Thanksgiving with Micky and the In-Laws

[SouthernTaz]

Ok... Call me crazy but We are heading to the World for the week of Thanksgiving 2012!...

This will be the 7th trip to the World for me, 4rd trip for wife and I (don't really count Sanny's 1st cause she was 9 months old, only went because i had a training class in Orlando), and the 2nd trip to the world for our family unit! (1st was a 2 week trip in Spring of 2011)

This started out as a trip for Fall break for our little family of 5 (Me, Wifey, Savannah (Sanny) 10, Cloie 8, Claire 8)... But when we decided we needed to start making plans the schools would not finalize the school calendar. So we pitched the idea of going to Disney during the week of Thanksgiving to my Sister-in-law and Mother-in-law (wife's sister and their mother)... They had always said they wanted us to go as a group for a family trip some time (this is sorta new to me as historically i don't like 'group' vacations)... So we debated and talked about how to go and where to stay for weeks (us being a family of 5 limits our choices on property, last time we stayed Club Level at Contemporary) ... Then Finally I decided that staying on property was not going to work (there will be 10 of us and we have VERY different taste in accommodations) So I got them all on a conference call and let them know we had rented a 6 bedroom 4 bath house with a heated pool in Windser Hill just south of AK, and that they were all invited to come and stay with us as our guest from Sat-Sat....

So here we are just under 180 days out and I am in full planning and reserving mode...

So here is house we are staying at.. Got at what I thought was a great price...
http://www.windsor-hills-orlando.co.uk/




So our trip will start on Friday Nov 16th driving down.. and leaving some time on Saturday 24 driving back...

The Clan...
The Dales
Dad - aka Hubby
Mom - aka Wifey
Sanny (11)
Claire (8)
Cloie (8)

In-Laws
CP - BIL
Lana - SIL
JP - (nephew 6)
Logan (nephew 3)

RiRi - MIL

Katie - Family Friend / "Adopted" Aunt to my girls
I hope I left enough time in our schedule to check out resorts and all the Christmas decorations that will be up... We watched a copy of the HGTV behind the Magic at Christmas special the other night and the kids were about to explode with excitement...

So if you have any MUST do for this time of year please let me know!!!

 

[SouthernTaz]

Here is our clan of 5.....

Bottom to top
Dad (Adam), Wifey (Tara), Claire Bear (Claire), Clo (Cloie), Sanny (Savannah)

 

[SouthernTaz]

Here are the Links to all the updates and Day by Day

Day 1 - The Long Ride
Day 2 - Let The Magic Begin!
Day 3 - EPCOT!
Day 4 - Hollywood Studios
Day 5 - Magic Kingdom
Day 6 - EPCOT Kingdom
Day 7 - Animal Kingdom
Day 8 - Free Day
Day 9 - The return to reality

PhotoPass Pre-Paid - DONE
AP Vouchers Bought - Waiting
House Booked - DONE
Bags of PINS for Kids - DONE
Lanyards for everyone - DONE
2012 Shirts for Everyone - Waiting

 

[SouthernTaz]

We made the decision once again to DRIVE to WDE... its roughly 9hr drive from our home in North West AL to Orlando.... The last time we made the drive we stopped just south of Gainesville, FL then breezed on in the next morning. This time slightly different plans! We also decided to get a LARGE van to make room for the MIL that will be traveling with us this time.
We will just travel this day and stay on reward points at Hyatt Place in Orlando

Thursday 11/15

​

All loaded up and ready to go.

Friday 11/16

07:00 Kids off to school​

12:30 Kids checked out of school​

01:00 Hit the Road!!!​

05:30 Tifton, Ga - Stop for Supper​

11:00 Orlando Hyatt place for over night stay ​

 

[SouthernTaz]

YEAH!! First day of Disney Magic and FUN!!!

Saturday 11/17

07:00 (or when ever i get them up) - Breakfast at Hotel​

8:30 Off the HollyWood Studios - kids 1st choice of park!​

• Square away Annual Passes
• Sight Seeing

1:30 - Late Lunch - Art of Animation - kids want to see outsite decorations​

03:00 - Meet up with In-Laws and Check in to House!​

06:15 - Dinner - Ohana! - Disney s Polynesian Resort​

08:00 - Off to Magic Kingdom​

• Main Street Electrical Parade
• Wishes Fireworks
• Night Time Rides!

 

[SouthernTaz]

Well Day 3 falls on Sunday, and on Sunday's we take time out no matter where we are to Worship our Lord... But after that its off to EPCOT!

Sunday 11/18

7:30 - Breakfast @ House​

9:00 - Worship @ Maingate Church​

10:30 - Off to EPCOT​

• Touring World Showcase
• Future World Rides if posible

4:20 - Dinner @ Le Cellier!! ​

8:00 - Find a spot for IllumiNations​

9:00 - IllumiNations​

 

[SouthernTaz]

Ok, I am an admitted movie and film nut.. I love movies, and I feel in-love with this park back in 92 when it was still MGM... I plan to be there at rope drop/opening with or with out the family

Monday 11/19

6:30 Breakfast @ House​

8:30 - Be at Hollywood Studios​

9:00 - Mad Dash to TSM (yes i love that ride)​

10:45 - Leave for Brunch at Cape May​

• TSM
• Rocking Roller Coaster
• Star Tours
• Meet up with Daughters if not with me for Beauty and Beast show

1:20 - Lunch @ Mama Melrose​

Parade​

Find food and/or send the tired ones back to House​

Osborn lights!​

 

[SouthernTaz]

Yep Dad's a big kid and I love me some Magic Kingdom... My girls LOVE Magic Kingdom....

Our 1st stop is for my Claire Bear - When we left last time she made me cry cause she fell in love with Piglet...

Tue 11/20

7:30 - Get to Magic Kingdom​

8:20 - Breakfast 2 Crystal Palace​

Wear out a Touring Plan and see as much as we can​

3:00 Parade​

4:00 back to House - MIL is keeping Kids!!!​

7:30 - Date Night for Wifey and I @ California Grill​

Really hoping that the historical calendars are correct that that the nighttime park hours this day will be expanded... Would love to have some time just me and my main squeeze running around Magic Kingdom with no kiddies!

 

[SouthernTaz]

Ok, I know there was no way I could hit everything I wanted in EPCOT on Day 2 so time to go back and Rope Drop!

Wed 11/21

7:00 - Breakfast @ House​

9:00 - Rope Drop @ EPCOT​

• SOAR'N
• Test Track (back open??)
• Mission Space

12:00 - Lunch - Chefs de France​

• Does Remy still show up??

4:50 - Be Our Guest - Dinner!!!​

 

[SouthernTaz]

Ok, this is probably my least favorite park... Last trip we spent about 14 days at WDW area and only 1 Day of that at AK.... Maybe this will be the time we learn to love it ????

8:10 - Breakfast at Tusker House​

Rest of Day what ever the Family wants to do​

7:00 Dinner at House​

• Skipping the Turkey and Dad wil be grilling steaks and all the trimmings....

 

[SouthernTaz]

Ok by this time I am hopping we have hit our major highlights and that the crowd has not driven me over the edge...

No plans for the day, just sight seeing and visiting what ever park the girls want to do.

My wife had only one request for the trip, Go back to 1900 Park Fare, she LOVED the interaction with Lady Tremaine (they carried on for 20 min or more last time)

5:10 - Dinner 1900 Park Fare​

7:30 EPCOT for Candlelight Procession​

 

[SouthernTaz]

Well this is it... Going to try and squeeze some Magic in before we drive off....

Knowing my wife we will be all packed and ready to go before we goto bed Friday night....

8:30 Breakfast @ Whispering Canon​

11:00 (depending on scheduling) Watch part of the Iron Bowl at ESPN​

Drive home​

Plan Next TRIP!!!! ​

 

[SouthernTaz]

Hoping to get some feedback on my plan... All the ADR are done and booked as seen on the plan... Any one have some other suggestions for that week?

 

[SouthernTaz]

6 Bed Rooms and 4 Baths - Private Pool (with heat) not sure that in Nov we will be using this though..

Living room

family room

master bedroom

master bath (wife has done claimed!)

kitchen

pool

game room

 

[SouthernTaz]

Just added a 11/21 Dinner reservation for "Be Our Guest"!!!!

and we picked up an additional traveler!!!

Our good friend and "adopted" Aunt to our girls is going with us now.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Joining in! You have a lovely family.

The place you will be staying looks incredible!

As far as input on the ADRs ... you mention Wolfgang Puck. Is that the Grand Cafe or Express? If you mean Express, make sure you go to the one in Marketplace and NOT West Side. On Chefs de France, if I remember right, Remy makes his rounds beginning at 12:30.

Everything looks good! I can't comment on things to do during the holidays - we always go in September. Look forward to more details/plans as your trip gets closer!

By the way, did I read that you've lost 35 pounds? Congratulations!

 

[SouthernTaz]

BearcatsFan - thanks for the input... and yes WGP Express... thanks for the tip... I knew many people had said one was better than the other....

We are soooooo hoping for Remy, we did that last spring and the girls loved it so much....

oh and thanks for the diet encouragement... its be a blessing to get it off... got a little be more to go!!!

I found a special that HGTV did about WDW and the holidays.... we watched it this weekend and the girls started planning!

 

[BearcatsFan]

YW - glad I could help!

What is this WDW special you're referring to? I'd love to see if it's coming on again.

Hopefully the information I have on Remy is right - if so, you should definitely be there for his appearance.

 

[SouthernTaz]

http://www.hgtv.com/behind-the-magi...-the-magic--the-holidays-at-disney/index.html

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/11/hgtv-looks-behind-the-magic-at-walt-disney-world/


it was old, but gave them something to think about...

 

[BearcatsFan]

Thank you for the links! I don't care how old the shows are - goodness knows I've watched the "Walt - Man Behind the Myth" show a million times over!

Have any other plans ironed out? I noticed you mentioned BOG - were you able to get your ADR yesterday for there amid the chaos?