Oh Come All Ye Faithful... DIS TR Addicts... UPDATE 4/19

[2xcited2sleep]

Hello :: and welcome. This is my 2nd attempt at a PTR and TR. As you can see from my signature, I am lucky and blessed to be able to make my way to WDW twice in 2008. Twice in a matter of two months, in fact. Lucky, indeed. I don’t often (ok, ever ) like my job but it does afford me opportunities like this.

I am a Disney addict from WAY back (circa 1975!!) who took a brief hiatus in the college/post-college years and have come back with a vengeance! My parents, brother and I took a trip for Flower & Garden in 2006 and in the process of planning that I became hooked on podcasts and various online communities. When I first found the DIS I distinctly remember thinking “how cute, these people count down their trips and post pictures of their food.” Inside I was thinking to myself, “I like Disney and all but I’m no nut.” And here I am 1,000+ posts on the DIS later. A big ‘ole Disney nut. I haven’t given into the food porn urge yet but we’ll see if this trip report can change that.

So it’s just me on this trip. Another solo TR. I’m not married yet… much to the dismay of my parents and friends. I dunno, “he” just hasn’t come along. But I keep telling myself, “someday, your prince will come.” And in the meantime, I’m going to take myself to Disney b/c I’m not going to miss out while waiting for someone who may or may not exist to show up. What about friends to travel with? Well as many of you experience, most of my friends do not “get it.” Even my friends with kids don’t want to go. So again, rather than deprive myself, I’m going to go ahead and go!

This trip is during Mousefest so I’m hoping that there will be a good mix of solo time and group time as well as an opportunity to meet some other DIS’ers. I have always, always wanted to see the World at holiday time and I just can’t wait. I am a faithful watcher of the Christmas parade each Christmas morning (since back in the Joan Lunden days) and I am just beside myself that I will see it in person (not the actual taping but a facsimilie).

I’m ~5-6 weeks away from the trip and I have far fewer plans in place than I had for the October trip. But as I found out in October, things don’t always go according to plan so sometimes it’s best not to have every second mapped out.


Intro (above)
Trip Resolutions
The plans... THE RESORT
The plans... ADRs
The plans... Arrival Day
The plans... Day Two
The plans... Day Three
The plans... Day Four
The plans... Day Five
Disney mail!
The plans... Last Day
The forecast and a packing quandry
The Mickey Marcette's April 2010 trip is born- warning you have to read the next many posts after this one to get the jist.
A prayer to the weather gods
Getting ready


Live from WDW... check-in #1
Live from WDW... check-in #2
Live from WDW... check-in #3
Teaser photo #1
Teaser photo #2
And so it begins
Intro to Pop Century
Everything Pop
Hello, sunshine!
DVC Tour & Saratoga Springs Resort
Downtown Disney
Happy New Year (and a souvenir spoiler)
Tree of Life part I
Tree of Life part II
AK Christmas Tree and DHS
WDW Today's 500th episode
Yacht & Beach Club decorations
Sunset and Drinking Around the World
The Big Day Part I
The Lodge (The Big Day Part II)
Meet the Neighbors (The Big Day Part III)
The room (The Big Day Part IV)
A lazy afternoon noticing Disney details
Meandering around World Showcase (the big day parts VI & VII)
DHS, Brown Derby, & my first food porn EVER
Toy Story Mania!
Magic Kingdom
Epcot and lunch at Chef's de France
Candlelight Processional, Lights of Winter, and MVMCP
Vintage Skyway Pictures
Yuletide Fantasy Tour
Another lazy afternoon in World Showcase
Packing... with a view of the sunset savannah
Dinner at Jiko
Departure Day - relaxing at the pool
Souvenirs
Final thoughts

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yayyyyyy!!

Have you learned nothing from your October trip? Just me? Pfffft!!

I love the Christmas Parade on Christmas morning, that is Christmas to me. It's also Christmas to me when my brother is rolling his eyes while I watch it.

I am so excited for your plans!!

 

[nts4wdw]

I'm here! Looking forward to seeing where our plans intersect!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yayyyyyy!!

Have you learned nothing from your October trip? Just me? Pfffft!!

I love the Christmas Parade on Christmas morning, that is Christmas to me. It's also Christmas to me when my brother is rolling his eyes while I watch it.

I am so excited for your plans!!

I'm here! Looking forward to seeing where our plans intersect!

May I just say that you guys are awesome?!? I was just thinking about how lucky I am - not in the respect that I get to go to WDW 2x in one year (which is VERY lucky) but more in the respect that I have made such terrific friends online over the last year or so. I feel blessed.

OK. Enough sap for a Saturday evening!

Looking forward to sharing my plans with you. Lynn - hope they intersect with yours quite often and LL hope that you can use these to shape your/our?? Dec '09 plans.

My entire family makes fun of me for watching the Christmas parade and yet I still insist upon it. It just says Christmas to me!

 

[nts4wdw]

May I just say that you guys are awesome?!? I was just thinking about how lucky I am - not in the respect that I get to go to WDW 2x in one year (which is VERY lucky) but more in the respect that I have made such terrific friends online over the last year or so. I feel blessed.

AHHHHH! Right back at ya!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I totally agree about the sap!

Don't forget the light fixture pics too!!!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

I'm present... and now accounted for...


Yippee!! a new PTR... I'm so glad you decided to write one for this trip

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't wait to experience Christmas at Disney through your TR!

I still insist on watching the Christmas parade every year!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

AHHHHH! Right back at ya!

I am so giddy for mousefest I can't even tell you. It's a month away!!!

I totally agree about the sap!

Don't forget the light fixture pics too!!!!

As if I could forget light fixtures!

I'm present... and now accounted for...


Yippee!! a new PTR... I'm so glad you decided to write one for this trip

And I'm so glad you're here!

I can't wait to experience Christmas at Disney through your TR!

I still insist on watching the Christmas parade every year!

I still can't quite believe that I'm going to get to experience Christmas at Disney. I seriously have been watching that parade for YEARS and thinking that it would be great to be there. And now I actually will!

 

[julezdisney]

I’m ~5-6 weeks away from the trip and I have far fewer plans in place than I had for the October trip. But as I found out in October, things don’t always go according to plan so sometimes it’s best not to have every second mapped out.

Im subbing this one too! How lucky of me to have both found your last TR and that you start this PTR on the same day!

Just 5-6 wks?! WOW! Can't wait for all the planning & pix!

 

[wasabi girl]

I sooo need a new job so that I can go more than once a year (and I don't even have a job I like)! My DD is auditioning for the CP tomorrow...I see at least one Spring semester visit coming on!!!

 

[MomofCKJ]

We went at Christmas time in 2006, it is so magically beautiful! I can't wait for you to see it and then report back! Take lots and lots of pics, I know you will!

The resorts are gorgeous all decked out in their finest!

Allyson

 

[Lady Lallie]

Do you have any plans...lists....adr's.....that you would like to share with us?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Im subbing this one too! How lucky of me to have both found your last TR and that you start this PTR on the same day!

Just 5-6 wks?! WOW! Can't wait for all the planning & pix!

So glad to have you here! Yes can't believe the trip is so close. I need to get a move on in the planning department!!

I sooo need a new job so that I can go more than once a year (and I don't even have a job I like)! My DD is auditioning for the CP tomorrow...I see at least one Spring semester visit coming on!!!

How exciting for your daughter! I'll send good vibes/luck out into the universe for her. Let us know how it goes!

We went at Christmas time in 2006, it is so magically beautiful! I can't wait for you to see it and then report back! Take lots and lots of pics, I know you will!

The resorts are gorgeous all decked out in their finest!

Allyson

I'm really looking forward to it! I'm sure I'll take one or two pictures. I remember your Christmas trip. I loved your TR. I still think about your video of the big reveal and smile. Laughing with you not at you!

Do you have any plans...lists....adr's.....that you would like to share with us?

Maybe...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

At the risk of spoiling some things still to come in my other TR, I learned some things on the October trip that I want to incorporate into this trip.


1) I need to figure out my fancy camera. The point and shoot takes fine pictures but when I see the pictures that Lady Lallie, Paula (ILuvCrush),and others turn out I want to see what I can do. I am curious though. How do you all cart your cameras around? Mine (same as LL’s , I believe) seems big. At least big for my Vera backpack. Do you just wear them around your neck the whole time? Teach me. I’m a photography padawan.

2) On a solo trip don’t make too many ADRs. I had too many in October and as you’ll see if you read it, I don’t make all of them. Plus as a singleton, it’s sometimes uncomfortable (for me). And I’m pretty low class in terms of palate so a burger and fries actually sounds good to me! So I believe I have three ADRs for this trip and that’s it. You’ll have to wait to hear what they are.

3) The mid day break is VITAL! I learned this the hard way in October. As in the hard way when I’m in the Beach Club marketplace in search of pain killer after the first day and I think my legs/hips/feet are going to fall off. So much for thinking I’m relatively in shape!


4) There are SO many details to soak in… take your time. You’ll be back.


5) Balance between group and solo time is the way to go. Solo I tended to get lonely and look for people to talk to. But when meeting up with friends I sometimes missed what I wanted to do going with what the group wanted. So you have to strike a balance… at least as much as possible.

6) Bring a trip journal. I did not in October. I made notes each night when I got back to the hotel but it would have been better to have a little notebook with me to make notes in as I went along.


7) Bring a print-out of my “must-do” list. As much time as I spent planning for the October trip I got caught up in the magic and forgot about some of the things that I had wanted to do. But here again, the good news is “you’ll be back.” NO Ahnold.

8) Really. No one cares what you are doing. Seriously. So if you want to take pictures of your food. Do it. Don’t be self conscious. Everyone is having too much fun on their own to worry about what you’re doing.

9) Your packing list needs to be refined. Too many shoes. And too many tops. It got cold some nights in October and surely will in December so need to bring some options in that regard but I don’t need 100 different options. And you need to account for the weight that souvenirs will add to your suitcase!

10) Sharing the magic feels good! I was a fairy godmailer mailing postcards to a few different kids and took pictures for many different families. It felt good… passing it on.


11) Disconnect from work. REALLY disconnect. You don’t need to check your blackberry while in line at Soarin’. Whatever it is they can deal with it without you. And there is not much you can do about it anyhow. In a true emergency, they can find you. And you can choose to help them or pretend there isn’t any cell service in the World Showcase.

Any other suggestions? Lessons learned the hard way?
 

 

[ILuvCrush]

At the risk of spoiling some things still to come in my other TR, I learned some things on the October trip that I want to incorporate into this trip.


1) I need to figure out my fancy camera. The point and shoot takes fine pictures but when I see the pictures that Lady Lallie, Paula (ILuvCrush),and others turn out I want to see what I can do. I am curious though. How do you all cart your cameras around? Mine (same as LL’s , I believe) seems big. At least big for my Vera backpack. Do you just wear them around your neck the whole time? Teach me. I’m a photography padawan.

I stuck my camera into 10 different Veras...til I found the one that worked I travel light in the parks (especially on my solo) so it was OK that Sony took up half my bag!! Here's an idea how big he is... (this one is a A-200, I have an A-100, but they are very similar in size.)

I find camera bags too cumbersome and I don't bother with a tripod (but I'm thinking about it for 1-2 evening only in July!!)

2) On a solo trip don’t make too many ADRs. I had too many in October and as you’ll see if you read it, I don’t make all of them. Plus as a singleton, it’s sometimes uncomfortable (for me). And I’m pretty low class in terms of palate so a burger and fries actually sounds good to me! So I believe I have three ADRs for this trip and that’s it. You’ll have to wait to hear what they are.

I agree that too many forces you to keep a schedule... but I, on the other hand only made 3 and kept 2.... I wish I'd have done MORE!! It is nice to stop and take a break for a good meal and relax

3) The mid day break is VITAL! I learned this the hard way in October. As in the hard way when I’m in the Beach Club marketplace in search of pain killer after the first day and I think my legs/hips/feet are going to fall off. So much for thinking I’m relatively in shape!

4) There are SO many details to soak in… take your time. You’ll be back.

5) Balance between group and solo time is the way to go. Solo I tended to get lonely and look for people to talk to. But when meeting up with friends I sometimes missed what I wanted to do going with what the group wanted. So you have to strike a balance… at least as much as possible.

We just can't be happy, can we!! I know exactly what you mean... I think that some group time sprinkled thruout my solo would have made it even better

6) Bring a trip journal. I did not in October. I made notes each night when I got back to the hotel but it would have been better to have a little notebook with me to make notes in as I went along.

Good call!! The day that I didn't write in my trip journal til the end of the day... is the day that I forgot the most

7) Bring a print-out of my “must-do” list. As much time as I spent planning for the October trip I got caught up in the magic and forgot about some of the things that I had wanted to do. But here again, the good news is “you’ll be back.” NO Ahnold.

Great idea!! it is really too easy to get caught up in the magic! I bet LL will help you make color-coded lists.....

8) Really. No one cares what you are doing. Seriously. So if you want to take pictures of your food. Do it. Don’t be self conscious. Everyone is having too much fun on their own to worry about what you’re doing.

How long into your trip did it take for you to "get this"??? Took me 3 days!!

9) Your packing list needs to be refined. Too many shoes. And too many tops. It got cold some nights in October and surely will in December so need to bring some options in that regard but I don’t need 100 different options. And you need to account for the weight that souvenirs will add to your suitcase!

You never post pics of yourself anyway We won't know if you wear the same thing every day!!

10) Sharing the magic feels good! I was a fairy godmailer mailing postcards to a few different kids and took pictures for many different families. It felt good… passing it on.

I didn't know how toget in on the Fairy Godmailer thing, but taking pics for people was lots of fun!!

11) Disconnect from work. REALLY disconnect. You don’t need to check your blackberry while in line at Soarin’. Whatever it is they can deal with it without you. And there is not much you can do about it anyhow. In a true emergency, they can find you. And you can choose to help them or pretend there isn’t any cell service in the World Showcase.

What happened to throwing that blackberry into the water on PotC?????

Any other suggestions? Lessons learned the hard way?
 

Can't think of any... you did GOOOOOD!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I kept my camera in our little Disney backpack. I will admit though that I hated wearing it around my neck for long periods of time, it made me feel like a pack mule. So I did the whole back and forth deal between holding it and putting it in the bag. I can't find a camera bag that I like for it that isn't huge either. So I feel your pain. I want to try out a Vera Bradley Hipster. We didn't carry as much into the parks as I though so I think it might work but I am just not sure. The park bag is a dilemma for sure.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I stuck my camera into 10 different Veras...til I found the one that worked I travel light in the parks (especially on my solo) so it was OK that Sony took up half my bag!!

I kept my camera in our little Disney backpack. I will admit though that I hated wearing it around my neck for long periods of time, it made me feel like a pack mule. So I did the whole back and forth deal between holding it and putting it in the bag. I can't find a camera bag that I like for it that isn't huge either. So I feel your pain. I want to try out a Vera Bradley Hipster. We didn't carry as much into the parks as I though so I think it might work but I am just not sure. The park bag is a dilemma for sure.

So basically you two are saying I need a new Vera. Right??

How long into your trip did it take for you to "get this"??? Took me 3 days!!

Ya know, I don't think I really got it until after I was home. And I was trying to describe certain things and wishing I had taken pictures of them and hadn't been so self conscious. Next time!

You never post pics of yourself anyway We won't know if you wear the same thing every day!!

I did get some photopass pictures but don't have the disc yet so maybe you'll get to see what I look like!

 

[ILuvCrush]

So basically you two are saying I need a new Vera. Right??

Well if you need an excuse......

Ya know, I don't think I really got it until after I was home. And I was trying to describe certain things and wishing I had taken pictures of them and hadn't been so self conscious. Next time!

I wish I hadn't been so self conscious at times too. I really regret not taking a pic of that tiramasu.... oh but I DREAM about it......

I did get some photopass pictures but don't have the disc yet so maybe you'll get to see what I look like!

yay!! See if Stacy and I had posted pics prior to our trips... we wouldn't have basically walked past each other on at least 3 different occasions!!

 

[wasabi girl]

How exciting for your daughter! I'll send good vibes/luck out into the universe for her. Let us know how it goes!

Hi! Just got a phone call from DD, said that she isn't allowed to talk about the audition but that she "probably shouldn't quit her day job", likely she will not be performing but maybe working in one of the other areas that she has chosen.