Our first adults-only attempt to drink around the world, jan/10 - ptr

[Lizziejane]

Hi everybody!

Welcome to my first pre-trip report, in anticipation of our 4th family vacation at WDW. This will be our first trip where we are all legally allowed to drink and so we have plans to drink our way around the world in WS!!! Woohoo!!!!

Now before you think I’m some kind of lush, and that you perhaps need to consider organizing an intervention on my behalf, I should explain that I actually drink very little. Perhaps 2 or 3 glasses of wine a month. My DH drinks even less. Our two 20-something boys, however, have been known to come home a little wobblier than they left. Is wobblier a word? Well, you know what I mean! They certainly aren’t out drinking every night of the week, but they have developed a bit of a “connoisseur” palate when it comes to fine ale. I had never heard of chocolate stout before… and being first generation Irish, I must admit, that sounds a bit of a sacrilege (even though I can’t stand the regular stout).

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me introduce you to the cast of this great-ale adventure-to-be:

Me – Lizziejane – 40 (for the 11th time! LOL) …I dunno, 40 just looks better than 51, don’t ya think?! I spent 25 years working in Human Resources with the same company, until we were bought out 2 years ago and got let go. I decided that was enough of the large corporate rat race for me. Now, I work mornings as an office manager for a very small but successful executive search/consulting company (read that: me and the boss!) Anyway, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WDW! I’m addicted and would travel there 3 times a year if I could. I think part of it for me is that I was born and raised in Ireland, and I recall watching the news when I was a kid, and hearing them talk about this theme park in Florida and thinking how lucky those kids in Florida were. And too bad I’d never see it. Well I’m glad to say that didn’t happen! As much as I love WDW and the old classic movies, I’m not a Disney nut to the point of collecting Disney paraphernalia. I don’t go out of my way to purchase things that sit on a shelf and collect dust. I will purchase the occasional hat or sweatshirt while I’m there, but that’s about it. I suppose if my kids had been girls that might be different!

DH – he’s 40 for the 13th time and is one very stressed-out TV news director. Seriously, live tv is not all it’s cracked up to be. He really needs a good vacation! He loves WDW as much as I do but he is not the greatest traveler. As in, the actual travel part. He gets stressed out when his luggage is taken away from him, and only relaxes when we walk into our hotel room. Everything in between is a nightmare. When I say stressed out, I mean…. Oh how can I put this nicely?... he becomes a total pain-in-the-you-know-what. I vaguely recall thinking last time that I was never going to fly with him again…Someone remind me to tell you the story of our first MCO experience as I run out of things to say otherwise in this report. I’m surprised I didn’t kill him right then and there! Did I already mention, he needs a good vacation?!?!!

DS1 – a 23-year old male who loves WDW! Our last trip, in 2007, the kids insisted that we split our vacation between WDW and Universal. After all, they were at an age where Disney perhaps wasn’t the coolest for young guys. After 3 days at Universal, DS1 declared it miserable, and in his words, “..it just lacks the magic”!! DS1 is still living at home while he completes his plumbers apprenticeship. Then when he gets his journeyman papers, he’s going to build me a big house in the country with a barn for all the horses I want, and a dedicated photography studio… He just doesn’t know it yet ☺

DS2 – is 21 and perhaps the most laid-back, chilled-out individual I have EVER met! I swear, sometimes I imagine that I have to remind him to breath! He gets worked up about nothing, and everything is “…sure..whatever…” He has a wicked sense of humor, which is really surprising for a lot of people who don’t know him well, because he generally tends to be very quiet. He works at a local steakhouse and is taking some courses to upgrade. He lives with his DGF, who is coming on this trip with us.

DGF - also 21 - has become part of our extended family, and we are hoping that we get to know her even better while on this trip. DGF has never been to WDW before, so I’m super excited for her! My only concern is that she is not a keen “rider”, whereas DS2 could hang up-side-down all day! All 4 of us ride everything, so we will have to plan carefully so that she doesn’t get left standing around on her own too much. Oh wait a minute…there are a couple I won’t ride…we’ll talk about that later!

So how did this whole trip come to be? For a change, it wasn’t my usual winter whinning, “I wanna go to Flooooridaaaaaa……”!! Stay tuned…

 

[Lizziejane]

Typically, any trip in our house begins with my whining. And typically I’m whining about the weather during the winter. I’m sorry, but minus 30 for 8 weeks straight is not anyone’s idea of FUN! Now tack minus 20 for fours weeks at either end of those 8 weeks and you get a bit of an idea what it's like here.

This time, however, DH came home from work in the spring, and told me about a co-worker who had just returned from WDW. Now, it wasn’t winter, so I couldn’t whine about the weather and immediately pull the “I wanna to go to Disney” routine. And in reality, our boys are older now and wouldn’t want to go with us, and it just wouldn’t be the same without them. So I said nothing.

Then about a week later, DH came home and said yet another co-worker just came back from Disney, and had a great time, yadda, yadda, yadda…

Another week later, out for dinner, and this couple we haven’t seen in a while tells us all about their recent trip to….you guessed it…WDW. So that was it. DH came home and announced HE wanted to go to Disneyworld! I of course agreed immediately, and we talked about how different it was going to be on our own. However, DH also likes photography, and we thought that this trip would be a great opportunity for us both to take a different sort of trip to Disney. One where we weren’t so concerned about rope drops and fast-passes, but instead, wandering aimlessly around looking for beautiful angles and gorgeous light.

That was the plan. Then we were having dinner with the boys and we announced our intentions to visit the World in January, 2010. And I wished I’d had a camera at that dinner table! Both their jaws hit the table. There was this incredibly loooooooong silence. And then DS2 sheepishly said, “without us?”

I looked at DH and he looked at me, and I stammered something like “well, we just assumed you wouldn’t want to go”

All hell broke loose! “What?!?!?!” “Are you crazy?!?!?! Of course we want to come!!! “ “How could you even have considered going without us?!?!?” “If it’s a money issue, we’ll pay our own way!!!!” Ok, I’m STILL getting over that one!!

And thus our 4th family vacation to WDW was born! Up next…where to stay?

 

[Lizziejane]

and some photos...


me

DH, looking impressed (not!)

DS1, won't let me take a picture, this is as good as it gets!

DS2 - also hates photos being taken

And finally, DGF

- gees...these people are going to have to get over their hate of the camera in their face...it's going to be a permanent fixture in my hands for 8 days!

 

[Lizziejane]

So, the decision was made that the trip was ON, there was now only one pending question... where to stay. And actually, that was a non-issue really. BWV, unquestionably. We'd rented points for our last trip, and wondered why everyone wasn't doing this. Mind you, last time we only stayed Sunday to Thursday. Adding a weekend on rented points really drives the price up. We've stayed and CBR and CSR, but BWV is definitely our favorite. There is nothing like being able to stroll into Epcot or over to HS. And of course, once we attempt our ale-from-every-country mission, we won't have too far to stumble home!

I had initially talked everyone into a week at CSR first, and then a week at BWV, but DS2 couldn't get that much time off work, so we are going for 8 days total, January 24 to February 1. Flights were a major pain, and I won't go into boring detail. Suffice to say, I almost had to sell a kidney to pay for those air tickets

Some pictures from our stay at BWV in 2007

Our rooms were right above the arches, 2nd and 3rd from the right. The balcony was HUGE, you could have had a party out there - literally!

The view looking straight out

The view to the left - it wasn't officially a boardwalk view, but we still managed to get a little of it!

another couple from the balcony

 

[Lizziejane]

This week marked our 90-day window, the day before all the craziness of the new 180 day window. Phew! I bet that day was madness!

So, here is the itinerary/ADR's thus far:

Sun, Jan. 24 - arrive at MCO @ 5 pm. DME to the BWV, and planning on dining at ESPN. No ADR required, so it won't be a problem if the flight is delayed. MK has EMH this evening, so depending on how much energy we have, we may head over there after dinner. I'm dying for DGF, Sofie, to see MK all lit up at night! I'm thinking we should go just for the atmosphere, and a yummy treat from the Main Street Bakery!

Monday, Jan. 25 - Epcot day. The morning will be in FW. Now, the guys love Mission Space and Soarin'. Me - not so much. Mission Space, I chickened out last minute. Soarin' - I loved until the part where you soar over the mountain top - and then for whatever reason, I had a full-blown panic attack. OMG - that is so not funny. Seriously, I thought I was going to die. Now, I'm not sure what caused it, but all I know is, I'm not going back on that ride. I do remember thinking at the time, that if I lost it, I'd fall to my death (LOL - I have no idea how high up I was), but that thought just caused me to panic even more. So, I'm giving this one a miss this time! Lunch is at the Rose and Crown, and dinner is at Teppan Edo. We will likely head back to the room shortly after lunch for a bit of a rest, and then to wander over to the Dolphin to pick up the rental car.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 - MK day. ADRs for Liberty Tree at 8:05. I am soooo excited about this, I can't wait to get some shots of the boys on Main Street with only a few other people about. And then I can just photoshop those people out Lunch will likely be Columbia Harbour, dinner is at Raglan Road. Being Irish, this one had to be included!

Wednesday, Jan. 27 - HS day. I have such mixed feelings about HS. Apart from R&RC and ToT, there's little I need to see/do here, and yet I feel we MUST spend time here. Make any sense ToT is perhaps the all-time favorite for us all, so we can't not go. R&RC, while I've done it every trip, I may skip it this year. I'm just getting too old! But the boys love it. Perhaps having a "newbie" along will generate some new excitment for the rest of the attractions at this park. Lunch is at Sci-Fi and dinner at 50's Primtime, both new restaurants for us. We'll likely sleep in this day, and head over to HS about 11:00.

Thursday, Jan. 28 - nothing planned for the group, but I have plans! On our three previous trips, the guys had absolutely no time or interest for FOTLK, or Finding Nemo, or afternoon tea at the GF. So guess what I'm doing this day?! The guys may go to Universal. Not sure what DGF will want to do, I'm hoping she comes with me! I'm also itching to take my camera to AK and just take my time taking pictures, not worrying about holding anyone up. Dinner is planned at Planet Hollywood. I've left enough time that if we decide to head to HS for Fantasmic, we can. We've seen it before, and honestly it didn't leave me awed, but then, it was bitterly cold, so I'm willing to give it another go if everyone is up for it.

Friday, Jan. 29 - AK day, we all love EE! Lunch at Yak and Yeti, and dinner at Le Cellier. This is the only EMH we're planning on, and likely when we will get our ale-around-the-world started!

Saturday, Jan. 30 - sleep in, late breakfast at Kona, and then Epcot in the afternoon to finish up our drinking! ADRs at Chefs de France for an early supper. This is a Spectro evening, and we'll only go if DGF is keen. We're kinda "mmm-eh" about parades.

Sunday Jan. 31 - 3 parks in one day! Start with AK for EE, ride it 2 or 3 times, then over to HS for RRC and ToT. Lunch perhaps at Beaches & Cream, then back to the room to pack. Dinner at Tonys at 5:30. We always finish our trips to WDW the same way - a late evening at MK, where we hang at the back of the crowds, then wander into the bakery for a last minute treat to take back to the room with us. We try very hard to be the last people out the gates! And I always cry at the exit!

Monday, Feb. 1 - head home

So, since Monday, I've changed our ADRs 4 times I'm going to try really hard not to do any more changes. Initially, I'd planned on the regular DDP, but looking at it now, I think we may have to go with the deluxe. Umm...I'm trying to loose weight. What will 8 days of deluxe DDP do to me?

The only left for me to plan now, is making up a list of those "haven't done yet" things - like watching Off Kilter, or finding Divine in AK. I'm sure I'm going to have a list as long as my arm!

 

[Wrexie]

Sounds like a great trip!

I've got stepkids ages 23-30 and would love to take them all to Disney with us, but we can't afford it and they definitely can't afford to pay their own way. Two out of three are still in college (in one case going back for a new degree) and the other has been "downsized" at his job and is working a variety of part-time jobs. Maybe someday! Would be loads of fun.

You've got every reason to whine about winter! I whine and it's not nearly that bad here in Indiana. We get a few days with lows in the negative numbers, but usually not too many. But it's my husband who's always whining to go somewhere warm in January. I'm more frugal than he is, but I can be talked into it.

Since I'm hoping to have reached my weight loss goal pre-Disney but not come back several pounds heavier, I'm going to have to watch my alcohol consumption. I'm not a lush either but it's nice to split a bottle of wine with a nice dinner. I'll probably be having just a glass. Except when we eat at the San Angel Inn -- I'm going to have a margarita and maybe (gasp) two of them! I remember they have great margaritas.

I look forward to reading more about your plans!

 

[Lizziejane]

I spent the morning doing some research. We've visited WDW 3 times before, and each time we leave, I always feel like there is so much we still didn't see. So I'm putting lists together for each park of the things I really want to try and do this time around!

First up - Epcot:

- Kim Possible
- Jammitors
- What's ;Your Problem?
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Canada - Off Kilter and the movie
- The British Invasion (although we did catch a few minutes of this last time)
- Serveur Amusant in France
- MoRockin in Morocco
- Matsuriza in Japan
- Miyuki also in Japan
- Italy - the Showcase Players and Sergio, the juggler
- Germany's Oktoberfest
- Si Xian in China and the Acrobats
- Mexico and the Mariachi Cobre

I'm going to have to split this list up over at least two days, I think, as we still have to manage to get in the big rides too! I need some magical planning spreadsheet to organize all this stuff!

 

[Lizziejane]

completely off-topic...I just got tagged...and not once, but twice! Funny how silly little things can make your day

 

[maxie]

Winnipegger here!! Enjoying the TR!

 

[Lizziejane]

Oh, I've been so lazy - I haven't done any planning in a month, and I have yet to figure out touring plans. Can't believe we go to disney NEXT MONTH!! I'm toying with the idea of subscribing to Ridemax, but I recall reading somewhere that it was a waste of money for a January trip, because of the low crowds. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

On another note, I am now re-considering my thoughts on the deluxe dining plan. Part of me wants to do it to just not have to worry about food/costs. The other part of me figures we may feel obligated to eat more than we normally would and we may actually save money by paying out of pocket for extras above the regular dining plan. Arrrggg....sometimes I really hate being the planner!

I read that the main pool at BWV will be closed while we are there. Which is actually, maybe, a good thing, as we'll be allowed access to SAB which I would love to try. Now, here's hoping that we'll get a 80-degree day so we can go swimming. The boys will swim in 65 - me, no way, it's gotta be 80!

And I need some new luggage. Looking for ultra-lightweight but rugged. Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[Lizziejane]

Winnipegger here!! Enjoying the TR!

Welcome aboard Maxie! Always so nice to see another 'Pegger! I thought I was alone with this thread, actually..!

 

[Rudegrle]

Great PTR Lizziejane!

We are going Jan 22-31 and will be staying at BWV too! I'm taking my Mom for her first WDW trip in 25 years.

The SAB pool is awesome, I'm kinda glad the main pool at BW is closed so we can use it. It's just the walk over that could be a pain.

I've never done the dining plan as it's so much food, but I know people w/ teenage boys that swear by it. Most boys can sure put the food away.

...and I swear by Travelpro luggage.

See ya at the BW!

 

[cpbjgc]

Good pre-trip report so far!

We have gone in late January several times (doing it again this year, maybe we'll spot you!) and our experience is that most rides are walk on (literally). You have never done a touring plan, and have always done our "must do's" at the park first thing, then moved on at a relaxed pace. The lineups tend to develop later in the morning, and the worst are for headliner rides (which you can get a fast pass for) and character greetings, especially at the Judge's Tent.

As a side note, I had not checked back on the photography board. Did you solve your camera equipment dilemna yet?

 

[Lizziejane]

Great PTR Lizziejane!

We are going Jan 22-31 and will be staying at BWV too! I'm taking my Mom for her first WDW trip in 25 years.

The SAB pool is awesome, I'm kinda glad the main pool at BW is closed so we can use it. It's just the walk over that could be a pain.

I've never done the dining plan as it's so much food, but I know people w/ teenage boys that swear by it. Most boys can sure put the food away.

...and I swear by Travelpro luggage.

See ya at the BW!

Hey there!

well talk about a small world!! You need to get a pt report going and post a picture so I know who to look out for! Have you stayed at the BW before? it's our favorite - I can't wait to hear that music playing and watch the boats coming and going!

 

[Lizziejane]

Good pre-trip report so far!

We have gone in late January several times (doing it again this year, maybe we'll spot you!) and our experience is that most rides are walk on (literally). You have never done a touring plan, and have always done our "must do's" at the park first thing, then moved on at a relaxed pace. The lineups tend to develop later in the morning, and the worst are for headliner rides (which you can get a fast pass for) and character greetings, especially at the Judge's Tent.

As a side note, I had not checked back on the photography board. Did you solve your camera equipment dilemna yet?

ok it really IS a small world, isn't it?! Late January is the only time we've visited, I just can't imagine the crowds during summer Although I would love to try early May one year, for the flower show.

And I think I have my camera stuff sorted out - I'll shoot spectro with the 24-70, and if that's not working, I'll switch to the 50 1.4 But, omg, I'll have to change my lens out in the open I may have a panic attack!

Where are you staying when you visit next month?

 

[Lizziejane]

So I'm finally getting some of the little details taken care of, and I'm kinda cheating with Christmas being just a couple of weeks ago. Everyone's stocking has travel stuff that I would have bought anyway. Good planning, huh? But now they all have new passport wallets, luggage tags, travel umbrellas (great idea!). I contemplated buying the ponchos here, but at $7 a pop, I figured I want one with mickey on the back for that price!

Almost had a heart attack today when DS's girlfriend let me know that the name on her plane ticket is wrong I won't go into boring details, but it took about 6 hours to straighten out. We are flying with United, and I booked through their website. Well, just try and get hold of a real person to talk about the reservation after the fact. After half an hour on the phone going through a gazzilion menus (and that ever-annoying voice of Mr. Cheerful!) I hung up and decided to email them. Well, that took another 45 minutes to finally get a link. I sent it off and about half an hour later it came back undeliverable. So I tried to log in with my frequent flyer number for United. But I had problems with that, and then it asked for my address. It has Canada on the drop down list, but when I entered my postal code, it said I couldn't use letters, only numbers. So in other words, I was stuck at this point. Seriously, that website is anything but user friendly!

Back to the phone I go. I'm not kidding (and I'm actually embarrassed to admit this!) but after another 30 minutes on the phone listening to that guy giving me options, none of which I wanted, I finally swore into the phone (and prime 4-letter language too!). There was a long pause - then Mr. Cheerful said, "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Did you say you'd like to repeat all the options?" At which point I screamed into the phone, "NO!! I want to speak to a PERSON!" And then there's another long pause, and he goes "...ok....just a moment please..." But at no point was "speak to a person" ever an option that he listed!! I guess they must have a lot of people screaming into the phone in shear frustration - enough so that it's a hidden-option!

So, hint of the day, when phoning United, scream "speak to a person" right away and you'll get a live body at the end of the phone!!

 

[stitchaholic]

that is too funny, I have yelled at automated service plenty of times, it is so frustrating !
I need to ask... what is a pegger ??

 

[Lizziejane]

that is too funny, I have yelled at automated service plenty of times, it is so frustrating !
I need to ask... what is a pegger ??

A 'Pegger is a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Or Winterpeg, Manisnowba as I like to refer to it!

 

[stitchaholic]

being a canadian, i guess I should have figured it out

 

[cpbjgc]

ok it really IS a small world, isn't it?! Late January is the only time we've visited, I just can't imagine the crowds during summer Although I would love to try early May one year, for the flower show.

And I think I have my camera stuff sorted out - I'll shoot spectro with the 24-70, and if that's not working, I'll switch to the 50 1.4 But, omg, I'll have to change my lens out in the open I may have a panic attack!

Where are you staying when you visit next month?

Glad to hear you have the lens situation figured out - I'd bet you won't need to change the lens (but I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!)

We are staying at our favs: AKL for 3 nights (we were able to use the Public Code that just came out), and then at OKW for 4 (we have a small DVC contract covering the OKW part). We actually booked a Savanna view for the first time, so I am really looking forward to that!