My 1st PTR: Apparently Pigs DO Fly...Straight to Disney!! MAJOR CHANGES!

[fallen_angel727]

Hello everyone!!

As the title states...this is my 1st PTR...we'll the first that I am actually going to finish!

I was not expecting to do a PTR at this time, maybe this time next year. That was the plan anyway. After our semi-disastrous trip in May, DH swore HE got to pick our trip this year because unless hell froze over and pigs grew wings we WERE NOT, ABSOLUTELY NOT going back to Disney for quite a long time...yet apparently those things happened because here I am beginning a PTR for a trip that is less than a year out (not by much, but hey 11 months and 3 weeks - according to my ticker - IS still technically less than a year is it not?)!

Now you may be asking about our miserable trip in May...we'll I guess it wasn't really that terrible, but it was pretty bad. I'll give you all a brief overview when the time is right...and since this is a happy occasion, that time is not now

The players in this PTR (which will actually be doing double duty as regular PTR AND a Dining PTR!!!) are as follows...

Myself - Ashley ("Hi there!!!" ) - I'm a Veterinary Technician, self proclaimed Disney lover, lover of all thing scary, lover of animals...and well I guess just down right quirky. Now for a small list of my Disney favourites (**Side note, so sorry for my "weird" spelling, we're from Canada, eh?)

Park: Animal Kingdom
Ride: Haunted Mansion
TS: Boma
CS: Columbia Harbour House
Disney Movie: Sleeping Beauty
Character: Maleficent (or the Penguins from Mary Poppins...it's a really tough call here. Ya know on second thought, you can't make me decide, I'll take both!!)
Fireworks Show: Wishes

DH - Aaron ("Yo, internet world" ) - He's an architect/planner, heading back into the academic world next fall to get his Master in Urban Planning (it's an online program with a few trips to campus...which is why we can actually do this trip). He tolerates all things Disney, dislikes all things scary, loves all things fantasy and sci-fi, loves all things food related and is also a bit weird. Now a small list of his Disney favourites...

Park: Disney Hollywood Studios
Ride: Not really a ride, but The Indiana Jones Stunt show at DHS - his life goal was to be a participant which he accomplished back in May
TS: Boma
CS: Flame Tree BBQ
Disney Movie: The Incredibles
Character: Mr. Incredible
Fireworks Show: Fantasmic!

Here we are from our trip in May...


Also appearing in this PTR: probably a bunch of random people, and a wonderful dog named Chloe


Shown here proudly (albeit a little nervous) displaying her loyalties to the one and only Ravenclaw...she's apparently more of a Harry Potter fan than Disney, but that's alright.

Up Next, how exactly did the trip that would never happen come to be?? What do you mean you haven't actually booked it yet!?! And isn't a DxDP + F&W going to be WAY too much food??? ​

 

[fallen_angel727]

A little background...I like to think of this trip as "The Honeymoon that was supposed to be, but wasn't." Why you may ask...well we had originally planned on going to Disney on our honeymoon 2 years ago when Aaron decided that Spain would be a better choice because "ya know we can always go to Disney..." (Side note: I've held him to that the last 2 years much to his dismay) So we cancelled our Disney trip and off to Spain we went. It was wonderful, but the time came to head back to my first and only love.So after a couple trips we found ourselves back for Star Wars Weekend with my brother and his wonderful GF (now ex-gf) back in May...this was the disaster trip; but again, when the time is right I'll fill you all in. After this trip it was an absolute NO from Aaron that we were ever going back before we had children...Or so he thought.

We were at Halloweekends in Cedar Point - anyone from the general Michigan, Ohio, southern Ontario area will know what this is - for those of you that don't know every weekend in September and October the Cedar Point amusement park is transformed into a Halloween Horror spectacular each night around 8pm with haunted houses and mazes and ghosts and ghouls. We'll we were waiting for a ride, I decided to try my hand at tossing a Disney trip out there and see what he would say...

(Completely off on a side note here, but VERY important to this story DH and I have been having some problems lately, we are not per-say in an extremely happy marriage right now, but we ARE trying to work on it, so we're trying to keep things as normal as possible...this all I'm going to say about this as it is high personal - obviously - and extremely complicated, but we're hoping this trip will be a reward for all the hard work we are putting into this with a hopefully happy outcome...anyway back to the story)

...I brought up Mickey's No So Scary Halloween Party and the fact that you could meet villains and stuff and to my surprise, Aaron said "yeah, that sounds like fun." It was kind of a half-hearted response, but I quickly began preliminary planning in my head...if anything just to take my mind off the troubles we were having. We returned home and I was showing him something on the DIS when he noticed an add for the Food & Wine Festival. This was our conversation (for the sake of this I'll be using the Mickey Icon as Aaron and Minnie as myself...)

- "What's this food thing about?"
- "Well there are extra booths around Epcot, more countries than normal, and they have samplings of authentic food and drink from each country"
- "Interesting, can you use a dining plan for it?" - Note I completely won Aaron over with the DDP last time we went, he thought it was a terrible idea, but after our first big meal and not having to pay the bill outright, he decided it was the greatest thing since sliced bread
- "Well you can use snack credits, but not meal credits"
- "But you only have 1 snack credit a day right?"
- I decided here to test the waters with the DxDP as I have always wanted to eat at signature restaurants and if he was serious, this may be my chance "Well with the deluxe plan you get 3 meal credits a day and 2 snacks"
- "We could do 2 snacks each for lunch on our Epcot days and just buy a water then?"
- "Yes..."
- "And we could do a signature each night for dinner, and maybe a breakfast or early lunch the other days?"
- "Yes..." at this point I'm becoming cautiously optimistic
- "well price it out for my then for a week with your Halloween thing too"
- "Seriously...umm OK. Well with just a standard value resort like All Star Movies we're looking at just over $3000 for everything"
- "I suppose we can drive rather than fly, it's only about 18 hours, with gas and a room there and back we're looking a an extra $600-700 if even...way cheaper than a flight." (Note this is how we traveled in May, only with 4 people and all our luggage in my tiny Honda Civic)
- "Seriously...we're really gonna go next year???"
- "Seriously, we'll go...as long as we can eat at Biergarten, oh and that African place again, it was excellent" (He meant Boma)

So that's how this trip came to be. Oh but one small sied not, it's not actually booked yet. I just maxed out my credit card on a wedding in the Dominican Republic (which was wonderful) and paying for my Veterinary Technician registration test (which I'm writing in November and should be studying for instead of starting this PRT but alas...). So as soon as I get paid and some money goes on my card next week this trip will be booked Sept 26 - Oct 3, 2014 with an extra driving day on each end. We'll hopefully be at All Star Movie or Music (I haven't actually decided yet), with a 7 day hopper, a deluxe dining plan, and when I can get them tickets for next years Halloween Party

And for everyone who is completely against the deluxe dining plans...I know, I know it's going to be WAY to much food. I'm well aware, but I DO want to try as many signatures as I can...and if Aaron wants the DxDP we'll let him learn for himself just how much food it is

We have decided however, since we've both been multiple times to keep this trip very light and slow. Many people don't like the DxDP because they find it takes too much time out of their day waiting for the ADR times. Well since this is basically going to be a trip dedicated to experiencing the food Disney has to offer, we will be doing much more eating and just taking in the sights than riding rides. Sure we'll have a couple must do rides at each park but nothing compared to what we would usually do (which is run commando style from ride to ride with fastpass on a strict schedule). The other MAJOR change we have is 3 days at Epcot, 2 at DHS, 1 at AK and only a half day or so at MK for the Halloween party and a ride on Splash, Haunted Mansion, Buzz and maybe Pirates.

This trip is going to be VERY different from any other trip to the World I've ever done, I'm excited, anxious and frankly, stuffed from just the thought of all the food I'll have to eat. So hopefully you'll all join me in my planning process which will definitely be a challenge and stick through for the main Trip Report and my Dining Report when we return!!! ​

 

[fallen_angel727]

Well it's officially be decided that we will be staying at All Star Movies or Music (I haven't decided yet) and doing away with the hoppers. Aaron has decided this trip should be as economical as possible (*sigh* ) therefore a value resort is apparently a must. I guess I shouldn't complain I mean by some miracle I'll be back in Disney in less than a year However, on a much more exciting note, Aaron is extremely excited about this trip, so much so he did some research...posted as me on the boards *sigh* and came up with a fairly good tentative plan for our DxDP. Yes it's quite early, but you have to understand, Aaron doesn't get excited about stuff like this...EVER, so this is a first...finally proof there ARE Disney gods . I apparently have to plan the rest and make these meals fit into our schedule in a neat little package, but at least he picked the restaurants

So here, in no particular order, are DH's picks for trip...

Breakfasts
Kouzzina
Kona Café
Boma
Captain’s Grille
Whispering Canyon Café

Lunchs
Raglan Road
Sci-Fi Dine In
Brown Derby F! package (hopefully a later seating around 3-4pm)
Many of our lunches will be snack credits from F&W festival as we are doing 3 Epcot days

Dinners
Sanaa
Le Cellier or Yachsman Steakhouse (depends on where we can get ADRs)
California Grill
The Plaza Restaurant (MNSSHP day)
Jiko
Artist Point
Beaches & Cream (LATE 9:30pm ish)
Biergarten

Personally I was pretty impressed by this list, there are a couple I would switch, but I think I'll back off this time and let him have his Disney moment...chances are it's not going happen again

Now I understand completely that this is WAY too much food...I have absolutely no idea how we are going to be able to accomplish this, Aaron and my DBrother could barely finish dinner at Boma without looking like this back in May...



..and that was just a buffet, I can't imagine trying to eat like this at EVERY meal...but hey I'll take what I can get right?

I did ask Aaron about all the meals at AKL, his response..."While it's your favourite resort and we definitely don't have the money to stay there anytime so, so I figured this was the next best thing" (We might be having some problems, but he sure knows how to turn me to a giant pile of mushy goo ...on rare occasions that is )

That's everything new on the planning front for today...any help in deciding which All Star resort would be GREATLY appreciated though (sept. 26 - oct 3, 2014). Now it's off to work I go to help the sick puppies and kittens of the city ​

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[fallen_angel727]

So some unfortunate news...I was supposed to book our dining extravaganza today; and did not. All the money on my credit card went to "real life" things such as the cable bill, so unfortunately I have to wait another 2 weeks until I can book . I suppose I could do it now, but it would leave me insanely low on funds so it's just not possible. Besides if I wait I will be past my 90 day period at work.

Side note: For those of you who don't know, here in Canada we have a "90 day period" whenever you start a new job. Basically within that 90 days they can let you go for no reason other than "she wasn't working out" or something else vague like that. after the 90 day mark, they have to have a valid reason for letting you go, so you're basically guaranteed to keep your job provided you don't do anything major to screw it up. So I suppose it's better for me to wait the 2 weeks and have me job 100% before I book anything...just in case

Anyway, I'm still trying to decide where to stay anyway, Movies or Music...since there's no way I can talk Aaron into a moderate, or, heaven forbid, a deluxe. And Aaron is again making changes to the restaurants he wants to try...we've added Liberty Tree Tavern, 'Ohana and Narcoossee's for dinner and gotten rid of Kouzzina, The Plaza and Artist's Point...I fear he'll be doing this until the day we leave

Anyway, just a super small update today, Aaron is pretty angry with me right now (I just spent over $20 on jellybellies ) and he would like to use HIS computer ​

 

[LB1122]

This trip sounds like food heaven. I so want to go for Food and Wine.

We love the deluxe dining plan. We love food and taking time out form the crowds so it just works out great. This time around we are taking advantage of the double meal credits to enjoy Cinderella's castle, Le Cellier, Artist Pointe and the Candlelight processional...still will have pleasantly of credits and some yummy food.

I have stayed at All star Music and found it very nice. Some said it would be noisy but I did not find that to be true at all...we were not near a pool.

Also The MNSSHP is awesome. Haunted mansion super cool that time of year.

Side note (without being too personal) Glad you are working hard on the hard parts. I have been married 10 years and there have been several time spans of that for us as well. I hope the trp planning helps out and well hope it all gets better.

 

[MeeskaMomma]

Joining in

So... your conversation with Aaron sounds like the one I had with my DH the when we decided to go this last May. The whole time I was thinking "really? he is on board? really!?" He loved it so much he is now possibly more in love with Disney than me!!!

Maybe this will be the trip to convert Aaron

The food plan looks great!!! We really want to do the food & wine festival some day, but it will have to wait until our little guy gets a little older.

Happy planning!

 

[fallen_angel727]

Hello readers and thanks for joining in!! So just some quick updates today...I had originally planned on spending the day studying for my registration exam, yet I find myself surfing the boards so I figured I might as well update you wonderful readers on what has been transpiring since my last entry (however since it's only been about 10 days, not much has happened )

First and foremost...Happy Thanksgiving (a little late) to my fellow Canadians!! Hope your turkey comas were wonderful!!! I unfortunately was unable to celebrate this year as my work is a 24h emergency vet and, of course I worked over dinner ALL WEEKEND Oh well such is life I suppose, however I did get to see a really cool surgery...can't really go into detail but the dog is doing well now! Fingers crossed, everyone, that 'll be lucky enough to have a few days off around Christmas!!

Second...For all you Red Sox fans out there, congrats on your game 3 win. For Tigers fans out there (such as myself) we aren't done yet...there's always tonight and tomorrow, so again *fingers crossed*!

I also go some VERY exciting news, one of my best friend has gotten engaged and wants me to be her Maid of Honor!!! I'm super excited for this. We've had our ups and downs as friends - in fact there was a period when we didn't speak for over a year, and we thought our friendship was over - so it's wonderful that I'll be able to help her on her new journey (with a wonderful guy who is perfect for her by the way!!) She's like a sister to me, and when I saw a picture of her in the dress she chose I was the one that started bawling lol. Anyway, enough of this mushy stuff, as she'll never see it on here anyway She's never been to Disney...but don't worry folks I'll make sure that changes one day!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOW...onto more Disney-like things! I get paid tomorrow, meaning I can FINALLY book this trip as soon as the $$$ goes onto my Visa card so yay!!!



Still undecided on which Resort, both have such good qualities. I'll probably book with All Star Movies, then obsess about it and change it a million times before I leave. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for free dining though, Aaron wants to stay at Coronado Springs, but we just won't have the money on the DxDP, so if I can snag free dining, we may be able to pull it off, and since our dates are flexible within a few days in either direction, here's to hoping we can catch FD!

Speaking of dining, here are some changes Aaron made to our schedule. First, and possibly most important (for me anyway) is an extra half day at Animal Kingdom!! I caved and got us park tickets for all 8 days we're there. Now I know many of you will say "that's too much," "what about down time?" etc. But please remember, this is a dining trip for us, so our park time will be limited anyway...which is exactly what we want this time around; as much food as we can stuff into ourselves supplemented by a couple rides in each park and just general sightseeing and taking in the atmosphere of the parks so we can walk off our food in preparation for the next meal

Since we're on the topic of rides, we made a small list of our MUST DO's in each park

MK - Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Buzz
AK - Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur
DHS - Star Tours, Tower of Terror, Toy Story, Backlot Tour**, Maybe MuppetVision
EP - Sorin', Test Track, maybe Mission Space

** Question: can you enter the museum at the end of Backlot Tour without taking the tour? Because that's really all I like looking at anyway.

Now, it might seem like a lot, but we have multiple days at each park except MK, and the only ride we need to do multiple times is Haunted Mansion, as it's really the only reason (besides MNSSHP) we're even going, so I think we should be alright.

Our other changes (made by Aaron) is to our restaurant plans...
No more Kouzzina, Plaza, Beaches & Cream or Artist's Point
Instead Aaron has decided to tackle...

1. Yak & Yeti - hence our added 1/2 AK day - this will be on our arrival day, so we'll check in by noon hopefully, head to AK for lunch, stay until close then over to Jiko for a nice (late-ish) dinner

2. Narcoossee - Aaron just couldn't pass up that steak and lobster combo, and I'm secretly aiming for dinner around the time of Wishes

3. O'hana - for dinner; this was at my request, it just looks and sounds so yummy, plus they're open a bit later so we can get there AFTER Fantasmic!

4. Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner again; I would rather do this as lunch, but since we'll be in WDW about a week before our thanksgiving Aaron decided we should get the celebrating done early (my logic: well if I have to work thanksgiving again next year at least I'll get a turkey dinner at some point!)

So that's all I can think of that's new here...I guess I lied at the beginning of this post, A LOT has happened in the last 10 days I'll be sure to keep you posted on when I actually get this darn thing booked...and hopefully in my next update you'll learn why our last trip ended up being a total bust (though not completely), so be sure to stay tuned...​

 

[fallen_angel727]

So this update will be super quick, as I have to sleep (midnights start at work tonight), but some exciting news on the Disney planning home front.

#2 - We're going to try switch Liberty Tree Tavern up for Be Our Guest, I completely forgot dinner was a TS so we're gonna try get in on our MNSSHP night. Worst case, we fall back on LTT for dinner

AND the MOST EXCITING update of this report...*drum roll please* (why thank you kind smilies!!)

I BOOKED TODAY!!!!...JUST NOW, ABOUT 4 MINUTES AGO...oh pardon me, please let me compose myself

Ahem...as I was saying, it's official 7 nights/8 days at All Star Movies (that may change...but only if i can snag free dining lol) with an 8 day park pass and the way too large DxDP. We leave Sept. 25 and check in the 26th as we planned and we stay until Oct. 3rd. In this time we will be fitting in a MNSSHP and 3 days of Food & Wine....plus more food than any normal person will be able to consume, ever!!

Please stay with me for the, what's likely to be, complicated process of choosing park days, and fitting in all the restaurants Aaron wants to try! ANyway it's off for some groceries then to bed to get ready for work tonight!



Side note: I adopted a kitten today too!! She's black with amber eyes and her name will be Bellatrix (Bella for short!). I pick her up Monday and I'm extremely excited!!​

 

[fallen_angel727]

To those reading this PTR - this will have to be put on hold as I just lost my job so we don't know if we'll be able to go or not. We aren't cancelling our trip (yet), and we'll probably still make our ADR's etc, but for now the planning has to be stopped, or at least put on hold

Hopefully this will all work out and I will find something soon, but for now, wish me luck in my new job search​

 

[LB1122]

So sorry to hear about the job. I will keep my fingers crossed for you as you search. Disney dreams

 

[fallen_angel727]

Already all you happy readers...we are back in business!!! Just finished my first day at a new jobs (only took 10 days to find one...not to shabby ) So, since I'm now working again our trip is back on...so let the planning commence!!!

All that aside, I'm not working at a bet supply store where the stress is MUCH lower, the job is much easier and I can interact with and help the animals in the way that I want. So after day , I give this job 2 thumbs up (except when I have to touch the worms, but that's a whole other story..."

There's absolutely nothing new on the planning front, as everything was put on hold when I lost my previous job, but now (after I write my vet tech registration exam that is) I will be back in full planning mode!!!

Just passing on the good news to all my readers!!!!

​

 

[fallen_angel727]

So I need some help here, since I have a new job now (and it's going wonderfully!!!) I'm trying to convince Aaron that saying at a moderate would be worth the extra $650-ish for our trip.

Now I know that many people don't think the moderates are that much better than the values for the price difference, and I guess I would say that I agree. HOWEVER, I really want to give Coranado Springs a try (Aaron does also, he's said so before, he just always has his head wrapped around the budget - not a bad thing, but it doesn't let us splurge). We definitely don't have the funds to stay deluxe, but I feel we can stay moderate no problem.

Anyway, I'm making him a powerpoint presentation on why it would be better to stay here as opposed to All Star Movies. Yes, yes, I'm a nerd and have a bit too much time on my hands that would definitely be better used elsewhere...but it is what it is and this power point is getting made. So, CSR fans, please everything you love about this resort (no cons please, I'm trying to sell this place!!)

Thanks everyone!​

 

[fallen_angel727]

Since I go no help from the DIS I ended up talking Aaron into switching to POP, which we both love, but I would have liked trying something new lol!! Oh well, maybe can snag free dining and upgrade anyway (fingers crossed)

So Dining wise there have been some changes...frankly I can't wait until the end of march when my ADR's are made and I'll stop obsessing over this

So the changes: We've switch our Whispering Canyon Cafe breakfast to our MK day. Other changes to our MK day: We opted out of BOG and we're going to pay OOP for The Plaza instead. With our now extra credit, we'll be dining at Teppan Edo for an early dinner on our departure day. This will be a return trip to TE for myself but a first for Aaron (and I mean a first at any type of restaurant of this style for him) so I'm pretty excited about taking him here!!!

That's about all that's new on the planning front. However some big news on the home front...we have a new kitten!! A little black 7 month old kitten named Bellatrix (aka Bella). She was a rescue kitty and she's fitting in perfectly with everyone else!

And now I must return to my studying, as me registration exam is only about 10 days away!! Once I'm finished with that, I'll be sure to fill you all in on why the last trip was so terrible (as promised some tie ago) and why this trip will be a do-over.
So until then everyone...​

 

[fallen_angel727]

Hello loyal readers!! (well I hope there are some anyway!!) It's been quite some time since my last post and there are some MAJOR changes taking place regarding this trip.

First, let me wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, hope your holidays were fantastic and you aren't stuck in the snow somewhere (don't worry we had to dick almost 2 feet off our driveway this morning so Aaron could get to work ) We had a pretty rough holiday this year as my aunt passed away on the 23rd, but we made it through, and now it's back to a normal routine (with the addition of a god awful amount of snow). I'm getting a memorial tattoo done on friday for her (well actually 2) - a piece sign behind my ear (we were supposed to get them together) and the word 'Ohana on the inside of my wrist. Anyway enough with the depressing stuff...

Now onto the changes... we cut our trip down by 2.5ish days and are now taking an 8 hour detour to Washington DC before heading to Florida. Kind of random right? Well you would be correct!

So how did this come about you might ask? Well I was realizing that this might be the last trip we take for a very long time without children as we plan on trying for kids on this trip. So I was thinking maybe instead we should go somewhere tropical (I know I was shocked at my own thoughts - no Disney...jeeze ) Anyway, I figured maybe try somewhere that was a little more *ahem* "adult" per-say. However I just couldn't bring myself to not go to Disney - especially with the promise of that Deluxe Dining Plan. So after some thinking I had an idea we could push our check in date back a few days make some stops along the way, I mean it is a 20 hour drive why not take our time?

But where to stop...there isn't much between Michigan and Florida, not 3 nights worth at least for us. So I did some quick mapping and what's this...DC is only 8 hours away (give or take), then 12 (give or take) from there to Disney? SOLD...same driving time, but it'll be split up a little better and give Aaron more of a break while driving (god forbid he might let me drive )

Now you may be thinking why DC? You're from Canada, what could there possibly be in DC that would interest you. Well I'm also a history major, and out of my 4 years at University (in Canada) only 4 classes were related to Canadian History (no offence to other Canadians, I could only take so much European fur trading before I wanted to claw my eyes out ) So the rest was good 'ol, extremely interesting American History...and what better place for an American History & Political Nerd such as myself, why of course Washington DC. So we'll be leaving home the Thursday and leaving Washington on the Saturday. Stopping in Savannah Saturday night then onward to Disney on the 28th until the 3rd.

We're still staying at POP and Still have the deluxe Dining, however I did have to forego MNSSHP and therefore probably the Magic Kingdom all together (not a huge deal for us, we aren't really fans of MK anyway ) However, this will be a new exciting adventure to (and through) places we haven't been before. Obviously our dining plans will change...updates on that later once I talk to Aaron about what he feels needs to be kept (he's just happy we'll still make the Food & Wine Festival ).


Now for any DC natives, or those that know - how would 2 people best spend a Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday morning in DC? I have an idea of what I'd like to see, but I'm open to input and suggestions!!!​