"Look Ma! We're planning a Disney Trip!" - Nov 10-20 PTR (11/09 Final Update?!)

[skier_pete]

A couple of quick hits:

I love the DIS. Over on the POFQ thread, Andre the caretaker of the thread posted this link to a 360 degree view of the room. I sort of miss the old bedspread with the 13 different hidden mickeys, but love the room in general.

http://www.portorleans.org//images/panoramas/POFQ-Room-2011-3652-pano360.swf

I gotta remember to take pictures of the room when we first get in. We train wreck a room so badly with all our stuff, because we're never in it and we just throw stuff from place to place.

I posted this on Aimee's thread, but I think I realized there is no way we move out of POFQ. Even if we can't get the room discount (which STILL hasn't come out) and can get it somewhere else. I am really, really, really, really looking forward to staying at this hotel again. More than I would be even if we were going back to AKL.

 

[joy13]

Wow - that is a nice room! I can see why you want to stay there.

Someday we will hit the waterparks - they look so fun! Someday I hope to book a longer trip so we have time. Our current trip is way too short to take in the waterparks. We have only done Crystal Palace for breakfast, be have always liked it. This is the first trip we aren't eating there.

 

[FosterA]

aboard Aimee! Thanks for coming over for a visit. I am sure we will have a great time. (As will you!) The other day my DW and I were discussing something about our trip and she said "Well, hopefully we'll get lucky" and I said "Disney trips have nothing to do with luck." It's sort of ridiculous, because bad luck can strike anywhere (a canceled flight or getting stuck on a ride) but my point was when you - or at least when we - go to Disney World very little is left to chance. That's why I can feel confident that we WILL have a great time!

So, to Jellyrolls. There WERE two adult/nightlife entertainment districts at WDW for a long time. One of them was Pleasure Island, which closed back in 2008. This had the single greatest creation by Disney, a bar/entertainment venue called the Adventurer's Club - but I digress. (For all AC members out there - Kungaloosh!)

The other is still open, and it is the Boardwalk area that is below the Boardwalk Inn next to Epcot. There are several bars & restaurants, Street Performers in the evenings, as well as a dance club (the Atlantic Dance Hall). In additon, there is a bar called Jellyrolls, which is a dueling piano bar. Don't know if you've ever been to one, but they have two pianos on stage with two guys that basically play off of eachother playing songs and getting a lot of crowd involvement. I've been to a few, most notably down in New Orleans, and they can be a lot of fun. When Pleasure Island and our beloved Adventurer's Club closed, we figured it was finally a chance to check out Jellyrolls with our free evening, but just haven't gotten to it.

So - if you and your DH want to ditch the kids back at the hotel on the 16th after Fantasmic, come on over and join us at Jellyrolls. Maybe that'll be his "favorite thing".

We'll save you a seat!

Ok, now I get it. I've heard Jellyrolls referred to here and there but never really looked into it. Sounds like a cool place!! I was thinking it was a danish bakery or something

 

[teekathepony]

That is a nice room! I love those 360 degree things, so cool.

 

[skier_pete]

Wow - that is a nice room! I can see why you want to stay there.

Someday we will hit the waterparks - they look so fun! Someday I hope to book a longer trip so we have time. Our current trip is way too short to take in the waterparks. We have only done Crystal Palace for breakfast, be have always liked it. This is the first trip we aren't eating there.

It is tough to justify a water park on a short trip...however, if you're ever down there longer, they are definitely worth a peak.

Ok, now I get it. I've heard Jellyrolls referred to here and there but never really looked into it. Sounds like a cool place!! I was thinking it was a danish bakery or something

All I can say is . To think we would spend our "adult night out" at a danish bakery!

That is a nice room! I love those 360 degree things, so cool.

They really made the room look a lot more elegant! At least it'll look that way for 30 seconds before we pile all our crap in it.

 

[Coconuts]

Just saw the link for your PTR and am joining in. I've seen you post on so many similar threads, but I never noticed you had a PTR. I've only read the first page and have to go, but I'll be back later today to read the rest.

BTW, we'll just miss you. We're leaving POR on 11/10.

 

[skier_pete]

Just saw the link for your PTR and am joining in. I've seen you post on so many similar threads, but I never noticed you had a PTR. I've only read the first page and have to go, but I'll be back later today to read the rest.

BTW, we'll just miss you. We're leaving POR on 11/10.

:Welcome: thanks for joining...we'll possbility literally be passing in the air.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Those new rooms look great.

 

[skier_pete]

50 DAYS
Yup, that's right - half a century worth of days and we will be at the airport on our way. To celebrate, I made a countdown calendar for DD. Now, I don't have time to do these elaborate ones that some people do. In the past I made calendars that had images of characters, but DD asked for one in which she could color each of the squares. So, I set up the countdown calendar and I overlayed it with a picture of Mickey, Donald and Goofy. (Sorry it is sideways, I couldn't access the picture in photobucket to turn it.)

It's a decidedly low-tech technique. I ran the paper through the printer to print the calendar, then used the copier to overlay the image from another document. Blew it up to 11 x 17". Didn't take more than a half hour total time. DD seems to like it and was all excited to get up this morning and color Goofy's Hat.

I promise another update soon!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great countdown calendar!

That's something I'm missing out on this time around with the trip being a surprise!

 

[Coconuts]

Finally got through it all. Great PTR. Wish we could make it to the water parks but I think DD is still to young. I also wished we would have stayed at POFQ when we still had 4 in the family.

 

[PrincessInOz]

YAY for 50 days!


Great countdown calendar. Sometimes the low-tech ones are the best.

 

[teekathepony]

Low tech or not, that's a great cowntdown calendar!

 

[skier_pete]

Thanks for all the positive feedback. I guess low-tech was probably the wrong word, since I did use a computer and a printer and all. Maybe '90s-tech is better. She colored in the first square, and I think it's actually going to look pretty cool when it gets filled in. I'll take a picture of it every once in a while.

 

[skier_pete]

Day 8 – Friday Nov 18th

We’re coming down the home stretch of the trip at the same time we’re entering our 2nd week of park touring. Today is our second Animal Kingdom day, and we will probably get there for rope drop as we have a hard time fitting everything from AK into the two days we spend here. For the most part exactly what we are doing today is not really plotted out, but I can probably predict a few things:

The Boneyard: We will be heading here at some point probably early in the day. DD is 8 but still likes to run around these play areas. Might actually let her find out about the dig site off across the bridge.

Tusker House: One of our favorite meals on property is the Tusker House lunch service. We didn’t do it last trip, and they recently announced that they are adding characters to the lunch. This won’t start until December 8th, but I am really hoping that they don’t change the menu. IF they do that, I would be OK with the addition of characters.

Finding Nemo Show: DW and I could care less, but DD seems to like it. Our Tusker House ADR is at a time where they give you the reserved seating for this show. This is also going to be eliminated with the new character lunch, so I thought we should take advantage of it.

Flights of Wonder: DD loves this show, so I am sure we will get to see it for the 2nd time.

Kali River Rapids: If DD insists on us riding this, this will be the last thing we do for the day. I hate getting soaked on this damn ride.

Kilamanjaro Safaris: We will surely get a FP for this at some point. Definitely a “twice a trip” experience.

Expedition Everest: If I didn’t ride it the first day, I will this day. Usually just go single rider as that is almost as short as the FP line. (I’ve still never been through the actual queue line, even though I’ve ridden maybe 10 times.)

This day will likely end rather on the early side. The last few have been a bit late, and Saturday will also be a bit late, but I think an early return to the hotel for some pool time will be a good choice today. Especially considering that outdoor swimming will be no more. It might also be another chance for DW and DMIL to go back to DTD if they didn’t get enough already. (DW almost always has to go back. She sees something she wants, doesn’t buy it, and then decides she wants to buy it, and has to go back. As a husband, my job is to be exasperated by this but accept it.)

 

[PrincessInOz]

I bring extra clothes to AK for when we go on Kali. We just get soaked and I hate walking around in wet under-garments all day. So, we just get wet, change and everything works out well for everyone!

 

[skier_pete]

I bring extra clothes to AK for when we go on Kali. We just get soaked and I hate walking around in wet under-garments all day. So, we just get wet, change and everything works out well for everyone!

Yeah, I've considered that option too...or wear a poncho, which always makes me feel like an idiot. We'll see...my first choice would be...skip the ride completely.

 

[khertz]

I love the countdown calendar! Great way for DD to get involved & have fun with it. We are at less than 6 weeks now ourselves!

I like your plan for AK. We too are debating giving Kali River Rapids a go, but it will be our very first time trying it out. Neither of us are too crazy about walking around absolutely drenched, so we will more than likely skip it again. But I hate the idea of having an attraction I have NEVER tried. Guess we'll wait and see on the actual day.

 

[FosterA]

Your AK day sounds fab. I loved that AK place even though it gets a bad rap sometimes!!

I really want to see the bird show too. When I went all I did was Lion King, Safari, Bug's life, and Everest an Dinosaur. I can't wait to do the trails and see Nemo show. Such a beautiful place!

 

[skier_pete]

I love the countdown calendar! Great way for DD to get involved & have fun with it. We are at less than 6 weeks now ourselves!

I like your plan for AK. We too are debating giving Kali River Rapids a go, but it will be our very first time trying it out. Neither of us are too crazy about walking around absolutely drenched, so we will more than likely skip it again. But I hate the idea of having an attraction I have NEVER tried. Guess we'll wait and see on the actual day.

Sorry, I wouldn't bother with Kali myself, especially since you can't ride together anyways. It is really not that great a ride - just have your DH throw a bucket of water at you by the pool and it'll be the same thing. Wait until your son forces you to ride it.

Your AK day sounds fab. I loved that AK place even though it gets a bad rap sometimes!!

I really want to see the bird show too. When I went all I did was Lion King, Safari, Bug's life, and Everest an Dinosaur. I can't wait to do the trails and see Nemo show. Such a beautiful place!

The bird show is pretty good. I wouldn't recommend it at the level WE have to see it (twice a trip) but definitely worth a go once. Be warned though, the birds do fly above the audience.