franandaj
I'm so happy, I could BOUNCE!
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2009
- Messages
- 37,723
Welcome to another franandaj TR/PTR. For those of you who know me, you can rest assured that this will be a report full of laidback fun, lots of food porn, and plenty of surprises, and probably a little bit of shopping too!
If you havent joined me before, please feel free to check out the links in my signature to past escapades. We had a couple years off from traveling due to medical issues, but since November 2012, we have been traveling as strong as ever!
Let me introduce the characters. This is me (Alison) and my partner Fran. We have been traveling together for well over 15 years now, we are DVC members, we are working our way up to Gold Castaway Club members and we enjoy all sorts of culinary endeavors from Diners, Drive Ins and Dives to Five Star Cuisine.
However, in this particular production there is going to be a whole host of supporting roles. Let me explain how this all got started and introduce the others. Way back several years ago around 2011, PrincessInOz got this idea that those of us folks who like to hang out on the DIS Games Board, should try and plan a 3D meet at WDW. Being from down under, a trip to the world takes some time in planning, so she suggested a two year time frame and we decided to focus on the end of September/beginning of October as that fit well in the Australian School Holiday Calendar.
In the beginning, we had as many as a dozen folks from the games board considering this holiday and we even set up a thread on the boards for folks to join in and plan the trip. Slowly but surely conflicting schedules, finances and other realities of life set in for many of the folks, and we were left with our core crew.
PIO and her family (that's Fran and me there too, we'd be happy if she would adopt us, but I don't think we can move down under
)
Bobbiwoz (quite a regular here on the DVC boards)
And of course, yours truly. Im the one on the left if you couldnt tell.
So about a year out from the trip, we realized that we needed to settle in and lock down some dates, 11-month window and all.
We settled in on September 29 October 7 at WDW, and I booked the BCV for PIO and her family. Fran and I will spend the first three nights at VWL and then move to BCV on October 2nd. Bobbiwoz will be arriving October 2nd and also joining us at the BCV until she departs on October 6th.
As we were settling in on our activities, a few Floridians caught wind of our shenanigans and thought it would be fun to come join us for the weekend activities. SunDial will be joining us from 2-3 hours away, and TiffanyD from Tampa and her DH will also be coming in Friday evening and staying for two nights.
While the gamers have scheduled quite a few events that we will enjoy together, we also have some family time to ourselves as well. I will talk about what Fran and I plan to do and how that will overlap with the other DISers.
Our WDW plans look like this.
Sun Sept 29 Arrive VWL via DME, groceries delivered via WeGoShop. Dinner in the room.
Mon Sept 30 9:00AM Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (Strawberry Soup Heaven!), meet up with PIO and dhorner at MK, Dinner at Narcoosies
Tues Oct 1 No plans whatsoever, but well probably have dinner in the room, something easy like sloppy joes.
Wed Oct 2 Today is our day to switch to the BCV, well probably hang out until 11AM when we have to check out and then head over to Epcot to snack from the Kiosks. Dinner is 5:45PM at Raglan Road with PIO and her family.
Thurs Oct 3 Today we have an 8:00AM ADR at Cape May with PIO & her family, and Bobbiwoz & her sister. We will probably relax at the resort for a bit before heading back to Epcot and the kiosks. We have a reservation at the Hollywood Brown Derby at 3:50PM for the F! dining package, hopefully there will be a cancellation, and we can eat a little later, if not, well survive. Then 8PM Fantasmic! This might be a good night to visit Jelly Rolls after F!
Fri Oct 4 Well have a lazy wake up this morning (especially if we go to Jelly Rolls the night before!) and visit the kiosks at Epcot until the local crowds start to fill up the park. It will be off to the Contemporary for dinner at the Wave at 6PM with PIO & fam, Bobbiwoz & sis, plus we will be joined by TiffanyD & DH, and SunDial. From dinner we will board a pontoon boat for our Hallowishes cruise!
Sat Oct 5 Another lazy morning today. Im hoping that they will offer the Grand Mariner tasting as a Special Event in Epcot and plan to book it if I can. Traditionally it starts at 2:30PM. After that we are planning a cookout at the quiet pool at the BCV. Its going to be a potluck, and so far weve worked out quite a menu. Ill have more on that one in a later post.
Sun Oct 6 This is another with absolutely no plans. Were considering making an ADR for the evening. The kiosks will be mobbed with the locals, so Epcot is out. Were leaving our options open for the time being.
Mon Oct 7 Today is departure day. As much as we would like to stay longer, we have another obligation and need to be back on a plane Wednesday morning to travel to a new destination, so we are booked on a 1PM flight from MCO to LAX and will depart on DME at about 10AM.
While this is our WDW portion of the trip there is still more, or should I say, there is a preview performance. For those of you who are not familiar with the travel habits of the Aussies, most figure if they are spending the time, effort and money to travel across the pond, they better make the most of it. While PIO has only a week in WDW, her journey begins nearly three weeks before that. If you like, you can read all about her plans at
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2958450
But, before that whole adventure gets started, Fran and I will be spending two days with PIO and her family at the park where it all started, Disneyland! We are staying at the VGC for two nights in September to help kick off the whole party, so Ill be reporting on those fun times here as well!
I may throw in a few other Disney related stories and updates since I have plans to meet a lot of DISers out at the DLR in the next six months. Hopefully youll be following along and can chime in on our meets and fun along the way!
Dont be shy come in and join in the fun, because win or lose, were just here to have fun playing the game!
If you havent joined me before, please feel free to check out the links in my signature to past escapades. We had a couple years off from traveling due to medical issues, but since November 2012, we have been traveling as strong as ever!
Let me introduce the characters. This is me (Alison) and my partner Fran. We have been traveling together for well over 15 years now, we are DVC members, we are working our way up to Gold Castaway Club members and we enjoy all sorts of culinary endeavors from Diners, Drive Ins and Dives to Five Star Cuisine.
However, in this particular production there is going to be a whole host of supporting roles. Let me explain how this all got started and introduce the others. Way back several years ago around 2011, PrincessInOz got this idea that those of us folks who like to hang out on the DIS Games Board, should try and plan a 3D meet at WDW. Being from down under, a trip to the world takes some time in planning, so she suggested a two year time frame and we decided to focus on the end of September/beginning of October as that fit well in the Australian School Holiday Calendar.
In the beginning, we had as many as a dozen folks from the games board considering this holiday and we even set up a thread on the boards for folks to join in and plan the trip. Slowly but surely conflicting schedules, finances and other realities of life set in for many of the folks, and we were left with our core crew.
PIO and her family (that's Fran and me there too, we'd be happy if she would adopt us, but I don't think we can move down under
)
Bobbiwoz (quite a regular here on the DVC boards)
And of course, yours truly. Im the one on the left if you couldnt tell.
So about a year out from the trip, we realized that we needed to settle in and lock down some dates, 11-month window and all.
We settled in on September 29 October 7 at WDW, and I booked the BCV for PIO and her family. Fran and I will spend the first three nights at VWL and then move to BCV on October 2nd. Bobbiwoz will be arriving October 2nd and also joining us at the BCV until she departs on October 6th.
As we were settling in on our activities, a few Floridians caught wind of our shenanigans and thought it would be fun to come join us for the weekend activities. SunDial will be joining us from 2-3 hours away, and TiffanyD from Tampa and her DH will also be coming in Friday evening and staying for two nights.
While the gamers have scheduled quite a few events that we will enjoy together, we also have some family time to ourselves as well. I will talk about what Fran and I plan to do and how that will overlap with the other DISers.
Our WDW plans look like this.
Sun Sept 29 Arrive VWL via DME, groceries delivered via WeGoShop. Dinner in the room.
Mon Sept 30 9:00AM Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (Strawberry Soup Heaven!), meet up with PIO and dhorner at MK, Dinner at Narcoosies
Tues Oct 1 No plans whatsoever, but well probably have dinner in the room, something easy like sloppy joes.
Wed Oct 2 Today is our day to switch to the BCV, well probably hang out until 11AM when we have to check out and then head over to Epcot to snack from the Kiosks. Dinner is 5:45PM at Raglan Road with PIO and her family.
Thurs Oct 3 Today we have an 8:00AM ADR at Cape May with PIO & her family, and Bobbiwoz & her sister. We will probably relax at the resort for a bit before heading back to Epcot and the kiosks. We have a reservation at the Hollywood Brown Derby at 3:50PM for the F! dining package, hopefully there will be a cancellation, and we can eat a little later, if not, well survive. Then 8PM Fantasmic! This might be a good night to visit Jelly Rolls after F!
Fri Oct 4 Well have a lazy wake up this morning (especially if we go to Jelly Rolls the night before!) and visit the kiosks at Epcot until the local crowds start to fill up the park. It will be off to the Contemporary for dinner at the Wave at 6PM with PIO & fam, Bobbiwoz & sis, plus we will be joined by TiffanyD & DH, and SunDial. From dinner we will board a pontoon boat for our Hallowishes cruise!
Sat Oct 5 Another lazy morning today. Im hoping that they will offer the Grand Mariner tasting as a Special Event in Epcot and plan to book it if I can. Traditionally it starts at 2:30PM. After that we are planning a cookout at the quiet pool at the BCV. Its going to be a potluck, and so far weve worked out quite a menu. Ill have more on that one in a later post.
Sun Oct 6 This is another with absolutely no plans. Were considering making an ADR for the evening. The kiosks will be mobbed with the locals, so Epcot is out. Were leaving our options open for the time being.
Mon Oct 7 Today is departure day. As much as we would like to stay longer, we have another obligation and need to be back on a plane Wednesday morning to travel to a new destination, so we are booked on a 1PM flight from MCO to LAX and will depart on DME at about 10AM.
While this is our WDW portion of the trip there is still more, or should I say, there is a preview performance. For those of you who are not familiar with the travel habits of the Aussies, most figure if they are spending the time, effort and money to travel across the pond, they better make the most of it. While PIO has only a week in WDW, her journey begins nearly three weeks before that. If you like, you can read all about her plans at
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2958450
But, before that whole adventure gets started, Fran and I will be spending two days with PIO and her family at the park where it all started, Disneyland! We are staying at the VGC for two nights in September to help kick off the whole party, so Ill be reporting on those fun times here as well!
I may throw in a few other Disney related stories and updates since I have plans to meet a lot of DISers out at the DLR in the next six months. Hopefully youll be following along and can chime in on our meets and fun along the way!
Dont be shy come in and join in the fun, because win or lose, were just here to have fun playing the game!
Actually I'm helping Gabby with an AP Euro paper and she's sighting her work. Now I'll go back and read. 
She always says they're not morning people. 
You all have such a great trip planned! 
What makes you think there will be any incriminating evidence? 
