Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[Sleepingbooty]

Darn. I just looked up the faq's and apparently you CAN'T use it at a waterpark. That seems arbitrary, doesn't it?

 

[eandesmom]

Oh, I don't know why I forgot about the DCA. I guess I was thinking the Give-A-Day was only for WDW - but that would be silly. Yes, it will definitely save a lot on one day tickets, and you are set for WDW, so you don't need them there.

But the TL or BB idea - I never thought of that. We would like to go to BB for a day, we really enjoyed it last year. I didn't know you could use the Give-A-Day tix on that. I think I need to look into that - it would save us about $200. My parents are like Paul and Sandie, I guess - they wouldn't have much interest in adding on the Waterparks and More, but I might be able to convince them to go for one day. Or heck, they can stay back and do their own thing.

Our vouchers came today! I already printed them out and then realized I have to hide them as they say Disneyland on them



The vouchers themselves are ADORABLE, with everyone's name on them, Donald, very very cute!

Maybe I should dream about running away to Disney whenever I want or whenever a storm is coming!! Cuz, it would only be IN my DREAMS!!

Ahhh... F&G. Loved it last time, but did not nearly even scratch the surface of what was there!

Oh I'd love to go during F&G...but I'd get a LOT more out of it without my kids or husband! That would be a perfect girls trip. F&W he'd dig as an adult trip but F&G



no way.

Darn. I just looked up the faq's and apparently you CAN'T use it at a waterpark. That seems arbitrary, doesn't it?

And silly. One day park tix are worth more $$ than 1 day water park. Wierd!

 

[eandesmom]

To cake or not to cake?

That is the question!

I think I have dessert on the brain. Which is really pretty funny as I do NOT have a sweet tooth. Between kids valentine making, a crazed search for lifesaver rolls which are apparently NOT still sold in my area...the quest to make the perfect homemade caramel for my valentine, exploding candy thermometers and all, it's no wonder I have sugar on the brain.

I am considering getting a custom cake delivered during our trip. I love the idea of kicking off the WDW/Grand Gathering part of the trip with something special to mark the occasion. Originally I thought to do it to celebrate the birthdays that are near the trip (Evan is in June, Doug and Sandie in July, K in August and Eric in early Sept) but then that leaves the rest of us out lol!

Cakes, and custom cakes get a lot of mixed reviews so I’ve been on the fence about it but I’m leaning towards doing one…just not making it a huge investment in the custom decoration category.

Here is what I’ve narrowed it down to.

Leaning towards a 10” cake (which is bigger than we need but has a lot more flavor options), chocolate cake with mango mousse filling and chocolate buttercream frosting. Or maybe marble cake but that seems a little weird with the mango and most of the clan would go nuts over mango mousse. Not sure about it myself but it does sound fun and at least interesting. If the kids had their way it’d be “funfetti” cake lol but all the adults would pass on that for sure. Does that combo sound weird? White cake sounds better in the august heat but the group seems to prefer chocolate over white, which I’d have to agree, white cake is pretty boring! I love marble cake myself (those are the only 3 options. Choc, vanilla or marble).

Cost for the 10” plus writing is $45. Additional decorations are extra.

Option 1. Have the cake delivered to our room at the YC.

Pro’s:

Bakery is on site, seems to get pretty good reviews for taste
Leftover storage
​

Con’s:

Coming back to the room either after or before dinner to find a cake seems a little weird, especially since we are on the DDP and that includes dessert
We will be in two rooms so everyone won’t “see” it at the same time
​

Possible custom decoration depending on cost. If I have it delivered to the room I am thinking a chocolate Mickey figure if they can make him “nautical” with writing that says something about Welcome to the Yacht Club and your Grand Gathering with all of our names on it (have to figure that out, it’s a lot of names!) in the YC colors, would be very cute. I do not want an edible image, they just don’t do much for me. The writing is included; it’d be Mickey that is extra.

Option 2. Have the cake delivered during dinner at Ohana.

Pro’s:

During dinner makes a lot of sense to me and the Ohana dessert menu is limited to the bread pudding which not everyone will like.
​

Con’s:

The cake won’t be made on site, I think it’s made at the GF bakery and then delivered.
Leftover storage. The 10” cake feeds 16 so there will definitely be leftovers. Our plan is to eat at Ohana, watch wishes and head back to the MK. If we have leftovers we will have to get them back to the YC and that sounds complicated.
​

Probable custom decoration. They can add Hawaiian flowers for an extra $10. If I do this option I’m thinking of having it say something like “Ohana means family, Our 2010 Grand Gathering and then list everyone’s names”.

Has anyone had experience with custom cakes (or mango filling!) to shed insight or ideas?

next. ADR Day!

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

I love the idea of a cake for your trip. I have seen some of the stuff that they have done, and it is incredible. To me, the better option is the first one...have it delivered to your room. Sending it to the Poly would be nice, but if you are going to the MK, that will just be awkward w/ the leftovers.

I'm no help when it comes to flavors. I would be w/ your kids and want funfetti. LOL I'm not much of a chocolate person, so I love white cake w/ other things to add in the flavor. The Mickey decoration sounds fun.

Back to the volleyball thing, you are absolutely right about the scheduling. Tournaments are brutal. I used to love them before we had Dylan, because so much happens in one day and you get to watch a lot of volleyball (I used to do all of the stats, too). Now that I have a 2 year old, it is so hard to be in a gymnasium all day, Dylan wants to play with every volleyball he sees, Todd is coaching so I get no help from him all day. And don't get me started on nap time issues. I definitely see a lot of parents sleeping in their lawn chairs around the courts, hoping that they don't get hit by some crazy spike.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am having the exact same dilemma! I haven't decided yet what we will do, so I don't know what advice to give you. I love the idea of a cake, but is the extra cost worth it? I really like the Mad Hatter cake and have thought about having it delivered during our 1900 Park Fare meal, so I am going to say that I like your Ohana's idea the best!

On an unrelated note, are you headed to see The Lightning Thief today? Our plan is to head there this afternoon with Connor and my nephew, but we are now under a winter weather advisory for snow today! Can you believe it? I am not pleased.

 

[Angies1274]

Your GAD experience looked like a lot of fun!! I'm still in the process of looking for something in our area. So far I haven't been very successful as the closest opportunities are about 3 hours away.

Oh no! for sports conflicts! I hope you get everything figured out so you can settle on some dates.

We've never ordered a custom cake before from Disney but I was thinking about for our last trip. Like you, I wasn't sure that I wanted to have it delivered to the room, and then I was going to have it delivered to our CP dinner but at the last minute decided against it. I think having it delivered to Ohana's would be good because as you said their dessert option is very limited.

I agree..the mango mousse filling does sound interesting!! Oh and I like the idea of adding the Hawaiian flowers!!! How pretty!!!

 

[englishrose47]

Good morning !!! Sorry I can't goback and catch up on a weeks worth of posts so how about some HI LITES!!!! It's good to be home but was sooo hard leaving my IMAGINARY friends asWinkers Bailey calls us !!

 

[All7OfUs]

Looking again (I saw this earlier, but wanted to think on it), I think I'd go with having it go to 'Ohana. Like you say, not everyone will like the bread pudding. so you could get a couple of those for those who want it, and have the rest eat cake. LOVE the Hawaiian theme and marble cake.

I'd say, maybe some of you- (Sandie) might want to head back early, and could take the cake back with them if need be. Too bad they can't offer a service of getting the cake back to you. Could you ask at concierge if they'd do that for you? Never hurts to try....

I wouldn't worry about it being fresh. GF isn't that far away....

 

[eandesmom]

I love the idea of a cake for your trip. I have seen some of the stuff that they have done, and it is incredible. To me, the better option is the first one...have it delivered to your room. Sending it to the Poly would be nice, but if you are going to the MK, that will just be awkward w/ the leftovers.

I'm no help when it comes to flavors. I would be w/ your kids and want funfetti. LOL I'm not much of a chocolate person, so I love white cake w/ other things to add in the flavor. The Mickey decoration sounds fun.

Back to the volleyball thing, you are absolutely right about the scheduling. Tournaments are brutal. I used to love them before we had Dylan, because so much happens in one day and you get to watch a lot of volleyball (I used to do all of the stats, too). Now that I have a 2 year old, it is so hard to be in a gymnasium all day, Dylan wants to play with every volleyball he sees, Todd is coaching so I get no help from him all day. And don't get me started on nap time issues. I definitely see a lot of parents sleeping in their lawn chairs around the courts, hoping that they don't get hit by some crazy spike.

I love the room idea for the convenience but I think I'd have to do it before dinner to be safe which might ruin our appetites depending on the timing. My fear is if I did it after dinner, what happens if people split up? I know we will want to go to MK after dinner but what if Sandie and Paul peter out? I'd want everyone to see it at the same time.

Unfortunately it's ALL tournaments. Unlike school, where there are regular matches, the club seems to basically do 2 kinds of tournaments. One that is considered "power league" but acts like a one day tournament and then real tournaments, which we have our first one this weekend (2 days).

It's funny. I never thought I'd say I'd been spoiled by soccer tournaments, but we have. With soccer you know the field, and times for all your games at least a week ahead of time, sometimes more and then at least the field and times for the playoff brackets and finals so you can figure out where and when you might be playing depending on how you do. Jeff and I both assumed Volleyball would be similar. Not at all!

As of today there is finally a little more information for the tournament that starts tomorrow. At least we know where to take her! So that will seem a little more "normal" to us, the power league thing is just frustrating, the total lack of information ahead of time. I'm sure it's because it's new and it will sort itself out. Of course Kendall's mom hoards the info and Jeff isn't good about forcing himself onto email lists and such so it's pretty much his fault we are clueless.



Napping in the lawn chairs? That I have to see. Jeff will be handling Saturday as Evan has baseball stuff but we will all go on Sunday.

I am having the exact same dilemma! I haven't decided yet what we will do, so I don't know what advice to give you. I love the idea of a cake, but is the extra cost worth it? I really like the Mad Hatter cake and have thought about having it delivered during our 1900 Park Fare meal, so I am going to say that I like your Ohana's idea the best!

On an unrelated note, are you headed to see The Lightning Thief today? Our plan is to head there this afternoon with Connor and my nephew, but we are now under a winter weather advisory for snow today! Can you believe it? I am not pleased.

That mad hatter cake is adorable! I will admit I liked the CM I spoke to at Ohana a lot better than the one at the YC but that was one call and it could change. I do like the idea of the Hawaiian flowers with mango mousse....seems to go together (though not at all sure about cake flavor and frosting flavor!) and it is possible not everyone will want to go to the MK after dinner so someone could run the cake back to the room. Honestly though in that heat I think we'd have to take a cab to get it back without it being a melted mess but who knows.

We are planning on seeing the movie on Monday. When it was first promoted it was billed as "Presidents day" and so we've been fixated on watching it on Presidents day. The kids have school today, Evan's got his first competition team practice and then a sleepover so tonight doesn't really work anyway.

I need to do my tickets today, a group of us have been going back and forth on the timing and theater but it's resolved now. I am REALLY looking forward to it!

Your GAD experience looked like a lot of fun!! I'm still in the process of looking for something in our area. So far I haven't been very successful as the closest opportunities are about 3 hours away.

Oh no! for sports conflicts! I hope you get everything figured out so you can settle on some dates.

We've never ordered a custom cake before from Disney but I was thinking about for our last trip. Like you, I wasn't sure that I wanted to have it delivered to the room, and then I was going to have it delivered to our CP dinner but at the last minute decided against it. I think having it delivered to Ohana's would be good because as you said their dessert option is very limited.

I agree..the mango mousse filling does sound interesting!! Oh and I like the idea of adding the Hawaiian flowers!!! How pretty!!!

3 hours away? Yikes. It's interesting to me that things like the project linus blankets aren't national, it would seem like you could do that anywhere!

I'm not sure I'd call them sports conflicts...constraints maybe.

I love the idea of the Hawaiian flowers too!

Good morning !!! Sorry I can't goback and catch up on a weeks worth of posts so how about some HI LITES!!!! It's good to be home but was sooo hard leaving my IMAGINARY friends asWinkers Bailey calls us !!

Rosie's back!!!!!!!!!

Hmnn...highlights over the last week.

Big thing was our Give a Day event, we were door sentries at a Model Train Show put on by the local 4H club. It was a TON of fun and now we have vouchers for our Disney California Adventure Day!

There's been a little debate about trip dates but as before it's come back around to the dates we have and a moral dilemma (for me) about letting Evan join the Tae Kwon Do competition team, but I've worked past it (or am ignoring it) and he has joined.

Debating custom cakes or not and gearing up for ADR day next week and that's about it!

I can't WAIT to hear about your trip!

Looking again (I saw this earlier, but wanted to think on it), I think I'd go with having it go to 'Ohana. Like you say, not everyone will like the bread pudding. so you could get a couple of those for those who want it, and have the rest eat cake. LOVE the Hawaiian theme and marble cake.

I'd say, maybe some of you- (Sandie) might want to head back early, and could take the cake back with them if need be. Too bad they can't offer a service of getting the cake back to you. Could you ask at concierge if they'd do that for you? Never hurts to try....

I wouldn't worry about it being fresh. GF isn't that far away....

It's entirely possible they will want to go back early. I'm trying to time the ressie so we could just watch wishes from the Poly and then those who want to hit MK for EMH, can, the rest can go back.

I know Ohana's can take awhile. If I make a 7:30 ressie, we should be ok for 10pm wishes from the Poly beach, right? I'm sure we could leave the cake at the restaurant while we go watch wishes.

None of the cakes are super fresh according to the reviews which is why I don't want to spend a ton of money on it and be disappointed.

 

[All7OfUs]

I think we're planning our ADR for 'Ohana at 8:00, but we have way fewer people, and are lighter eaters. So for us 2 hours to eat and get to the beach shouldn't be a problem. You guys will need the extra half hour, I'm sure. To be safe.

Yeah, I"ve read all kinds of cake reviews. Hit or miss is about it. But mostly on the stale-ish side. Don't spend a ton. Just my 2 cents.

 

[eandesmom]

I think we're planning our ADR for 'Ohana at 8:00, but we have way fewer people, and are lighter eaters. So for us 2 hours to eat and get to the beach shouldn't be a problem. You guys will need the extra half hour, I'm sure. To be safe.

Yeah, I"ve read all kinds of cake reviews. Hit or miss is about it. But mostly on the stale-ish side. Don't spend a ton. Just my 2 cents.

Hey, what are you saying about our eating habits?



JK. I wouldn't call us light eaters either. Healthy eaters. Adventuresome. But not light.

That's what I hear about the cakes too. $55 seems a lot for stale cake but....if I go smaller it'd be so boring I may as well forget it or have one delivered by WeGo or something like that. I'm not a huge grocery store cake fan anyway...at least the mango mousse makes it sound interesting.

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey, what are you saying about our eating habits?



JK. I wouldn't call us light eaters either. Healthy eaters. Adventuresome. But not light.

That's what I hear about the cakes too. $55 seems a lot for stale cake but....if I go smaller it'd be so boring I may as well forget it or have one delivered by WeGo or something like that. I'm not a huge grocery store cake fan anyway...at least the mango mousse makes it sound interesting.

Nah, I wasn't trying to compare eating habits, just saying we have a few ladies, who won't sit and gorge on 5 skewers of meat and 10 of shrimp. Hey, wait a minute, I am getting a Lapu, I may have to linger a bit until I can WALK to the beach.

Tim is researching cakes too. I think he came up with some pretty good choices for fillings too. Also, MainStMandy listed some super yummy choices of cake fillings too. One was Amaretto creme or something heavenly like that.

 

[creativeamanda]

I left my yummy almond crusted cheesecake from Narcoossee's behind because of your exact Ohana dilemma, but I like the Ohana option more than Yacht Club.

I am not really that fond of people going into my room. The less the better.

I only have mousekeeping come like every 2nd or 3rd day.

 

[eandesmom]

Nah, I wasn't trying to compare eating habits, just saying we have a few ladies, who won't sit and gorge on 5 skewers of meat and 10 of shrimp. Hey, wait a minute, I am getting a Lapu, I may have to linger a bit until I can WALK to the beach.

Tim is researching cakes too. I think he came up with some pretty good choices for fillings too. Also, MainStMandy listed some super yummy choices of cake fillings too. One was Amaretto creme or something heavenly like that.

Well Amanda is getting a wedding cake so they get all kinds of cool options the rest of us non super special event folks don't get. Last pic I saw her wedding cake looked pretty amazing but I'm behind on her PJ in a big way. Pretty sure their cakes taste better too! I can't say Amaretto creme floats my boat though! If I could choose, it wouldn't be chocolate, vanilla OR marble but those are the options I have.

It's just SO hit or miss on the custom decorations, I'd flip if I spent $80 and it looked like it came from Safeway. Not that $55 is cheap but it does feed 16, there are 9 of us so on a pp basis I can probably live with it. Hawaiian flowers seem a little safer lol. But the more I think about it, I realize that it is very likely by the time we are done with Wishes, Sandie and Paul will be ready to head back.

I'm getting a Lapu this time for sure, I got something else at Kona last time and it was just meh. So sad...a year ago I was there! Actually a year ago right now I was probably on Test Track about now.

I left my yummy almond crusted cheesecake from Narcoossee's behind because of your exact Ohana dilemma, but I like the Ohana option more than Yacht Club.

I am not really that fond of people going into my room. The less the better.

I only have mousekeeping come like every 2nd or 3rd day.

I'm good with them cleaning on a daily basis, I get it enough at home (oh wait, that would imply that I actually clean lol) but I'd have to agree on the food delivery, generally speaking. I just have concerns about the timing of it if we do it in the room and can't get my arms around how it would work without being a little awkward.

 

[All7OfUs]

See, that's what a lot of folks are saying. They spend mucho dinero on the cakes and they end up looking like Safeway or Fred Meyers. Same thing, Disney price. But, if you could do the somewhat creative route and get the Poly themed thing, that'd be cool! Really, I mean that. Tropical colors, nice GG message, mango creme.... Nice. Just go in with adjusted expectations.

 

[Charleston Princess]

We are planning on seeing the movie on Monday. When it was first promoted it was billed as "Presidents day" and so we've been fixated on watching it on Presidents day. The kids have school today, Evan's got his first competition team practice and then a sleepover so tonight doesn't really work anyway.

I need to do my tickets today, a group of us have been going back and forth on the timing and theater but it's resolved now. I am REALLY looking forward to it!

We went to see it yesterday afternoon. We will talk when you have been.

 

[eandesmom]

See, that's what a lot of folks are saying. They spend mucho dinero on the cakes and they end up looking like Safeway or Fred Meyers. Same thing, Disney price. But, if you could do the somewhat creative route and get the Poly themed thing, that'd be cool! Really, I mean that. Tropical colors, nice GG message, mango creme.... Nice. Just go in with adjusted expectations.

Exactly! I think it if I go more elaborate than this I will be very dissapointed It reminds me of our trip last year. I spent a LOT of time looking into the cakes, other desserts, candies available throughout all of Disney. As you know, Jeff is a caramel FREAK and I wanted to so something special for him for Valentines since we'd be there. I had to give up. I was really disappointed, visions of something super special being delivered to our room for him.

Do you know you can't buy just plain caramels anywhere in Disney?

You can get Chocolate covered one's at the Main Street Confectionery (milk or dark) but that's about it.

So I had them sent instead!

This year I finally mastered the handmade one. Or at least I think so, we will see what he says when he gets them tomorrow!

It does remind me to look into mugs for everyone for the trip. Last year I did them through Zazzle. They were adorable BUT have totally faded. I wonder if there is a cool YC mug? I'd love to have them in our room...waiting.

We went to see it yesterday afternoon. We will talk when you have been.

Oh I can't wait! Monday seems really far away (and a lot of baseball and volleyball in between now and then). I have our tickets and we are very excited. I do need to make the boys wash their shirts, they've been living in them!

 

[winkers]

what did I miss?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I think the idea of a cake is fabulous!
But I love cake!
Although you do know that you will be stuffed after eating at Ohana and the bread pudding is to die for!

 

[Happydog]

I'll post some, I love the update!!!

I like Happy Dog's strategy for the blizzard. They left town! and where did they go?

ALK.

That's my dream life. Bad storm coming, spur of the moment just decide to run away to Disney World

I can't believe how hard you guys have been hit. We've had nada. Though we had 2 horrible winters in a row so it's really ok with me!

I still can't believe we did it, so it is rather like a dream for me too!
IT was a great opportunity, and those APs made it worth it - I doubt we would have considered it otherwise.

I had a dream last night about the flower and garden festival. Talk about wishful thinking!

Now THIS is MY DREAM, I must say, this is the event I have been wanting to see! No question! Not sure when that will ever happen though -- so I will wishfully think with you