The "They extended free dining til WHEN?!?" PTR- My first Christmas Visit!!

[JacksLilWench]

So it may be WAY too early to start a PTR on here, but after three and a half days of reading other TR, I just can't help myself They're all so entertaining and I can't help but think they must make the time go faster, which means I get to go to Disney faster, right??? Right?!?? I'll take that as a yes . So here we go!!

Chapter One: The Cast!
Chapter Two: Let's Eat, Mom!
Chapter Three: Wait...I can't go naked, right? So...what am I gonna wear?
Chapter Four: OH SNAP!! Change in the Dining Lineup!!!
Chapter Five: Rant-a-licious
Chapter Five, Part 2: Well, now I know what makeup I'm gonna wear down there.
Chapter Six: ...Party.
Chapter Seven: Whoa, it's been WAAAY too long.

First off, the cast (which is rather small, actually):
There's me:

I'm 24 years old, and will hopefully before too long, be a nursing student! I've always been in a serious love affair with Disney, having been reared on the classic animated movies. But my favorite of all time is The Little Mermaid. Close second is PoTC . This will be my fifth trip to WDW, and it seems like every time I go, it gets better and better.

Then there's my mom:

(Ya seeing the pattern here? )
My mom is an undisclosed number of years, and works as a Data Specialist in an OR in a pretty awesome hospital in our hometown of Charlotte, NC. Her favorite movie always has been and probably always will be Cinderella. This will be her sixth trip to WDW.

We usually go visit the Mouse about once a year; we just can't stay away! Our travel agent helps out tremendously--gotta love AAA!

This time around, we originally had our trip planned for Sept. 13-17, but once they extended the DDP, we decided to take advantage and go during the Christmas season to see all the lights and decorations! Plus, we had never stayed at any of the Moderate resorts, so we're staying at one of those for the upgraded dining plan as well. AND! We were lucky enough to make the cutoff for the Disney GAD program, so this will be our longest trip at five full park days--I can't stand it!!

So we're going to be checking into PO-French Quarter on December 13 til the 18th, and we're so excited about it :-D

Up next, the plan of attack!! But it's not an attack so much as "hey, why don't we eat here and go to that park this day?"

I hope you guys enjoy!!
More pictures to be posted as we go!!

 

[JacksLilWench]

So where was I? Oh yeah, plan of "hey, let's eat at this restaurant this day."

We always take advantage of Evening EMH, it just seems to work out great for us So our itenerary is as follows:
December 13th(Arrival Day!)- MK 9a-11p with Dinner at Plaza
Dec 14th- AK 9a-6p with Character Breakfast at Tusker House
Dec 15th- EPCOT 9a-12:30a (Looong EMH!) Dinner at Les Chefs De France
Dec 16th- MK 9A-Midnight (including MVMCP) with Dinner at Crystal Palace
Dec 17th- DHS 9a-8p (With Fantasmic!) with Lunch at Mama Melrose
Dec 18th- DTD and Departure Day

Even though we've been to WDW so many times and done most of what we want to do, there are still a handful of things we still haven't done and want to accomplish on this trip, like:
Rope Drop (We've never been big morning people...my mom has to be at work at 6:30a, so she likes to sleep in on vacay)
Eat a Mickey Waffle (again, the whole anti-morning thing )
Ride Space Mountain (We're so lame, I know! I tried to ride this last time I went on my birthday '09, but we forgot about it and then when we remembered it was too late and the park was closing )
Dole Whips!! (We always seem to forget about these things too!)
Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Again, we always forget about this one...but last time I went, I did finally ride Splash Mountain and I got SOAKED!)

One thing I'm really excited about this trip for is my mom and I are now big scrapbookers (my mom is more than me, but we've bought up every Disney sticker within a five mile radius of the house, lol) So she made us both the most awesome character autograph book!! Mine is Ariel-themed (obviously, lol):

I can't wait to use it!!!

Up next...I think a packing list is in order...

 

[YukiPhnx]

Girl, it's definitely not too early. It's only a couple of months away!

Wow, that autograph book is SOOO CUUUTE! I'm a rookie scrapbooker. Haven't made mine yet, but have already bought a bunch of stuff to make one about my upcoming trip.

MVMCP is going to be so much fun!

 

[Tigger822]

Found your Ptr through my TR.
Hi!
We will miss eachother We will be there nov 27 to Dec 8th
Maybe a Dis Meat in the Future?
Lisa

 

[JacksLilWench]

Girl, it's definitely not too early. It's only a couple of months away!

Wow, that autograph book is SOOO CUUUTE! I'm a rookie scrapbooker. Haven't made mine yet, but have already bought a bunch of stuff to make one about my upcoming trip.

MVMCP is going to be so much fun!

Thanks, YukiPhnx! My mom just got a Cricut, which is the most awesome scrapbook toy known to man and we've been able to do SOOO much with it-like make my book! I should post pictures of my mom's too...her's is so incredible!

And after work today, there's an actual scrapbook convention here in Charlotte so I plan on buying up a lot of stickers and ribbon and paper and books and--let me stop now before I get too excited

 

[JacksLilWench]

Found your Ptr through my TR.
Hi!
We will miss eachother We will be there nov 27 to Dec 8th
Maybe a Dis Meat in the Future?
Lisa

Hey Lisa, thanks for reading!

Bummerrrrr, we're gonna miss each other! But you're right, it does open up the excuse to go to Disney again to meet up!!

 

[__disneygirl]

Hey!! I figured I'd enjoy this PTR since you posted on mine and you seem fab, and I was right!! Great start.

Ok, the list of things you haven't done at WDW is stressing me out because these are all AMAZING things you can not miss. However, above all else, you MUST NOT MISS THE MK WELCOME SHOW, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN!! I don't know if you read my chapter on that but let's just say that after seeing it, I can die happy now.

I love that Ariel scrapbook!! Your ADRs look good too. I fell in love with Chefs de France on my last trip, Oh my God. Pure deliciousness. Will not return to Disney without stopping at Les Chefs!!

 

[JacksLilWench]

Hey!! I figured I'd enjoy this PTR since you posted on mine and you seem fab, and I was right!! Great start.

Ok, the list of things you haven't done at WDW is stressing me out because these are all AMAZING things you can not miss. However, above all else, you MUST NOT MISS THE MK WELCOME SHOW, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN!! I don't know if you read my chapter on that but let's just say that after seeing it, I can die happy now.

I love that Ariel scrapbook!! Your ADRs look good too. I fell in love with Chefs de France on my last trip, Oh my God. Pure deliciousness. Will not return to Disney without stopping at Les Chefs!!

Thanks girlie! You're so sweet!! !!

Trust me, as much as the list is stressing YOU out, it's stressing me even MORE. I can't stand myself the more I think about it. Fortunately it's a very short list, so it won't be even CLOSE to impossible to finish it off
And I am GOING to the Welcome Show at MK this time around, so help me God!! And we tried to eat at all new places this time around, and the only repeat we have is CP...but I like it there, so it's all good

OMG PS, I lovelovelove your TR! I can't wait to read the next entry!!

 

[JacksLilWench]

This took forever, I know, but I have been SOOO busy with work and school starting in the last week that I've had no free time at all until right now...so I'm gonna take advantage of it!

So this is where I'm hitting a wall. We've never gone to the World in any other month than September, which is easy to pack for: cute sundresses, shorts, and tank tops. However, this year we'll be arriving in December. All the things I wanted to pack are essentially no-go's because I have no idea what the weather is gonna be doing in December. And everyone keeps telling me "Oh, it's warm during the day and cool during the night- just bring a light jacket, you'll be fine!" And I have to tell you....this won't even process in my head. Like, I don't understand the concept of a light jacket in Disney World. Which means I have no idea what to pack for seven days. Not including the outfit that's gonna have to transition from cold North Carolina December to a probably (hopefully) warmer Florida December in the span of 8-ish hours.

I do have one outfit, which is my saving grace. Now if only I could find it in six other different colors and designs.....
But it's this awesome sweatsuit (don't knock it, it's stupidly comfortable) with burnout Tinkerbell silhouettes. And then I just got a Tinkerbell tank and a Mickey shirt from Disneystore.com that are both adorable.

But as far as clothes, that's seriously about it. It's really kinda upsetting me because I had all my clothes planned out for the original dates of the trip. But I'm not gonna let it get me down! It's Disney World after all

There are some non-clothing mandatory items I have packed, and everyone else should too. Seriously. These items are incredible and should probably be incorporated into your daily life. The first is dry shampoo. I know, it's sounds , but trust me, go to Sephora and buy yourself a yellow bottle of Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo that smells like jasmine flowers and use it the next time you want to do your hair but don't have time for a shower. It's a miracle worker in a little $11 can. Then if you're a curvaceous girl like me, get yourself over to Target and buy a tube of Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel. Because nothing ruins any vacation faster than chafing. Some of you will know what I'm talking about. Those of you that diet year-round (__disneygirl, I'm looking at you but I totally love you!) might not understand it. But it can save you from a lot of misery spent in the parks, which is always a good thing

All that being said, I do have some goals I want to accomplish before my trip that aren't quite Disney-related. I am not the smallest girl around, and it's something that can be quite frustrating to me. And while I know this is a PTR and not a WISH thread, losing some of the extra weight is part of the process for me. So what I'm thinking of doing is just putting a little note at the bottom of each entry about my progress toward my goal. I hope that's okay with everyone!

I can't stand the excitement anymore. I have 118 days left before we get to POFQ and it's just 118 too many for me. But I am watching one of my absolute favorite Disney movies right now...Lion King. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful this movie really is and how it chills me at the same moments every time. And Rafiki rocks it

Well, that's all for now...I have a lot of fun writing all this out, and it means a ton that people read and respond too. So you should keep doing it Thanks for reading everyone!

 

[JacksLilWench]

If you'll excuse me, I just want to make sure my throat is clear so I can say this loud enough:

*ahem, cough cough*

WE GOT 8:05AM RESERVATIONS FOR CINDERELLA'S ROYAL TABLE THE MORNING OF THE 16TH!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Thank you for allowing me to geek out there for a minute. You just have no idea how badly I want to be in the park before it opens to see it practically empty; it's like that moment right before a huge storm hits, and it's really quiet and calm for a just a little bit, and you can hear the wind coming...that is one of my favorite moments in life. And now I get to do it at my favorite place in life. I win at life right now!!

I don't really have much else to say about my trip for now, just that I got the best ressies ever and wanted to share with the few readers I have out there...which reminds me...

If you ARE a reader, let me know! I always wonder who reads my ramblings...don't feel like you have to lurk in the shadows, it's much more fun play on the thread

 

[__disneygirl]

Then if you're a curvaceous girl like me, get yourself over to Target and buy a tube of Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel. Because nothing ruins any vacation faster than chafing. Some of you will know what I'm talking about. Those of you that diet year-round (__disneygirl, I'm looking at you but I totally love you!) might not understand it. But it can save you from a lot of misery spent in the parks, which is always a good thing

hahahahjsajkd I wish I dieted year round. I cannot. Did I say that? I should have said I need to lose more weight so I am trying but you know, you gotta live. It's easy for me to MAINTAIN my weight with balance ("Balance" is eating a lot of pizza one day and then the next taking like 8 extra dance classes) but actually knocking OFF weight is harder, sigh...

As for your chafing, there is a famous thing here on the DIS called Body Glide. It's one of those things everyone claims will make your trip 1000x better, like Crocs or a Baggalini. So you may want to try that. Also, if you ask around on the boards more, people will tell you EXACTLY what to pack for December. I don't know, because I've never gone at that time, but I do know how thorough people on the boards can be

I'm sooooo happy for you that you got into Cinderella's Royal Table! I've never been there because it's been at impossible to get into status looong before anyone even knew what Le Cellier was. However, I plan to... one day. Sigh.

 

[Canefamily]

I'm so excited to read your report.

We are going the same time but this is our first trip. So, I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible. It helps me so much to hear what I should be doing. Can't wait to hear more!!!!


How cool about your CRT!!!

 

[JacksLilWench]

I'm sooooo happy for you that you got into Cinderella's Royal Table! I've never been there because it's been at impossible to get into status looong before anyone even knew what Le Cellier was. However, I plan to... one day. Sigh.

OMG, you have no idea how crazy that conversation was with the WDW-DINE lady. When she said that reservation was available (Sidenote, I can't stand the word "ressie", it makes my mouth hurt) all I could say was "....Huh. Can we have that reservation? Like, am i allowed to do that?" I felt like I was getting away with something really ridiculous But I'll make sure to get some awesome pictures for you...then you can eat vicarously through me until you get your own table!

I'm so excited to read your report.

We are going the same time but this is our first trip. So, I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible. It helps me so much to hear what I should be doing. Can't wait to hear more!!!!


How cool about your CRT!!!

Thanks for joining in, CaneFamily!
How exciting, your first trip!!! You're gonna have so much fun If you need any help with anything about your trip, please let me know and I'll try my best to help you out--I'm so excited for your first trip like it's mine

Now, I don't really have any new developments, but I do have a rant that involves WDW....just not in the way you might think.

The last two nights, I've been working overnight doing floorset at one of my two jobs. I work two jobs so that I can afford to do things like go to Disney World as time and money allows me to, not necessarily just to make ends meet. One of these jobs is at an American Eagle Outfitters, which I really do love; it's a pretty good place to work, the managers are really great, and the discount doesn't hurt But this is not an easy job to have, especially when you realize how hard you work when the doors close. So the first night of floorset, I get paired with this heathen girl that will remain nameless. She just got married in July and went on her honeymoon to WDW. And as we're putting this table together (by that, I mean putting the clothes on it, not ACTUALLY putting it together; thank Mickey for her sake that there were no power tools involved) she says to me "Oh, I've been meaning to tell you about my honeymoon" (And to be honest, I didn't care about her honeymoon. I don't particularly like this girl.) But being polite, I asked her how it was....and imagine my disgust when she looked me in the eye and said "I hated it, I never want to go back."

If that's going to be your response, then don't even open your mouth to me about Disney. But it doesnt stop there, my friends. She then proceded to tell me the following things about her "awful" trip:
1) "We ate at Coral Reef"--Uhhhmmmm, WHY?! Do you like to get sick on vacation?
2) "Our best meal was at Lady and the Tramp's Restaurant because we knew our server"-- I don't even know where to begin with this statement. For starters, it's not called "Lady and the Tramp's" It's Tony's Town Square. It's on the front of the menu, read it. Second, you shouldn't have to know someone to get good service and food in ANY restaurant, especially ones on Disney property. If I am paying you what I pay for Disney vacation, my meal needs to be good.
3) "Fantasmic s***ed b***s."-- Those were her exact (edited) words. I feel like I should have just kicked her in the shins at that moment and walked away.
4) "We loved Magical Kingdom, that was our favorite"--Once again, get the names of at LEAST the parks correctly. There is no such place as Magical Kingdom. Stupid.
5). "Nobody in Downtown Disney took the Dining Plan."--What?!? You are out of your mind, EVERYBODY in DTD takes the DDP!!! How hard did you look for a restaurant?! Did someone burn down Earl of Sandwich and it didn't make the news?!
6) "It was so hot, I couldn't believe how hot it was."--That's what you get for going to Florida in July, Dummy.
7) "Animal Kingdom s***ed, we only spent three hours there"--Then you missed the entire park, because I could spend two days there and not see the same thing twice.
8)"I would never go back to Disney."--This is the smartest thing she said about The Happiest Place On Earth all night long. Here's why: that statement means there is one less person for me to have to stand behind in line while on queue for Potc, HM, The Teacups, EE, ToT, RNR, PPF, BTMR, SM(x2) and all the other rides I can't wait to ride come this December. But thinking about how mad she made me and how irritated I was that someone could be so ignorant about how to plan a simple honeymoon, it made me think of something that had happened that very afternoon.

My mom had taken the day off, and wanted to know if I wanted to come with her to a scrapbook store and then to the Disney store (chyeah!). On the way back home, we stopped to get something to eat. And while we were sitting there eating, an incredibly meaningful song came on: Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw. Here's why it's so important to my mom and myself:
When my mom was in her early 40's, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. While it wasn't a very extreme case or one where it didn't look like she was gonna make it, it's still cancer. It still hit us hard as a family. When she got through "the worst of it" (ie, lumpectomy, treatments, radiation therapy) and was given the all clear from her doctors, she heard that song and got it in her head she was going to take her girls to Disney World, a place that was inaccesible to her growing up.

Ever since then, it's been a place of so many meanings for me and my mom (my sister wasn't as enraptured by it--costumes with big heads freak her out). One of the most important is the fact that for us it symbolizes healing. It's where we went when we knew everything was going to be okay, so to go back there is to know that feeling again.

And now that I've rambled on and on (and hopefully not made anyone cry!) I'll wrap this up. The next entry here is definitely gonna be shorter and happier!

 

[JacksLilWench]

So I wanted to lighten this up a few notches, and then I found this amazing new information. Lia, I think you might get an unreal kick out of this, because I certainly did!!!

http://www.maccosmetics.com/vv_landing/index.tmpl

I can't wait til September 30th!!!!

 

[YukiPhnx]

WOAAAAAAAAAAAHA!!!!!!!! Make-up inspired by the villains????? UNREAL!!

It seems more like something Sephora would do.

And I REALLY don't like your co-worker either. Man, some people just can't apprciate things. It's obvious she did ZERO research about the place she's going to. Why honeymoon at WDW if you're not even interested enough to find out it's MAGIC kingdom, not MAGICAL kingdom?

Fantasmic BLOWS MY MIND. She's probably just not a very happy person to begin with. Good riddance to her. We don't need those people at Disney.

And wow about that song. It's so wonderful to hear about triumphunt stories like that. My grandma wasn't as strong and cancer took her from us. I think it's wonderful that Disney is more than just a vacation to you, as it should! It's what keeps us going back, right?

 

[JacksLilWench]

Yayyy!!!! Yuki's back!!!! I can't wait to read your TR, it's gonna pump me up so much!

And about my co-worker, inorite?! She's so rude, it just put me in such a bad mood. Like, I understand not everyone is a Disney person and that's okay, but I don't sit and knock down her likes for an hour straight while she's chained to a table with me. But whatever, her loss is my Disney gain!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother :,( We're going through something similar with both of my grandmothers right now, and it just makes me pause to think.

But on a happier note, I'm SO excited about Disney Villain makeup :-D It's gonna be sold at Sephora, though. I'm really excited too, that they're gonna be doing a line for Dr. Facilier: he is so sickkkk. And I do believe that's the makeup I'll be wearing for a week straight in December

I don't really have anything new to report on the trip, just that I'm quickly approaching the 100-day mark It feels like it took forever to get here, but it seems so downhill from here. Plus it'll get easier to save some money the closer we get to December. AND! I figured out my paychecks and I'll be getting one the day before I leave!! I love when stuff like that happens

But in the meantime...I have so much to do tonight and need to get off. But the thing is, I probably won't accomplish them, but instead I'll be watching PotC (This is as close to a pirate I could find, lol)

Next week, I'll hopefully have a real entry!! I don't know what about, but I'll have one!

~kt.

 

[YukiPhnx]

Well, I'm glad the bulk of your duties are over.

After you pay everything off and have things booked, you're just waiting around for it....I put off a bunch of what I wanted to get done until the month before, so I would still have something to do! Cause the waiting is just unbearable

 

[JacksLilWench]

Well, I'm glad the bulk of your duties are over.

After you pay everything off and have things booked, you're just waiting around for it....I put off a bunch of what I wanted to get done until the month before, so I would still have something to do! Cause the waiting is just unbearable

I know...this waiting is really getting ridiculous. But I guess the waiting is all part of the trip in the first place...if you didn't have to wait for it, it might not be as special, ya know? It's like I keep telling myself: I've wanted to move to Florida since I was little so I could go to Disney World whenever I wanted to...but then if I did that, it wouldn't be as special or as cherished as it is now. Plus the heat would really be rough, lol.

SO:

Tomorrow is going to be a big entry day, because of a couple reasons...but I don't want to share them just yet! I'll definitely let the cat out of the bag tomorrow after I get home from work

~JLW

PS: I found out this little fun fact to share with everyone--When Walt first decided to build a theme park in California based on his movies, everyone thought he was NUTS. They all said it would fail But instead of giving up, he went ahead with the plan, and decided to use Tinkerbell and Jiminy Cricket as "mascots" for the park. That way if the park DID bomb, then the big characters (like the princesses) wouldn't be attatched to it!

 

[YukiPhnx]

oooooh, cool little fact! But that means....Tink isn't that big? But BECAUSE of the parks, Tink is now HUGE. I love her.

I'll have to read your big update on Monday, cause I'll be at Niagara Falls tomorrow.

 

[__disneygirl]

OMG I'm so excited for the Villain make up! My girl Danielle at MAC showed me the templates awhile ago and I already told her which ones I want :X So hopefully I'll be getting them soon!!! I mean I know it's just a gimmick but I don't care, Disney's got me again. I am powerless when it comes to Disney!!!