The "I can't keep a secret" PTR (12/2013)

[mchelle77]

I was looking at my daughter's school calendar today (staring at it because she sprung it on me that she has no school tomorrow ... she just went back Monday!!) Anyway, I'm looking and seeing that she's out Wednesday, Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday (the day we planned on leaving). I, too, have Thursday and Friday (paid) off. Our tradition is always to have dinner with my husband's family. I hesitated for a few minutes and finally showed him the calendar and asked "How important is having dinner with your family ... ?" He said something like "Not THAT important ... "

So now we're thinking about leaving WEDNESDAY instead of Friday. But he doesn't want to extend Disney - he wants to do something else, like go to Sea World (none of us have ever been) or to the coast, or be touristy on International Drive. I guess I see the point (especially considering how crowded it would be there on Thanksgiving and the day after ... ) but what a tease .... I could add another couple of reservations on if he'd only reconsider ...

I'll probably be researching Thanksgiving in Orlando over the next few days, so if anyone has suggestions, please share!

 

[mchelle77]

As of right now, I'm down to 84 days until we leave. We booked a Marriott for the Thursday and Friday nights (blackout dates for free dining) at $89/night. Free breakfast, pool, nice studio suite. We plan on doing a little 2 day shopping and making Thanksgiving dinner rather than look for somewhere to eat.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

hi! you posted on my thread about cruises and when I saw the name of your PTR, I had to come over and read it. I don't know how you could keep that secret--I would have exploded! I started a paperchain countdown when we were still 350 days out from our next trip, I was so excited. good job on not letting it slip!

I started a PTR to talk about everything I was excited about too! I was afraid if I kept talking about it to my husband (who loves Disney, but doesn't feel the need to discuss it everyday) he would kick me out of the house!

here are my opinions on some of your questions, do with them what you will .....
*I wouldn't spend the extra money on the Christmas party. the decorations and extra things you will see when at the parks are awesome (like the lights at HS! one of our favorite things!) and free! we actually haven't done the party, but friends of ours, whose opinion I trust, did it and she said it was not worth the extra money. I'd spend that money on the fireworks and dessert party or something else for your husbands birthday.
*BBB or pirates league--we haven't done either one yet, but have an appointment for the pirates league on our next trip. I feel like the BBB is too expensive and I actually don't really like any of the hair styles for it. pirates league is less expensive and we got an appointment for 9am so I think we will get in and out without taking too much park time. also, if you do pirates league, the kids can come back later in the day and be in a little parade.
*i'm glad you planned something else to do in Orlando for thanksgiving and aren't going to the parks. we were there last year over thanksgiving week and it was not as much fun as we'd hoped. thanksgiving day was SUPER crowded and the whole week we didn't get to do all we wanted, fast passes were gone quickly, etc.

it's been quite awhile since we've been in Orlando and not at Disney, but there used to be a pirates dinner show and maybe a knights one too. we did the pirate one. it was really fun and we had a great time. they bring you food to your seat and you eat with your hands and watch the show. they get the audience involved and you act pirate-y. we didn't have kids at the time, but the kids we saw looked like they were having a blast. oh, and seaworld is fun too!

sorry this got so long! your trip plans sound awesome so far!

 

[mchelle77]

hi! you posted on my thread about cruises and when I saw the name of your PTR, I had to come over and read it. I don't know how you could keep that secret--I would have exploded! I started a paperchain countdown when we were still 350 days out from our next trip, I was so excited. good job on not letting it slip!

I started a PTR to talk about everything I was excited about too! I was afraid if I kept talking about it to my husband (who loves Disney, but doesn't feel the need to discuss it everyday) he would kick me out of the house!

here are my opinions on some of your questions, do with them what you will .....
*I wouldn't spend the extra money on the Christmas party. the decorations and extra things you will see when at the parks are awesome (like the lights at HS! one of our favorite things!) and free! we actually haven't done the party, but friends of ours, whose opinion I trust, did it and she said it was not worth the extra money. I'd spend that money on the fireworks and dessert party or something else for your husbands birthday.
*BBB or pirates league--we haven't done either one yet, but have an appointment for the pirates league on our next trip. I feel like the BBB is too expensive and I actually don't really like any of the hair styles for it. pirates league is less expensive and we got an appointment for 9am so I think we will get in and out without taking too much park time. also, if you do pirates league, the kids can come back later in the day and be in a little parade.
*i'm glad you planned something else to do in Orlando for thanksgiving and aren't going to the parks. we were there last year over thanksgiving week and it was not as much fun as we'd hoped. thanksgiving day was SUPER crowded and the whole week we didn't get to do all we wanted, fast passes were gone quickly, etc.

it's been quite awhile since we've been in Orlando and not at Disney, but there used to be a pirates dinner show and maybe a knights one too. we did the pirate one. it was really fun and we had a great time. they bring you food to your seat and you eat with your hands and watch the show. they get the audience involved and you act pirate-y. we didn't have kids at the time, but the kids we saw looked like they were having a blast. oh, and seaworld is fun too!

sorry this got so long! your trip plans sound awesome so far!

Welcome!

We surprised her with the cruise we just went on too (had to wait almost an entire year without saying anything to her!) It's tough, but this one is easier because it's not as long to wait.

My husband is a Disney lover (2 week honeymoon there, he'd have to be!) and he's talking about the trip more NOW since we're 80-something days away from leaving ... but it's tough getting him excited about it when there's so much to get through first. I see his point, but vacation planning is what gets me THROUGH that other stuff!

I'm fairly certain we're over the Xmas party. I brought it up and while telling him about it I realized that I just didn't want to spend the money. If it were the Halloween party, I would for sure.

Good to know about crowds during Thanksgiving ... I think we'll stay far away (MAYBE just pop in at DD but we'll see).

*********************
OK, another question for those who have popped in - Wishes Dessert party, or just (if available) use the FP+ for reserved viewing area? The money I have put away for it could be used for something else ... like boat rental (which he'd like)

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Welcome!


I'm fairly certain we're over the Xmas party. I brought it up and while telling him about it I realized that I just didn't want to spend the money. If it were the Halloween party, I would for sure.

Good to know about crowds during Thanksgiving ... I think we'll stay far away (MAYBE just pop in at DD but we'll see).

*********************
OK, another question for those who have popped in - Wishes Dessert party, or just (if available) use the FP+ for reserved viewing area? The money I have put away for it could be used for something else ... like boat rental (which he'd like)

First, I can not believe we are under the 90 day mark, almost there!!!!

Second, Just my opinion, make sure you look into the whole Xmas party thing before you decide not to try it. Coming from someone who has done it 6 times now...It's a must do at least once. It's so much more then decorations and snowing on main street. just like the Halloween party, as long as you don't waste your time doing rides. (or get there at 4pm and do rides til 7pm) there is enough Xmas party specific items to enjoy. (i.e. holiday shows, dance parties, Fireworks, Parade, rare holiday specific characters. and don't forget the FREE hot cocoa and Cookies.) I know it's a lot of money, but I highly recommend that you have to do it at least once.

Third, If you decide not to do the party, then you HAVE to at least do the wishes dessert party....three words.... "Chocolate Covered Strawberries!!!!"
There is no other way to watch the fireworks then first, trying to eat as many wonderfully delicious desserts as you can stuff down in an hour before the show. Honestly, a huge assortment of really good desserts. there will be many items for all family members to enjoy. This is a MUST do on every trip we take down there. if the desserts alone is not great. (and Did I mention... Chocolate covered Strawberries???) Being able to enjoy the fireworks without the crowds of people around you is wonderful. The space is nice to almost make you feel like it is just you and your family there. I love being able to just set my camera on a tripod and let it tape the fireworks and put my arms around my family and enjoy the show. Honestly, some of my greatest memories doing just this.

Just my opinion on these things, now I need a snack.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

OK, another question for those who have popped in - Wishes Dessert party, or just (if available) use the FP+ for reserved viewing area? The money I have put away for it could be used for something else ... like boat rental (which he'd like)

we haven't tried the dessert party, but I've read a lot about it on here and seen all kinds of yummy looking pictures, and we are DEFINITELY trying it this trip. I think it looks like one of those things you have to try at least once.

 

[mchelle77]

First, I can not believe we are under the 90 day mark, almost there!!!!

If all goes the way we're planning, I leave in 81 days!! 84 days until WDW check in ... how soon can I check in online?

Fairly certain we're over the Xmas party. The stuff you mentioned sounds nice, but not enough for us to pay that extra money. Free cookies and hot chocolate aren't a big draw, nor are the parades or shows. If it were, say, $25 per person exta I'd be all over it, but at almost $200 for the three of us for .... eh.

And I think I HAVE decided to do the dessert party ... it's such a good deal, and a nice extra to celebrate my husband's birthday.

 

[mchelle77]

69 days to go until we leave ... although, now we're thinking "Let's just leave from school/work on Tuesday and get a free room at Foxwoods on the way down ... " Gets us closer and uses a room that we have for free at MGM, but my husband is worried about going to a casino the night before a vacation. Fair enough! LOL

Waiting on Wishes, AND seeing about FP+ and MagicBands, which I've read are widely rolling out for check-ins in October or later. I should start thinking about that too ...

MK - Space, Splash and Princess Hall
AK - Everest (maybe twice?), Safari, Tough to Be a Bug (we skipped it last trip)
DHS - R&RC, Tower of Terror, TSMM
EPC - Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track

We also have an extra day that I'd like to use on Wednesday but I have a rez for Raglan Road ... so I can't decide if we should sleep in, go to lunch there, then hit the park OR go to the park, then leave and head to DD for dinner.

 

[mchelle77]

So much uncertainty going on with our plans, all because of my husband's job. He's a wedding vendor, so he could get inquiries at any time, and DOES.

We originally booked for Veterans Day weekend but moved it to our current week because he was asked to be at a bridal show. Now he got a call for November 24th AND 29th. The good thing is that the 29th is a Friday, so we wouldn't have to move our week again (he swore if he gets a call for Saturday he will turn it down) But now instead of leaving that Tuesday/Wednesday, we'd leave Saturday. Doesn't cut into park time, just leisure time. We would stay until Sunday and take another day off Monday to accomodate.

But there are no rooms available for that Saturday, so we'd have to do a room-only and lose out on a day of free dining. Not a huge deal, I guess. I called and booked that Saturday as a room only and won't drop a day until it's booked and a contract is signed. I added another day of tickets though, and he doesn't know He can lounge at the hotel on the "off day" all he wants, I'm going to take advantage. AND I said if we are staying that Saturday, I'm heading to MK with our daughter to see some of the parade that morning.

I just want to KNOW what's going on.

 

[mchelle77]

OK, it's been over a week since I've been in here so I guess I'll update ... still not 100% ... maybe at 98% right now.

My husband got two more inquiries for November weddings, so he said he might pass on the one for the Friday we were due to leave. Which would have all plans back to my original (which I LOVE!!)

11/27 (Wednesday) - Leave NH and head south. I guess at this point we'll be telling family that we won't be joining them tomorrow. Stop overnight somewhere south of Virginia.

11/28 - Arrive in Orlando, check in to the Marriott and just enjoy being on vacation in Florida for two days.

11/30 - Check into CBR. Raglan Road that night at 7pm.

12/1 - Tour some holiday decorations at GF and other resorts (should research that ... ), Downtown Disney, possibly BBB for our daughter, Cape May clambake for 730pm.

12/2 - MK. CRT at noon and Wishes Dessert party at 8pm! Got our Magic Bands customized and FP+s chosen (Space, Enchanted/Belle and Splash)

12/3 - EP. FP+s for Mission: Space, Soarin and Test Track. Candlelight Processional lunch package for 230pm at Les Chefs.

12/4 - MK for half day. Hoping for a BoG FP for lunch. FP+s for Rapunzel M&G, BTMR and Under The Sea. Dinner at Shutters that night.

12/5 - AK. FPs for Everest, Dinosaur and Kali. I love Everest, the others are my husband's choices. I chose everything else, I had to give him something. Dinner at Kona Café that night.

12/6 - DHS. FP+s for Tower of Terror, R&RC and TSM. Fantasmic lunch package at Mama Melrose's.

12/7 - Go home.

Although I DID add a 6th day (for $10 per person, how could I not?) We could either go for a few hours the morning we leave (I heard the parade taping was that morning) Just in case I did FP+s for Dumbo, BTMR and Space. Or we could use it that Sunday, but the crowds are supposed to be crazy, according to calendars I've seen. Although .... I don't think my husband will want to do any MK on the day we're leaving.

I still have a Raglan rez for that last Saturday too, in case we shifted our vacation. I'm not canceling until my husband is SURE he won't accept the job.

And I should admit that this whole dining reservations, online check in, FP+s, Magic Bands, etc, has made this time FLY. My husband's birthday party is next Sunday and I feel like a slacker, I've been so distracted by Disney.

Edited to add - Just paid off the trip today!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Sounds like a good update...

Our families should run into each other at some point seeing how we will be in the same parks Mon, Tues, Wed and both doing the Dessert party on 12/2. we can swap horror stories of the drive down. ( we are doing a straight drive down from PA on Turkey day)

 

[STLMickeyMom]

paying off the trip.....always a great feeling!!!

 

[mchelle77]

Sounds like a good update...

Our families should run into each other at some point seeing how we will be in the same parks Mon, Tues, Wed and both doing the Dessert party on 12/2. we can swap horror stories of the drive down. ( we are doing a straight drive down from PA on Turkey day)

Too funny! And seeing as how we both got our heads-up here about the dessert party opening, we may even have tables next to each other We never really mind the drive DOWN (we're all too excited to be going). It's the drive BACK that really sucks. This time we SWORE we'd stop overnight. We always just push through to just get home. This time I refuse to do that. It ruins a piece of it, arriving home crabby and exhausted.

 

[mchelle77]

paying off the trip.....always a great feeling!!!

Definitely was! The downside is that any money I put aside now is "spending money", which sounds like a good thing, but I'm re-considering the Xmas party now. Not good! My husband will be a little annoyed (he'd get over it, but I have almost NO downtime scheduled, which he always wants) His job has him on his feet constantly so he likes his pool days.

 

[LB1122]

So excited about your upcoming trip. Surprises are so so fun. Our daughter is 7 and even though she knows about our trip coming up...we have a lot of fun planned to surprise her as well.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

Definitely was! The downside is that any money I put aside now is "spending money", which sounds like a good thing, but I'm re-considering the Xmas party now. Not good! My husband will be a little annoyed (he'd get over it, but I have almost NO downtime scheduled, which he always wants) His job has him on his feet constantly so he likes his pool days.

I might be with your DH on that one--I can never have enough pool time and my DH likes to plan something to do every second of vacation! it's a wonder we even travel together!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Too funny! And seeing as how we both got our heads-up here about the dessert party opening, we may even have tables next to each other We never really mind the drive DOWN (we're all too excited to be going). It's the drive BACK that really sucks. This time we SWORE we'd stop overnight. We always just push through to just get home. This time I refuse to do that. It ruins a piece of it, arriving home crabby and exhausted.

Yeah we are planning to do the drive down in one shot, but are planning on stopping somewhere on the way home. I am thinking the excitement will be enough to get us there, but agree that the ride home will suck. So we want to find a way to break it up so its not too bad. We will have to keep an eye out for you at the dessert party. I will be easy to spot...I will be the guy trying to eat his price in Chocolate covered Strawberries!!!!! (now I'm hungry!!)

 

[mchelle77]

So excited about your upcoming trip. Surprises are so so fun. Our daughter is 7 and even though she knows about our trip coming up...we have a lot of fun planned to surprise her as well.

Off to sub to your PTR .. you've got me curious about your surprises!

 

[mchelle77]

I might be with your DH on that one--I can never have enough pool time and my DH likes to plan something to do every second of vacation! it's a wonder we even travel together!

Normally I LOVE lounging at the pool, but being December (even in Florida) I can't see me swimming too much. My first trip to FLA was Thanksgiving back in '95 and I was shivering in a sweatshirt while my husband (then boyfriend) and family were all in shorts. We had planned on finally doing a water park but I convinced him to save the money, I probably wouldn't swim. And we DO have those first two days before checking in AND our check-in day to do "nothing" ... it'll be a discussion to have in the near future. I have a feeling he's going to veto the Xmas party but be on board for a BBB appt for the kiddo.

 

[mchelle77]

Yeah we are planning to do the drive down in one shot, but are planning on stopping somewhere on the way home. I am thinking the excitement will be enough to get us there, but agree that the ride home will suck. So we want to find a way to break it up so its not too bad. We will have to keep an eye out for you at the dessert party. I will be easy to spot...I will be the guy trying to eat his price in Chocolate covered Strawberries!!!!! (now I'm hungry!!)

We have always gone straight through on the way down (even last trip with a then-4 year old) but this time we don't have a hotel booked THERE for that Wednesday - and being Thanksgiving week, I feel like we may need one, so we'll pace ourselves.

Re: chocolate covered strawberries ... I have a feeling my husband will have a plate piled high of those too!