The Princess is Going Back to Her Kingdom...TWICE!

[jenny105]

Kimmy! I missed you! Can't wait to hear about your trip

 

[princess_momma]

So...I just had to book a trip. I HAD to. The dates might change if work is mean, but that's fine. I still HAD to have an actual, tangible reservation. I'm sure you guys understand.

We are currently booked at Pop Century from October 16th to 23rd. This way I FINALLY get to go to the Food & Wine Festival, and also, we will be there for mine and Garret's 2 year anniversary!!! We might be pushing Disney time back two days so we can go see Garret's dad, who lives in Florida, for a few days. But don't worry...my total time in Disney won't get cut down at all.

So I will should be making ADR's next month! I'm trying to think all the great places I want to show Garret - Ohana's, Kona, Via Napoli, etc! Ahhh it's all so exciting, I simply can't wait! I'll be posting more details soon...gotta go clean now!

 

[jenny105]

GET OUT OF TOWN AND DON'T COME BACK! I'm going to be there then!!! We are going on a cruise and it makes a stop in Port Canaveral on 10/22 so we are headed to Epcot for the day! We have to meet up even if it's only for like 5 minutes!

 

[princess_momma]

GET OUT OF TOWN AND DON'T COME BACK! I'm going to be there then!!! We are going on a cruise and it makes a stop in Port Canaveral on 10/22 so we are headed to Epcot for the day! We have to meet up even if it's only for like 5 minutes!

I'm eagerly awaiting my vacation bid confirmation to make sure I can even hold these dates! AHHH I'm so scared of when exactly I will go! But if they DO let me have the dates I want, that'll be needed because I will cry if we cannot meet up FINALLY!

 

[princess_momma]

Vacation bid has been entered. And now the waiting begins. WHEN WILL THEY LET ME GO HOME TO DISNEY?! One can only imagine. I put all sorts bids in for October, one for November. They really just need to let me know asap because I need to just finalize this stuff, ya know? I've already made some ADR's, just in case they give me my first one.

News, Both Disney and Real Life Related:

1. We will most likely be canceling Pop and staying at OKW. Because, why not? I love OKW. I want that to be my new home, so I'm making it my new home. Love you Pop...always will. But you don't have drinks called Turtle Krawls or Sultry Seahorse.

2. Our first 3 days will be at the beach probably, chilling with Garret's dad. I don't even know the last time I went to a beach. Landon has never been to a beach. Isn't that sad? So we'll go to a real one. And then probably the one at the Poly because...do you really need an explanation? If you do, go to the Poly beach and then you will you understand.

3. I love Groupon/Living Social websites. Garret and I just got a $2500 cali king memory foam mattress for like $670. I got the entire Boy Meets World series on DVD. (Except UPS is dumb and the package was literally in my state, then left and visited a few more states and then came back to my state and who the heck knows where it is now?) I got the entire Friends series on blu-ray AND actually quickly sold my DVD copies on Amazon. Then we got other little things, like food, hair straighteners, egyptian cotton towels, etc. I have an addiction.

4. Um...where all my BSB fans at? They just celebrated their 20th anniversary AND got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and I've been geeking out all week. Hardcore. But I love them so much that I can't really control the emotions they bring out.

5. I am loving my job. It's highly entertaining. I really, really, really love the way I get to help people without having to deal with the grossness. Does that make sense? Like, I've always wanted to be a nurse and help people but I can't handle bodily fluids or anything like that...so this way, I get to help them and not deal with that. Then there's all the entertaining goofballs, too. I really just love my job.

6. Has anyone out there ever done anything like the "helper" services where someone basically comes with you to the parks to basically nanny for the day and help with your children? We are 99% sure we are going to Universal this year and we (Garret and I) really don't want to ride all the really awesome rides for the first time by ourselves. So we've been thinking of using this service, but worry about awkwardness of having a stranger there the rest of the time. But maybe it could be cool because when they weren't entertaining Landon while we were on really awesome rides, I could use them as our own personal Photopass photographer.

7. We are also planning on going to Seaworld! So yay!

8. Also, pertaining to both Universal and Seaworld, has anyone ever been and what transportation do you recommend getting there?

 

[jenny105]

I have to force myself not to buy things from Living Social. I'm always like 'that is such a good deal!' and then I think 'but when would I actually use it?' I'm going to cave and eventually use one of their vacation offers they're always sending me.

I've never stayed at OKW. We're planning a trip next year and I think we want to go the DVC route again but I have no idea which resort. My first choice is the Boardwalk but I've heard mixed reviews.

 

[princess_momma]

I have to force myself not to buy things from Living Social. I'm always like 'that is such a good deal!' and then I think 'but when would I actually use it?' I'm going to cave and eventually use one of their vacation offers they're always sending me.

I've never stayed at OKW. We're planning a trip next year and I think we want to go the DVC route again but I have no idea which resort. My first choice is the Boardwalk but I've heard mixed reviews.

Lol I have tried to cool off on the living socials deal...but it's so hard! I'm dying to use a vacation one too. I just need a vacation in general though. Luckily I will be getting one in less then 6 months!

I haven't been able to snag anything at OKW. Literally the only DVC resort available was Saratoga Springs and we passed on it. A standard Saratoga room is around the same amount for a standard BLT and I don't think it's worth that. And unfortunately, my days are VERY inflexible because once you vacation bid at work and then get it, you can't cancel it. Oh well. Pop it is! I do love that magical place!!

 

[jenny105]

Lol I have tried to cool off on the living socials deal...but it's so hard! I'm dying to use a vacation one too. I just need a vacation in general though. Luckily I will be getting one in less then 6 months!

I haven't been able to snag anything at OKW. Literally the only DVC resort available was Saratoga Springs and we passed on it. A standard Saratoga room is around the same amount for a standard BLT and I don't think it's worth that. And unfortunately, my days are VERY inflexible because once you vacation bid at work and then get it, you can't cancel it. Oh well. Pop it is! I do love that magical place!!

How on earth do they charge the same amount for SSR and BLT? BLT's location trumps everything. I always thought SSR would be among the least expensive of the DVC resorts but whenever I price out renting points AKL and BWV are always the cheapest point wise.

 

[klacey1]

For getting to Universal from Disney, I've heard the Mears shuttle is a great deal-- especially the park tickets + shuttle tickets deal. I've only either stayed onsite or driven from an offsite hotel, so someone else probably has more details.

Sea World is great! Lots of great shows and rides!

Wow about Landon never going to the beach! We live so close to the shore, so it's pretty unheard of here, but it's understandable when you live in Colorado!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hi Kimmy! I'm not on here much, but just wanted to pop in and say hello.

For getting to Universal, Kylie is absolutely correct. The Mears shuttle is your best bet and there is a transportation and ticket package. I can send you a PM with more info if you'd like.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Hi Kimmy! We are going to be there 10/18-1025 for sure. I have flights booked, but not sure where we are going to stay.

I need to know for sure if my DD and her college friends are coming down for the first 5 days or not as it is there fall break. They have a friend doing the college progam and they are talking about visiting her. We only have enough DVC points to get a studio or a one bedroom at SSR, so we may use our Hilton Head time share and stay offsite.

Would love to do a dis meet if possible.

Never used a personal tour guide but we loved Universal two years ago.

 

[princess_momma]

How on earth do they charge the same amount for SSR and BLT? BLT's location trumps everything. I always thought SSR would be among the least expensive of the DVC resorts but whenever I price out renting points AKL and BWV are always the cheapest point wise.

There is literally a 5 point difference between SSR & BLT! I don't get it. BLT does trump everything. But oh well. I don't get to use points this trip anyway. Dang having to book "late" (at least for DVCers) thanks to my vacation bid!

For getting to Universal from Disney, I've heard the Mears shuttle is a great deal-- especially the park tickets + shuttle tickets deal. I've only either stayed onsite or driven from an offsite hotel, so someone else probably has more details.

Sea World is great! Lots of great shows and rides!

Wow about Landon never going to the beach! We live so close to the shore, so it's pretty unheard of here, but it's understandable when you live in Colorado!

I've been thinking about Mears! I'm glad they're a great deal. I'll have to look into that. Any good tips you have?

I AM SO EXCITED FOR SEAWORLD!! AHHHHH!!

I miss not having a beach. All we have is mountains, and I rarely even go to those. I do wish I wasn't so landlocked! I would love if the beach were closer!

Hi Kimmy! I'm not on here much, but just wanted to pop in and say hello.

For getting to Universal, Kylie is absolutely correct. The Mears shuttle is your best bet and there is a transportation and ticket package. I can send you a PM with more info if you'd like.

Hello! Thanks for popping over! I didn't even know that Mears had a transportation and ticket package! I already bought the US tix, but if you could PM info on the transportation that would be great! Thanks so much!

Hi Kimmy! We are going to be there 10/18-1025 for sure. I have flights booked, but not sure where we are going to stay.

I need to know for sure if my DD and her college friends are coming down for the first 5 days or not as it is there fall break. They have a friend doing the college progam and they are talking about visiting her. We only have enough DVC points to get a studio or a one bedroom at SSR, so we may use our Hilton Head time share and stay offsite.

Would love to do a dis meet if possible.

Never used a personal tour guide but we loved Universal two years ago.

That's awesome that we'll be there around the same time! We could def try a DisMeet!

I'm very excited for Universal!

 

[princess_momma]

I feel like everyone has summer trips and they're all going in the next few days or weeks and I'm over here like Hi. See you in 5 months 4 days Disney! HA! I know I'm not the only one with a trip that far, but it feels like it! The wait is killing me!! AHHHHH. But thank God I'm going this year! FINALLY! It's been way too long.

So I feel like I've done so much SeaWorld and Universal Studios planning lately. They are so unfamiliar that I know nothing about them, so I'm having fun researching! I have discovered that there is very little that Landon won't be able to ride at Universal so hooray! He's already tall enough for way more than I thought!

Also, you know what's a drag? The fact that I'm going around Halloween time! I already have to plan to be away from the MK some nights, but I forgot the US & SW also have Halloween parties! I already had to swap those days since my original US had their Halloween Horror Night. GRRR!! I think I'll still be fine at SW since I have a Dine with Shamu reservation.

It's so hard having everything booked and paid for (except transportation to & from SW/US) and still having 5 months left! AHHHHH and then it's the bittersweet thing because you've waited all winter for summer and so you want it to go fast so you can go to Disney but then again, you really don't because you love summer and hate the cold. Life of a princess is so hard.

 

[jenny105]

Halloween Horror Nights is terrifying! MNSSHP got nothing on that LOL. If you have any questions about Universal let me know! I know it pretty well

 

[klacey1]

I'm sure Landon will love Universal, so that's awesome he's tall enough for most things! At SW definitely don't miss the Clyde and Seamore show-- it's soooo funny! Journey to Atlantis is also a great ride, not sure of the height requirement though.
I know what you mean about having not a lot to plan-- ADRs are booked, general day plans are set. I'm not sure what I should be doing now for my trip in September?!

 

[princess_momma]

Halloween Horror Nights is terrifying! MNSSHP got nothing on that LOL. If you have any questions about Universal let me know! I know it pretty well

It looks terrifying to me! Except I am no good at handling scary things and Garret wants to go to it one day of course! AHH I don't even know what questions TO ask so any tips in general would be good.

I'm sure Landon will love Universal, so that's awesome he's tall enough for most things! At SW definitely don't miss the Clyde and Seamore show-- it's soooo funny! Journey to Atlantis is also a great ride, not sure of the height requirement though.
I know what you mean about having not a lot to plan-- ADRs are booked, general day plans are set. I'm not sure what I should be doing now for my trip in September?!

Landon is SO excited about it all. He's especially excited for Spiderman and Jurassic Park...and also the Hulk, which I haven't had the heart to tell him he won't be tall enough for. SW Orlando seems to have so much more than the San Diego one! Is it hard to crunch everything in? I definitely want to see the Clyde and Seamore show, Landon especially will love it if it's funny. I'm not 100% but I'm pretty sure Landon won't be tall enough for Atlantis or Mantis. Oh well.

 

[jenny105]

He's especially excited for Spiderman

I love, love, love this ride! It's so much fun.

He won't be scared by JP?

 

[princess_momma]

I love, love, love this ride! It's so much fun.

He won't be scared by JP?

We'll see. Our plan is to just take away the element of surprise and just explain what will be there, what will happen, watch ride videos and all that jazz so he knows what to expect. He's obsessed with dinosaurs though and says his 3 favorite animals are dragons, t-rex, and Shamu.

 

[jenny105]

We'll see. Our plan is to just take away the element of surprise and just explain what will be there, what will happen, watch ride videos and all that jazz so he knows what to expect. He's obsessed with dinosaurs though and says his 3 favorite animals are dragons, t-rex, and Shamu.

Shamu? Random. There's a part of the ride where two small dinosaurs are pulling a shirt back and forth between them that's splattered in blood. Just FYI!

 

[princess_momma]

Hello!! Just over 4 months away and the anticipation is KILLING ME! This month officially marks 2 years since I've been home. Heartbreaking.

So here's our very rough, subject to change (so I can try to be in EPCOT the same time as jenny105) plans for the time being:

October 16th - Land in Florida.
Where in Florida? That's up in the air. Garret's dad lives further south and would prefer for us to land in West Palm Beach. BUT his dad works in insurance and being that it will be hurricane season means that he might be working. And so we would go to Orlando. Obviously. So I'm reluctant to change the flight. IF we could NOT spend time with Garret's dad, we would book the first few days at a Universal hotel. I know...but we want to go to Universal and this way we could get the free Express pass or whatever and good proximity to Margaritaville. Priorities, people. mine are straight. But of course, odds are that we WILL be able to see him. And it would be pointless to have him drive all the way to Orlando to pick us up and then go all the way back to where he lives and then all the way back to Orlando 3 days later. WHAT DO I DO?! What would you guys do?

October 19th - Either way...it'll be DISNEY...FINALLY!!!!
I'm hoping to get into MK this day and have lunch at either BoG or Casey's or Cosmic Ray's. (Ya know...to see my friend, Sonny!) Who knows. We do have a ressie for Ohanas for 4 at the time being. In case Garret's dad can go. Which should work out, as long as we see him. ***Side note: There is a high possibility that Garret's friend, Brandon, will be going around this time. His mom and sister are big Disney fans, his sister actually worked at DL for a bit. They went last year to WDW for the F&W fest and loved it. So he's trying to get back. If Garret's dad can't go, he'll be our 4th party member. And if neither go...well, anyone wanna join us at Ohana's in October?

(P.S. I hate how much is up in the air. Garret was actually just making fun of me for how concerned I am with all the plans that are "only" 4 months away. While I'm over here, all like, we are ONLY 4 months away...I need to get this all ironed out NOW! )

October 20th - DHS/EPCOT/Boardwalk Day!
We have a Le Cellier ressie for lunch. But I don't know if I want to keep it. I have never dined there, but I can try stuff at the F&W festival, ya know? What do you think? The one for sure is ESPN Club for dinner. We lucked out for our trip that our team (THE DENVER BRONCOS!!!!) are playing the Sunday night game while we are there. I am HOPING that we did actually luck out with that and that it won't be as crazy as the rest of the day. (Because if you don't know, there are a bunch of games in the morning, a bunch in the afternoon, and then just one at night.) SO CLEAR OUR AFTER YOUR GAME PEOPLE! I need to see my Broncos!! Does anyone have any experience with Sunday NIGHT football there and can tell me if I'm right? (My personal experience is going there on a Monday night, which is also just one game, and it was very manageable, and really the only people there were fans for those particular teams.)

October 21st -
Kona for breakfast! YUM! I LOVE Kona, it is one of my fav's but I've never been for breakfast so I'm finally making a point to. I'm leaning towards the Samoan. I wouldn't be surprised if G got the big Kahuna. Any bets on if Landon could finish a Tonga Toast? You may think I'm kidding, but he often eats twice as much as me and then is hungry again sooner.

This day is also mine and G's 2 year anniversary. So after frolicking through the F&W fest, we are planning on dropping Landon off at the WL's kid's club and eating at Artist Point. Then going and playing in the MK for EMH while Landon is still in the kid's club. SO EXCITED FOR THIS DAY!!

October 22nd - Sea World day!!
We are all thrilled for this day! I have only been to SW in San Diego when I was younger and LOVED it. Landon loves killer whales and we are just excited for everything here. We are Dining with Shamu for dinner and that will be such an experience, I can't wait! Included all you can eat and drink (beer & wine included ) while watching those majestic creatures? Sounds so splendid.

October 23rd - Universal day!!
Our main focus is HP and G getting on thrill rides. We currently have the meal plan, which for those who don't know, is where you get a little card and it's basically a meal every time you go through the line. I've heard the options, especially the CS which are included, are crap but whatever. Our time here is limited, and I'm not going to Universal for the food. (Is it wrong that a small part of me is hoping we could stay those first few days at Universal so we could dine at some of the better places and get the Express pass?)

October 24th - AK/EPCOT day!!
Our dining plans for this day are Yak & Yeti (for the won ton dessert, obvi) and Via Napoli (one of my other favs besides Kona). Pizza and sangria!! YUM!!

October 25th - Another DHS day!
Right now we are having dinner at Captain's Grille because, we love crab legs! And that's really the only sea food we even eat besides shrimp, but we LOVE it. So we try to get it as often as we can which is why we booked this. However, I'm torn. Because I've been dying to try places such as Raglan Road, closely followed by Rose & Crown. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!! I know Raglan Road is a fan favorite, but I also worry about how it will be for any picky palates. HELP! Lol

October 26th - Last full day. Who knows where?
Our last dinner is booked at Kona. For dinner this time, so I don't feel like it's too redundant. It's really non-negotiable. I need the bread/butter. Not to mention, the Poly has my favorite drinks. And any food I've ever had here has been spot on. It's my favorite so I'll need it for my farewell.

Let me know what you guys think and also post your faves from the F&W festival if you have them!