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

[mchelle77]

Officially at 100% sure that we are leaving NH on 11/27! My husband booked both inquiries AND a third one that was a biggie. So he is officially turning down the 11/29 if she does call back.

I also just filled my mother in on our plans - guilt ... last time she wanted to come with us and we said we wanted our daughter's first trip to be just the three of us. She was PO'd but got over it. We mentioned maybe the next trip ... which is this one. My mother (1) hates waiting in lines and (2) doesn't like walking. She isn't patient, doesn't like crowds ... she'd want to go only because her only grandchild is going. But she would drive my husband crazy. We had an agreement that I wouldn't mention the trip to her until we hit October, but that I wasn't NOT telling her because that would be awful of me. I told her the other day and she seemed OK with it. Didn't mention coming, so that's good. I'll know more the next time I talk to her.

Now HIS family ... they all know. BUT! They don't know that we're skipping out on Thanksgiving. He said he's not telling them until we leave. He's going to give his cousin (who hosts) the cash we'd normally contribute for the meal, but not say anything about not being there on Thursday. Should be interesting to hear that reaction. They're all very close and I don't think any of his family have ever missed a holiday, at least not for a vacation (only for in-law obligations)

 

[LB1122]

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

We planned meals mostly as surprises, but are also going to work with the Club level people on a few more plus...we are going with the in room celebration form Disney floral and gifts....we had that I our budget before booking.

 

[mchelle77]

We planned meals mostly as surprises, but are also going to work with the Club level people on a few more plus...we are going with the in room celebration form Disney floral and gifts....we had that I our budget before booking.

Curious about Club Level ... I see people mentioning it but don't know what it involves?

Saw your surprises - We did the 1900 Park Fare dinner on our check-in day last time. Loved it! It ran late (we had a late rez and it ran about a half hour later ... ) but the characters were excellent. Drisella and Lady Tremaine especially. We pre-ordered the slipper dessert and all of the kids at other tables were drooling over it while it made its way over! I highly recommend it, but be prepared for death looks from other parents who don't know about it (It was DELISH, by the way!)

 

[mchelle77]

We just added a BBB reservation to our check-in day for our daughter. I could have taken it or left it, but my husband said he'd really love for her to do that. Got to admit, he surprised me with that a bit! I think we're gonna go with the Courtyard package, which is just below the BIG package. She'd love getting her nails and hair done, but I wanted a bit more than that, so I think the package with the Tshirt will be cute.

Her appt is at 640pm and we have a Raglan Road dinner rez at 815pm, so that should work out well. I MIGHT try to make it a little earlier just so she has more time to prance around DD all dolled up. We'll see, it took me 20 minutes waiting for them to answer today (most of that was my drive home from work so it wasn't too bad) I don't think they had anything more open though, but I'll check tomorrow.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

BBB sounds like a great surprise and how sweet that her daddy wanted her to do it! We are doing pirates league this time. If it was closer to Halloween I think we all would have done it, but this time just the girls are doing it. They all look like fun though!

 

[mchelle77]

I considered the Pirates League makeover for a bit, but I hate the idea of taking time out of MK to do it. I don't know why, though, since I have two days at MK planned. We've got plenty of time! But I'm glad I was able to get something on a day where we have no plans other than dinner.

51 days until we leave!

 

[DisMomJill]

subbing Looking forward to reading more.

We are doing the Christmas party, but only because DH wants to do it. I did convince him that we it doesn't make sense to wait in line to visit Santa during the party since we can meet him another time without the wait. And I think I've convinced him to do the later parade so we won't be watching it with the crowds. Now I'm just hoping that DD does well, and that we can actually stay until it closes so we can at least get a little more value for the money (and so we don't miss the parade if we indeed plan on the later one -- because then I'd never hear the end of it about DH being right about seeing the first one).

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I considered the Pirates League makeover for a bit, but I hate the idea of taking time out of MK to do it. I don't know why, though, since I have two days at MK planned. We've got plenty of time! But I'm glad I was able to get something on a day where we have no plans other than dinner.

51 days until we leave!

you are getting so close to your trip! are you guys getting magic bands? have you personalized them yet? i'm sort of nervous about them and wonder what everybody else is doing.

I didn't want to miss MK time for pirates league either, but, we are at MK two days and I got a 9 am appointment, which means in the park before opening (woohoo! ) so I was ok with it. besides, if it makes the kids happy, it's worth it, right?

 

[mchelle77]

you are getting so close to your trip! are you guys getting magic bands? have you personalized them yet? i'm sort of nervous about them and wonder what everybody else is doing.

I didn't want to miss MK time for pirates league either, but, we are at MK two days and I got a 9 am appointment, which means in the park before opening (woohoo! ) so I was ok with it. besides, if it makes the kids happy, it's worth it, right?

Yes, we personalized our MBs, I think they ship at the end of the month? Or we receive them then ... we also chose FPs (in no particular order ... )

Monday/MK - Space, Splash, Enchanted/Belle
Tuesday/Epcot - Test Track, Soarin', Mission: Space
Wednesday/MK 1/2 day - Rapunzel M&G, Little Mermaid, BTMR
Thursday/AK - Dinosaur, Kali River, Everest
Friday/DHS - TSMM, Tower, R&RC
Saturday/MK - Dumbo, Space, BTMR

The thing about that Saturday is it's the day we leave. And it's supposedly parade taping morning. And my husband doesn't know I added that day of tickets. I REALLY want to at least pop in to see a speck of the parade. Even if he doesn't go. I'm gonna offer to pack up the night before and take the kiddo on the bus to MK and he can pick us up at noon. That way he can lounge around and not have to GO there, check out at 11am and be over there. I just want to have a chance to see PART of it, if I can.

Ugh, I hate talking about the day we leave!

We decided against the sleigh ride. I liked the idea, but I have SO MUCH I'm trying to cram in.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

Yes, we personalized our MBs, I think they ship at the end of the month? Or we receive them then ... we also chose FPs (in no particular order ... )

Monday/MK - Space, Splash, Enchanted/Belle
Tuesday/Epcot - Test Track, Soarin', Mission: Space
Wednesday/MK 1/2 day - Rapunzel M&G, Little Mermaid, BTMR
Thursday/AK - Dinosaur, Kali River, Everest
Friday/DHS - TSMM, Tower, R&RC
Saturday/MK - Dumbo, Space, BTMR

The thing about that Saturday is it's the day we leave. And it's supposedly parade taping morning. And my husband doesn't know I added that day of tickets. I REALLY want to at least pop in to see a speck of the parade. Even if he doesn't go. I'm gonna offer to pack up the night before and take the kiddo on the bus to MK and he can pick us up at noon. That way he can lounge around and not have to GO there, check out at 11am and be over there. I just want to have a chance to see PART of it, if I can.

Ugh, I hate talking about the day we leave!

We decided against the sleigh ride. I liked the idea, but I have SO MUCH I'm trying to cram in.

I know--there is so much I want to do too! I just keep reminding myself that we will be back and we don't have to do it all this trip. it's so hard to pick and choose though!

I would want to see the parade taping too! that would be so fun! if I was your DH, i'd say that sounded like a pretty good plan!

your FP's look good! i'm glad to know there are ones for the princesses. the girls want to see them, but DH only has patience for waiting in lines to meet characters for so long.

 

[mchelle77]

I'm not sure when we'll get back again after this trip ... we have so many other places we want to see, it could be our kiddo's high school graduation before we return!

Actually, we're aiming for the Disney Cruise in April of 2015, and we'd probably do 2-3 days before. But it would be short and sweet.

****
Tomorrow is my husband's party I'm throwing ... we went out last night to see a friend's band and had a few beers, so I'm exhausted and have been running around all day. Hopefully all goes well (outdoor party in New England with no real backup - I was scared to watch the weather all week!

After tomorrow it's 100% Disney planning! (I've been at 90% until today )

 

[mchelle77]

No more Chef Remy at Les Chefs after October 24. Ended up canceling my CP package there and switching to Biergarten to save a few bucks. We had to pay OOP for either the CP package or CRT, so this way we pay like $35 for the two of us and $19 for our daughter.

That was where we were originally going anyway, but then I found out about Remy, so I switched plans. Ugh.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

^^^WHAT?!? that's why I made a reservation there on my birthday in January--just to see remy. i'm going to have to look into that.....thanks for the info!

 

[LB1122]

Being there for part of the parade taping would be so fun. I am sure it is a cool experience.

I heard about Chef Remy being gone. sorry that is a small bummer.

Glad you got the Fastpass you wanted. waiting to see how ours will go in a few days

 

[myhouseofmouse]

As long as you "pack your patience" its cool to see daytime xmas taping at least once. At least the parade part. Getting around the hub can be a pain and the stage shows are just to really long and repeatitive to sit thru.

 

[Disneychix]

We are doing CP package at Biergarten too. Which day are you going? We are going Monday I think.

 

[mchelle77]

We are doing CP package at Biergarten too. Which day are you going? We are going Monday I think.

I made it for Tuesday (the 3rd) at 1pm. Because of this, this will be the first time we walk clockwise around the WS! We have always started in Canada and gone counter.

 

[Disneychix]

I made it for Tuesday (the 3rd) at 1pm. Because of this, this will be the first time we walk clockwise around the WS! We have always started in Canada and gone counter.

Haha, and I'm the opposite, we always start with Mexico but in June we stayed at the BC and we went counter because we entered thought IG.

Enjoy!

 

[dawnmichele]

Hello! I have finally made it here from the FB group/my ptr. Great report! Like everyone else here, I love having a place to go to do all my talking about the trip and the plans. Thank Mickey for the disboards!

I LOVE the way you're telling your daughter about the trip! My kid is too old to not tell her about the trip at all, but last year we kept the secret that we'd be staying in a brand new Little Mermaid room for the last part of our trip. It was awesome telling her and watching her reaction. I hope your reveal is magical.

These vacations have propelled us into vacation planning the way some women go shoe-shopping

Me too! Vacations beat shoes and purses hands down. Nothing beats traveling, imho.

Ugh, I hate talking about the day we leave!

So, so true. Few things are more sad that leaving Disney World.

That part about leaving a few days early was completely brilliant. We are leaving the day after Thanksgiving and I so wish I would have been as smart as you. We're leaving early in the am on Friday, so we won't really be able to do much for Thanksgiving anyway - we so should have just added a couple days to the front of our trip. We've never seen any of Orlando except Disney World, and that would have been great. I guess I should have started reading your report earlier!!

Not much time now! I hope you're getting as excited as I am!

 

[mchelle77]

Haha, and I'm the opposite, we always start with Mexico but in June we stayed at the BC and we went counter because we entered thought IG.

Enjoy!

I just saw in your sig the "You ain't never had a friend like me" quote ... my favorite Disney movie AND character!!