Just found my way over from my PTR to yours! First I want to say I'm sorry about the news of your mom I wish you guys the best!

I am trying to find some other out of the ordinary things to do also! I think we're going to try a Segway tour this time and next time (this trip I will need to convince him why we need to be back!) maybe do like a behind the scenes tour.

PS I am SUPER jealous about you going for two weeks!

 

[smile4stamps]

HI! Just found my way over from my PTR to yours! First I want to say I'm sorry about the news of your mom I wish you guys the best!

I am trying to find some other out of the ordinary things to do also! I think we're going to try a Segway tour this time and next time (this trip I will need to convince him why we need to be back!) maybe do like a behind the scenes tour.

PS I am SUPER jealous about you going for two weeks!

Thanks for joining in! I'd love to do the Segway tours but due to the weight limit we are unable.

If i am not able to do the DVC exchange I highly doubt my hubby will go along with 2 weeks! But if we don't do 2 weeks I have no idea what restaurants to get rid of!

 

[smile4stamps]

So I decided to go ahead and pre-order the Photopass CD. I am sure we will get enough pictures to make it worthwhile!

Here are some of the ones from 2009!

Hubby is really happy in this photo because he has just completed 2 hours with the Pastry Chef at the Grand Floridian!

And thats my hubby for you!!

 

[PixieMama]

That reminds me to pre-order the PhotoPass CD this week before the price goes up!

We used PhotoPass for the first time on my girls trip last year, and I must say I was very pleased with the photos! I think it will be nice to have on our anniversary trip, as it might be the only way to get photos of DH and I together!

 

[eaj1228]

RCI has posted check-in dates in October for DVC exchange!! So far it goes to October 6th! One more week and I should see the start of my dates!!!

Of course no Epcot Resorts but they are showing Wilderness Lodge Villas, SSR, and OKW!

Of those I am leaning towards to VWL but will take what I can get!

Anyone have any input on any of the DVC resorts?

I am going in October too. I have DVC and am doing a split stay between AKL Kidani and SSR. We love SSR and being able to walk to Downtown Disney. The resort has a very relaxed feel to it. We love being able to grab a bite at Wolfgang Pucks Express or have ice cream at Ghirardelli.

We were going to try somewhere new for the second half of our trip but things were pretty booked up for the last four nights and the only options we had for a two bedroom villa for October 14-18 were OKW, SSR, and AKL. VWL had three of four nights available.

 

[eaj1228]

As this trip is ALL about the food I thought I would prepare my list of restaurant's/events I wish to enjoy!!

Breakfasts
Wave (new)
Crystal Palace (revisit)
Cinderella's Royal Table (new - maybe!)
Kona Cafe (new for breakfast)
1900 Park Fare (new)
Tusker House (revisit)

Any excellent restaurants I've missed? What about desserts? We were pretty disappointed in the desserts last time and with hubby being a Pastry Chef we were expecting more!

Kona for breakfast is always a hit with my family. The Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes are amazing.

 

[smile4stamps]

That reminds me to pre-order the PhotoPass CD this week before the price goes up!

We used PhotoPass for the first time on my girls trip last year, and I must say I was very pleased with the photos! I think it will be nice to have on our anniversary trip, as it might be the only way to get photos of DH and I together!

I think the price goes up the 20th?!? Don't quote me on that though lol!!

I am going in October too. I have DVC and am doing a split stay between AKL Kidani and SSR. We love SSR and being able to walk to Downtown Disney. The resort has a very relaxed feel to it. We love being able to grab a bite at Wolfgang Pucks Express or have ice cream at Ghirardelli.

We were going to try somewhere new for the second half of our trip but things were pretty booked up for the last four nights and the only options we had for a two bedroom villa for October 14-18 were OKW, SSR, and AKL. VWL had three of four nights available.

I'm praying for a 1 bedroom at VWL but will take SSR or OKW (those last 2 usually have more availability) I'm really upset that nothing showed up on RCI last firday. I'm praying I didn't lose my chance!!

Kona for breakfast is always a hit with my family. The Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes are amazing.

I'm torn between ordering the Macadamia Pancakes or the Tonga Toast! Both sound amazing!!

 

[smile4stamps]

The flight dilemma!! I haven't figured out yet HOW we are getting to Florida! Living in 2 different states makes things a little complicated! At first I thought I could grab a flight on Southwest with a stop in Denver and my husband could then join me for the flight from Denver to Orlando. However, the earliest flight on Southwest that has a stop in Denver would not be getting us into MCO until 10:45pm!!!

On the return flight the opposite happens. We would have to leave at 1:30pm (so ME pick-up at 10:30?!?!) This wouldn't work for my plans either!

So then I got to thinking about if I fly into Denver the previous day and we stay in a hotel that offers free parking and then leave bright and early the next morning. The same thing on the way back. I would fly into Denver with my hubby, spend the night in a motel and then catch a flight that morning to San Jose.

That option will add a couple hundred $$ to the deal though so I am not sure.

The other option is to take that later flight on Thursday (instead of Friday) and pay for another room in Orlando. However since we will have to pay for parking anyways I'm thinking the extra night in a hotel in Denver would work out cheaper!

I've also looked at Frontier Airlines as they almost all route through Denver from the West Coast however they do not have any flights that go to Orlando on Friday the 12th!!

Using Kayak I looked to see if anything else could get us there on the 12th at the time I desire and it looks like everything else has a late evening arrival as well...

Hoping for some fare deals soon!!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Love all your photopass photos! Especially the one where he just completed working at GF!

Where do you get the portrait style ones done?

I so badly want to pre-order the cd, but can't afford it until the weekend, but that's after the price goes up. Do you know of any coupons or anything you can get to save some money if you order it after your trip?

Also, let me know if you're interested in a new siggy.

 

[smile4stamps]

Love all your photopass photos! Especially the one where he just completed working at GF!

Where do you get the portrait style ones done?

I so badly want to pre-order the cd, but can't afford it until the weekend, but that's after the price goes up. Do you know of any coupons or anything you can get to save some money if you order it after your trip?

Also, let me know if you're interested in a new siggy.

We got the Portrait style ones done in the Deluxe Resorts. If I remember correctly they had the Photopass Photogs there in the evenings from like 4-6pm. You could add them to your regular photopass card and it didn't cost any extra. Also the ones with the plain blue background were done at Downtown Disney. Its supposed to be for the Bippity Boppity Boutique there but I think if they have time they will do the pics. (Again not sure if that is still true either.)

Since we were at most of the Deluxes for dinner anyways we found it awesome that we could get some nice pics done!

The only discount I know of for WDW is the prepurchase and unfortunately rumor is the price is going up $30 this week! I don't know of any specials after your visit. I do know since your trip is closer if you prepurchase and then found you didn't get enough pics or don't like the ones you got you can get a refund! Just need to let them know within 90 days and you will receive a credit!

I'd love a new sig! I kinda messed mine up trying to make it smaller! I don't want one real big as my signature area is already on the bigger size... I love Winnie the pooh and blues and purples... I also like Minnie!

 

[smile4stamps]

Will be joining in. We are looking forward to F&W as well..

I completely missed your post!! SO SORRY!! Thanks for joining!!!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Well I think we are just going to risk it and not pre-order, and see how many we can get, and if we like it enough, then just suck it up, haha.

Ok, so I made one each of Minnie and Pooh. I hope I made them small enough for you. I can still make them smaller if you'd like. I chose a fall-themed Pooh, since your trip will be in October. Hope you like them!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

My vote is for the extra night in Denver - it seems like the least stressful option, and you wouldn't have to worry about flight delays or that sort of thing. And you guys would be able to fly down together!