T-i-double-g-err Family Bounces to the Lodge

[T-i-double-g-err]

Okay. Time for the latest Event. A couple days ago DW announced that she did not want to take the three hour, three child, $12/hour expense for putting the kids in Cub's Den the night we have our ADR at Artist Point. We have not made any changes yet, but it may just be me and DM at Artist Point while DW and Cuz take the kids somewhere else.

She's right that we're spending over $100 at Cub's Den plus the cost of dinner. For those of you who have eaten at Artist Point, what do you think? Is it worth it to add $100 to the dinner tab for all the adults to go?

If not, we were not planning on using park tickets on that day. Any thoughts on alternative dining plans for DW, Cuz and the kids or the group as a whole if we bag Artist Point altogether? We thought maybe a dinner at one of the monorail resorts. We're already eating at 'Ohana (twice). Park Faire at GF is close for refurbishing. We'll have started our trip with dinner at CM, and we have an ADR at WCC later in the week.

DW is leaning towards Roaring Forks and some pool time while DW and I try Artist Point. We could also restructure the ADRs to move WCC to that night and pick something else for the original WCC night. The night we currently have our WCC reservation we were planning on hitting MK for the evening entertainment Spectromagic/Wishes. Any thoughts on LTT's character dinner? We've never eaten dinner there.

To sum it up, we've got two options on the table:
1) DM & I hit Artist Point as planned, and DW, Cuz and the kids hit another restaurant that does not require park tickets.
2) We cancel Artist Point and switch to WCC. We switch out WCC for another sit down restaurant convenient to MK.

Here's a copy of our current ADRs for reference.

7/11 Dinner at Chef Mickey's (we always start family trips there)
7/12 Mama Melrose (Fantasmic package)
7/13 Artist Point (while kids are at Cub's Den)
7/14 Whispering Canyon dinner
7/15 Prime Time lunch
7/15 'Ohana dinner
7/16 Princess Storybook lunch (Norway)
7/17 Boma dinner
7/18 'Ohana breakfast (we always end our trips here)

So, anyone please feel free to chime in...

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

So, I took my DD9 and the rest of my brownie troop to a horse farm this weekend. Now she really wants to ride at Fort Wilderness. This will take some major rearranging of our trip, but I really want to go too. She is the only one of our kids old enough to go horseback riding at FW, so we would split up the group (which is often a good idea anyway--ask anyone with 3 kids ).

I hope after Girl Scout camp this summer, she still wants to go riding.:cheer2

So, as T said in the last post, I have decided to cancel the ADR for Artist Point and Cubs Den. In the process, I started reevaluating everything. I am now trying to figure out which choices were good, and are we spending too much (that answer is going to be yes based only on the fact that we are going to WDW).

The other thing I've been obsessing about is Dole Whips. What the heck is a Dole Whip? All over the DIS boards people are talking about how that can't wait to get to WDW and have a Dole Whip. Okay. I NEED to find out first hand. Enough descriptions. Just tell me where to find one!

So the current update is that everything we decided may be up in the air. Did I mention that DH won't realize that until he reads this post...

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

So the current update is that everything we decided may be up in the air. Did I mention that DH won't realize that until he reads this post...

Yes I will! I read about it in your post on the July list thread.

At some point, we'll have to actually talk to each other (gasp!) and figure out how we want to modify the plan. I'm free at the moment when you look up from the computer you are using...

PS Bring a box of girl scout cookies. You know which kind.

 

[aldisneygrl]

It is a pineapple ice cream. You can get it in float version (pineapple ice cream on top of pineapple juice) or just ice cream version. They are yummy!!

The only place I know of to get them is at the Aloha Isle stand in MK. It is next to Aladdin's carpet ride in Adventureland.

Here are photos:

Float version:

Ice cream version:

You HAVE to get one! They are heavenly! I am drooling sitting here thinking about them.

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Yum...

 

[aldisneygrl]

Hey and if you are feeling adventurous, have one for me too! I told you I wanted to live vicariously through your trip! You can eat it in my honor! Remember this is the ONLY place in all of WDW that you can get a Dole Whip!

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Hey and if you are feeling adventurous, have one for me too! I told you I wanted to live vicariously through your trip! You can eat it in my honor! Remember this is the ONLY place in all of WDW that you can get a Dole Whip!

I'll make sure she has at least one in your honor. Without too much arm twisting, I may have to have one in your honor as well.

 

[DisneyJo]

You 2 are so funny, I can so picture you both siting in the same room Dissing and posting to each other

BTW thought I'd just tell you I was a Rainbow (daisy scout) leader for nearly 4 years, it's great fun isn't it

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

You 2 are so funny, I can so picture you both siting in the same room Dissing and posting to each other

BTW thought I'd just tell you I was a Rainbow (daisy scout) leader for nearly 4 years, it's great fun isn't it

It is fun. I just went through Junior Training. I can't wait to start next year as a Junior leader. I'd love to hear about scouts in the UK. Girl Scouts has become a HUGE part of my life.

T and I decided to DIS together tonight (as opposed to on two computers). Of course, here we are, two hours later on separate computers. Well, you know what they say: People who DIS together, stay together... At least we have the same obsession.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Well, we've moved forward with a few ADR changes.

A few posts back we were contemplating the significant outlay of having three children go to Cub's Den for 2-3 hours while the adults ate at Artist Point, well at least DW was. She's swayed me to her point of view. We've cancelled the ADR and the Cub's Den reservation. Instead, we will all go to Boma that night. That's the down day in our trip, where we'll be driving across to the Tampa area to vist DW's and Cuz's grandparents, the kids' greats. We'll just plan on going straight to AKL after the visit and have our dinner there.

Having bumped Boma up in the trip, we were left with an opening later. We decided that we're going to try Trail's End over at Ft. Wilderness.

We're also thinking about changing the reservation at PrimeTime for lunch. It really is not one of my favorites. We thought about trying SciFi but found out that they do not have table seating for parties of seven. The choices at MGM are pretty limited. We're going to 'Ohana that night for dinner, so we don't want to make lunch that heavy. We may end up just choosing to do a CS somewhere. Any recommendations for lunch in and around MGM please let us know.

So, here's our updated dining plan (changes in red):
7/11 Dinner at Chef Mickey's (we always start family trips there)
7/12 Mama Melrose (Fantasmic package)
7/13 Boma
7/14 Whispering Canyon dinner
7/15 Prime Time lunch or CS
7/15 'Ohana dinner
7/16 Princess Storybook lunch (Norway)
7/17 Trail's End dinner
7/18 'Ohana breakfast (we always end our trips here)

On the family front, we need to get back to Cuz and DM to make sure that they's made arrangement on their respective end to meet us at WDW. Apparently, Cuz lost all the itinerary information DW forwarded to her, so the materials had to be resent.

Sorry for the slow installment. We don't seem to be having the kind of drama and dynamics that would make for an interesting installment. I guess we should be grateful that nothings blown up...

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

It has been requested by Disneyland Mama that we get back to this report. One should always listen to Mama...

The month of April flew by. We were so busy with non-Disney stuff (I know it's hard to believe ) that we didn't even log in! Neither of us! It's unprecedented. Two weeks ago our house was broken into at 2AM, while we were all in bed. When the intruders heard our door chime, they just grabbed my purse and ran. We are all very lucky. The same people got much further into some of our neighbors houses. As far as I know, no one has been hurt.

Anyway, the purse. They didn't just take any old purse. It was my very best purse. No, not Coach, not Kate Spade. They took my Mickey Mouse purse!!!! How could they. We were able to cancle all our cards and accounts and all that quick enough (so we didn't lose any points from our Disney Visa). But my beautiful, black, fake leather purse with Mickey beaded onto one corner...I didn't think anyone would do such a thing. A week later my neighbor, who had been out of town, came over with my purse! It was in her back yard (without the wallet of course). I was never so happy in my whole life!!!! I guess I'll have to have T take a picture and put it in this TR.

As for our trip, Cuz asks us basic logistical airport questions every so often, but I don't think she has actually made a reservation. The Saint, being the Saint, has taken care of everything on her end. She just wants us to arrange the Magical Express for her.

You know, in reading other people's TRs, it has occurred to me how lucky we are that we can drive down to WDW in a day. I can't imagine paying for plane tickets for all 5 of us.

I just can't wait to go. Even if something goes terribly wrong with our itinerary (I don't think TGM's advice would let that happen), I still can't wait to go and just be at the pool with the kids, eating good food, and just being there. I think I may go to bed now, so I can dream about it all....

 

[DisneyJo]

Glad you're back and all safe, how dare they take your Mickey purse

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Glad you're back and all safe, how dare they take your Mickey purse

I know! The nerve of some people!

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

I've been pretty silent the last month and a half. I've been mostly either not reading or briefly lurking on the July code watch thread. I'm hoping that will change in the next couple of weeks as I get back to normal life.

As Mrs. T reported, we have some issues in the personal life taking priority. Also, I feel like I've been living at the office the last month and a half. Today was the last day in a series of major deadline, so I am breathing a heavy sigh of relief. I cannot wait to get back to just the normal work madness.

Not much has changed since the last report from the Mrs. T from a planning standpoint. Given everying going on, I've pretty much given up on trying to track discount codes on my own, so I transferred our reservation to a TA who will keep on top of it. I'll still check when I can, but I no longer feel like I'm keeping my finger on the pulse of the code scene.

As previously reported,

We're also thinking about changing the reservation at PrimeTime for lunch. It really is not one of my favorites. We thought about trying SciFi but found out that they do not have table seating for parties of seven. The choices at MGM are pretty limited. We're going to 'Ohana that night for dinner, so we don't want to make lunch that heavy. We may end up just choosing to do a CS somewhere. Any recommendations for lunch in and around MGM please let us know.

On the family front, we need to get back to Cuz and DM to make sure that they's made arrangement on their respective end to meet us at WDW. Apparently, Cuz lost all the itinerary information DW forwarded to her, so the materials had to be resent.

We're still on the fence on the MGM lunch. I'm not a big Prime Time fan, so I'm wondering if maybe we should do something in the Boardwalk area. The problem is that would require more moving parts then somewhere in the park itself.

DM is pretty much set on her travel plans. We're not sure what's going on with Cuz. If nothing else, I can pass DM's air itinerary on to the TA to handle the Magical Express piece. It will be a bit strange as ME will bring DM to the resort but return with DM, Belle & Aurora for the beginning of their stay at Camp Grandma.

The planning will hopefully get a bit more exciting as we get closer to trip time. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that work does not throw me some random deadlines that will mess with MY MUCH NEEDED VACATION.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

It has been requested by Disneyland Mama that we get back to this report. One should always listen to Mama...

The month of April flew by. We were so busy with non-Disney stuff (I know it's hard to believe ) that we didn't even log in! Neither of us! It's unprecedented.

Two weeks ago our house was broken into at 2AM, while we were all in bed. When the intruders heard our door chime, they just grabbed my purse and ran. Anyway, the purse. They didn't just take any old purse. It was my very best purse. No, not Coach, not Kate Spade. They took my Mickey Mouse purse!!!!

WTH???? Hmmmm.... I guess you're going to have to get a new, unviolated purse in WDW, then! Sorry, Mr. T!
But seriously, I'm glad everyone was safe!

You know, in reading other people's TRs, it has occurred to me how lucky we are that we can drive down to WDW in a day. I can't imagine paying for plane tickets for all 5 of us.

Seriously! My plane tickets almost cost as much as my resort package!!

I just can't wait to go. Even if something goes terribly wrong with our itinerary (I don't think TGM's advice would let that happen), I still can't wait to go and just be at the pool with the kids, eating good food, and just being there. I think I may go to bed now, so I can dream about it all....

Don't forget to keep us posted!!!

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Well, the AP rates were announced, but they did not cover the WL for our dates (or for any dates for that matter). We'll stick with our AAA rate at the WL lodge for now.

We're thinking about staying over another night on our trip with just Mrs. T, Stitch and myself. I've asked the TA to whom we've transferred our reservation to look into the pricing for the one night. The only availability on the AP rate is for a water view room at one of the Epcot deluxes, more $$$ than I wanted to spend on an additional night. I've asked her to check the values and mods for a less pricey possibility, even if we can't get the AP rate.

We haven't told the girls of this plan as I expect we would get quite a bit of flack for staying another day without them. Of course, I really would have little sympathy for them as they will be deep into exciting adventures at Camp Grandma.

 

[T-i-double-g-err]

Okay! We've extended the trip a day for me, Mrs. T and Stitch!

We'll be staying the extra night at POFQ. We've never stayed there before, so it'll be a new experience for us. We got the AP rate for that night. It's not a huge discount for one night, but we'll take what we can get.

Given they're reaction to us going to WDW without them for our anniversary last December, I think we'll refrain from telling the girls that we're staying an extra day. By the time we catch up with them at Camp Grandma, Stitch will have probably forgotten the extra day, or at least we can hope...

We've also finalized the ticket situation. I will be activating my AP this trip. So, I'll wait until after the fifth of this month and call to order my DDE card. Between the AP discount for the extended night and the discounts for meals for seven, the math makes sense to activate the AP and get DDE even if we don't go back again this year. I'm hoping we do, but with the DCL cruise next April; it may be a hard sell with Mrs. T.

We're almost at the 1 month mark, and I CANNOT WAIT!!!

 

[DisneyJo]

Whoooohoooo

 

[loribell]

Well somehow I have just found your pre-trippie. I would like to make a suggestion on a wonderful place to eat on your MGM day. How about Beaches & Cream? My family absolutely loves it!

You mentioned at one time joining your brother early summer of 08, is that off now that you are doing the cruise? If not have you calculated the cost of upgrading everyones tickets to AP's? It might be worthwhile if you are still going in 08. Just a thought!

 

[Mrs. T-i-double-g-er]

Well somehow I have just found your pre-trippie. I would like to make a suggestion on a wonderful place to eat on your MGM day. How about Beaches & Cream? My family absolutely loves it!

You mentioned at one time joining your brother early summer of 08, is that off now that you are doing the cruise? If not have you calculated the cost of upgrading everyones tickets to AP's? It might be worthwhile if you are still going in 08. Just a thought!

I think we are going to head north that summer. I've never been to DC and my kids are finally getting old enough to appreciate it. But plans could change...