The Feast of Fools! back from WDW- be on the look out for trip report

[Shenanigoat]

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Diser in possession of spare cash, must be in want of a new vacation.​

A little about me:

This will be my 10th trip to WDW! My first trip was way back in 1990.

That trip had been a complete surprise. My stepdad checked my brother and I out from school and we went out to the car where my Mom was waiting. (I think he had to go in and get us because my Mom couldn't keep a straight face- she kept smiling) So we got in the backseat and there was a Minnie Mouse backpack for me and a Mickey one for my brother. Each were filled with candy, car games and a Dale for me and Chip for my brother. We were both wondering what was going on and my parents said "We're going to Disney World!"

...I think they wish they would have told us outside the car because we screamed like crazy drunken hyenas for 10 solid minutes.

Over the years since then and many family trips with both sets of parents and with friends and their family- I have realized that my prefered method of WDW travel is solo. You can do what you want, when you want. I've never found myself to be lonely, except at night right before going to bed, when I miss my good-night smooch from the Spouse.

While you're here I'll tell you a bit more about me- I grew up on the East Coast, but have lived in Southern California for all my adult life, almost 10 years. I go to Disney Land often, and think it is wonderful, but I miss EPCOT and therefore have to venture over to Florida every now and then. I kind of like it that way. I prefer living a short drive to DL than I would living close to WDW. I think of WDW as more of a destination place, where I can spend a week, and living in CA is so nice because there is so much to see and do around you all the time. DL is just the cherry on the cake. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

lookit how empty on a spring weekday!

My Spouse doesn't really mind me going to WDW solo. He hates flying and isn't really "into" Disney that much. A day trip to DL is just basically just me luring him there with promises of churros, Monty Cristos, Space Mountain, and TSM. He does like to regale me with "back in my day" stories, when he had to use ticket books to get on attractions and wearing onions your belt was the fashion.

This upcoming trip for me is going to involve a lot of food. I have DxDP, it's during F&WF and I have 17 ADRs over 8 days. That doesn't include the F&WF events I'm planning on attending (more on that in later posts).

Let the planning begin:

Vacation- all I ever wanted
Accommodations
ADRs
F&WF event booked
Planning Ideas
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven
Day Eight


_____________________________________

A Very Special PTR Event

Who will be:

Announcement

The Contestants

The First Elimination

The Second Elimination

The Third Elimination

Grand Finale part 1

Grand Finale part 2- America's Next Top Mascot is announced!


_____________________________________

Coming Soon:


This PTR is complete. I'm leaving for WDW tomorrow, but when I get back I'll have an all new Food Report and possibly my first ever Trip Report to post. I'll post the links when I get back from WDW. Thanks for reading! ​

... and if you are interested in my previous dining adventures in WDW *cough*self promotion*cough* click on my Dining Report icon in my signature.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Signing on as I'll be at Disney for at least a part the week that you'll be there!

 

[TigerKat]

I'm here!

 

[hmgray95]

Just when I thought I was finished, you drag me back in! Seriously, looking forward to more shenanigans from Shenanigoat!

 

[Golf4food]

We're on board after laughing our way through the Table for Humina report the last few weeks.

 

[robinm1215]

I'm on board Laura! Can't wait to hear all about your plans

 

[arilvdc]

I love your image. Festival of food!

 

[TStrickland01]

Will be there the second week, but already have a 3 day sequence mapped out. Is it me, or did the marketplace menus get announced a little early this year? Still no pricing, so it is hard to budget. Too many good things on the list; four food booths near the Mexico pavilion means it will start off very good. Pavlov's dogs have nothing on me when suggesting October and Orlando in the same sentence.

 

[onelilspark]

Signing on

 

[scoot241]

Alright, I'm interested. Can't wait to hear about all the food.

 

[Shenanigoat]

Signing on as I'll be at Disney for at least a part the week that you'll be there!

Hurray!

I'm here!

hello

Just when I thought I was finished, you drag me back in! Seriously, looking forward to more shenanigans from Shenanigoat!

Just when I think I'm out, they drag me back in!

We're on board after laughing our way through the Table for Humina report the last few weeks.

Laughter not guaranteed, void where prohibited.

I'm on board Laura! Can't wait to hear all about your plans

I can't wait to post them- if the boards would stop being weird on me

I love your image. Festival of food!

Thank you!

Will be there the second week, but already have a 3 day sequence mapped out. Is it me, or did the marketplace menus get announced a little early this year? Still no pricing, so it is hard to budget. Too many good things on the list; four food booths near the Mexico pavilion means it will start off very good. Pavlov's dogs have nothing on me when suggesting October and Orlando in the same sentence.

I've personally been drooling since about March.

Signing on

Alright, I'm interested. Can't wait to hear about all the food.

I cant wait to eat the food, but first things first I suppose.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm in! Better late than never, right?

 

[Shenanigoat]

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a Diser in possession of spare cash, must be in want of a new vacation.


I had a WDW vacation in January of this year, it ended on a bit of a sour note however (a sour note covered in hives!- read my previous dining report for the gorey details). After the warm glowing glow of my (mostly) wonderful vacation had passed, that little voice started in the back of my mind again. You know that voice. My little inner SuperFly was acting up.


SuperFly: Hey now, free dining is coming up at the end of the summer! It could save us some money on dining.

Me: It's true I did like eating out a lot on my last trip, but I don't really need to go again this year.

SuperFly: But our trip ended on such a downer, surely you want to go back and make up for that last day. You know that's what we always think about when we recall that trip. The memory will never be gone- we need a fresh incident free vacation.

Me: Well, yeah... but Disneyland is just a stone's throw away! I don't really need to go all the way to WDW.

SuperFly: Check this out sister! If you stay at POP and add in a free dining upgraded to DxDP it comes into a smidge less than what you paid for your January trip.

Me: Hmm...

SuperFly: And because it includes the dining, you don't have that added expense of the meals, only the tips. This would be a lot of savings for us. And think of all the new restaurants to try with all those Table Service Credits.

Me: Well I guess that sounds pretty good. I could stay at POP. Lots of people on the Dis who have stayed there seem to like it, especially some solo people.

SuperFly: good good, time to close the deal Ahem, and oh look- if we put our trip at the very end of Free Dining, not only can we bypass the strangulating crowds of the summer- we can also experiance the F&WF.

Me: Oh, I've always wanted to go to EPCOTs F&WF

SuperFly: Yes, yes- I know.

Me: Well, we'll have to get clearance from the Spouse.

SuperFly: Leave everything to me.



Convincing the Spouse went a little something like this:

"I want to shake off the dust of this one-horse town. I want to explore the world. I want to watch TV in a different time zone. I want to visit strange, exotic malls...I want to live! Won't you let me live!?"

It was actually easier than I thought it would be. He is a thrifty guy, and was uninterested in going on the trip himself, but since we had the money (more importantly- I had the money) and he felt bad for my sucktacular last day on my January trip he said what any loving Spouse would: "If that's what you want to do- then OK".

And lo with judgement from the Spouse given, there was much rejoicing in the land. And the cat did donneth a sweater in celebration, and the wine flowed forth. And many a banana did a happy dance for peanut butter and jelly. And the WDW hotline was called and the sacred VISA was used to bookest a trip.

And there was peace in the land once more.​

 

[Shenanigoat]

I was going to do the about me section here, but it made more sense to put it in the 1st post, so here it is:

Allow Myself to Introduce, myself...

 

[D&R love Disney]

I'm in and looking forward to hearing your new plans!

 

[Shenanigoat]

Accommodations


I have been lucky enough to stay on Disney property for half of my trips so far. FtWilderness Cabins, BWI, OKW (3 times), POFQ, and more recently POR. Since I was just in WDW in January, the budget fairy was in a quandary as to where I should stay. I defidently wanted to stay on property, there is no way I will ever go without the convenience of Disney transportation. I also, as a piglet sized solo traveler, feel safer staying on Disney property. This could all be in my head- but by staying in the "World" I know what to expect more than what I could run into staying off property. It also saves me money on renting a car and attempting to drive, navigate, and all that jazz by my lonesome.

With all that in mind I decided to go the value route this trip, and I'm staying at POP Century. I don't want to seem like a snob or offend anyone, but I had never really thought of staying at one of the value hotels before. I certainly had enough money to go to a Moderate if I wanted, but this upcoming trip is really just a bonus. I've already gone this year and I kind of felt like I needed to tighten my belt a little on this trip and the savings between the Moderate and Value equal a good many more gifties and boozies I can purchase. And I have read some really wonderful things about POP on these forums. Such as here and on various trip reports. I really think the POP official thread is one of the better (if not the best) "official" resort threads on the Disboards.

I still have my concerns about too many anklebiters running around, theming, and room size- but I am feeling pretty confident in my choice. It seems like a fair number of solo travelers do really enjoy POP. I'm not one of those "only there to sleep" vacationers, but I also don't spend a lot of time in my room either. I have requested a top floor lakeside room, which seems to be where the quieter rooms are. I'm also looking forward to it because I will now have stayed at all levels of Disney accommodations. I've even stayed at the campground- though this was at a cabin and was also back before they were "cabin-y" and were more like just a nice trailer.

Sorry I don't have any photos for this post, but there are some in the links above. I'll have photos coming up in other entries.

Next: ADRs & F&WF plans (or the F&WF events I'm crossing my fingers for at least)

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Signing on. Think I'll be there for part of the time that you're there too so maybe our paths will cross!

 

[kiranic]

Subbing...can't wait to read more!

 

[Shenanigoat]

Signing on. Think I'll be there for part of the time that you're there too so maybe our paths will cross!

If you see a piglet sized gal with bright red hair eating around WS- that would be me

Subbing...can't wait to read more!

Thanks for reading

 

[Shenanigoat]

ADRs

One of the main reasons that I wanted to book this trip was so that I could score free dining, and upgrade it to the DxDP. The regular DP wouldn't really work for me, since I don't usually eat at CS locations, and I enjoy appetizers (which would not be covered on the regular DP). It cost me $32 a day to upgrade my free dining to DxDP and eating all day for $32 sounds pretty good to me.

I used the online ADR system, which worked really well for me, and only had to call in to get my ADR for the Gardenview Tea.

Lets see what the damage is, shall we?

Sept 24:
9:00AM- Crystal Palace -Haven't eaten here in years. I actually can't remember eating here, but I know I have.
2:10PM- GardenView Tea @ GF New!
6:20PM- Jiko New!

Sept 25:
12:00PM- Chefs de France I always eat here.
6:45PM- Raglan Road Ate here twice last time- love it!

Sept 26:
7:40AM- Boma New!
12:00PM- Yak & Yeti New!
6:10pM- Narcoossee's New!

Sept 27:
7:30AM- Captain's Grille New! I really wanted Kouzzina, but can't get in
5:55PM- Flying Fish My favorite Signature restaurant, but also one of only 2 I have eaten at, lol.

Sept 28:
8:00AM- Akershus New!
5:55AM- California Grill New!

Sept 29:
7:30AM- Kona Cafe Ate here years ago.
5:10PM- Tokoyo Dining New!

Sept 30:
11:30AM- Le Cellier New!
6:00PM- Citricos New!

Oct 1:
11:30- Tutto Italia My favorite meal from my last trip.


The meal I am most looking forward to:

Jiko. That's why I put it on the first night. I plan on doing the Boma/Jiko 4PM tour thing.

The meal I am most nervous about:

Yak & Yeti. I have heard mixed things about this restaurant. I loved Tusker House on my last trip, but I figured since I have the DxDP this time I should try Yak & Yeti, because it's somewhere I probably wouldn't go OOP for. If nothing else, at least this way I've done it, and can look forward to Tusker House on my next trip. (You always need a reason to book another trip)

Biggest ADR disappointment:

Getting blocked from Kouzzina. I had booked an ADR for Captain's Grille, as a placeholder until the Kouzzina ADRs could be made, but I couldn't get into the new place. I'm thinking I might just show up at Kouzzina when it opens and see if they can't seat me anyways. I'm a morning person (as you can see on my list of times above) and I doubt at 7:30AM they will be maxed out on tables. So, we shall see what happens here.

Also I was going to book Rose & Crown, but the menu seemed really limited to me. And then the menu got smaller right before my ADRs were to be booked. I was switching back and forth in my mind between Rose & Crown and Le Cellier and went with Le Cellier. So we'll see if it's worth all the hype.

Restaurant I'm going to miss the most:

I didn't book at Tusker House, which I love. I have so many new places I'm trying, but the only place I'm sad about missing is Tusker House. I'm thinking of this as an excuse to scope out new places on only $32 a day, so that makes me feel a bit better.

What I'm doing different this time around:

Because of the F&WF I have more breakfasts then I normally would eat, so that I can graze the F&WF booths in the middle of the day. I'm looking forward to this though, because I hardly ever eat breakfast on vacation and breakfast food is some of my favorite food to eat. I have a Princess breakfast, Kona breakfast, Boma breakfast (which I have heard wonderful things about) and Crystal Palace breakfast- on my arrival day.

I can't go the old vacation banana/coffee on the way to the bus breakfast anymore, since I learned I am allergic to bananas on my last trip. (And boy did I learn the hard way) I suppose on my trip after this one I'll have to figure something out, but I am totally looking forward to breakfasts in the world this trip.