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

I'm guilty of always planning too. I need to join TPA too.

I hope you make it to Florida this summer to see your Grands and get a break.

We have Disney in May but nothing yet for the summer. We're hoping to go to our family get together at the Belmont in Mississippi in September, we had to cancel last year due to Covid. DH wants to go to the Smoky Mountains in October but we haven't firmed up anything yet.
 
Your trip ideas sound great. Maybe I'm in the minority but I have no qualms about taking kids out of school lol Seeing grandparents is always a good idea, and this pandemic has really brought that home!

Anybody have non-disney vacation plans in the works?

My only plans right now are (hopefully) to travel to Utah in May to see my son graduate!!! Gawd I so hope it will be possible! But the weird thing is...it's going to be so strange to be on a plane or in a hotel again!!! I think I have forgotten how to pack a suitcase...
 
I hope you make it to Florida this summer to see your Grands and get a break.
Thanks. Me too!

It is in Western MD, very close to WV border.
I will have to check it out!

My only plans right now are (hopefully) to travel to Utah in May to see my son graduate!!! Gawd I so hope it will be possible! But the weird thing is...it's going to be so strange to be on a plane or in a hotel again!!! I think I have forgotten how to pack a suitcase...
I know! I used to have duplicates of everything, so I could fully pack and not have to throw that last minute stuff in. But I used all the duplicates!
 

I have been thinking of doing Le Cellier on our Epcot day, too. But our Epcot day will probably be short, so I haven't decided yet. We've never eaten there but have wanted to, and your review of it definitely makes me want to try it!
 
Does anybody have a Crystal Ball and can tell me which time of year will be better to go? I know Thanksgiving will be busy, as it just is a busy time of year. But... I feel like by 2022 people will be more willing to travel?
If you find that crystal ball let me know. I'd also like it to tell us when we will be vaccinated :confused3

Hi Everyone! Let's talk food!
560818

Le Crepe de Paris isn't even listed on the Disney website! I am not sure what that means for when it will open! But The girls love crepes from the outside stand and those aren't very good. So, I know this would hopefully be a good fit for us.
I had totally forgotten they were going to open this. Sign me up! There is a crepery in Key West (random I know) that is one of our most favorite places to eat. You are right those ones at the stand are not good so bring on some good (and hopefully savory) crepes.

California Grill was really good the first time we went. But I booked us late, so we could see the fireworks while we ate. Which was nice but it was just a really late night for us. I think I would book for a regular dinner time for us. Maybe we could head back into MK if the park is open late-ish for a few night rides?
If you suffer from trip planning anonymous I have a total case of meal planning anonymous. I totally just read Disney menus and decide what I would eat there that night. So sad. But its what keeps me going. CG is at the top of my menu stalking list since they change it up fairly regularly. Current choice is the ravioli as a starter (cause I've never had it it finally is made without mushrooms), Scallops for my entree, and chocolate souffle for dessert. And I didn't even have to look up the menu :scared1:

Gwen's Sushi
I know Gwen wants go just for the candy sushi dessert.
Our girls are so cut from the same cloth. I bought Casey this for Valentines Day.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M5COEDU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sanaa is an absolute must!
YES!!!!! I literally will want to eat everywhere so our next trip is going to have to be like a month. But Sanaa is definitely top of that list.

Hoop Dee Do Review has been on our list to go to again for a long time!
I so hope this opens again. As you know its Caseys favorite and we would love to be able to finally do it with you guys.

So, here is where I do run into a problem, I think I have too many Disney Springs restaurants!
That ain't a problem. That's just rationale for longer/more trips!

We haven't been to Wine Bar George yet! But I do think we will really like it here. And I do want to try and squeeze it in. I do think we would like it alot and it does seem kind of low key, which is perfect for us.
You summed it up perfectly. Good wine. Good Food. And totally chill. We loved dinner there and I cannot wait to try the brunch. Looks and sounds amazing

Hey, that's my husbands shirt :earboy2:

And that is Liberty Tree Tavern and I am leaning towards maybe we do go to Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving... And do lunch there. Maybe go first thing in the morning and have lunch and then leave to swim in the afternoon?
MK food options really aren't good. We do like LTT and Skippers but when we were going to go in October I was leaning towards leaving the park for food and headed over to Wilderness Lodge or one of the monorail resorts for much better eats.

Maybe we could take a trip this summer and just go to a water park and stay at a hotel.
And maybe it could be in June. And maybe we could be there. ❤

Dare I say I am actually starting to think about a summer trip. We have tickets we never used in October and we'd have to be vaccinated and we would likely drive and and and and and but its at least an ongoing conversation in our house. My work is a nightmare between now and the end of May (I worked 60+ hours this week and am currently procrastinating doing more >:() so by June I will so be ready for a vacation. I thought I'd found the perfect time at the beginning of the month but I forgot my nephew is graduating from high school and then Casey is having an outdoor recital in a parking lot. Doesn't that sound amazing. So probably later in the month or maybe even 4th of July. But at least there is a maybe.

We're also likely going to Williamsburg for a few days over spring break and think we will try Busch Gardens to see if we're comfortable dipping our toes into the amusement park waters. I have an extended stay hotel booked so we can bring and cook all our own meals but I gotta tell ya even the prospect of that is exciting at this point.

The top and probably most important option would be to go and see my grandfather isn't doing well, again. He has been up and down for 5 years now. And 2 weeks ago it wasn't looking good.
❤❤❤ Hope he is doing better. That is always so hard. My grandparents all died long before Casey was born so I know you and the girls want all the time you can get.
 
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Welcome to March! I have decided that March is a month of survival! We just need to get through the month. Once April hits, we have a lot of things to look forward to and some birthdays to look forward to. So, here is to getting through the month of March!
March is totally a month of survival. Our provincial government postponed our spring break until April and March is a LONG month in kindergarten. The one bright spot is my twin boys's birthday on the 22nd. They are turning 19 (legal drinking age here in Ontario) so we will take them out for dinner and their first (legal) drink.

I am totally a member of TPA! One trip planned for August for Jack's 21st, one for Bill and I in mid December and I am booking for March Break '22 as soon as my 11 month window opens. I am definitely going to my cottage in PEI for a month as I need to see my parents and sister. I miss them so much!
If you find that crystal ball let me know. I'd also like it to tell us when we will be vaccinated :confused3
I'd like to know too! The Canadian government is doing a spectacularly bad job of our vaccine rollout.
If you suffer from trip planning anonymous I have a total case of meal planning anonymous. I totally just read Disney menus and decide what I would eat there that night. So sad. But its what keeps me going. CG is at the top of my menu stalking list since they change it up fairly regularly. Current choice is the ravioli as a starter (cause I've never had it it finally is made without mushrooms), Scallops for my entree, and chocolate souffle for dessert. And I didn't even have to look up the menu :scared1:
You planned my dream meal! :)
 
I have been thinking of doing Le Cellier on our Epcot day, too. But our Epcot day will probably be short, so I haven't decided yet. We've never eaten there but have wanted to, and your review of it definitely makes me want to try it!
We were really suprised how much we liked it! It's hard, there are so many choices in EPCOT.

Current choice is the ravioli as a starter (cause I've never had it it finally is made without mushrooms), Scallops for my entree, and chocolate souffle for dessert. And I didn't even have to look up the menu :scared1:
I love it! Andy loves scallops and I hate them, so he does tend to get them at restaurants. So, he would be on board with your meal.

I so hope this opens again. As you know its Caseys favorite and we would love to be able to finally do it with you guys.
I hope so! It probably won't open back up until herd immunity. I don't think the CM can perform social distanced from each other.

That ain't a problem. That's just rationale for longer/more trips!
True! Which is why the Thanksgiving trip helps. We would basically be there a week and a half! It would be the longest trip for us!

Hey, that's my husbands shirt :earboy2:
Hmm.... maybe....

MK food options really aren't good. We do like LTT and Skippers but when we were going to go in October I was leaning towards leaving the park for food and headed over to Wilderness Lodge or one of the monorail resorts for much better eats.
Those are def my 2 choices for MK. And I am mostly thinking about it, because of the menu, being turkey full!

And maybe it could be in June. And maybe we could be there. ❤
I would be all for that! But the pose here has been pretty admit about not wanting to wear a mask in Disney World in the summer.

Dare I say I am actually starting to think about a summer trip. We have tickets we never used in October and we'd have to be vaccinated and we would likely drive and and and and and but its at least an ongoing conversation in our house.
Ha! I know that feeling. The ands seem to go on and on but you still plan it!

So probably later in the month or maybe even 4th of July. But at least there is a maybe.
End of June would work for us! Ha.

I am definitely going to my cottage in PEI for a month as I need to see my parents and sister. I miss them so much!
That sounds wonderful!
 
Great start to trip planning! We love traveling to WDW around Thanksgiving and right after. Great weather, usually! Your girls are just a tad older than my oldest. She and I will be heading down in May 2022. Planning is almost as fun as the actual vacation.
 
I'm hopping on board to see how your planning goes.

I definitely see the temptation of a fall 2021 trip, but I think we're firmly in the 2022 camp. With my girls' ages, I want to know that character meets and shows are back and I don't think things will be far enough along in '21. Yours are older, though, and have been so many more times already. You could still get a ton out of it, even if everything wasn't running on all four cylinders.
 
Hello Everyone!!!

So, I may have to change the name of this pre-trip report...


I was watching Tim the Tracker the other day while making dinner. They were in Hollywood Studios and they were showing how long the lines were. And Andy walked in and said that he knows I want to go to Disney in November, but he said it might have to wait. Andy and Morgan are firmly in the not wanting to wear a mask in the parks. Don't get me wrong, we certainly can and will if need be. BUT I don't think either of them really want to. If you know what I mean.

Then this morning, when I was dropping Gwen off at school, I asked her when she wanted to go to Disney again. And she replied with 2022. She said "When things are safe again". Now I know Disney is doing a great job with cleaning and all. But Gwen has been particularly a nervous-nelly during all of this. She went through a patch of not sleeping by herself and really didn't want to go ANYWHERE for a long time. And I want her to feel comfortable going to Disney to really enjoy herself.

So, with both of those items, I have started to look at booking something for February 2022. In the grand scheme of things, it's really not that much farther off. And It will def be nice to have that trip in the winter at our regularly scheduled time. So, it wouldn't be a horrible switch. Am I ready to cancel my originally reservation yet?
NOPE!

Am I ready to book a "back-up" reservation?
YES!!!!

The question is... should I book a split stay or still go with all in one place? I was really gung-ho on the all in one place with it being Thanksgiving and the idea of having a pool to go back to for the busy Thanksgiving days in the beginning of the trip. And I def didn't want to start at a Deluxe and move to a Moderate. That is never a good idea....

But now, maybe it makes sense to split the stay up to save some $$$. I actually have a pretty good "plan" worked out. But that is using the old Disney mentality. Do we want to be switching hotels these days? I assume they will still transfer your luggage for you. Although, I think we might do what we did in August, and just uber ourselves over with our stuff. It would be nice to not have to pack everything up in the middle of the trip, but is it worth the savings? We would be saving some money by switching to this part of the year regardless. Which would also be nice.

This is what I am thinking...

Fly in Friday, February 4th late, and stay at Caribbean Beach for the first 5 Nights. Then on Wednesday switch to the Yacht Club for the last 4 Nights. And we would fly home sometime on Sunday, February 13th. (hopefully a late afternoon flight so we can go to a park for a short visit before saying goodbye). And I am thinking we could still do a cabana day on the Wednesday that we check in at Yacht Club.

This also would be a good time if my sister and husband wanted to come with us. As it is traditionally slower. (Slower being a relative term these days)

Oh the options!!! I am going to ponder my thoughts a little tonight and probably book something just for piece of mind. I know I don't NEED to... But it's what we do here, right?
 
Great start to trip planning! We love traveling to WDW around Thanksgiving and right after. Great weather, usually! Your girls are just a tad older than my oldest. She and I will be heading down in May 2022. Planning is almost as fun as the actual vacation.
Planning is half the fun for sure! We went in May 2019, and it was nice to go with Flower and Garden.

I definitely see the temptation of a fall 2021 trip, but I think we're firmly in the 2022 camp. With my girls' ages, I want to know that character meets and shows are back and I don't think things will be far enough along in '21. Yours are older, though, and have been so many more times already. You could still get a ton out of it, even if everything wasn't running on all four cylinders.
Yeah, we won't miss character meets at this point. I actually kind of like the way they are doing them these days. I hope they keep some of them the way they are. (And add back in the usual meets.) I am more worried about restaurants and lines! I am hoping fast passes come back at some point!

But also you will see my post above, we may end up in 2022 anyway. We will see. I mean for all I know, we may wait even longer! Planning is what is keeping me sane at this point!
 
I think February will be closer to normal! I’m not excited for the masks for our upcoming trip either but told my kids we’re still going since last year was canceled. We’re also still tentatively planning a trip in February too. Happy planning and almost weekend!
 
Good Morning Everyone!!!

So, I had some time to think about it, and I think for now, I am going to book a package for February with us just staying at Yacht Club and not moving. It will just be easier for now. If or when we finally decide to cut ties with the Thanksgiving trip, I can then decide if we want to make a split stay or not.

But of course.... you can't book reservations at the moment! I will have to come back later in the day and try again!


With the announcement of when Ratatouille is opening, I thought I should make a quick list of the things I am looking to have open for when we go. You know keep a running tab on how things are going for our trip. How many can we get reopened!!!

Restaurants:

  • La Crêperie de Paris:tink:
  • Space 2020
  • Ohana
  • BOMA
  • Artist Point
  • Hoop Dee Doo Review
  • Liberty Tree Tavern
  • Woody's BBQ Restaurant

Rides/Events:
  • Mickey's Runaway Railway :tink:
  • Ratatouille :tink:
  • Tron
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Splash Mountain ???
  • Harmonious
  • Jingle Bell Jingle BAM (obviously if we go to November only)

Most of these wouldn't stop us from going, just nice to haves... I would LOVE if Tron was open by the time we go, but who knows! And it sounds like Guardians is a long way off still. What are the chances that Splash would still be open as is?!?! I would REALLY love to ride it again before they change it?!?!

And I realized the sadest part of possibly moving our trip to February, is that we would never get to ride Magical Express again. :( Is that weird to be sad about that?

Anyway, time to drop Gwen off at school and get some work done. Everyone have a great weekend!!!
 
Sad to think about having to cancel your trip :( but at the same time exciting to think about booking in February! I know your family loves that time of year.

I would be sad never to ride ME again, so I totally get it!!! We are in the weird position of getting to ride it when we arrive in December, but having to find a different way back to the airport when we leave on January 2nd!! Not sure what our plan will be for that just yet...

Have a great weekend!!!
 
I would be sad never to ride ME again, so I totally get it!!! We are in the weird position of getting to ride it when we arrive in December, but having to find a different way back to the airport when we leave on January 2nd!! Not sure what our plan will be for that just yet...
That is weird!!! I will be interested to see what the options are as we get closer to then. At least going back, it isn't as "fun".

Sad to think about having to cancel your trip :( but at the same time exciting to think about booking in February! I know your family loves that time of year.
I like to not think of it as cancelling, which is why I started with a Feb. options. Ha!
 
Your Disney foods look amazing. I’m also in south jersey. I may have to stop by for dinner one night.:rotfl:

I understand how hard it is to pick dates right now. I had a trip planned for this month that we cancelled. Not because of virus fears but because of the limited experiences and not wanting to wear a mask at Disney. DD also doesn’t want to wear a mask in the parks. I’m also not anti mask, but I really don’t want to wear one at Disney. So right now we’re planning for November 2022, probably Jersey Week. Sooooo faarrrr aaawaaayy.

I think the plan to stay at YC the entire time is fabulous! BC is our favorite and like you I’m debating on doing a split or doing it the entire trip. My heart says do it. My bank account says chill out girl.:rolleyes1 I don’t mind split stays but I’m not the biggest fan of the unpacking, packing, unpacking and packing again. I prefer one resort but sometimes it makes financial sense to do the split.
 
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