Our Magical Mulligan Trip!!

[Lauralee131]

How can I pass up not being in on this trip report. you are going to LOVE the AKL. I predict you will start spending future points on this resort. Your little guy will love the animals on teh savannah.

Thanks! I'm so excited! I've been wanting to stay there since it opened and keeping this secret is KILLING ME!!!

 

[OhMari]

I booked for the 9th thru the 14th of April - and yet again, savvy shopper that I am, spending an additional night's DVC points so as not to leave and head North on 95 on Friday the 13th....

I'll be there April 4-12.
4-8 at POR
8-12th at BWV.
Plus 100 other parents from my hometown.

let's not forget the MK Christmas Parade taping. DH and I discussed this at dinner last night and decided that it sounds like a big hassle - not if it was just us, but to ask DS to sit for what may or may not become HOURS would be problematic at best. Now, I may be totally misinterpreting what I've read on the boards, but it sounds like a whole lot more than just watching one parade...Am I wrong, Dis'ers??? Help me...I am thinking that it's a lot more waiting around and standing in one spot and a larger crowd than I am comfortable with....

The parade is a lot of waiting around. Don't waste your time, I heard it can last up to 3 hours-unless it is really, really important to you guys.

 

[PrincessV]

AH HA....THERE you are... been wondering where you've been!!! It just wouldn't be a trippie without you along!



I've been saving my next dramatic update for when you showed up!! More changes, more decisions...ARGH...



I wasn't going to post any more until tomorrow when I have had a chance to see if my next round of musical dates/hotels/ADR's will actually work out, but I'll do a quick one so you can see where my head is at.... It's a scary place, my head!!! But all the voices are pretty friendly and boy can they carry a tune!!

Awww, thanks for making me feel so welcome!

Okay, I've read your cold-medicine-assisted re-planning below - or, I guess it's above now... whatever - and I'm dying to hear how it all comes together!
I'm thinking Adi12982's point about the parade is a good one; if you're hitting MVMCP on the 5th anyway, skip the whole taping thing on 12/2 and maybe the rest of the MK will be quiet that morning (?)

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[**pixiedust**]

I just LOVE your TRs! They make me feel so much better about my own DW obsessions!

Keep it comin'....you are great!

 

[Adi12982]

Hope you feel better soon!!!

You left us hanging there - can't wait to read the next installment.

(PS I am not from Boston, I was born and raised in Miami, BUT when my family immigrated to the US they lived in Boston from when they got here until a few years later, so they have a tie to the city. Me, I'm a teal black and silver girl myself)

 

[Lauralee131]

Ok, so here's the deal...I called Member Services this morning and spoke to a lovely, very helpful young lady named Buffy. First thing I did was apologize in advance for making her crazy...I like to do that ahead of time - get it out of the way and that way if I get all worked up and confused, etc...I won't forget to do it later!

I explained to Miss Buffy that I would like to split my stay and get closer to Epcot for half of our vacation and would she please check for availability at the Beach Club Villas for December 2nd thru the 5th...or maybe the 5th thru the 9th...still can't make up my mind on that one...Ok, Buffy - tell you what, you tell me what days you think I should split since I obviously am walking the fence on this one.

Well, Buffy very sweetly explained to me that I cannot split my stay back to a DVC resort because I'd converted my points to the Disney Collection and cannot convert them back. I'm sorry...WHAT? Once you convert your points to use at a hotel, they stay converted. You can not change them back to use them at a DVC resort.

Ok, well what if they went back into the bank...what happens then? Then, Miss Buffy explained, they could only be used at a resort hotel and not DVC...

Hmmm...well, I guess this is saving my sanity a bit. I explained to Buffy (like she really cared or needed to hear this), my whole drama over splitting my stay...she tried to make me feel better by saying, well - think of it this way, at least you don't have to pack up and move in the middle of your stay...Hmmm...Ok, I hear ya. I'm picking up what you're laying down...I feel a little bit better....

Breathe...

Just breathe...

In with the good air....

Out with the bad air....

Ok, so now what do I do to occupy my mind for the rest of the day?? I know - let's rexamine my ADR's...and how about that sleigh ride...ready to let that go yet? Nope...There's got to be SOMEONE out there who will switch with me?? Huh?? Anyone??? (Hear the faint sound of cricketts in the background??)
And no, it ain't Jiminy Crickett!!

Ok, so I'm off to examine, re-examine, tilt to the left, and slide to the right, my handy dandy dining calendar...

Back soon!!! Have a great day everyone!!

 

[LindaBabe]

Terrific beginniing! I just want to make one comment that may hopefully help you. . . the day you want to take a nap is not a great day to change resorts because you could be 'roomless' right in the middle of the day unless your new room is ready early. Good Luck!

edited to say - oh good. Buffy saved you from that mistake!

 

[PrincessV]

Ha ha The Mouse strikes again! NOTHING at WDW is ever as easy as it seems it should be, right?

I'm glad you're staying with the Poly. All I've heard are wonderful things about it and I think fate stepped in on this one to ensure your Mulligan is the best it can be!

 

[carissanboys]

Just stopping in to say hi I'm enjoying your pre-trip report so far. I'm in major planning mode for our first trip ever to DW and reading about others planning gives me the warm fuzzies

By the way...I grew up in Maine and of course am a diehard Red Sox fan . But since baseball season is over we should be good.

Can't wait to read more...and I'll get to your previous trip report soon.

Edited to add: I forgot to say your son is adorable!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Terrific beginniing! I just want to make one comment that may hopefully help you. . . the day you want to take a nap is not a great day to change resorts because you could be 'roomless' right in the middle of the day unless your new room is ready early. Good Luck!

edited to say - oh good. Buffy saved you from that mistake!

Thanks LindaBabe! Yes, now that I've had the afternoon to think about it, I think Buffy did save me!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Ha ha The Mouse strikes again! NOTHING at WDW is ever as easy as it seems it should be, right?

I'm glad you're staying with the Poly. All I've heard are wonderful things about it and I think fate stepped in on this one to ensure your Mulligan is the best it can be!

I'm glad too, V....That's one of the problems with planning these things so far in advance...too much time to change my mind...

An unoccupied mind accompanied by a laptop and a half dozen sites dedicated to WDW is a scary thing!! I need to learn how to turn the volume down on those voices!!

Actually, this is nothing...you should have seen me when I had a year to plan my wedding...ever try to exchange a wedding dress 'cause you found something else you just HAD to have? Ha...doesn't go over very well...."Well, of course I know you've already altered it, but I'm sure you'll have no problem finding someone THINNER than me who will want it! Problem solved!" Ummm...yeah, that didn't work either...So I know 2 valuable lessons now...you can't "reconvert" points and you can't un-alter a wedding dress!!

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Wow, sounds like you've had a rough couple of days. Hope your feeling better!

 

[Lauralee131]

I'll be there April 4-12.
4-8 at POR
8-12th at BWV.
Plus 100 other parents from my hometown.


The parade is a lot of waiting around. Don't waste your time, I heard it can last up to 3 hours-unless it is really, really important to you guys.

Wow - sounds like a big trip!! Maybe we'll see you in April!

I think I'm going to skip the MK that day of the parade...I might not have minded if it was just my hubby and I but I can't expect Michael to sit still that long! Oh well...Maybe we'll get lucky and have Epcot almost to ourselves!

 

[Lauralee131]

Wow, sounds like you've had a rough couple of days. Hope your feeling better!

Thanks Tasha...I'm getting there!! Wish I could have just spent a couple of days in a hotel room bed without having to be wife/mother while sick....ARGH...Ah well...life goes on!!

Thanks though!

 

[Lauralee131]

I just LOVE your TRs! They make me feel so much better about my own DW obsessions!

Keep it comin'....you are great!

Thanks!! Ok, I'll keep it coming if you'll keep reading and obsessing right along with me!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Ok gang...nearly 8 hours have passed since I placed my first 2 phone calls to the world...we all know how those went...No switching resorts and nope - still not cancellations on pirate cruises.

When I ended my last post, my boss had just come in from lunch, BUT then he went into a meeting so I had some.....free time...

I poured over my calendar...what else did I have to do? Buffy smashed any hopes of spending my afternoon checking out the Beach Club on line...well, let's re-examine our (my) meal selections then...

One thing I wanted to do was to try and get an ADR for the Crystal Palace today before I kept putting it off. I was hoping to get it in the afternoon of the MVMCP...I think Michael will enjoy it...

I think that's really the only thing I wanted to add...here we go, calendar in hand, fingers crossed, I dial the number...

Karma smiled at me today my friends....I got the most wonderful, friendliest, most helpful CM EVER....Her name is Phyllis Ray (or Rae) and she is AWESOME...Seriously...think I'm going to write a letter about how fabulous she was.

Anyway, Fabulous Phyllis was able to get me a late lunch (2:25) at CP for the 5th like I wanted. Then, Fab Phyl asked if there was anything else I needed as far as dining was concerned...Umm...no, thanks - I'm good...UNLESS you can find me a pirate cruise, I joked...No, but bless her heart she looked. And, unlike all the other CM's I've spoken to in the last 2 weeks, she talked to me....really talked to me...asked me questions about our trip, if there was any special occasion we were celebrating, no - but it is our first visit during the hoidays so we're really looking forward to that...well, let's take a look at your week, she said...you don't want to come here and miss one of the special holiday events or anything...

She said she noticed that I had a late lunch at Coral Reef booked, but no Candlelight package and did I think I'd like to go...she told me about the show, said I'd love it and I said well, I would love to check it out, but couldn't get a dining package...hope I can get in anyway, etc...Well, she moved my lunch ADR from 1:15 to 1:50 and AH HA...instant CP package...Boy - I like this woman. Now she said I had to secure with a credit card. No problem...I start spitting out the numbers on my Visa and of course she recognized that it was a Disney visa and then when I gave her my zip code she got all excited because she's from the town that I live in. We chatted for a bit and she gave me tips on things to do and places to go (remember I'm fairly new here). I will spare you all the long details of our 45 minute adventure...yes, I said 45 minutes...

Long story short, lovely Phyllis, looked at my entire itinerary to be sure we didn't miss out on anything, searched all cruises (AGAIN) for my son and then told me about new things I hadn't known about that I can try next time, like the family fun tour and the new floral designing "thing" at SSR. She did rave about that Caribbean Beach pirate adventure and booked it for Michael for April and asked if I wanted to book any of my meals yet for April...Ok, totally can't even wrap my head around that yet. Maybe next week when I can't possibly plan anything else for THIS trip though!!

Anyway, I was so impressed and so happy with the service I got from Miss Phyllis that I intend to write Disney and tell them. I feel she was very personable, extremely helpful and offered me more assistance than any other cast member and made me even more excited about my upcoming trip! As if that was possible!!

Wow - I'm thinking I won't have anything to do tomorrow...

Ooooh....switch to the Contemporary???

Ok, so recap of our updated plans:

Day 1 - 12/1 ARRIVAL DAY!!!!!
Boma (D) @ 7:30

Day 2 - 12/2 EPCOT
Coral Reef (L) @1:50 (CP Package)
Candlelight Processional - 5pm
Nine Dragons (D) @ 7:30

Day 3 - 12/3 ANIMAL KINGDOM
Rainforest Cafe' @ 4:30

Day 4 - 12/4 MAGIC KINGDOM/MGM
Mama Melrose (D) @ 6:40

Day 5 - 12/5 RESORT/MAGIC KINGDOM - MVMCP
Jester Cruise @ POR 9:30
Breakfast SOMEWHERE at POR
Crystal Palace (L) 2:25
MVMCP!!!

Day 6 - 12/6 TYPHOON LAGOON or RESORT DAY????
O'Hana's (B) @ 10am
House of Blues (D) 3:30
LaNouba!!!

Day 7 - 12/7 MAGIC KINGDOM
DOLEWHIPS!!!
No PLANS???? Can you believe it? Peco's Bills? Cosmic Ray's?

Day 8 - 12/8 EPCOT
Chef Mickey's (B) - 7:20 GULP...
Need dinner plans...MICHAEL IS GOING TO THE NEVERLAND CLUB

Day 9 - 12/9 Going Home. ...Maybe
9:30pm WL Sleigh Ride

 

[Adi12982]

You should definately take the time to write Disney so they know about how wonderful Phillis is. . . things like that will likely help her stay a wonderful CM!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Restaurant at POR? Boatwright's Dining Hall!

I'm reading my passporter guide and Boatwright's is apparently a very popular sit down restaurant...it's "rustic and hearty" and serves everything from cajun to surf and turf~

Where do you think you'd like to go while you handsome little boy is in neverland?

DTD? O'hana's?

Ooooh! California Grill!!!!

 

[**pixiedust**]

<<tapping fingers on desk >>

Patiently waiting up here in Boston!!!

 

[Lauralee131]

Restaurant at POR? Boatwright's Dining Hall!

I'm reading my passporter guide and Boatwright's is apparently a very popular sit down restaurant...it's "rustic and hearty" and serves everything from cajun to surf and turf~

Where do you think you'd like to go while you handsome little boy is in neverland?

DTD? O'hana's?

Ooooh! California Grill!!!!

Ahhh...Boatwrights...that sounds good...I'm all about rustic and hearty! Weight Watchers is going OUT THE WINDOW that week Baby!!!

I don't know what to do for dinner that night that Michael will be at Neverland...I tried for LeCellier, but of course, no room at the inn...No steak for me. Then I thought of the Yachtsman - but we ate there last time. Then I was thinking Cape May Cafe? We didn't exactly get to eat there last time (although Cruella did!)...

Thanks - now my mind is racing again....was afraid that after last nights' posting that it'd be idle for a while...it's up and running again!

Believe it or not, I was also thinking of Shula's at the Swan or Dolphin - wherever it is, but not too sure about that...Cali Grill sounds like a good idea.

Oh no....there it is...indecision...crap...now what do I do?