Julezdisney's Sept. PTR: Free Dining and my Birthday!

[julezdisney]

errr.... make that July.

Ok. SO.... we leave Sat. July 4th (yikes!!) to Florida. We leave for home on Fri., July 10th.

Arrival day will be a flurry of activity- with the flights, transporting ourselves to Captiva & surprising DMIL, etc.

Sunday and Monday will be wonderful beach time w/fam. I'm thinking either Tuesday or Wednesday for our trip up to Orlando. I need to email DFIL because I need to make sure HE doesn't have something special planned. I doubt it though, because he is seriously beach-bumb material. He loves to go there and just swim.... fish.... swim... lay out... eat grilled food.... and much more of the same. He has a very high stress job as VP of Finance in a division of GE Financial Services and when he wants to unwind... he really just unwinds. But I should make sure though-just in case. I probably have an old email address of his somewhere... or else I'll have Jim forward me what DFIL sends him about our confirmation for the flights.

But IN THE MEANTIME, I'm gonna try to call the ADR line and make arrangements for a late dinner Tuesday, an early morning ADR for breakfast on Wed. AND Thurs. and a late dinner Wed. too. JUST IN CASE. Once I get the OK from him on what day is cool, then I'll cancel whatever we don't need.

But YIKES! I'm so far within the 90 day that I'm scared there won't be anything I want! So far I've put out a written spreadsheet listing the 8 days from arrival to departure, with days blocked out on Sat. for arrival chaos, Sun and Mon for beaching, Fri for last day relaxing family time, and Sat. for leaving chaos.

That leaves Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for some ACTIVITY. Seriously, once I see it on paper I get anxiety at the thought of all those days of nothingness. No homework to do..... hours upon hours of nothing to do.... for 6-1/2 COMPLETE DAYS....

Yes. Must email FIL for the OK to plan something for the girls + Eb.

DH would kill me to read my plans, but um.......... seriously- this was all his idea, right?!??!

 

[kschafer]

Katie- not ONLY are these AMAZING touring plans for a quick trip, but you also had me LAUGHING hysterically as I realized just how much you probably scheme in your mind about quick weekends away to WDW!

Is it that obvious? If it only weren't so far away! Imagine if I lived in driving distance!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Julez, Julez, Julez.

I really can't wait to see what happens with everything. This PTR will be an adventure all right!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sounds good, Julez. I love all Katie's ideas. You should definitely check out DVC!

 

[MEK]

OMG! Julez - There is some serious planning going on now! DVC is a great idea, only I expect that availability might be limited during July 4th week. Still, renting points is an awesome way to save money and if I wasn't so short on points myself, I would rent ya some! I'm already borrowed well into 2010! Def look into this!

I like the idea of doing the extra ADR's for the days you might go. Just make a list of every place you think you might want to eat and go down the list with the reservationist. I bet you will be surprised what pops up. My coworker went last July, on the deluxe dining plan. She had no ADR's 2 weeks before her trip and I think I freaked her out a bit when I said, "CALL NOW!!!!!!!" She did manage to get some decent ADR's, including a Fantasmic Dinner pck, so there is hope!

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[julezdisney]

OMG! Julez - There is some serious planning going on now! DVC is a great idea, only I expect that availability might be limited during July 4th week. Still, renting points is an awesome way to save money and if I wasn't so short on points myself, I would rent ya some! I'm already borrowed well into 2010! Def look into this!

I like the idea of doing the extra ADR's for the days you might go. Just make a list of every place you think you might want to eat and go down the list with the reservationist. I bet you will be surprised what pops up. My coworker went last July, on the deluxe dining plan. She had no ADR's 2 weeks before her trip and I think I freaked her out a bit when I said, "CALL NOW!!!!!!!" She did manage to get some decent ADR's, including a Fantasmic Dinner pck, so there is hope!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks, MEK! That makes me feel better!

Sounds good, Julez. I love all Katie's ideas. You should definitely check out DVC!

I'm looking and I'm not too sure I want to go that route. If we had to cancel or my DH and DFIL are adament we don't stay the night, I'd screw up someone's DVC stuff!

Julez, Julez, Julez.

I really can't wait to see what happens with everything. This PTR will be an adventure all right!

Yah... I think most of the changes happen because I'm so hyper to tell people my plans that I run my mouth.... er...fingers? before plans are set in stone.

Is it that obvious? If it only weren't so far away! Imagine if I lived in driving distance!

Yes, I feel your pain, Katie!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I'm looking and I'm not too sure I want to go that route. If we had to cancel or my DH and DFIL are adament we don't stay the night, I'd screw up someone's DVC stuff!

That's a good point and very considerate of you! Well, no matter what you decide isn't the planning process fun?!

 

[MEK]

Hey Julez-

Just checking in to see if there are any updates? Any ADR's yet? Any room ressies?

 

[julezdisney]

We're having a rainy weekend starting tommorow so I'll be holed up in the house for the next 2 days! I plan on a couple updates!! :

 

[Charleston Princess]

We're having a rainy weekend starting tommorow so I'll be holed up in the house for the next 2 days! I plan on a couple updates!! :

Yeay for updates!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

A couple updates! We'll hold you to that...

Sorry 'bout the rain but selfishly happy to benefit from it in the form of DIS updates!!

 

[julezdisney]

SO.... as I ventured into this new trip planning expedition, I decided to get a rediculous amount of books from the library, as well as purchased the 2009 Passporter.

Here's the reading I have been attempting.
The first three are works of fiction.

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
by Cory Doctorow

This is a science fiction work that I ..... couldn't finish. I got a couple chapters in, and while it is set in Disney World, I quickly lost my interest because #1- I don't generally like science fiction. #2- The author made a few mistakes in his portrayel of Disney World, stating facts about DisneyLAND when he was supposed to be in Florida so.... I can not STAND mistakes like that. He also made a mistake regarding the age of the character, first stating he was in his 80s.. than later proclaiming it was in his 100+ yr. Another point is that, as with many sci fi books, there's a whole vocabulary referring to the way of life in this book, that takes place in a few hundred years, btw, and there's NO REFERENCE material in the back like a dictionary for me to understand what things like "whuffies" and "deadheading" mean. And no, we're not referring to the Greatful Dead. Obviously, I don't recommend this book.

The Kingdom Keepers
by Ridley Pearson

Now, many of you may know of this one. It's about a group of kids who's images were turned into "DHI's" Disney Holographic Images- hosts that would walk around the park spouting trivia and giving tours. The "Overtakers" are basically all the characters in the MK, from Chip and Dale to the pirates in POTC, who come to life at night when there's "no one" around and try to take over "our" world. It's awful. Seriously. I tried to read this book in printed form and I couldn't get past the 4th chapter. I didn't fair much better when I got it on CD and listened to it in the car. Mr. Pearson ALSO made mistakes in his references to the Magic Kingdom in Florida with facts that are from Disneyland. There were also some mistakes where something was stated early, and than restated incorrectly later. HOW DO EDITORS MISS THAT?! The writing is about a 4th-6th grade level. Again, I don't recommend.


DREAM FACTORY
by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

Ok, so this one I am reading, and I'm quite enjoying it. The writing is on par for the expected readership, and no mistakes so far. Basically, it's about a couple of teenagers who get gigs as character actors at WDW while the regular staff is on strike. Two of the kids fall in love... blah blah blah. I can guess how this book ends, but it's enjoyable. And that's what I really care about, not necessarily "substance" or even an "original" story, but that I can enjoy what I'm reading. It also takes place alternating vantage points between characters and that's a style of writing I adore.

The next books are all for research and information. I love each of them and hope to purchase my own copies via Amazon's "used" books for much less than retail.

Walt Disney World with Kids 2009
by Kim Wright Wiley

This guidebook has not only a wealth of information, but the style of writing isn't strictly "guidebook" which makes it fun to pick up and put down.

Birnbaum Guides 2009
WDW Dining Guide

"A complete insider's guide to dining Disney style"
I had not picked this up last year, as we were doing so much on the fly. However, with our Free Dining trip looming in September, it was almost necessity. Once I thumbed through and realized this gives a full overview of how the DDP works, as well as restaurant indication of participation, I HAD to have it. Usually, I find dining descriptions a bore, but this guide really has some good descriptive writing regarding the many many choices at the World.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009
By Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa

With a crowd calendar rated "9" for our 1-day MK day in July, I NEEDED the expert advice of these guys to make a 1-day touring plan for our family. I love that there are so many touring plans as well. If you have used any of these, please give me your input!!!

The Complete Walt Disney World 2009
By Julie and Mike Neal

"The definitive Disney handbook:
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the pictures and the very detailed descriptions of parks, lands, rides, attractions, and more in this book. The pictures are what drew me in, but the writing and easy to navigate chapters makes this an invaluable resource for planning and for my Daily Disney Fix.

And on the subject of Disney in general we have:

The Disneyland Encyclopedia
By Chris Strodder

"The Official, authorized, and precedented history of every land, attraction, restaurant, shop and event in the original MAGIC KINGDOM."
This book is SOOOOOOOOO interesting. If you've ever checked into the Yesterland website, you'll find this a wealth of info. It gives just everything, A-Z in regards to lands, attractions, restaurants.... um.. ok, I guess I already said that. Yes, pick this up, it's great.

Walt Disney Conversations
By Kathy Merlock Jackson

I haven't made it that far in this book, but what I have read is good so far. Basically covering his management style and the history of the company. Not in-depth, however fact-filled and interesting.

The last book I'm putting up is the last one because I have a little story. It's a handy little book filled with great pictures and information about the park we're going to explore in September: Epcot. Now, one day at work, it was lunchtime and I needed to go for my daily walk. I decided to bring this book, as it's small size makes it very compact and easy to take along. I can tuck this into my purse and pull it out whenever I want. So I go walking with this book one day and after my walk, decide to visit the "loo" before returning to our office. I put the book down, did my business and went back to work. Later that night, I remembered that I had NEVER PICKED IT UP! Doh!! I made a run back to the clinic at 9pm on a Friday night to search for it frantically, to no avail. A custodian took my name and extension # and promised to let me know if it was found. Two days later, I get a call from the library stating that a woman had found the book I'd had checked out at her place of work and returned it for me. OOOOPS!!!

The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World
By The Imagineers

"An Imagineer's-Eye Tour"
"Facts, Figures, Photos, Stories, Concept Art & More"

Highly recommended by Julezdisney

Th-Th-Th-Th-That’s all folks!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, I like your post about the books! You know I love books!

I'll have to check out The Dream Factory!

 

[Dylan_&_Blake's_mom]

Wow, you are a very ambitious reader,lol. I would like to to try a few of these myself.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oooh! Thanks for all the book reviews. I had no idea there were so many works of fiction based in WDW! I have always thought that I wanted to write a book but have never come up with a good idea. Hmmm... think anyone would want to read about a bunch of ladies who "talk" on the computer all day about Disney?

Crowd calendar is a 9 for your MK day? But a 9 in the MK is better than a day anywhere else!!

 

[kschafer]

I have always thought that I wanted to write a book but have never come up with a good idea. Hmmm... think anyone would want to read about a bunch of ladies who "talk" on the computer all day about Disney?

I think I would read it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think I would read it!

I know I would buy a copy!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Look at all of those books! Have you read Realityland??

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

I'm joining in! Gotta catch up!

How do you pronounce your son's name?

 

[MEK]

That's some serious reading Julez. Makes me want to go out and buy a Disney book. Reading about Disney right before I go to sleep is one of my favorite things to do.

thanks for the synopsis of each book!