The Two-in-2009 Pre-Trip Report! 4/5 Chpt. 12 Dec. 08 Trip Report Day One Part Two!!

[december14disney]

Hi all!

This is my first pre-trippie but I thought that I MUST start one as my fiancé and I are taking two trips to WDW in 2009!

Here is the background:

Disclaimer: My pictures are larger than life--I'll figure that out! Update 3/8--I edited all my pictures for you all! I deserve some comments!

I’m Katie! I’m way too short, cat obsessed and a lover of all things Disney. I love twizzlers, French fries, scorching hot weather and swimming pools. I graduated from University of Michigan last year and then moved down to Winston-Salem NC to be near family and to start a job in Accounting. Only 8.5 hours away from the World!

My fiancé is Ed and is a computer nerd-alert! He has routines, loves punk rock and the color orange and spends most of his days just trying to deal with me bouncing off the walls. He loves Disney as much as I do and says his favorite thing in the world is when I call him excited saying “The Boards” (the Disboards) are going crazy over a new offer or code or something like that.

Ed and I randomly decided in 2006 to go to Disney for our first dating anniversary. We went smack in the middle of July, stayed offsite, had only 1 ADR and didn’t have a plan.
BUT I swear to you my Disers we had a blast! We loved July and although I would never stay offsite again our hotel was beautiful and only ¼ mile walk to Downtown Disney which was so nice.

There we are!
We went for only 5 or 6 days I can’t really remember and we got hooked. Really bad. Like the last episode of the Bachelor a couple days ago bad. And then I discovered the Disboards. Uh oh. How had we even DONE the last trip? Blasphemy.

So in December of 2007 we took the world by storm. I had a plan, I had ADR’s and I had a preferred room at Port Orleans Riverside. One thing I didn’t know Ed had was an engagement ring. Yes, on December 14th, 2007 at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Main Street Christmas tree right before the parade Ed got down on one knee with my ring in Cinderella’s glass slipper and proposed. Everyone cheered, clapped and cast members took pictures and threw confetti and gave us free bride and groom ears.

Well Ed and I immediately fell in love with the idea of a Disney wedding. And we fell fast. We wanted to get married on 12/14/2009 and I called and put our name in and everything. There was one condition, we both had big families and friends and needed to go back to our hometown of Detroit after to have an at home reception. It was like two destination weddings since we now lived in North Carolina. Ed and I are young, have good jobs, etc. but the costs were adding up and it was just one day. We eventually want a house with a fence and a golden retriever named Creasy running in the backyard. We tossed around the idea of an Escape wedding and at home reception but we passed the limit with just immediate family we would invite. As much as we wanted to we couldn’t justify it. I’ll be frank with you all I still haven’t had the heart to go delete my planning journal on the weddings/honeymoons board. BUT I am happy and here is why:
Ed and I are getting married on 7/17/2010 at the exact point we would have been dating 5 years and then Disneymooning! But thats a later pre-trip report right?

So in the depths of economic despair over our fact we couldn’t have our Disney wedding we planned an “engage-a-versary” trip in December of 2008 for right around the exact same time we got engaged the year before to make up for it.
Well during this trip we took the DVC tour. Now…let me say we have researched DVC from the beginning and were going to put an offer in on a samller resale and just wanted to see the AKV rooms first. My obsession lays in that darn Lodge. The thought of coffee on a warm morning on my balcony watching a zebra…I just can’t get past it. I really can’t. So regardless we took the tour.
And…

Because we have heard it and we bought it!

*runs away screaming*

No really we bought it. It just made sense for us. With the developer points, as much as we go, how much we will go for the rest of the contract, especially when we have kids…I have no buyers regrets. It surprised me as we were in the DVC office with Smooth-Talking-Rob, our guide, as I call him and Ed said “lets just do this”. Frugal, analyzing Edward! He just did it! I nearly fell off my seat into the free ice cream I was holding.

Which leads us (finally I have probably brought you to tears with boredom)…

TO OUR 2009 TRIPS!

What will we be celebrating?
My birthday! April 18th-24th

And our first MNSSHP trip! September 26th- October 3rd.

Ed and I received developer points for buying AKV. So we are “banking” all of our AKV points and just using developer points at SSR. Next year we are using our banked points for a fabulous Disneymoon to save money on the wedding and honeymoon! Heck lodging is “paid for” baby.

And by “paid for” I mean debt. And a lot of it.

In this two-for pre-trippie you’ll find me struggling with weight watchers in order to buy and look good in cute Disney apparel, debates over park bags and shoes, ADR’s that have already changed 5 times and eventually our reviews of our first DVC experiences. I hope you tune in! It’s going to be a Disney year!

Chapter Links:
1. Introduction
2. Stories of a pouting child and an April Itinerary!
3. Le Tusker House
4. Honey, we have DVC!
5. Baggallini Vs. Vera!
6. Baggallini Vs. Vera Cont.
7. A Give-A-Way!
8. I'm afraid of RnR!
9. Disboards on a new Mac!
10. Chef Mickey's!
11. Dec. 08 Trip Report Day 1, Part 1
12. Dec. 08 Trip Report Day 1, Part 2

 

[december14disney]

Thought I would start the focus on our April event because it is so soon and after that and during my April trip report I’ll start the September pre-trip!

Katie’s Very Merry Not So Scary Princess Birthday Party Event

I have never really gone anywhere on my birthday. My frustration with this started when I was 7. Let’s go back, way back, to my family’s first time at Disney which was a grand gathering with my Dad’s entire side of the family. My cousin, Stephen, had a birthday in March and we happened to be going over that time because it was spring break. It started when my Aunt, Uncle and Stephen got to their room. There was a surprise from Mickey---a basket full of “wares” if you will, waiting for them in their All Star Sports room. I could not get over it. And from the looks of this pre-trip report—STILL can’t. I ran to our room and opened the door to find, at most, a dust bunny. Now. You may think my pouty behavior isn’t acceptable at 7 much less in my twenties, but here I am pouting over it to this very moment. Stephen donned his birthday button the entire trip. He got free cupcakes at dinners and at 50’s prime time café they had a whole celebration complete with birthday hats. Stephen wore his hat with pride.
I was all…..

Needless to say, this is the year. Developer points in our proverbial hands we are headed to the World April 18th-24th for my April 21st birthday. Now, of course, we picked the year that Easter falls in late April so it probably will be packed, but fate it fate and my birthday is a national holiday as far as I am concerned this year.

The Tentative Itinerary!

April 18th- Savannah, GA. Yes Disney crew, Ed and I are driving to the half way point Savannah GA to get a little South up in this trip report. Not because we can not make the whole 8.5 hour drive to Disney in one go…we did it in December and we will do it again. This is more so because we wanted this trip to be something special and if I don’t get some of that Paula Deen’s macaroni and cheese soon it could affect me as much as that darn birthday trip when I was 7 did! I also love ghosts, ghosts stories, what have you (wow is this pre-trip report incriminating!) and I want to take a ghost tour. We took one a year ago in Charleston, SC and I loved it!

April 19th-
• Arrive at Saratoga Springs
• Rest and relaxation all day!
Yes, no ADR. I almost fainted too! But I really want this day to be wandering around the resort with our newly red refillable mugs and relaxing by the pool. DVC will change our vacations, no more rush! (Secretly I’ll push Ed into going Downtown in the afternoon eating at Earl of a Sandwich and getting a sundae at Ghirardelli but we’ll get into that later!)

April 20th-
• Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon (Sure to be a debate I’ll ask for when I get more or any readers!)
• Back up if its raining is DHS!
• TREX Dinner
Yup, I love Dinosaurs. I have to try this restaurant. So am I the only one who hums the Jurrassic park theme song randomly?

April 21st-
• My birthday!
• Magic Kingdom (of course)
• Picking up my $75 dollar gift card!
• Dinner at Ohana’s!
• Back to MK at night for night rides and Wishes. I really want to stay at the park til they kick us out but that might not be a good idea because….

April 22nd-
• Animal Kingdom Backstage Safari tour at 8AM! Ahhhh I am so excited for this I can not stand it! Obviously you know how much I love Animals, AK and such because I just promised Disney my first born and one of my cats to buy into AKV. (Sorry Benson)

• Then onto lunch at Yak and Yeti!
• Back to the hotel for a quick break
• Hop to Epcot for a night of flower and garden festival and…
• Le Cellier ADR!
Quite honestly if I could make this my birthday day it would be fantastic. But the Backstage tour isn’t offered on Tuesday’s and I couldn’t get Le Cellier on my birthday either. Either way April 22nd rocks!

April 23rd-
• DHS (or if we went to DHS on Monday because of rain Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon here)
• Break during the day
• Animal Kingdom evening extra magic hours
• Late ADR at Tusker House
I am so excited about tonight. Has anyone seen the AK at night pictures? Check out them and reviews here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2107483

April 24th-
• 8:10 AM ADR at Crystal Palace (last day tradition!)
• Off to NC we go!

Stay tuned for the Flower and Garden Festival revealed and an analysis of my obsession with our new digital camera!

 

[dinkerbelle]

subbing!

Congratulations on the engagement at Disney! So cute! Your DF are a lot like me and my DH...I'm an accountant and he's a computer nerd too! Plus our September dates overlap!

We bought into DVC in 2006 and love it! It was the best decision we ever made! Besides marrying each other of course...

Make sure you take advantage of your DVC discounts on your trip in April! Looking forward to reading more!

 

[december14disney]

subbing!

Congratulations on the engagement at Disney! So cute! Your DF are a lot like me and my DH...I'm an accountant and he's a computer nerd too! Plus our September dates overlap!

We bought into DVC in 2006 and love it! It was the best decision we ever made! Besides marrying each other of course...

Make sure you take advantage of your DVC discounts on your trip in April! Looking forward to reading more!

Thanks for the sub! Yes for some reason we could never justify spending 400 a night in a savanna view at AKL but we COULD justify 15k for DVC!

Work is a little slow right now so I'll be updating a lot! Thanks for reading!

 

[stacikristine]

I love your PTR so far! Yall are so cute! Did I read it right that you're turning 21 on the 21st?!

 

[december14disney]

I love your PTR so far! Yall are so cute! Did I read it right that you're turning 21 on the 21st?!

22 on the 21st! Thanks for tuning in!

 

[dinkerbelle]

Thanks for the sub! Yes for some reason we could never justify spending 400 a night in a savanna view at AKL but we COULD justify 15k for DVC!

I'm the same way! $400 for a hotel room is too much!

I love now that we stay for "free" We were fortunate enough to be able to use part of some money I received as an inheritance for the actual DVC purchase...now we just have those pesky dues each year. But it's so worth it!

Keep the updates coming!

 

[december14disney]

Originally on April 23rd in the evening Ed and I were going to eat at Spoodles at around 7 and make our way over to Jellyrolls. Well. Then I got antsy.

A set plan? I think not.

So starts the talks…

“Ed, Animal Kingdom has evening extra magic hours on April 23rd. That’s like the only night in 100 years they are offering evening extra magic hours there.” (I tend to exaggerate)

“Well honey, Len says never do a park with EMH.” (If Ed could just go ahead and marry Len Testa from WDW Today he would. That’s okay Ed. I’ll marry Matt Hochberg.)

“Well, Len and the crew hate Animal Kingdom anyways so that doesn’t count.”

“Honey, everyone on the ‘Boards raves about Jellyrolls.” (True, he has me here.)

“Yes, but, probably we will do Jellyrolls in our September trip who KNOWS if AK will have evening extra magic hours then.” (I have him now. The tables have turned.)

“Well where would we eat?” (Darn. I’m stumped and this isn’t good. Number 1. ALWAYS have the WHOLE plan ready)

“Tusker house! Like really late dinner so we can enjoy ALL the EMH!” (I just blurted it out. Here we are like a month away from our trip and I am blurting out things like they are booked!)

Well so then I go on my beloved boards and start some threads asking for reviews of AK at night and Tusker House for dinner. Both get really good reviews and the pictures please Ed. Plus it makes him happy I am researching things because, I swear, the kid doesn’t go to Walgreens without comparing all their inventory with CVS first to make sure it’s the right choice.

Done. Ed loves it. AK evening EMH and a late Tusker House dinner. It’s Friday March 6th at 2PM and I call Disney Dining. Which is programmed into my cell phone as a main contact. And I am not kidding.


“Hi this is Louise thank you for calling Disney Dining. Can I make a dining or Cirque De Soleil reservation for you?”

“Hi Louise I’d like to make a dining reservation for a party of 2 adults Thursday April 23rd at Tusker House for dinner.”

“Ma’am, all I have that day is 4:15PM.”

“I’m sorry…WHAT?”(What? This isn’t Le Cellier Louise.)

“Yes ma’am 4:15PM…can I interest you in that or another dining reservation instead?”

So I am completely stumped here. I wasn’t expecting this at all. I mean, I really haven’t even put thought into Tusker House unless it was for considering Donald’s breakfast. What does this mean? Does everyone have the same idea? Will everyone be at AK evening EMH? No. Then it will be crowded and Ed will be upset. Dreams of Everest at night slipping through my fingers I snapped at Louise.

“I’ll TAKE it!”

“Are you sure ma’am, can I recommend Boma?”

“No Louise, just book it.”

I was defeated. My ADR spreadsheet loomed in front of me like a line at Toy Story Mania for fastpasses at 9:05AM.

“Your confirmation code is…”

I could barely even type it in. What now? What do I tell Ed....

 

[stacikristine]

First of all, you are an AMAZING writer! Secondly, I can't wait to hear how Ed responds!! I mean, you could always eat an early dinner and then get a snack that night... I think you'll love your choice! And hopefully the park won't be too, too crowded.

 

[december14disney]

First of all, you are an AMAZING writer! Secondly, I can't wait to hear how Ed responds!! I mean, you could always eat an early dinner and then get a snack that night... I think you'll love your choice! And hopefully the park won't be too, too crowded.

Thank you! And its to be seen what Ed says! Well I guess to be heard.

 

[december14disney]

This morning after feverishly checking the Disboards to see if I have any more readers (anyone...anyone...), I climbed back into the comforts of my down comforter to greet Ed with morning breath and the new Tusker House proposition.

“Hey E.” (In the tone that screams SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT IF YOU ASK ME I’LL SAY “NOTHING!”)

“Hey Bell.” (A nickname I am sure he will be calling me when we are in our sixties while we are enjoying that AKV savannah view balcony we sold our souls for long ago…)

“So….I could only get a 4:15PM ADR at Tusker House for AK evening EMH.” (Brace yourself…)

“Can we ride Carousel of Progress on our next trip?”

Screeeeetch. What? Well maybe he just didn’t hear me.

“Did you hear me Ed? I could only get 4:15PM, not that late dinner at AK that we talked about.”

“Did you listen to Friday’s episode of WDW Today?”

What? Is this one of those weird things where you are on your cell phone and you are talking about one thing but you are in a patch of no service and the other person is talking about something else completely and it’s really uncomfortable when you realize what’s going on?

Or is it that he just doesn’t care and being really laid back this morning. My head tells me to start firing off different proposals that I have my little heart set on that he would normally swing a bat at…

1.I’m going to buy a Macbook with my tax refund instead of saving.
2.I just adopted 2 more cats and they have already been named Meeko and Percy.
3.I booked a weekend in NYC at the Waldorf Astoria.
4.Let’s get married on a cruise in St. Thomas.

Lots of options here. I chose:

“No I didn’t…” (Smooth, Katie.)

“It was cool. Firsts and Lasts. Like first ride they do and last ride they do in each park.”

“Okay….well…I could only get that ADR at Tusker House for 4:15PM…” (This is getting weird.)

“Great!”

“I mean, we had talked about it being later and I could only get an early one but I was thinking we get there and we grab fastpasses and stuff and then eat and then we can use…” (I am babbling here. What flabbergasts me is that I could of just ended it right there. He said “Great!”. Move on Katie. Except I am one of those people who just keep going and going….)

“Honey, we have DVC!” (Oh, I didn't know that solves all of life's problems! )

WHO ARE YOU!?!?

“Well could we stop at the Apple store at Friendly Center this afternoon?”

“Sure!”

Well….we’ll see if this luck of mine lasts ‘til then….

 

[december14disney]

A bag debate!

Before our December 2008 trip I treated myself to the lovely and most coveted Baggallini messenger in lime green.

As seen live here:

But since moving to North Carolina in May of 2008 I have been taking time to channel my inner South. My Tim Horton’s French vanilla cappuccino with a cinnamon raisin bagel has since been replaced with a Bojangles biscuit, Cajun fries and a sweet tea. And I have discovered Vera.

Bradley that is.

Okay so I wouldn’t use her as an every day bag. However, in escaping into my Ebay dreams to avoid work I discovered the Night Owl Hipster.

And I fell, people.

And then I discovered Mod Floral Pink. *Sqweee* I love Pink!

Pictures of myself in a sundress and wedge sandals walking hand and hand with the fiancé down the streets of Savannah before getting to Disney appeared. Disney in April. Cute spring outfits on my -10LB body. My Vera mod floral pink hipster…But bring two bags? Not the way I pack people.

So I sat down with my precious Baggallini (bought on www.shoebuy.com for a mere 16 dollars with coupons) and had a talk with her. I expressed that I loved her but her convenient pockets and roomy interior often caused a common Disney park bag disease. Overpackmyparkbag-itis. She was upset… “But I have a mesh side pocket fit for a water bottle!” She exclaimed.

Now we are in the middle of a nothing fight and I am not sure how to solve it. Change to the Vera? I am a fashonista, even in the park! Or stay with tried and true? I’m stumped here.

 

[shordiebecka]

I love your pre-trip report so much! It really is wonderful that you've started planning so much & that you have DVC.. I want DVC so bad! Can't wait to hear more, btw I'm also on weight watchers & battling my weight to wear cute clothes to disney!

 

[stacikristine]

First of all, OH MY GOODNESS at Ed's response! Awesome!

As far as the bags go, I'm going to look into buying a Hipster for our trip too...btw how much are you seeing them on ebay for? I'd check here, but I'm at work and ebay is a no-no. I'd say see which one would match more of your clothes/your clothing style at the parks...

 

[december14disney]

I love your pre-trip report so much! It really is wonderful that you've started planning so much & that you have DVC.. I want DVC so bad! Can't wait to hear more, btw I'm also on weight watchers & battling my weight to wear cute clothes to disney!

Thanks so much for tuning in! I am so eager for new readers and comments! Something to do during the day here at work!
I think I'll give updates for my weight watchers here sometimes. Everyday is a challenge. Done good so far today...course its only 11:30AM but

First of all, OH MY GOODNESS at Ed's response! Awesome!

As far as the bags go, I'm going to look into buying a Hipster for our trip too...btw how much are you seeing them on ebay for? I'd check here, but I'm at work and ebay is a no-no. I'd say see which one would match more of your clothes/your clothing style at the parks...

I am not even kidding--I dont know who Ed is. I even took him to the Apple store and he said if his tax refund is big I can get a laptop! Jeeze Louise!

So..obviously I am on here and and ebay all day during work.
I got my Night Owl Hipster for around $40, free shipping, brand new. I bought from an Ebay Store that I will buy the Mod Floral Pink from because they were great! They even take returns if you just don't like it. If interested its "The Window Shopper".

 

[december14disney]

The debate is on and a disclaimer:

I realize going forward some of you may think “what is this girl talking about!?” Sure I should be putting on my New Balance tennis shoes I scored at DSW for half off and a comfy T-Shirt and shorts and make my way through the parks….but I just can’t. In fact, here I am debating over park bag based solely on style and how it will coordinate with my park apparel.

But listen—did I mention that this trip was for my birthday!? I mean, I got to look good! So I am considering some outfits and using that to determine Vera Vs. Baggallini. This fight is a big one. And since I have brought it up to old trusty tried and true Baggallini she hasn’t said one thing. Silent treatment. Nice.

I’ll start with our day in Savannah April 18th. For some reason Savannah, GA screams gorgeous southern belles to me. Dare I bring the baggallini there? As far as attire I need something 1. Comfy as we will be getting up early and driving the 4.5 hours there and 2. Cute because…..well…because.

www.weather.com says the average weather in April is 78 and the average in May is 83. So since I’ll be going at the end of April..lets say 80. Ah…80, a breeze and sitting outside eating ice cream. What were we saying?

Ah yes.

So this top:

With these cute little khaki Bermudas:

And one of these pairs:

Or

Now can’t you just see:

Dressing and accessorizing for this trip will probably cost me more than DVC itself.

So what do you think?

 

[stacikristine]

First off, thanks for the hipster info! I'll for sure look into that!

Secondly, YAY for hopefully getting a MAC with your refund! We are too!! We're getting an iMAC. We picked it out this past weekend. I can't wait.

Third, I love your traveling outfit and I think that Vera would be much better for it. But that's just my opinion...

 

[december14disney]

Hey all!

It’s going to be really hard for me to start debates about Typhoon Lagoon V. Blizzard Beach and Croc Flip Flops V. Croc Mary Janes if I don’t start getting a couple more readers!

Come on what’s a girl got to do….do a prize give away?

Alright here you go….for the first 10 new readers…

DREAM FASTPASSES!

I hope to talk to my winners!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[december14disney]

Well my give away didn’t peak much interest but I’ll just keep going. I have discovered updating my trip report, like LL, is making the time to the trip FLY by. I’m really enjoying talking about Disney!

So Ed and I were having a conversation last night and naturally it fell upon the topic of Disney. (When doesn’t it?)

I was working on our trip binder. I have never done one before but will now do one for each trip since we have DVC. I really want them for more of a memory and something to look back on. Well…I am making little “must do” lists via LL style and Ed looks over my shoulder…

“Hollywood Studios huh?”

“Yes! We MUST to Beauty and the Beast show!” (Favorite movie, saw 3 times on Broadway, never seen that darn show at DHS)

“Ha. Well we MUST to Rock and Roller Coaster.”

Screetch.

“Well….(stumble)…I mean….we might not have time…”

“Katie, we have never ridden that ride and I really want to. You afraid?”

“ME!? No way. I mean come on Ed. I ride ALL the rides at Cedar Point.” (Michigan and Ohio people UNITE over Cedar Point!)

The truth is---that ride freaks me out. Because I heard someone had a heart attack and died on it. No joke. I am such a baby. And I successfully avoided it for 3 years. And now I don’t know if I can anymore.

I am so nervous my tummy hurts right now here at work. (Course that could have been my raspberry yogurt…)

Either way, I don’t even know why I am? I ride ALL rides and always have. Cedar Point has roller coasters that are 415 ft tall and go 120 miles per hour and I ride them and don’t even bat an eyelash. But this little Disney coaster…I can’t even do it.

To

Or not to

THAT is the question.

 

[dinkerbelle]

And one of these pairs:

These are so cute! Where are they from? I usually wear just the plain flip flops from Gap or Old Navy but these are really cute!

To

Or not to

THAT is the question.

RIDE! It's one of the best rides at Disney IMO. When I went to Disneyland Paris with a friend and his 9 year old, we wanted to ride it and the 9 year old was a little nervous. I told him that if he just closed his eyes, it would just feel like he was riding in a fast car with the wind blowing in his face. He ended up loving it and we rode it 3 more times! Those times with his eyes open! You can do it and you will LOVE IT!

Oh, and I want to hear what you think of the Beauty and the Beast show. I have never been either.