The trip that might not, oops scratch that, IS HAPPENING!!! Sept 1-9 PTR.

[LegoMom3]

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I don't really have any must do's for MK on this day, but it would be great to get in a few rides. Maybe POC, Haunted Mansion and Buzz. I know thats all over the park, or maybe we will just hang out in Adventureland. Any suggestions??

Next up is Day 2.

We love Chef Mickey's!! Have a blast! I also enjoy the CR....I'm not sure it's someplace I'd ever want to stay at, but I love watching the monorail breeze through the lobby, and the views of Bay Lake.

Do you have a phone that takes apps? I've used an app called Mobile Magic (we use Verizon but it may be available on other lines as well). It reads your location in the parks via your phone's GPS and gives you real-time line/wait data......LOVE it! There are other similar apps out there, you can probably get info if you just Google it. Otherwise, I'd just kind of see what the crowds are like that evening in terms of what you do. Or for that matter, just walk around and do whatever doesn't have a long wait!

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[drsvanhorn]

We love Chef Mickey's!! Have a blast! I also enjoy the CR....I'm not sure it's someplace I'd ever want to stay at, but I love watching the monorail breeze through the lobby, and the views of Bay Lake.

Do you have a phone that takes apps? I've used an app called Mobile Magic (we use Verizon but it may be available on other lines as well). It reads your location in the parks via your phone's GPS and gives you real-time line/wait data......LOVE it! There are other similar apps out there, you can probably get info if you just Google it. Otherwise, I'd just kind of see what the crowds are like that evening in terms of what you do. Or for that matter, just walk around and do whatever doesn't have a long wait!

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My husband has a smart phone, and I'm getting an android soon, so I will definitely add the app on our phones.

I like the idea of taking it easy the first day.

 

[Elleshoodat]

I love the Contemporary, too! I've never actually stayed there, lol, but the clean lines and modern design are right up my alley. Plus -- hello, monorail! Chef Mickey's looks like lots of fun, too, but we haven't made it there yet.

I think you are going to be torn on your first day. At least I know I would be. Part of me would want to take it easy and rest up for the days ahead, and part of me (the stubborn part) would want to get to a park ASAP to start absorbing the magic.

That said, I would lean toward concentrating on getting settled into POR, then enjoying your ADR and, if there's time before/after, heading to the MK for a bit to just enjoy the sights and sounds, not with a "plan" per se.

I hope that helps!

 

[drsvanhorn]

I love the Contemporary, too! I've never actually stayed there, lol, but the clean lines and modern design are right up my alley. Plus -- hello, monorail! Chef Mickey's looks like lots of fun, too, but we haven't made it there yet.

I think you are going to be torn on your first day. At least I know I would be. Part of me would want to take it easy and rest up for the days ahead, and part of me (the stubborn part) would want to get to a park ASAP to start absorbing the magic.

That said, I would lean toward concentrating on getting settled into POR, then enjoying your ADR and, if there's time before/after, heading to the MK for a bit to just enjoy the sights and sounds, not with a "plan" per se.

I hope that helps!

The monorail and the CR is what always drew me to it. I remember as a kid love riding the monorail and going through the Contemporary. My trip with my family when I was 15 we stayed at CR in the main building, so I got to see it for a week!! Not sure I would stay here again, because I would love to try the Poly, YC, AKL, or BC first.

I'm with your stubborn part and wanting to start the, , magic right away too. But...this being DS3 first trip and we have 8 days there I'm going to try to relax and soak it all in Day 1 and enjoy seeing him and DS0 take it all in.

I'm thinking the parade at 3, if we have time, then check things out in MK or CR have our dinner and back to MK for the nighttime shows and anything we can get in without a huge wait. I'm unsure how the crowds will be Saturday night of Labor Day weekend, but I just had to start in MK!

 

[CandleontheWater]

I'm joining in! Your trip sounds like a lot of fun and I really hope it all comes together!

I don't think you can beat dinner at Chef Mickeys and then Spectro (or MSEP) and Wishes for the first night. Sounds perfect to me!

I think your are really going to love your ADRs! We did Garden Grill in Dec and I was really surprised at how good it was and how great the character interaction was. I went in with very low expectations, and was blown away. Another great thing that they have at the garden grill are the infant highchairs, that way if your youngest isn't ready for a highchair yet, you'll have a comfy place for him. They also have the infant high chairs at Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace, so be sure to ask for them if you think you'll need one.

I think that your 3 year old will also love Biergarten. When you check in, ask for a table by the stage, that way your three year old can get up and dance, but you can sit back and relax. We did that with my DS in April and it worked out great. He isn't that interested in long meals, and I like to enjoy the buffet, so I was able to eat a second plate while he bopped around on the dance floor. We were right next to him and able to watch him the whole time, so he was perfectly safe. It was a really nice option.

can't wait to hear more!

 

[drsvanhorn]

I'm joining in! Your trip sounds like a lot of fun and I really hope it all comes together!

I don't think you can beat dinner at Chef Mickeys and then Spectro (or MSEP) and Wishes for the first night. Sounds perfect to me!

I think your are really going to love your ADRs! We did Garden Grill in Dec and I was really surprised at how good it was and how great the character interaction was. I went in with very low expectations, and was blown away. Another great thing that they have at the garden grill are the infant highchairs, that way if your youngest isn't ready for a highchair yet, you'll have a comfy place for him. They also have the infant high chairs at Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace, so be sure to ask for them if you think you'll need one.

I think that your 3 year old will also love Biergarten. When you check in, ask for a table by the stage, that way your three year old can get up and dance, but you can sit back and relax. We did that with my DS in April and it worked out great. He isn't that interested in long meals, and I like to enjoy the buffet, so I was able to eat a second plate while he bopped around on the dance floor. We were right next to him and able to watch him the whole time, so he was perfectly safe. It was a really nice option.

can't wait to hear more!

I'm looking forward to our ADRs too!! I've only done Chef Mickey's so they will all be new for us. I did Biergarten for the reason you said about my DS3 being able to dance. He loves music and I think he will really enjoy it.

Thanks for the tip about the infant high chairs, I will keep them in mind. My youngest will be 5 months. so not sure if a regular high chair will work yet.

 

[TandLMommy28]

We are staying at POR in September too (we'll miss you by a week) and we had a similar issue as you. I actually had extra withheld from our pay so we'd have MORE than enough money in our tax refund to pay for this trip. Then an expense came up and I lost more than half of it to paying a bill. And now I feel so stressed about the money. Ugh.

 

[ladytink75]

Hello there I hope you don't mind me hopping on. I had a trip all set and ready to go with my parents for Christmas last year we were going to surprise my children by taking them to DW for Christmas, but in Nov my DH lost his job. So the months of planning and getting geared up and ready to go all went down the tubes. When we thought my DH had finally found a job in Jan I had planned to take the trip in March for mine and my daughter's bday but nope the job fell through and we were still without a job and no trip. So what I did is I put a plan in motion for us to take a trip in Oct of this year (I already have some ADR's done already) and just pray that my DH can finally find a job. Seven months with him out of work and he is the only one who is the bread winner is kinda hard. So I totally understand how you feel right now.

 

[drsvanhorn]

We are staying at POR in September too (we'll miss you by a week) and we had a similar issue as you. I actually had extra withheld from our pay so we'd have MORE than enough money in our tax refund to pay for this trip. Then an expense came up and I lost more than half of it to paying a bill. And now I feel so stressed about the money. Ugh.

I think money issues are just a fact of life, because they always seem to happen at the worst times. For me at least. The financial issues will be resolved soon, so I should have the money back in a month, just in time for my final payment to be due.

Hope the stress gets better.

Hello there I hope you don't mind me hopping on. I had a trip all set and ready to go with my parents for Christmas last year we were going to surprise my children by taking them to DW for Christmas, but in Nov my DH lost his job. So the months of planning and getting geared up and ready to go all went down the tubes. When we thought my DH had finally found a job in Jan I had planned to take the trip in March for mine and my daughter's bday but nope the job fell through and we were still without a job and no trip. So what I did is I put a plan in motion for us to take a trip in Oct of this year (I already have some ADR's done already) and just pray that my DH can finally find a job. Seven months with him out of work and he is the only one who is the bread winner is kinda hard. So I totally understand how you feel right now.

I definitely don't mind you joining. The more the merrier in my book! Wow, I'm sorry to hear about your husband, I hope he finds something soon. to you.

 

[dtr_angel]

Oh subbing in, hoping your trip does happen!! I am also curious to see how your youngest DS does at 5 months. We're planning our baby's first trip for January and he/she will be about 5 months old at the time.

 

[drsvanhorn]

Oh subbing in, hoping your trip does happen!! I am also curious to see how your youngest DS does at 5 months. We're planning our baby's first trip for January and he/she will be about 5 months old at the time.

I've read other reports with infants and it seems he will probably be the best behaved in our whole group.

Congrats on the new baby!!

 

[MK2010]

Since you're leaving the same day we are I just wanted to drop in and say, Happy 100 Day mark! Tomorrow we'll be doing the double digit dance! WooHoo! Of course, you'll beat us there 'cause we have a ways to drive lol! I'm glad that the financial stuff will be out of the way soon. Stuff keeps happening here that sets me back. I'm not worried 'cause there is plenty of time, but its cutting into my spending money! Haha!

 

[drsvanhorn]

Since you're leaving the same day we are I just wanted to drop in and say, Happy 100 Day mark! Tomorrow we'll be doing the double digit dance! WooHoo! Of course, you'll beat us there 'cause we have a ways to drive lol! I'm glad that the financial stuff will be out of the way soon. Stuff keeps happening here that sets me back. I'm not worried 'cause there is plenty of time, but its cutting into my spending money! Haha!

Yay to 100 days til we leave!!! It seems so far yet so close. I better start thinking of ideas on the reveal to my daughter on her birthday aug 27th.

Double digits here we come!!!

 

[drsvanhorn]

So a little background on me. I am originally from Ohio and me and my fanily are HUGE Ohio State fans, especially football fans. I love college football! My husband loves football period and is a big LSU fan. With that in mind, we were watching ESPN yesterday and they were talking about college football starting in less than 100 days and I then realized the first 2 saturdays of college football we will be in WDW.

Uh Oh!! Guess day one may change to going to the Boardwalk to ESPN zone and watching some games before our ADR at Chef Mickeys. Have to think on that one, I don't want the kids bored. Well DS3 would be happy but DD12 not so much. I will update Day 1 if it changes and hopefully will get Day 2 up tonight or tomorrow.

 

[drsvanhorn]

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend. I know I enjoyed three days off! We went to Georgia just north of Atlanta. Got to take my DS3 fishing for the first time, and let's just say it was interesting watching him cast his fake fish with his spiderman rod into the lake. lol We didn't catch much. My sister in law caught about 6 or 7 little fish but nothing we could keep and my DD12 caught a little turtle that kept the little ones occupied for a short time. I did manage to get sunburnt some but nothing like DD12 got.

Hoping for Day 2 update tonight after awards night at DD12 school.

 

[drsvanhorn]

I hope I haven't lost everybody with my lack of updates.
So on with day 2:
The plan for now is to hit Hollywood Studios at rope drop to get on Toy Story Mania. I have never been on it and of course DS3 loves Toy Story. I plan on riding stand by and getting fast passes to ride again later.
Next up who knows but our must dos are:
Tower of Terror
Rock n Roller Coaster- none of us have riding this either
Star Tours- Can't wait to see the changes
Playhouse Disney
Great Movie Ride
Muppets
Beauty and the Beast
Lights motor action!
Indiana Jones Stunt Show
We will be taking an afternoon break back at POR around 1 so we may not get them all but we will be back later in the week.

After our break we have a 4pm ADR at Garden Grill. After our dinner with Chip and Dale we will do Living With the Land, possibly Soarin, using child swap, if the line isn't too bad. When we get to Garden Grill I plan on grabbing Fast passes for Soarin if we can.
Our other must dos are:
Seas with Nemo
Turtle Talk with Crush
Club Cool- for DS3 first taste of the beloved Beverly... bad mom I know.
Then off to world showcase and explore until time to find spots for IllumiNations.
MK has EMH this night, so if my DD12 wants maybe me or my husband will go back to POR with the boys and the other to MK for some teenager time.
Up next Day 3...

 

[Elleshoodat]

So a little background on me. I am originally from Ohio and me and my fanily are HUGE Ohio State fans, especially football fans. I love college football! My husband loves football period and is a big LSU fan. With that in mind, we were watching ESPN yesterday and they were talking about college football starting in less than 100 days and I then realized the first 2 saturdays of college football we will be in WDW.

Uh Oh!! Guess day one may change to going to the Boardwalk to ESPN zone and watching some games before our ADR at Chef Mickeys. Have to think on that one, I don't want the kids bored. Well DS3 would be happy but DD12 not so much. I will update Day 1 if it changes and hopefully will get Day 2 up tonight or tomorrow.

I'm an LSU alum (tell your DH "geaux Tigers" for me ), and I cannot wait for the start of the season. I think Disney World is a great place to watch college football. We've watched quite a few games at the ESPN Club, and it can't be beat for atmosphere. The food isn't half bad, either.

 

[drsvanhorn]

So good news....The trip is ON!!!!!

We got everything straightened out financially and will be making our final payment July 18!!

As of today we are 72 from our check in at Disney and 71 from leaving South Carolina!!!

Hoping to update our plans for day 1 and post day 3 tonight.

I hope I haven't lost everyone and will be talking to myself.

 

[tofubeast]

Yay!!!

Sounds like it is time to happily RENAME your PTR! It IS happening!

 

[drsvanhorn]

Yay!!!

Sounds like it is time to happily RENAME your PTR! It IS happening!

Definitely time to rename. But I don't know how.