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

[mchelle77]

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!

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!

He just told his parents too, so that part is out of the way. Nice that we don't have to be sneaking around anymore

We did two weeks in Orlando for our honeymoon and while we did Disney and Universal, we also spent some time at Pointe Orlando, Wonderworks, Magical Midway and the Mercado (which I just saw is closed ... it was beautiful!) I'd love to do the CSI thing ... I told my husband I wouldn't plan anything for Thursday or Friday, I'd let him decide what we do.

 

[mchelle77]

38 days until departure!

 

[mchelle77]

Finally let my husband know that we actually have 6 day base tickets and not the 5 day that I led him to believe. I've let up on the idea of viewing the parade taping after reading an article equating it to watching grass grow So now we have almost NO days where we are doing nothing. He won't be too happy, but you know what? I can't see spending all of this money and traveling all this way to sit around a hotel room! Even at the pool, hello, it's probably gonna be 55 degrees and I don't swim unless it's 80+!

So now I've done a loose schedule ...

11/27 - leave for WDW, stay overnight somewhere (book on the road)
11/28 - arrive in Orlando, stay at our off-site hotel. No plans (look into Thanksgiving meal either at hotel - room with kitchenette - or a restaurant?)
11/29 - no plans!
11/30 - check in. Tour GF Christmas decorations, then head to Downtown Disney. BBB at 640pm, Raglan Road at 8pm
12/1 - Half day at MK. FP+ for BTMT, Rapunzel M&G and Under the Sea. Hoping for a BOG lunch FP+, if they're ever available. Boardwalk/Beach cClub decor. Dinner at Cape May.
12/2 - Full MK. FP+ for Space, Splash and Enchanted Times w/Belle. CRT at 11:55am. Wishes Dessert Party 8pm.
12/3 - Epcot. FP+ for Mission, Test Track and Soarin. CP package for 12:55pm.
12/4 - Half day at DHS. FP+ for Lights/Motor, Indiana Jones and R&RC. Dinner at Shutters (resort)
12/5 - AK. FP+ for Safari, Everest and Dinosaur. Dinner at Kona 715pm. Daughter to Neverland Club possibly.
12/6 - DHS. FP+ for Tower, TSMM and R&RC. Fantasmic package for Mama Melrose's 1:35pm

Also trying to squeeze in? Possibly parasailing. Disneyquest (since it's free passes with package!), mini golf.

Here's a question .... how early can you check in to get those package benefits without your room being ready? Can we check in at like 11am and be able to go use the mini golf while waiting for the room? I can't remember from last time.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Here's a question .... how early can you check in to get those package benefits without your room being ready? Can we check in at like 11am and be able to go use the mini golf while waiting for the room? I can't remember from last time.

I'm pretty sure you can use them as soon as you check in. The room does not need to be ready to take advantage of those benefits.

Got our invite for testing MB and FP+ to bad everything is set up and ready. Almost a the 30 day mark

 

[LB1122]

Plans are looking great. You should have gotten the chance to do FP+ as you are less then 60 days. Hope you get what you want

 

[mchelle77]

Plans are looking great. You should have gotten the chance to do FP+ as you are less then 60 days. Hope you get what you want

Yep, FP+s are all set! We leave in about 35 days or so? Haven't done the math and my countdown is at work (where it really makes a difference!) We check in 5 weeks from Saturday!

 

[mchelle77]

I'm pretty sure you can use them as soon as you check in. The room does not need to be ready to take advantage of those benefits.

Awesome news ... I'm expecting Mickey Mail any day now!

My husband is NOT thrilled with the "no breaks" I have there. I said he could have a break whenever he wanted, but that's HIS vacation preference. Mine is to take full advantage of where we are! He has this crazy idea that I'm going to be swimming at the pool in December. I only swim in July/August in New England!!

 

[mchelle77]

I just reserved a spot for my daughter at the Neverland Club at the Poly for the night we're going to Kona for dinner. That way she can hang out with some kids while my husband and I eat sushi and have a few drinks. I booked it for three hours, they said if there is enough support there that night I can extend it an hour or two. I probably wouldn't too late (DHS the next day) but nice to have the option. I just saw that it's a MVMCP night at MK that night, maybe we'll pick her up and go to the Poly Beach to see Holiday Wishes at 930pm!

 

[mchelle77]

I have GOT to make my packing list this weekend.

 

[LB1122]

So jealous of the packing coming so soon.

How fun that you will have a night alone to enjoy and love the idea of fireworks after as a whole group.

 

[mchelle77]

Our daughter was only 4 last time we went and we still weren't comfortable with the idea of leaving her somewhere, so last trip really was ALL family. But she's almost 9 and I think will really like going there for a short time, so it'll be nice to spend some alone time for a bit. Even just for dinner!

*
On a related note ... we're (OK, I'm ) really hoping that 2015 prices for the Dis cruise are published when we're there so we can book a bounceback offer! There's no better way to get over vacation blues than looking forward to your next vacation.

How pathetic am I ... I haven't even gone on THIS one and I'm already looking forward to the one after that

 

[STLMickeyMom]

On a related note ... we're (OK, I'm ) really hoping that 2015 prices for the Dis cruise are published when we're there so we can book a bounceback offer! There's no better way to get over vacation blues than looking forward to your next vacation.

How pathetic am I ... I haven't even gone on THIS one and I'm already looking forward to the one after that

well, if you're pathetic, you're not alone! I have plans for a Disney cruise in 2015, Disneyland in 2016 and Disney world with friends in 2017. if you get cruise info while you're there, i'd love to know. I'm keeping an eye out rates so we can book asap--so excited for our first cruise!

 

[LB1122]

So wondering if I will be able to talk hubby into a bounce back offer????

 

[mchelle77]

OK good, I'm not alone I heard that December 4 is a date to watch for.

*
Lots of shifting going on. Here's the update, bolded:

11/27 - leave for WDW, stay overnight somewhere (book on the road)
11/28 - arrive in Orlando, stay at our off-site hotel. No plans (look into Thanksgiving meal either at hotel - room with kitchenette - or a restaurant?)
11/29 - no plans!
11/30 - check in. Tour GF Christmas decorations, then head to Downtown Disney. BBB at 640pm, Raglan Road at 8pm
12/1 - Half day at MK. FP+ for BTMT, Rapunzel M&G and Under the Sea. Hoping for a BOG lunch FP+, if they're ever available. Boardwalk/Beach cClub decor. Dinner at Cape May.
12/2 - Full MK. FP+ for Space, Splash and Enchanted Times w/Belle. CRT at 11:55am. Wishes Dessert Party 8pm.
12/3 - Epcot. FP+ for Mission, Test Track and Soarin. CP package for 12:55pm.
12/4 - DHS. FP+ for R&RC, TSM and Fantasmic. Counter service at park for lunch AND dinner.
12/5 - AK. FP+ for Safari, Everest and Dinosaur. Dinner at Kona 715pm. Daughter to Neverland Club possibly.
12/6 - Off day. Shutters rez for 645pm.

I was able to convince my husband to go for the half day at MK that Sunday (because of how much we want to do in the park, and the early hours at Epcot on Tuesday) but could NOT convince him to gogogo ... he insisted on one day where he did nothing, and he preferred it to be the day before we left to go home. We looked into extending a day (even off-site) but I really can't take another day off (very busy week that I'm taking off, making my attendence that next week crucial.)

I'll still have that extra day ... Is it too late to bump it down? If so, maybe I can still pop over to the park without him that Friday. We'll see.

Started my packing list. I'll forget something, I'm sure of it. Now I've entered the time where I panic about someone getting sick or something.

 

[Disneychix]

Looks good. Can you possibly get your tickets early? I've heard people say they can do that upo 2 days before checking into the resort. So maybe you can use your 'extra' day on the 29th?
If you are looking for a Thanksgiving meal Emeril's at Universal citywalk has some openings for reservations. I almost convinved myself to add on a couple days to enjoy this.

 

[mchelle77]

Looks good. Can you possibly get your tickets early? I've heard people say they can do that upo 2 days before checking into the resort. So maybe you can use your 'extra' day on the 29th?
If you are looking for a Thanksgiving meal Emeril's at Universal citywalk has some openings for reservations. I almost convinved myself to add on a couple days to enjoy this.

I'm not sure, but I don't think we'd want to do a park on that day ... I believe park attendance is still high that Saturday. We usually spend our first day wandering around Downtown Disney (and this year seeing the resorts is an added thing, part will be done that day)

Found out that I could NOT downgrade. We'll use that day as a backup. Even if it means just to enter a park on Friday for a meal. Now to decide WHERE to eat ... any suggestions? I thought a breakfast, then dinner at our resort, but my husband would rahter an early lunch (and seeing as how I've controlled everything else, I had to give it to him )

Good Mexican or Italian suggestions? Or something NOT: sushi, American, German, Caribbean, seafood, Irish (Those are the types we already have booked)

 

[mchelle77]

So now we have ...

Sat - EoS lunch (Q), Raglan dinner (T)
Sun - BOG lunch (Q), Cape May (T)
Mon - CRT lunch (2T), Starbucks gift card snack, Wishes Dessert party 8pm
Tue - Biergarten lunch (OOP), France dinner (Q)
Wed - 2 Q meals (Fairfax Fare, Studio Catering and/or Starring Rolls)
Thur - Yak & Yeti lunch (Q), Kona dinner (T)
Fri - Tusker early dinner (T) breakfast or late meal at resort (Q)
Sat - 1900 Park Fare breakfast (T)

And snacks. I've also planned some snacks LOL (My husband thinks I'm CRAZY) But I want to try the jalepeno pretzel, the schoolbread and the beignets.

We're also looking in to the Blue Man show at Universal for the Friday before we check in to WDW. My husband and I have been to the Boston show a few times, but our daughter is itching to go. We were going to take her for her birthday, but if we have a chance to see a new show, why not ...

 

[mchelle77]

We're also looking in to the Blue Man show at Universal for the Friday before we check in to WDW. My husband and I have been to the Boston show a few times, but our daughter is itching to go. We were going to take her for her birthday, but if we have a chance to see a new show, why not ...

LivingSocial had a Blue Man Group deal for Orlando .. plus, if you liked LS on Facebook you got 20% off. So for just under $120, I got the three of us tickets to the Friday night show. My husband was on the fence and said let him think about it until I got that 20% off promo LOL

 

[STLMickeyMom]

Aahhh, everybody loves a bargain! seeing blue man group sounds like a blast! We couldn't make it last time they were here and I've been waiting for them to come back ever since. Sounds like a great idea!

 

[mchelle77]

Our daughter will be SO excited about that ... she's been asking to see "the blue guys" for two years now. We were going to take her on her birthday on February, but for that price we'd be crazy not to do it. Hoping for a Margaritaville dinner while we're there!

*
Another change we're looking into - right now we have a Residence Inn booked for two night beforehand about 25 minutes away. There's a Groupon for the Clarion only 6 miles from MK that we're thinking about grabbing. It'll save us almost $100. He thinks we can find better, but I don't think so. We didn't realize how far Altamonte Springs was (because they advertise it as "Orlando", which I feel is a little deceptive) and now we want to be closer. BMG then dinner/drinks, then drive 25 minutes back to the hotel? EH.