Mommmy & Daddy go to Disney World! *ALONE!* !!!6/30!!! Final thoughts!!!

[JPFamilyMom]

What a fun journey you had, or should I say magical journey, ready to embark on a surprise vacation right? When is the next PTR starting? Do you know how you will reveal the vacation?
I saw a cute idea on someone elses TR where they had a box, and a balloon flew out of it holding a card that said they were going to WDW. I thought that was so cute.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

What a fun journey you had, or should I say magical journey, ready to embark on a surprise vacation right? When is the next PTR starting? Do you know how you will reveal the vacation?
I saw a cute idea on someone elses TR where they had a box, and a balloon flew out of it holding a card that said they were going to WDW. I thought that was so cute.

We definitely had a magical trip!! I'm definitely ready for the trip in January! I just have to keep to a secret for the next 6 months!!!

I haven't decided hoe to reveal it to the kiddos yet. I think that was probably pammouselovers PTR/TR that had the balloon in a box with the card. I read that too and was think about doing that or something along those lines! We'll see!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Final thoughts!

Oh my! Where to begin!?

I’ll start with the platinum package!

Now, remember we were originally booked for club level MK view at Poly and when the discount on the platinum package came out we switched out of club level to a regular MK view room with the platinum plan.

The deal we got amounted to 25% off what we would have paid for the platinum package. At this point I can’t remember exactly how much we saved because when we planned our January 09 trip we saved a bundle because of the 4 and 3 deal. It’s all kinda blended together at this point! But no matter what we saved a lot! We were going to do a few of the things that we got for free with the platinum plan anyway so it saved us there. We weren’t going to get the dining plan because a lot of the places we were going to eat would have been 2 credits. But with the platinum plan we got deluxe dining which meant everything was 1 credit.

The deluxe dining plan that goes along with the platinum plan ended up being a HUGE money saver for us! We ate very, very well and very, very nice places. Our dinners would have cost us on average $200 per night, just for dinner. That doesn’t include the other meals during the day! The cost of dinner alone made it a pretty good deal!

I will say that the deluxe dining plan is A LOT of food! I really mean A LOT! We refused dessert twice because there was no way we could have eaten all that! It was good though because we tend to me more appetizer people then dessert people.

Knowing that we could we could pretty much have anything to eat anytime as great but there was no way after eating so much all day that we would have wanted to eat a mickey bar or something! That’s how we ended up with so many snack credits left!!

I’m truly not sure who could possibly eat all that food! We surely couldn’t! We ate like kings while we were there and scale showed it when we got home! I gained 7 lbs and DH 10!!! No joke!

The fact that my massage was included saved me $110 and KTTK being included saved us $120. We wouldn’t have gone to cirque if it wasn’t included so I’ll call that a wash and not mention any savings because we really didn’t save anything. I also won’t state any savings because our refillable mugs were included. We wouldn’t have gotten mugs because we knew we were only going to eat at Capt Cooks once or twice. We saved a good little piece of change by the photopass CD being included. We wouldn’t have gotten the CD because we only got a few pictures taken BUT I would have paid for the prints and their expensive.

So, ultimately the platinum package saved us a HUGE chunk of change! When we switched from Poly LVC to Poly MK view with Platinum Plan the total cost on the bottom of the reservation was actually less and with all the other savings it was a big difference!!

Yippeee for us and super yippee for our TA who is the one who suggested the change!!!

I will mention that there are other services also included in the PP. They have the platinum planning office which is itinerary planning. Umm, those who read my PTR know my feelings on the PPO. They made a huge mess of my ADR’s and couldn’t be reached several times to fix them. I have nothing good to say about them! I will say, however, when we had planned to stay in club level I used the itinerary planning office for club level guest (something completely different with different CM’s but they do the same thing) and they were super helpful and wonderful! I don’t know if the confusion with my reservations happened because we switched and I really don’t care. The PPO’s guest services was the worst I’ve ever experiences with Disney and they heard about it.

We also got the preferred fireworks viewing areas. MK not so good, Epcot, very good!!!

There were also a bunch of other things included that we didn’t take advantage of and I can’t even begin to remember all of them! But it was things like preferred t-times for golf etc.

All in all I think the platinum plan was GREAT! 9 out of 10! We’d definitely do it again if the opportunity arose with a discount like we got!


Now on to our meals! YUMMY, YUMMY and REALLY, REALLY YUMMY!

The best was definitely Narcossees! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again! The 2 best meals I’ve every had in my life were at WDW! One was when we went to Fulton’s in 08 on DH’s b-day and the other was Narcossees! I can’t say enough about everything there! It was wonderful and we’ll definitely eat there again!

The worst was by far Coral Reef! YUCK!!! The worst meal I’ve ever had at WDW! The only reason we’d ever go back it for the surrounding because the kids would love it! But, if they don’t ask I’m not mentioning it!

All the other meals were sooo good too! We would definitely eat at all the places we did again!

I’m gonna take a brief moment to comment on something that bugged DH and I during our trip! I don’t think I mentioned it before! So we went to all these really nice places, Narcossees, Artists Point, Cali Grill. We dressed for nice places. There is a dress code for these places if you look on the dining area on Dis or allears etc. What the deal with people coming in tees and shorts? Really! I get that your at Disney and all but really!

I’ll also mention people at Cali Grill for 9 pm reservations with really little kids! What?! I understand naps and feeding them earlier so you can go and enjoy the place but really. Especially those whose kids seemed completely whipped out! Really?!

Now onto Poly!!!

OMG! Sooooooo wonderful! The pictures just don’t do it justice! There is no way they could! There’s this feeling you get there, or at least I do, that can’t be conveyed in a picture. It’s sooooo serene and so relaxing it’s almost like a world set apart. You can see MK from Poly, you can hear the boats etc but it’s so removed from the hustle bustle that is Disney.

It hasn’t taken over the top spot in my list of resorts but it is definitely tied!! Poly and WL are my favs!!! I have to say that when we bought DVC, although I reallllllly wanted to buy and knew it was the best thing for us, I was kinda sad that we may not stay at Poly again because it’s not DVC. I assure you we will be visiting there again and again and again! I’m already thinking of dinner at Ohana in January!

My massage at GF spa! Wonderful and so relaxing!!!! Definitely one of the best massages I’ve ever had! I’ll definitely do it again! Mommy needs some relaxation and pampering!!!

KTTK! Sooooo great, soo cool and sooo much fun! Definitely recommended!!!

So now on to the biggest part of our trip! Going alone!!!

When I started planning and spoke to the TA I said I was a tiny bit apprehensive to go without them. The guilt, would we have fun, etc, etc. She assured me that it would be a completely different, wonderful experience!

She was right!

The difference was unbelievable! We got to enjoy walking hand and hand through WS, something I had envisioned in my head as a romantic high point of our trip. We got to enjoy some wonderful meals, some wonderful downtime and just an overall wonderful trip!!!

We had a truly wonderful, relaxing, unique trip! We will definitely do it again and probably many times!!!

So that’s about it! I think I covered mostly everything! Thanks for coming along for the trip! I hope you enjoyed it!

I am, as promised moving onto another PTR for our trip in January!! I’m going to start that ASAP and post a link in here!!

 

[xoktenox]

It's overrrrr But another one is right around the corner!

My parents said the same thing as you regarding the dress code. They ate at the Yachtsman Steakhouse at the beginning of June for their 25th anniversary and I told them to make sure that my dad wore khakis and a polo shirt and my mom wore nice pants or capris and a nice shirt. They did and they said that they were the minority there! That lots of people were in shorts and t-shirts. This is a signature dining spot so I didn't expect them to say that!

The Poly...WOW. It totally is my dream resort. One day, when I have money and spending so much isn't totally out of the question, we will stay there. Chris loves it too, everything about it. We will own DVC one day too

I loved hearing all about your trip and I'm so glad to see how much you enjoyed yourselves. Can't wait for you to start your next PTR!

 

[MEK]

LOL! I still have more to come too! I'm finishing up my final thoughts and will post them either tonight or tomorrow!

Some of the other passengers were soooo annoying when we were delayed a little. The thing was that they were vocal about it going "Oh my god, blah blah blah!" I wanted to tell a few of them to shut up!
Knowing me, I just might have told them to shut up! But then I would have had to endure nasty stares for the next 3 hours!

I thought all of your titles were great! Although I really do like the one using! Especially because I maybe somewhat of a resort snob myself

Thanks. There are so many deluxes I haven't stayed in yet. I would really like to try them all. And one by one I hope to even if its just for a night at the beginning or end of a DVC trip!

I really liked the end of your report. That platinum plan sounds fantastic. DH and I are doing a quick free dining trip in September and I keep flip-flopping on whether or not to change to DxDP. I've already made my dinner ADR's, so I would just add breakfast and lunch. But then I remember how much food it really is and I have a hard time saying "No thanks" when food is available to me. Actually I already have one ADR at Artist Point and I really would like to try Narcoosee's. I guess that adding just that one signature meal and a couple of lunches would make it worth it. Crap - why can't I decide?????

Anyway, couples only trips are great. That's so great you had that time alone with your DH. I am excited that my kids are older and can now be left alone overnight. The real reason I bought DVC was so DH and I would travel twice a year to Florida. I didn't buy it for the kids!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

It's overrrrr But another one is right around the corner!

My parents said the same thing as you regarding the dress code. They ate at the Yachtsman Steakhouse at the beginning of June for their 25th anniversary and I told them to make sure that my dad wore khakis and a polo shirt and my mom wore nice pants or capris and a nice shirt. They did and they said that they were the minority there! That lots of people were in shorts and t-shirts. This is a signature dining spot so I didn't expect them to say that!

The Poly...WOW. It totally is my dream resort. One day, when I have money and spending so much isn't totally out of the question, we will stay there. Chris loves it too, everything about it. We will own DVC one day too

I loved hearing all about your trip and I'm so glad to see how much you enjoyed yourselves. Can't wait for you to start your next PTR!

The dress code thing annoyed me! I mean really, I made sure that we had nice things to wear each night and there were people in all of the restaurants wearing tees, shorts and sneakers I wouldn't have wanted to wear our park clothes to those places anyway but DH was a little annoyed I made him wear khakis and what not and other people had on shorts.

Poly was soooo beautiful!!! I LOVE it! I hope we get to stay there again! With DVC it isn't really worth it to use your points to stay at some place at WDW other then a DVC resort. But, I guess we could do a night or 2 at the end or beginning of a trip at a regular resort and switch to DVC for the rest of trip!

We had such a great time alone! I can't wait to do it again!!!

Thanks so much for following along for soooooo long! I think I've had a PTR/TR going for like a year straight at this point!

I'll be back with the PTR link ASAP!

I really liked the end of your report. That platinum plan sounds fantastic. DH and I are doing a quick free dining trip in September and I keep flip-flopping on whether or not to change to DxDP. I've already made my dinner ADR's, so I would just add breakfast and lunch. But then I remember how much food it really is and I have a hard time saying "No thanks" when food is available to me. Actually I already have one ADR at Artist Point and I really would like to try Narcoosee's. I guess that adding just that one signature meal and a couple of lunches would make it worth it. Crap - why can't I decide?????

Anyway, couples only trips are great. That's so great you had that time alone with your DH. I am excited that my kids are older and can now be left alone overnight. The real reason I bought DVC was so DH and I would travel twice a year to Florida. I didn't buy it for the kids!

Thanks!!

I say give DDP a try if you can! We did the 2 breakfast and cancelled out lunch at Cindy's Castle on our last day, which I forgot to mention in the TR!

It is A LOT of food and I too have a hard time saying no to food that's sooooo good and is right there for the taking! But, believe me, you will! Your just too full after an appetizer, bread, dinner, drinks etc. I don't think we've ever eaten soooo much in our lives!

DDP also gives you the added benefit of not using 2 credits for a signature dining restaurant. That's very nice because then you don't have to worry about where the extra credit will come from and what meal you'll pay oop for and so on!

Definitely add Narcossee's!! Call now!! Right now!!! It was by far in the top 2 of any meal I've ever had!! Granted we both had lobster, but it was sooo good! They cook it in this big steam closet thing, like a sauna for lobsters with a bad ending. They somehow take the meat out of the shell perfectly and get any yucky stuff out and replace the meat. Meanwhile the shell looks perfect! They cut it somehow with a razor thin slit!

Artist Point is sooo good too! We really enjoyed it! Not to mention the surroundings are so nice! We love WL!

Being able to go alone more with DH was definitely one thought in my mind when we were going through the purchase! Of course, being a little point challenged right now that will have to wait! I really, really wish I had pushed DH a little for 270 - 300 points! I mentioned it and he said he didn't think we needed that many so I dropped it cause I was still treading lightly worried that he would change his mind! I keep looking at resales and you can get 100 points for like $85 a point! Too tempting!


Thanks for following along!!! I'll put up the link for the PTR soon!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I just started the PTR!!!

Please join in for the fun!! I'll miss you all if you don't!!!

Zebras, Giraffe & Okapi! Oh My! Crazies take on AKV & WDW! A PTR!

 

[MEK]

I say give DDP a try if you can! We did the 2 breakfast and cancelled out lunch at Cindy's Castle on our last day, which I forgot to mention in the TR!

It is A LOT of food and I too have a hard time saying no to food that's sooooo good and is right there for the taking! But, believe me, you will! Your just too full after an appetizer, bread, dinner, drinks etc. I don't think we've ever eaten soooo much in our lives!

DDP also gives you the added benefit of not using 2 credits for a signature dining restaurant. That's very nice because then you don't have to worry about where the extra credit will come from and what meal you'll pay oop for and so on!

Definitely add Narcossee's!! Call now!! Right now!!! It was by far in the top 2 of any meal I've ever had!! Granted we both had lobster, but it was sooo good! They cook it in this big steam closet thing, like a sauna for lobsters with a bad ending. They somehow take the meat out of the shell perfectly and get any yucky stuff out and replace the meat. Meanwhile the shell looks perfect! They cut it somehow with a razor thin slit!

Artist Point is sooo good too! We really enjoyed it! Not to mention the surroundings are so nice! We love WL!

Being able to go alone more with DH was definitely one thought in my mind when we were going through the purchase! Of course, being a little point challenged right now that will have to wait! I really, really wish I had pushed DH a little for 270 - 300 points! I mentioned it and he said he didn't think we needed that many so I dropped it cause I was still treading lightly worried that he would change his mind! I keep looking at resales and you can get 100 points for like $85 a point! Too tempting!


Thanks for following along!!! I'll put up the link for the PTR soon!

I just added Narcoosee's today and told my TA to add the DxDP on Monday. It's only $258 more for 4 days. I think that is totally worth it. I also made some additions for breakfast and lunch. Now on the way home I was thinking that I will add the flying fish. I want to go check out reviews on that. The only night I probably won't do signature dining is the night we plan to hit the Halloween party. I don't think it would be worth it to have a big long dinner and then get to the party late.

I know what you are saying about the points. I wish I had 270 points and the only reason I didn't push for more was because my kids are going to be out of the house in a few years. I figured once they were in college we would only stay in studios or a 1BR for a special treat. But now I am starting to discover how much fun it is to take other people along and that requires a 2BR.

So get your feet wet and then start looking for an add on contract. I am actually supposed to get a small inheritance from my uncle who died recently. He was such an awesome, generous guy. I know he would want me to use the money for something I love, so I am either going to buy a new flute (yes, I play the flute) or add on DVC points!


Now I have to go on over to your PTR. Nice title!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I was SO far behind!
First, how scary about your DS being sick! I'm soooo glad to read he's okay. Whew, that had to be a very scary time for you!

I don't even know where to begin for the updates, so I'll just say I really enjoyed reading them all-and loved your final thoughts! Sometime I'd like to do a DH and I only trip, but I can't bring myself to be away from DS for that long yet. I'm sure the day will come, but not quite yet.

I'm excited to read your new PTR!!

And, we are so "coffee sisters". I search out the latte stands too, the first thing we buy in the airport is REAL coffee--and I too, not a big fan of Starbucks, more of a Dunkin' gal (or Caribou ), but Starbucks is better than the swill at WDW!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I was SO far behind!
First, how scary about your DS being sick! I'm soooo glad to read he's okay. Whew, that had to be a very scary time for you!

I don't even know where to begin for the updates, so I'll just say I really enjoyed reading them all-and loved your final thoughts! Sometime I'd like to do a DH and I only trip, but I can't bring myself to be away from DS for that long yet. I'm sure the day will come, but not quite yet.

I'm excited to read your new PTR!!

And, we are so "coffee sisters". I search out the latte stands too, the first thing we buy in the airport is REAL coffee--and I too, not a big fan of Starbucks, more of a Dunkin' gal (or Caribou ), but Starbucks is better than the swill at WDW!

LOL! That's ok! I always seem to fall behind!

Ryan was so sick! IT was crazy! But he got better quickly and is back to his old terrible 2 self

DH and I have been married 10 years, been parents for 8, that's how long it took us to finally go away alone! We'd been away for a night or 2 maybe 4 times in 8 years for weddings and whatnot but never longer then 1 or 2 night! THe 2 nights was only once because we were both in the wedding. We'd also never been away since Ryan was born! It takes a longtime to get to the point where you need that alone vacation! I ran into one of DD's friends mom's in the grocery store the other day and we were talking about and she said her and her husband are at the point now where they need to take that alone vacation. Her oldest is 10. I was stressed about it but I promised myself I wouldn't cancel. It was sooooo worth it!

Your so right about being coffee sisters!! I think we should compile a list of latte places in WDW to share with the good coffee drinking guests! I LOVE that caribou iced coffee!! That's all thanks to you! I have 1 left in my fridge right now and need to figure a trip to target for something other then just that so I can get more! It's wonderful for a afternoon pick me up!

Please come on over to my PTR!!! The more friends the better!