"Santa pants. Santa Claus's pants."~A November 2012 PTR!*NEW TR LINK pg 23! 11/20!*

[KatMark]

Congrats on the new camera, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bag.

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

Thats great you got a new camera. I am so bad at taking pics..its embarrassing lol
I would have no idea what to look for in a camera, so i cant wait to see how your pics come out!
Love the Mickey ears!!!
And the VB bag!!

 

[Nermel9]

Congrats on the new camera, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bag.

Thank you! And thank you!

Thats great you got a new camera. I am so bad at taking pics..its embarrassing lol
I would have no idea what to look for in a camera, so i cant wait to see how your pics come out!
Love the Mickey ears!!!
And the VB bag!!

Thanks! Haha I'm bad with pictures too, that's why I try to get a decent camera! Someday I'm going to buy a real camera and take a class, but for now, I just try to do the best I can!

Thanks! I can't wait to get my ears!

 

[Nermel9]

Animal Kingdom​

Hi everyone! Ok, I have a confession. I'm probably going to totally re-do my itinerary. Everything about it is annoying me. The Le Cellier situation, the fact that I don't have enough time at DHS or MK during the day...something has to be sacrificed but I'm not sure if I want it to be down time, a Le Cellier ADR, or Food and Wine time. But it just can't all fit. So I'm kind of going to do in a new direction with this PTR from now on. Since I have no idea what they my day to day plans are, I'm just going to continue my updates with each park, and the things I hope to accomplish in each one...and the things I want to eat or drink while we're there! I'll also do a separate Food and Wine update and Christmas party update! I think this way is better too, so that way when you read my TR after the trip, you're more surprised!

(I'm also starting to panic a little about the crowds. I mean, I knew the weekend would be busy, with Food and Wine, and the marathon and Veteran's Day, but now it seems like the whole week will be busy. So I'm not even sure if I should try to plan to avoid the crowds or do whatever I want on whatever day, and if the crowds are bad, just try to navigate through them. I've never been that much of a fan of crowd calendars and recommended park days before, so why start now, right? )

I figured I'd start with Animal Kingdom, because, well, the list is short and we only spend a day there. Not that I don't like AK, I do, I like it more and more with each trip, but we don't really need multiple days there. Although it would be fun to go there twice in one trip...but I can't even think about that now, with the mess that my itinerary already is! If I wanted to find more AK time, I think my head would explode!

Animal Kingdom Must Do's!

Expedition Everest-one of my favorite rides in all of Disney!

Dinosaur! I wouldn't really call it a favorite, but it's fun!

Kilimanjaro Safari-I have to see my giraffes! And hopefully a male and female lion!

We have to see the Festival of the Lion King, and I'm guessing Brandon will want to do his beloved Flights of Wonder . I'd like to explore both of the walking trails if we have time, and maybe meet some characters.

As for eating...there's really only one thing in this park that I HAVE to eat while I'm there...the Jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzel!

And for once, I'd like to stop at Dawa Bar and get a drink there, maybe a Lost on Safari or something...I've wanted to go there on every trip, but we never make it, so I'm hoping this time we will!

That's pretty much it for the things I have to do at Animal Kingdom. I'd like to ride EE more than once, and if I ever get my ADR situation straightened out, I'd love to add a Yak and Yeti ADR, but other than that, our AK days are always pretty loose. The only thing I find difficult about AK is the timing of the shows, if you want to see more than one show, it can be a little hard to plan, but hopefully we'll have enough time that we can do more than one!

Up next...DHS must do's!

 

[wdwgirl03]

haha, other than our first couple of days we don't really ever have a set plan. Sometimes it's nice to just do whatever you feel like rather than being tied to a specific plan. If I ever get to it on my TR wait until you hear about our last full day there...LOL.

Don't worry about the crowds! I'm sure you'll be fine. And same with the crowd calendars. I was talking to my dad about them because he'll look at them sometimes but we wouldn't let them dictate where/what we do every day. Atleast you are going to Disney World!

YAY DAK plans! Gotta love EE, Dinosaur, and the safari.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Even just reading about you changing your itinerary makes ME want to change my itinerary.

FOTLK is definitely a must do, especially after the rumors I read recently about them possibly getting rid of CMM for Avatar land and having no plans on where to move FOTLK. If they get rid of FOTLK, I don't know if we'd have a problem skipping AK on our trips until we have little ones.

We don't typically make it a priority to do the safari. It is on my wish list for this trip, though. But so is Nemo. Greg doesn't really remember it and I didn't enjoy it as much as I know I should've bc there was a crying baby sitting right next to us.

Dinosaur FREAKS me out. It's so loud! I just end up holding my ears and shutting my eyes the entire time. We ride it every once in a while.

Suggestion for planning: write down a list of everything that you'd like to accomplish (not worrying about categorizing it into parks, etc. at first). Then take a look and see what park requires the most time based on the number of attractions/experiences/good eats/etc. I find this really helps me to see what it is that I want to do.

DON'T STRESS SO MUCH!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Jen, your AK day sounds great. I don't do EE anymore, but I'm with you on the Safari and seeing the giraffes. I would definitely do FOTLK...rumor has it that they might discontinue the show.

 

[marDgreen88]

I agree with you that it's more fun to be 'surprised' while reading the TR!

YAY ANIMAL KINGDOM!!!!

Um, excuse me... it's tough to be a bug seems to be missing from your must-do list.

 

[MEK]

Totally redoing your itinerary? Say it isn't so?

I would expect nothing less.

Great pictures for all your AK highlights!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

More changes to the plan???

What about just not having a plan? Or are the crowd calendars THAT much different between the days?

We have absolutely no plan for our upcoming trip (mainly because a good portion of our trip is wedding-planning meetings), beyond a couple of ADR's that would kind of dictate where we'd be (Rose and Crown in Epcot, for example). But other than that, I have no idea what park we're going to on what day. See where you feel like going on each day, and go where the Disney wind takes you!

 

[teekathepony]

Hahaha I can't wait to read the TR to see how the plans actually work out!
I feel the same about Ak, I do enjoy it but I never spend more than one day there. I pretty much like to do the same must-dos you have and then I'm good!

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I have enjoyed reading your PTR. It is so hard trying to fit in everything you want to get in. I love your Vera Bradley purse!! Looking forward to see the rest of your plans.

 

[pinkxray]

I have pretty much the same going on for our Feb. trip. Our days just felt to choppy which lead to our resort change the first day. Now our adrs don't feel right, so pretty much all of them are on the chopping block (only kept 'Ohana, BOG and T-rex)

Caitlin has never been on Dinosaur, I'll have to add that to our list for AK.

 

[MHTeacher]

Hey Jen! So glad you have chapter links on page one, so I can get caught up a lot more quickly!

When I was reading your comments on your MK day and dinner at Le Cellier, I was thinking about your May trip. That's funny!

I followed easywdw's park recommendation for our last trip. I think Josh is pretty much on target with his predictions. Try not to get too stressed out ---You've seen it all, and chances are, you'll be back again within the year. Enjoy it all!

 

[amazingact21]

I agree that AK can be accomplished in one day and that it's too stressful to try to fit in more time there.
Hmm, I never thought about the show times interfering, but now that you mention it, they do sort of start immediately after another ones ends. Normally, I just concentrate on FotLK so I don't ever pay attention to anything else.

 

[wdwgirl03]

More changes to the plan???

What about just not having a plan? Or are the crowd calendars THAT much different between the days?

We have absolutely no plan for our upcoming trip (mainly because a good portion of our trip is wedding-planning meetings), beyond a couple of ADR's that would kind of dictate where we'd be (Rose and Crown in Epcot, for example). But other than that, I have no idea what park we're going to on what day. See where you feel like going on each day, and go where the Disney wind takes you!

Agreed! Other than going to the MK on our first morning and trying to visit all the parks for a little bit in our first couple of days we don't really have any plans. We just do whatever we feel like doing!

 

[jenseib]

I'm catching up again...but I have to say I once got a sony and took it back...same issue, they looked fine for the most part on the camera, but once I downloaded them they were HORRID. They told me it was a camera malfunction, but I didn't want to chance it again and stay away from sony now.

 

[Mrs T 2009]

I'm back!!!!

And sad about it lol!

Anyways... We spent not even a full day at AK and part of that was out meal at Tusker house! We played it by ear this time, what parks to go to which days. The first week the parks weren't crowded at all, but the second week (mon-wed) was PACKED!!! We figured because of the holiday Monday it made everyone come. It shouldn't be too terribly bad for you though! Plus you'll have the party to get to ride rides too!

Don't stress the small stuff!!! If you have never worried about crowd calendars before, why bother now, right?

 

[Nermel9]

haha, other than our first couple of days we don't really ever have a set plan. Sometimes it's nice to just do whatever you feel like rather than being tied to a specific plan. If I ever get to it on my TR wait until you hear about our last full day there...LOL.

Don't worry about the crowds! I'm sure you'll be fine. And same with the crowd calendars. I was talking to my dad about them because he'll look at them sometimes but we wouldn't let them dictate where/what we do every day. Atleast you are going to Disney World!

YAY DAK plans! Gotta love EE, Dinosaur, and the safari.

I'm trying not to have a set plan, but with Food and Wine and ADR's, it's hard! Someday I'll do an ADR-less trip and just go wherever I feel...although I'm guessing that will have to be a solo trip!

I'm not too worried about crowds, I was a little, but now I'm kind of like, if the crowds are are really that awful, we'll just hop to another park! Whatever! You're right, at least we'll be in Disney!

It's so funny that Dinosaur is on my must do list now, because a few years ago, we absolutely hated it!

Even just reading about you changing your itinerary makes ME want to change my itinerary.

FOTLK is definitely a must do, especially after the rumors I read recently about them possibly getting rid of CMM for Avatar land and having no plans on where to move FOTLK. If they get rid of FOTLK, I don't know if we'd have a problem skipping AK on our trips until we have little ones.

We don't typically make it a priority to do the safari. It is on my wish list for this trip, though. But so is Nemo. Greg doesn't really remember it and I didn't enjoy it as much as I know I should've bc there was a crying baby sitting right next to us.

Dinosaur FREAKS me out. It's so loud! I just end up holding my ears and shutting my eyes the entire time. We ride it every once in a while.

Suggestion for planning: write down a list of everything that you'd like to accomplish (not worrying about categorizing it into parks, etc. at first). Then take a look and see what park requires the most time based on the number of attractions/experiences/good eats/etc. I find this really helps me to see what it is that I want to do.

DON'T STRESS SO MUCH!!!!

Dude, I'm totally changing it. I already have a plan in mind, and while it's weird, and it involves a lot of park hopping in the first few days, I don't care. Who needs sleep in Disney, I'll sleep when I get home!

I can't believe they'd consider getting rid of FOTLK! It's so popular! Well, I definitely need to see it again in case it does close, I love it!

I love the safari, so it's always a priority for us, but I can see how people might skip it once in a while, it is time consuming! I've never seen the Nemo show, I'd like to, but we never have time! And if we're doing FOTLK and the stupid bird show, I doubt we'll have time this trip either!

When I first went on Dinosaur, I didn't like it because the vehicle you sit in was so jerky, I hate that! So we avoided it for years. Then we went on it again last year and we actually liked it, so I don't mind going on it again, but ugh, I couldn't stand it for such a long time!

I will definitely do that, that's a great idea! Like I said, I think I have an idea of what to do for our plans now, but I definitely will make some lists and see which parks need the most time!

Jen, your AK day sounds great. I don't do EE anymore, but I'm with you on the Safari and seeing the giraffes. I would definitely do FOTLK...rumor has it that they might discontinue the show.

Thanks! I love the safari and the giraffes! I know, I can't believe they'd consider discontinuing FOTLK, it's so good!

I agree with you that it's more fun to be 'surprised' while reading the TR!

YAY ANIMAL KINGDOM!!!!

Um, excuse me... it's tough to be a bug seems to be missing from your must-do list.

Throughout the last few PTR's, I've gotten more and more vague with my plans, I used to share every single detail, and now I'm like "here's where I'm staying, here's where we're eating" and now I'm even omitting day to day plans! But you guys know me pretty well by now, you know I'll be in Epcot most of the time! And I'll be eating at Le Cellier more than once! I hope!

I'm afraid of ITTBAB! I don't like the idea of feeling bugs sting you through the seats...I'm terrified of bees, which is why I've never done it! Maybe...maybe I'll be brave...

Totally redoing your itinerary? Say it isn't so?

I would expect nothing less.

Great pictures for all your AK highlights!

I know, it's insane. I have 24 days to go and my itinerary is still up in the air!

Thanks!

 

[Nermel9]

More changes to the plan???

What about just not having a plan? Or are the crowd calendars THAT much different between the days?

We have absolutely no plan for our upcoming trip (mainly because a good portion of our trip is wedding-planning meetings), beyond a couple of ADR's that would kind of dictate where we'd be (Rose and Crown in Epcot, for example). But other than that, I have no idea what park we're going to on what day. See where you feel like going on each day, and go where the Disney wind takes you!

I know, I have problems! I'd love to not have a plan, but I just can't with our ADR's and the Food and Wine festival! I mean, I suppose I could give it a try, there are times where we're supposed to go to a certain park and we end up somewhere else. It's basically while the Food and Wine festival is going on that we need some sort of plan, but after that, I'm fine with doing whatever! I really love waking up in the morning and being like "I want to go to DHS today" and then just GOING and not worrying about it! It's just too bad ADR's make you so tied down all the time!

Hahaha I can't wait to read the TR to see how the plans actually work out!
I feel the same about Ak, I do enjoy it but I never spend more than one day there. I pretty much like to do the same must-dos you have and then I'm good!

I know, I can't wait to go on this trip to see how the plans work out!

I'm going to try to do 2 AK days on this trip...not sure if it will work out, but I'm trying to figure out a way!

I have enjoyed reading your PTR. It is so hard trying to fit in everything you want to get in. I love your Vera Bradley purse!! Looking forward to see the rest of your plans.

Thank you! Haha, yes, it is really hard trying to fit it all in, but that's all part of the fun of planning a Disney trip! Thank you, I've become a bit addicted to VB! I just bought a wallet a few days ago at an outlet store!

I have pretty much the same going on for our Feb. trip. Our days just felt to choppy which lead to our resort change the first day. Now our adrs don't feel right, so pretty much all of them are on the chopping block (only kept 'Ohana, BOG and T-rex)

Caitlin has never been on Dinosaur, I'll have to add that to our list for AK.

It's a good thing you're planning this trip, because I don't think I could handle the stress of planning 2 at one time! As long as we go to 'Ohana and BOG I'm happy!

Dinosaur is fun, it's not the best ride in the world, but it's fun! I think Caitlin would like it! I really want her to try ToT again!

Hey Jen! So glad you have chapter links on page one, so I can get caught up a lot more quickly!

When I was reading your comments on your MK day and dinner at Le Cellier, I was thinking about your May trip. That's funny!

I followed easywdw's park recommendation for our last trip. I think Josh is pretty much on target with his predictions. Try not to get too stressed out ---You've seen it all, and chances are, you'll be back again within the year. Enjoy it all!

Yay, glad you're caught up!

Yeah, when I thought about hopping from MK to Epcot, I kept remembering our May trip, but now I'm kind of like, this trip is twice as long, so maybe hopping wouldn't be the worst thing! And MK opens at 8 now instead of 9 so if we did 8 to like, 1:30 and hopped to Epcot for Le Cellier, it would probably be ok!

I really like easywdw! I can't do every recommended day, since I love EMH's, but I'm trying to do some! I want to see if it makes a difference, I've never really followed a crowd calendar before! I was getting stressed but now that it's getting closer, I'm finding I'm just excited about going and I don't really care about crowds or the schedule anymore, I just want to enjoy Disney and have fun!