Looking for Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere a PTR

[Charleston Princess]

Yep, it's officially okay to start packing once the ME tags arrive.

I love that you, your mom, and your dad dressed up!!! So fun!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Yep, it's officially okay to start packing once the ME tags arrive.

I love that you, your mom, and your dad dressed up!!! So fun!

That's what I was thinking!

I have a little pile going in the corner of my room. I need to start paying attention to the weather in Florida.

My whole family loves Halloween. I used to love that my dad would get dressed up to take us out.

 

[All7OfUs]

I definitely think it's time to start packing! Those little tags are just the cutest little piece of paper, aren't they? It could have nothing to do with the fact that they are ME tags could it?

Yes, do start making that shopping list- holidays make everyone a little dingy in their thinking! Keep a running list on the fridge or kitchen counter, so you can always have it handy as things come to mind!

I LOVE your changes. I was relieved to see that you could rearrange without losing HBD! I would choose this over Sci-Fi!! I'm never daunted by bad reviews, and would give the SAI a try too. I'm a big believer in seeing for yourself if you like a place or not. If everyone only went be DIS reviews, we'd never eat anywhere!

Love your costuming surprise too!! That's cute that they didn't recognize Grandma right away. You all look great!!! Love the Grumpy costume.

 

[princess&her4princes]

LOVE the Halloween pic! How fun if your family?!! I'm sure your neices were so excited to see you all!!!

I"d say start packing,too!! Get that suitcase out, stick it in the corner and start putting stuff in there....that will make the time go by quicker too!!

Sounds like your ADRS worked out just fine, you've got some good choices, I always love the atmosphere of San Angel, it just makes me happy!!

Hope you're having a good week!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I definitely think it's time to start packing! Those little tags are just the cutest little piece of paper, aren't they? It could have nothing to do with the fact that they are ME tags could it?

Yes, do start making that shopping list- holidays make everyone a little dingy in their thinking! Keep a running list on the fridge or kitchen counter, so you can always have it handy as things come to mind!

I LOVE your changes. I was relieved to see that you could rearrange without losing HBD! I would choose this over Sci-Fi!! I'm never daunted by bad reviews, and would give the SAI a try too. I'm a big believer in seeing for yourself if you like a place or not. If everyone only went be DIS reviews, we'd never eat anywhere!

Love your costuming surprise too!! That's cute that they didn't recognize Grandma right away. You all look great!!! Love the Grumpy costume.

I love getting that packet from Disney. Now I feel like the trip is right around the corner. I actually got a second packet from them yesterday (because of my split stay). Woo Hoo! I'll be in Disney in no time.

My family has always really got into Halloween. Usually my brother dresses up as well, but this year he didn't have the time. Last year he was virtually unrecognizable as an old man. My dad is grumpy! The costume just completed the look.

LOVE the Halloween pic! How fun if your family?!! I'm sure your neices were so excited to see you all!!!

I"d say start packing,too!! Get that suitcase out, stick it in the corner and start putting stuff in there....that will make the time go by quicker too!!

Sounds like your ADRS worked out just fine, you've got some good choices, I always love the atmosphere of San Angel, it just makes me happy!!

Hope you're having a good week!!

I think I'm going to drag out the suitcases tonight. I've been sick since Sunday or I would have done it already. I definitely need to make up a shopping list soon. I don't want to be running around at the last minute.

I'm pretty happy with my ADRs. I was looking forward to trying Sci-Fi, but in the end I think Brown Derby and San Angel will be better choices. At least we'll be able to sit across from each other and have a conversation. I just need to remember to bring a tiny flashlight so I can read the menu at San Angel. It's dark in there!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Day 6 is my second non-park, rest and relaxation day of the trip. This time I have no real plans, for most of the day. Bliss! The Boardwalk Inn has been my dream resort for a long time, and I really want to take the chance to kick back and enjoy the resort itself. Who knows when I'll get to stay here again? I want to enjoy it as much as I can.

There is no real plan for the day. I'm going to play it by ear and just do what feels right. I'd love to sleep in a bit and then maybe take a walk over to the Yacht and Beach Club Resort to check out the holiday decorations, possibly have ice cream for lunch, and then come back and hang out at the pool for awhile. I'm hoping it's not too cold for the pool, but really…I'm a New Englander, it would have to be pretty cold before I won't go in.

Maybe later in the day I'll head over to DTD and browse through the shops, and maybe go up in the balloon, Or maybe not. It all depends on my mood. Right now the thought of kicking back next to the pool, with a book and a frozen drink is sounding wonderful.

At 5:20 I have an ADR for dinner at Ohana so we'll have to get moving at some point. After diner we'll be heading to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party , so technically it's not completely a park free day. I was kind of on the fence about going to this, as Christmas isn't really my favorite holiday but my BFF wanted to go so I added it on. I'm sure it will end up being fun, and I can't wait to see it snow on Main Street.

And my top 3 things for Day 6 -

1) Get my picture taken with this Tiki at the Poly.- When I was a kid my parents would take my picture every year with the same tiki statue.

1979 -

1981 -

I had pretty much written off the tiki as gone forever, but then I ran across this pic on someone's trip report from a year or two ago.

My tiki! I need to find this tiki and have my picture taken with him. I think it's now in the lobby somewhere, so I'll be off in search of it before our Ohana dinner.


2) Soak up BWK ambiance/Use pool - When I was a kid we always had a couple of pool days scheduled into our trip to Disney. I always loved them, and enjoyed spending hours playing in the pool meeting other kids. Of course that was when there was just the Magic Kingdom. Now there never seems to be enough time to just relax by the pool. I can't wait to bring back a happy part of my childhood to this trip.

From 1979 at the Poly Pool -

And from 1981 when characters would waterski up to the resort and then hang out and play for awhile.

3) Get a pic with character in costume at the Christmas party. - Unless I'm with the nieces these days I don't usually wait for pics with characters. (With a few exceptions ). I have a few character meals scheduled this trip, but I'd still like to get a pic with a character in their Christmas finery.

From 1979 meeting Mickey and Goofy for the first time. (Back in the days before there was any semblance of order meeting them. Lots of pics with namesless other kids in them were pretty much standard).

From 1988 one of my favorite pics of Mickey and Minnie

From 2007- I made my BFF wait in line for 2 characters- Donald and Jack. Jack was the most fun though. They had a whole treasure room set up for his meet and greet and he really took the time to meet with everyone.

And the whole family from last year meeting Goofy.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't see your photos here at work . I will be back tonight! I need to see this Tiki!

 

[Flossbolna]

The day sounds wonderful!! I like the idea of ending a non-park day with the MMCP. YOu will enjoy it so much more if you had a day full of resting.

Once again I love your old pics! HAve you thought about posting pictures on the "old WDW pcitures thread? It'S on the theme parks boards and it has many really old pictures in it. Your waterskiing characters would amaze so many people. I was sitting here totally shocked! Can you imagine to waterski in a Goofy costume???

And if you want help with searching the Tiki, have you thought about asking about his whereabouts (to many abouts in this sentence, I know...) on the official Poly FAQ on the resorts boards? I was posting on that thread last year before our Poly stay and there were a number of really nice and very knowledgeable people. I am sure someone might have an idea where to find the tiki.

 

[If U Had Wings]

I can't see your photos here at work . I will be back tonight! I need to see this Tiki!

I feel really protective of "my" tiki. If he ever turns up on mouse surplus I'll have to buy him.

The day sounds wonderful!! I like the idea of ending a non-park day with the MMCP. YOu will enjoy it so much more if you had a day full of resting.

I think it's going to make the party so much more enjoyable. When I went to the Halloween party I had fun, but was exhausted from spending the morning at Epcot. I'm getting too old to be doing crazy stuff like that.

Once again I love your old pics! HAve you thought about posting pictures on the "old WDW pcitures thread? It'S on the theme parks boards and it has many really old pictures in it. Your waterskiing characters would amaze so many people. I was sitting here totally shocked! Can you imagine to waterski in a Goofy costume???

I'll have to check that out. I think I have a few pics of him actually waterskiing too. It used to be fun to see who would show up at the pool. I give anyone credit for waterskiing with that on!

And if you want help with searching the Tiki, have you thought about asking about his whereabouts (to many abouts in this sentence, I know...) on the official Poly FAQ on the resorts boards? I was posting on that thread last year before our Poly stay and there were a number of really nice and very knowledgeable people. I am sure someone might have an idea where to find the tiki.

I'll have to check out the Poly thread. I hadn't even thought of that. I knew that it wasn't outside anylonger, but was thrilled when I saw someone else post a pic. I'll have to head over there and check it out.

 

[princess&her4princes]

What a GREAT UPDATE!! Love all the "old" pics, especially the Tiki ones!! I hope you find him on your upcoming trip, how cool is that?!! Love it. Your relaxing day with no plans sounds wonderful!!!!!! You'll love MVMCP....we really enjoyed it our last trip, it's just sooo magical at night, with it snowing and the music...it was my fav!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

Those retro picture are a priceless treasure worth far more than gold!!! It's so wonderful that your mom took the time to chronicle all those memories for you!

I love the statement, "if the mood striked me", or something to that effect. I like that a lot, in fact!

Ice cream for lunch? Love that too!

I think you'll have fun at the MVMCP! Try to make the best of it, even if it wasn't your idea. I think the characters dressed up will be a fun addition to your photos.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Isn't Belle in her red Christmas gown at MVMCP?? I think that if she is there, that is the character you must meet! She's your girl!!

Your Dad as Grumpy has me cracking me up. What a great costume!

 

[If U Had Wings]

What a GREAT UPDATE!! Love all the "old" pics, especially the Tiki ones!! I hope you find him on your upcoming trip, how cool is that?!! Love it. Your relaxing day with no plans sounds wonderful!!!!!! You'll love MVMCP....we really enjoyed it our last trip, it's just sooo magical at night, with it snowing and the music...it was my fav!!!

I'm determined to find him. I really wanted to do it last year on our family trip, but then my brother cancelled out on our Ohana dinner. It would have been fun to get one with the two of us.

I'm sure I'll end up having fun at the party. Part of me just wishes it was the Halloween party instead. I just love dressing up. I will admit though that I bought myself a Christmas shirt to wear at the party to feel a bit more festive.

Those retro picture are a priceless treasure worth far more than gold!!! It's so wonderful that your mom took the time to chronicle all those memories for you!

We defintely have no shortage of pictures of my growing up years. Besides my father, who is still pretty physically attached to his camera, he had 5 brothers and sisters all of who would be bringing out the cameras as well. As kids it was like having your own paparazzi. Someone would call your name and you'd turn, pose and smile. I never understood the kids who would just hide from the cameras. Didn't they have a bunch of other people waiting to take the same picture? It was so much easier to just go with it than to hide.

My nieces and young cousins have learned this quickly. Stop, pose and smile. I think they have it much worse now. They have the great aunts and uncles, cousins, parents, etc. and all with unlimited digital cameras now.

I love the statement, "if the mood striked me", or something to that effect. I like that a lot, in fact!

Ice cream for lunch? Love that too!

I'm trying to make that my mantra for this trip. Usually I bring with me the Unofficial Guide's touring plans, but I'm thinking of ditching them. (Or maybe I'll bring them, but ditch them if the parks aren't too busy). I've never followed them exactly anyways, but part of me is loath to ditch them completely when they work so well. (Especially first thing in the morning).

I think you'll have fun at the MVMCP! Try to make the best of it, even if it wasn't your idea. I think the characters dressed up will be a fun addition to your photos.

I'm sure I'll still have fun at the party. I do really want to see the snow, and the characters in their Christmas gear. I'll enjoy it more just knowing that my friend really enjoys Christmas.

Oddly enough, I couldn't even tell you why Christmas isn't really my favorite holiday. Maybe it's because it makes me really think of the family members who have passed over the years and how much I miss them. They're all so tied to those childhood memories.

Isn't Belle in her red Christmas gown at MVMCP?? I think that if she is there, that is the character you must meet! She's your girl!!

Okay, I had no idea Belle would be there in her red dress. I need to meet her!

How bad am I that at my age I still "need" to meet Belle?

Your Dad as Grumpy has me cracking me up. What a great costume!

He was actually the first one planning on dressing up. He had wanted to dress as Grumpy for MNSSHP when he went a few years ago, but couldn't find a costume. When he saw the Disney store had it this year he picked one up immediately.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Okay, I had no idea Belle would be there in her red dress. I need to meet her!

How bad am I that at my age I still "need" to meet Belle?



He was actually the first one planning on dressing up. He had wanted to dress as Grumpy for MNSSHP when he went a few years ago, but couldn't find a costume. When he saw the Disney store had it this year he picked one up immediately.

I'm pretty sure she is there in her red dress and I even think that their Princes are with them at MVMCP as well. It's not bad at all! I'm the same way, when I go to MVMCP I want to meet all the princesses in their Christmas finery!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I'm pretty sure she is there in her red dress and I even think that their Princes are with them at MVMCP as well. It's not bad at all! I'm the same way, when I go to MVMCP I want to meet all the princesses in their Christmas finery!

I just love being a big kid at heart. My nieces told me it's one of the things that they love about me. Who wants to be an old stick in the mud?

 

[All7OfUs]

I definitely wouldn't describe you as a "stick in the mud", Crissy!! I think you'd be WONDERFUL to have as an auntie!! I see absolutely NOTHING wrong with needing to meet Belle in anything she wore; it's more of who she stands for anyway, I think...

You are going to have such a great time on this trip, I just feel it for you!! Ditch those plans if you need to, but take them for a safety net if you need them.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I just love being a big kid at heart. My nieces told me it's one of the things that they love about me. Who wants to be an old stick in the mud?

Awww, that is just so sweet!

Yep, it's decided you have to meet Belle. I want lots o' pictures of it!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I definitely wouldn't describe you as a "stick in the mud", Crissy!! I think you'd be WONDERFUL to have as an auntie!! I see absolutely NOTHING wrong with needing to meet Belle in anything she wore; it's more of who she stands for anyway, I think...

You are going to have such a great time on this trip, I just feel it for you!! Ditch those plans if you need to, but take them for a safety net if you need them.

Well, my younger niece likes to tell me that I'm an "old lady". She's lucky that she's cute and that I love her.

Awww, that is just so sweet!

Yep, it's decided you have to meet Belle. I want lots o' pictures of it!!

They are my two sweeties. I'm going to be going through a bit of withdrawal though as I probably won't see them until Thanksgiving.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Finally we've arrived on the plans for my last full day. That's sad even in just a pre-trip report. As is my new tradition, we are virtually planless for our last day. On my last few trips I intentionally left the last day plan free except for a late dinner reservation at a signature restaurant. It makes for a wonderful last day. So the plan is to spend the day going back and catch anything that we either missed, or that we want to see again. I would like to start the day at the MK, because of one of items on my 3 Things list, but I'm open to anything. No plans whatsoever, except for dinner.

But…

Thanks to SkierPete, I double checked the times schedule for Fantasmic for the week I'm on vacation. When the schedule was originally released Fantasmic was only showing on the two days we weren't going into the parks. I was disappointed, but I didn't want to rip my entire plan up just to fit it in. SkierPete gave me the heads up today that they had been adding in Fantasmic times to the schedule for various dates in December. I went online and checked and score! They have added in shows on the 6th and the 11th the week I'm there.

The 6th is our Animal Kingdom/Boma dinner day so the timing didn't really work out well for that day. The 11th on the other hand is our last day. Very do-able.

If…

Fantasmic will be showing that night at 6:30pm. Our dinner ADR that night is for Citricos at 8:45 pm. Does anyone have any idea how long Fantasmic runs? I'm thinking about 20 minutes or so, but I can't remember exactly. At most I'd guess about a half hour, plus the mad crush to get out of there. If we saw the show and then went directly to the bus to the Grand Floridian we would have no problem getting there in time. My issue with that is that we'd have to go dressed to Fantasmic since Citricos has a dress code. If we went back to the room to change, we'd be cutting it close, and I'd certainly have to spring for a cab to get us there in time.

We both really love Fantasmic, so I'm thinking I'm going to try to work it in somehow.

Other than that though, no plans except for the 8:45 pm ADR at Citricos. After all I've heard about it from Tink, and other threads here on the boards I'm really looking forward to eating there. We were torn between Citricos and Cali Grill, and this is the place my BFF chose. While I loved Calilfornia Grill on my last trip, I'm looking forward to trying someplace new.

On our departure day, I never really plan on going back to the parks. We both have flights leaving in the late afternoon, so I made an ADR for breakfast at Chef Mickeys. I've never been there before, and am looking forward to it.

And my final 3 things list:

1) Visit Tom Sawyers Island - This is my reason for wanting to hit the MK in the morning our last day. I want to go our and look for a paintbrush. I haven't been out to Tom Sawyer's Island since my very first trip to Disney back in 1979, so it practically falls as a never been done list item.

2) Watch the electrical water parade - Again this is something I haven't done since I was a kid staying at the Poly.

3) Take some time to take photos of Toontown and Fantasyland before construction begins on the new area. I already miss old places like 2000 Leagues.

I want to be sure I capture the rest of the stuff that I love.


And lastly one last item. A bonus list item if you will -

4) Relax on Main Street and people watch

 

[Flossbolna]

Yeah for additonal FAntasmics! Can't you go back to the hotel before Fantasmic and dress nicely before you head out to DHS? The dresscode is not so strict, so I think something cute might still be comfortable enough for the parks. Otherwise, taking cabs is doable. I think BWI to GF wouldn't bemore than 15 $ or so. It was 20 from CR to AK and that is all the way across the property.

Tom Sawyers island is on my to do list as well. I have never been there!!! But I don't think I will make it in time for the paint brushes...