PTR: We're FINALLY Going on a Trip!!!

[mjwheelerali]

This is my first pre-trip report, as this is our FIRST family trip on an airplane and FIRST time going to Disney together!!!

I have been to Disney before in 1994 when my dancing group went to Disney (Epcot) to represent Canada, but I don't remember getting to see much since we had to perform in 6 shows per day. This time will be MUCH different, I'm sure!

My husband, Omar and son, Caelib (3.5 years old) will be joining me as we visit Disney from December 30 until January 6. Both of us are teachers and are excited that we have the whole week after New Year's off!!

Daddy & Caelib:

Mommy & Caelib:

We'll be staying at Port Orleans Riverside and have been following the boards closely and wishing some pixie dust falls on us and gets us into a newly renovated room!

After doing a lot of reading on disboard, we've come up with a plan that we are hoping allows us to get to see the big things on our list and truly enjoy our time at Disney. We've made some ADRs...maybe too many? We do love to eat and our son is used to the table-service type of restaurants.

Fri. Dec. 30
Tony's Town Square 7:40 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 31
Hollywood & Vine 9:10 a.m.
The Hollywood Brown Derby 5:20 p.m.

Sun. Jan 1
Tusker House Restaurant 10:10 a.m.
Yak & Yeti™ Restaurant 4:15 p.m.

Mon. Jan 2
'Ohana 9:25 a.m.
50's Prime Time Café 1:40 p.m
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 8:00 p.m.

Tues. Jan 3
The Crystal Palace 1:55 p.m.

Wed. Jan 4
Coral Reef Restaurant 1:15 p.m.
The Garden Grill 6:50 p.m.

Thurs. Jan 5
Chef Mickey's 8:40 a.m.

Fri. Jan 6
1900 Park Fare 10:00 a.m.

Thanks to another disboard member, Dennis, we have started our official countdown with our chain!! My son was so disappointed when I first showed him the chain that we STILL have to wait THAT MANY MORE days - Pic 1. He is excited about tearing off the links of the chain, though - Pic 2.

Hope I'm doing this right?! Are the pictures too big??

 

[mjwheelerali]

AAAAAHHHHH! Almost down to only one month away!!!
Our Magical Express Passes have arrived!!!!

Have added Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner on Tuesday night!!!

Wondering if we should book the Spirit of Aloha for our last night in Disney?? I've checked and there are still spots available...any feedback???

Can you tell we are almost out of our minds with excitement?!?!

 

[mjwheelerali]

Only 2 and a half weeks left!??!?! It seemed like ages since we booked and began the LONG countdown!!!

I need help!

1) Did I make too many ADRs?? We want to be prepared but not over-prepared...and stressed out about eating all the time! See below!

2) What about a stroller?? To rent and have it ready at the hotel when we get there?? Or rent at the park IF we need one? We still have a great back-carrier that Cdub loves way more than a stroller!

3) To check-in online or not??? Have been doing lots of reading and can't decide either way!

4) To pre-purchase a PhotoPass or not????

Getting SOOOOO excited!!!!

Friday:
- Dinner: Tony's Town SquareMagic Kingdom® Park

Saturday:
- Breakfast: Hollywood & Vine Disney's Hollywood Studios®
- Dinner: The Hollywood Brown Derby Disney's Hollywood Studios®

Sunday, January 1, 2012
- Breakfast: Tusker House Restaurant Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park
- Dinner: Yak & Yeti™ Restaurant Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park

Monday, January 2, 2012
- Breakfast: 'Ohana Disney's Polynesian Resort
- Lunch: 50's Prime Time Café Disney's Hollywood Studios®
- Dinner: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Epcot®

Tuesday, January 3, 2012
- Lunch: The Crystal Palace Magic Kingdom® Park
- Dinner Liberty Tree Tavern Magic Kingdom® Park

Wednesday, January 4, 2012
- Lunch: Coral Reef Restaurant Epcot®
- Dinner: The Garden Grill Restaurant Epcot®

Thursday, January 5, 2012
- Breakfast: Chef Mickey's Disney's Contemporary Resort

Friday, January 6, 2012
- Breakfast: 1900 Park Fare Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

 

[JessicaKnits]

Hi there!

Everything sounds great so far! We did 10 nights of deluxe dining last August and are gearing up for another 8 nights in March...it is my belief that you can never have too much food!

I have no experience with strollers, but I can tell you that as an adult, there were many times over the trip that I wished that someone had a stroller for me to ride in!

For photopass, I say go ahead and pre-order it! You save so much money, and if after seeing your pictures you feel that it isn't worth it, you can get a refund within so many days of returning home. To be honest though, I haven't ever heard of someone taking advantage of the refund option!

We also did online check-in for our August trip, and it saved us so much time! We used Magical Express, so of course everyone on that bus headed straight for the check in line which was enormous. There was no one standing in line for the online check-in exept us. They had pre-printed our folio for us and even though I had made several room requests at Pop (renovated room, highest floor, quiet area, king bed) they were all met. It was a huge time saver on a night where I was concerned we wouldn't make our dinner reservation in time.

I hope this helps and can't wait to read more!

 

[BMC423]

Hello... subbing!

Your plans sound great! First trips are always soo exciting!!!

As far as your questions go...

1. I think your ADRs are fine, the only day I would be concerned about is the one with all three meals. I say that for two reasons one being that the portions are really big on our last trip we found ourselves really full from ADR to ADR; the second being that all three are located in different places it might be a very tiring day.

2. I would rent the stroller to have at the resort... we took our stroller from home for our son. The stroller in the parks really don't seem that comfortable and you have to wait on line (if there is one) to rent them out. You mentioned having a back carrier, I would just be concerned about how tired that would make you and the ease of Caelib getting in and out.

3. I don't see how online check in can be a bad thing . Unless you have a special room request or something.

4. I didn't pre purchase the photopass last time and wished I would have, I know that some people share and it lowers the cost.

Hope this helps

BTW: your pictures are actually quite small

 

[mjwheelerali]

Thanks to you both for replying!

Definitely going to pre-purchase the PhotoPass...especially with the refund policy...didn't know that existed! Thanks!!!

Did you fly with your stroller or drive?? I am concerned about having to lug too much around if Caelib won't go in the stroller at the airport, which is why I was thinking of renting...but at $117 for the 8 days, we could buy something that would work and still be our's after the trip...the little one we have now is killer on our backs and has no cup holder/storage of any sort.

For the day with three ADRs, we are thinking of cancelling the 50s Prime Time and just doing a quick-service for lunch instead...hadn't even considering that all three are in different locations!!! Yikes!! The perks of posting and having others pick up on details!

wondering about quick-service....if Caelib shares from our counter-service meals, do we just get charged for two meals (one from mine and one from husband's)? Would that make sense to make our credits go a little further?? We're also considering the Spirit of Aloha show...worth it with a 3.5 year old?? We thought it might be nice to do something different, but we're planning to go to Brown Derby for NYE and that's two credits, too....now I'm just rambling! Maybe I'm overthinking the whole eating thing too much!??!

 

[mjwheelerali]

How did you make your room requests? We mentioned preferring a renovated room (Port Orleans Riverside) to our Airmiles travel agent, but then I've been reading that we should call or fax the hotel directly about two weeks before to confirm directly? Or is there a place in the online check-in? I think it makes a lot of sense to get as much done beforehand as possible!

We also did online check-in for our August trip, and it saved us so much time! We used Magical Express, so of course everyone on that bus headed straight for the check in line which was enormous. There was no one standing in line for the online check-in exept us. They had pre-printed our folio for us and even though I had made several room requests at Pop (renovated room, highest floor, quiet area, king bed) they were all met. It was a huge time saver on a night where I was concerned we wouldn't make our dinner reservation in time.

 

[JessicaKnits]

I made room requests over the phone when we booked (thru the Disney Travel Company) and again by fax 2 weeks before arrival. I read somewhere once that they no longer accept room requests by fax. I have no idea if this is accurate or not. I would check your resorts thread on here and I'm sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[mjwheelerali]

Something else I cannot seem to decide on is whether to do a small order of in-room snacks and have them shipped to our room....water, rice milk, nut-free/organic snacks that my son eat...a lot of food allergies to additives and preservatives! Any feedback about that?? I've been reading so many threads but since we won't have a car, we can't really go off-site...

 

[JessicaKnits]

We used Garden Grocer last time and can't say enough nice things about them. I'm not sure about their selection of organic items, but they were reasonably priced. I think that it was about $15.00. We just ordered some snack items and mixers for drinks, cups etc. We were out for dinner when they got there so they left the item with the hotel. Its a great option if you need some specialty items but won't have a car.

 

[mjwheelerali]

SOOOOOO....we're back!!!!!! Now I need to figure out how to convert this into a Post-Trip Report and share just how AMAZING our vacation was!!!!!

We have so many great restaurants to report about and we took nearly 2500 photos in 8 days!!!

My DH who was skeptical about going has already said we need to start saving for our next trip!!!!

There really is no place like Disney!!!