Super Special Mom and Son Trip with Free DDP, Sept, 23-Oct 2, 2011 PHOTOS/Days1-10

[Schoolbread]

Who: Me (Schoolbread, aka Tina), 41, WDW vet
Mikey, almost 9, WDW vet

What: With both of my sons, I planned a mom/son trip. With my older son, we went when he was in 6th grade. It was a nightmare from the school's perspective, and he had to do a LOT of extra work, even though he only missed 2-1/2 days in total.

With this trip, I was convinced to take Mikey in 5th grade. Well, a very, very unexpected divorce has made me move up the trip by two whole years. I REALLY need this trip. I already have it cleared with the school. The kicker is, Mikey doesn't know. He thinks he's still going in 5th grade. We have a whole scenerio set up for why we're going to the airport and surprise him with a "You're Going to Disney World" poster on the inside of the trunk when we get there. I hope I can pull this off!

When: Sept 23-Oct 2 (Usually, we take trips in late October during fall break. This will be my first trip in September. I expect heat and humidity, but it can't be worse than the August 2009 and July 2010 trips. Maybe the same, but not worse. HOPEFULLY.....At least we'll get the very, very beginning of Food and Wine!)

Where: Staying at Pop to save money, but upgraded to the regular DDP. We got free dining.



We are semi-foodies and WDW vets, so we decided to try some new and different places this trip. Here's the line-up (yes I know some of these will be out of pocket):

Friday--
Breakfast: Something from home for the plane
Lunch: Chik-Fil-A at MCO (we don't have them here)
Dinner: Mama Melrose

Saturday--
Breakfast: Tea at Royal Anandapur
Lunch: Yak & Yeti (TS) NEW TO US
Snack: Earl of Sandwich
LATE Dinner: Cooke's of Dublin NEW TO US

Sunday--
Snack: Kringla (gotta have SCHOOLBREAD!!!)
Lunch: Rose & Crown
Dinner: Pecos Bills

Monday--
Lunch: Kona Cafe
Dinner: AMC Movie theater (gonna try that new eat at your seat thing)
NEW TO US

Tuesday--
Lunch: Pepper Market (NEW TO US)
Dinner: The Wave (NEW TO US)

Wednesday--
Lunch: Everything Pop
Dinner: Cape May

Thursday--
Lunch: Typhoon Tilly's (NEW)
Dinner: San Angel (almost new--haven't been since 1991!)

Friday--
Lunch: Columbia HH
Dinner: Tokyo Dining (NEW, but we've been to Teppan Edo twice)

Saturday--
Breakfast: Trails End (traditional family last day breakfast)
Dinner: 'Ohana

Sunday--
Breakfast: Everything Pop on the way out of the door

I promise LOTS of photos!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Looks great! I know you posted on our thread and mentioned the surprise for your son. How very cool! My Mom & Son trip in 2008 was just amazing. And yeah, we are bringing Dad along this year but it is still all about DS so it is still Mom & Son plus Dad!

Looking forward to your report after our trip!

 

[Schoolbread]

THAT is hilarious!!!! Plus.....Dad.....

 

[mousegear]

We are also going from Sept 24~30 and staying at POFQ. It's just DS (going to be 8 26th) and me. DH will be on a business trip and we've planned this trip since our last year so it's going to be just two of us. Your title got my attention! We'll also be in Epcot Sunday 25th.

 

[Schoolbread]

POFQ is my favorite resort. I would bypass the deluxes to stay there because of the size. LOVE it.

So cool that we'll be there the same time! If you see a plump, auburned, 40-ish lady and her auburned, freckled 8-1/2 yr old, say hi! LOL!

 

[jennyf2]

Just wanted to say GOOD MORNING from MN Have a great trip! We leave next week & I can't wait!!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Hi Tina! So excited for you guys, hope you have an amazing trip and the weather isnt too bad...that is so awesome that you get to do F&W, have you ever done it before?

 

[Schoolbread]

Just wanted to say GOOD MORNING from MN Have a great trip! We leave next week & I can't wait!!!

Well hello and have a GREAT time!!!! Don't ya love WPE at the Mall of America? When I need a Disney fix, I go to the Disney Store, then to lunch at WPE!

Hi Tina! So excited for you guys, hope you have an amazing trip and the weather isnt too bad...that is so awesome that you get to do F&W, have you ever done it before?

Yes, 3 times before. I learned very quickly to not go to F&W on a Saturday night. OY!!!!! The crowds!

 

[kylieh]

We are also going from Sept 24~30 and staying at POFQ. It's just DS (going to be 8 26th) and me. DH will be on a business trip and we've planned this trip since our last year so it's going to be just two of us. Your title got my attention! We'll also be in Epcot Sunday 25th.

POFQ is my favorite resort. I would bypass the deluxes to stay there because of the size. LOVE it.

So cool that we'll be there the same time! If you see a plump, auburned, 40-ish lady and her auburned, freckled 8-1/2 yr old, say hi! LOL!

And if you see an Australian family... We're at POFQ too!!! Also heading to Epcot on 25th.

School bread - love the look of your ADRs.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I'm in! What a wonderful idea, a great way to spend some quality time with your sons! Looking forward to your reviews.

I made the mistake of stumbling upon F&W on a Saturday night in 2001. That was before most web site advisors knew what to recommend about it...it was just awful! Can't wait to go back better prepared...someday.

 

[Schoolbread]

And if you see an Australian family... We're at POFQ too!!! Also heading to Epcot on 25th.

School bread - love the look of your ADRs.

Thanks. I wanted to try something a little new and different this trip. It's the slower time of year, so in THEORY we can get more done in the parks during the day. That should leave time for some more unusual activities/eateries. Have a magical trip!

I'm in! What a wonderful idea, a great way to spend some quality time with your sons! Looking forward to your reviews.

I made the mistake of stumbling upon F&W on a Saturday night in 2001. That was before most web site advisors knew what to recommend about it...it was just awful! Can't wait to go back better prepared...someday.

Someday will come!!! Yes, the weekends during F&W are crazy. Even Saturday and Sunday during the DAY are bad. We are there on that front cusp of the fest, so I will have to brave it on a Saturday, but at least it will be Saturday LUNCH. Of course, being the 1st weekend, I may be in for a LOT of locals. We'll have to see!

 

[Schoolbread]

Well, I about had a heart attack yesterday. It was day 45 before the trip and I always pop on the website to see what comes up (a lot of people cancel when they hit that 45 day threshold or get their packages cancelled if they don't pay up). I was so excited to see California Grill! So I was going to book it. Then I had them pull up my existing reservations and they were ALL GONE. OK, that's happened before, so I manually entered the ADRs.....NOTHING.


I got so flustered that I forgot to schedule Cali (oh well---shouldn't spend the money anyway). I checked again today and thankfully they were all there. Whew!

ETA: Just checked again and there's a 9:20 available that night. I'd take it, except I'm worried that since we're getting up at 4 a.m., it's not a smart way to spend that travel/first day. Sounds like a recipe for disaster for the rest of the trip.

 

[Schoolbread]

V&A available too! What's going on????

 

[mousegear]

Unstability of Disney online reservation site makes me nervous.
It's too bad that you couldn't make that CG ADR. On my 180 day, I got up 5:45 (eastern time) and made those ADRs. However, since then we found out DH couldn't make it and rearranged ADRs. I foolishly thought since DH is not going, CG is little too much for just me and DS. Since then I changed my mind again, and wanted some decent time for CG but couldn't get it until a couple of days ago. I managed to get 5:30 one!!! I'm just glad that we could eat their sushi again!

I'll be wearing Lime Greem Mickey Head on my bag so if you spot 7~8ish boy with a mom (Korean), please say hi to us.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

If you really want to go, keep checking on Cali Grille. It was one of the first ADRs I booked back in February and then for whatever reason cancelled it along the way. About a month ago I decided I wanted to go. All that was coming up were 9:30 times and that is just too late for us. Finally a couple of weeks ago I got a 5:30 and took it. Then on Saturday, a 7:20 popped up! So people do cancel ... you just need to keep checking!

 

[Schoolbread]

Unstability of Disney online reservation site makes me nervous.
It's too bad that you couldn't make that CG ADR. On my 180 day, I got up 5:45 (eastern time) and made those ADRs. However, since then we found out DH couldn't make it and rearranged ADRs. I foolishly thought since DH is not going, CG is little too much for just me and DS. Since then I changed my mind again, and wanted some decent time for CG but couldn't get it until a couple of days ago. I managed to get 5:30 one!!! I'm just glad that we could eat their sushi again!

I'll be wearing Lime Greem Mickey Head on my bag so if you spot 7~8ish boy with a mom (Korean), please say hi to us.

If you really want to go, keep checking on Cali Grille. It was one of the first ADRs I booked back in February and then for whatever reason cancelled it along the way. About a month ago I decided I wanted to go. All that was coming up were 9:30 times and that is just too late for us. Finally a couple of weeks ago I got a 5:30 and took it. Then on Saturday, a 7:20 popped up! So people do cancel ... you just need to keep checking!

You know, touring plans changed the best/worst parks just yesterday, and I thought about looking/redoing the list yet again. But, it's a very low crowd period, so I decided to just leave things as is. I am going to keep checking, though, for the CG....My son is a HUGE sushi lover and that would be quite the birthday surprise for him!

 

[southelginband]

This sounds like it will be a great trip! Have fun!

 

[Schoolbread]

Thanks! I will!!

 

[mousegear]

You know, touring plans changed the best/worst parks just yesterday, and I thought about looking/redoing the list yet again. But, it's a very low crowd period, so I decided to just leave things as is. I am going to keep checking, though, for the CG....My son is a HUGE sushi lover and that would be quite the birthday surprise for him!

Same as my son. He's a sushi lover! He has specifically asked for CG ADR so he could have their deluxe sushi platter again. I have to say that I enjoy his adventurous palate but it's expensive. We are also going to try Kimonos by Swan since I've read good reviews and got their $25restaurant.com certificate for $2. I can't wait until our trip! I really do hope to see you guys around.

 

[Schoolbread]

Yes, we liked Kimonos. Note, though--you cannot use your KTTW card there. I went with a bunch of adults for a karaoke night there. I had $25 in my pocket and my KTTW card. Well, at $12.50 per beverage, I could only have one. I nursed one long island ALL night long. Lesson learned!