PTR for the planning obsessed....Updated 11/5 We're home now.

[carissanboys]

Good for you for taking classes...I would love to learn again...reading ...discussing....but I have no desire to do homework.

Where would you like to get stationed this time around?

Part of me would love to be stationed in Japan or Europe, although it's such a hassle to move overseas. If we stay stateside dh would probably have to be on a ship (which he's never done before) so that would be a challenge in itself. I'm not sure where I'd want to live if that were the case. It would have to be on the coast somewhere, obviously, but none of the options really excite me.

I start to get the itch to move after two years and we're just about at that point now. If we do end up going overseas, that final 9 - 12 months will be crazy anyway with all of the hoops you have to jump through for the military and all of the preparation.

 

[carissanboys]

Hi,

so glad that after all that hard work your still set w/ the same itinerary....now why wasn't it that easy for me???

now FW info:

sorry I know some Diser sent me a nice link about the FW but I don't have it saved anymore...but here is some things I wrote down..you may know this already but,

Tri-Circle Ranch: where big horses are..the ones that pull the carriages and such at MK too

Petting Farm open till sunset

Pony rides till 5 pm, (this might not be up to date?) $3.00 + tax per rider, parent walk child through trail

Horse drwan carriage rides $30 tip not includede begin at 6 pm can time w/ Wishes fireworks make ADR 407 wdw play cancel 24 hr advance

Hayride 45 min trip $8 per A $4 per child
at Pioneer Hall 7 pm & 9:30 no resservations

Meadow Trading Post take orange or yellow bus

Nightly campfire at 8 pm
bring towels or blankets to sit on or keep warm

hope some of that helps. check the resorts threads for more answers or a FWD offical thread, know the Poly has one!

got to go pick up Mae from preK

Thanks for that! I've saved it on my computer

 

[jordanyosh]

I am going to subscribe to touring plans.

I agree that crossing the park for dinner is not a good idea. I'm sure the Food and Wine Festival will be much more tempting than Teppan Edo.

It stinks that you could only book one way on your flights. Hopefully, you'll be able to book your flights home real soon.

I like your idea of half days in each park rather than one full day. It'll change it up a bit and allow you to use your park hopping option.

No, just subscribe to TGJ.

 

[jordanyosh]

I do the same thing as you Heidi. I try and figure out based on EMHs, parades/fireworks, which parks will be slower.....I think you're updated plan sounds good....

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Scrappie-Do...sorry I took so long replying! I can't wait to see how your Margaret does on your vacation because Liam will be about the same age when we go.

Update coming up!

I will definitly let you know how it all goes...I'm a bit nervous myself, so glad we have 2 practically full rest days and many days with breaks in the middle for hopeful naps not just for the baby and ending some days early, starting other days late....you'll see as I continue to reveal my TPTP on my PTR...next will be our plan for our main DHS plan.

Good thing my trip is well before your's hopefully anything I plan that goes you might be trying and vica versa.

Also, we've always enjoyed PHing. It's kinda fun.

J-

 

[MRYPPNS]

Hi Everyone...
Just a quick update....I made my first ADR is morning. Chef Mickey's for Monday 10/27....I wanted 5:45pm....my choices were 5:15 or after 7:15. I picked 5:15pm....which probably means we will be seated by 5:45 . I callled on the first day that I could and since I still don't have resort ressies yet I have to call everyday for the next ten days. So if you have been putting off your own ADRs.... CALL NOW. I just really hope to get the times I want for our Hollywood and Vine Lunch. Has anyone gone at the lastest breakfast ADR and stayed thru lunch? I'm thinking that's my other opition.

A little housekeeping note: that toll free number that I posted way back...out of commission.
Frankly I find that fact the Disney doesn't have toll free numbers as part of their regular business extremely cheap...I hate to be nickle and dimed. They should at least increase what you can do online. Yes you can book online but with no discount codes....and you should be able to book ADRs online and any of their other special programs.

I've been thinking lately about changing our resort...currently the plan is to stay at Caribbean Beach resort but I'm worried about the conditions of the rooms. My new thought has been to down grade to a value since I have planned out most of our days OFF. But I'm still not sold on that idea. Then I went back to SSR....but the studio only has one bed and I don't think I want DS sleeping on a pull out sofa. He really should have bed rails. Now I'm thinking about OKW resort. I love the layout of the studio and they have beaches too like CBR. In the end it will probably come down to money so OKW may not make the cut based on that. And I must confess something....I have been thinking of staying at the Marriot....the big one with 3 different hotels and a food court. I need to get a good map and see exactly where it is located...too far out and it's out of the running. The price would have to be really really good for me to stay off property. In DH's mind, every dollar that we don't spend on Disney is money that can go towards the addition to the house. That's very true but not very magical.

Plans for the birthday party are coming along. Each room in the house is getting a theme....I have a small river in my back yard right now from all the rain and spring thraw...do you think that if I stick an inner tube out there I can call it the Kali River Rapids????

 

[MRYPPNS]

Oh and I wanted to mention that our flight on SW has gone from $95 (what I paid) to $110 already. So in Fuzzy Disney Math does that mean I saved $45 that can now be spend at DTD?????

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Everyone...
Just a quick update....I made my first ADR is morning. Chef Mickey's for Monday 10/27....I wanted 5:45pm....my choices were 5:15 or after 7:15. I picked 5:15pm....which probably means we will be seated by 5:45 . I callled on the first day that I could and since I still don't have resort ressies yet I have to call everyday for the next ten days. So if you have been putting off your own ADRs.... CALL NOW. I just really hope to get the times I want for our Hollywood and Vine Lunch. Has anyone gone at the lastest breakfast ADR and stayed thru lunch? I'm thinking that's my other opition.

Our character meal at H&V was a late breakfast ADR - so we got to take advantage of both buffets - some of us had lunch, others got to have breakfast!

A little housekeeping note: that toll free number that I posted way back...out of commission.
Frankly I find that fact the Disney doesn't have toll free numbers as part of their regular business extremely cheap...I hate to be nickle and dimed. They should at least increase what you can do online. Yes you can book online but with no discount codes....and you should be able to book ADRs online and any of their other special programs.

I've been thinking lately about changing our resort...currently the plan is to stay at Caribbean Beach resort but I'm worried about the conditions of the rooms. My new thought has been to down grade to a value since I have planned out most of our days OFF. But I'm still not sold on that idea. Then I went back to SSR....but the studio only has one bed and I don't think I want DS sleeping on a pull out sofa. He really should have bed rails.

We actually brought twin air mattresses with us last time - the two nights that we had extended family with us left the kids without beds. We got the kind that had cords attached to them to plug right into the wall (as opposed to having to bring a separate battery operated pump.) They preferred to sleep in the bedroom with us and Zachary slept there every night. That is something you might consider if you do the studio.

Now I'm thinking about OKW resort. I love the layout of the studio and they have beaches too like CBR. In the end it will probably come down to money so OKW may not make the cut based on that. And I must confess something....I have been thinking of staying at the Marriot....the big one with 3 different hotels and a food court. I need to get a good map and see exactly where it is located...too far out and it's out of the running. The price would have to be really really good for me to stay off property. In DH's mind, every dollar that we don't spend on Disney is money that can go towards the addition to the house. That's very true but not very magical.

We have always stayed off-site and the Marriott Grande Vista (where we stayed in Oct.) was our favorite. Even after staying at Pop a few weeks ago I think we'll probably stick with off-site condos in the future - it is just so hard to think about losing all of the extra space and things like the kitchen & laundry. Horizons by Marriott looks like tons of fun for the kids - I have heard that it's not quite as nice inside at the Grande Vista, but it has a cool pirate themed pool with a volcano! The drive wasn't too bad either - probably not much longer than busing.

Plans for the birthday party are coming along. Each room in the house is getting a theme....I have a small river in my back yard right now from all the rain and spring thraw...do you think that if I stick an inner tube out there I can call it the Kali River Rapids????

Amy

 

[Native NYer]

Congrats on your Chef Mickey's ADR!!! I hope you get the other ones you want.

I agree about a toll free number. I would think Disney would have at least one working toll free number.

Have you considered one of the other moderates? POR? POFQ? CSR?

Offsite isn't terrible. Last June, we stayed at the Marriott Grande Vista. We were going to stay onsite, but then I bought a Disney package (7 nights at the Marriott Grande Vista, 1 day Disney tickets for 4, and $100 rental car gift certificate) for $800. We had a 2 bedroom villa at the Marriott Grande Vista and it was great. Onsite is great if you're not renting a car and don't want drive everywhere. I can see the benefits of both.

I'd love to see pics of Kali in your backyard

 

[MRYPPNS]

Amy:Thanks for the info on the H&V buffet.

Jen:The one ADR I'm worried about is 'Ohana's (I know it's not your favorite). I want to go on a MNSSHP night and I'm afraid it will be totally booked at a decent time. Can't eat really late with a little kids and if we go really early then we have to cut short whatever we were doing that afternoon.

 

[cc1075]

Hi Hedy - -

We did the last breakfast reservation at Hollywood and Vine - it was great - first you ate breakfast - and then they changed the tables and you ate lunch.

The girls loved it!!

Carolyn

 

[Charleston Princess]

Heidi,

Hurray for Chef Mickey's!!! Good luck with the rest!!!

 

[Native NYer]

I hope you get O'hana, just not Wendy as your server. Maybe MNSSHP will mean lots of people will just eat ts at the park. When can you call?

 

[MRYPPNS]

Hi Hedy - -

We did the last breakfast reservation at Hollywood and Vine - it was great - first you ate breakfast - and then they changed the tables and you ate lunch.

The girls loved it!!

Carolyn

And you probably pay for the cheaper breakfast....even better!

Heidi,

Hurray for Chef Mickey's!!! Good luck with the rest!!!

Thanks, DH actually sounded excited last night when I told him

I hope you get O'hana, just not Wendy as your server. Maybe MNSSHP will mean lots of people will just eat ts at the park. When can you call?

I think a lot of the locals (and vacationers too) go before the start of the party....like 6pm...when I want to go. I shall be aware of "Wendy"...I have no problem speaking up and even asking another server for what we need.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Made another ADR this morning....oh my...what a difference 10 minutes makes. Yesterday I called at something like 8:02 and got right thru. Today I "forgot" and called at 8:15 and was on hold for a while (does anyone else have a bad connection with Disney while on hold? I could barely hear the music but when I got the CM the line was fine) If anyone needs a toll free number I used one this morning...just send me a PM.

I got my ADR for Hollywood & Vine Lunch on Tuesday at 11:40am (that's the first lunch ressie) Got exactly what I wanted....but here's the rub....remember that I'm now planning on park hopping on Tuesday and Wednesday with MK and DS? Well if that plan goes thru...we'll be in MK for that above ADR. I haven't completely make up my mind about the park hopping thing so there is still a chance we'll be a DS that day so I needed Plan A and Plan B....so I have to make the same ressies tomorrow for Wednesday at H&V. I'll cancel one as soon as I can.

I spent a lot of time yesterday researching hotels/resorts. I won't bore you with the details but here is what I came up with.

A value resort is out....room is too small and the resorts are too barren (I have been to both POP and ASMu so I'm drawing on my own experiences here)

Caribbean Beach Resort...got some recent reviews about the rooms and they all said that the rooms where very clean...not modern like a Marriot room but clean and in good working order.

I spent a lot of time looking at room pictures for different hotels and really looking at the rooms...is there a sofa? table to eat breakfast at? storage for clothes? 1 or 2 sinks?

I came away with the feeling that the outside grounds at CBR are beautiful and have plently of room for a 18 mo old boy to run around and play. The rooms themselves are ugly. Functional and clean...just ugly. Off property hotels that I looked at (ie in my price range) had outside grounds that weren't very special and didn't look fun for a little boy. But they rooms are more of what I like.

So it we'll probably stay with CBR unless I get an incredible rate for OKW.
I did however like the SpringHill Suites at the Marroit Village in Lake Buena Vista....I'll be watching the price there...just in case

 

[Charleston Princess]

I always have a bad connection on hold with Disney -- I always assumed it was my phones -- I am glad to know it isn't now!

Hurray for H&V!

I always have the same dilemmas with choosing resorts! I am glad you are sticking with CBR for now -- I am thinking that may be our resort for next summer depending on the new pool. I will look forward to your reviews!

 

[Native NYer]

Congrats on another ADR.

Can't wait to see what resort you finally choose. Hopefully, you'll get a discount from Disney.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great job on the ADRs so far. Can't wait to hear what you get today. I don't blame you for making two ADRs for H&V - I would do the same thing. In fact, I probably have before.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I always have a bad connection on hold with Disney -- I always assumed it was my phones -- I am glad to know it isn't now!

Hurray for H&V!

I always have the same dilemmas with choosing resorts! I am glad you are sticking with CBR for now -- I am thinking that may be our resort for next summer depending on the new pool. I will look forward to your reviews!

Your stay at CSR helped me as well because CBR and CSR are very similiar.

Congrats on another ADR.

Can't wait to see what resort you finally choose. Hopefully, you'll get a discount from Disney.

I don't know how much longer I can hold out without a ressie. I don't want to book yet because I hoping that I get one of those magical pin codes....and why would Disney send me one if I'm already booked.

Great job on the ADRs so far. Can't wait to hear what you get today. I don't blame you for making two ADRs for H&V - I would do the same thing. In fact, I probably have before.

I remember when I went in 2001....we had one ADR (they were called PS then) before we left for Chef Mickeys. Later in the week we would go to the guest service desk at the theme park that morning and make our ressie for that night. Those were the days!

 

[MRYPPNS]

BINGO! Got Hollywood & Vine for Wednesday at 11:45 am....only 5 minutes off the target. My binder tells me that tomorrow I try for Whispering Caynon Cafe for breakfast (that will be easy) and 'Ohana's for dinner!

OT: Did anyone see Bret Michaels on "Don't Forget the Lyrics" last night? He wasn't wearing a sparkle headband...I was so disappointed!