"Mom, this is like a whole new Disney!" New 7/30 - pg 43 - Final Thoughts & PTR Link

[DisMomAmy]

Laura & I got together today and finally had a chance to nail down our itinerary for September/October. First I asked Laura her priorities... I was just there & will be going back in February so I want to see and do what she wants... and I'm sure a lot of those things will overlap with the things I love about Disney or the things I haven't had a chance to experience at Disney.

We decided that Fantasmic & Illuminations are priorities for evening entertainment since Laura hasn't seen either. She also wants to spend a good chunk of time at Epcot. MK is a must and she's never been to DHS! She went to AK on her trip two or three years ago and could take it or leave it. We also want to avoid the crowds at Epcot during the first weekend of the F&W Festival. So based on all of that, we've come up with this itinerary:

Thurday, 9/30: Arrival Day!! Our flight arrives at MCO at 10:20am so hopefully we'll be checked in at POR by noon. We'll probably grab some lunch and head to our first park... DHS! We'll spend the afternoon, maybe have dinner at 50s PTC (I was able to get a 4:35 ADR today). We'll plan to stick around for Fantasmic. There something quite different about waiting around for an hour with a good friend (and people watching) than waiting around for an hour, pulling out my hair, with my family!

Friday, 10/1: Our Epcot Day!! It's the first day of the F&W Festival so it could be busy, but I think this is the best choice since we won't have a full day Thursday and Saturday & Sunday will be super crowded with locals. We'll do our best and enjoy the day even if it's crowded. We'll stick around for Illuminations! (I have a lunch ADR at Teppan Edo & we're still working out another ADR for this day... not sure if we'll keep the ADRs or plan to eat around the world.)

Saturday, 10/2: R&R day! We'll sleep in a bit, maybe get a nice breakfast and spend some time at DTD. I'm really looking forward to the boat ride to or from DTD. We'll probably do some shopping and have lunch before returning to POR. Maybe we'll hit another park in the evening? MK has Spectro & Wishes this night.

Sunday, 10/3: This will be our main MK day. Our flight is at 7:20 so our ME bus will probably be around 4pm. We can probably stay at MK until around 3pm.

So what do you think?

 

[Charleston Princess]

So what do you think?

I think I want to come, too!

As far as having ADRs for Epcot, I will tell you that Charles and I had no problem eating around the world at all the kiosks! They can definitely stand in for a couple of meals!

Here's a link to the breakfast menu at the POR food court:

Riverside Mill Breakfast Menu

 

[KathyRN137]

Thurday, 9/30: Arrival Day!! Our flight arrives at MCO at 10:20am so hopefully we'll be checked in at POR by noon. We'll probably grab some lunch and head to our first park... DHS! We'll spend the afternoon, maybe have dinner at 50s PTC (I was able to get a 4:35 ADR today). We'll plan to stick around for Fantasmic. There something quite different about waiting around for an hour with a good friend (and people watching) than waiting around for an hour, pulling out my hair, with my family!

So true!

Friday, 10/1: Our Epcot Day!! It's the first day of the F&W Festival so it could be busy, but I think this is the best choice since we won't have a full day Thursday and Saturday & Sunday will be super crowded with locals. We'll do our best and enjoy the day even if it's crowded. We'll stick around for Illuminations! (I have a lunch ADR at Teppan Edo & we're still working out another ADR for this day... not sure if we'll keep the ADRs or plan to eat around the world.)

Eating around the world is our plan... but it can be difficult if the lines at each kiosk are long!

Saturday, 10/2: R&R day! We'll sleep in a bit, maybe get a nice breakfast and spend some time at DTD. I'm really looking forward to the boat ride to or from DTD. We'll probably do some shopping and have lunch before returning to POR. Maybe we'll hit another park in the evening? MK has Spectro & Wishes this night.

Then you will have hit all the "biggies"... F!, Illuminations, Spectro, and Wishes all in one weekend!

Sunday, 10/3: This will be our main MK day. Our flight is at 7:20 so our ME bus will probably be around 4pm. We can probably stay at MK until around 3pm.

MK is usually great on a Sunday, and you can scoot out just before the parade!

Four parks and only three days... it's so hard to see everything you want and still have time to relax!


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

I think I want to come, too!

As far as having ADRs for Epcot, I will tell you that Charles and I had no problem eating around the world at all the kiosks! They can definitely stand in for a couple of meals!

Here's a link to the breakfast menu at the POR food court:

Riverside Mill Breakfast Menu

Looks like we'll have plenty of breakfast choices right at POR!

The other concern I have with eating around the world is my picky taste buds... I saw a couple things I might like but not a lot!

So true!

Eating around the world is our plan... but it can be difficult if the lines at each kiosk are long!

Then you will have hit all the "biggies"... F!, Illuminations, Spectro, and Wishes all in one weekend!

MK is usually great on a Sunday, and you can scoot out just before the parade!

Four parks and only three days... it's so hard to see everything you want and still have time to relax!

Kathy

We're actually doing three parks in four days! No AK for us this year... unless we decide to do that on Saturday morning, but I think we'll stick to DTD & relaxing.

If we hit MK on Saturday night we probably won't watch Spectro... Laura's not too interested in that so we'll use that time to get in some rides while the crowds are at the parade. Unless the evening entertainment is something other than Spectro... Have they officially said that Spectro will return after the MSEL is finished? Or might they start something new?

 

[Happydog]

I'm with CP!!! I think your plans are great! You will have such a great time! And you are there for the opening of the F & W festival, right? they have a marathon I think, too.

Great updates all caught up now! Seems like you have had some great luck with timing and rides! DHS day looked like so much fun! And Epcot evening also! Looking forward to AK! I am sure they do a lot of refurb before the humidity and summer -- painting, etc. doesn't mix with the humidity. I love all the street performers at DHS. Isn't KP fun??!! My guys LOVE doing those, and I like them too, because I can just relax while they have fun!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I have another breakfast suggestion....Wolfgang Puck Express (Markerplace location at DTD). They open at 9am....I had the breakfast "pizza" and it was outstanding. A group of ladies at the next table ordered a bunch of stuff and it all looked delish!

The 2 times that I have been to Food and Wine, I have used the opportunity to try new foods that I wouldn't normally order. It's a great way to expand those tastebuds!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'm with CP!!! I think your plans are great! You will have such a great time! And you are there for the opening of the F & W festival, right? they have a marathon I think, too.

Great updates all caught up now! Seems like you have had some great luck with timing and rides! DHS day looked like so much fun! And Epcot evening also! Looking forward to AK! I am sure they do a lot of refurb before the humidity and summer -- painting, etc. doesn't mix with the humidity. I love all the street performers at DHS. Isn't KP fun??!! My guys LOVE doing those, and I like them too, because I can just relax while they have fun!

Yes - We'll be there for the first weekend of the F&W Festival and also the half marathon weekend... I might have chosen a different weekend had I known all that was going on, but it is what it is and we'll have a blast either way.

I bet the humidity had something to do with all the exterior painting, etc. that was going on... we were probably there during prime painting season.

We KP missions!

I have another breakfast suggestion....Wolfgang Puck Express (Markerplace location at DTD). They open at 9am....I had the breakfast "pizza" and it was outstanding. A group of ladies at the next table ordered a bunch of stuff and it all looked delish!

The 2 times that I have been to Food and Wine, I have used the opportunity to try new foods that I wouldn't normally order. It's a great way to expand those tastebuds!

That's perfect Heidi! I was actually searching for a breakfast ADR somewhere at DTD and nothing was coming up for breakfast... I guess the DTD restaurants don't take ADRs for breakfast or are non-ADR restaurants in general...

I agree that eating breakfast at DTD on Saturday would be perfect!! Do you know of any table service breakfast places at DTD?? WPE sounds great, but I'd like to have a couple options. I'm definitely going to research that breakfast pizza though!

 

[MRYPPNS]

All I know for breakfast at DTD is WPE and EOS. But there isn't much to the menu at EOS....mostly muffins and such.

from my oct 2009 solo trip

 

[Cory's Gal]

Your Fall trip plans look good Amy! So happy you get to get away!!! How nice for you and Laura!
Loved the Photopass pics in front of ToT!! I FINALLY ordered our CD on Saturday, the last day before it expired

The dinner at Teppan Edo sounded wonderful and great pics of Illuminations! What a wonderful evening in Epcot, LOVED the boys masks too!! We enjoyed the 3 Caballeros too, it was our first ride and the kids liked it, especially the "fireworks" on the ceiling!! Looking forward to hearing more!!!!!

 

[disneyfan61]

I have another breakfast suggestion....Wolfgang Puck Express (Markerplace location at DTD). They open at 9am....I had the breakfast "pizza" and it was outstanding. A group of ladies at the next table ordered a bunch of stuff and it all looked delish!

The 2 times that I have been to Food and Wine, I have used the opportunity to try new foods that I wouldn't normally order. It's a great way to expand those tastebuds!

Amy I have to agree with MRYPPNS!! I absolutely LOVE WPE!! We usually make it a must on every trip. (not this last trip though) but want to go back next year. Everything there is amazing.

 

[karebear23]

I will be there with the fam & my parents on Oct 3rd- 10th. We go every year around this time. Since it's food & wine. And my Dad's bday is the 6th and he likes to sped his special day there! . I'm so looking forward to food and wine. Last year I didn't get much food or wine. LOL! The kids were too hot and tired! It was super humid and hot last year!!!

Hopefully this year it will go better since my Hubby will be going and I we will have extra hands.

On another note. I'm super excited about the Main Street Electrial Parade and the summernightastic fireworks. So I convinced my hubby to watch DS. So just me and DD will go see both on the 9th!! So excited.

I also think I convinced DD to ride splash mountain again.
We took her last week..and after we went over the first little hill she said "WHOA that was a big one ."
But now she has agreed to go just 1 more time.

Ok enough from me!!

 

[eandesmom]

LOVE the PP pic!

As for your itinerary, I agree, it's wonderful and easy to just eat around the world at the F&W kiosks. In fact I might argue it's a must as really, the rest of the restaurants are there year round, the kiosks are not. So much yummy food!

I would love to do F&W with a good friend.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

You HAVE to eat around the "world"! I think you will be surprised with how much you can find that you would like. Plus, if you find something that you really like, order 2 to help fill you up. I agree with eandesmom in saying that the restaurants are there year round, the kiosks are not. It looks like our itinerary will only overlap on Saturday evening if you head over to MK. We are planning on going over there after our dinner at Cali Grill (we have a 550 ADR and MK is open until 1100pm). May I suggest making an ADR at Boma, Kona, or even the Grand Floridian cafe for breakfast on your R&R day? You could try for a late ADR so you could still sleep in, eat breakfast and head to DTD for the afternoon and take the boat back to POR and hang out at the pool before heading to MK, if that is what you choose to do.

 

[Angies1274]

Hi Amy!

I'm all caught up!! Great updates!!!

Yay for booking your airfare!! That's so exciting! Your plans look great too. Eating around the world sounds like it would be so much fun.

Aww...sorry to hear about Umu. But the gerbils are very cute!

Cute pics from SSE! It sounds like you had a wonderful evening in Epcot! Yay for the KP mission in Germany! I would love to try Teppan Edo! I've read such great things about the food. It's definitely on my list for next trip!

Can't wait for more!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

All caught up Amy! Love the PP pics at DHS. The group shots are great!

Sounds like a great dinner and evening at Epcot. We love doing the masks for the same reason...you kind of have to look a bit for the station and you get to see cool stuff you may miss otherwise!

I love the troll nail-biting pic! Too cute!

Your fall trip sounds fabulous! Someone beat me to it, but POR has a TON of choices for breakfast. I think you'll find what you are looking for there.

Sorry to hear about Umu, but the new additions are adorable!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hello All... Another long, crazy week... two more weeks to go! Between field trips, school meetings, field day and some other crazy things going on at school I've been super busy - I love it, but can't wait for it to be over!

All I know for breakfast at DTD is WPE and EOS. But there isn't much to the menu at EOS....mostly muffins and such.

from my oct 2009 solo trip

Thanks for the pictures Heidi! I actually ended up making an ADR at the GF Cafe, but we may want to head right to DTD that morning, which will mean WPE for sure!

Your Fall trip plans look good Amy! So happy you get to get away!!! How nice for you and Laura!
Loved the Photopass pics in front of ToT!! I FINALLY ordered our CD on Saturday, the last day before it expired

The dinner at Teppan Edo sounded wonderful and great pics of Illuminations! What a wonderful evening in Epcot, LOVED the boys masks too!! We enjoyed the 3 Caballeros too, it was our first ride and the kids liked it, especially the "fireworks" on the ceiling!! Looking forward to hearing more!!!!!

Can't wait to see your PP pictures!

It was a lot of fun watching Illuminations with the boys since it was the first time for both of them... DMIL too!

Amy I have to agree with MRYPPNS!! I absolutely LOVE WPE!! We usually make it a must on every trip. (not this last trip though) but want to go back next year. Everything there is amazing.

I've only heard good things about WPE! It's on the top of the list!

I will be there with the fam & my parents on Oct 3rd- 10th. We go every year around this time. Since it's food & wine. And my Dad's bday is the 6th and he likes to sped his special day there! . I'm so looking forward to food and wine. Last year I didn't get much food or wine. LOL! The kids were too hot and tired! It was super humid and hot last year!!!

Hopefully this year it will go better since my Hubby will be going and I we will have extra hands.

On another note. I'm super excited about the Main Street Electrial Parade and the summernightastic fireworks. So I convinced my hubby to watch DS. So just me and DD will go see both on the 9th!! So excited.

I also think I convinced DD to ride splash mountain again.
We took her last week..and after we went over the first little hill she said "WHOA that was a big one ."
But now she has agreed to go just 1 more time.

Ok enough from me!!

DH & I visited WDW in October, way back before I knew how to plan & tour... And we went with the family in 2007 but didn't even set foot in the World Showcase. I'm really looking forward to taking it all in this year.

Have you heard that the Main Street Electrical Parade will be around after August 14th?

How old is DD? She sounds cute!

Thanks for reading along!

LOVE the PP pic!

As for your itinerary, I agree, it's wonderful and easy to just eat around the world at the F&W kiosks. In fact I might argue it's a must as really, the rest of the restaurants are there year round, the kiosks are not. So much yummy food!

I would love to do F&W with a good friend.

We'll see... I'm sure I'll be pleasantly surprised and find several things I'll like!

You HAVE to eat around the "world"! I think you will be surprised with how much you can find that you would like. Plus, if you find something that you really like, order 2 to help fill you up. I agree with eandesmom in saying that the restaurants are there year round, the kiosks are not. It looks like our itinerary will only overlap on Saturday evening if you head over to MK. We are planning on going over there after our dinner at Cali Grill (we have a 550 ADR and MK is open until 1100pm). May I suggest making an ADR at Boma, Kona, or even the Grand Floridian cafe for breakfast on your R&R day? You could try for a late ADR so you could still sleep in, eat breakfast and head to DTD for the afternoon and take the boat back to POR and hang out at the pool before heading to MK, if that is what you choose to do.

That's a good idea to get two of something I like...

Hopefully we'll get to meet at MK! I'm very curious about whether Spectro & Wishes will be returning or if there will be something new... or if the MSEP will be extended. I don't want to miss anything new!

Hi Amy!

I'm all caught up!! Great updates!!!

Yay for booking your airfare!! That's so exciting! Your plans look great too. Eating around the world sounds like it would be so much fun.

Aww...sorry to hear about Umu. But the gerbils are very cute!

Cute pics from SSE! It sounds like you had a wonderful evening in Epcot! Yay for the KP mission in Germany! I would love to try Teppan Edo! I've read such great things about the food. It's definitely on my list for next trip!

Can't wait for more!

The KP mission in Germany was really fun! I wish I had been able to experience the whole thing, but Alex doesn't have any patience for things like that so I had to keep him busy. You should definitely try Teppan Edo!

All caught up Amy! Love the PP pics at DHS. The group shots are great!

Sounds like a great dinner and evening at Epcot. We love doing the masks for the same reason...you kind of have to look a bit for the station and you get to see cool stuff you may miss otherwise!

I love the troll nail-biting pic! Too cute!

Your fall trip sounds fabulous! Someone beat me to it, but POR has a TON of choices for breakfast. I think you'll find what you are looking for there.

Sorry to hear about Umu, but the new additions are adorable!

The masks were so much fun! The kids love doing things that involve collecting... it was a great way to make sure we at least walked through each country.

 

[karebear23]

DH & I visited WDW in October, way back before I knew how to plan & tour... And we went with the family in 2007 but didn't even set foot in the World Showcase. I'm really looking forward to taking it all in this year.

Have you heard that the Main Street Electrical Parade will be around after August 14th?

How old is DD? She sounds cute!

Thanks for reading along!

So far only until the 14th...but I have a feeling they may extend it for a bit? I mean to move the whole parade...and then run only 2 1/2 months??

Thanks DD is cute (of course that her moms opinion ). She just turned 4...we went to MK for her birthday.

 

[DisMomAmy]

So far only until the 14th...but I have a feeling they may extend it for a bit? I mean to move the whole parade...and then run only 2 1/2 months??

Thanks DD is cute (of course that her moms opinion ). She just turned 4...we went to MK for her birthday.

I'm really hoping they keep the summer entertainment around past August 14th!

What a fun way to spend a birthday!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi everyone!! I'm trying my best to keep this TR alive...

I have Nancy's pictures on my compter now so you'll finally get to see some pictures of me (that aren't PP). On we go...

Day Six (Tuesday, April 27th):

Alex woke us up at 6:15ish with “Stop it Daddy!” Apparently Tim was snoring & it was bothering Alex… One or both of us got up with him & headed out to the living room to wait for everyone else to wake up. Zach got up around 7:30 & Nancy didn’t get up until 8:30. We didn’t leave until 9:15 for Animal Kingdom. We were in the lot by 9:30…

We stopped for a couple PP pictures on our way in:

Our first stop:

This was another theme during our trip... Pictures of the boys fighting!

Our first mission was to head to Dinoland to ride Dinosaur & so Zach could get some more crystals. Gramma offered to buy something for each of the boys and we know what Zach picked… But Alex was just wandering around looking for something just because Gramma offered. I told him that it would be OK to choose something later rather than just pick something now. He decided to wait.

We almost had the ride to ourselves:

Zach with his crystals:

After Dinosaur I got dragged onto Primeval Whirl. Not my favorite, but I’m the only adult who doesn’t get motion sick.

Then the kids finally discovered the games… We have always been lucky enough to avoid them, but this year we let them each play one game. They cost $2.50 each and two players had to play each game so we spent $10 on tickets… Tim play Whack-A-Mole with Zach and let him win. I played the basketball game with Alex and neither of us won anything. He was a little upset, but we had limited it to one game so we moved on.

Zach’s prize…

Next up was Expedition Everest! Nancy sat this one out so Tim, Alex, Zach & I all rode. Tim & Alex rode a second time while Zach, Nancy & I browsed in the gift shop. Nancy bought a hat (she was worried her colored hair would turn orange) & a sling type backpack because she’d been using a cute little bag that didn’t close the day before. I didn’t buy anything.

I don't think we are in these pictures, but Nancy tried...

After EE we decided it was time to head to our favorite lunch spot… FTBBQ. This was also the only TS place that we came across that took the Tables in Wonderland discount card. It was around 11:30 or 11:45 and it was pretty quiet. We found seats without any trouble. We had the usual, half chicken meals, pork sandwich (I think?) for Tim and hot dog for Zach. Nancy got some sort of salad. I believe it had chicken. Again, the birds bugged us, but we made it out of there unharmed.

Up next: the rest of our AK day & date night!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I got a pin code this week!! And one I could really use!!

It was so exciting... I opened the mail and had a 40% rooms & it was good for all catagories - value, moderate & deluxe! So I called... waited on hold for "less than 12 minutes" and spoke with a very nice CM. Forgot her name...

First she pulled up our current room-only ressie at POR, which is 30% off, at $400.85. Unfortunately POR is not available with this pin code... either was POFQ. We could stay at Carribean Beach or Coronado Spings for around $350 for the three nights! Not bad... Though I wasn't too excited to stay at CBR since I've stayed there before. I don't get to stay on-site very often so I really want to try something new. And I was very tempted by Coronado Springs since that's where Kathy is now staying. But Laura & I talked about it and really want to take the boat to DTD. She has stayed at POR before, really liked it, and doesn't seem too interested in trying something new. We decided that the boat to DTD is worth the $25 each extra to stay at POR and kept our ressie as is.

I'm still keeping my eye open for an AP room-only discount... we'll see. But we'll be happy with what we have either way.

Now as far as room requests... We have decided to request a room in Magnolia Bend (the mansions) on an upper floor (to reduce noise and the chance of small visitors). We also want to request being away from parking lots. I may have waited too long, but I thought about adding waterview to our resvervation & just covering the cost myself as a surprise. It would be about $60. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to be available any more.

I'm not sure if we'll request a certain building or not, but I've thought about requesting Oak Manor (building 90) or Parterre Place (building 95) as they seem to be closest to the main building, food & bus stop. Although we may get a better room at the less requested buildings, Acadian House (80) or Magnolia Terrace (85). It seems as though you have to go across Ol' Man Island to get to the main building, but there is a separate bus stop near these two buildings. My only real concern is getting my coffee in the morning... Otherwise I don't mind a little walking. But I really don't want to look at a parking lot... Our room at CBR looked out into the parking lot, which was nice when we arrived with our rental car and was a very short walk to the parking lot, but it just wasn't very pretty.

I think I'll call today to see if I can add waterview & if not, I'll put in the request for a "non-parking lot view"... there must be courtyard views and other views that aren't considered "water" that are a step up from pavement.

Any input as far as which building to stay at would be helpful!! It seems as though most of you who have stayed at POR have stayed in the AB section...