Operation FOURTH! a July PTR - June 24th, shopping errands and lists!

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I'm joining in on the fun too!

 

[MeMom]

I look forward to finally meeting your handsome little pirates. We'll have to work out a big DIS meet where the whole gang of us can ride Small World, Jungle Cruise, or something else that is family friendly and holds a lot of people. We have to do it before July 1st, because Jill, John, and Bella will be leaving that day.

 

[newtexan]

I'm here, and looks like we may be there July 1st, if it works out, we'd want to ride Small World with ya'll!

 

[MEK]

Subbing and late, but as slow as the DIS has been I have been staying on my user cp page. Back to read!

 

[Happydog]

I'm here!

Great!

joining the party, great start with a trip down memory lane

Hello!!! YES, well thank you! It was fun to look at all those photos I have so many!!!

I would LOVE to surprise my nephews, but they already know.

HA! Yes, I can imagine! I am still not sure what to do here... I have not honestly decided yet. I would like to surprise them, but on the same note, I'd rather try and get them involved in the planning a little too... not sure yet!

Awesome trip down memory lane! You all have had some stellar Disney adventures!!! This trip will only add to those fun times, I am sure!

Yes, I think this trip will be just as fun and I am looking forward to new experiences especially since it has been a while!

I am joining in on the F-U-N!!!
Monica

WELCOME and THANKS for coming along!!!!

I am here!!! Late as usual
Loved the pictures from your past trips.....and the boys' Berlin green light man on their shirts
Sorry I will be missing out on all of the Dis fun in July....maybe you will just have to make a repeat performance in October
Looking forward to seeing where you are staying and the all important where you are EATING!

Tracy

Howdy! You are never late!!!

I wish you could come in July! I will THINK about October... THINK about it...

Oh yes, starting that part of the PTR today!!!! The week just got away from me

I'm joining in on the fun too!

Hey! Great!!! Glad you are here!!!!

I look forward to finally meeting your handsome little pirates. We'll have to work out a big DIS meet where the whole gang of us can ride Small World, Jungle Cruise, or something else that is family friendly and holds a lot of people. We have to do it before July 1st, because Jill, John, and Bella will be leaving that day.

Yes, great, sounds fun!!! We'll be at the parks no question all those days. So I am sure we'll be playing in the parks when you guys are!

I'm here, and looks like we may be there July 1st, if it works out, we'd want to ride Small World with ya'll!

Neat! Great!! Well, stay tuned, I am officially offering my PTR to everyone for our planning of gatherings, etc.. I know some of that is happening on FB too, but we'll be sure to let everyone know here!

Subbing and late, but as slow as the DIS has been I have been staying on my user cp page. Back to read!

Hi there!!! Oh I am behind in reading and trying to stay on top of everything in the real world too this month... been very busy.

You are gearing up for some fun yourself!!

 

[Happydog]

So in TWO weeks, DH and I will be aboard the DISNEY DREAM! I can't wait to get back on that ship! We are flying down for a short getaway, one night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and FOUR nights on the cruise. I am looking forward to this fun!!! I hope the weather cooperates for us. I am excited to get away... this time of year is always hectic for me, and I so enjoy not having to stress about things when I am on vacation. A cruise ship makes that happen all by itself because being unplugged is really easy at sea! And with it being a holiday weekend, it is only Tuesday and Wednesday, so things at work will survive if I am not there!

Here we come Disney Dream!!!

 

[Happydog]

Welcome!! SO for this trip, the plans are unique compared to past trips. This time, unlike other trips, I am starting our vacation solo with the boys! DS9 and DS6 and I will be in Disney five full days before DH arrives. Due to some previous plans with a group here locally, he is unable to get down to Florida any sooner than the 3rd. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t leaving us in the best accomodations!! We have a great place to stay thanks to his arrangements!

Since we have found taking our own car by autotrain to be a great way to get to Orlando, our trip this year will begin with a train ride from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL… by Amtrak.

We have taken the auto train three times:

Our first time was in 2009 Our LAST 4th of July Extravaganza!!!

The ride comes with a great dinner, btw, wine included!

The following Summer 2010 TEN days at Disney!! the boys (all three!) went down without me, and I met them (since I was in New Orleans for a training)…

Boys being goofy…

And then LAST summer, on our way down for our Dream cruise, Vero, and a little WDW!

I really have not had a bad experience on the auto train. I would not recommend it if you were going straight to the cruise terminal, and are a type A personality... because if you want to get to the terminal by 10:30 it might not happen... It does take an extra day for you to get to your destination, as it is a “night” train. But, with the guys, it really works out well. So long as you are willing to take that time to get there, having your own vehicle can make a big difference, and we like having our own car. Last year we were driving to Port Canaveral, then to Vero Beach, then back to WDW, so really it made sense to have our car, and parking at the terminal wasn’t terribly over-priced. This time, with a resort change, and having a kitchen for the majority of our trip will permit me to bring whatever I think we’ll want, and all I have to do is get perishable items… everything else I can throw into the back of our XC90 and I’m set!!!

So where are we staying??!! Well… TWO resorts. We arrive in Orlando on the morning of June 28th.

We are going to be super excited to drive under this arch!!!

And then we check in, HERE:

We will check in at the Beach Club Villas, in a studio, and will be there for three nights, through July 1st. We have stayed at the Beach Club a few times, and it is arguably one of the best resorts on Disney property… depending on the season, of course. It also depends on who you are – on the DIS, Christine and Anita are QUITE certain the Beach Club is the place to be no matter when you go – but especially in Fall, for the F & W and Epcot access can’t be beat. And for summer, Storm-a-long Bay is my favorite resort pool with kids. I am still partial to the Animal Kingdom pool, but with my boys, BCV is the best resort pool for water play especially for sand play! And MAXIMUM Adult R & R pool side!!! Which is a high priority for these parents!!! LOL!!!

Here are a few snap shots from our Christmas trip – we stayed at the BCV in a one bedroom villa for Christmas…

And then the following summer, also in a one bedroom villa. WHAT a difference a season makes in terms of the crowds at the pool!

And why do I love the Beach Club? Well, besides the location and the atmosphere, the yogurt parfaits, for one!!! They make them for you to order in the little resort store.... it is where they offer quick service items, along with HHannah's but that is only lunch and such in the afternoon-evenings. Another reason, is that my favorite WDW drink is available at Hurricane Hannah’s and I can’t wait to have another!!! LOL!!! The Tangerine Dream…. Then you add walking distance to Todd English's Blue Zoo, and you CAN'T go wrong!!!

A few resort pics… I don’t know why I never took a photo of the main room!

Needless to say, I am really looking forward to this part of our trip, because walking to Epcot, and boating over to DHS will be a great plus while I am solo with the kids.

In terms of restaurant ADRs, I have the following plans for the boys and myself…

JUNE 28th ARRIVAL DAY!

Obviously, we'll try to check in. But since we'll probably get to the resort around 10am, our room likely wont be readl.. SO if our room is not ready, we’ll just leave everything in the car and make our way to Epcot in order to get the boys their park tickets, and all of us some lunch…. Definitely QS lunch, I am thinking, perhaps in Japan (they love tempura and Teriyaki) the new quick service restaurant in Japan sounds great! We’ll see about a KP mission, too… and oh, probably a slushie…. HA!!!

The guys LOVE KP Missions... Here's one from Fall 2009 F & W trip...

We’ll have to make it back to our villa to get unpacked eventually, and I made an ADR for us to have dinner at the Sci-Fi diner that evening over at DHS. I hope to make it over before dinner for a short while (maybe we’ll be able to sneak in a new Star Tours beforehand?) and we’ll be seeing Fantasmic that first night! We ate lunch at Sci-Fi Diner back a few summers ago… DH and I split a sandwich I believe, but this time I will be ordering something off the menu, it will be two years since we went, so I know they won’t remember too much…

JUNE 29th MAGIC KINGDOM DAY!

I know we are so close to Epcot and DHS, but I have to see the castle, and I know the boys love the Magic Kingdom… I made reservations at the Crystal Palace… It is our favorite character breakfast. We have been almost every trip… here are a couple examples!

Summer 2009

Summer 2010

I love being able to hop into Crystal Palace while at the MK. DH loves it too, but we chose to have breakfast at 1900 Park Fare when he comes...

While I have not spent too much time thinking about WHAT we are going to do in the parks, I know we'll have a plan of attack!!!! LOL!!!! But in these first posts, I'll just give an over view and the places we are eating! I will also make sure to share the MUST DO snack list...

SO to end with our second night, I had planned to walk over to Epcot for a quick service meal, not sure where yet, but because we are at Beach Club, we can walk from the resort into Epcot. NOTE: I just edited this plan from my original post, because I had my ADR times wrong!!! EDITS are in the next update I just posted!!! LOL!!! Depending on our afternoon, I anticipate a little pool time at SAB, and maybe a little KIM Possible (again) or a ride or two depending on what we can do that evening… if we end up swimming the evening away that would be okay too! Maybe a movie on the beach! Illuminations we will have more opportunities to see, but it is right there, so I suspect we'll see some of it on these first two nights.

A lot of my planning will focus on what the guys want to do, so that is why I am leaning towards letting them know about the trip in advance! Maybe in the Easter Basket.... who knows!!

So this is a start... of course... more to come!! STAY tuned. Should be able to post tomorrow as well.

TTFN!!!

 

[MEK]

Your trip is off to an awesome start! I love seeing the pictures of your boys through the years. Those 2009 pics are fun because they both look so little.

Glad to know you have had such a great experience with the auto train. I looked into it for this summer but Nick is not considered a child anymore, so it requires us to get two rooms and that is just too darn expensive. It doesn't make any sense to add a second room.

I guess we could go coach, but I don't think I would like that. I kind of wonder if we can have one coach seat and the other two in a room, but that we would be segregated for dinner and that wouldn't work.

Anyway - it does look like a lot of fun and everyone who does it loves it.

Love the BC. I definitely agree it is one of the best resorts. Right now my two top favs (DVC) are AKL and the BC, but I am trying BWV for the first time, so we'll see.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yup! QUITE certain BC is the place to be. at least for me. But I can definitely appreciate the other resorts as well.

I have been hearing increasingly good things about Coral Reef lately...I bet you guys will love it!!!

Hope you can fit in a walk to BZ while you're there!!

Oh and woo hoo for three weeks til cruise time!!!!

 

[manntra]

Looks like you will have a fun couple of days alone with the boys
I agree that BC is a great location for F&W and to saunter over to WS for a quick slushie but like you I also love the AK pool and villas. It is just such a nice laid back vibe...love the pool "music." My reservations for October are currently at Kidani but we will see what happens by then I know we will definitely be staying there for Hank's (great nephew) first visit because he will love the animals. I have been doing a lot of brainwashing with him

Sci-Fi will be fun again for the boys. I really like the Cherry Coke and BLT soup. I like it there and it's a nice cool spot to escape the heat Loving your laid back approach to the trip

Tracy

 

[eandesmom]

Your plans look wonderful! If there was an autotrain to DL, we'd be on it in a heartbeat.

I do love the BC and how perfect for the solo part of the trip to have SAB..especially in the summer.

I will be curious to see what you do about surprise, or not. We went around with that one too although the boys have informed me they really prefer to know about everything ahead of time. Still, I do like springing SOMETHING on them, when I can.

I'd like to try Coral Reef one of these days, it's never made the cut but I hope so sometime!

3 weeks! How exciting. Although isn't the holiday weekend in 2 weeks? Our is. I guess you are on the back end of that week. Fun Fun Fun!!!

 

[Happydog]

Your plans look wonderful! If there was an autotrain to DL, we'd be on it in a heartbeat.

I do love the BC and how perfect for the solo part of the trip to have SAB..especially in the summer.

I will be curious to see what you do about surprise, or not. We went around with that one too although the boys have informed me they really prefer to know about everything ahead of time. Still, I do like springing SOMETHING on them, when I can.

I'd like to try Coral Reef one of these days, it's never made the cut but I hope so sometime!

3 weeks! How exciting. Although isn't the holiday weekend in 2 weeks? Our is. I guess you are on the back end of that week. Fun Fun Fun!!!

Nope. You are absolutely right. I have THIRTEEN DAYS, which I had down correctly, but that is TWO weeks. TWO weeks, not THREE... I really can count... so ESSENTIALLY, ONE more weekend before we leave. GEE WIZ! I think I knew that, I really just didn't get my head around it correctly! I have a lot to get organized for! Suitcases NEXT weekend! YIKES!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Just two weeks away from your relaxing cruise??? Wow! That is going to be here before you know it!

Great plans for your first days without DH -- the auto train always looks like so much fun and a place at the Beach Club is super convenient.

Did you read where there are rumors that they are going to redo the Kim Possible missions with Perry the Platypus? Connor will be super excited! And have you been reading about the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game? Connor will be all about that as well!

 

[Happydog]

Just two weeks away from your relaxing cruise??? Wow! That is going to be here before you know it!

Great plans for your first days without DH -- the auto train always looks like so much fun and a place at the Beach Club is super convenient.

Did you read where there are rumors that they are going to redo the Kim Possible missions with Perry the Platypus? Connor will be super excited! And have you been reading about the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game? Connor will be all about that as well!

I can't believe it is that close!!! No, I hadn't heard about Perry, but it makes sense! Too cool! Just another reason to go back, right?? It won't be set by summer, will it? What game is this, a board game? Cool, always looking for fun to take to Disney....

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't believe it is that close!!! No, I hadn't heard about Perry, but it makes sense! Too cool! Just another reason to go back, right?? It won't be set by summer, will it? What game is this, a board game? Cool, always looking for fun to take to Disney....

No, Sorcerers is another interactive game -- this one at the Magic Kingdom -- here is the description from Allears.

"Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom continues to have periodic soft openings. Sunday afternoon I was fortunate to finally find the Fire House door open with a sign that Sorcerers were wanted! A Cast Member checks you in by swiping your admission ticket (you can only play once a day) and hands you a map, 5 Sorcerer Cards, and a special key card that activates the portals. There are a total of 70 Sorcerer cards which are divided into nine different spell classes, such as Princess cards, Hero cards or Warrior cards. Your job, as Merlin’s apprentice sorcerer, is to save the Magic Kingdom from the Disney villains. In the practice area you swipe the key card to learn the location of your first portal. Since I only played at 3 portals I don't feel I had enough experience to give you a review, just a few observations. First, remember that the game is still in testing. I found at least one portal that was not working properly and I encountered lines of folks waiting at all 3 of my portals. The map shows locations in Fantasyland, Adventureland, Main Street and Liberty Square-Frontierland but I was only in Adventureland. The cards are colorful and I can see how you'd want to collect a whole set. Once the game is fully online there will be various levels of play and additional features. And, if you get duplicate spell cards, well there is always trading!"

 

[Happydog]

DAY THREE of our great Disney adventure continues at the Beach Club Resort! When we wake up on our third day at Disney, we will be going to DHS. I have to admit, it is a toss-up between DHS or Epcot, but I am thinking DHS will win out. I say that because we won’t necessarily be able to do much that first night we are there, and I know there are a few rides and generally fun things happening at DHS, everything from the playground, to the shows, to TEST TRACK and TOY STORY, and of course the pavilions! I bet we’ll work those items in on this day! Of course this chicken will be saving Rockin’ Roller coaster for when their father comes!!! My guess is that we will also head back for pool time, because we can pretty much do what we three want to do at DHS through lunchtime, and then after lunch, hanging by the pool is choice! I suspect we will head back to Hurricane Hannah's for lunch, because the boys can always be counted on to devour a burger there...

Now if you READ my post from yesterday, I am letting you know that I made a mistake, which I corrected on my original post: we are having dinner at Coral Reef on this THIRD night, not our second night… I better get better at remembering my own ADRs!!! I remember that I more or less kept to one TS meal a day, except for a few select days where there are two.

SO what ARE we going to do that second night?

Thanks to the DIS for the photo! Right now, my guess is that we will try the new Cantina, La Hacienda de San Angel. Which does become TS ... my guys love Mexican food, bottom line, so though we have dinner at San Angels later on in the week, the menus are completely different! I was definitely interested in the shrimp and fish tacos on the Cantina menu!! If they are anything like those they served at the F & W in the past, I am SOOOOO there!!! And it is a great view of the lagoon as well. Of course, I also figured that leaving our evening free that second night permits us to go back to the MK if we want to -- though I don’t think we’ll want to get back in the car after coming back to the resort… it will be interesting to see how it goes.

So dinner, then, IS in Epcot, on Saturday the 30th! At the Coral Reef!!

Just looking at the photo I grabbed from the DIS, I really think the guys will get a kick out of the environment of the restaurant, and I have heard good things about the food, generally speaking, so I am hoping it will be a good choice. They have things on the menu which I know I would be happy with, and the boys, so I know they will eat!

DAY FOUR

So after three great nights at the Beach Club, it is time to say goodbye, and head over to our SECOND resort stop... We stayed at this resort many years ago, and I was just there recently... Here is a hint... it is a photo of my guys outside the entrance, saying hello to some of the wild life... this was on a summer trip, when we made a stop at this resort for dinner... I think the guys are going to have a BLAST here for the week. It is just the right kind of place for them to explore.

MORE about DAY FOUR in the next post... coming up later today, be on the look out for it!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I'm happy to see that you are going to be flexible in the evenings! I know we will want to get together and do some things as a group!!!
I need to check my dining and see if we are eating in the same parks as you...

 

[Moodyzblu]

Joining in !! Looking forward to following along on your journey.

 

[Native NYer]

Your plans are fantastic! Your boys are going to have so much fun.
I've tried to convince everyone to try the autotrain in August, but no one will listen.

 

[Happydog]

Your trip is off to an awesome start! I love seeing the pictures of your boys through the years. Those 2009 pics are fun because they both look so little.

Glad to know you have had such a great experience with the auto train. I looked into it for this summer but Nick is not considered a child anymore, so it requires us to get two rooms and that is just too darn expensive. It doesn't make any sense to add a second room.

I guess we could go coach, but I don't think I would like that. I kind of wonder if we can have one coach seat and the other two in a room, but that we would be segregated for dinner and that wouldn't work.

Anyway - it does look like a lot of fun and everyone who does it loves it.

Love the BC. I definitely agree it is one of the best resorts. Right now my two top favs (DVC) are AKL and the BC, but I am trying BWV for the first time, so we'll see.

Hi there! If you book the autotrain months and months ahead of time (like ours for the summer we booked in September) you can get a real deal. THe price for two compartments (we don't get the room) and an oversized car (we have a volvo xc90) was less than $600.00 -- this is one way, however. Airfare and a car rental would have cost us much much more during the summer. If we were going to go round trip, it would be approximately $1000.00. Not cheap, again, but airfare and a car rental would be about the same, so for us, it makes sense. We like having the drive home, we do okay, because we are rested. AND though we drive all the way through, we could stop along the way for a night... My inlaws have a beach house in NC. BUT eitherway, because we want a car, the price works out. I wouldn't be brave enough to do coach (not with our kids). Did you price the compartments or the room/cabin? Might be less to go with the compartments?

I think they are going to be very excited to head back down there. It will be our first trip back to the parks since 2010, though we have been on property and went to Blizard Beach this past summer. We think it will be a great time!

Yup! QUITE certain BC is the place to be. at least for me. But I can definitely appreciate the other resorts as well.

I have been hearing increasingly good things about Coral Reef lately...I bet you guys will love it!!!

Hope you can fit in a walk to BZ while you're there!!

Oh and woo hoo for three weeks til cruise time!!!!

OH I know I know! I agree. there are so many great resorts!!! I love BLT, too!!!! But I think the guys are totally going to enjoy staying at WLV, which is where we will be for the majority of the trip!

AND WOO HOO FOR TWO WEEKS, because I can't count!!!

OH, rest assured, we are going to BZ in two weeks, and will be going again over the summer! I think we are going to try for a bar rendezvous with Jackie and co if we can!!!

I hope Coral Reef turns out well... I just think the kids will like it. I am hoping so!!!