PTR: Our First Family Trip to Meet the MOUSE!! *Finished Mini TR 8/26*

[shordiebecka]

Breakfast
Good Morning Character Breakfast @ Tony's Town Square
Donald's Safari Breakfast @ Tusker House
Chef Mickey's OR Crystal Palace

Lunch (mostly CS)
MK - Liberty Tree Tavern (gotta have one of those 3 Chocolate Brownies )
AK - Flame Tree BBQ or Pizzafari
EP - See below
DHS - Pizza Planet

Dinner
Fulton's Crab House (OOP)
Beaches and Cream

Snacks
Goofy's Candy Co.
Main Street Bakery
Boulangerie Patisserie
Starring Rolls
Cookes of Dublin (maybe)

We also want to do Le Cellier, Biergarten, and Teppan Edo, but we're not sure which meal of the day would be best for those three. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]


I always do Biergarten for lunch. I find it to be less crowded, and I also find it to be somewhat central in the WS- so if I start at Mexico around 11, I'm usually to Germany around 1, which is a good point to stop and relax (this is without rides, shows, etc). Canada, on the otherhand, is at one extreme end of the WS, so you could go either way on lunch/dinner- either start or end there. Teppan Edo I believe only does dinner- not sure on that however! It's okay to change your mind lots of times

 

[CherylA]

I didn't realize they did face painting at MNSSHP! How fun! I am so excited that we'll be there for that this time. I'm really hoping that my kiddos love Disney as much as I do. I seem to be the only one in my family so far that really does. Maybe that will change after this trip, though.

Oh you're doing MNSSHP? Yay for you! It was our first time this past year. I didn't know they did the face painting either until we got to the party. If you want to have it done (hubby and I had ours done too ) get in the line for that before they even open the station. I don't remember timing, maybe ask around on the boards but it's free and we got ours done right after the party started but we waited in line about 45 minutes to have it done. If we had known where to wait for it to open up and been there right away we could have been done much faster. Toward the end of the night there was no wait but who wants it done at the end! You just go back to the room and take it off! Also I wished I had packed cold cream to get it off. My daughters loved having it done and they both cried when I took it off at the end of the night!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Hmmmm I'd say Chef Mickey's since that is what your little guy is into. CP is nice to get if you can get a reservation before park opening and get pictures on an empty main street. We were even finished eating before rope drop and was lined up at the "Advertureland" rope drop to head over to Splash and BTMRR as soon as it officially opened. I think in your case I'd go to Chef Mickeys for your DS. He'll be guaranteed to see the "Big 5" then. My DD loved Biergarten last year! There is a German band that plays and kids can go down and dance. She loved dancing around!

Thanks for the recommendation! I think we've definitely decided on Chef Mickey's.

I always do Biergarten for lunch. I find it to be less crowded, and I also find it to be somewhat central in the WS- so if I start at Mexico around 11, I'm usually to Germany around 1, which is a good point to stop and relax (this is without rides, shows, etc). Canada, on the otherhand, is at one extreme end of the WS, so you could go either way on lunch/dinner- either start or end there. Teppan Edo I believe only does dinner- not sure on that however! It's okay to change your mind lots of times

Thanks for letting me know about the locations! It definitely makes more sense to do Biergarten for lunch since it is more centrally located. I just hope I can get a dinner ressie for Le Cellier! I can't believe how popular it is. Does it really live up to the hype?

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Oh you're doing MNSSHP? Yay for you! It was our first time this past year. I didn't know they did the face painting either until we got to the party. If you want to have it done (hubby and I had ours done too ) get in the line for that before they even open the station. I don't remember timing, maybe ask around on the boards but it's free and we got ours done right after the party started but we waited in line about 45 minutes to have it done. If we had known where to wait for it to open up and been there right away we could have been done much faster. Toward the end of the night there was no wait but who wants it done at the end! You just go back to the room and take it off! Also I wished I had packed cold cream to get it off. My daughters loved having it done and they both cried when I took it off at the end of the night!

That sounds like so much fun! Great tip about the cold cream. I think we have decided to skip the party this year. DH isn't crazy about the idea and I'm not sure either of my kids will be old enough to appreciate it. Hopefully next year, though!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Well, I called this morning and extended our reservation to Oct. 2. So now we're staying 7 nights, woohoo!

I think we got a definite NO for the boys to join us on the trip. Their mom doesn't want them to miss that much school, which I guess I can understand. Only now MIL said she doesn't know if FIL will go or not, so we've put off booking the other rooms until everyone has made up their mind one way or another. I've decided to just continue planning the trip as if it were just my family of four going, and then once everyone else makes up their mind, I'll worry about making changes.

 

[Cinderelly5507]

Well, I called this morning and extended our reservation to Oct. 2. So now we're staying 7 nights, woohoo!

I think we got a definite NO for the boys to join us on the trip. Their mom doesn't want them to miss that much school, which I guess I can understand. Only now MIL said she doesn't know if FIL will go or not, so we've put off booking the other rooms until everyone has made up their mind one way or another. I've decided to just continue planning the trip as if it were just my family of four going, and then once everyone else makes up their mind, I'll worry about making changes.

for 7 nights!! Have you decided about park hoppers? I was really thinking about not getting them if we do 10 nights, but DH insists we need them either way. I'll take any input from him that I can get! Hopefully your family will figure out if they're going. I would love to have a big bunch go, but we can't talk anyone into it. I think your DS will really like Biergarten and the band. We plan on doing it for lunch too, but I want to make sure the band will be there. I *think* their first show is at 1:15, but I'm not sure. I'll need to confirm that so we can see them again!

 

[that's nice]

Yes, I've already started changing my mind about ADR's. After finally getting DH to listen to some of the choices last night, he told me a couple that he thinks that he and some of his family members would really enjoy, so we're adding those to the list. I'm also considering adding a night to the trip and skipping MNSSHP, but I haven't discussed that with DH yet, so we'll see.

Here's the new ADR list:

Breakfast
Good Morning Character Breakfast @ Tony's Town Square
Donald's Safari Breakfast @ Tusker House
Chef Mickey's OR Crystal Palace

Lunch (mostly CS)
MK - Liberty Tree Tavern (gotta have one of those 3 Chocolate Brownies )
AK - Flame Tree BBQ or Pizzafari
EP - See below
DHS - Pizza Planet

Dinner
Fulton's Crab House (OOP)
Beaches and Cream

Snacks
Goofy's Candy Co.
Main Street Bakery
Boulangerie Patisserie
Starring Rolls
Cookes of Dublin (maybe)

We also want to do Le Cellier, Biergarten, and Teppan Edo, but we're not sure which meal of the day would be best for those three. Any suggestions?

Your choices look good to me!!! We have ate at many of these places.

Thanks for the recommendation! I think we've definitely decided on Chef Mickey's.

I just hope I can get a dinner ressie for Le Cellier! I can't believe how popular it is. Does it really live up to the hype?

Chef Mickey's is a must do. Plus I feel like they have the biggest dessert buffet in Disney!

Le Cellier lived up to the hype for me but not so much for my DW. I had the filet she had the 'experience' with the prime rib. Her meat was quite fatty and when she tried my filet she loved it.

Well, I called this morning and extended our reservation to Oct. 2. So now we're staying 7 nights, woohoo!

We'll be arriving the day after you leave

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

for 7 nights!! Have you decided about park hoppers? I was really thinking about not getting them if we do 10 nights, but DH insists we need them either way. I'll take any input from him that I can get! Hopefully your family will figure out if they're going. I would love to have a big bunch go, but we can't talk anyone into it. I think your DS will really like Biergarten and the band. We plan on doing it for lunch too, but I want to make sure the band will be there. I *think* their first show is at 1:15, but I'm not sure. I'll need to confirm that so we can see them again!

I'm pretty sure we're going to get PH's, especially since there are so many places we want to eat at Epcot. I also like the idea of being able to go to a different park in the evenings. Thanks for the tip about the time for the band at Biergarten. I really want them to be playing when we eat! DS LOVES music!

Your choices look good to me!!! We have ate at many of these places.

Chef Mickey's is a must do. Plus I feel like they have the biggest dessert buffet in Disney!

Le Cellier lived up to the hype for me but not so much for my DW. I had the filet she had the 'experience' with the prime rib. Her meat was quite fatty and when she tried my filet she loved it.



We'll be arriving the day after you leave

Hmm, that's funny that you've eaten at many of our ADR choices...maybe because I made out my ADR list while I read your TR!!! It was extremely helpful! So thank you!! Of course we're leaving the day before you arrive. I wish we were staying longer. I bet our kiddos would have had fun playing together.

I'm glad to hear that LC's filet was good. That's the main reason I want to go there! Ever since I saw a pic of it on the Food Porn thread, I've been dreaming of it.

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I can't believe they took out the frozen coke machines! I'm so upset! I guess we'll have to spend some snack credits on frozen cokes or lemonades now.

 

[that's nice]

Hmm, that's funny that you've eaten at many of our ADR choices...maybe because I made out my ADR list while I read your TR!!! It was extremely helpful! So thank you!! Of course we're leaving the day before you arrive. I wish we were staying longer. I bet our kiddos would have had fun playing together.

I'm glad to hear that LC's filet was good. That's the main reason I want to go there! Ever since I saw a pic of it on the Food Porn thread, I've been dreaming of it.

Hope I didn't sway you too much! LOL

We really enjoyed every where we ate. We didn't have a bad meal the whole trip! I eat filet often and Le Cellier's was right up there with the best I have ever eaten. I could have cut mine with a fork! I wish it was bigger because I could have kept on eating it!!!!

 

[shordiebecka]

I've never eaten at Le Cellier..but my parents love it and insist on eating there very time. The location thing is SUPER important to me, because I am a huge fan of being efficient lol. If it makes you feel any better, I just made ADR's yesterday morning, and got Le Cellier for Dinner in July...so I think it should be somewhat easy for you to get a dinner ressie there

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

I can't believe they took out the frozen coke machines! I'm so upset! I guess we'll have to spend some snack credits on frozen cokes or lemonades now.

I know, me too!! I was really looking forward to having them at the resort and not having to use up my snack credits.

Hope I didn't sway you too much! LOL

We really enjoyed every where we ate. We didn't have a bad meal the whole trip! I eat filet often and Le Cellier's was right up there with the best I have ever eaten. I could have cut mine with a fork! I wish it was bigger because I could have kept on eating it!!!!

You did sway me, but in a good way. I always like reading TR's and dining reviews with kids close to DS's age b/c they're really helpful.

I've never eaten at Le Cellier..but my parents love it and insist on eating there very time. The location thing is SUPER important to me, because I am a huge fan of being efficient lol. If it makes you feel any better, I just made ADR's yesterday morning, and got Le Cellier for Dinner in July...so I think it should be somewhat easy for you to get a dinner ressie there

That does make me feel better, thanks! I'm big on efficiency as well.

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Over the past week or so, I've gotten lots of Mickey Mail! Here are some pictures of things we've received:

Our Vacation Planning DVD

Our Personalized Maps

Planning Literature

I also received our travel documents and my very first PIN codes via email! There were two offers (Kids Stay, Play, 'n' Dine, or a Room Discount), but we couldn't use either. But at least now I know I'm in the system!

 

[lizet313]

YEY you are in the system. I just received the dvd planning cd too and a pin code but under my dads name.

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

I thought that I would share with you some of the tools that I am using to plan my trip. Maybe I will be able to help someone else out!

First, my guidebooks:

I cannot say enough about The Unofficial Guide!! I'm only about halfway through it, but I have already learned SOOO many helpful tips. It's definitely a must-read for OCD planners like myself.

I don't have much to say about the The Complete WDW 2009 yet, because I have yet to read it. But I thumbed through it and it looks awesome! I'm looking forward to reading it next.

Second, my iPhone Apps:

I have maps of each of the four major parks and Downtown Disney, as well as a WDW Dining app which has menus for almost every restaurant at the WDW resort! It's so awesome, because I can plan while I'm waiting at the doctor's office, for a table at a restaurant, or whenever I'm just bored and don't have Internet access. *Sigh* I my iPhone!

Finally, my Master Schedule spreadsheet:

I have to admit - I "borrowed" this from a fabulous PTR that I highly recommend (PTR for the planning obsessed).

Also very helpful is the UG website - www.touringplans.com. Access to the site is free for UG owners, or if you don't want to buy the book, you can pay $8.95 for complete website access. **The crowd calendar is especially helpful in planning your days!!**

Other websites that I frequently reference:
www.allears.net
www.mousesavers.com
www.wdwinfo.com (of course )

So there you have it! The planning tools that I use most often. I hope that someone else finds them helpful, too!

 

[that's nice]

Congrats on the pin codes!!!!!
Now if only I could get some!

Those park maps are nice! I sent away for those before our last trip. They were so nice I left them home because I didn't want to ruin them!! LOL

 

[that's nice]

I use the Unofficial Guide too! Its a great book with tons of great info!!!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I think you've convinced me to get the Unofficial Guide! Something to add to my insaneness! You've already gotten your travel documents? Hmmmm we've received the planning literature, but that's it... I need to order the new DVD and my personalized maps. I never ordered them last time! Did mark your favorite attractions on them or leave them blank? I received the same pin code as you did, but unfortunately I'd never be able to talk DH into going back that soon! We've got some of the same days planned too, I'm just waiting on those darn hours!!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Congrats on the pin codes!!!!!
Now if only I could get some!

Those park maps are nice! I sent away for those before our last trip. They were so nice I left them home because I didn't want to ruin them!! LOL

I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya that you get the code! I think it might even work with your October dates. I hope you get it!! I don't think I'll be taking my maps with me, either. They're too nice to waste on the actual trip!

I think you've convinced me to get the Unofficial Guide! Something to add to my insaneness! You've already gotten your travel documents? Hmmmm we've received the planning literature, but that's it... I need to order the new DVD and my personalized maps. I never ordered them last time! Did mark your favorite attractions on them or leave them blank? I received the same pin code as you did, but unfortunately I'd never be able to talk DH into going back that soon! We've got some of the same days planned too, I'm just waiting on those darn hours!!

Yay! Glad to know that I've converted you to the UG! Yeah, I think I got our docs last Thursday or Friday. It was right after I changed our reservation for the third time. They probably just sent them hoping that once I had them I would stop changing it!! You definitely need to order the DVD and maps! I did mark our favorite attractions, and then when they came, they had added some that they thought we'd be interested in. That's my problem with the PIN codes, too. The dates are 10/2-11/24/09, so just way to close to our travel dates. Maybe they're hoping that we'll change our dates and they won't have to give us free dining!

 

[ladybugmom]

Hi Julia!! Joining in on your PTR--I live in TN, too!! I live in a suburb of Memphis. We are leaving for our WDW in 11 days--can't wait!! You have a beautiful family! Just wanted to say "hello" and that I'm subscribing!!