Trials, Treats & Meet'nGreets of 15th Disney BDay: May 09 * THANK YOU! 8/18/09!

[MyMuse]

Hello all!

Here I am doing a PTR when my TR from my March is not yet finished!

You can find my TR from March 2009 HERE. I'm now done, complete with pics and vids.

Anyways, this trip came about since my niece was so into my trip in March. She wanted to be packed in my suitcase.

So, I was thinking as I was there, that I could probably swing to come down again. My niece will turn 15 on May 5 . We've had some rough patches over the last few years, but she is back on track now and I did want to do something special. And it is a surprise!

To make this short, when I got home I saw that Disney released the Spring room only discounts and I got a quote from a travel agent and placed my resort, POFQ, on hold. I was doin' a little dance.

Sadly, after ALOT of back and forth, double and triple checking, I ended up losing the rooms Her mom also told her about the trip.

Ok, so I finally get over it, and my niece is over the moon. I decided upon POFQ's sister resort, POR and add on an extra day to console myself. I'm worried about the buses, but I'm trying to get over it.

My bro learns about the trip and also decides to come along to join the party. At least, it will share some of the costs a bit.

We are going from May 2 - 6; a Saturday to Wednesday stay. Though, I would love a week, my niece has to get back to school for Thursday.

"We" are:
Me Michele, the trip planner
Niece Jenna, turns 15 on May 5th
Bro Dom

I'm hoping to have pictures soon! My current online photo album does not allow for individual picture links, so I have to switch over to another service.

 

[MyMuse]

Ok, onward. I booked the rooms last Friday morning, paid the deposit to the travel agent and then booked airfare for the three of us.

I was looking at flights for a couple of days and there were over $200. I looked again when I paid the deposit and it dropped to $178! So, I was all over that!

Though the times do not thrill me, since we are leaving later in the afternoon than I wanted to and will not get enough time to visit a park. So, it may be Downtown Disney day. I wonder if the Characters in Flight will be operating by then?

I still need to:

1. Buy park tickets for the other 2 - probably 3 day park hoppers
I'll buy them from AAA - it's next door to where I work!

2. Book Magical Express
Though I may handle own luggage on the way in?

3. Check with ADRs
I doubt we'll get anything at this late stage, but it will not hurt to try! I also told the travel agent to see what she can do.
Jenna wanted to eat in the Castle! How cute is that?! Hopefully, I'll get something, but what would be the alternatives? Crystal Palace?

4. Touring Plans!
Miss Jenna says she wanted Epcot for her Birthday Day. I'm thrilled since this definitely a favorite park. I think we may do a Birthday Fastpass and definitely 'Snack Around the World'. She is too young for most of the fun tours.
I'm hoping for an Illuminations/Rose & Crown reservation, but I'm not holding my breath! Anyone know any other restaraunts?

Onward! Any help appreciated!

 

[MyMuse]

I bought Mary Poppins on Broadway tickets today. I found a discount code for $53 off the ticket. Whoo-hooo!

And we are going a couple of weeks before our big trip. A little Disney pre-trip, if you will.



Maybe a visit to the NYC Disny store is in order.

 

[autumnpalm]

Yay, you started a PTR!

I really want to see Mary Poppins, that sounds like so much fun. And congrats on the plane tickets- who did you book with? I'm always looking for good airline deals!

 

[MyMuse]

Yay, you started a PTR!

I really want to see Mary Poppins, that sounds like so much fun. And congrats on the plane tickets- who did you book with? I'm always looking for good airline deals!

Welcome! to this PTR. How are your pins doing? Any hidden valuables?

I'm soooo excited about Mary Poppins, I cannot explain!
I just missed her when I was there in March, so I'm hoping to meet her this trip.

I went with Continental since their hub is in Newark Liberty airport, so their deals are always pretty good. Then, of course, yesterday Jet Blue comes out with $158 flights. Argh! And much better times going down. The $20 would not sway me, but they have much better times. Ah well.

The flight I have with Continental went up almost $100!

 

[disneyquilter]

3. Check with ADRs
I doubt we'll get anything at this late stage, but it will not hurt to try! I also told the travel agent to see what she can do.
Jenna wanted to eat in the Castle! How cute is that?! Hopefully, I'll get something, but what would be the alternatives? Crystal Palace?

What about the Princess breakfast, lunch or dinner in EPCOT at the Akershus?
We thought it was great last time we were there. Low crowds (we had a breakfast ressie at 8:45AM) and the food was good

 

[MyMuse]

What about the Princess breakfast, lunch or dinner in EPCOT at the Akershus?
We thought it was great last time we were there. Low crowds (we had a breakfast ressie at 8:45AM) and the food was good

Thank you for stopping by!

I'm definitely looking into that today. Great idea, thank you! And I just learned last night that she wants to meet Princess Aurora!

I wonder if Mary Poppins makes an appearance at Akerhaus? That would definitely be a bonus. Plus, we'll be at Epcot for her birthday day.

I really have to figure out how many things I can schedule for that day. We are getting the birthday fastpass, so I am not worried about ride lines.

Hmmm.....

 

[dawnbu40]

What a wonderful aunt you are! Her 15th birthday is sure to be one she'll never forget!

 

[MyMuse]

What a wonderful aunt you are! Her 15th birthday is sure to be one she'll never forget!

I hope so! It's difficult to balance this trip between the little girl she was/is and smart young lady she is becoming.

 

[dawnbu40]

Well one of the wonderful things about Disney is it appeals to the little girl (or boy) inside each of us and helps us to recapture that magic! My daughter is 18 and on the Dean's List at her university but as soon as she sets foot in WDW she is transformed into a carefree child who is as excited to meet the Princesses as she was when she was 5! There are also many things that appeal to "adults" as well (like great dining,rollercoasters etc) so I am certain she will have the time of her life!

 

[autumnpalm]

Welcome! to this PTR. How are your pins doing? Any hidden valuables?

I'm soooo excited about Mary Poppins, I cannot explain!
I just missed her when I was there in March, so I'm hoping to meet her this trip.

I went with Continental since their hub is in Newark Liberty airport, so their deals are always pretty good. Then, of course, yesterday Jet Blue comes out with $158 flights. Argh! And much better times going down. The $20 would not sway me, but they have much better times. Ah well.

The flight I have with Continental went up almost $100!

I've been lazy and haven't figured out anything about the pins yet.

Mary Poppins is so much fun to meet! I love that she even has an accent. I think the little attentions to detail like that are so neat.

 

[MyMuse]

I saw my niece last night and she was so excited.

I spied a Disney store in their mall and guess what she saw? A Sleeping Beauty tiara and her eyes lit up! So....I think I'm going to ask my sister's for her wedding tiara and let Jenna wear it in the parks. The tiara in the store was a plastic thing; I think it was just wearing a tiara that was exciting not necessarily Sleeping Beauty's.

She also saw a birthday sash, so I picked that up as well.

I may get some more little things, just to be a surprise, now that I can see that she is into it.

And, is it awful that I am getting all steamed at my travel agent? She has not contacted me in the last 3 days about Akerhus Norway dining? I don't know if she put in my request for buildings or booked my Magical Express. I'm sure she did, but she's not letting me know. Argh.

Perhaps, it was better if I just do it myself. Or send me an email that you are working on it. Or, I need to calm down.

I also made her a cover for the binder that I'm putting together. I found this picture of Sleeping Beauty that is adorable.

 

[MyMuse]

Update!

I still need to:

1. Buy park tickets for the other 2 - probably 3 day park hoppers
I'll buy them from AAA - it's next door to where I work!

2. Book Magical Express - done, no paperwork yet, though
Though I may handle own luggage on the way in?

3. Check with ADRs
I doubt we'll get anything at this late stage, but it will not hurt to try! I also told the travel agent to see what she can do.
Jenna wanted to eat in the Castle! How cute is that?! Hopefully, I'll get something, but what would be the alternatives? Crystal Palace?
It is either CRT or Akerhus, TA is still trying.

4. Touring Plans!
Miss Jenna says she wanted Epcot for her Birthday Day. I'm thrilled since this definitely a favorite park. We are doing a Birthday Fastpass and definitely 'Snack Around the World'. She is too young for most of the fun tours.
I'm hoping for an Illuminations/Rose & Crown reservation, but I'm not holding my breath! Anyone know any other restaraunts? Got a 6:40pm ADR but that is probably not going to help with Illuminations viewing....will it? *hopeful look here*

 

[MyMuse]

Update! April 5

I still need to:

1. Buy park tickets for the other 2 - probably 3 day park hoppers
I'll buy them from AAA - it's next door to where I work!

2. Book Magical Express - done, TA says luggag tags will not come in time
Though I may handle own luggage on the way in?

3. Check with ADRs
I doubt we'll get anything at this late stage, but it will not hurt to try! I also told the travel agent to see what she can do.
Jenna wanted to eat in the Castle! How cute is that?! Hopefully, I'll get something, but what would be the alternatives?
Got Princess Storybook Dining at Akerhus on her Birthday Day!!!


4. Touring Plans!
Miss Jenna says she wanted Epcot for her Birthday Day. I'm thrilled since this definitely a favorite park. We are doing a Birthday Fastpass and definitely 'Snack Around the World'. She is too young for most of the fun tours.
I'm hoping for an Illuminations/Rose & Crown reservation, but I'm not holding my breath! Anyone know any other restaraunts?
Got a 6:40pm ADR but that is probably not going to help with Illuminations viewing....will it? *hopeful look here*

 

[autumnpalm]

YAY you got Akershus! Congratulations!

 

[MyMuse]

YAY you got Akershus! Congratulations!

Yep, but I'm keeping it a secret from her.

It's at 3:10pm and previously got a 6:40pm ADR for Rose & Crown, so we'll b sure to be eating quite a bit that day!

 

[MyMuse]

Update: April 8!

I still need to:

1. Buy park tickets for the other 2 - 3 day park hoppers
I'll buy them from AAA - it's next door to where I work!
I'll get this done in the next couple of weeks

2. Book Magical Express - done
TA says luggage tags will not come in time, though I don't see why not
Though I may handle own luggage on the way in?
I'm hoping to get on a flight that is an hour earlier.

3. Check with ADRs - done
I think we are good with ADRs. Here's what we got:
-Princess Storybook Dining at Akerhus on her Birthday Day!
-Rose & Crown, bit too early for Illuminations viewing, but I'll deal with that.
-Sci-Fi Dine In at HS
-Due to a wonderful DISer, we now have Fantasmic Dining Package at Hollywood & Vine!

I want to do Pizzasafari at AK and just letting MK roll. There's no way I can get the Royal Table, so I'm just letting that go.

4. Touring Plans!
Miss Jenna says she wanted Epcot for her Birthday Day.
We are doing a Birthday Fastpass and definitely 'Snack Around the World', plus Princess ADR and R&C ADR, there will be lots of eating that day!

I have RideMax, so I'll play around with that for awhile for the other parks.

5. Need to buy a binder for the cute cover I made.

6. Trip to NYC Disney store, to be done in conjunction to attending Mary Poppins, which is a present from her other aunt.

7. Photopass - done
I went in on a share, so it cost me $14!

 

[MyMuse]

Mary Poppins tickets arrived today!

and 23 more days left to go!

 

[shordiebecka]

so exciting! That's so sweet that you've planned some surprises for the b-day trip. 23 days! Woo hoo! Have you thought about telling the staff at Rose and Crown that it's her birthday..and asking if there is any way you can maybe hang on the porch for a little while? If you eat reallll slow and order apps and desserts, you could probably push it to around 8:00..illuminations is only an hour away at that point. I would ask...emphasize the b-day..you never know what they will do with some disney magic!!

 

[MyMuse]

so exciting! That's so sweet that you've planned some surprises for the b-day trip. 23 days! Woo hoo! Have you thought about telling the staff at Rose and Crown that it's her birthday..and asking if there is any way you can maybe hang on the porch for a little while? If you eat reallll slow and order apps and desserts, you could probably push it to around 8:00..illuminations is only an hour away at that point. I would ask...emphasize the b-day..you never know what they will do with some disney magic!!

Now it's 20 days!!

Yes, I'm going to order a cake for dessert through the Cake Hotline. I know there is 2 hour limit, so that brings us to 8:40pm, so I'm hoping for the best.


Of course, I don't know if I can go for 2 hours since we have another ADR at 3:10pm. I'll hope for the best!