Oct 29-Nov 7 2016: 2 Newbies and 2 Disney veterans chase a...Skeleton? Plus a 2013 F&W TR tossed in!

[lilpixiebabe101]

Hello everyone. I've been away from the board for close to a year and a half now. I'm back and planning a family trip!

The plan is to go sometime between mid September and the first week of November 2016. Working around school mini breaks, races, and the hope of a FD window falling at just the right time!

Cast of characters:

Ashley, me, 26yo Mommy to two little princesses and fiancé/wife/whatever to one of the Disney Newbies. Currently I'm an administrative assistant for a project group for an industrial company. (Best I can say for safety reasons.) This will make trip 30 for me I think? Something close to that anyway. Tink is my fav. I love reading and we are video gamers in my house haha!



Buddy, the 26yo daddy person and one of the Disney Newbies. He is a merchandiser for one of the local beer distributers. He's a gamer and his favorite is... Well let's just hold onto that one for a bit shall we?



We have been together for almost 12 years. On and off for the first 3. Going strong for the last 8+ and have two adorable daughters together.



DD1, Alexa is currently 6 and has 3 days left of Kindergarten before enjoying her summer. She loves all things Disney and has been 3 times already, so I'm including her in the Disney Veteran category. She's a drama queen and loves anything evolving art! Too many Disney characters are her favorite to pick.




And last but certainly not least..

DD2 is Artemis, 9 months of inquisitive mess. As long as you'll feed her and give her things to play with you will be her best friend. She doesn't meet strangers or food she doesn't like. No favorite characters yet.



And that is our characters hopefully to be joined by 2-4 other characters but that's another story.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Whelp.. I guess I'll explain our broad trip dates now.

Here in Louisiana, by law elementary kids can only miss 10 days without doctors notes, etc. So we will be working around "staff only" Fridays and a possible "fall break" Friday or Monday. Taking the number Alexa will miss from 5 to 4.

We will also be working around a RunDisney race. A dear friend of my mine and her family will be meeting up with/going with us for the majority of the trip. She is a runner and is hopping her TOT legacy race will be back for 2016. If not, we may be going closer to Wine and Dine. Regardless of any of that, we have to have at least one MNSSHP date in the span somewhere.

Why you may ask? For that pesky skeleton mentioned in the title of course! DF favorite character is Jack Skellington, and part of the how I'm even getting him to go is so he can meet Jack and Sandy Claws just won't do it for him.

We are also trying to catch a Free Dining window. Based on recent years windows we should be good in the time frame we are looking at!

 

[BibbitybobityLu]

Joining in! Yay for another Fall 2016 planner!! You have a lovely family

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Joining in! Yay for another Fall 2016 planner!! You have a lovely family

Hey look! It's a person! Yay! Glad to have you over. We have a ways to go.. But planning is half the fun right?

 

[xlsm]

Jack Skellington is an eventual goal for us, too...but honestly, the thought of the line scares the heck out of me! We're considering SWW next year, and in reading the tips and tricks thread on here, I shudder at the thought of multi-hour waits. But for Chewy and the Ewoks? Yeah, I'd do it. For Jack and Sally? *sigh* yep. I'll do that too.

And your daughter is a girl after my own heart. Animal protector? Awesome

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Jack Skellington is an eventual goal for us, too...but honestly, the thought of the line scares the heck out of me! We're considering SWW next year, and in reading the tips and tricks thread on here, I shudder at the thought of multi-hour waits. But for Chewy and the Ewoks? Yeah, I'd do it. For Jack and Sally? *sigh* yep. I'll do that too.

And your daughter is a girl after my own heart. Animal protector? Awesome

I have to tell you I'm a bad person. In fall of 2013 on my last trip, I was told I had to get jacks autograph and pictures. I even got a video of him telling Buddy he couldn't wait to meet him. MNSSHP.. People pay money to see a cool parade and the differnet fireworks show.

This girl did the trick or trick trails, watched the cool parade.. Then proceeded to spend the firework show being in line and having an awesome Jack and Sally interaction. Do I feel sad I missed the special fireworks and villians show on the castle? Nope not a bit.

So I think that will be the same plan we will have is to skip the castle show/fireworks. The parade was awesome and I would have been sad to miss, but I'm a Wishes girl!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

I just love doing FDM... So I was on a thread as saw someone had saved almost 500$ from booking value during Free Dining and upgrading...

So I start number crunching.. Low and behold we'd save 400$ doing that at Pop or All star versus Carribean Beach!! That's our universal to tickets and 80$ toward our MNSSHP tickets!!

Yep I think that's a plan!

 

[Glittercat]

Wonderful to "meet" your beautiful family! I hope like crazy you end up with free dining! We hd it once and it was pretty cool! Next time we're paying for it as husband will not travel to the Kingdom of the Mouse without it. I crunched a LOT of numbers and he totally won that argument!

Meeting Jack and Sally would rock!!! What do read? Preferred authors? Oh! What games do you guys play?! neeeeed to know! lol. We're Wow, Skyrim, Sims 3 (not Pete), Katamari Damaci, Disney Infinity sort of people. Also I have a love of horror games such as the Silent Hill franchise.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Wonderful to "meet" your beautiful family! I hope like crazy you end up with free dining! We hd it once and it was pretty cool! Next time we're paying for it as husband will not travel to the Kingdom of the Mouse without it. I crunched a LOT of numbers and he totally won that argument!

Meeting Jack and Sally would rock!!! What do read? Preferred authors? Oh! What games do you guys play?! neeeeed to know! lol. We're Wow, Skyrim, Sims 3 (not Pete), Katamari Damaci, Disney Infinity sort of people. Also I have a love of horror games such as the Silent Hill franchise.

You as well! We went as a group of 3 adult ladies fall of 2013 and had the free dining. It was so nice not to look at menu prices and know all we still had to take care of was tip and any alcoholic beverage we purchased. Looking at menu prices is a sticking point between DF and I. We had to keep the belt tightened for so long I tend to still think like that. So being on the DP especially it being Free is just one less stress point for the trip and more budget for the fun stuff!

Mostly victorian romances. Wide variety of authors. But I'm a huge Harry potter nut. Love Mortal Instruments and a lot of the new age YA type books. Yes I'm a bit old for them, but I like that genre right now. One of my recent favorite reads for called Night Circus. Sooooo good but it left you hanging for more and there will never be anymore!!!!

Gaming we have been playing Diablo III and League of Legends the most lately. I loved all the Sims but with the job I currently have and the baby I just can't sit and play it like I used to. If you can't just immerse in sims, what's the point?! lol

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

So I'm making a list of possible ADRs. DF is a super picky eater. So is Alexa...but at least for her most places have Princess Lu's favorite standard burger or nuggets and fries!

So far we have:
Be our Guest (dinner)
Crystal palace (breakfast)
Chefs de France
San Angel Inn
Via Napali (not high on my list but Ann liked it here and DF loved almost non existent crust pizza... May oop just split a pizza)
Teppan Edos
50s Prime Time
Sci-Fi
Tusker House (Breakfast)
Boma
Saana
Chef Mickeys
The Wave (dreams about that steak)
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Ohana
Whispering Canyon
Wonderland Tea (for then 7 and 12 year old. Oop)

Opinions please! Some of these I've never been to!

 

[mom2cgj]

Joining in! I'm just excited to find another 2016 planner - where are they all? I guess when you can only go every couple of years you start planning earlier.

We're planning on the last week of January/first week of February. We don't have the same law in Iowa, so we are going to have our kids missing a little more school - 6 days. We will get a note from the school, but we got one this year, too and our kids only missed for illnesses - it was a BAD flu year.

Looking forward to following your planning! Maybe you'll remind me of something I'm forgetting!!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Joining in! I'm just excited to find another 2016 planner - where are they all? I guess when you can only go every couple of years you start planning earlier.

We're planning on the last week of January/first week of February. We don't have the same law in Iowa, so we are going to have our kids missing a little more school - 6 days. We will get a note from the school, but we got one this year, too and our kids only missed for illnesses - it was a BAD flu year.

Looking forward to following your planning! Maybe you'll remind me of something I'm forgetting!!

Woot! Yay and welcome! I myself have been wondering where all the 2016ers are. You at least have under a year lucky duck!

Yep I'm just hesitant to let her miss too much. You just never know what may come up.

 

[mom2cgj]

So, I'm totally avoiding cleaning right now and planning instead. I'm looking at ADRs, too. I've got quite a few of the same on my list so far.

So I'm making a list of possible ADRs. DF is a super picky eater. So is Alexa...but at least for her most places have Princess Lu's favorite standard burger or nuggets and fries!

So far we have:
Be our Guest (dinner) - I'm hoping for this one too, but trying to come up with a back-up just in case. I'm considering Liberty Tree for our MK dinner. DD really wants to meet Beast, but the food here just doesn't excite me, especially for DS11 who will be an "adult".
Crystal palace (breakfast) - We did this last time and LOVED it! Hoping to do it again!
Chefs de France
San Angel Inn
Via Napali (not high on my list but Ann liked it here and DF loved almost non existent crust pizza... May oop just split a pizza)
Teppan Edos
50s Prime Time - We're considering this too, but aren't sure if DH will like it. He's not a meatloaf or pot roast lover and he can't eat chicken due to Chron's disease. I want to try it, so he may just have to give in.
Sci-Fi - Did this one last time and it was fun. Probably won't go back this time so that we can try something new, but it was a nice relaxing meal (thanks to being cool and dark).
Tusker House (Breakfast) - Yes, yes, yes!! We loved this! Definitely a must-do.
Boma
Saana
Chef Mickeys - I've read a lot of bad reviews lately, but when we went last trip it was great. I think we are going to try it again on our arrival night if I can get an ADR.
The Wave (dreams about that steak)
1900 Park Fare (dinner) - This one we didn't like. At all. And DD was so excited for it, which made it a major bummer. Hopefully you'll have a better experience than we did.
Ohana - We are looking at breakfast here if I can get it. DS7 loves Stitch, so he would really get a kick out of it.
Whispering Canyon - Another one that we didn't love. Not sure why really? Maybe I'd heard too many praises? It wasn't bad, just not as great as we'd hoped for. And we didn't have a great waitress either, so I was disappointed.
Wonderland Tea (for then 7 and 12 year old. Oop)

Opinions please! Some of these I've never been to!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

So, I'm totally avoiding cleaning right now and planning instead. I'm looking at ADRs, too. I've got quite a few of the same on my list so far.

BOG- was so so for lunch, but I know DD would love to be in the castle. So this menu was better than CRT for anyway.

We LOVE Crystal palace for breakfast. It's absolutely a must.

50s / sci-go I think would both appeal to DF and Ann and I are both sci-fi lovers. I could make myself sick on that fresh cucumber slaw stuff.

Chef Mickey- honestly I've always wanted to try and I think it would be neat to watch the monorail while eating.

1900- may stay or go. I kinda liked it for the multi char interactions and it's a way for her to for sure see cinderella without having to fast pass.

LOVE Ohana. That and the wave were my favorites in 2013

Whispering I haven't been to in probably a decade or more.. So maybe they have changed it!!!

 

[Glittercat]

So far we have:
Be our Guest (dinner) ~ We hope to go here too, but for lunch instead!
Crystal palace (breakfast)
Chefs de France ~ Honestly this was our most disappointing meal last time, they have probably improved!
San Angel Inn ~ We dug it. Not going back, but it was a good meal.
Via Napali (not high on my list but Ann liked it here and DF loved almost non existent crust pizza... May oop just split a pizza)
Teppan Edos ~ Yay! Teppan Edo is on our list again as well.
50s Prime Time ~ I could see the appeal here, but my husband hated it on our honeymoon so we've never been back.
Sci-Fi ~ CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THIS ONE!
Tusker House (Breakfast)
Boma
Saana ~ Delicious Indian inspired dishes, this is one of our faves! We will be returning on upcoming trip.
Chef Mickeys
The Wave (dreams about that steak) ~ The servers really made this one something special and the food was well prepared!
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Ohana ~ I'm both nervous and excited to try dinner here! Will you be doing breakfast or dinner?
Whispering Canyon
Wonderland Tea (for then 7 and 12 year old. Oop)

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Ohana we are doing Dinner. It was absolutely fantastic. And DF is a meat fan so even if he eats nothing else, will be a good TS and he seemed interested in seeing the Poly.

Sci-fi - it's your typical burger/sandwiches but everything was very fresh and yummy. And like I said above... They little side of cumumber salad could have been a meal of itself.

The wave- have to bring DF the steak guy here. A steak good enough to cut with a butter knife.. Heck yes. We actually had a *****y server, and ended up getting things brought by another. I want to say we asked the manager if our gratuity could go to him instead.

Chefs for lunch I could have taken or left. But they have a steak and trying to fill quite a few wishes. lOVED the cheese platter there though.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

So I think I may rewrite my 2013 TR report here to kill some time. The link is in my sig where Ann actually finished the trip from her side... But I don't want to keep 2 going and idk it feels unfinished from my side... I didn't get very far before we hit busy season at work and I never picked it back up. Thoughts? Would anyone like to read about 3 adult women being crazy at F&W?

 

[mom2cgj]

So I think I may rewrite my 2013 TR report here to kill some time. The link is in my sig where Ann actually finished the trip from her side... But I don't want to keep 2 going and idk it feels unfinished from my side... I didn't get very far before we hit busy season at work and I never picked it back up. Thoughts? Would anyone like to read about 3 adult women being crazy at F&W?

Absolutely! I'd love to hear it!

So, if sounds like you've been to the Wave. What about kids there? I have DS11 who will be an adult on the DDP, so I'm not sure if he'll like it? I'm thinking it would be good for me and DH, but the kids keep holding me back.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Absolutely! I'd love to hear it!

So, if sounds like you've been to the Wave. What about kids there? I have DS11 who will be an adult on the DDP, so I'm not sure if he'll like it? I'm thinking it would be good for me and DH, but the kids keep holding me back.

I have to say it's a nice restaurant. Not over the top nice where I would worry about the kids dropping food on the floor. But it was a neat and differnet ambience. I think we went in our shorts and shirts we had worn all day. We didn't dress up. The food was supurb. I've actually debated doing one night OoP here on one of the days we do a TS credit for dinner or maybe paying for the breakfast oop to leave an extra TS.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Well here we head off on a journey back to the fall of 2013... My mind may be a little fuzzy on the details. I may need @annmarieda to chime in a time or two. I may need to follow the photopass pics.

So a little prelude before being an admin assistant I was a Massage Therapist up until March of this year. So for me this trip meant also budgeting a week without pay. So I worked almost my full shift on Friday, Sep 27th. I ran home and grabbed my stuff, told Buddy and Alexa at the time goodbye, and jumped in my mom's car. We were off! We iced down our drinks, I grabbed a mini lunch since I hadn't eaten since work was crazy busy, and we hit the road.

We waved good by to Louisiana and drove and drove until we got to a nice macdonald somewhere in the east side of Mississippi. We had a bio break and got some of their newly released then cookies and moved one. Continued driving till another bio break was needed. Mom grabbed a java monster which at the time was her addiction. I passed on snacks I think but she got some caramel corn to munch on. We continued on with our Harry Potter audio books till we got to our home away from home for the night in Tallahassee. We got a nice price off Hotels.com. We decided not even to venture back out since it was almost 11 pm and hit the hay early.



This was out hotel. Fancy fancy.
Hmmm the plan was to get cracking at about 8am the next morning to be to Disney and Ann for between 12-1pm. Do you think we got rolling in time?


Sorry got to wait till tomorrow!