Thanksgiving Week PTR- the trip that keeps on growing...

[Alice28]

Cast- myself- 37
DS11 (will turn 12 during the trip)
DS8
DD4
DMom- 62
DDad- 64
MIA- DH, who is currently serving in Iraq

This trip STARTED last December as a 4 night trip to Disneyland for Thanksgiving weekend. That quickly changed when I saw the military tickets offered in Florida, but not California (what's up with THAT?). a 5 day ticket in WDW for $99. And at that time, the DL offer expired in June 2009. (I think since then it's been extended).

My parents own DVC- a contract at VWL and one at BW. So in January, Mom booked us for November 23-29th at VWL. Yay we got it! I also booked us two nights at Shades of Green for Nov 21-22. We like to do this- save weekend points and spend our first couple nights at SOG, getting used to the time change. (we're from Ore-gun).

We then decided we wanted to arrive November 20th, so we could try and get an early flight, to do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. So I added that with Shades....

We THEN decided that, "won't it be nightmarish to try and leave Sunday the 29th? Maybe we should leave the 30th and avoid those airport crowds.."

So Mom adds on a night, but we are unable to get VWL- we get AKV. Fine by me! I've only visited this resort and have always wanted to try it. Yeah, it involves now 2 moves, but we can deal. We are renting a minivan.

OK, so Southwest fares come out June 23rd. And the flights coming home on the 30th are HIGH! So.............

Yes, we added another night. So now we are not coming home until Dec 1. It saved me $300 in flight fees. Yes, I will have to feed my family for another day on that darn DDP, (gee, what a hardship), but I still net a $200 savings.

We also decide we are going to do the MVMCP on the Sunday night, the 29th versus the 20th. We figure it was cutting it close anyway on the 20th, to have to get up at 0330AM, be at the Portland airport by 4:45, do a cross country flight AND go to the party that night. My instincts were screaming ABORT ABORT ABORT this plan. So we did.

In sum, our plan now looks like this:

Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights: Shades of Green, 2 rooms
Monday night thru Saturday night- VWL, dedicated 2 bedroom
Sunday night thru Tuesday morning- AKV, 2 bedroom

Now, the military tickets are $99 and I can buy 5 of them. My mom bought an annual pass when we did a 'girl's trip' last March, so she has that. (I got to view what Celebration hospital is all about-----kidney stone attack last day. At least it was the last day, and flying home cross country on narcotics ain't half bad. ). I will buy myself, the kids and my dad one of the passes. I am going to add the hopper option AND the WPM option, as we have 10.5 days, but only 5 days to go in the 'theme' parks.

To SeaWorld or Not to SeaWorld, that is the question. And after MUCH debating and conversation, we are voting no. Yes, I get 3 tickets for free. however that 4th ticket will still be about $65, $12 to park (I think I recall that amount), at least $40 for mediocre food. I asked my kids, 'Do you want 1 day of SeaWorld or 4 days of Blizzard Beach and Disney Quest?' They basically said, 'DuH Mom, what do you think?' So, that is how we came to the conclusion to add on WPM. With the military deal, it's $25 per ticket to make them hoppers, and $25 per ticket to make them WPM- not bad at all!

And then comes in, 'How should we best tour the parks?' I still am going to wait to finalize when the actual park hours come out, but based on last year, our plans are this:

Friday- no park
Saturday - no park, possible DQ/BB, Universal City Walk for dinner
Sunday- AK in AM/ MK in PM
Monday- no park, DtD and DQ.
Tuesday- DHS in AM, Epcot in PM
Wednesday- MK in the AM, MK in PM
Thursday- no park, possbily DtD and DQ again
Friday- no park, Blizzard Beach
Saturday- (DS11/12's birthday!) he wants to do DHS in the AM, Epcot in PM for Candlelight Processional
Sunday- no park in AM, MVMCP in evening
Monday- Epcot/ DHS for Osbourne Lights in PM
Tuesday- no park, head home in early afternoon

I think it's a good mix of park/no park days, strategically AVOIDING the theme parks on Thursday/Friday which are the esp mobiola days.

Mom and I are both compulsive planners, we love charts, maps, highlighters, pencils, pens, PassPorters, Tour Guide Mike, Touring plans, etc. However, once we get there, we are very much 'go with the flow' type of people. Our two main rules are:
1. Be there at rope drop
2. Break for afternoon back at hotel

With the 3rd rule that goes unsaid, (I think), always have a FP on ya.

Other non-interesting facts about our trip:
My dad has a bum knee and mom has a bum hip- we will have a handicap placard which makes parking at the parks easy.

We got a good minivan rate for $520 with Thrifty. We've been watching for months and this was the first time we got it below $800. We're hoping to get it down to $400, but with it being a holiday week, I'm not sure.

I do have a free ticket to Universal from the Super Bowl promo. However, I just cannot justify buying the 3 extra tickets for the kids- their military promo is not nearly as good IMO. I would like to see it, but think it might be better for a future trip when my DD is at least 7. I joked with my mom that when we go to City Walk, I am going to run in Islands of Adventure, go on 1 ride and come back out. Just to say I did it.

I am looking forward to the parks at Christmas time. I have been to WDW I think 10 times in the last 14+ years and have yet to be there during Christmas. And DL is my 'home' park, having been there I don't know how many times- 30-40? Never at the holidays. So this will be fun, and I'm excited for my son to see him there on his birthday. His brother, who has a June birthday, has got to be at Disney for 2 of his b-days....so my older one is excited to get his own turn. And that gift card to spend- mega-mega- BONUS! He's already plotting out how to spend it, and is majorly bummed it cannot be redeemed in the Japanese Dept. store.

This trip is also a marker for us, because it marks the halfway point of DH being gone. He left May 6th for Ft. Stewart, GA. He leaves for Iraq this week. His total deployment is 12 months, so November marks the halfway mark. It's downhill from there. My parents are so generous to spoil us with the DVC and let us not have to worry about room costs. Like most families our age, it's really hard to afford a Disney trip! I am very lucky to just have to scrounge up the dough for airfare, tickets and food.

Next up- the food plans!!!!!

 

[Alice28]

Mmmmm- Disney Dining!!!!! So much fun to plan for! I get to make the actual ADRs on August 25th- so of course things are subject to change!

We will not be on the DDP the first few nights, but we will be the rest of the time. On Monday we will make a grocery store run for milk, cereal, stuff for breakfast like eggs/bacon, lots of fresh fruit, bottled water, diet soda, snacks.

Friday- pack a lunch for the airplane ride. Get Chick Fil A for dinner and head to Shades of Green afterwards to check in and head for bed.

Saturday- breakfast in room- just cereal or donuts or whatever we grab at the exchange inside SOG.
lunch- Earl of Sandwich (didja all know you can get a 15% discount here with AAA?)
dinner- Mom and Dad want to go to Margaritaville at City-Walk. I'm thinking my kids might get a kick out of Hard Rock Cafe. My boys are really into music right now with all their Guitar Hero games.

Sunday- Animal Kingdom- either Yak n Yeti counter service or Flame Tree, depending what we want. I love the honey chicken at YY.

dinner at Columbia Harbour House- I love the tuna sandwich here. I'm sure the kids will like the chicken!

Monday- lunch at T-Rex- I will have $50 in gift cards, so about enough to pay for the kids and I. We like a meal at RFC most trips, so this will be a fun substitute.
dinner at Chef Mickey's- DH, the boys and I ate here in 2003. We didn't love it. The food was OK, but we ate here arrival night, and for us, travelling cross country, this was a mistake. Too chaotic. But it's time to give it another chance. My boys love Donald and Goofy, so this is a good choice to see both. (we ate at Tusker last summer and it was OK, but we're not big breakfast people...)

Tuesday- lunch at Pizza Planet- I think the pizza is pretty OK here- I like the veggie one with the side salad. The kids all love the pizza too.

Dinner- at Tangierine Cafe Yummm!!!!! This is my favorite CS in all of WDW. I love the wrap with the chicken. The bread is TDF.

Wednesday- lunch at Cosmic Rays- I like the variety at this place- good for rotisserie chicken, burger with the works, chicken strips, or a salad...I often go with the burger cause the fixin's bar is so fun. I am on a limited protein diet these days, so I am picky with what I choose for a meal. Based on where we are headed for dinner I will likely go with a salad because........

dinner- Narcoossee's!!!!! This is so far my favorite signature restaurant. I have been to 3 of them. However, I am not a shellfish fan except for shrimp and crab. Anyway, I love the filet here, love it, love it. I love the bread and butter. and I LOVE the crabcakes....oh, and then there is the DESSERT! I already have my meal all planned out here- filet, medium rare, and that almond cheesecake for dessert!!!! Wooo----nelly! Yum!

Thursday- We are shaking things up. I have 3 kids who yes, I admit, are slightly picky. I don't want to use a TS credit on a Disney Thanksgiving meal- they will just pick at it. So, our PLAN is, Beaches and Cream for an early lunch. Nothing says Thanksgiving like a burger and onion rings, right??? And get the Kitchen Sink for dessert!!!! (which i will pay OOP for if need be- my son NEEDS this during his bday week, right?)

Dinner- we're going the Boston Market take-out route for T-Day dinner. they have great turkey and sides that I think my kids will enjoy.

Friday- I'm guessing Blizzard Beach quick service- if we get off to a slow start though, we might go to Chick Fil A instead- we love it so, and it disappeared from Portland 10 years ago or so.

Dinner- Cape May Cafe. Yum. My favorite buffet. (I know, I just said I don't like most shellfish- weird). But i love the fish, the sides, the ribs, and those yeast rolls! YUMMY!

Saturday- lunch- not sure. I think we will leave DHS before lunchtime, so we might head to Epcot cause who can get enough of the World Showcase food? We'll likely hit UK for fish or Japan for the teriyaki plate. (and I might grab Tangierine again, who knows!!! I'm krazy like that)

dinner- CP package at Teppan Edo. We love Japanese steakhouse, and DS12 would like to eat here for his BIRTHDAY!!!!!! WOO HOO! wait- how am I old enough for a 12 year old?????

Sunday- have another TS to burn, so we're thinking Whispering Canyon for lunch. We're staying at WL, and have been here many times before- why not!

we have to switch to AKV *and* be at MK by 5 or so for the party (well, we want to- dont' want to waste much party time!). So we opted for no TS for dinner- we'll do counter service at MK. Likely Columbia harbour again.

Monday- le Cellier for lunch- I'm not sure what I will do. Hard to resist that filet. But for lunch? Not sure....

50s Prime Time Cafe for dinner- another long time favorite. Maybe fried chicken, but that pot roast is good. But beef twice in one day? That is living on the edge for me....

Tuesday- I think we'll burn our last CS at Wolfgang Puck Express- it's sooo good and great options!!!!!