Lard Wrestling and Sleep Deprivation – A Dec. 08 TR

[TPCShauna]

"So if you book the trip, does that mean you'll finally stop talking about it?"

My poor DH. After months of hearing me wax eloquent about WDW, the food, the parks, the rides, and the resorts, he finally broke down and uttered the magic words - "So if you book the trip, does that mean you'll finally stop talking about it?" Of course, I said yes. Bless his heart, he actually believed me.

In an effort to not overwhelm the poor, gullible thing, I've decided to do a pre-trip report. Unfortunately, the creation of said report has resulted in more discussions of planning such as:

"What should I name my PTR?"

"Should I start it now or wait until I'm officially 180 days out?"

"I wonder what we should have for dinner at Coral Reef in 6 months."

I think he has realized that there is no escape from the planning (or the talking.) He seems OK with it. I can't figure out why he's developed that weird tic everytime I speak in acronyms, though.


Here's some quick links for those of y'all who like to skip the chatter and go right to the substance.

Background and Cast of Characters
Down to the nitty gritty - Details and Stuff
Furbabies!
What? You mean you don't go to WDW to dine?
Plans, baby!
Won't that make your arms tired?
Smile for the camera!
To cake or not to cake - a to-do list
Progress Report
Hungry, anyone?
Budget? What is that?
Shopping!
What now?
Scrapping and a TR
I'm Pooped!
Pre-Trip Planning
You oughta be in pictures!
Mini-panic! and a list
Progress Update and Photo Outfit Dilemma
40 days and counting - How do you tour?
We interrupt your regularly scheduled PTR . . .
These shoes are made for walking
The Way We Tour
Epcot Plans
Picture Perfect!
Good News & Bad News - A Photo Session Update
And we have resolution!!
Just Keep Planning, Just Keep Planning . . .
It's Here!!!
Let the packing commence!
Getting down to the wire
Planning Update
How Sweet It Is!!!

 

[TPCShauna]

Background:

Our last trip to the World was December 2005. We live in California and have Disneyland and DCA right down the (500 mile) road so we go there more often. I adore DL and consider it to be my all-time favorite park. We typically stay at DLH when we go to DL so I get a pretty awesome Disney fix fairly close to home. Trips to DLR are mostly low-key because the resort is smaller, we can pretty much tour with our eyes closed due to our familiarity with everything and we are usually there a shorter length of time. Plans basically consist of booking the package, making a couple of ADRs and showing up for the magic.

While we have been planning to return to the World for another trip, we were thinking of doing something during another time of year like maybe Fall to catch MNSSHP and the Food & Wine Festival. Don't get me wrong - Walt Disney World in December is a holiday wonderland of magic and pixie dust. We did MVMCP, CP, Festival of Lights, Holiday Wishes, all of the special holiday parades and resort hopping to look at decorations. It was a great trip and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Even though we had a great time on our last trip, I really wanted to visit during a different time of year to experience different things. Epcot is my favorite park at the World and the World Showcase is my favorite part of the park. I'm a foodie and I love wine so I thought the F&W Fest would be a perfect time to go. Plus, I've always heard that the MNSSHP parade and fireworks are incredible and I kinda wanted to see them. Plus, while Florida never gets "too" terribly cold, our December trip reached lows of 30 and we really wanted some nice pool/water park weather. We'd bounced around a few plans including a combo 7-day DCL cruise and 4-day WDW trip in the Fall of 2009. I was OK waiting this long because it meant that I would get DCL AND WDW in one trip. Too good to pass up, right?

Well, DBIL put a kabosh on that plan. December in Disney - here we come!

Cast of characters:

Starring Roles:

Me: I am a bit of a Disney fan. Well, since we're being honest and among friends, I'm more of an insane Disney fan. I read everything I can get my hands on about Disney and manage to store most of it away in the squirrel holes of my inner brain so that the info can be readily accessed. No conversation is necessarily free from a correlation to something Disney-related. Being in corporate training and a fan of Disney's training program, even work matters aren't necessarily a Disney free zone. I am a HUGE fan of Walt Disney. He changed our lives and the way we think of entertainment for the better, he was an amazing businessman and he was a dreamer. The world is a better place for him having lived here.

I'm 31 in human years and an eternal 8 in Disney years. Being on property at a Disney resort puts a thousand watt smile on my face and I can get misty just thinking about the fireworks at DL or the MK. I'm a planner and list-maker by nature and there are no better lists to make than ones about a Disney trip. Combine the love of the Mouse and the callouses of a list-maker and you've got one well-planned trip and one burnt out husband.

DH: He likes Disney. He enjoys the movies, the music, and the animation. He is a HUGE fan of Walt's Nine Old Men and our more recent animators and is a pretty big Disney trivia repository himself. He has a GREAT time once we actually get to the parks and start doing things. He just prefers not to have to be terribly involved in the process of planning the "things" we do, BUT, he still feels that he gets to complain if something is not to his liking. Stalemate, anyone?

DH is 34 in both human and Disney years. We have been together for almost 10 of those. Over the course of our relationship, he has learned: a) to be picky about hotels, b) that valet is ALWAYS the best option, and c) that he hates the planning portion of any Disney trip. Unfortunately, since he likes participating in a well-planned trip, he has to answer a few questions during the planning process. The NUMBER of questions is where the breakdown occurs.

Minor Roles:

Kitties and New Puppy: We have two ridiculously spoiled cats and a brand new puppy that will be coming home to live with us on July 3. They are a huge part of our life so I will mention them a lot in passing. Besides, I have to put the puppy pics in as many places as possible, right?

DBIL: Yes, he is the reason for the timing of our trip but, hopefully will remain a minor player. There is a slim chance he and his new bride (I will explain later) will be at the World while we are there. We are hoping this won't happen or that they won't have park hoppers and can't follow us.

Future DSIL: I'm sure she's a nice girl, but she's never been to the World and doesn't really understand what the hype is about. She is thinking more than a couple of hours in a park each day is too much and there is no reason to spend more than 4 days at the World. I know, right? Totally delusional!

More to come!

 

[TPCShauna]

So back to DBIL. We got a call back in November from DMIL telling us that DBIL was planning to propose to his GF on Valentine's Day. She said the wedding would probably be the first part of November and we should start planning. DMIL and DBIL live in Tallahassee. The rest of the family is in Tampa so a trip to Florida was potentially coming down the pike.

I, of course, immediately called serendipity and began to talk about a pre-wedding trip to the World. We could do F&W Fest and MNSSHP while enjoying warmer weather AND attend a family wedding. I started to research, quickly decided renting points for DVC was the way to go and began pricing out all of the individual components of the trip. All we were waiting for was the proposal and the subsequent "setting of the date." Since I was pretty much in planning mode, I started asking questions. Discussions of resorts, restaurants, menus and attractions were on-going and DH was getting tired of Disney talk. By February 1st, we had found someone willing to rent us points for a Studio at VWL which put DH over the roof as it turns out he has always wanted to stay there. Now to confirm the date. Unfortunately, patience is a virtue that I don't possess so this part was slightly difficult.

February 14 came, she said yes, and the happy couple promptly set the date for December 6. Through a combination of less that fortuitous circumstances, the DVC point rental didn't happen. DH still had his heart set on the Wilderness Lodge, so we decided to just go ahead, bite the bullet and book another package. With the week before the wedding dipping into the tail-end of the Thanksgiving holiday, we decided to do Disney after the nuptials. DBIL and his bride caught wind and decided they might like to do a honeymoon at Disney instead of the cruise they have planned. We're still waiting to hear the outcome of that decision.

And now for the details (because we all know we want them!)
December 7-14, 2008
Wilderness Lodge Courtyard View
Requests listed on ressie are: Inner Courtyard, Off Lobby, King bed w/tub, 4th/5th Floor
DDP
7-day PH w/WPM

Can we leave now?

 

[siestakeys04]

Cool beans keep it coming!!!!

 

[TPCShauna]

Cool beans keep it coming!!!!

Thanks for visiting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I am just the worst pre-trippie author ever. I started, wrote a couple of mini-books and then abandoned my report! There has been a lot going on so I have many updates. I honestly just think I needed a mini-break from planning and writing about planning. I know that sounds crazy but it's the truth. I've been having a ball reading everyone else's stuff and just needed some time off from mine.

Anyway, I'm back and I'm working on the next installment including pics of us AND of our darling new puppy!!!

 

[shaunaday]

Another Shauna?

...you know I HAVE to subscribe!!

P.S. My DH and your DH must be brothers. I get the identical reaction to all my Disney talk.

 

[TPCShauna]

So I could have sworn I had some pics of DH and myself on my photobucket account but I guess not. I'll have to post one of those later.

In the meantime, I'm going to share pics of our family which consists of our two cats and our new puppy!

Here are our kitties - Arkhe (pronounced "R-k") is on top and Phelia (pronounced "PHEE-lee-a") is on the second tier.

Arkhe is a really mondo kitty. I mean he seriously weighs over 20 lbs.

He has been on a restricted diet for several years and it hasn't worked a bit. We are currently trying something different and it has made him realize he really is on a diet. Have I mentioned that there truly is nothing worse than a hungry cat on a diet? Pissy does not even begin to describe the attitude.

Phelia weighs about 10 lbs. and is stinking cute with his pink nose and pink paws.

He is slightly neurotic (even more so than the normal cat) and the tiniest bit underfed because Arkhe steals his food most of the time. He is a mommy's kitty and likes to sit in my lap, knead my arm and purr.

Gracie is our new puppy and the newest addition to our house.

She is an American Toy Fox Terrier and is 10 weeks in this picture. She weights just over 3 lbs. at the moment and has managed to firmly wrap Daddy around her little paw in the week she has been home.

Her Grace with a few of her toys,

and just being darn cute on her uber-comfy chenille bed.

Our household has reorganized itself a bit since Gracie came home to stay. Arkhe has stayed true to form by being grouchy and sulking in our bedroom. Phelia is jumpy because Gracie wants to play and Her Grace demands a ton of attention.

DH has mentioned several times that he is happy we got a puppy before having a child as he had no idea how much work either one of them is.

 

[TPCShauna]

Another Shauna?

...you know I HAVE to subscribe!!

P.S. My DH and your DH must be brothers. I get the identical reaction to all my Disney talk.

Welcome, Shauna! Nice to read you!

I wonder how many DHs have the same reaction. I'm guessing more than we could guess.

 

[TPCShauna]

Well, I abandoned my PTR again but it was for a good cause. I've been working my butt off to finish up the online class I've been taking and the last couple of weeks have been killer. All is well though so that is all good.

I believe I last left off with discussions of our family. I still haven't uploaded a pic of us but I absolutely promise that I will do so very soon. Now that August has rolled around and I'm nearly down to double digits, it is time to step up the planning again. I want everyone to have faces to go with the words and obsessive list-making. :

So, back to planning.

Part of the original plans for our trip included a ton of visits to the Adventurers Club. It is DH's favorite place on the entire WDW property and it is the only thing he has been talking about during the planning. We enjoy it so much that we had planned our park touring and dining around our AC nights. In our 8 day/7 night stay, we were planning 5 trips to AC and one to Blizzard Beach since DH likes water parks.

Sadly, now that PI and AC are closing down at the end of September, we have had to do some reorganizing. Mind you, I was not looking forward to that Blizzard Beach visit anyway considering we will be there in December and it was 32 degrees the last time we were at WDW that time of year. I had been trying to figure out how to make a swimsuit and scarf look like a perfectly normal and stylish ensemble but hadn't had any bright ideas. The exercise became unnecessary when the evil PTBs at DTD decided to close our beloved AC. We decided to convert our PH w/WP&M option to straight PHs. There is really no need for the extra cost without access to a Kungaloosh and a few Hooplas.

Of course, without 5 visits to AC to plan around, we suddenly had some wide open evenings so I started playing with our dining. We booked the DDP since we loved it so much on our last trip. The only problem with DDP is that we don't each much fast food and have never really cared much for the CS options at WDW. There are a few exceptions like Columbia Harbour House and Tangierine Cafe, but most are just yuck. Even though we only had 7 TS meals on our DDP, we were up to 10 TS ADRs and really wanted to add a few others. DH doesn't take breaks during the day so the only break I get is sitting down for a proper meal at a TS. Plus, I'm a major foodie and DH is definitely in the minor leagues so we like trying the different dining options.

After seeing all the flexibility we had in our schedules after the AC option was removed, I started thinking the DxDP might be a better option for us since we were thinking of adding more TS. We were already up to approx. $360 OOP for the extra TS meals we were planning above our plan allotment. I ran the numbers every which way and quickly figured out that the DxDP would cost a bit more than we were currently paying but that we could do as many TS meals as we wanted without being forced to resort to CS more than necessary. Yes, DxDP costs $450 more than DDP for both of us. It still worked out to be a good deal. So, I emailed my TA, had her drop the WP&M option from our tickets and upgrade to DxDP. What was the $$ damage, you ask? A mere $200 increase of our overall package price. In other words, a total bargain for a license to eat at any TS we wanted to!

 

[TPCShauna]

Like all of the rest of us going to the World in November and December, I had to plan our ADRs without having the hours posted for the parks. My ADR window opened 6 days before the hours were posted BUT I use TourGuideMike to plan my trips so I felt pretty safe. I booked my ADRs on my 180 day and was lucky enough to get pretty much everything I wanted. I've had to tweak a few things since they decided to do away with lunch at the Garden Grill and we changed our flight plans but we now have a schedule we are happy with.

Here's our combined itinerary and dining schedule.

Sunday Dec. 7 - 4 credits
Arrive in early AM, Check-in and head to AK for shows and hopefully late EE rides
CS Lunch (?) in AK
8:20pm Dinner @ Boma

Monday, Dec. 8 - 4 credits
MGM RD
11:10am Lunch @ 50's Prime Time
Mini-break then MK for Spectro/Wishes/evening EMH for a bit
CS Dinner (Columbia Harbour House for me, Cosmic Ray's 1/2 Chicken for DH) at MK while waiting for Spectro/Wishes

Tuesday, Dec. 9 - 6 credits
MK RD
12:05pm Lunch @ The Wave
Leave MK by 5:00pm at latest
DTD for 2 hours or so
9:35pm Dinner @ California Grill (arriving early to watch fireworks)

Wednesday, Dec. 10 - 4 credits
Epcot around 10:15 in just enough time to make 10:30am Behind the Seeds Tour
11:40am Coral Reef
Tour WS and start the first half of my Drinking Round the World tour
6:45pm San Angel Inn
Continue Drinking Round the World Tour, Illuminations and Jellyrolls if we feel like it

Thursday, Dec. 11 - 6 credits
Rest Day
Sleep in and go to 10:20am Breakfast @ 1900 Park Fare
Resort Hopping and mini-golf
8:45pm Dinner @ Jiko

Friday, Dec. 12 - 6 credits
AK RD
11:00am Lunch @ Yak & Yeti
Leave AK around 1:30 and head to MGM 'til close
8:00pm Dinner @ Brown Derby

Saturday, Dec. 13 - 4 credits
Epcot RD
11:30am Lunch @ Le Cellier
Break from 2:00 to 5:00 then back to Epcot to finish Drinking Round the World
9:00pm Dinner @ Le Chefs de France

Sunday, Dec. 14 - 4 credits
Check-out and load car
10:40am Breakfast @ Whispering Canyon Cafe
AK 'til close with hopefully some EE time at the end of the day
7:40pm Dinner @ O'hana
Electric Water Pageant and Wishes fireworks from Poly beach

Restaurant List
Boma - 1st Time
50's Prime Time - 1st Time
Columbia Harbour House
Cosmic Ray's ?
The Wave - 1st Time
California Grill - 1st Time
Coral Reef
San Angel Inn - 1st Time
1900 Park Fare - I Mary Poppins!
Jiko - Our best meal last trip.
Yak & Yeti - 1st Time
Brown Derby - 1st Time
Le Cellier - Yummy risotto.
Le Chefs de France - 1st Time
Whispering Canyon Cafe - 1st Time
O'hana

As you can see, lots of new places for us. We're excited!!!

 

[TPCShauna]

I finalized our dining in early July and put everything related to the trip away. I think I was starting to suffer from a bit of planning burnout since I found myself not wanting to read anything about the trip or planning in general. I've had a nice hiatus now so I'm definitely doing better.

Since we live in California and WDW is in Florida, our only transportation choice is flying. I've been dreading having to pay for what we were sure were going to be insanely expensive flights but we have no other choice. It would take 5 days (at least) to drive cross country and then our trip would be over. Plus, there is always the chance of channeling the Griswolds when you undertake a trek of that magnitude and I'd really rather avoid that if at all possible.

DH and I have both been keeping our eyes on flights for months. They've pretty much been holding steady since February so we haven't felt any pressure. I've basically been waiting to see if anything gets cheaper. Yesterday, cheaper happened. I found round trip Sacramento to Orlando for $628 total for BOTH of us. It is an incredible price and we snapped that right up. Plus, we bought through Priceline so we will get a refund if anyone gets a cheaper price.

I went online last night to choose our seats and the planes are EMPTY! Maybe we'll get lucky and not end up with anyone in the third seat in our row so we'll have a bit more space. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

So, here are the specifics on the flights.
Departing Flight
Leave
12/3/08 SMF 12:28am
Arrive
12/3/08 MCO 10:46am

Returning Flight
Leave
12/15/08 MCO 6:30am
Arrive
12/15/08 SMF 11:13am

We like doing red eyes when we fly East as it shocks our body into the new time zone much quicker than a regular flight. Our return flight gets back home early enough that we will be able to drive to the Bay Area to pick up the puppy from where she will be staying with her breeder. All in all, these are excellent flights and I am so excited that I got them for such a fabulous price!

Now to offer incense and mini packets of peanuts to the airline gods so they won't change our flights! Fingers crossed!!!

 

[TPCShauna]

'K. DH and I have decided that we would like to do the resort photo shoot but we can't decide where. We are staying at WL and the shoots are now available there. Dropping this info here so I can find it later.

WHERE ARE YOUR LOCATIONS FOR PRIVATE SESSIONS AT THE WL?
Indoor: lobby, fireplace, totem poles, bridge towards Artist Pointe
Outdoor: Covered bridge, bridge over creek, rocks near Geysor, kid's den, bridge towards the DVC and down on the beach.

WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST AND LAST TIME SLOTS AVAILABLE?
First shoot starts at 8am and the last one at 7pm, daily.

WHEN CAN I BOOK MY SESSION?
30 days prior to your arrival. If you are arriving 9-30-08, you can book 8-31-08. It does NOT have to be 30 days prior to your "session", just within a 30 day window of arriving.

NUMBER TO CALL
407-934-4004

I need to see some pics from WL before deciding, though.

 

[TPCShauna]

So I've been promising for weeks that I would get a pic posted in here of the two of us and I am finally following through. The pic below was taken at our all-time favorite Disney park - Disneyland! The Photopass photographer did well.

And, since you totally can't see our faces, here's us during our last trip to the world in Dec. 2005. I LOVE this pic.

So now y'all have squinty faces and smiley faces to go with all the words. Hey, imagine if y'all had to actually listen to me!

 

[TPCShauna]

So I've been reading tons and tons of dining reviews since we'll be on DxDP and I'm starting to regret not booking the character breakfast at Tusker House. It really has nothing to do with the food either. It's more that Daisy is there and I LOVE her and can never find her anywhere else. I've called every day for the last week to see if I will get lucky with an ADR and no luck so far. I'll just have to keep trying. I've also put my TA on the hunt as well.

I'm also trying to change the time of our California Grill ADR. We are currently scheduled for 9:35pm with the Holiday Wishes fireworks occurring at 9:30. I made that 9:35pm ADR with the understanding that we could arrive around 9:00pm and head up for cocktails in the lounge. Now I'm hearing that it is distinctly possible that we WON'T be allowed up if the restaurant/lounge are busy. I am NOT HAPPY considering that the fireworks view is the only reason we booked since I can get California all over the place here.

I've been calling every day to try for a change and I have my TA checking as well. I'm going to keep trying right up until that day since I've heard dinner there takes 2.5 to 3 hours and I really don't want to end up in bed after midnight because of dinner.

 

[askelton]

Sounds like DH and you are going to have a wonderful time! It's just DH and me too, so I enjoy reading what others do without kids. FYI on the WL photos, I read on another thread that, per a photographer, do later than earlier in the day because the light is better. Who knew?

 

[TPCShauna]

Sounds like DH and you are going to have a wonderful time! It's just DH and me too, so I enjoy reading what others do without kids. FYI on the WL photos, I read on another thread that, per a photographer, do later than earlier in the day because the light is better. Who knew?

Yay! A visitor!!!

Welcome to a fellow no-kids WDW traveler. I know we exist out there but doesn't it sometimes feel like you are the only one?

I had heard that also about the timing for the photos. Have you seen WL pics yet? We can't decide if that is the right location for us. The Beach Club shots are gorgeous and I love the GF locations as well. I also love that you can see the castle from the Poly. I guess you can say that I just can't make up my mind.

Shocker, right?

 

[TPCShauna]

Well, pooh! I just found out the price on the Photopass Photo Shoots is going up to $75 with a pre-ordered Photopass CD. I'm trying to decide if that is going to be worth it. At $25, it was a total no-brainer but I'm not so sure about $75. DH will probably say no but it would cost at least that much to have our photos done somewhere else AND we wouldn't be at Disney at Christmastime.

Hmmmmmmm.

 

[trixiequilts]

Well, pooh! I just found out the price on the Photopass Photo Shoots is going up to $75 with a pre-ordered Photopass CD. I'm trying to decide if that is going to be worth it. At $25, it was a total no-brainer but I'm not so sure about $75. DH will probably say no but it would cost at least that much to have our photos done somewhere else AND we wouldn't be at Disney at Christmastime.

Hmmmmmmm.

Is it just the photo shoots that are going up, or the photopass cd, too? I can't seem to find any info when I need it. If so, do you know when any price increase will take affect? Thanks...going back to read the PTR in a bit!

 

[askelton]

Y
I had heard that also about the timing for the photos. Have you seen WL pics yet? We can't decide if that is the right location for us. The Beach Club shots are gorgeous and I love the GF locations as well. I also love that you can see the castle from the Poly. I guess you can say that I just can't make up my mind.

No, I haven't seen any WL pics yet, but if I do, I'll let you know. We stayed out there a few weeks ago and it is beautiful but very different from BC. So just do both!

 

[trixiequilts]

Oh my word, your little Gracie may be the cutest puppy I have ever seen! How big do you expect her to get?

Love the PTR details, keep 'em coming!