No Parents and the Wilderness Lodge! (Updated 3/26 The Final Chapter!)

[Nicole786]

We're Back from the trip so to jump right to the trip report, click here


No Parents and the Wilderness Lodge!
Chapter List
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: First Draft ADR's
Chapter 3: First Draft Itinerary
Chapter 4: Shopping!
Chapter 5: Universal Studios!
Chapter 6: Mets Game!
Chapter 7: The Mac User & Her Plans
Chapter 8: Resort Wheel! Where Will it Land?
Chapter 9: New Laptop + Goodies!
Chapter 10: Noobie at Nouba
Chapter 11: Huge Update! ("It's About Time!")
Chapter 12: Disney Mail!
Chapter 13: Universal Reporting?
Chapter 14: Nicole & Michael: Through the Years...and then a bonus picture of Michael
Chapter 15: More Trip Planning!
Chapter 16: Vintage Video of Michael and Me!
Chapter 17: Eye-Phobias and Emails
Chapter 18: The 2 Week Countdown!
Chapter 19: No Blisters for Me!
Chapter 20: More Disney Mail...??
Chapter 21: What is this? A kinkos!?
Chapter 22: Five Days Left!
Chapter 23: Adventures in Packing!!
Chapter 24: Twas' 2 Days before....!
Chapter 25: See you real soon!!! (goodbye before the trip)

Trip Report:
Chapter 1: Arriving at the Hard Rock!
Chapter 2: Universal Studios!
Chapter 3: Universal Studios and La Nouba!
Chapter 4: Lets get wet n wild!
Chapter 5: islands of adventure! [1] [2]
Chapter 6: our last day at Universal Studios! [1] [2]
Chapter 7: What time is it?? Disney world time!!
Chapter 8: Warped disney day!!
Chapter 9: Princess Breakfast & Pixie Dust!
Chapter 10: Color the world?
Chapter 11: Epcot continued!
Chapter 12: First day at MGM!
Chapter 13: Breakfast with Chef Mickey!
Chapter 14: Typhoon Lagoon
Chapter 15: Adventures at Mecca!
Chapter 16: Animals &....Stitch?!
Chapter 17: Part 1: Animals, Animals, Animals!
Chapter 17: Part 2: Animals, Animals, Animals!
Chapter 18: Thank goodness for Photopass!
Chapter 19: Magic Kingdom EMH!
Chapter 20: Trip Goes Here!
Chapter 21: Trip Goes Here!
Chapter 22: MGM EMH!
Chapter 23: Trip Goes Here!
Chapter 24: Another Adventure in Transportation!
Chapter 25: The Finale!


Well, it had to happen. The moment I got back home in early March the sadness settled in. You know what i'm talking about, that feeling of emptiness that lingers knowing that no return trip is in sight! so delirious your chicken nuggets look like Mickey ears and you're exclaiming to any nearby ear that its a sign from beyond that you am wanted, no, NEEDED back at Disney World. One small problem? Well, maybe a few. College classes, a promotion at work, anxiety from college selections, and oh yeah, money?

So i came up with a plan. A plan so huge that it deserves its own name, so we will call it.."The Plan" (for lack of a better word) I knew that I wanted to go to Disney, and a couple of weeks after my college classes had ended, my official transcripts along with perfectly creased college applications were sent out, and 70% of anxiety was lifted off my shoulders, i began "The Plan" First of all let me start by saying as of April, I have been with W.I.S.H and I have lost almost 20 pounds! When i started losing weight, I knew that if i wanted to keep at it, and not lose the motivation, i would need something to motivate me. Sure, I have pictures of clothes i can't wait to try, and I have bathing suits i can't wait to wear, but i needed something bigger. I got it!! A trip to Disney World! Now lucky for me, whether i keep on the diet or not, i still get to go to Disney World, but I made the plans originally as a reward to myself for the weight loss, and i don't think theres worse punishment i can recieve, if i dissapoint myself. Walking around the mouse house just won't be the same if I know i failed. So! on with the core of The Plan!

Last week, The Plan fell into place when I posed a theory to a couple of my 2 favorite people in the entire world: My cousins Michael and Kara. If you read my previous TR you're already familiar with Michael, but Kara is Michael's 17 year old sister, who has never been to Disney World! Okay, she has...sort of. She was there when she was a baby, but can't remember a thing, so that doesn't count! I briefly mentioned that we should take a vacation to the World in the fall, just ourselves, no parents. They were down like a clown at a birthday party! Than the song of joy appeared in my head, and I sat there in that Panera Bread, my eyes a glow. And began planning!!!

SO HERE WE GO!

Cast of Characters

Me! (Nicole) I am 20 pounds heavier in that photo, and hopefully in September i will be more than that and people can really see a difference!

Michael (21) IF you don't remember him from last TR, Michael is very shy, likes to hide his true excitement, but we've been best friends from the day I was born.

Kara (17) (I don't have a recent picture ) Disney Newbie! I don't know if she's more excited to go, or if I'm more excited to show her around! Her favorite character is Pluto, so we have plans for Chef Mickey's!

So the interesting part. Where to stay? Where to stay? After 2 hours of Michael playing Xbox (Spiderman 3) and me and Kara staring at pictures back and forth, we decided on POFQ. This is the most appealing to me in the moderates, and it's also where Kara stayed as a baby (same here, but i dont really remember the trip) So we decided on that. They left as I told them I would be making the reservations on Monday.

Sunday came around and boy was I excited and bored. I work for A large Computer company (one of us a day keeps the doctor away!) and spent most of my day that day contemplating POFQ. Was the difference to go to deluxe really that different? In my heart I wanted the WL. I made my way back and forth from disneyworld.com and the DIS boards. All.Day.Long. Until finally, I knew what I really wanted to do.

I called CRO that night (couldn't wait for monday! ) and spoke to a really nice person. I asked her to go through 3 resorts for me: POFQ, WL, and CR. Finally, after "what was the price again for that one? and that one?" It was decided.

September 4th-11th (A real disney vacation!) We are staying at...





The Wilderness Lodge!

I am so excited I hardly slept last night just dreaming about it!! We have a Woods View, and i couldn't be more thrilled!

I've already started creating itineraries, and Kara's coming over today so we can talk game plan for restaurants! I booked CRT while on the phone with CRO, I was so glad they had an opening! Originally we were gonna go for Akershus based on the pessimistic idea that they would just be sold out already for CRT, so this trip is looking good so far!

Okay so thats all for now! More to come later! Thanks for reading! [/FONT]

 

[jcc0621]

Great start so far. I love going to WDW with someone who has never been there before, it's always fun to see it through their eyes. Can't wait to here more about your plans. Some for you so you can meet your dieting goals!

Janet

 

[kath1210]

Hi Nicole! Your trip sounds great. Free dining too! I am subscribing and can't wait to hear about all of your fun!

 

[Nicole786]

Great start so far. I love going to WDW with someone who has never been there before, it's always fun to see it through their eyes. Can't wait to here more about your plans. Some for you so you can meet your dieting goals!

Janet

I'm looking forward to her reactions! Thanks for the pixiedust!

Hi Nicole! Your trip sounds great. Free dining too! I am subscribing and can't wait to hear about all of your fun!

Thanks! No free dining unfortunately, all OOP. I just got off the phone finishing the ressies though! When will you be there?

 

[Nicole786]

Okay so i just renewed my TGM stuff, and Kara and I chose all of our ADRs yesterday (with Michael in mind, but honestly, he's a DH-Husband in training...just tell him where to be and he's good ) So i'll bring the official list later!

I ordered this super-cool disney type shirt from Threadless.com and recived it yesterday!! It's a size I can't wear right now, but I bought it with goals in mind! I'll post a pic of it later! It's my Animal Kingdom shirt.

Interesting story to come with the official ADR list, so stay tuned!

 

[Nicole786]

Okay so here is the ADR and first draft plan list! I'd really like some input from you guys, because as you can see there are gaps in the restaurants!

September 4th (Travel Day)
Dinner @ Whispering Canyon Cafe: 6:20
Magic Kingdom Night
Wishes?

September 5th
Breakfast @ Cinderella's Royal Table: 8:50
Typhoon Lagoon Day
Dinner @ Coral Reef: 5:40
Epcot Evening
Illuminations this night

September 6th
MGM Morning
Break until Dinner (either at resort, other park, or downtown disney)
Dinner @ Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre: 5:25
Fantasmic this night

September 7th
AK Morning
Epcot Evening (EMH)

September 8th
Breakfast @ Chef Mickey's: 7:40 (In time for MK opening?)
Magic Kingdom Morning
Break
Dinner @ Boma
??? Evening

September 9th
Epcot Morning
Break
Magic Kingdom Evening (EMH)

September 10th
MGM Morning
Break
Dinner @ O'hana (5:40)
???? Evening

September 11th
Not sure about this day because i'm not sure what time we will leave

Now on to the ADR story. So i call up CRO to make my ADR dreams come true with the idea in mind that it IS free dining, so chances of idealistic times are slim. I speak to this less-than enthused woman, who one by one asks me for my restaurant of choice, my date, you know the drill. I started out with a simple Coral Reef, waiting for my choices in terms of times available. She replied, "what time would you like?" I went, "What times are available" "We're pretty much open, what would you like?" Really?? And i told her my time, easy. simple. done. moving on. Coral Reef isn't that popular, i guess. Next in line, Chef Mickey's...now i KNOW Chef Mickey's on a Saturday equals trouble! "What time would would you like?" "What times do you have available?" "Pretty much open" WHAT!? Breakfast at Chef Mickey's? On Saturday? In the Contemporary? For Breakfast? Chef Mickey's? I had to reaffirm. Okay, maybe people are going for lunch. Next in line: 'Ohana. "..pretty much open" okay whoa! whoa! whoa! is this for real?? Let me get this straight, every restaurant i want, INCLUDING Cinderella's royal table is at my feet? This rocks! I'm loving this! We continue to the list, until finally we reach, Whispering Canyon Cafe. Dun. Dun. Dun. Here comes the interesting part: Booked! I was flabbergasted. WCC on a Wed. Beats out Chef Mickey's on a Saturday? Okay okay, lets switch it to a different day. First available is 8:30...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I had to laugh. I hung up with CM while I planned a course of action. I called back a few minutes later spoke with a much lovelier, disney-sounding CM where i settled on WCC the first night we're there. 6:20 reservation, not as early as I'd like but i guess I have to settle. That's the point where I made a few other ressies, and we're raring to go!!

Now i just want to find out everyone's absolute favorite restaurant is! If you were in Disney for one day (ah! the horror! ) where would you eat?

Okay, thats all for now...pictures next post! Hope you guys are out there!

 

[kath1210]

Thanks! No free dining unfortunately, all OOP. I just got off the phone finishing the ressies though! When will you be there?

Why no free dining? If you did not find availability at WL, keep trying! Lots of rooms are opening up every day.

We'll be there September 19 - 26 at CBR. Can't wait! We even got $49 each way on Southwest!

 

[kath1210]

Now i just want to find out everyone's absolute favorite restaurant is! If you were in Disney for one day (ah! the horror! ) where would you eat?

Ohana!!!!

 

[Nicole786]

Why no free dining? If you did not find availability at WL, keep trying! Lots of rooms are opening up every day.

We'll be there September 19 - 26 at CBR. Can't wait! We even got $49 each way on Southwest!

We're season passholders, so our reservation is room only. We have a plan to each contribute $250 to store on one Disney Gift Card to use for dining purchases!

 

[disneymoon_0307]

So far I love you TR. We are going Sep 19-24. We're staying at the CR. I can't wait to here more.

BTW...your cousin is hot!!

 

[kath1210]

We're season passholders, so our reservation is room only. We have a plan to each contribute $250 to store on one Disney Gift Card to use for dining purchases!

Hi Nicole - We are season passholders also, but we figure it is worth it to buy one one-day pass each ($71 each) to get 6 days of free dining. And, you can use that one-day pass as credit towards your next annual pass. Win-win!

 

[Nicole786]

Hi Nicole - We are season passholders also, but we figure it is worth it to buy one one-day pass each ($71 each) to get 6 days of free dining. And, you can use that one-day pass as credit towards your next annual pass. Win-win!

Whoa. Back up! You only need a one day pass to get free dining?? I'm confused, i thought the free dining only worked for each day you had passes to the parks?

 

[Nicole786]

Okay, so thanks to kath1210 and TGM, we are now officially on the Free Dining Plan! They took away my shiny AAA discount, and now i'm just trying to figure out if its cheaper to pay OOP for meals or DDP. I think it's about the same amount of money, but with the DDP we are getting a lot more. What do you think? Here's the difference in total between before and after:

Without DDP: $1800

With Free Dining: $2000

 

[kath1210]

Okay, so thanks to kath1210 and TGM, we are now officially on the Free Dining Plan! They took away my shiny AAA discount, and now i'm just trying to figure out if its cheaper to pay OOP for meals or DDP. I think it's about the same amount of money, but with the DDP we are getting a lot more. What do you think? Here's the difference in total between before and after:

Without DDP: $1800

With Free Dining: $2000

I'm glad you got free dining!!

It is $200 more, but you get all that food (you were budgeting $750 for that, right?).

Also, you have one-day passes that are worth about $70 each. Well worth it, I think!

 

[Nicole786]

I'm reinstalling photoshop (had to uninstall it the other day) so when its done i'm going to post the pics of the shirts i bought!! They rock! I can't fit into them yet, but i hope by september they will be good!

So i'd like to share with you our itinierary for the trip as it stands right now! reflected in the trip plans are also our ADRs so i'd like to hear some input if possible, thanks!

Tues, 9/4
Travel Day
Afternoon - Magic Kingdom Or Downtown Disney
Lunch - Counter Service
Dinner - Whispering Canyon Cafe
Night - Magic Kingdom or Downtown Disney

Wed, 9/5

Breakfast - Cinderella's Royal Table (8:50A)
Morning - Typhoon Lagoon
Lunch - Counter Service
Dinner - Coral Reef (5:40P)
Night - Epcot (Illuminations on this night)

Thurs, 9/6

Morning - MGM
Break
Dinner - Sci Fi Dine In
Night - MGM (Fantasmic on this night)

Fri 9/7

Morning - Animal Kingdom
Break
Dinner - Garden Grill
Night - Epcot (Extra Magic Hours)

Sat 9/8

Breakfast - Chef Mickey's
Morning - Magic Kingdom
Break
Dinner - Boma
Evening Park - ???

Sunday 9/9

Morning - Epcot
Lunch - Teppinyaki (Michael's pick)
Break
Night - Magic Kingdom (Extra Magic Hours)

Fri 9/10

Morning - Sleep In
Day Park - Choice
Dinner - 'Ohana
Night - MGM (EMH)

And we're still not sure what time we are leaving on the 11th, so that day is not thought out yet. So what do you guys think?? I'd love some input! Especially about maybe some night time activities that don't include the parks!

Thanks for reading!

 

[Nicole786]

Ok, so on to the pics!! Here is a shirt I picked up yesterday, its part of the "Disney Couture" collection. I don't fit into it yet, but i hope by september I will!

Here is my animal kingdom shirt!! I It's from the awesome website Threadless.com and I knew i had to get it, because even though not on purpose, it could soo be a disney shirt!! It's called "Reach for the stars"

And finally, because its all he keeps talking about..heres Michael with his favorite drink in the world Mezzo Mix

Happy weekend!

 

[ktink]

Hey Nicole! I'm loving your trip report. Congrats on the weight loss and the free dining! We will be going for free dining 9/2-9/8 we were booked at one time for WL but have changed to AKL! Can't wait to read more!

 

[Nicole786]

Hey Nicole! I'm loving your trip report. Congrats on the weight loss and the free dining! We will be going for free dining 9/2-9/8 we were booked at one time for WL but have changed to AKL! Can't wait to read more!

Thats cool! maybe we'll run into eachother! too bad you're still not staying at the WL!

 

[Nicole786]

I called CRO to try and accomplish the impossible: See if there was an earlier CRT reservation available so i could move our park days around...Turns out: they did! So now our ressie is for 8:20! I asked the CM nicely how crowded the parks get during september, and her response shocked me. I think she thought i said restaurants because she was fixated on how busy the restaurants are, and she made it clear that i shouldn't try and switch any reservations! Um, okay, that was really...odd, what does it mater if i switch a reservation?

Anyway, so today i went with some friends to the Mets game, and i'll post an updated picture of me. I still have a ways to go, but i lost about 20 pounds from the picture in the first post. I hope to keep it going, so by the time september rolls around, i can comfortably walk around in a tank and/or bathing suit. Typhoon lagoon here i come!

And heres a picture of my favorite baseball player David Wright:

If you're out there, thanks for reading!

 

[disneymoon_0307]

I'm loving your TR please don't stop. I can't wait 'till you actually get to go down there, b/c that means I'll be down there to. Or somewhere close to it. Please keep going. Tell me...how are you losing all your weight?