DisFanJen
Disney Phreak
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2011
Jen, Stacey & the December 2011 Shindig Table of Contents
(For those who want to skip to the meat of the report, and yes I should have made an extra post for this at the beginning of the thread)
I'll be including both the PTR and main report in here rather than posting multiple threads so that those who are subbed will get a notification of new posts.
Pre Trip Report - See below.
Pre Trip Report Update 1
Pre Trip Report Update 2
Pre Trip Report Update 3 - Mini Update
Pre Trip Report Update 4 - Another Mini Update
Pre Trip Report Update 5 - It's packing time!
Day 1 & 2 - Drive up and Flight!
Day 1 & 2 - Drive up and Flight! Pt2
Day 3 - MK!
Day 3 - MK! Pt 2
Day 4 - AK & Cali Grill
Day 4 - AK & Cali Grill Pt 2
--------
Ok, I've not had much luck with trip reports.
The first one I did was a photo report and that was OK. The second was much more wordy but it sort of just petered out (strange from an aspiring writer). The third got halfway done then the podcast and associated website shut down and the forth well, pretty much went the way of the third...
But not disheartened, (well maybe a little) I'm going to embark on a stupendous, exciting, and hilarious trip report!!!
(Note, the editor provides no guarantee as to the level of 'stupendousness', 'excitement' or 'hilarity' contained within this trip report)
The main players in this little escapade are as follows:
The amazing, stupendous and glamorous me!
(For those who want to skip to the meat of the report, and yes I should have made an extra post for this at the beginning of the thread)
I'll be including both the PTR and main report in here rather than posting multiple threads so that those who are subbed will get a notification of new posts.
Pre Trip Report - See below.
Pre Trip Report Update 1
Pre Trip Report Update 2
Pre Trip Report Update 3 - Mini Update
Pre Trip Report Update 4 - Another Mini Update
Pre Trip Report Update 5 - It's packing time!
Day 1 & 2 - Drive up and Flight!
Day 1 & 2 - Drive up and Flight! Pt2
Day 3 - MK!
Day 3 - MK! Pt 2
Day 4 - AK & Cali Grill
Day 4 - AK & Cali Grill Pt 2
--------
Ok, I've not had much luck with trip reports.
The first one I did was a photo report and that was OK. The second was much more wordy but it sort of just petered out (strange from an aspiring writer). The third got halfway done then the podcast and associated website shut down and the forth well, pretty much went the way of the third...
But not disheartened, (well maybe a little) I'm going to embark on a stupendous, exciting, and hilarious trip report!!!
(Note, the editor provides no guarantee as to the level of 'stupendousness', 'excitement' or 'hilarity' contained within this trip report)
The main players in this little escapade are as follows:
The amazing, stupendous and glamorous me!
Well let's be honest here, I don't usually look like that when going on vacation, I tend to look more like this...
It was Dale's fault! Honest!
Oh, if you have any issues with my partner and I both having indoor plumbing, please move along because:
'Cause the thread ain't listenin' (Joke. I just wanted to find a reason to use that cute image. )
The two bit players in this piece are:
Stoner the cat (trust me if you'd seen him half asleep you'd understand the name)
Who's main contribution was annoying me and walking on my keyboard while trying to book ADRs.
And:
The amazing Towel Bunny! (Ok, he wasn't involved at all but to steal a phrase from the Dr, Towel Bunnies are cool...)
So, after lots of wailing and a' gnashing of teeth we decided that as long as we waited till December we could afford to go to WDW again this year.
Then somehow that 'can just afford' turned into a 16 night trip including a 4 night cruise on the Dream. (I'm dreamin' of a DCL Christmas.... ) Not quite sure how, but it did.
So a phone call DVC member services where we booked SSR & OKW; then a couple of trips to the DCL and Virgin Atlantic websites later and we're all set. Of course you guys know that's only the beginning. There's the Rental Car (I know some people prefer Disney transportation but there's nothing like the privacy of a car at the end of a long park day), the ADRs, any excursions on the cruise... The list goes on.
But the basics were done so I sat back and chilled, happy that all was well.
So the months rolled by and before you know it, it was mid September, the trip was less than 3 months away and everything was fine...
Fine! I haven't booked the ADRs, the London Hotel or car parking, I haven't done online check-in for the cruise yet! Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!
Ok, so first onto the DCL website , get checked in and check out what spots are available for Palo. Surprisingly there were spots for both Palo and Remy so we pushed the boat out and booked Palo for the 2nd night and Remy for the 3rd...
Next, London Hotel and car parking for our UK car while we're in the states. Well we didn't need the Hilton or the Ritz (Hmm, suddenly I fancy a cracker... ) so it was the Premier Inn Heathrow. Not that cheap actually but I imagine the closer to the airport the higher the price hike.
The car was booked with Heathrow long stay (obviously) and that was all set.
For those who know Virgin Atlantic I can hear the cogs whirring in your head as you think to yourself: 'Heathrow? Virgin Atlantic don't fly to MCO from Heathrow!' And you'd be right, but they do fly to Miami! Stacey wanted to fly upper class and there wasn't any spaces on the MCO flight, so we're flying into Miami then driving up. (Why oh why did I have to fly Upper Class on my 40th?! It totally spoiled her!)
Transportation to the Dream wasn't a problem as we have a rental car. So it was pick up at Miami International, drop off at Cape Cavaveral then the opposite way round when we disembark at the end of the cruise, simples!
That just left the ADRs, with which I had copious amounts of help from the afore mentioned Stoner. He had great fun stepping on the back button whilst I was trying to make reservations...
So, firstly it was 3 reservations for Boma breakfast. Personally we think it's the best breakfast on property. Absolutely love it! We'll almost certainly grab a couple of extra breakfasts there on top of the 3 but we'll do it on a walk-in basis. Never had problems just walking in if you turn up at 7:30...
Next came Chef's de France on the 16th as it's a day we're at Epcot, a booking at Sanaa for the 7th as Stacey loves their food and we're done.
Well, at least I thought I was but a thought kept floating around in my mind... 'We've got to take posh clothes for Palo and Remy, so maybe... But they'll never have a spot available this late will they?'
So I went on the online reservations system and there it was, Victoria and Albert's, December the 5th at 20:45.
So a click of the mouse later and we're off to Victoria and Albert's. Wow!
I even noticed that a certain podcast (that I won't mention here in case it breaks any rules) was having a reunion so I RSVP'd for the meets we could attend.
So that's everything, if you want to take a look at our itinerary then just click here and take a gander.
T minus 54 days and counting.
Yeah, that's everything... Isn't it?
It was Dale's fault! Honest!
Then there is my partner and love of my life, Stacey:
Aww, ain't she cute?
Aww, ain't she cute?
Oh, if you have any issues with my partner and I both having indoor plumbing, please move along because:
'Cause the thread ain't listenin' (Joke. I just wanted to find a reason to use that cute image. )
The two bit players in this piece are:
Stoner the cat (trust me if you'd seen him half asleep you'd understand the name)
Who's main contribution was annoying me and walking on my keyboard while trying to book ADRs.
And:
The amazing Towel Bunny! (Ok, he wasn't involved at all but to steal a phrase from the Dr, Towel Bunnies are cool...)
So, after lots of wailing and a' gnashing of teeth we decided that as long as we waited till December we could afford to go to WDW again this year.
Then somehow that 'can just afford' turned into a 16 night trip including a 4 night cruise on the Dream. (I'm dreamin' of a DCL Christmas.... ) Not quite sure how, but it did.
So a phone call DVC member services where we booked SSR & OKW; then a couple of trips to the DCL and Virgin Atlantic websites later and we're all set. Of course you guys know that's only the beginning. There's the Rental Car (I know some people prefer Disney transportation but there's nothing like the privacy of a car at the end of a long park day), the ADRs, any excursions on the cruise... The list goes on.
But the basics were done so I sat back and chilled, happy that all was well.
So the months rolled by and before you know it, it was mid September, the trip was less than 3 months away and everything was fine...
Fine! I haven't booked the ADRs, the London Hotel or car parking, I haven't done online check-in for the cruise yet! Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!
Ok, so first onto the DCL website , get checked in and check out what spots are available for Palo. Surprisingly there were spots for both Palo and Remy so we pushed the boat out and booked Palo for the 2nd night and Remy for the 3rd...
Next, London Hotel and car parking for our UK car while we're in the states. Well we didn't need the Hilton or the Ritz (Hmm, suddenly I fancy a cracker... ) so it was the Premier Inn Heathrow. Not that cheap actually but I imagine the closer to the airport the higher the price hike.
The car was booked with Heathrow long stay (obviously) and that was all set.
For those who know Virgin Atlantic I can hear the cogs whirring in your head as you think to yourself: 'Heathrow? Virgin Atlantic don't fly to MCO from Heathrow!' And you'd be right, but they do fly to Miami! Stacey wanted to fly upper class and there wasn't any spaces on the MCO flight, so we're flying into Miami then driving up. (Why oh why did I have to fly Upper Class on my 40th?! It totally spoiled her!)
Transportation to the Dream wasn't a problem as we have a rental car. So it was pick up at Miami International, drop off at Cape Cavaveral then the opposite way round when we disembark at the end of the cruise, simples!
That just left the ADRs, with which I had copious amounts of help from the afore mentioned Stoner. He had great fun stepping on the back button whilst I was trying to make reservations...
So, firstly it was 3 reservations for Boma breakfast. Personally we think it's the best breakfast on property. Absolutely love it! We'll almost certainly grab a couple of extra breakfasts there on top of the 3 but we'll do it on a walk-in basis. Never had problems just walking in if you turn up at 7:30...
Next came Chef's de France on the 16th as it's a day we're at Epcot, a booking at Sanaa for the 7th as Stacey loves their food and we're done.
Well, at least I thought I was but a thought kept floating around in my mind... 'We've got to take posh clothes for Palo and Remy, so maybe... But they'll never have a spot available this late will they?'
So I went on the online reservations system and there it was, Victoria and Albert's, December the 5th at 20:45.
So a click of the mouse later and we're off to Victoria and Albert's. Wow!
I even noticed that a certain podcast (that I won't mention here in case it breaks any rules) was having a reunion so I RSVP'd for the meets we could attend.
So that's everything, if you want to take a look at our itinerary then just click here and take a gander.
T minus 54 days and counting.
Yeah, that's everything... Isn't it?