Tricks, Treats, Toddler, Food & Wine. An October 2011 Pre-Trip Report.

[exwdwcm]

That sounds like a lot of fun. We are doing an Illuminations Cruise on the 19th but I should check in to this one also. Do they do it for MNSSHP fireworks or just the regular ones?

I've never done an Illuminations cruise, but it is on my to do list for a future trip for sure!

well the answer is conflicting on the MNSSHP nights for the cruise. Apparently, i hear that last year and prior years, they did offer it on party nights and i think even some for this year. However, I called to book Friday 10/21, a party night and was told NOPE- they don't have it. I called after MNSSHP was released on Saturday and told the same thing. The majority of Fridays in october they said no cruise. Which is odd. Even the CM said it was odd. The cruises are usually Fridays, Sat, Sunday and Mondays. Maybe just they think the crowds are going to be too low to necessitate them doing them that often? who knows. But i plan to keep checking back. For now, i am stuck with 10/17, a Monday, which is not a party night. We will see Hallowishes at the party, so we will just see regular WISHES, which is fine. We might also try and see Hallowishes from the top of the world lounge one night at our resort!

So, I'm going to start thinking about the Pirates and Pals cruise. Especially if they do offer it on Friday. Was thinking of a second Halloween party that night but the cruise sounds like a nice alternative.

I definitely want to stay at Aulani some time. It's making me want to go DVC for sure. Just can't afford it. Would be making payments on it while trying to send the kids to college.

Happy Anniversary!

Thank you!!! Try calling and finding out, but the CM said most of the fridays in October were not having cruises. don't know why. she thought it was strange too and others are getting that same answer when calling. Ouch, yeah, having to do DVC while paying for college would not be easy. We are very blessed to have been in a position to do it now (and believe you me, i won't take one single point for granted!!!) while Will is little. We figured if we ever wanted to consider it, better to purchase now and enjoy the next 50 years! Hawaii is so darn expensive anyhow- the flights are killer, the food is pricey too. So it will take some saving, even using points.

ok I'm in!! Looking forward reading more! You are going the week before us

Thank you!!!!! so cool- if you want to friend me on Facebook- i will typically post a ton of pics and info live while i am at the parks, so you could see it all the week before you go! you can find me at Michelle Easler Peters on FB. I actually have a DISNEY list i created on FB, so that I can post to just that list and not annoy all my other friends- coworkers, old high school buddies that would think i am a nut! lol

Is that the WDW train I spy in the background??

It is! We got it on his first trip to WDW in Dec 2009! He loves it. That thing is loud and the smoke it spits out smells terrible. We might get the monorail this time.

Wow - your DH sounds alot like mine!

Our 15 year anniversary is coming up next January and DH was all set for the 2 of us to go to Aulani. After a little research however, and the fact that it will have just opened 5 months prior, we decided to wait a bit before we head over there. Instead we are thinking of celebrating our anniversary at BWV!

LOL yeah for your anniversary at BWV!!!! Aulani will always be there for a later trip! and congrats btw!!

Happy Belated 10 yr anniversary CONGRATS

that is great "news" about your Pirate Cruise really hope it works out for you and I think the Wed night plan sounds real good too!

looks like your son had a fun Easter too.

Thank you so much! Yes, he had a ball and i ate too much Easter candy! He isn't a big candy eater. not sure he is my child because of that!

I am all caught up on your plans! You've gotten a lot accomplished since I last checked in.

First of all, Happy Anniversary!!!

Your ADRs look great. I'm glad you got most everything you wanted. Hopefully you can tweak some things to make it all work out.

I wanted to try to answer your Air Tran Questions. I'm not an AT expert by any means, but I've flown them a few times.
- The seat selection fee is ridiculous. Just when you think you've got your flight booked you have to shell out extra money to pick your seat! I always make sure I pick them just in case so I know DH and I will be able to sit together. I believe if you don't pick a seat, Air Tran will assign you one when you check in. So the boarding process is grouped into 3 or 4 letters (with A being the front part of the plane, B being the middle, C being the next group, etc.) So they board the plane based on your seat location, since everyone should have an assigned seat by the time they get their boarding pass. Does that make sense?

- They do serve a free non-alcohol beverage and a little snack (cookies, crackers, etc.)

- I've only flown into Atlanta once, but I would assume since you're flying Air Tran on both legs that the gates should be close to each other. I would think an hour and 15 minutes would be enough time if you don't hit any delays on your first flight.

- I've never missed a connection on Air Tran, but I have had to change a flight and they were pretty helpful. Atlanta is Air Tran's hub, so there should be a few more flights to Orlando that evening. I would hope you could get on the next flight if seating is available.

I hope that helps a little. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Have a great anniversary weekend!!!

you rock! Thanks so much for all the great info on airtran! I actually read a little more about them on the theme parks board too and how if you don't pay the seat selection fee, you are really risking it (if you have kids). I paid it, it was like $50 extra for all of our flights. I was really mad when i saw it made me pay it for both legs of the flight too....grrrrr. bet i guess they have to do it that way. But after reading up on here and how some people didn't pay it and were freaked when their 5yo had to sit with strangers, i am glad i did it! Great to know on the connections and stuff too- i am hoping we won't run into any problems.

Happy Anniversary! I hope you have a great time at the Fair this weekend!

Thank you so much! We had a blast!

I'd love to get together for a meet at MNSSHP!!! I'm still sad I missed on so many meets in December! It was just so darn cold we couldn't stay outside anymore!

that would be great!!! we will have to stay in touch and work out some logistics!

Ooooooo.... I am SO jealous! I want one of these so badly, but since I am currently lobbying for a new double stroller and an iPad2, I am not going to push my luck. I guess I will just have to wait until our trip...
I hope you get a pattern that you like. Enjoy your new Disney treasure!
We fly into ATL often. It is not a great airport to fly into, but it is not terrible. On our Honeymoon, we had 30 minutes to make our transfer. We were flying Delta, not Air Tran, but we made it with plenty of time to spare. We even stopped an grabbed lunch to eat once we boarded! One tip is to go ahead and ask your flight attendant which gate your plane will leave from and how to get there from the gate that you will dock. Most of the time they have access to all this information. You can save lots of time by finding all this out while you are in the air!

We have missed a connection due to delay with Air Tran. I don't remember it being a problem. They just moved us to a later flight.

heck, the iPad is a pretty good thing to lobby for! thanks for the info on ATL. i've connected there once i think on Delta, but it was like close to 20 years ago. good tip on finding out the connection info and directions on board prior to landing.

Did anyone else hear anything about Disney ending their run with Dooney & Bourke? I heard on the boards that it might be ending and them venturing with Vera Bradley???

I read it on the D&B thread as a rumor, but i don't really know if i believe it. I imagine they would do it at least through the end of this year, since they are doing the 40th anniversary purse. And both parties are making a ton of money on the venture, so who knows. They also don't want to over saturate the market and make it a commodity either. I read the VB rumor too. So who knows?

 

[exwdwcm]

UPDATE!

So I've been doing some DISNEY math! Now math is not my favorite thing or my strong suit, but i wanted to get a better handle on our budget. I like to know going in what our food budget should be for meals, so i estimate what we will eat at each place. So here are our expenses so far, including our Tables in Wonderland (TIW) 20% discounts and any AP/DVC discounts:

1. CRT dinner- $148.01 (before TIW discount -will be reimbursed on site i guess since i prepaid this one??)
   
2. CP breakfast- $47.18 (TIW)
   
3. Teppan Edo dinner- $76.50 (AP discount- 10%, no TIW here)
4. Tusker House breakfast- $47.98 (TIW)
5. O'hana dinner- $65.58 (TIW)
6. Via Napoli- $44.00 (TIW)
7. O'hana breakfast- $43.18 (TIW)
   

That's about $441 for our TS meals after the TIW discount. Of course if we did the dining plan, we are there for 8 nights, so we would get 8 TS meals, since CRT counts as 2, this list of ADRs would fit into the dining plan and hit our max of 8 TS for the trip.

For quick service/fast food, i estimate we will eat 11 quick service meals- 4 dinners and 7 lunches. We will eat breakfast in the room unless we have a TS booked. My QS estimate is $337. Dining plan would only cover 8 QS meals, so we would be paying out of pocket for 3 more at probably another $75.

I also accounted for snacks- figuring about $10 a day. DH is pretty good about NOT snacking or using the water fountain or drinks we bring in (we will buy water/cokes to keep in room). I am the bad snacker! lol- i like to splurge. But i think we can manage $10 a day if we carry bottled water with us etc. We would just use for a dole whip or cupcake here or there every few days?

So for meals/food- it comes to about $834, for 7 TS meals, 11 QS and $10 in snacks a day. I probably over-budgeted especially on the QS meals. William can share with us on some meals and we will bring snacks from home in a backpack everywhere too (granola bars, fruit snacks etc.).

So doing the DDP basic would run us $831 total. That would give us 8 TS meals, 8 QS and the snack per day per person. Of course we would have to pay for 3 QS meals OOP. We would get more snacks on the DDP, but we would also have a lot more food than we could eat and feel like we end up wasting a lot or gorging ourselves to make it 'worth it' and then end up miserable! And when i compare the OOP vs the DDP, we are saving a little probably by paying OOP. The DP of course doesn't include tips and i included tips in my OOP estimates. So i feel better about our decision to NOT do the DDP!

So the other expenses we have include:

• MNSSHP with DVC discount- $163.87
• Airfare RT- $840
• Pirates and Pals Cruise- $161.47
• Blizzard Beach waterpark- one day pass- $118
• Pirate's League- $29.95

That and all the food adds up to $2143 or so. We are using points and APs for the room and passes, so no cost there. So really about $2200 for the trip. I guess that isn't too bad, considering we are doing a lot of extras and nice meals. We could definitely do this on a much lower budget, cutting out all the TS meals, the cruise, waterpark, PL, party etc. But we work hard to be able to splurge and do these things- so we are! But it is nice knowing we could still go pretty cheap if we needed to!

I plan to save all my receipts this time and keep track of them in my TR when i am back. I want to see how over or under budget i am, so i can budget more accurately next time!

 

[Pixiedust530]

I love your Disney Math! Sounds like for your family it is definitely going to be beneficial to NOT be on the Dining Plan.

After reading your post I think I need to start adding up all the extras....Pirates League, MNSSHP, etc. I know I have extra $$ set aside for things like this, but I need to jump on the budgeting train.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Nice Disney Math!!!!! For us the DDP just depends on how long we're going and what we're doing. In June we aren't doing it since we're doing a full day at Universal and we don't arrive till 7:30pm so that's a lost day too so we'd only be using it for one day before going to Vero Beach so for us it's not worth it but I'm happy to have TIW back again and we're able to use it at Vero!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Yep, looks like OOP is better for you! I did the same thing and went through all our meals and it was very close, but still cheaper to stay offsite in a house and pay OOP for meals than FREE dining, if you can believe it! I think part of it is the discounted tickets we are getting. With free dining we would have to pay full price for tickets, so it cancels out the free food. Just out of curiosity, how much is the TIW card? Is that only for people with APs? APs might be on my list when Rey and I go in Feb. next year, so I'm trying to work the numbers!

 

[exwdwcm]

I love your Disney Math! Sounds like for your family it is definitely going to be beneficial to NOT be on the Dining Plan.

After reading your post I think I need to start adding up all the extras....Pirates League, MNSSHP, etc. I know I have extra $$ set aside for things like this, but I need to jump on the budgeting train.

yeah, all of that extra stuff added up FAST! you don't realize how pricey it can get.

Nice Disney Math!!!!! For us the DDP just depends on how long we're going and what we're doing. In June we aren't doing it since we're doing a full day at Universal and we don't arrive till 7:30pm so that's a lost day too so we'd only be using it for one day before going to Vero Beach so for us it's not worth it but I'm happy to have TIW back again and we're able to use it at Vero!

i'd like to do the DDP again sometime, i did enjoy it, but i felt like we made our vacation about the food the whole time, trying to get the best value out of it and were constantly eating, which took up too much touring time. So we will see.

Yep, looks like OOP is better for you! I did the same thing and went through all our meals and it was very close, but still cheaper to stay offsite in a house and pay OOP for meals than FREE dining, if you can believe it! I think part of it is the discounted tickets we are getting. With free dining we would have to pay full price for tickets, so it cancels out the free food. Just out of curiosity, how much is the TIW card? Is that only for people with APs? APs might be on my list when Rey and I go in Feb. next year, so I'm trying to work the numbers!

The offsite house options are pretty much the best way to go for big groups and families that all want to stay together. there are so many great deals out there for rental homes with the pool and all that.

the TIW card was $75, but you have to have an AP to buy it. We get 20% off food and beverage (including alcohol) at most TS, and some QS is included (I think i saw some of the value food courts, but not the mods or dlxes?). It has worked for every TS we did last trip and will work at all this trip except Teppan Edo. For some reason they are one of the few that don't participate. But we do get our 10% AP discount there at least instead.

 

[hardingk]

Did you take into account the discount you get at the waterparks with your AP?? Just want to make sure you get every discount out there!!

 

[Minnie_Mom]

Looks like your TIW card makes a big difference for you guys! We are doing the DDP because it just takes the "thinking" out of the trip for me!

But, for you guys I can totally see where OOP would be the best deal. Maybe after our Oct Trip, I'll add up what we would have spent on food for our Oct trip vs what the dining plan cost us!

 

[stephielela]

And I thought I was the only one who planned out all my meals in advance! I seriously did the same thing last year for our December trip, figuring what people would eat, tip etc. I have to say, it seems to rare that the dining plan ends up saving people money. Aside from free dining of course!

 

[exwdwcm]

Did you take into account the discount you get at the waterparks with your AP?? Just want to make sure you get every discount out there!!

I think i did look up the AP discounted prices!

Looks like your TIW card makes a big difference for you guys! We are doing the DDP because it just takes the "thinking" out of the trip for me!

But, for you guys I can totally see where OOP would be the best deal. Maybe after our Oct Trip, I'll add up what we would have spent on food for our Oct trip vs what the dining plan cost us!

i do have to agree, i love the whole- "no thinking" of the DDP and how it is already "paid for" and you don't have to worry about anything other than tip. makes it easy, that's for sure. i just hated feeling like i had to eat so much to get my money's worth (yeah, i am that type!).

And I thought I was the only one who planned out all my meals in advance! I seriously did the same thing last year for our December trip, figuring what people would eat, tip etc. I have to say, it seems to rare that the dining plan ends up saving people money. Aside from free dining of course!

i think if you really eat all of that included, you might get a good deal, but i just can't. i would eat one bite of dessert and be done!

 

[Minnie_Mom]

i do have to agree, i love the whole- "no thinking" of the DDP and how it is already "paid for" and you don't have to worry about anything other than tip. makes it easy, that's for sure. i just hated feeling like i had to eat so much to get my money's worth (yeah, i am that type!).

I know what you mean. My mom gets caught in the "my money's worth" trap. I, on the other hand, find the DDP freeing. I guess it just shows that there is no one plan that is right for everyone!

 

[khertz]

I HATE math, even with the word "Disney" attached!!

But it is always nice not having to factor in hotel costs, as we have discovered since buying Wyndham, and you will as you keep using your DVC points! We can either take a very inexpensive trip to wherever we want to go, or if we feel like splurging that trip, spend the money we saved on the hotel costs on other fun things like nice dinners or more souvenirs.

 

[exwdwcm]

So just a quick fun LIFE UPDATE! then next, an actual trip update! I'll start outlining our day by day plans with some fun photos.

So April and May are always busy for us with birthdays, mother's day, neighborhood stuff etc. We also visited the local renaissance faire, which is actually really big. Will had a ball there. He loved all the rides (which were all wooden and man-powered!). We dressed him up like a knight- our friend had given us the tunic and helmet hat! We had the boots and belt/sword from his Peter pan costume already!

We had a great time, but man was it hot! The Texas heat is already starting, it was about 92! He wouldn't take off the helmet either, i kept asking, but he said no. He loved it! He said it was like Goofy's knight helmet on mickey mouse clubhouse!

We also had a friend's bday party- well twins to be exact at a bouncehouse. posing with his favorite trashman!

oh and finally, i ordered my second crossbody 40th anniv purse. i ended up keeping this one and my mom bought the other one. i like the WDW logo on it, the clocks and the back is really cool. plus i thought the DHS badge was nice since that is where I worked on the WDW college program. Can't wait to use this at WDW in October!

 

[exwdwcm]

THEMED PARTY NIGHTS!!!

So we are planning another themed party night! it's been a few years since we did one with my family. We are planning a Pirate theme to prep for the release of the new POTC #4 movie! My mom is hosting at her place and we plan to at least watch the third movie, eat and play games- including a treasure hunt! Mom and I are going to work out the details this weekend and have it on May 21st! We can't wait. I hope to do more themed nights iwith the family like this since my mom and sisters are both into disney as well.

here is one we did back in 2009 before our trip- it wasn't all planned out like we will do this time, but my mom did some fun stuff for it being sort of last minute. They did an Alice theme for my birthday.

we climbed down the rabbit hole!

We also had a Peter Pan themed party that year (2009).
We played toss the crocodile in the basket!

I can't wait to help mom host the pirate night, this time we are going all out on the food, decor and prizes and games! It will be fun. It will be mom, dad, me, DH and William, plus my sisters, their two hubbies and 3 kids. Plus my BF who is a huge Pirates fan is coming along for the fun too. Mom always does cool prizes, like disney dollars and stuff. So stay tuned to see the plans develop this weekend, including the menu and the pics of the event next weekend!

 

[exwdwcm]

TRIP UPDATE

While nothing on the trip has happened or changed, i figured I would try out my day by day plans, since I usually come up with a few questions as I do so!

DAY ONE- Friday, October 14- Travel Day!


Friday, October 14th. Oh how I look forward to this day, for months and months. I am dreaming of it now, the first day of our trip. The anticipation!

The plan originally was to work a half day at least, but it appears that won’t happen now that we booked earlier flights. I guess I could still try and work a few hours, but it would only be 2-3 hours, so why bother, I’ll just have one less day to take at Christmas time for vacation. Oh well, it is what it is.

Being the OCD freak that I am, I will be well packed in advance of our departure day! So no mad dash the night before or anything. I will probably head to my mom’s and drop off both of our dogs at their place. We have two boston terriers that are sisters and over 11yo. They don’t do much but eat and sleep these days. Pretty low maintenance. But if I take them over the night before, I can ensure they are all settled in and bring over a baby gate to keep them locked in the laundry room or bathroom when my parents want them out of the way.

The doggies! Tink and Sassy

The next step of the plan depends on one thing, whether DH works that day or not. Even if it is just 2 hours, he might still choose to go in, I just don’t know. He is an early bird and might decide to go in early to get a few more hours in. IF he doesn’t go in, he would obviously be with us when my parents pick us up and no stopping at his office to get him.

So Will and I will wake up probably about 7:30am or so. I’ll get showered, final toiletries put up and get him up and dressed. I’ll have my parents arrive about 8:45am or so at our house. We will load up the car and then head to a nearby McDonald’s for some breakfast and to let William burn off some energy on the playground while I buy my parents and us some breakfast. And so the bad eating begins! lol

We will leave McDonald’s for Alan’s work by 9:45am. He works right by DFW airport, only minutes away. We live about 20 minutes away from DFW airport, just north of it. We will stop at his office, pick up Alan and head on to the airport. We will just leave our truck parked at his work (parking garage and his buddy will keep an eye on it, we’ve done it before when traveling). My parents will drop us off at the airport.

I want to arrive at the airport no later than 10:30am for our 12:11pm flight. DH HATES being at the airport super early. But given that we missed a flight thanks to him a few years ago for my BF’s wedding in Vegas, he knows to just go with what I want now. With us boarding at 11:45am and departing at 12:11, I want to be there in plenty of time to check in and be ready to go! I will try and have our boarding passes printed already. I also want to give ourselves extra time since we are flying AirTran and aren’t as familiar with their processes or terminal as we are with American.

So we will check our bags, check in, get through security and head to the gate and get some water and any last minute snacks or stuff for the trip. Since it is a lunchtime flight, we will make sure we have lots of snacks handy for Will.

The flight leaves at 12:11pm. We will arrive in Atlanta at 3:14pm and then board the second flight which departs at 4:31pm. I figure we will have just enough time to unload, head to the next gate and board. Maybe grab a bite?

Then the flight arrives MCO at 6pm. I just hope Will does okay on the flights. He was pretty bad for a bit on our flight home. Maybe his ears were hurting. So I might give him some Tylenol or something before we even board this time. He was a complete mess, screaming, crying and all on the way home. That was his 3rd time flying and the first time he has ever acted up like that.

We will arrive at 6pm, wait on the bags and load up a cart with them. Head across to the parking garage and pick up our rental car. I try and rent with National when possible, since I love their Emerald Aisle service- just walk up to the car you want, get in and go- easy check out at the little booth as we exit the garage and we are done. And fortunately, on our last trip, we discovered National is now on the first floor! They used to be on the second, which meant a trip with bags up the elevator, but since they moved more car companies (like hertz) onsite, National got bumped down to first floor.

We will load up our yet to be booked car and head out on 528 towards Orlando. We can usually make it to the world in 20 minutes or less for the drive. I figure a good 20-40 minutes to get bags and the car. We just love renting a car vs. using ME or Disney transport. I’ve never used ME. I’ve used the buses etc. before and while they aren’t bad, we just prefer to be in control of our transportation. Does it mean we get anywhere any faster or have shorter waits? Not necessarily. But DH and I both prefer to drive ourselves (well, I drive) and not have to sit 20 minutes waiting on a bus.

So we will arrive in Orlando and I usually exit at 535 and drive in through the DTD area. I figure it will be 7pm when we arrive on WDW property or just after. Maybe earlier if we are lucky.

Home sweet home!

We have a few things to accomplish this night:

1. Check into BLT, unpack
2. Stop and get groceries (or order them online?
3. Activate William’s AP (at MK or DTD?
4. Eat dinne
5. Get William to bed at a decent time- by 8:30 at least.

So help me decide what order to these in!!!!!

CHECK IN
I will probably do online check in- so not sure if checking in first will get us a better room or not, since they should be pre-assigned, right? DH usually likes to unload the bags ourselves, we just hate waiting if bells services is busy. We will see which we do.

GROCERY STORE
I don’t mind running to the store by myself. We only need a few basics- cokes, water, milk, juice, yogurt, applesauce. We will bring granola bars and dry snacks with us. We will eat quick breakfast in the room on days we don’t have a breakfast out planned. Plus we won’t have refillable mugs, so I like to have plenty of bottled water and other drinks available in the fridge in the room. We will have a fridge in our studio at BLT. I figure I can run to Walmart on 535 (I like seeing all the cheapo Disney stuff there anyhow to buy a few fun cheap pins to trade or other souvies for family) or just hit the grocery store close near DTD area on 535 (I forget Publix or something). Or we could order groceries online through garden grocer. More expensive, but we have done it and it is so easy. Or we can all stop on the way and all go in, but I fear I’ll have a tired toddler on my hands that will act up. Better to go alone later while Alan puts him to bed or just order online?

ACTIVATE WILL’S AP
We HAVE to go to DTD or MK ticket window/GR that first night, as I will need to activate Will’s AP. I guess we could also try the MK. It is supposed to be open until 9pm that night- but would the guest relations windows outside be open that late too? Alan and I have our APs that work. But we are buying William a new one this summer that we will need to activate that night (so we can get right into DHS and make the mad dash to TSM first thing in the morning!!!). I know the DTD GR windows are open late, so I figured that was our best bet. But it is a Friday night and probably around 7pm, DTD will be pretty packed and hard to find a parking space??? Should we just try MK instead? Plus we could eat dinner at our favorite, Earle of Sandwich or grab it to go. Where would you try to activate??? Will they require him to be there since he is a child or not?

EAT DINNER
Since we will all be pretty exhausted, we have a few options here, all involve quick service/fast food. We know it will be at least 7pm by the time we arrive at WDW. We can both head to DTD and eat at Earle while we activate Will’s AP, or we can try activating at MK and just eat at BLT instead at the Contempo Café? We might be eating at Contempo a few other times during the week though, so don’t want to wear it out. Or if we are trying to activate Will’s AP at the MK, we could take the monorail around, stop at Poly and even eat the Quick Service place there to mix it up (and they have dole whips, right?). I’ve never eaten there (is it called Captain Cook’s?), so thought it might be fun, plus fun to ride the monorail- our ‘first’ ride!

BEDTIME for WILL
William usually goes to bed at 8:30pm at home. But that all goes out the window at WDW. He can stay up until 11pm at WDW if we let him, since we take a daily nap. But that first night, I want him to go to bed early, since we have an early morning the next day. It will be morning EMH for DHS, so we need to be there before 8am, which means getting up probably at like 6:30-6:45am! This means if we reach WDW property by 7pm, we will probably just have enough time to eat somewhere, activate his AP and get him in bed fast!


Of course once we are settled in our room for the night, I like to completely unpack. Yes, I am one of “those” people. LOL. We are there for 8 nights, so I want to settle in feel at home. We are in a studio at BLT this time- quite a downgrade from last December when we had a beautiful and spacious one bedroom. But I figured for just 2 adults and one child, a studio was more than sufficient. While we do take a midday break in our room, we are usually up and out of the room very early each morning and don’t come in until late. So other than taking the midday nap or rest in the room, we aren’t spending a lot of extra time in it. So the studio should be fine. I am curious to see the new layout. I need to ask on the DVC board if all the BLT studios have been updated to include the sink in the bathroom now or not.

Will is going to sleep on the pull out couch and Alan and I in the queen size bed. I am hoping Alan and I can be tucked in by 10pm hopefully or 11! It’s an early morning the next day, gotta rest up.

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[Pixiedust530]

Your first day's plans look great! I think if it were me I would make a quick stop at DTD on your way in...get Will's AP activated and grab a quick bite. Like you said...if Will is a little cranky you can always get the sandwiches to go. Then I would head to BLT, get checked into the room. Once in the room I would leave DH to get Will in bed while you run out to get groceries (I would opt for Walmart to check out the cute Disney stuff). Once you return hopefully Will will be asleep, you can unpack and then settle in for the night!

As you are getting settled in at BLT we will be making last minute preparations and getting ready to get in the car to make the 14+ hour drive to Disney. We plan to leave around 9pm that night.

 

[hardingk]

We LOVE Captian Cook's!! They have a good menu - 3 different pizzas, different sandwiches, salads and of course DOLE WHIP!!! I think eating there is a great choice! I think GR is open at MK until the park closes. I'm not 100% sure, but for some reason in the back of my head, I remember it open when we have left the park late at night and without a huge line. Since you have AP's already - if Will doesn't have to be there (which I don't think he does) you could also just run in to city hall and get it there, if the line is long at GR.

As for shopping def make a run to Wal-mart once Will is asleep??? There is also a Super Target on 192 (it's close to AKV) that is the nicest Target I have ever been!! (And you know how much I LOVE Target!!) They have a huge Disney section as well, and their grocery section is just like a super market. There is also a publix across the street too. You could also go straight there from the airport and grab something on the way to eat... there are tons of quick restaurants on 192 right by Target.

 

[MARsMama]

I followed you over from my PTR. I read the links that were on your first post and also your arrival day plans...it all sounds wonderful! Can't wait to hear more of your plans
Your son is adorable!!!

 

[DisneyRed95]

Your first day plans sound great! I love arrival day!

We do Emerald Aisle service as well. Now, DH and I split up when we arrive to check out the Emerald Aisles on both the A and B terminals searching for the best car. DH is a "car guy" so I think picking out the rental car is one of his favorite attractions.

I would think the MK GR window would be open at least until 9pm. Maybe even later?

Captain Cook's at the Poly is a cute QS location. And yes they do have Dole Whips! Yum!

 

[LJD2143]

I want to arrive at the airport no later than 10:30am for our 12:11pm flight. DH HATES being at the airport super early. But given that we missed a flight thanks to him a few years ago for my BF’s wedding in Vegas, he knows to just go with what I want now. With us boarding at 11:45am and departing at 12:11, I want to be there in plenty of time to check in and be ready to go! I will try and have our boarding passes printed already. I also want to give ourselves extra time since we are flying AirTran and aren’t as familiar with their processes or terminal as we are with American.

The flight leaves at 12:11pm. We will arrive in Atlanta at 3:14pm and then board the second flight which departs at 4:31pm. I figure we will have just enough time to unload, head to the next gate and board. Maybe grab a bite?

Be careful with AirTran!!! The last couple times I have flown with them, they board VERY EARLY! I mean REAL EARLY! One time we were "strolling" up to the gate about 30 minutes before our scheduled departure and they were announcing our names - LAST CALL!!! Then we pulled away from the gate about 10 minutes early. Better early than late, I guess!

I just hope Will does okay on the flights. He was pretty bad for a bit on our flight home. Maybe his ears were hurting. So I might give him some Tylenol or something before we even board this time. He was a complete mess, screaming, crying and all on the way home. That was his 3rd time flying and the first time he has ever acted up like that.

We give our kids Blow Pops - the sucking and constant swallowing is good for keeping the ear pressure equalized.

Home sweet home!

Awwwww - LOVE IT! Thats my home too!

I will probably do online check in- so not sure if checking in first will get us a better room or not, since they should be pre-assigned, right?

True - but if your preassigned room is not to your liking, you can always ask for a different one. I would assume the selection of rooms is better earlier than later.

I don’t mind running to the store by myself. We only need a few basics- cokes, water, milk, juice, yogurt, applesauce. We will bring granola bars and dry snacks with us. We will eat quick breakfast in the room on days we don’t have a breakfast out planned. Plus we won’t have refillable mugs, so I like to have plenty of bottled water and other drinks available in the fridge in the room. We will have a fridge in our studio at BLT. I figure I can run to Walmart on 535 (I like seeing all the cheapo Disney stuff there anyhow to buy a few fun cheap pins to trade or other souvies for family) or just hit the grocery store close near DTD area on 535 (I forget Publix or something). Or we could order groceries online through garden grocer. More expensive, but we have done it and it is so easy. Or we can all stop on the way and all go in, but I fear I’ll have a tired toddler on my hands that will act up. Better to go alone later while Alan puts him to bed or just order online?

My vote is for Garden Grocer! Once I get on property I don't want to leave!

Since we will all be pretty exhausted, we have a few options here, all involve quick service/fast food. We know it will be at least 7pm by the time we arrive at WDW. We can both head to DTD and eat at Earle while we activate Will’s AP, or we can try activating at MK and just eat at BLT instead at the Contempo Café? We might be eating at Contempo a few other times during the week though, so don’t want to wear it out. Or if we are trying to activate Will’s AP at the MK, we could take the monorail around, stop at Poly and even eat the Quick Service place there to mix it up (and they have dole whips, right?). I’ve never eaten there (is it called Captain Cook’s?), so thought it might be fun, plus fun to ride the monorail- our ‘first’ ride!

Capt'n Cooks at the Poly is one of my favorite Quick Services! They have a great menu selection! My personal fave is the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese! YUM!

I am curious to see the new layout. I need to ask on the DVC board if all the BLT studios have been updated to include the sink in the bathroom now or not.

I think I read somewhere that they are done.....DVCNews.com or the Disney Blog or AllEars??? I know I saw a post on Facebook from one of those sites but now I can't find it....