The Peterson Family WDW Invasion 2009 PTR

[MadilynnsMomma]

I wish we had all those days - NEXT TIME!!! They look great!

 

[Pikester]

It's done Marie! I just made my 2 ADRs; got the days and times that I wanted!

Here is my schedule for the trip:

Sun/Nov 29-MK

Mon/Nov 30-DS

Tues/Dec 1-MK:Hoop Dee-Doo, 5:00pm Cat 1

Wed/Dec 2-EP

Thurs/Dec 3-AK:Tusker House Charater Breakfast-8:10AM

Fri/Dec 4-DS(I'm pretty sure)

Sat/Dec 5-Undecided

Since we have the Quick Service Dining Plan I haven't narrowed down which places we will be eating. I will do that a week before we leave so that DH can make up our itineraries.

*Do note that all days except Dec 3 for the Tusker House can be changed at my whim.

Oh and I was on hold for about 20 minutes before I was able to make my ADR. I called them at 8:00AM. I just put the phone on "speaker" and emptied the dishwasher until I heard a CM on the phone.

 

[mariezp]

Good afternoon folks! I should have been back sooner but I was not notified that there had been any activity around here so I guess I had better start relying on checking things out on my own instead. Not really a good excuse, I know, but it's the best I could do.

LOVEMY3KIDDOS, thanks for the review or "unrecommendation" on San Angel Inn. From the reviews I have read it seems that most of the people agree with you that the food is somewhat lacking there. Glad you gave me the heads up that I could go in and take a peek without having to make a ressie. That should satisfy my curiosity and be much easier to work into our schedule. Do they let you walk through the whole place or is there a specific area for people just to look around in?

MadilynnsMomma, I have indeed been truly blessed that all of my Disney trips have always been at least 10 days in the park. It is wonderful to get to take everything in at a somewhat leisurely pace. I have a feeling that 12 days at WDW is going to be much more action packed than 12 days at DL. Here's hoping you do get to take a long trip NEXT TIME!

Yippee, Pikester! Hurray for you getting your ADRs just like you wanted! I have 3 more days before I get to make my first one. Since we are staying offsite it looks like I will be calling back almost every day for the next 12 days. Actually, I think I might give it a try online first. Although 20 minutes on the phone isn't bad. I guess it depends on what time I actually wake up!
So... looking over your plans it looks like the only day we will be in the same park will be on the 4th.... unless you decide to head to Epcot on the 5th. With the December hours having come out I have gone back and tweaked my plans AGAIN! Here's plan #6....but I think this is REALLY the final one! maybe

Wed/Dec 2- Arrival day, pickup groceries, swim, meet up with DS's friends

Thurs/Dec 3- MK- Liberty Tree Tavern lunch (TL)

Fri/Dec 4- DS-Prime Time Café lunch & Sci-Fi Dine In for shake/dessert

Sat/Dec 5- EP, 8:15 Candlelight Processional dinner 6:00@ Garden Grill, Rose & Crown or Teppan Edo, followed by Illuminations

Sun/Dec 6- MK- Cosmic Ray's lunch (TL)

Mon/Dec 7- No park day, Bubba Gump lunch, Titanic Exhibit, bowling, beach

Tues/Dec 8- MK- Crystal Palace lunch

Wed/Dec 9- MK- Columbia Harbor House lunch (TL), Spectro

Thurs/Dec 10- AK, Rainforest Café dinner

Fri/Dec 11- MK- Hoop-De-Doo dinner 7:00

Sat/Dec 12- EP -Coral Reef lunch

Sun/Dec 13- MK- TMLT Noodle Station lunch (TL) or Pecos Bill lunch (TL)

Mon/Dec 14- AK/HS/EP, Pirate & Pals Fireworks Voyage

Tues/Dec 15-MK- Tony's lunch

Wed/Dec 16- Return home

I highlighted the ones I changed. Not sure I like our out of park day so soon in our trip but it looks to be the least useful day inside the parks. I was having trouble finding where to put AK but I do like having it later in our trip so that DD is not talking about wanting to go back EVERYDAY for the entire trip. I think the Fireworks Voyage would have been great on our last day but since it is only Fridays -Mondays I will settle on our next to last day which is okay. It also leaves our day open to finish up in any of the 2 parks whatever we feel like we might have missed. I like the idea of leaving our very last day in MK to revisit all our favorites before bidding the park our last farewell.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Looks good!!! Yep you can go all over inside San Angel. There is a shop and everything!

 

[mariezp]

LOVEMY3KIDDOS, thanks so much for the tip that there was so much to see inside SAI without actually dining there. I would have never known! Now I can check it out and not have to worry about whether or not I can find anything on their menu that the kids would eat.




So a few days have passed and I have had time enough to change my rough draft 2 more times. I added a little more detail to show a bit more info for some days. I did not make a lot of changes but did switch around a few days that I think will work better, most especially I like my last 2 days open so we can go back and finish the trip with our favorites. Here are my changes and my final, final, final draft!:

Dec 2- Arrival day, pickup groceries, swim, meet up with friends. Possible Red Lobster dinner since I have a gift card.

Dec 3- MK-Liberty Tree Tavern 12:50. Dinner outside of the park.

Dec 4-AK-Yak & Yeti Cafe or Flametree Bbq lunch, Rainforest Café dinner after park closes at 6:00.

Dec 5- EP, Yorkshire Fish Shop or Sunshine Seasons Food Court lunch, dinner 6:00@ Garden Grill, (alternates Rose & Crown or Teppan Edo) 8:15 Candlelight Processional followed by Illuminatons @ 9:30

Dec 6- MK- Cosmic Ray's lunch, dinner outside of park.

Dec 7- DS-Prime Time Café lunch & Sci-Fi Dine In around 4:30 for shakes or desserts or both! Dinner outside of park.

Dec 8- MK- Crystal Palace lunch, dinner outside of park.

Dec 10- No park day, Bubba Gump lunch, Titanic Exhibit, bowling, beach. Dinner something we pick up on the way in for the evening.

Dec 11- MK- Pecos Bill lunch, Hoop-De-Doo dinner. 7:00
Dec 12- EP -Coral Reef lunch, dinner outside of park.

Dec 13- MK- Tony's lunch, dinner outside of park.

Dec 14- AK/HS-Final day to go back to whichever park that we feel like we have missed something in or just want to revisit. DD will most likely request AK so I will go with her. The guys will probably rather do HS so we may end up in different parks. If we just have to we can always upgrade to hoppers. Lunch, AK- Yak & Yeti Cafe or Flametree Bbq lunch, HS- ABC Commissary or Sunset Ranch food court. In the evening I am hoping to book the Pirate & Pals Fireworks Voyage to view Wishes. Dinner outside of park.

Dec 15-MK-Last day, no plans. Possibly TML Terrace Noodle Station, if it is still open. Finish with anything we could have possibly missed. Repeat everything we want including rides or meals. Dinner outside of park.

Dec 16- Return home





I made my first ADR this morning so I am going to make myself stick with this draft and just keep going down the list. I used the online reservation system and have to say that I really enjoyed it opposed to waiting on the phone lines for an undetermined amount of time. Tomorrow's ADR will be Rainforest Cafe. Wish me luck!

 

[Pikester]

Sure, you just don't want to meet me on the 4th at DS. That's why you changed everything around.

Good luck on tomorrows ADR!

 

[mariezp]

Awwww, man! I forgot about that! Any chance you decided to go to Epcot on the 5th?

 

[JoJo1980]

Hi there! You're plans sound great We are doing our first december visit this year and are soooo excited We've booked most of our adr's but have left some gaps so that we have a bit of freedom. I hope you get all yours We are in MK on the 3rd as well - seems like a popular day for us disers

 

[mariezp]

Hi JoJo1980! Welcome! I popped over and started on your planning journal but will have to finish reading when I have more time. I did see where you got married at Disney which must have been just totally amazing! I think a December anniversary trip will be perfect! Be sure to take along your LGMH and maybe we will see you in MK on the 3rd!

We have never been to WDW at all but we have been to DL during December and it is just beautiful. Knowing how Disney does it up right I just know we are going to love the holiday season at WDW as well.


Hot diggity! I am down to 87 days!!!
I made my second ADR this morning online. Took me all of 5 minutes. Got Rainforest Cafe for 6:15 pm on Dec. 4.
I have to call in the morning bright and early to see if I can get a Candlelight Package. Somebody send me plenty of magic pixie dust so I can get through the phone lines and secure the time slot I am hoping for!

 

[Pikester]

Awwww, man! I forgot about that! Any chance you decided to go to Epcot on the 5th?

I don't know. The 5th is our last day and we usually go to MK for that. I'll keep looking at my schedule and see what I can do.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Hope this helps!!!

 

[Canyon girl]

Hey, Marie and other fellow first week of December goers!
Marie, I posted on your CP thread on TGM. How are your other ADRs going? We were really fortunate! It sounds like there are going to be a lot of people there during that week. Since we have a trip planned for next year, we are taking a more relaxed approach with our touring. I really don't like "commando" anyway.

11/29 - arrive. CM for supper
11/30 - Epcot with switch over to MK for CP supper and EMH
12/1 - Breakfast at Ohana. Resort decoration touring with MVMCP in
evening.
12/2 - MK morning switch to DHS for afternoon. Sci-Fi for supper. Lights
12/3 - MK EMH morning/BBB at castle for DD. Lunch is Afternoon Tea.
Late supper at 1900 Park Fare.
12/4 - Pick up rental car early. MK morning with switch to Epcot for middle
CP package.
12/5 - Beach day at New Smyrna Beach. Looking for shells and manatees.
OOPS!!! CHANGED TO: Drop off rental in afternoon. MK for Spectromagic followed by a late dinner at CRT.
12/6 - Leave this afternoon. First ADR of the day at Akershus. Light touring
at Epcot. Lunch at POFQ before boarding ME.

We decided early on that we would limit the parks that we went to so that we could see the decorations at the resorts. How does it look?

 

[mariezp]

Happy Labor Day to all you readers out there! I took the day off from all strenuous activities. Of course, that does nothing at all to affect my dedication to trip planning.... although today I did not have to even call in for any ADRs.

Yesterday I did make my Candlelight Package ADR! I got on the phone at 6:55. Had a 35 minute wait and the entire conversation was over in another 10 minutes. I ended up with Dec. 5, Garden Grill at 3:35 for the 6:45 show. Not exactly the times I had wanted but we can work with it. I do think I will call back every so often to see if they might have any cancellations for the 8:15 show. We do get to see Steven Curtis Chapman so at least that part is what I was hoping for. In trying to convince myself that the time will be okay I have been thinking that we won't be quite so rushed to get into position for the Illuminations show. Still.... ressies at 3:35 seems out of place. I can already imagine the troops complaining. Oh well, I guess I will just have to force them to eat an early breakfast and snack if they get too weak!


Pikester, I don't blame you for wanting to save MK for you last day. We will be doing that too! Don't worry with it too much. If we don't get a chance to meet up this time hopefully there will be another chance in the future. How are your plans coming along?

MadilynnsMomma, thanks for the pixie dust! Keep sending it this way! I still have more ADRs to make! I hope all your planning is still going well.

Canyon girl, good to hear from you again! It does look like there will be a lot of people there in early December. Then again, do you suppose there is ever a time when there are not a lot of people? I am so glad you are going to get to relax a bit. Touring all the Christmas decorations will be fabulous. Your itinerary doesn't look too rushed at all. At least you have an idea of what to expect. I am a bit afraid I will feel somewhat rushed to make sure we don't miss everything else so my touring of the Christmas decorations will probably have to come second on my priority list. We will be in the MK on the same day but that looks like that's about it.

While I haven't had the chance to try a relaxed approach at WDW just yet, I do know that taking things easy and just appreciating everything the park has to offer at DL is a kind of magic all in itself. I have to remind my DH to slow down. He does get the hang of it once we are in the park but he is like a mad man in high speed when we are getting to the park and leaving. Last year I finally gave up and joined him and DS in the race. We had one evening when we pulled out all the stops and ran all the way through the crazy fireworks crowd, out of the park, out though the esplanade and across the street to our hotel. I was winning but he cheated when we got to the door because he had the room key so he said he won because he would not let anyone else inside the door. It was so silly but something we will never forget. I did so good! I didn't even run over anybody!

As I was having a tea party with my DD today I began contemplating AGAIN and trying to talk myself into taking DD to the "My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party". She would love it! Sleeping Beauty is her favorite and the only one she said she cared about seeing. But darn! Why does it have to be so expensive? And why can't it be in one of the parks? Anyone got any good ideas of anything for a couple of guys to do at the Grand Floridian if we were to do the tea? Would it really worth $265?

 

[Canyon girl]

I am a bit afraid I will feel somewhat rushed to make sure we don't miss everything else so my touring of the Christmas decorations will probably have to come second on my priority list.

As I was having a tea party with my DD today I began contemplating AGAIN and trying to talk myself into taking DD to the "My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party". She would love it! Sleeping Beauty is her favorite and the only one she said she cared about seeing. But darn! Why does it have to be so expensive? And why can't it be in one of the parks? Anyone got any good ideas of anything for a couple of guys to do at the Grand Floridian if we were to do the tea? Would it really worth $265?

Marie,

Please take the time for the decorations! Remember, you can not see everything in one trip, no matter how long you are there. It is just an excuse to start planning another trip. As far as the tea party, the "My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party" is extremely expensive as you stated. Have you looked into the other options? There is also the Alice tea party, and it is quite a bit cheaper. What we are doing is the Afternoon Tea at the GF. Check out the menu on Allears. You could do that as a "Mommy/Daughter" tea, and it is a lot cheaper.

Naomi

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Had some catching up to do!!! Glad you are having success with your ADR's!!!!!

 

[Pikester]

My plans are paused for now. As you know, we have the QS plan and I was only going to make two ADRs that I will pay OOP for. Those ADRs have been made and are set. The rest of my dining choices will depend on what parks we are in on which days. I am following the crowd calender through touring plans so I'm pretty sure I know where we will be. I've been double checking the menus at all the QS places at each park and making a list of the ones we either want to go back to or try for the first time. Flametree is pretty high on my list of ones to try and Wolfgang Puck Express is tops on my list of places to go back to. If DH decides to get Park Hoppers then that would affect which parks on what days. We could hit a park in the morning, eat lunch and then head somewhere else or go back to the hotel and hit a park in the evening. In the past I've use Touring Plans to the letter(Meaning I go to the "Best" park on the day they say) but this year their Crowd Calender doesn't give me many "Best Park" days for MK. There are quite a few of the parks that are in between the "Best" and to "Avoid" (meaning they are not listed under either title) that we want to go to on those particular days. That is why my plans are paused.

$265! That is quite a bit of money. I read that she will get:
A special 18-inch My Disney Girl doll dressed in a matching Princess Aurora gown plus accessories
Her own ribbon tiara, silver Princess link bracelet, fresh rose, special princess scrapbook page and a "Best Friend" certificate

but that is still a lot of money.

 

[mariezp]

Canyon girl, not to worry! I will absolutely be enjoying all the Christmas decorations. I would just rather have a whole other week just for that alone! I know there is going to be so much new for us to see that it is going to be nearly overwhelming to take so much in. I am gonna be like a kid in a giant toy store!

I have read about the Alice tea party. Parents are not allowed to be present once the event begins so it is just not for us. We prefer to do things as a family. And as for the afternoon tea at GF.... let's just say... I don't think it would be our cup of tea since Princess Aurora was my main consideration for doing a tea party at all. I do hope you enjoy your tea party there! It does sound like a good alternative if you are not looking for the character interaction. For now I am pretty sure I have talked myself down on the Princess Tea Party.


LOVEMY3KIDDOS, good to see you again. My ADRs have been going very well. I am getting pretty good at getting up at the crack of dawn! I hope it holds out through tomorrow! I will be aiming to get a Hoop-De-Doo ressie.

Pikester, it does seem that MK is the hardest park to plan for because it is the busiest park of all of them. When we arrive it will be the week of the Christmas parade taping so there probably won't be any good days at all for our first few days. I just decided we will make the most of it and hope for less crowds the next week. Good luck getting all your plans all worked out and here's hoping we all end up with a wonderful trip!



Okay.... since my last ADR... I have made a few more. For Dec. 7th I did manage to get Prime Time Cafe for 12:10, although it said our group might have to be seated at 2 tables. The guest services girl said that if we showed up a few minutes early they should not have a problem getting the 5 of us at one table so that is what we will plan on doing. I also made an ADR for Sci Fi at 3:45. I need to try back and see if I can get anything later. We will only be going for shakes or dessert but I really would like to have a few hours in between the two. For Dec. 8th I booked Crystal Palace for 12:55. I really like the online reservation system. It has worked well for me so far.


I hope we get a chance to make many trips back to both Disneyland and Disneyworld but DH every now and then will mention that we may not get to go next year because it is his turn to go to Colorado. He did this yesterday and I've been in a blue funk ever since. I am not quite sure he realizes how close he comes to making me spiral into a deep depression when he makes me think I might not get to make another Disney trip! Here's hoping he is just spouting and wouldn't dare take our Disney magic away from us. I think pretty soon I am going to have to come up with some creative planning to keep us both happy, which may be reducing the Disney trip to one week. That's okay. One week is better than none!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I agree! I will gladly take 1 week as opposed to NO weeks!

 

[mariezp]

Well, I made it up and at em, bight and early at 5:00 this morning and was successful making my Hoop-De-Doo ressies! We will be going Dec. 11 for the 7:15 show. Wasn't nearly as hard as I worried it might be.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Well, I made it up and at em, bight and early at 5:00 this morning and was successful making my Hoop-De-Doo ressies! We will be going Dec. 11 for the 7:15 show. Wasn't nearly as hard as I worried it might be.