Sept. 2011 - To the World in 80 Days

[AJRitz]

No Dis Dad trip report would be complete without a discussion of food. Our last trip, we hit many of the "Greatest Hits" of Walt Disney World dining - 'Ohana (a favorite of the whole family); California Grill (date night favorite); Boma (I loved it, the rest of the family, not as much); Akershaus (dinner with princesses on The Bug's birthday) . . . you get the picture.

But as I mentioned earlier, this is a different kind of trip. First, we're on a much tighter budget than we were last trip. Second, we're on the Quick Serve Dining Plan (free dining at a Value Resort). Third, having only found out about this trip 80-days in advance, upgrading to the Standard Dining Plan would have been a waste, given how difficult dining reservations are to get at prime times during Free Dining with only this much lead time.

Therefore, most of the "dining" portion of my trip planning has been devoted to checking the menus of various quick service restaurants and trying to find menus that will provide us with some good variety while dining on the QSDP. I have made ADRs for two sit-down meals, one the first night of our trip, and one the last night. Here's what the plans look like right now:

Monday, September 19 - Dinner ADR at House of Blues (I scored a $25 gift certificate from Restaurant.com for 80% off)
Tuesday, September 20 - Lunch at Pizza Planet (Squeaker is vibrating in anticipation of crappy pizza, but he'll love it); Dinner at Earl of Sandwich before heading back to Hollywood Studios
Wednesday, September 21 - Lunch at Columbia Harbor House; Dinner at Casey's Corner
Thursday, September 22 - Lunch at Tangierine Cafe (I'm disappointed that I'm going to be working during this one); Dinner at Sunshine Seasons
Friday, September 23 - Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ; Dinner at Intermission Food Court or Cosmic Ray's (depends on when we're ready to head to MNSSHP)
Saturday, September 24 - Breakfast at Captain Cook's; Lunch at Cosmic Ray's or Intermission Food Court; Dinner at Pecos Bill's
Sunday, September 25 - Lunch at Backlot Express; Dinner (having a hard time deciding what to do with this one. Hollywood Studios Quick Serve options are pretty weak).
Monday, September 26 - Lunch at Kringla Bakeri (we ate there last trip, and really enjoyed it); Dinner - this is our other sit-down meal. Available Epcot ADR times were not good. Currently, we have a reservation at Yachtsman Steakhouse, which I'm sure would be great. But I'm not thrilled about the price range, so this one may change).

Further information about my conference continues to trickle in, and may further impact all of these decisions. But that's what the dining situation looks like at this point - I'm certainly open to suggestions!

 

[dvczerfs]

we tend to hit the harbor house every trip. i seem to be addicted to the mustard sauce!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

I think your plans look good. I really don't think you can really "go wrong" with any counter service places. A few are probably better than others and some worse than others, but I can't say that any of them are all that bad. My favorite (just because it has always been our first meal inside the MK) is Pecos Bill's and I see that it is on the list!

 

[AJRitz]

Today, I finally got the official schedule for the conference that is the impetus for this trip in the first place. I'm going to have to do some plan shuffling.

I've got a reception to attend on Monday night that conflicts with our House of Blues ADR, so I'll need to reschedule.

Tuesday's schedule looks friendlier, wrapping up the program day at 4:45 p.m. - actually a little earlier than expected.

Wedneday runs late, until 5:15 p.m. And, of course, the single most important session for me to participate in is the last session of the day. I may have to just send the family ahead the Magic Kingdom and meet back up with them as soon as I can.

Thursday also runs until 5:15 p.m., and that evening was already planned rather tightly. I'll almost definitely have to meet them at Epcot, rather than having them wait around for me to get back to ASMu from the Royal Plaza.

In fact, the one thing that this conference schedule has convinced me is that I'm going to have to make use of the room I have reserved at the Royal Plaza. I'll pretty much use it as a dressing room. That way, I can travel from ASMu to the RP in the morning in comfortable hot weather clothes, head upstairs, and change into my work conference appropriate duds, and reverse the process in the evening. It also looks like I'll need to go ahead and get a rental car for the conference, to expedite the travel between resorts.

 

[afwdwfan]

It is unfortunate that some of the conference times appear to be cutting into the evening plans, but it looks like it will work out well having that "extra" hotel room. I think the rental car would definitely pay off, especially in cutting down on your travel time after your conference so that you don't miss out on evening activities with your family.

 

[AJRitz]

So, let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up:

Work asks you to go to Orlando and pays your way. You find a way to save money staying on site and adding free dining. Now you find a way to save money and stay longer??

If you have any luck left in whatever rabbit's foot is working its magic on your behalf, can you send some my way?

Our office decided to add another conference participant earlier this week, but the office has to pay for her out of our budget instead of the conference budget. And I'd told my Supervisor about the whole "using the Royal Plaza as a changing room" thing. She and the AO put their heads together and have figured out how to work the accounting codes so that the office can save about a couple hundred dollars, and I can save about $400 too!

We called the Royal Plaza and had my co-worker take over my reservation there (since she was too late to get the conference rate). My office saves money because the conference budget will cover her (my former) hotel room, rather than paying a higher rate out of the office budget. Now, all the office has to cover for her is her per diem and transportation.

The office will reimburse me for my hotel out of the office budget, at the conference rate (cheaper than they would have had to pay for a non-conference rate room for my colleague). My transportation and per diem is already covered by the conference budget.

Net result? Everybody wins! We save the taxpayers some money and me some money at the same time.

 

[afwdwfan]

That's great! I'm glad they were able to work with you and come up with a solution that helps all around.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Awesome! If all this dealmaking keeps up, sooner or later they'll be paying you to stay at the Grand Floridian!

 

[trennr]

Our office decided to add another conference participant earlier this week, but the office has to pay for her out of our budget instead of the conference budget. And I'd told my Supervisor about the whole "using the Royal Plaza as a changing room" thing. She and the AO put their heads together and have figured out how to work the accounting codes so that the office can save about a couple hundred dollars, and I can save about $400 too!

We called the Royal Plaza and had my co-worker take over my reservation there (since she was too late to get the conference rate). My office saves money because the conference budget will cover her (my former) hotel room, rather than paying a higher rate out of the office budget. Now, all the office has to cover for her is her per diem and transportation.

The office will reimburse me for my hotel out of the office budget, at the conference rate (cheaper than they would have had to pay for a non-conference rate room for my colleague). My transportation and per diem is already covered by the conference budget.

Net result? Everybody wins! We save the taxpayers some money and me some money at the same time.

Hey can you swing me a room while your at it?

2 Adults 2 Kids 16 and 11... Free Dining...5 day Park Tix... MNSSHP...

 

[AJRitz]

I'm long overdue for an update. Not a whole lot has changed since my last post, but since today the countdown goes to single digits, I thought I should post something.

First, SINGLE DIGITS! YAY!

I did tweak the plan just a bit, and swapped out dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe for the dinner at House of Blues. Anyone want a $25 House of Blues gift certificate?

I also decided that there needed to be SOME kind of surprise for this trip. Last trip, the whole thing was a surprise. It's been fun having the kids involved with the planning this time. But surprises are fun. So rather than driving to the airport, I've arranged for a stretch limo to pick us up and take us to the airport, and also to return us home from the airport. I'm not saying anything to anyone (including Mrs. AJRitz) about this until it pulls up to pick us up.

Oh, and I'm just blowing off the "Welcome Reception". I'm going to spend three days in meetings with these people. I don't need a reception (where I'll almost certainly have to pay for my own drinks anyway) to spend time with them.

Depending on how everyone feels after the day of traveling, I also may add a ticket day (it'd only be about $20 for all four of us) so that we can head over to the Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours after dinner at WCC. I'm not going to mention the possibility to the kids yet. Otherwise, we'll just head back to ASMu after dinner - maybe hit the pool and/or the poolside movie. (Anyone know where I can find a schedule of what they'll be showing, or do I need to just wait until we check-in for a schedule)?

 

[twokids0204]

I'll follow... and live vicariously.

Which reminds me - I should probably start a trip pre-report.

 

[afwdwfan]

Congratulations on hitting the single digit mark!!!

I think the stretch limo will be a very nice surprise for the family... as would the extra time in the parks if you do decide to do an extra day on the ticket. Don't know anything about the movie schedule and whether it is available before you get there or not, but I'm kind of curious about that too.

 

[AJRitz]

I guess this is just about my last chance to add a Pre-Trip post to my report. It's been a rather crazy day trying to get everything ready to go, but I think we've finally managed it.

I botched our SWA check-in this morning, as I totally spaced it while hanging out and talking to friends at the synagogue while the kids were in Sunday School. Squeaker is still young enough that they should allow us to board with family boarding, between the A and B groups. If not, the flight could get ugly.

And it's a good thing I double-checked the car rental reservation. My travel arranger at work had totally messed it up - I could have ended up paying for the whole thing myself (booking with the wrong code, which could have caused the reimbursement to get rejected and could have left me in LOTS of trouble if there was an accident with the car). I got it straightened out over the phone.

Squeaker was incredibly wound up as we neared bedtime tonight, but then he crashed when his head hit the pillow. The Bug, on the other hand, was relatively mellow, but then said she couldn't sleep. I think she's been up three times now since bedtime, complaining that she can't sleep.

Bags are all packed and waiting by the front door.

I just finished uploading the latest episode of the Dis Dads Podcast and posted this week's Monday poll (hey - it's after midnight, it's Monday here). Now, it's time to get me (and The Bug) off to bed. Tomorrow - Walt Disney World!!

 

[afwdwfan]

Sometimes I get excited about our upcoming trip and can't sleep... and I still have over 2 months to go!

I hope you guys have a great time!