The Darlings Do Disney (TR is started!)

[teekathepony]

I was just getting caught up on your PTR.

Wow, you have a lot of furbabies! I thought my two was enough!

Very impressive that you want to watch all those movies. Hope you can do it!

I read that you were waiting to see if Disney releases free dining in October. I wouldn't count on them doing. Because October is the food and wine festival, Disney isn't too encouraged to offer free dining during that time, because they draw in plenty of crowds without it. Obviously, I may stand to be corrected, but I've never heard of them offering it during that time.

I was thinking they extended it in 2007 (I was there late September, but really thought they went into October, could be wrong though), I thought they also did for 2008 and 09. Last year I went in November 2010 and they had definitely extended it until then because we got it. They announced the extension late though, we had already been booked for a while and wound up with a pleasant surprise. So definitely they did it last year. I was really hoping for this year too. They'll probably announce it as soon as I book my flights.

 

[teekathepony]

We took a good look at flights last night and should be booking tonight. We can get a 5:55am flight Sydney to Toronto (awesome, no stop in Halifax!) and then Toronto to Orlando arriving at 1:41pm. About the best we could hope for! For 4012 airmiles (and we have 4400+). No one else in our party (or potential party) is ready to book, but we really don't want to wait any longer, I think I've already missed out on some ADRs I wanted.

If we book the flights tonight, I'm booking the hotel/tickets package tomorrow.

I've compiled a short list of restaurants:

MK: Crystal Palace (preferrably breakfast) (have done for dinner, liked it)
-Tony's Town Square (did in 2007, Mr. Darling never did.)

Epcot: Akershus (never been!)
- Biergarten (liked very much)
-Les Chefs de France (never been!)

DHS: 50's Prime Time (Mr. D is nervous about being forced to eat mashed potatoes)
-Hollywood & Vine (been to every time, pretty good)
-Mama Melrose (never been!)
-Sci-Fi Dine In (hated the food last time, but the menu has changed since then, and atmosphere is great)


AK: Rainforest Cafe? (Prob. not. we loved it but as its not on the dining plan...)
-Tusker House (YUM! My first choice!)
-Yak & Yeti (nervous, not a fan of asian food)

So that's our short list that we have to pass around to the rest of the crew. Mr. D wanted Boma for breakfast, but it's so hard to get there from Pop Century early in the morning, and then it takes up so much time that we might forgo that one this trip, despite how delicious it is.

Finally getting somewhere!!

<---- totally how I'm feeling right now.

 

[teekathepony]

September 24 - October 2. It's official!

 

[alliesmommy]

September 24 - October 2. It's official!

Woot Woot! Awesome!

We're still shopping around for flights. Hoping SW will come down a bit more before we book. I'm cheap!

 

[teekathepony]

Thank you!!
I'm cheap too, that's why I used airmiles. I'm a good collector hahaha

 

[mousescrapper]

happy you have your flights booked...hope everything else works out and good luck on your ADR's

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

I've compiled a short list of restaurants:

MK: Crystal Palace (preferrably breakfast) (have done for dinner, liked it)
-Tony's Town Square (did in 2007, Mr. Darling never did.)

We're doing Crystal Palace for breakfast! Excited!

Epcot: Akershus (never been!)
- Biergarten (liked very much)
-Les Chefs de France (never been!)

DHS: 50's Prime Time (Mr. D is nervous about being forced to eat mashed potatoes)
-Hollywood & Vine (been to every time, pretty good)
-Mama Melrose (never been!)
-Sci-Fi Dine In (hated the food last time, but the menu has changed since then, and atmosphere is great)

Also doing 50's prime time...DBF is a little worried about getting yelled at too.


AK: Rainforest Cafe? (Prob. not. we loved it but as its not on the dining plan...)
-Tusker House (YUM! My first choice!)
-Yak & Yeti (nervous, not a fan of asian food)

I wanted to try the rainforest cafe. It was highly recommended but not on the DD. And we're going to Tusker House for breakfast! Also very excited about that!

Your choice are all ones I was considering...except Yak & Yeti...I didnt hear anything good about that place.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We took a good look at flights last night and should be booking tonight. We can get a 5:55am flight Sydney to Toronto (awesome, no stop in Halifax!) and then Toronto to Orlando arriving at 1:41pm. About the best we could hope for! For 4012 airmiles (and we have 4400+). No one else in our party (or potential party) is ready to book, but we really don't want to wait any longer, I think I've already missed out on some ADRs I wanted.

If we book the flights tonight, I'm booking the hotel/tickets package tomorrow.

I've compiled a short list of restaurants:

MK: Crystal Palace (preferrably breakfast) (have done for dinner, liked it)
-Tony's Town Square (did in 2007, Mr. Darling never did.)

Epcot: Akershus (never been!)
- Biergarten (liked very much)
-Les Chefs de France (never been!)

DHS: 50's Prime Time (Mr. D is nervous about being forced to eat mashed potatoes)
-Hollywood & Vine (been to every time, pretty good)
-Mama Melrose (never been!)
-Sci-Fi Dine In (hated the food last time, but the menu has changed since then, and atmosphere is great)


AK: Rainforest Cafe? (Prob. not. we loved it but as its not on the dining plan...)
-Tusker House (YUM! My first choice!)
-Yak & Yeti (nervous, not a fan of asian food)

So that's our short list that we have to pass around to the rest of the crew. Mr. D wanted Boma for breakfast, but it's so hard to get there from Pop Century early in the morning, and then it takes up so much time that we might forgo that one this trip, despite how delicious it is.

Finally getting somewhere!!

<---- totally how I'm feeling right now.

We did Crystal Palace each of our last 2 trips. We got the 8:05 ADR before the park opened and LOVED it.

We ate a Le Chef's de France for lunch in March. It was WONDERFUL! That is actually the only ADR that I have made so far for our October trip.

We at at the Sci Fi last June for lunch. We got the burgers, fries, and milkshakes. WE enjoyed it. ds (3 at the time) loved eating in the cars.

 

[teekathepony]

happy you have your flights booked...hope everything else works out and good luck on your ADR's

Thank you!

Your choice are all ones I was considering...except Yak & Yeti...I didnt hear anything good about that place.

No, us either so we dropped it. That's ok though, Tusker House it is!

We did Crystal Palace each of our last 2 trips. We got the 8:05 ADR before the park opened and LOVED it.

We ate a Le Chef's de France for lunch in March. It was WONDERFUL! That is actually the only ADR that I have made so far for our October trip.

We at at the Sci Fi last June for lunch. We got the burgers, fries, and milkshakes. WE enjoyed it. ds (3 at the time) loved eating in the cars.

I haven't been able to snag breakfast at Crystal Palace. We waited too long! I'm excited for Le Chefs de France actually, looks like a great place! Sci Fi might be getting dropped in favour of 50's Prime Time. haha, although I'd love to see the dine in again.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Yay on booking flights!

Good choices on dining. I hope you're able to get the days that you want. I didn't have any problems booking ours, so I'm sure you'll get the reservations.

 

[teekathepony]

Thanks IheartDDuck! So far just a few snags, but everything's working out pretty well~!

 

[teekathepony]

3 more off my list!

 

[teekathepony]

My Disney Scent;
(and the story of how I know scent is linked with memory)

In 2007 I took my first trip to WDW since 1991. In preparation for the trip, I bought some extra toiletries so I could pack early. I decided to try a new scent of deodorant, Wild Jasmin. I packed it in my suitcase and didn't see it again until I was at Pop Century.
For two weeks I used that deodorant. (I know, where on Earth is this story going!? Patience.) When I got home I put it away in a cupboard and didn't use it again.
Months later upon breaking my current deodorant (don't you hate that?) I went searching for another in my cupboard. Finding my Disney deo, I used that.
Immediately I experienced a rush of memories -- I was waiting to get on it's a small world. I was flying on Soarin'. I was meeting the Mouse. I was standing in our room at Pop Century. They say your sense of smell is the sense most strongly linked to memory, and I believed it. That deodorant was the only product I had used exclusively at Disney. Others, such as body wash, shampoo etc., had been used at home too.
In 2008 when I brought Mr. Darling to Disney and again last year for our honeymoon I made sure to use the same Disney Deo. It strengthened the smell-memory link and now every time I need a little pick-me-up I start my morning with Wild Jasmin.
The first item on this year's Disney shopping list? Wild Jasmin deodorant.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

If you want the CP 8:05 time... keep trying. I snagged it about 6 weeks before our trip last June.

 

[teekathepony]

I'm not giving up! Although I'm still not having any luck, but I'm going to keep trying.

 

[teekathepony]

A lot is done since my last real update!

My hotel and ticket package are booked. Pop Century, Sept. 24 - Oct. 2. Standard room, 8 day park hopper and upgraded meal plan.

The final players will be:
My self and Mr. Darling, My mother-in-law and step-father-in-law (been to WDW on their way home from a cruise, only had 3 days and it was peak season. They can't wait to see it with us!), and my cousin Melissa and her boyfriend Ron (Melissa has been to WDW a few times, Ron never!). Other cousin Amy who was an early possibility has backed out for now.

Melissa and Ron will be leaving on September 29, so we're going to try to see as much as we can while they're there, and relax a little for our remaining days.

Here is an early touring plan:

Saturday September 24.
(4 of us) arrive at 1:04 (Melissa and Ron have yet to book flights)
Possible day plan #1:
Check in, unpack, relax, grab a bite to eat. Head to the Boardwalk. See the sights, eat at ESPN, see a nightclub.
Possible day plan #2:
Check in, rush to Epcot, see all we can (for Melissa and Ron, who are shorter on time!)


Sunday September 25.
8:15am breakfast reservation at Hollywood & Vine, HS.
8:10pm dinner reservation at 50's Prime Time Cafe, HS.
Touring plan: Full day at HS.

Monday September 26.
Universal Studios: 9-7
Medieval Times: 7pm
No Disney dining reservations booked.
Leave early, spend the day at Universal, leave in time to get to Medieval Times dinner show. *Check I-Ride trolley route to see if this is a possible mode of transportation from Universal to M.T.


Tuesday September 27.
5:10pm dinner at Tusker House, A.K.
8:10pm dinner at Tony's Town Square, M.K.
This is the preferred Animal Kingdom day so I will probably cancel the Tony's reservation. Park closes at 5, so we get a full day before our reservation time. After dinner, hop to Epcot for the evening since HS and MK close early. If not Epcot, maybe Downtown Disney.



Wednesday September 28.
12:35 lunch at Tony's Town Square, MK.
1:50 late lunch at Tony's Town Square, MK.
5:05pm dinner at Tusker House, AK.
Preferred Magic Kingdom day. Made two reservations at Tony's because the first one wasn't showing up in "My Reservations" on my Disney account. Weird. I will delete whichever one everyone doesn't want. If everything works I'll be canceling the Tusker House dinner as well. Spend all day at MK, grab a quick service dinner, watch Wishes Nighttime Spectacular.



Thursday September 29.
Melissa and Ron depart.
Absolutely nothing else planned!
Trying to get a reservation at Les Chefs de France (but the reservation system is down! )


Friday September 30.
8:00 am - Mr. Darling & Step-FIL do Petty Rookie Experience
MIL and I might do a horseback trail ride.
(Epcot food & wine festival begin.)
8:25pm dinner at Paradiso 37, DTD.
(No solid plans for this afternoon.)



Saturday October 1.
7:15 dinner at San Angel Inn, World showcase, Epcot.
A whole Epcot day including the food & wine festival.



Sunday October 2.
Remaining vacationers depart. Plane takes off at 8am.

 

[teekathepony]

I'm a little shaky. My cheeks hurt from smiling. I feel like dancing or singing or maybe both.

I just got my much-wanted 8:05 breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace.

Bonus? (Like it's not enough already!) It's on the day we had already planned to do Magic Kingdom!!!


<--- me!

 

[Happy Elf]

I'm a little shaky. My cheeks hurt from smiling. I feel like dancing or singing or maybe both.

I just got my much-wanted 8:05 breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace.

Bonus? (Like it's not enough already!) It's on the day we had already planned to do Magic Kingdom!!!


<--- me!

 

[alliesmommy]

I'm a little shaky. My cheeks hurt from smiling. I feel like dancing or singing or maybe both.

I just got my much-wanted 8:05 breakfast reservation at Crystal Palace.

Bonus? (Like it's not enough already!) It's on the day we had already planned to do Magic Kingdom!!!


<--- me!

YAY!

Send some of those vibes my way so that I can get an Ohana ADR.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Yay!

Isn't it the best when you get the ADR that you want exactly when you want it?