Twas the Night Before ... Christmas 09?! - 12/30 New TR! Please come join me!

[jenjolt]

OOOH...I am another vote for Rose and Crown I think you guys will have a great meal there!!! Pretty soon Leslie and I are going to have to start thinking about ADRs for October!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

OOOH...I am another vote for Rose and Crown I think you guys will have a great meal there!!! Pretty soon Leslie and I are going to have to start thinking about ADRs for October!!!!

We've barely settled on January's.

 

[Happydog]

O' Hana's breakfast. It is my favorite by far of the ones we have tried!.

I guess I maybe should think ADRs sometime too....

I know! It creeps up on you, doesn't it!!??

We are trying Ohanas for the first time for dinner this trip. The kids like Stitch... so it might be a good choice for breakfast!

I think I would like to try Ohana's for breakfast too! I haven't met a Disney breakfast that was bad though...
I'll echo LL on the Rose and Crown. You can't beat the patio. In the evening. Just as Illuminations is starting.
It's wonderful.
Just take insect repellent....

OKAY so it sounds like the Rose and Crown is a must! bug spray, yeah, I will remember that six months from now!!!! You better remind me!

My thoughts...

'Ohanas- YES!

Tutto Italia - has gotten mixed reviews so I never let Jeff consider it but he really wants to go there!
Coral Reef - if you haven't been I bet your boys would love it.
Tokyo Dining - I know you've been here
California Grill - I wouldn't do it iwth the little one's but that's just me.
Rose and Crown - I'd go here!

Date night options:

Bistro de Paris - my vote!
Todd English's Blue Zoo

Would you add CRT?? nope. lol!

mnnn...cookie dough!

Sounds like 'Ohanas for breakfast will make the cut, and Rose and Crown... I have had a few good reviews with Tutto, like you say though, hit or miss, but then I have heard the same about Coral Reef!!

With Cali, we made this our date night stop last trip. We are going for dinner again this December, WITH the kids. It will either be a fiasco, or pleasant... I am hoping for pleasant... I will just have to drink more if it isn't!! So it isn't off the list for June QUITE yet... I keep hoping if they could manage Le Cellier at 9pm with out cracking, they could do Cali Grill at 6pm.. fingers crossed!

CRT, yeah, not sure ...

My thoughts...

'Ohanas- Never been there for breakfast, but we liked CM's breakfast so it's probably good too.

California Grill was amazing! The best food I've ever eaten (It was our last meal, so I haven't gotten to it yet on my TR.) My kids were great and the view was beautiful! My family would argue with me~ Mom thought Narcossee's was the best food she's ever eaten; and Sam wants an ADR at Le Cellier for every night on our next trip!

CRT? I wouldn't recommend it anymore. I wasn't impressed.

We're trying Les Chefs, Brown Derby, Yachtsman, and Grand Floridian Cafe new on this trip.

I am glad to hear that Cali Grill was a success for your kids! That is encouraging! With CRT, I read your review, and yes, disappointing! I chose Narcoosee's after your review, so that was a plus! You have good choices for Dec too! We'll all be comparing notes I am sure!

We loved Tutto Italia in October, but I don't know how it measures up to authentic Italian food. We want to eat there again on our next trip!

Oh well that is encouraging!!! I have heard some good reports! Well I feel compelled to eat in "Italy" given how much I love that country the "real" one!!!! ... we all speak/stumble through the language a little! It would be fun.

 

[Happydog]

OOOH...I am another vote for Rose and Crown I think you guys will have a great meal there!!! Pretty soon Leslie and I are going to have to start thinking about ADRs for October!!!!

YAY! I guess I will have to convince DH that the British Pub is where it is at!

Yes, you are right, that 180 days really does make a difference!

We've barely settled on January's.

PLEASE.

Did you seriously say "settled"??!! Um, there is no "settled" LL... oh no, you and Jen are hardly going to "settle on" your January ADRs. "settle" would imply you are finished preparing for this trip.. and with, oh, 36 days to go, I know, YOU KNOW, heck, WE ALL KNOW that this just isn't the case....

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Jiminy Crickets am I behind! Caught up on your snow pictures, tree hunting and decorating, peppermint tshirt and cookies (yum!) and ADR pondering... whew! .... and I'll throw in another vote for Ohana breakfast

I cannot believe you are so close to your Christmas trip!

 

[eandesmom]

Sounds like 'Ohanas for breakfast will make the cut, and Rose and Crown... I have had a few good reviews with Tutto, like you say though, hit or miss, but then I have heard the same about Coral Reef!!

With Cali, we made this our date night stop last trip. We are going for dinner again this December, WITH the kids. It will either be a fiasco, or pleasant... I am hoping for pleasant... I will just have to drink more if it isn't!! So it isn't off the list for June QUITE yet... I keep hoping if they could manage Le Cellier at 9pm with out cracking, they could do Cali Grill at 6pm.. fingers crossed!

CRT, yeah, not sure ...

Oh I bet your two would be fine, for me it's more about either the 2 credits or the cost to take the kids to a signature restaurant. It's hard for me to justify. HDDR worked for me since it was a show but I think for us, we will keep the signatures out of pocket and date night!

 

[raider97]

Your summer ADR ideas all look good to me!! I really wanted to try Ohanas for breakfast this time. But I thought the kids would like the characters at 1900 Park Fare breakfast better. How are the cookies coming?

Stephanie

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I thought I'd be late to the party and I see it's all quiet over here!​

Hey!​

Let's get the single digit dancing started!!!

​

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hurrah for single digit dancing!

I'm here getting it warmed up for you. Posting live from the Territory Lounge in Wilderness Lodge. They're going thru a cold spell (for precisly the 4 days I'm here!!! ) but it promises to warm up and be lovely by the time you arrive!

Can't wait for your trip!!

 

[Happydog]

Jiminy Crickets am I behind! Caught up on your snow pictures, tree hunting and decorating, peppermint tshirt and cookies (yum!) and ADR pondering... whew! .... and I'll throw in another vote for Ohana breakfast

I cannot believe you are so close to your Christmas trip!

Oh you and me both!!!! I can't believe we leave at the end of next week!

I have been busy, that is the truth!

Oh I bet your two would be fine, for me it's more about either the 2 credits or the cost to take the kids to a signature restaurant. It's hard for me to justify. HDDR worked for me since it was a show but I think for us, we will keep the signatures out of pocket and date night!

Yes! The signatures are not necessarily worth the credits on the basic plan, I agree. We do plan to pay OOP with our TIW card for them. Only using credits for HDDR, which seems like a cost effective exchange.

Your summer ADR ideas all look good to me!! I really wanted to try Ohanas for breakfast this time. But I thought the kids would like the characters at 1900 Park Fare breakfast better. How are the cookies coming?

Stephanie

Cookies are coming along according to plan!!! Cut out cookie dough is tonight, and cutouts are tomorrow for baking and frosting...

I will firm up those summer plans before the 22nd but I needed to get the ball rolling! We are going to try 1900 this trip, and Ohanas next trip or back to Crystal Palace...

 

[Happydog]

I thought I'd be late to the party and I see it's all quiet over here!​

Hey!​

Let's get the single digit dancing started!!!

​

That is so funny.. I am late to my OWN party!!! Well, I am ready for it trust me!!!! YAY!

Thank you for thinking of me!!!

Hurrah for single digit dancing!

I'm here getting it warmed up for you. Posting live from the Territory Lounge in Wilderness Lodge. They're going thru a cold spell (for precisly the 4 days I'm here!!! ) but it promises to warm up and be lovely by the time you arrive!

Can't wait for your trip!!

Oh neither can we!!! It just has to get here, and I just have to be ready for it!!! I am glad to hear the weather will be nice! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Happydog]

Well, I have not totally neglected all my trip planning, I have made some progress!!! Here is my list of done and not quite done!

DONE

Itinerary Pages for my Trip Binder
ADR Confirmations
TShirts!
Packing lists (clothes, etc.)
Christmas gift shopping
Christmas decorating
Christmas Trip Surprise preparations


NOT QUITE DONE

Cookie Baking!!!
Packing (try not started)
Final photos for my latest update post!
House preparations for my Holiday brunch and for our departure
Mailing of packages to relatives
Stuffing Christmas goodie bag stockings


My last Disney Store order came today!!! I will post photos this weekend with my cookie pics, but I am so excited! I got a few items for my Disney Christmas tree!!!

Oh! And some other exciting news!

Do you remember how I told you we decided to drive? Hoping that we would then free up our schedule to stay later, etc...

WELL, here is what we finally decided. We are leaving on the 18th that evening, and will drive to Orlando. We are staying ONE night at the Bonnet Creek Hilton, that new resort complex with the Waldorf Astoria? A great room was a $99.00 deal and breakfast. This way my DH has a nice rest before our true Disney trip, I get to cruise around DTD with the boys, and we can stay somewhere away from the parks for one night, to relax and get rested. It is a brand new resort that just opened two months ago, it is massive, but getting very nice reviews. We are going to give it a shot. :

Speaking of cruising. Well what did we do with some of the savings? We booked a cruise!!!!! No, we didn't get a discount on the Christmas cruise. Instead we are headed to the 5 night Disney DREAM Cruise with two stops at Castaway Cay. Now in order to get the Disney Dream and the Water Duck we had to book for after January 2011. So we have booked a cruise for the June after, June 2011. I croaked when I saw how far away this trip is, and how large the deposit is!!! I have never booked something THIS far in advance. But the rate is great, and after a 10 day summer vacation this coming June, which is looking like a split stay betwen BLT and Boardwalk villas, waiting for Disney a year from then makes sense. At least that is what my DH says!!! I may be squeezing in a solo trip to keep me satiated during the months between!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Very exciting news on the cruise. I'll need to get all of the info from you. I have a feeling we will want to book another after our 4 night in June!

So are you feeling better?
It would be a shame to be sick on your day off.
Especially since it's your BIRTHDAY!

Wishing you a wonderful day tomorrow!

 

[Happydog]

Very exciting news on the cruise. I'll need to get all of the info from you. I have a feeling we will want to book another after our 4 night in June!

So are you feeling better?
It would be a shame to be sick on your day off.
Especially since it's your BIRTHDAY!

Wishing you a wonderful day tomorrow!

Thank you! I am excited too. Though it is a LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNG way off!!!! DH felt it was the most "bang for your buck" and even if we were able to get a Christmas cruise we would likely not get much of a break and it was only a 4 day cruise, and this June one is less that that... June is high season for cruise costs, vs. October and January... where it is cheaper but the weather CAN be iffy... He was really excited about the Water Duck! We totally enjoyed our first Disney cruise (the 7 day Western, I think it was...) I am sure you are going to have a great time too!! Heck, we are going to have a great time in a week

YAY!!!

I feel okay. I want to get stuff done tomorrow, and so I have been trying to get some sleep! I am much more productive around the house in the daylight!! So I will get cracking first thing and then between appointments

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Birthday, Happydog! I hope you have a great day today!

A June 2011 cruise on that beautiful, new Disney Dream sounds very exciting! I bet that year between vacations goes very quickly!

The new Bonnet Creek resort sounds promising. Looking forward to your reviews of it.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Happy Birthday!

I think a cruise on the Disney Dream...even in 2011 is awesome! You are going to have such a great time!

 

[raider97]

Happy Birthday!

 

[jenjolt]

First of all Happy Birthday!! WOOT!!!!!!

Secondly SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!!!!!

Thirdly, congrats on booking the cruise!! I'm so excited for you!! I would love to do a Disney cruise someday!!!!

 

[eandesmom]

I hope you have a wonderful day! And the Dream! How exciting. I looked at it and for us, the dates we wanted they are only 3 or 4 day cruises which is too short for the flight time to make sense. I hear you on the deposit! I haven't booked ours yet as I don't expect it to book up as fast as the Dream so I'm holding off until Feb or so but ouch, it's a big one. Of course the nice thing about a big deposit is a big chunk of the cruise is already paid for!

Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

The cruise sounds wonderful