Sweet mother of monkey milk we are heading back to WDW!! A Nov/Dec PTR

[disneyfantotheend]

I'm going to rebrand all of us (myself included) into saying that we are NOT cheap. We simply want a good value for our money! After all, someone who is cheap doesn't spend $199 on a photo cd!

Can't blame us for stretching our dollars whenever possible!

 

[MamaJessie]

I'm going to rebrand all of us (myself included) into saying that we are NOT cheap. We simply want a good value for our money! After all, someone who is cheap doesn't spend $199 on a photo cd!

Can't blame us for stretching our dollars whenever possible!

lol true!

 

[BringingUpDisney]

Joining in from the December Code Watch group - nice to feel like I can obsessively plan somewhere without the eye rolling!

Love the movie nights, now I have to be more creative in introducing my DD to the Disney magic!

We are doing split stay Poly/BC Dec. 1st - 11th. First time at these resorts...

 

[MamaJessie]

Joining in from the December Code Watch group - nice to feel like I can obsessively plan somewhere without the eye rolling!

Love the movie nights, now I have to be more creative in introducing my DD to the Disney magic!

We are doing split stay Poly/BC Dec. 1st - 11th. First time at these resorts...

There is a thread here with some great countdown nights! A Poly/BC trip sounds amazing Are you in the December FB group?

And welcome!

 

[MamaJessie]

I have hit my first obsessive planning wall. There really isn't much more for me to plan right now. I have a list of ADRs I want but until hours/discounts come out I can't really nail anything down.

Actually since discounts usually come out after the ADR date I am in a bit of a pickle...

If free dining is offered I will buy 2 park tickets. I will have two full day tickets and will use one of my NE tickets to hop among the other two parks.
Or in scenario 2
If a discount is offered I will only buy 1 ticket so I can buy the DDP and then I will hop two days instead of one.
I know I could just book at a resort or make sure I hop to the same place for dinner either way but for some reason I can't seem to work it that way since in me head
Scenario 1
MK
AK
EP/DHS

and Scenario 2
AK
MK/Epcot
MK/DHS

See how in the first one DHS and Epcot are the same day and in the second one they aren't? Hmmm.. much to think about. I don't want to be an ADR hoarder but I might book an extra ADR or two.

At least our Universal, legoland and water park days aren't affected and I can plan those how I want.

Anyone else have different scenarios based on different discounts offered?

 

[MamaJessie]

The food. So often I start by checking out resorts, or sketching up touring plans but more often then I care to admit I end up scouring menus and reviews and food porn.

These are the TS restaurants that are top tier goals..

Ohana. Yeah I know, I am so original We have yet to eat here and it seems like the kind of place that would make every person in my family happy. I also really want to check out the Poly.

Akershus, specifically lunch or dinner. I love the thought of an 8am ADR and clean dresses but the food is so much more appealing later in the day for us. I already talked to my son about doing one princess meal to appease his sisters. Knowing he gets to do legoland has made this a much easier pill to swallow. Oh yeah that and he will be in Disney. Oh and I think he might secretly like the attention princesses give the boys

Tusker House - This will be our third time there but it is a must. Love it! Rich wants the 8am ADR again.. he still talks about breakfast there. Sapphire was just talking about the juice the other day and how she misses it.

Then the rest of the ADRs up for consideration are...

Chef Mickey - we tried breakfast, considering dinner. I know the food doesn't get great reviews but the Disney vibe there is great and I want to see a lot of the resorts' Christmas decorations.

Cape May - dinner, we like seafood a lot and it seems like a good food bet. And it would let me see more resort decorations. Downside, I don't want a ton of buffets and it seems headed in that direction quickly..

Crystal Palace - breakfast. Early ADR goals. Puffed french toast. Downside is my kids aren't in love with the 100 Acre wood crew. And I am not sure how I feel about letting them go into a sugary carb load before a full park day. Am I setting myself up for disaster?

SciFi dinner - It just seems cool. And I would drink milkshakes every single day on vacation if I could.

TRex - BTDT, really liked it. Kind of holding a grudge against Landry's right now for closing the RFC near me with no notice, it crushed my little girls. And now my birthday credit will go unused every year. Bah humbug. And since we have tried it and are already repeating TH I wonder if we should broaden our horizons.

House of Blues - I have a restaurant.com certificate I printed out because I was sure I wasn't doing the DDP (now I am sure I am) I don't really think we could/should squeeze in an extra meal just to use it. But maybe it would be nice?

 

[MamaJessie]

Well, since I changed my dates I needed all new ADRs. For dinners I have Raglan Road, Ohana, SciFi and Boma. I have a lunch at Akershus and a breakfast (pre rope drop) at Tusker. So still successful, just had to change some times. Good thing I enjoy ADR stalking.

 

[VillianDiva]

Love the start already! It looks like we will be visiting at the same time. I am a HUGE Saints fan, like crazy obsessed. When I saw your husband's jersey this trip report was bumped to MUST read!

Not sure if this is possible...but I would love to know more about the Dec FB page!

 

[VillianDiva]

Today is ADR day! They are done. Well, done in that I made reservations. I still have a res to stalk.

I have .....
12/1 Chef Mickey dinner. I went back and forth on this, but for now plan on keeping it.

12/2 Cape May dinner. My family loves seafood. I am sure Rich will spend the night cracking open a ton of crab legs for the kids

12/3 Akershus... breakfast. I wanted lunch but no lunch ADRs are open in December as of right now. Hopefully I will be editing this with a lunch reservation at some point..
12/3 SciFi dinner.

12/4 Ohana dinner. So excited!

12/5 Tusker House breakfast, 8:05
12/5 Boma dinner

I am very happy with my plans at this point. I had considered a BOG dinner but seeing as though there was zero availability that made the decision for me - BOG for CS it is.

Today was my 180! I thought I was going to go nuts this morning when my reservation wouldn't link and it never showed my +10. I never get up before 6:30 to go to work and this morning I was up at 4:30!! It is almost sad how close to tears I was regarding these dining reservations! I ended up calling and while I didn't get everything I wanted...it was close enough!

 

[DisMomJill]

Joining in

 

[MamaJessie]

Love the start already! It looks like we will be visiting at the same time. I am a HUGE Saints fan, like crazy obsessed. When I saw your husband's jersey this trip report was bumped to MUST read!

Not sure if this is possible...but I would love to know more about the Dec FB page!

Welcome!

Today was my 180! I thought I was going to go nuts this morning when my reservation wouldn't link and it never showed my +10. I never get up before 6:30 to go to work and this morning I was up at 4:30!! It is almost sad how close to tears I was regarding these dining reservations! I ended up calling and while I didn't get everything I wanted...it was close enough!

Glad it mostly worked out for you. No you have something to stalk

Joining in

Welcome!

 

[MamaJessie]

My camera stopped working. I planned on buying photopass (+?) anyway but will still want one for candids, and ya know, the whole other part of my life... Seriously considering finally getting a smartphone, like the iPhone, that has a good camera. With My Disney Experience being rolled out it seems like a great time to FINALLY jump on the wagon.

What Disney apps are your must haves? I am so out of the loop on this!

 

[MamaJessie]

We are getting out of school LATE this year, we are going all the way until June 28th! Anyway we did a March countdown party (Wreck It Ralph - still hoping I can get the pictures off my stinkin' camera so I can write a proper summary ) but then just didn't? I don't know what happened but April and May passed with no countdown party. Slacker.
Where was this going again.....?

Oh yeah,
So I am going to double them up in June and July. I am planning a Monster's Inc party where we eat a themed dinner, and dessert home, then go to the movies to see Monster University

Then a Star Wars party for the last day of school. Thing is, I have a confession.... I've uh.. never seen Star Wars. None. Well I mean I technically watched one in the theaters when I was a little kid (It had the gold guy and the silver trash can thing , ...CRPO?) but I really don't remember it. I feel I am betraying my geeky nature and Disney obsession so I really need to remedy this. My question for any Star Wars fans is this... Start in story order, or in the order they were released in? Not sure which movie to start with! Then we have the rest of the summer to watch the rest once this ball FINALLY starts rolling. My pinterest is all ready with fun ideas, now I just need to pick the movie.

 

[MamaJessie]

So yeah. FD. Which means no AsMo and no AoA. So I had to go back to deciding on a resort. Oh yeah and dates. No more week after Thanksgiving At first I was bummed. I liked the way I felt like I was getting bonus time since DH has Th&Fri off without pay anyway we could get a head start on vacation and use that time to visit family. Now that will be a little harder, but it has some positives. I like that I am not going to cook Thanksgiving while my Disney to do list runs constantly in my head, competing for attention the whole time. And instead of coming home and missing Disney I can come home and plan for Christmas, which I love

So two connecting rooms at Pop it is, 11/17 - 11/23

The kids don't know I changed the date. I know it is only a couple weeks but this way I can surprise them with leaving a couple weeks early.

 

[purplepixiedust]

Hi~ joining in too. In the FB group and the November DIS group as well. Can't wait to follow along with your plans.

 

[purplepixiedust]

So yeah. FD. Which means no AsMo and no AoA. So I had to go back to deciding on a resort. Oh yeah and dates. No more week after Thanksgiving At first I was bummed. I liked the way I felt like I was getting bonus time since DH has Th&Fri off without pay anyway we could get a head start on vacation and use that time to visit family. Now that will be a little harder, but it has some positives. I like that I am not going to cook Thanksgiving while my Disney to do list runs constantly in my head, competing for attention the whole time. And instead of coming home and missing Disney I can come home and plan for Christmas, which I love

So two connecting rooms at Pop it is, 11/17 - 11/23

The kids don't know I changed the date. I know it is only a couple weeks but this way I can surprise them with leaving a couple weeks early.

We will also be at POP during your dates. We arrive on 11/15 and are staying through 11/22. We had to alter our original trip plans and dates too to fit the free dining window. I am ok with POP, it's the only place we have ever stayed on site. We had wanted to go in December but couldn't pass up the free dining deal. Scheduling the trip around my kids sports schedules is a bit of a challenge as well.

 

[MamaJessie]

We will also be at POP during your dates. We arrive on 11/15 and are staying through 11/22. We had to alter our original trip plans and dates too to fit the free dining window. I am ok with POP, it's the only place we have ever stayed on site. We had wanted to go in December but couldn't pass up the free dining deal. Scheduling the trip around my kids sports schedules is a bit of a challenge as well.

Flag football ended Saturday and the play ends this Saturday so that just leaves us with dance class so we are good in that respect

I know it gets harder in high school sports, so far not an issue in this house.

And yikes it has been a long time since I checked on my sad little PTR. Thanks for stopping by

 

[MamaJessie]

I went to the dollar store and picked up some battery operated lights. A string of stars, a string of snowflakes and a string that looks more like traditional Christmas lights. I was so excited to find some cheap! I figure one for the stroller, and a string in each resort window (two connecting rooms so we have two windows)

Then when I was cleaning out my bedroom closet today I found two giant strings of Santa battery operated lights. Huh. Don't want to go overboard but may bring those along too... Ya know since I have them and all.

I am going to make some window decorations tomorrow. Not 100% sure how to hang them. Are the blinds and curtains on a regular rod? Thinking I may drape off of that? I have some lime green foam too so I am going to cut out Mickey's, write my name on them and add some sticky magnet stuff to the back.

Now I just need some sort of dry erase board, or some way for people to leave notes if they stop by.

And hopefully I will be finishing up the travel binders tomorrow. I will take pics and post about them tomorrow. I SWEAR!

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

We love decorating the windows at Pop! We normally use suction cup hangers to hang our decorations up on the windows. They work really well. I'm pretty sure there aren't rods at the resort, but I'm not 100% sure. Also you might want to bring about 6 foot extension cord for your lights!

 

[MamaJessie]

The lights are actually battery operated so I don't think we will end up leaving them lit all that often. Thanks for the tip though, I will have to pick up some suction cups in my last minute shopping.

I tried taking a pic of the binders with my phone and emailing them to me but they keep getting lost in the shuffle and not showing up in my email I wish there was an easier way to post pictures to DIS from my phone.

I cannot believe next week this time I will be sleeping in Florida (a couple hours away from WDW with DHs family) No school Monday so the older kids are going to help me pack the rest of the bags up and most importantly clean the minivan It is a little scary right now.

My sisters are going to be giving the kids an early Christmas gift - spending $$ for vacation They will come over Friday afternoon when we get my 6 year old home early and will be there when we tell the littles we are leaving

I also have to make the LGMH magnets. We tried to do it as a family craft and uh. it did not end well. I mean the kids had plenty of fun but they were not recognizable as Mickey, that's for sure...

Oh and I called about my PP+ issue (two sets of FP+s one night) and she was basically like "Just use three of them and you should be fine" I almost never used FPs before so I know I will be fine without them if something glitches, I just have such a specific plan because of the bands!