Looking for Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere a PTR

[Charleston Princess]

I think you will be fine at ASSports especially since you know you are headed for concierge level at the Boardwalk! How awesome is that???

 

[Lady Lallie]

HOW EXCITING!

I'm so excited for about your Boardwalk upgrade!!

I think you will like All Star Sports. You will have an advantage with the buses because they pick up and drop off there first when you share with the other too All Stars. I'd bring some ear plugs just in case your sleep is disrupted.

 

[TarzansKat]

I remember checking out the concierge level rooms when we were adding the two days onto our trip. It was a fantastic deal! Congratulations, I'm very, very happy for you! I can't tell you how much money you'll save on food by being able to nosh on the nummies they put out for you. It's lovely to be able to snack away whenever you want.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Ugh! I'm so sad that you couldn't get your POP discounts!! I really hope you can be seriously OK with ASSp! I guesss I'm sorta like you; I'd rather spend the money somewhere else if I won't be there much on those days. I think it will grow on you in the end. Now, we all just need to hope that it won't, indeed, be too loud and you will be able to get some sleep.

I wish I could say the same for my nieces! They are really bratty and spoiled, so it's hard to spend time with them at all. Glad you could enjoy their company and have a fun time doing some fun-sounding things. The beach sounds nice!

I'm hoping it's okay. The themeing at Sports doesn't really appeal to me that much, but really I'll be there for what 1/2 a day on Saturday, and then two full days? I check out of there on Tuesday. I think I can tolerate it for that long.

I did have a wonderful day with my nieces, thanks! They are handfuls, but I love every minute of it. They keep me focused on what's important, because there is nothing more important to me than keeping the two of them with smiles on their faces. Luckily it takes very little to make them happy.

Wow, concierge level! While ASSp really is a bit of a let down, you now have such a wonderful ending for your vacation! It sounds wonderful and I will keep my fingers crossed that you get a great water view!!

Actually, I think ASSp won't be too bad. I like the look of the updated rooms there and at ASMu a lot. In my opinion they look much more attractive than the POP rooms.

I heard that the rooms had been updated recently, so that's definitely a plus.

I think you will be fine at ASSports especially since you know you are headed for concierge level at the Boardwalk! How awesome is that???

I know! Once I booked the concierge stay I really started caring less about ASSports! The CM I talked to on the phone was laughing and telling me it was a good thing that our ASSports stay was first, or it would be a real let down after the Boardwalk.

HOW EXCITING!

I'm so excited for about your Boardwalk upgrade!!

I think you will like All Star Sports. You will have an advantage with the buses because they pick up and drop off there first when you share with the other too All Stars. I'd bring some ear plugs just in case your sleep is disrupted.

I didn't know that they were the first stop. I have to admit that I do like that alot. I like the fact that the resort is a bit smaller too. Hopefully the cheerleaders won't be too loud.

I remember checking out the concierge level rooms when we were adding the two days onto our trip. It was a fantastic deal! Congratulations, I'm very, very happy for you! I can't tell you how much money you'll save on food by being able to nosh on the nummies they put out for you. It's lovely to be able to snack away whenever you want.

Thanks! I've been checking out the concierge threads and it all looks so good! It's going to be hard waiting to go though!

 

[All7OfUs]

I like what you've done in the end! I think if you hit some reviews of the Sports, it might grow on you. See if you can find some hidden Mickeys, make a little scavenger hunt for yourself... it might be a lot of "fun" after all

and wow! concierge level! Too sweet!! Nice score!

 

[jenjolt]

What a great number of changes and excellent ones at that!!!! Conceigre level...that is amazing...you are going to have the best time and what a great deal you got!!! ON top of it all you are staying at your dream resort!! How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear more about your plans!

 

[Donald is #1]

Wow!!! BWI with Concierge for almost no cost difference? Incredible!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I like what you've done in the end! I think if you hit some reviews of the Sports, it might grow on you. See if you can find some hidden Mickeys, make a little scavenger hunt for yourself... it might be a lot of "fun" after all

and wow! concierge level! Too sweet!! Nice score!

The concierge bump up definitely is easing my disappointment over losing POP. I think I'm going to be fine at Sports though.

What a great number of changes and excellent ones at that!!!! Conceigre level...that is amazing...you are going to have the best time and what a great deal you got!!! ON top of it all you are staying at your dream resort!! How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear more about your plans!

Thanks. Never in a million years would I ever have thought I'd be staying concierge. I'm so glad I went back and was poking around on the site now to see it.

Wow!!! BWI with Concierge for almost no cost difference? Incredible!

It is amazing isn't it? I was a bit shocked at how little an upgrade it was. Way too good of an opportunity to pass up.

 

[MRYPPNS]

The concierge bump up definitely is easing my disappointment over losing POP. I think I'm going to be fine at Sports though.

I think I forgot to comment on your new news.....

Concierge is very exciting. I've seen food reviews on concierge breakfasts....wow! No need to go out for breakfast now and you'll save the money you would have spend on it.

I'm staying at All Star Music in October....I really don't want to but it will be ok I guess...... Sleep, shower and breakfast.....that's all I'm using it for. Hopefully I'll be able to give some kind words about All Stars when I get back for you.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Okay, now that I'm settled into a resort, it's time for planning the good stuff! Fun and food!

I originally had a plan all set when this was still a solo trip, but once my BFF was invited, a few changes had to be made so I could make sure we would both be happy with the plans. So another plan was created. Then I switched my resorts and the plan had to get changed up again. I had to rethink my scheduling a bit once I changed resorts. The original plan was a bit more Magic Kingdom area focused, since our last four days were going to be spent at the Wilderness Lodge. Now that we will be in the Epcot area at the Boardwalk, I'm trying to do a bit of replanning. It would be a waste to not take advantage of being within walking distance of both Epcot and MGM. (Can I say how much I'm looking forward to that?)

Since we will be staying concierge level for our last four days, the Boardwalk's IPO office will take care of all our ADR's for us (for those last days at any rate). I'm hoping this helps us out a bit with a few of the tougher ADRs on my plan. I'll just have to take care of the first three days myself. I was feeling a bit torn about turning over the planning for those days, but it's going to make my life much easier, as I would have had to take a morning off of work to make my ADRs. I have to say though that it's awfully difficult to come up with a plan when Disney won't release their hours for December. The limited schedule now for Fantasmic! in particular is really playing havoc with my plans. I hate not having any clue when it will be showing. Even though it's my favorite night time show, I was going to bypass it just to avoid the aggravation when I was going solo. My friend however would really prefer not to miss it, so I'm going to try my best.

So right now the plans for the first three days are:

Day 1 (Saturday) - Magic Kingdom
We are flying out of different airports, but we are scheduled to arrive within 10 minutes of each other. The plan is to meet up at the ME desk and head to ASSports. We are due to get in really early this trip. My BFF arrives at 9:15 am and my flight arrives at 9:25 am. I'm doubting that we'll be able to get into our room right away, so we will probably head to a park and grab some lunch. It will definitely be the MK today, since our arrival day is Walt Disney's birthday. I'd like to squeeze in a nap at some point, as the MK was open late last year on this date. I'll need a rest if I'm going to be up late.

Diner - The Plaza - I originally was thinking 'Ohana for dinner, but I'm doubting that I'll be able to snag an ADR. Now I'm leaning towards The Plaza. I haven't been there in ages, but it has always been a favorite of mine, and hopefully should be an easier ADR to get. I don't have a back up restaurant though, so hopefully I'll get the Plaza and not have to worry.

Day 2 (Sunday)- Animal Kingdom.
Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ - a must. It's the only CS meal that I actually plan on. I love the fruit plate they offer. I don't understand why the rest of the CS places in the parks don't offer one as well. Yum!

Dinner - Boma - I'll be crushed if I don't get this one. It's become my place to have dinner on AK nights. I love all the soups! The back up plan in case I don't get into Boma is Raglan Road at DTD.


Those days were easy enough to plan, and haven't really changed much since I booked my original trip. Then comes the harder stuff.


Day 3 - Epcot/MGM (Monday)
Breakfast - Akerhaus - I'm a little unsure about this ADR. I originally was going to try for later in the week, but now that we're staying CL and get a continental breakfast in the lounge, I moved it. Now I'm not so sure I'm going to try at all. It's a lot of money to be spending just on breakfast. Still it does sometimes feature Belle in her gold dress, even though I figure we'll be looking like a couple of goofs with no kids at a princess breakfast.

Dinner - Brown Derby (Fantasmic Package if available) - I was a bit torn on this ADR as well. Part of me wants to check out the Sci Fi drive in, but honestly the menu there doesn't thrill me. I'm dying to try the Cobb salad, and I know that the food will be much better at the Brown Derby. I also love 50's Prime Time, and wouldn't mind eating there either. This leaves me with three choices. Right now I'm leaning towards the Brown Derby, but I'm not 100% convinced.

 

[pooh'smate]

I have to say though that it's awfully difficult to come up with a plan when Disney won't release their hours for December. The limited schedule now for Fantasmic! in particular is really playing havoc with my plans. I hate not having any clue when it will be showing.

I have to say that I am in the same boat as you. We are leaving on your Monday and it is so hard to know when to plan for Fantasmic. Neither one of us has seen it so we would like to see it and I have to make my dining reservations before the Dec hours are released.

 

[Flossbolna]

If you want to meet Belle, I would say go for it!! I think at Disney you can be as crazy as you want and I am sure there are plenty of adults going to princess meals every day!

I think Boma should be available without problem, especially if you are a bit flexible with your time. In January we were able to book it 50 days before our trip. And with three TS restaurants at AKL/AKV and Tusker House at AK, I think the pressure has been taken away a bit from Boma...

I've been meaning to PM you for ages about hair... I am doing very good with it, but am still trying to figure out things and find out which products work for me. The best thing is plopping overnight, it's so easy to wake up to hair that looks great!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I say go for the Akershus Breakfast! I bet you will have a grand time.

Brown Derby is delicious, have you never been? Or has it just been awhile?

 

[jenjolt]

I love your plans so far!!!!

I loved going to Askerhus so I would suggest keeping it!! I was a single gal taking pictures with the princesses so that was a lot of fun!!!

OOH...Brown Derby is a slice of heaven!! I really love that restaurant!!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I have to say that I am in the same boat as you. We are leaving on your Monday and it is so hard to know when to plan for Fantasmic. Neither one of us has seen it so we would like to see it and I have to make my dining reservations before the Dec hours are released.

It's horrible having to plan around it. I think they will probably be releasing Dec. hours right as I'll be making my ADRs. You definitely should try to make it to Fantasmic. I love it!

If you want to meet Belle, I would say go for it!! I think at Disney you can be as crazy as you want and I am sure there are plenty of adults going to princess meals every day!

I think Boma should be available without problem, especially if you are a bit flexible with your time. In January we were able to book it 50 days before our trip. And with three TS restaurants at AKL/AKV and Tusker House at AK, I think the pressure has been taken away a bit from Boma...

I know my friend is always up for acting like a kid. Our last trip together she humored me with waiting in line to meet Donald and Captain Jack. I just couldn't talk her into wearing a costume for MNSSHP.

I'm so glad that it's working for you. It's worked wonders for me, and I can't sing it's praises enough.

I say go for the Akershus Breakfast! I bet you will have a grand time.

Brown Derby is delicious, have you never been? Or has it just been awhile?

I've been twice to Brown Derby. We were able to grab an ADR for there while at Disney last year. I love it there. I'm tempted by the Sci Fi just to check it out, but the Brown Derby is such a wonderful relaxing oasis in the middle of the parks. And really if I'm planning on having cobb salad for diner, it's not really much more expensive then eating at Sci Fi.

I love your plans so far!!!!

I loved going to Askerhus so I would suggest keeping it!! I was a single gal taking pictures with the princesses so that was a lot of fun!!!

OOH...Brown Derby is a slice of heaven!! I really love that restaurant!!!

I'm glad to hear you loved Askerhus. I was toying with there and CRT. CRT is just way too crazy expensive though for breakfast. I really think I'm going to keep it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

How fun that you will be at WDW on Walt's birthday! You should get a cupcake at the Main Street Bakery and pose beside his statue with it!

 

[If U Had Wings]

How fun that you will be at WDW on Walt's birthday! You should get a cupcake at the Main Street Bakery and pose beside his statue with it!

I like that idea! I may have to think about some shirts for the occasion too!

 

[All7OfUs]

OOps! I'm a day behind. Sorry!

Let's see....

DO NOT stress about the Akershus. It's very low key, and no one will even notice that you are without kids. If they do, that's their problem; you can be as kid-like as you want at Disney.

I'd say go for Brown Derby. Especially since the menu doesn't look all that inviting to you.

I would try to have plan B for the MK day. What about Tony's or something at the Grand Floridian or Contemp??

I love Flame Tree too! So yummy; but better than that it has that oh so lovely, little area by the fountain to sit and relax by while you're eating.
Nice!

 

[If U Had Wings]

DO NOT stress about the Akershus. It's very low key, and no one will even notice that you are without kids. If they do, that's their problem; you can be as kid-like as you want at Disney.

I have no problems at all acting like a kid. Just ask my nieces, they think their entire family is just about the same ages as them.

I'd say go for Brown Derby. Especially since the menu doesn't look all that inviting to you.

It's the way I've been leaning. As much as I'd like to see Sci-Fi, I just don't think it's worth suffering through food I don't really like. Maybe I'll just stick my head in there, or try to make a ressie for dessert.

I would try to have plan B for the MK day. What about Tony's or something at the Grand Floridian or Contemp??

Hmmm... maybe something at the Grand Floridian would be a good idea. I've never eaten a meal over there. I'm not a big fan of Tony's after my last meal there 2 years ago. My meal was fairly tasteless, and the icecream desert was freezer burned. My friend though had a delicious meal there.

I love Flame Tree too! So yummy; but better than that it has that oh so lovely, little area by the fountain to sit and relax by while you're eating.
Nice!

I always end up there when the seating is crowded, and end up with a fairly sunny seat. The area by the fountain sounds wonderful.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Now while this post is really about my dining plans, I have to touch on a few of my other plans as well for the second half of my trip. Don't worry though, I'll go a bit more into depth on those later on. I don't want to give all my plans away quite yet.

For the Boardwalk portion of my stay though, my ADRs are much more tied to my activities though since I have a couple of "free days". For the most part my free days are going to be just that - days with few plans, but I do have a few things that I know that I want to do, and I have a list of potential things to do as well. I'm so excited about having non-park time. I'm not so sure that my BFF is as happy about that, but there is nothing stopping her from going to a park if she wants.


Day 4 - Free Day! (Tuesday)
Optimally I would have preferred not to have a free day planned for a day I have to switch resorts. If I set up my schedule that way however I would have had two free days in a row, and I like that set-up even less. So, as a result, my resort moving day is the first of my free days.

I want to go to the Grand Floridan spa on one of my free days, and right now I'm leaning towards moving day. Originally I had planned it for my second free day (Day #6), but now that I'm not staying at a MK area resort it wasn't as important to plan it for a day I was staying in the area. My BFF has no interest in spas, so while I'm getting pampered, she is planning on doing either the Keys to the Kingdom tour or the Backstage Magic tour.


Breakfast - Kona
I need to try some Tonga Toast. If I'm going to be heading to the GF spa, being at the Poly for breakfast will put me that much closer and I can relax first by checking out the grounds at the Poly.

Lunch - or more accurately Tea, at the Grand Floridian
Maybe. I'm still not 100% on this. The sandwich offerings really don't thrill me as I can't stomach mayo and most of the offerings seem to include it, but I do love tea. Maybe just for some of the dessert items.

Dinner - Hoop Dee Doo Revue
One of my BFF's requests, but I love the show so I don't mind at all. I'm hoping we can get the middle show which is at 7 something.


Day 5 - MGM/Epcot (Wednesday)
We'll get to enjoy the concierge lounge for breakfast and snacks today. I'm considering days 3 & 5 interchangeable for the Fantasmic package, so if I have to change things up I will.

Dinner - Le Cellier
Le Cellier wasn't on my schedule originally, but I added it for the benefit of my BFF. I want it primarily for the pretzel sticks and the cheese soup, as I'm not really a huge beef eater, but my friend loves steak. I actually won't be crushed if we don't get this one. I'd just as soon eat at the back up plan, the San Angel Inn in Mexico. Steak really doesn't do anything for me. I know. I'm weird. I'm probably the only one, who's almost hoping she's not able to get a Le Cellier reservation. I might just waffle, and change this one before I go ahead with it. I'm also not sure if I'm going to try for the Candlelight Processional package or not. I'm wishing Disney would release a bit more information about that as well.


Day 6 - Free Day! (Thursday)
The plan is to spend the day relaxing before going to MVMCP at night . The problem is keeping my wish list for my free day under control.

Dinner - 'Ohana
Hoping for a bit of IPO magic on this one too . This was another request from my BFF. My last experience there was iffy, but I've had a great meal there before so I'm willing to give it another chance.

Day 7 - Floating Day (Friday)
Our last full day. No set plans for a certain park. We can spend the day doing whatever we feel like, although I'd like to hit MK in the morning possibly.

Dinner - California Grill????
This is my toughest pick by far. We definitely want to do a signature meal on our last day. I pretty much narrowed it down to the California Grill or Citricos, although the Brown Derby is still a contender if I go with a different choice earlier in the week.

Right now I'm leaning towards the California Grill. I've been there before and like it. I also saw on allearsnet that the flatbreads are back on the menu, and I loved those my last trip. The menu though at Citrcos looks pretty good too, so I'm torn. Anyone who's eaten at them have any preferences?


Day 8 - Travel day (Saturday)
Breakfast - Chef Mickeys
The back up plan is for Cape Mays. We both just wanted to have hit one character meal, and since we both have late afternoon flights a final day breakfast should work out perfectly. It will be a nice last meal before we have to leave.


Now I just have to finalize my ADRs and get at least the last four days to the Boardwalk's IPO so they can handle them for me. I'm thinking I should give them my back-ups as well, just in case. They didn't ask for backups, but I figure it will make it easier for them. Less time wasted if I don't get my first choices.