Leaving the hubbies and kids behind - A May 2010 PTR, TR has begun!

[jenjolt]

WOOT! So excited for you!!! Thanks for the flashback photos...so nice!!! I'm getting a little anxious about a job position in Texas but you are right they are hiring later and later so no worries yet, we'll both get something!

 

[kschafer]

We're feeling a bit like you right now, too.
A few days behind, but not long!

Next week, we will be able to say 'next week'.

We toss around the idea of SeaWorld every summer, but once you have already paid for WDW, it's hard to pay a bunch more to go do something else. Brooklynn would love it, though. Maybe next year, when Bella is two and she could really understand it more - that might be a good time for us to go.

Now that Uncle Bubby is close, maybe you will feel like doing a non-Disney trip sometime

It won't be long now

11 DAYS!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

YAY FOR ONLINE CHECK IN!!!!!!!!!!

You're almost there!!!!!!!

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It's sneaking closer and closer

It's so close Katie. We're almost there.

OH MY GOSH!!!! We can do online check in TOMORROW!!!!!!

I'm getting teary just thinking about it

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WOOT! So excited for you!!! Thanks for the flashback photos...so nice!!! I'm getting a little anxious about a job position in Texas but you are right they are hiring later and later so no worries yet, we'll both get something!

Good to see you Jen! I'm trying not to get too anxious about it but I can't help it. I've spent way too much of the last 2 years trying to find a job where I can stay and be happy...it's time!

 

[MEK]

Well if you have 11 days to go does that mean I have 12? Honestly, if I get to go on this trip and my teenagers don't "kill me" before I leave, it will be a miracle. They are really trying my patience right now with their discipline issues and we are right down to the wire. Darn teenagers. Sometimes I think they are worse than babies.

 

[kschafer]

Well if you have 11 days to go does that mean I have 12? Honestly, if I get to go on this trip and my teenagers don't "kill me" before I leave, it will be a miracle. They are really trying my patience right now with their discipline issues and we are right down to the wire. Darn teenagers. Sometimes I think they are worse than babies.

Oh MEK! If the boys don't behave, tell Denny he has to stay home because we have a couple dates you can't miss!! Sorry about the teen woes

 

[kschafer]

10 Days from today!!!!!

Online check-in…done ​

I thought I would spend this last week and a half going through our daily plans. There have been a number of changes since this whole process began! So let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start – I am apparently channeling Julie Andrews at the moment)

Saturday, May 1

Orlando Weather Forecast: 86 degrees, sunny and humid, I could do without that "humid" word but hey, I'll be on vacation! I know the accuracy of this is not very good but I can't help but look ahead

This morning I will get up, do my last minute toiletries packing, throw the bags in the van and Greg and the boys will drive me to Des Moines. Hopefully the flight will be smooth and on-time (and actually be non-stop like promised!!)

I’m scheduled to arrive in MCO at 2:45 and hope to remember the directions to ME…side B, escalators down to level 1. I’ve never been to MCO before but have looked at it online and usually have a pretty good sense of things once I have seen them on a map. OH, and I can’t forget, before leaving the airport to grab a couple bottles of

Once arriving at

and getting checked in, I’ll drop bags in the room and grab the bus on my way to….
.
.
.
.
.
.

Well, I’m not certain. I have an ADR for

Which I am OK with and I’m sure I would enjoy but really I keep thinking about my ADR I gave up for

(California Grill)

I can’t get an ADR and I am checking each day but I’m wondering if I show up as early as possible and tell them I am dining alone, if I could get a seat at their counter that overlooks the kitchen. I don’t love to eat alone and somehow this feels less intimidating. I fear that if the answer is no, I won’t get to Flying Fish on time (but there are lots of ADR’s still available so it may not be a problem) I just don’t know, what do you think?

After dinner, I will head to

I’m not sure exactly what I will do when I get there. I will probably go to

And see if there are any more sessions going on. And visit

I will have to decide whether I am tired and want to see the first showing of

Or if I have enough energy to do some more touring and hang around for the second. After the show, I will head back to CSR for sweet Disney dreams!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Katie - OMG!! I sure hope you get into Cali Grill. And if you do, let me know!!
I don't have a ghost of a chance with 6 adults and 3 kids; but I would so love to live vicariously through you...lots of food porn please.'

Here's to the next 9 days..I'll so be hanging out to get there after 3 days of reading your thread!

Should I check in online or wait till I get there?

 

[Cory's Gal]

YEAH for checking in online Katie!!!

LOVE the old Sea World pics from the 70's!! Your boys looks so cute at the Sesame Street breakfast too!! Thanks for sharing all your great pics!!! Tomorrow you can do the "single digits dance"!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I've been trying to catch and doing miserable at it but I'm here for your last 10 days!!

I think you would have very good luck getting into California Grill if you show up and ask to sit at the bar, especially since you will be solo. I say go for it! Maybe have a back up ADR closer to the Cali Grill area if you are worried you will not be in time for Flying Fish.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yay for online check in! I need to do that today as well

Hopefully, I'll be lounging around by the pool by the time you get to MCO! If you have time once you get to the resort, stop by and say hi.

If you are definitely going to DHS that day, it might be more convienent to keep your ADR at Flying Fish. I do understand your hesitation though, I always feel weird dining alone, and since Cali Grill has the bar area it wouldn't feel quite so odd.

When does your SIL arrive?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hurrah for on-line check-in. That really makes it feel real, doesn't it??

I'd say it's worth a try to get into CG, especially if that's the one you keep thinking about.

 

[jenjolt]

Well if it were me I would be going to sit at the counter at CG LOL!! But that's just me I love that place and can't wait to go back WOOT!!!

Just think tomorrow we're single digit dancing with you Katie...YAY!!!!

Oooh Fantasmic, it's been awhile I will have to put that on the list to-do in the fall...you are going to have such a great time!!

 

[kschafer]

Katie - OMG!! I sure hope you get into Cali Grill. And if you do, let me know!!
I don't have a ghost of a chance with 6 adults and 3 kids; but I would so love to live vicariously through you...lots of food porn please.'

Here's to the next 9 days..I'll so be hanging out to get there after 3 days of reading your thread!

Should I check in online or wait till I get there?

With deluxe dining, there will be food porn aplenty!!

I think if you do online check-in depends on what's more important, time or requests. I suspect I'm going to be in a hurry when I arrive so this way everything will be ready for me. If you wait to check in it may take a little longer but if you have requests that are very important to you (location, adjoining rooms, etc) it's probably easier to wait to check in when you arrive. I decided to risk it...I did make a location request, we'll see what I get!

YEAH for checking in online Katie!!!

LOVE the old Sea World pics from the 70's!! Your boys looks so cute at the Sesame Street breakfast too!! Thanks for sharing all your great pics!!! Tomorrow you can do the "single digits dance"!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Beth. Only 3 more days for you!!

I've been trying to catch and doing miserable at it but I'm here for your last 10 days!!

I think you would have very good luck getting into California Grill if you show up and ask to sit at the bar, especially since you will be solo. I say go for it! Maybe have a back up ADR closer to the Cali Grill area if you are worried you will not be in time for Flying Fish.

I'm glad you are here now LL!

Yay for online check in! I need to do that today as well

Hopefully, I'll be lounging around by the pool by the time you get to MCO! If you have time once you get to the resort, stop by and say hi.

If you are definitely going to DHS that day, it might be more convienent to keep your ADR at Flying Fish. I do understand your hesitation though, I always feel weird dining alone, and since Cali Grill has the bar area it wouldn't feel quite so odd.

When does your SIL arrive?

I'll definitely stop by the pool to see if you are there! I would like to try Flying Fish, I just want to try CG a bit more. Since I will be solo, I'm not too worried about the travel time.

Shelby won't be arriving until the following evening so I'll have a little more solo time before then

Hurrah for on-line check-in. That really makes it feel real, doesn't it??

I'd say it's worth a try to get into CG, especially if that's the one you keep thinking about.

I definitely keep thinking of this one...

Well if it were me I would be going to sit at the counter at CG LOL!! But that's just me I love that place and can't wait to go back WOOT!!!

Just think tomorrow we're single digit dancing with you Katie...YAY!!!!

Oooh Fantasmic, it's been awhile I will have to put that on the list to-do in the fall...you are going to have such a great time!!

My goal for this trip was to catch every parade and nighttime show possible! Yes, CG just may be too much to resist!!

 

[manntra]

If CG is drawing you in then perhaps you should try.... although I really enjoyed FF and in that particular restaurant I wouldn't feel weirded out by eating alone. It would also be nice to take a stroll along the BW when you are done and then just hop on the boat to go over to HS...

I am going to (try) to spend this night at DTD because I think our flight arrives at 730...then getting to hotel etc....I believe that will leave us some quality shopping and Basin time.

Tracy

 

[MHTeacher]

YAY ! for online check-in! That means that it's almost time for you to go to Disney World!

 

[100acrewoodsfan]

I don' think you will have any trouble at the bar area at CG. We have asked and they said you can always go up for a drink without a ressie. If I remember right you can order the full menu at the bar. We are planning to do a monorail crawl and end up at CG for drinks and dessert at Wishes time.

 

[Roxychica7]

Your first day sounds sweeeet! Yeah no worries on the humidity, I'm sure you'll get some awesome weather once it gets closer to your date of travel. Cali Grill...oh man, definitely on the must do list for our next trip. Have you tried Flying Fish before? I always see some really good reviews about it, particularly with the appetizers and desserts! Good luck on the ADR hunt!!

 

[kcandbella]

Sounds great! I would have loved to have done Cali Grill, but it didn't sound like something the rest of my fam would have enjoyed. Are you faxing in a room request? I can check in online tomorrow but don't know when I should fax mine in. Sooo exciting!

 

[kschafer]

If CG is drawing you in then perhaps you should try.... although I really enjoyed FF and in that particular restaurant I wouldn't feel weirded out by eating alone. It would also be nice to take a stroll along the BW when you are done and then just hop on the boat to go over to HS...

I am going to (try) to spend this night at DTD because I think our flight arrives at 730...then getting to hotel etc....I believe that will leave us some quality shopping and Basin time.

Tracy

Checking out the boardwalk is one of the draws of FF but then again, I won't be in the Contemporary any other time. I may have to figure out a way to get to BW

Basin and a little shopping sounds like a great start to your trip!

YAY ! for online check-in! That means that it's almost time for you to go to Disney World!

YAY!!!!!

I don' think you will have any trouble at the bar area at CG. We have asked and they said you can always go up for a drink without a ressie. If I remember right you can order the full menu at the bar. We are planning to do a monorail crawl and end up at CG for drinks and
dessert at Wishes time.

Good to hear! I asked for opinions on the restaurant board and several people thought it would be doable to get a single seat early in the evening

Your first day sounds sweeeet! Yeah no worries on the humidity, I'm sure you'll get some awesome weather once it gets closer to your date of travel. Cali Grill...oh man, definitely on the must do list for our next trip. Have you tried Flying Fish before? I always see some really good reviews about it, particularly with the appetizers and desserts! Good luck on the ADR hunt!!

Not fond of humidity but I'll deal with whatever mother nature gives me. I have heard great things about FF too which is why I took the ADR, CG just calls to me a bit more for some reason

Sounds great! I would have loved to have done Cali Grill, but it didn't sound like something the rest of my fam would have enjoyed. Are you faxing in a room request? I can check in online tomorrow but don't know when I should fax mine in. Sooo exciting!

I'm thinking I will fax my request next week I don't want to do it too far out. Not sure if it will make a difference but worth a shot I guess!

 

[cdotla]

Hey Katie...I have never been to Flying Fish, but if it were me, I would do CG. I don't think you would have *any* problem at all eating at the bar/kitchen area. I wouldn't think they even take reservations for that area anyway.

I can't imagine you wld feel uncomfortable dining there alone. Afterall, you are in a convention hotel and there are typically loads of people in the hotel alone for this reason. I have seen solo diners many times at the Wave and CG at the bar/kitchen area.

Hoping you get that interview call soon!

 

[eyor44]

You have been busy since I last checked in. for on line checkin. I am going to try it this time.

Thanks for all the pics of Sea World. I haven't been to a Sea World since the one in San Antonio opened in 1987(?) We will be going for one day in November.