The "How Will I Survive Winter Without It" Trip That Might Be

[PoppyGirl]

Subbing

Your DD is so precious We are going a week before you. I'm super jealous if you go to AKL. DH and I could never justify putting down money on that. Wait, let me edit that... I could, but DH would have a fit. I had to persuade him for this trip just like you! They should just know!

Thanks! And welcome to my PTR! (What I really wanted to do was this: A new reader!!! ) You are the third person I've talked to recently who was working on convincing DH about Disney.....it seems to be an epidemic. What is with them anyway?

I'm in!
We're going that same week,(and going to be at Epcot the same day). I love your dining plans, you even got a BOG one(mom would love it if we could get one). Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Hello and welcome! Which day will we both be at Epcot? I can't wait for BoG!!! Just keep trying--people may cancel at the last minute. I mess with our ADR's on a daily basis. It's an addiction issue!

Your BFF/Disney Therapist loves you . One of these days we're leaving all of our family behind and going by ourselves again. And I can pretend I'm going to drink around the world - and manage one drink (okay, maybe it was two that one day, but who's counting). I'm so glad you're going to AKL. I could hear it in everything you said and see it with those 3 adrs at AKL .

I'm so glad you still love me. And that day might be closer than you think.....yeah, you lush! One wine tasting in France and you were done. Maybe we need a week at Epcot and we could do like 2 drinks each day...that way we could drink around the world at our own speed.

 

[PoppyGirl]

DH and I just returned from our Anniversary trip to Atlantis. We had such a good time. It was only the 2nd time we had been away by ourselves since we got married--15 years ago!

This is the view from our balcony....and that's the Disney Dream in port at Nassau!

Here's a family photo we took at Thanksgiving. Both the big boys were home. It was fun. I miss them!

And just for fun: Sunset on Thanksgiving Day:

 

[Chocolab23]

Hello and welcome! Which day will we both be at Epcot? I can't wait for BoG!!! Just keep trying--people may cancel at the last minute. I mess with our ADR's on a daily basis. It's an addiction issue!

We'll be in Epcot that thursday too, so long as our plans don't change once again. Beleive me, we have been trying, and I think I call dining so much that they are begining to know my name.

 

[skater]

I'm so glad you still love me. And that day might be closer than you think.....yeah, you lush! One wine tasting in France and you were done. Maybe we need a week at Epcot and we could do like 2 drinks each day...that way we could drink around the world at our own speed.

Yeah, and if we split up the countries, we just might make it in a week . I think I told you about last year when DH and I went. I broke a huge piece off of a molar (at the bakery in France) and was pretty freaked out. I walked into the pub in England and asked for the strongest "chick drink" they made. I was feeling a little better about it after the drink . I think I created some humor for people sitting in the pub though .

 

[PoppyGirl]

We'll be in Epcot that thursday too, so long as our plans don't change once again. Beleive me, we have been trying, and I think I call dining so much that they are begining to know my name.

Cool! So when we get a little closer, we can compare plans and see if maybe we might run into each other.

I actually had 2 reservations for BoG and just cancelled one a few days ago. Although I would like to try both lunch and dinner if it's not too crowded at lunch. The reviews I've read sound amazing.

Yeah, and if we split up the countries, we just might make it in a week . I think I told you about last year when DH and I went. I broke a huge piece off of a molar (at the bakery in France) and was pretty freaked out. I walked into the pub in England and asked for the strongest "chick drink" they made. I was feeling a little better about it after the drink . I think I created some humor for people sitting in the pub though .

You and your teeth issues!

So, yes, I think a week at Epcot ought to do it. We should going during food and wine festival, just to make it interesting.

 

[PoppyGirl]

I always forget how fast the trip seems to be arriving during the Christmas holidays! I think it's because I have so much other stuff going on.....time goes too fast.

My parents were just here visiting for a week. DD has been so cute. We got an Elf on the Shelf and she is having so much fun with it...she knows it isn't real but it's so obvious that she WANTS to keep pretending. Gives me hope for our character meet and greets this trip! We watched both Brave and Tangled this week with my mom and dad. DD's idea!

I have reservations for dinner at Jiko. I've been thinking about adding the Wanyama Safari (which includes a family style dinner at Jiko--the nice thing about it is that you get to try a lot of dishes....but with people you don't know.... ) but it costs $190 per person.....dinner by itself would expensive but not that expensive.....and I can't decide if I want to take the time out of our schedule. I've also been trying to figure out how to add a lunch an Sanaa. Since I"m doing this whole "Africa" theme to our trip.... what do you all think? Help me decide!!!

 

[Chocolab23]

We watched both Brave and Tangled this week with my mom and dad. DD's idea!

Love both of those movies!

 

[PoppyGirl]

I read this blog this morning about the top 5 photography mistakes people make at Disney:

Top 5 Photography Mistakes

It got me to thinking about how much I love taking pictures at WDW--One of my goals in life is to become a really GOOD amateur photographer. (It's a S L O W process! ) But am I living through my camera lens and not experiencing the moment when I'm there? That made me start thinking about what I really want for this trip....

1. Have FUN with my daughter. Create memories. Laugh. A lot.
2. Relax. It's vacation. I need the mental and emotional rest.
3. Look for the magic. Try new things. Enjoy the little things.
4. Absorb the sun. It's a big part of the reason I go to WDW in February....it gets me through the winter here. Looking forward to it through fall and early winter gets me through until there's light at the end of the tunnel....spring is coming!

These last few days (after the Newtown events) have been so very difficult and sad. It's hard to be happy about our own events thinking about the pain those families are going through. But I've been so aware of connecting with my own children and making moments count. It puts everything into perspective. What really matters after all?

 

[we3travellers]

Just found you and have read the entire PTR! I am very excited for you! Although you didn't actually say it, it looks as though you changed your resort to AKL. We stayed there on our first WDW trip in 2010 and LOVED it! This past Aug we stayed at CSR (different budget ) and still made a visit to our beloved AKL. You will love it! This year we will be vacationing at the Atlantis, so I really enjoyed your photos. DH is an "every other year" man when it comes to Disney, so I am painfully waiting to plan 2014. May have to try another resort though.

BTW, I just signed on as a CM consultant last month and although I haven't really got the ball rolling yet, I am very excited about what the new year will bring!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Just found you and have read the entire PTR! I am very excited for you! Although you didn't actually say it, it looks as though you changed your resort to AKL. We stayed there on our first WDW trip in 2010 and LOVED it! This past Aug we stayed at CSR (different budget ) and still made a visit to our beloved AKL. You will love it! This year we will be vacationing at the Atlantis, so I really enjoyed your photos. DH is an "every other year" man when it comes to Disney, so I am painfully waiting to plan 2014. May have to try another resort though.

BTW, I just signed on as a CM consultant last month and although I haven't really got the ball rolling yet, I am very excited about what the new year will bring!

to my PTR! Thanks so much for reading along. Yes, I did change to AKL...perhaps I neglected to say that! BFF helped me to realize that AKL is really where my heart is. We stayed there once on our Christmas Miracle Trip and loved it so very much and then I was in Africa this summer....I have a love for all things African....people, animals, places, colors, food....

How long will you be at Atlantis? Which resort are you staying at? We were in the Reef. AMAZING! I highly recommend MESA, Bobby Flay's restaurant. And the dolphin encounter was an experience I will never forget.

Congrats on signing up with CM! I've been a CMC for almost 13 years. I was a unit leader for a few years (I had about 15 downline) but have moved on to other things. I just love my customers so much and the company is wonderful. I'm sure you'll do great!

 

[we3travellers]

Oops! I now see under your siggy that you stayed at AKL. So sorry! I would love to stay there again, but so many resorts to try, so little time. I am very drawn to WL and DH wants GF, but we will need to win the lottery for that one! DS is a HUGE pool kid, so I am also interested in BC/YC just for SAB.

We will be at the Atlantis for 9 nts and have currently booked the Beach Tower because of price. That may seem a tad long for some people, but we have been to Nassau many times (usually Cable Beach) and have visited Atlantis often. This will be our first stay there! Nassau is very comfortable for us and feels like home, so 9 nts. is just great. I like the familiar places like McD's, Subway, and Starbucks which is essential when travelling with a picky 5 yr old! As you said earlier, food is very expensive and I like that there are other options available. We also have to eat at Senor Frogs every time! Will definitely have to give MESA a try.

13 yrs. as a CMC?! Wow! I have been using the products faithfully for about 11 yrs, so I am definitely a fan. Thanks for the encouragement!

I will not be so bold as to ask you to write a TR on your return, but please post many photos! Have a great time!

 

[PoppyGirl]

So I did it! I just added THIS http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/wanyama-safari-resort-tour/

to my reservations!

Talked to DD about it this morning and she was all for it. I was worried that maybe she would think it was too long but she was excited. I read that sometimes they let you feed the giraffes (behind a fence of course) and that was so exciting to her. Now I'm really psyched about it!

 

[Muddypaws]

OOOOOoohhh! Count me jealous! It sounds amazing!

 

[Alysa]

I didn't even know about that safari - is it new? I may have to look into it next time! Looking forward to hearing about it when you go!

 

[PoppyGirl]

OOOOOoohhh! Count me jealous! It sounds amazing!

I know! I've been researching it for the past few days and thinking about it....and now that I did it, I'm SOOOOO excited! I think that sort of took me over the edge with being happy and excited about our trip. This has been such a difficult few months--ever since we returned from Africa I feel like it's been one difficult event after another and I was sort of not even getting excited about the trip (even though today is 40 days!) Then I thought it was too much $$ and then I thought maybe it would be too long for DD so I decided to just ask her what she thought. And then I thought we probably wouldn't be able to get a reservation for it. I booked it for the day we were supposed to eat at Jiko anyway. We'll just come back a little earlier from DHS that day. I hope she's excited too when I tell her tonight.

I didn't even know about that safari - is it new? I may have to look into it next time! Looking forward to hearing about it when you go!

Hi Alysa! Yes, you have to be a guest at AKL to take this safari. There's another one--the Sunrise Safari and you have to be a guest on Club level at AKL to take that one. We did that one on our Christmas Miracle trip a few years ago. This one includes a 4 course dinner at Jiko--it sounded really cool because they serve everything family style and you get to try a bunch of different things on the menu instead of just the regular dinner where you just order one thing. I love food....love African things. Can't wait to try it!

 

[Muddypaws]

I would absolutely love to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour, but the kids aren't old enough.

 

[PoppyGirl]

I would absolutely love to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour, but the kids aren't old enough.

That's one I'd like to do without the kids...maybe BFF and me. I know DD is at the age where she doesn't really believe in the magic, but I want her to have the OPTION for as long as possible!

 

[skater]

So I did it! I just added THIS http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/wanyama-safari-resort-tour/

to my reservations!

Talked to DD about it this morning and she was all for it. I was worried that maybe she would think it was too long but she was excited. I read that sometimes they let you feed the giraffes (behind a fence of course) and that was so exciting to her. Now I'm really psyched about it!

I'm so excited for you!

 

[PoppyGirl]

I'm so excited for you!

Thanks! I'm excited for me too! I wish you were going with me!

 

[skater]

Thanks! I'm excited for me too! I wish you were going with me!

I wish I was coming with you too! One day!