Makin' Memories... A PTR for a 2022 Thanksgiving Trip. (hopefully)

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Happy Saturday Everyone!!!

Only 118 days or 3 months 25 days! Why does 118 days sound less than 3 months and 25 days?!?! I have a countdown widget on my phone that I probably shouldn't have as Gwen tries to steal my phone all the time. But I love seeing the countdown. It weirdly makes me happy.

I will say, it is probably good, I cancelled the Thanksgiving trip, as it looks more and mroe like Gwen won't be getting her shot till early November. At least I am not stressing about it. We have plenty of time before this trip for her to be all vaccinated.

I am hoping that now that we are in October, things will start to move faster. And I do feel like they are. The girls are SUPER busy with school, which in turn makes ME busy driving them places!

Does anyone have 50th anniversary hangover? I was trying to keep up on all of the new merch and food. And there is just too much!!!

Updated Restaurant Wish List:
I am leaning towards just trying to do Space 220 lounge and not get a real reservation... I am just thinking we go first thing they start taking names and just try and get on the list.

And on that note, I think we will be skipping California Grill this trip. As long as it is a pre-fix menu, it just isn't going to work for us.

I think I am going to add Steakhouse 51 to the list! I think lunch will be better for us. but the burger is getting good reviews and I want to try the bacon and eggs app that everyone raves about.

I am on the fence about whether to do a reservation for the new Creperie... Part of me things we should just do walk up.. we will see.

What else... I have been trying to think of how I can suprise the girls. I REALLY eant to suprise them THAT Friday morning but I think I might have to tell them ahead of time so that they can collect any school work they may need. We had back to school night, and most of Gwen's teachers seemed pretty up beat. Most talked about not really giving homework and letting the kids do after school activites and stuff. So, I think from that perspective, I could probably reach out to them and get homework with out Gwen knowing.

Morgan's teachers is a little different story... She is in honors Math and Spanish this year and they are both fairly INTENSE! In fact, the math teacher basically was saying that they didn't learn anything LAST year! And she wasn't even sure she would be able to recommend most of the kids for honors math next year!!! Needless to say, she was a bit of a bummer at back to school night.

Our flight is at 10:30 on a Friday, so we could do some sort of pretend to get ready for school deal and instead of getting on the bus we take them to the airport.... I had thought about possibly trying to come up with a reason that we would be going to my moms that morning (we basically go by the airport to get to her) But why would we skip school to visit my mom? That doesn't make sense.

The other issue is, I KNOW that the girls will start to suspect something by the time we get to Jan./Feb. As Gwen will be vaccinated (fingerscrossed) and it is the "normal time that we go....

I have done a scavenger hunt, picked the girls up from school unannounced, breakfast reveal, clues over the course of a week to reveal the trip, and even have our elf "announce" it. So, I feel like i have exhausted alot of the options...

 

[SEAGULL59]

Maybe with this trip you should tell the girls. Especially since Morgan has tougher classes. It may help to get her more exited if she is prepared for what she needs to do ahead of time and try to get a few things done before the trip. Obviously, you know your girls and can decide what’s best.
You could do it as a surprise for a Christmas gift. Maybe try to find something new that they didn’t do before and wrap up that experience as the gift?? Just a thought.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

You could do it as a surprise for a Christmas gift. Maybe try to find something new that they didn’t do before and wrap up that experience as the gift?? Just a thought.

I do like the idea of Christmas gifts... But I don't want to tell them too early JUST in case we have to cancel for one reason or another. They will just be devestated. (I mean so will I but my adult brain will get over ti)

I am even thinking if it's just a week early, like the weekend before. That way they have a week to collect school work and maybe even work on some of it before we leave.

 

[kastoney]

Only 118 days or 3 months 25 days! Why does 118 days sound less than 3 months and 25 days?!?! I have a countdown widget on my phone that I probably shouldn't have as Gwen tries to steal my phone all the time. But I love seeing the countdown. It weirdly makes me happy.

Between all of the holidays coming up and the school stuff its gonna be here before you know it. We have a little wooden countdown that we use and just turning a block over every day makes it seem like time is really moving. 2 months or 56 days to go

Does anyone have 50th anniversary hangover? I was trying to keep up on all of the new merch and food. And there is just too much!!!

I am so with you. I'm thrilled they are going overboard and can't wait to check it out for myself, but way too much to keep up with.

I am leaning towards just trying to do Space 220 lounge and not get a real reservation... I am just thinking we go first thing they start taking names and just try and get on the list.

This is the route we are going to try for too. No chance I'm paying those prices for Casey to eat 3 bites and be full.

And on that note, I think we will be skipping California Grill this trip. As long as it is a pre-fix menu, it just isn't going to work for us.

I think I am going to add Steakhouse 51 to the list! I think lunch will be better for us. but the burger is getting good reviews and I want to try the bacon and eggs app that everyone raves about.

Yup and yup. Even the price aside price fix style just isn't how we like to eat. But I'm with you on hearing great things about Steakhouse. And love the refurb as well. Definite upgrade.

I have done a scavenger hunt, picked the girls up from school unannounced, breakfast reveal, clues over the course of a week to reveal the trip, and even have our elf "announce" it. So, I feel like i have exhausted alot of the options...

You could pull a me and tell them you are flying down to see your grandparents

I do like the idea of Christmas gifts... But I don't want to tell them too early JUST in case we have to cancel for one reason or another. They will just be devestated. (I mean so will I but my adult brain will get over ti)

Not sure of your exact dates but maybe Valentines Day gifts? Or the ever popular President's day present exchange

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

2 months or 56 days to go

Lucky!!! Lucky that you are going soon AND that. you can have a countdown out and about with Casey. I don't think the April trip will be a secret and I am looking forward to not being a secret anymore.

I am so with you. I'm thrilled they are going overboard and can't wait to check it out for myself, but way too much to keep up with.

And I am trying to not get attached to anything, who know what will be available when we go.

You could pull a me and tell them you are flying down to see your grandparents

Sadly, we don't have any relatives that we could use as taking a trip to. I guess I could say we are going on a trip to somewhere else...

Not sure of your exact dates but maybe Valentines Day gifts? Or the ever popular President's day present exchange

We leave Feb. 4th, so before both of those "holidays" ha! I also had a thought of putting together a package that would be "delivered" for them to open after school on day. And put new ears in it, or something.

 

[Steppesister]

I suggested Discovery Cove to Andy, but it is $$$$$!!!! He declined that option.

For a family it is VERY $$$$$$, so I can totally see his reluctance. I'd say a once in a lifetime thing for a family. Much more doable for one person going, or for friends paying separately.

So, how many of you use Touring Plans? And how many of you base your park days on there crowd levels? I am looking at what they have for our February trip. And it is intresting what they have for some of the parks and days!

Animal Kingdom never goes lower than 5 our trip. And that is ONLY 1 day! The rest are 6's and higher! Is that because there isn't as much to do there? So the waits will be higher?

I do, and they are always spot on. And yes, I do plan to some extent around what they say too. But it also has to make sense for where you are staying, and what ADRs you can get. Always an interesting ride planning a trip!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Hey Everyone!

Morgan is sick this weekend. Just a low grade cold. Nothing major, but we are lying low this weekend because of it. And I have been doing some major vacation planning / mulling over stuff. And What the **** is wrong with Disney's website? Every 5 minutes I get errror messages and spinning wheels!!!! It does NOT give me hope for Disney Plus!

And it's the whole website. Sometimes all I am trying to do is look at a menu or something.

I wanted to change a few park reservations and I just kept getting spinning wheel after spinning wheel. I ended up doing it on my phone which for some odd reason worked better.

ANYWAY... I moved around Just a few park days. Mostly, I moved Animal Kingdom up to earlier in the week, It was towards the end and we usually only go once a trip. So, I wanted us to be more peppy still to go.

Plus, I looked to see and as of now Disney is ONLY doing Extended Evening hours for Deluxe hotel guests on Wednesday, for Magic Kingdom and Monday's for EPCOT. Which, I do want Wednesday to be a rest day but an evening in Magic Kingdom would be nice.

And can I say that it is pretty lame that they are only doing 2 days! That is not enough of a perk to convince me to upgrade from a moderate to a deluxe for one night of extra hours!?!? Disney is totally missing the ball on these things!

 

[Steppesister]

Hey Everyone!

Morgan is sick this weekend. Just a low grade cold. Nothing major, but we are lying low this weekend because of it. And I have been doing some major vacation planning / mulling over stuff. And What the **** is wrong with Disney's website? Every 5 minutes I get errror messages and spinning wheels!!!! It does NOT give me hope for Disney Plus!

And it's the whole website. Sometimes all I am trying to do is look at a menu or something.

I wanted to change a few park reservations and I just kept getting spinning wheel after spinning wheel. I ended up doing it on my phone which for some odd reason worked better.

ANYWAY... I moved around Just a few park days. Mostly, I moved Animal Kingdom up to earlier in the week, It was towards the end and we usually only go once a trip. So, I wanted us to be more peppy still to go.

Plus, I looked to see and as of now Disney is ONLY doing Extended Evening hours for Deluxe hotel guests on Wednesday, for Magic Kingdom and Monday's for EPCOT. Which, I do want Wednesday to be a rest day but an evening in Magic Kingdom would be nice.

And can I say that it is pretty lame that they are only doing 2 days! That is not enough of a perk to convince me to upgrade from a moderate to a deluxe for one night of extra hours!?!? Disney is totally missing the ball on these things!

Disney has yes, missed the ball completely on this. What a joke. I did the extra hours a couple of weeks ago and got a grand total of one extra ride. NOT worth the extra few hundred, $1000 ? , you'd pay. Don't fall for it.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

For a family it is VERY $$$$$$, so I can totally see his reluctance. I'd say a once in a lifetime thing for a family. Much more doable for one person going, or for friends paying separately.

It is something I stil want to do one day but it would be more for me and the girls than Andy and this trip is for him! One day maybe... one day.

I do, and they are always spot on. And yes, I do plan to some extent around what they say too. But it also has to make sense for where you are staying, and what ADRs you can get. Always an interesting ride planning a trip!

I am using it mor of a guide. The weekends are obviously heigher. so there is nothing we can do about that.

Disney has yes, missed the ball completely on this. What a joke. I did the extra hours a couple of weeks ago and got a grand total of one extra ride. NOT worth the extra few hundred, $1000 ? , you'd pay. Don't fall for it.

They really made something that was to be simple just as complicated! I am just glad we ahve been a bucnh and know what we are doing.

 

[pinkxray]

I forget if I weighed in on Discovery Cove. It is amazing! We have been 3 times since it opened and love it each time. It might not be right for this trip but when you book they do have the option to add Seaworld and Aquatica pretty cheap. Maybe one day when you are ready to take a break from Disney you can do Discovery Cove plus SeaWorld for something different.
That’s our plan when DD turns 6. Stay at a Disney resort and just do Discovery Cove and their add on. Maybe Boo Bash or Xmas after hours depending what month we go.

My younger kids are only 4 and 6. DD16 has a countdown and constantly tells them when we are going. Each time someone mentions it I try to prepare that if one of them is quarantined or sick we will have to cancel. At this point they have had so much cancelled by COVID they seem to understand. I would just tell the girls.

We are also skipping Space220 and California Grill due to the fixed price. DD16 still eats like a kid so I’m not paying for her to not eat.
We are really looking forward to lunch at Steakhouse 71. DH doesn’t like Disney and spends no time planning. He happened to walk by while I was watching DFB’s review and said we should book it. Thankfully there was an opening for our Dec. trip.

We happened to have Epcot on Monday and MK on Wed. We are already staying at Copper Creek so I am hoping to make it to MK after hours since it is DS’s bday. No way if we were staying value or moderate would I pay more this though.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

We are really looking forward to lunch at Steakhouse 71. DH doesn’t like Disney and spends no time planning. He happened to walk by while I was watching DFB’s review and said we should book it. Thankfully there was an opening for our Dec. trip.

My DH loves Disney but not into the planning side. Which is fine until he chimes in WAY too late with an idea. But Steakhouse 71 looks great for lunch!

I forget if I weighed in on Discovery Cove. It is amazing! We have been 3 times since it opened and love it each time. It might not be right for this trip but when you book they do have the option to add Seaworld and Aquatica pretty cheap.

I def want to do it at some point. I think when we go it will be more for me and the girls than my husband. So, saving it for another trip makes sense.

We happened to have Epcot on Monday and MK on Wed. We are already staying at Copper Creek so I am hoping to make it to MK after hours since it is DS’s bday. No way if we were staying value or moderate would I pay more this though.

I will be intrested to hear how you guys like it. I am TOTALLY with you on not upgrading. Right now it's not worth it! I am hoping they add more nights as they get more CM back?

 

[Woth2982]

Maybe tell the girls the weekend before? Maybe on Sunday night at dinner be like "So what do you girls want to do next weekend?" then have them list all their ideas, and then at the end say something like "That all sounds great but I would rather go to Disney World"

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Maybe tell the girls the weekend before? Maybe on Sunday night at dinner be like "So what do you girls want to do next weekend?" then have them list all their ideas, and then at the end say something like "That all sounds great but I would rather go to Disney World"

I actually really like this idea!!! We don't always, but some Sundays we play board games. Maybe I can integrate that somehow! OR we have done the create your own ala cart Disney trip before... We ask a question like what time of year you want to go, what hotel you want to stay at... And we each write down our answers. I could say we are going to do that at dinner and I can pick all the details of the trip that way!

 

[Bama Mom]

We've been to Discovery Cove years ago. It was in 2014 for my oldest son's graduation trip. Honestly it was a once and done thing for me.

Only 111 days for me... so close to double digits.

On the extra hours for MK and EPCOT, I agree Disney is dropping the ball here. We are at a moderate right now and if a good discount is released I might would upgrade but if not I wouldn't because Wednesday at MK would be the only one we would benefit from. It's just not worth the upgrade if it's only that one night.

 

[vleeth]

We did a Sea World/Aquatica/Discovery Cove trip last May. Discovery Cove has always been a bucket list thing for me. I did enjoy it, but it just wasn't as amazing as I expected it to be. I had a better time at Aquatica than Discovery Cove, which makes no sense. I don't regret going. We had a good time, but I'm not overly interested in going back.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Happy Saturday Everyone!!!

Is October going slow for anyone else? Or is it just me?!?! I feel like November has a lot of things happening for us, and October is just taking it's sweet sweet time to pass by!

I am very excited that Disney is finally rolling out the Lightening Lanes. I know most aren't looking forward to paying for it. But I guess I am just accepting our fate and ready to figure out how best to use it or not use it, you know?

Only 111 Days! I am getting closer to double digits! Exciting!!!! Did I mention that October is going too slow...

I have been trying to figure our our sit down restaurants for each day. And you wouldn't think that would be that hard, but there always seems to be a day or two that just don't fit...

My biggest problem right now... Sanaa... I need my bread service! But with Andy requesting to eat at tiffins, my usual time of AK day won't work. So, I was thinking our rest day would work, but now we will be heading to MK for late hours. And I was thinking that a trip to Trader Sam's would be perfect before heading in.... I could wait till April to go but... I don't know if I can...

Friday: Arrival Day - Morimoto Asia (dinner)
Saturday: Magic Kingdom - Skipper Canteen (not sure if I should do lunch or dinner)
Sunday: Hollywood Studios - Homecomin' (dinner)
Monday: EPCOT - Eating around the World
Tuesday: Animal Kingdom - Tiffins (again not sure if I should do lunch of dinner)
Wednesday: Rest Day / Magic Kingdom - Sanaa (dinner?)
Thursday: Hollywood Studios - Polite Pig (dinner)
Friday: Magic Kingdom - Steakhouse 71 (lunch)
Saturday: MK / EPCOT - Le Cellier (dinner)
Sunday: Hollywood Studios / Departure Day - Probably no sit down meal

Other items that I want to work in:

• Trader Sam's
• Hoop Dee Doo Review
• Nomad Lounge
• Sanaa
• Le Crepier
• Space 220 Lounge

 

[SEAGULL59]

Happy Saturday Everyone!!!

Is October going slow for anyone else? Or is it just me?!?! I feel like November has a lot of things happening for us, and October is just taking it's sweet sweet time to pass by!

I am very excited that Disney is finally rolling out the Lightening Lanes. I know most aren't looking forward to paying for it. But I guess I am just accepting our fate and ready to figure out how best to use it or not use it, you know?

Only 111 Days! I am getting closer to double digits! Exciting!!!! Did I mention that October is going too slow...

I have been trying to figure our our sit down restaurants for each day. And you wouldn't think that would be that hard, but there always seems to be a day or two that just don't fit...

My biggest problem right now... Sanaa... I need my bread service! But with Andy requesting to eat at tiffins, my usual time of AK day won't work. So, I was thinking our rest day would work, but now we will be heading to MK for late hours. And I was thinking that a trip to Trader Sam's would be perfect before heading in.... I could wait till April to go but... I don't know if I can...

Friday: Arrival Day - Morimoto Asia (dinner)
Saturday: Magic Kingdom - Skipper Canteen (not sure if I should do lunch or dinner)
Sunday: Hollywood Studios - Homecomin' (dinner)
Monday: EPCOT - Eating around the World
Tuesday: Animal Kingdom - Tiffins (again not sure if I should do lunch of dinner)
Wednesday: Rest Day / Magic Kingdom - Sanaa (dinner?)
Thursday: Hollywood Studios - Polite Pig (dinner)
Friday: Magic Kingdom - Steakhouse 71 (lunch)
Saturday: MK / EPCOT - Le Cellier (dinner)
Sunday: Hollywood Studios / Departure Day - Probably no sit down meal

Other items that I want to work in:

• Trader Sam's
• Hoop Dee Doo Review
• Nomad Lounge
• Sanaa
• Le Crepier
• Space 220 Lounge

Happy Saturday!! I am also glad that LL are starting up. My daughter and I leave on November 19th for our trip and I’m glad that I will be able to see how it goes the next month.
This will be our first time going to AK. Any advice? How does EE compare to the other coasters at the other parks? DD is 7 and has been on Big Thunder, Slinky, and Seven Dwarves. Do you think she’ll be ok on Everest? Any other advice for first timers at that park?

 

[kastoney]

Morgan is sick this weekend. Just a low grade cold. Nothing major, but we are lying low this weekend because of it.

Hope she is feeling better!

And I have been doing some major vacation planning / mulling over stuff. And What the **** is wrong with Disney's website? Every 5 minutes I get errror messages and spinning wheels!!!! It does NOT give me hope for Disney Plus!

I kept trying to look for some lunch reservations last weekend and finally just gave up. How these new lightening lanes are gonna work when a simple website can't should be interesting

And can I say that it is pretty lame that they are only doing 2 days! That is not enough of a perk to convince me to upgrade from a moderate to a deluxe for one night of extra hours!?!? Disney is totally missing the ball on these things!

I certainly wish there were more of them too but I'll take what we can get. I haven't seen a lot written about them yet but the one blog I did read seemed to be able to walk on most anything at MK. Hoping that keeps up so we can really utilize it

Is October going slow for anyone else? Or is it just me?!?! I feel like November has a lot of things happening for us, and October is just taking it's sweet sweet time to pass by!

I am so in the opposite camp. I feel like its flying and we will be at Halloween before we know it

My biggest problem right now... Sanaa... I need my bread service! But with Andy requesting to eat at tiffins, my usual time of AK day won't work.

Maybe you could do lunch on your rest day? Certainly easier to get a reservation at lunch time

Hoop Dee Doo Review

We watched Yehaa Bob's welcome back show on Thursday and he said its opening in January. I'm hoping its December because Casey would love to do this again, but we'll see

 

[Bama Mom]

Friday: Arrival Day - Morimoto Asia (dinner)
Saturday: Magic Kingdom - Skipper Canteen (not sure if I should do lunch or dinner)
Sunday: Hollywood Studios - Homecomin' (dinner)
Monday: EPCOT - Eating around the World
Tuesday: Animal Kingdom - Tiffins (again not sure if I should do lunch of dinner)
Wednesday: Rest Day / Magic Kingdom - Sanaa (dinner?)
Thursday: Hollywood Studios - Polite Pig (dinner)
Friday: Magic Kingdom - Steakhouse 71 (lunch)
Saturday: MK / EPCOT - Le Cellier (dinner)
Sunday: Hollywood Studios / Departure Day - Probably no sit down meal

Other items that I want to work in:

• Trader Sam's
• Hoop Dee Doo Review
• Nomad Lounge
• Sanaa
• Le Crepier
• Space 220 Lounge

While you're at MK for your first park day we will probably be at AK ending our trip unless we decide to change things up. I like to start and end at MK but we are just doing four day no hopper tickets this time (at least that's the plan right now). If we change it to MK that Saturday maybe I'll see you in passing and can say hi. I am hoping Hoop Dee Doo Review does come back in time and that I can squeeze it in. Hubby really enjoyed it in 2019 so He may decide he wants to do it again if we can find the time .

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

This will be our first time going to AK. Any advice? How does EE compare to the other coasters at the other parks? DD is 7 and has been on Big Thunder, Slinky, and Seven Dwarves. Do you think she’ll be ok on Everest? Any other advice for first timers at that park?

So, Everest is def more thrilling than BTM, Slinky and 7DMT. But if your DD loves all 3 I would def give it a try. My youngest didn't like it for awhile because of the Yeti. But it really isn't that scary. Maybe also warn her about going backwards. I think my youngest didn't like that feeling at first either.

As for other advice, do the Safari in the AM. (I am sure you have heard that one before but it's true!) Gwen loves a drink from Thirsty River called Flying Yak, it's a mango non-alcholc drink. Def see the Lion King show, even in the modified version it's still worth it. And the 2 walking trails are really nice. We usually only end up getting time for one trail but they are a nice break from the crowds.

Hope she is feeling better!

She is! She has a cough still but that is it. She holds onto the cough forever! Gwen of course got it this week and now has no voice. oye.

I certainly wish there were more of them too but I'll take what we can get. I haven't seen a lot written about them yet but the one blog I did read seemed to be able to walk on most anything at MK. Hoping that keeps up so we can really utilize it

I will take what I can get as well. And I am also really hoping that they stay low attended as well!

Maybe you could do lunch on your rest day? Certainly easier to get a reservation at lunch time

I was thinking that, as I actually perfer the lunch menu over dinner. But I would also like to stay at the resort as much as possible to relax and leave the resort when we are ready to head out for the day if that makes sense.... But I have thought about it.

We watched Yehaa Bob's welcome back show on Thursday and he said its opening in January. I'm hoping its December because Casey would love to do this again, but we'll see

If that is true, I think we will def do that on our Spring Break trip. It's a perfect thing to do then. We can explore the area a bit as well!

If we change it to MK that Saturday maybe I'll see you in passing and can say hi

Def let me know if you do! That would be fun!

I am hoping Hoop Dee Doo Review does come back in time and that I can squeeze it in. H

@kastoney just said that it is to be soming back in January!