Twice As Nice & Double the Fun: an offsite October PTR where “2” is the magic number

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Great news on your Xmas trip

 

[Lynne G]

Wahoo! For sure to try to say hello in December before you leave.

 

[Joanna71985]

I didn't know you were such a fan of dinner shows! If time ever allows for it, on one of your future trips you MUST check out Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue at Disney's Fort Wilderness if you haven't before. We absolutely LOVE it! Very entertaining and the food is excellent. It's a must do for us almost every trip.

Agreed!! HDDR is my favorite dinner show on property (and probably one of my favorites around Orlando). I was just there for my birthday on Tues

If a trip for us in December gets to the "for sure" stage, Santa's Fireside Feast is on my must-do list . I don't care that we wouldn't be travelling with any children, I want to have dinner with Santa Claus .

Hey, I'm an adult and I went by myself! That's what I would be doing again this year

I'm not Italian (I'm a dark eyed, dark haired "Gina", but not a drop of Italian blood in my veins) but I adore Italian cooking. Pasta, in particular, is like soul food for me .

I'm Italian, but I don't think I look it. However...Italian food is my favorite!

Our Christmas trip is officially BOOKED!

Steve's boss came back early, and he was able to get his vacation days approved on the spot. Flights and accommodations are hereby arranged, and its now official:

December 17th to 24th
Jetblue return airfare from Buffalo
Even More Space Seats for both of us on both flights
One checked bag per person, each way
$742.40 all inclusive

A week in a two bedroom, two bath villa at Marriott's Grande Vista resort ($367.88 with tax)

Grand total: $1110.28.

Let the countdown BEGIN!

Yay!! I'm glad you were able to book!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Yay...you got your December trip. I'm so excited that you chose the MGV. I will absolutely die is you don't like it but I really don't see how anyone could not.

Now, do tell what is this magical chocolate place you all speak of? I have never heard of it.

 

[Raeven]

Our Christmas trip is officially BOOKED!

Steve's boss came back early, and he was able to get his vacation days approved on the spot. Flights and accommodations are hereby arranged, and its now official:

December 17th to 24th
Jetblue return airfare from Buffalo
Even More Space Seats for both of us on both flights
One checked bag per person, each way
$742.40 all inclusive

A week in a two bedroom, two bath villa at Marriott's Grande Vista resort ($367.88 with tax)

Grand total: $1110.28.

Let the countdown BEGIN!

Yay congrats! You'll be there right after us we're leaving on the 17th.

 

[pigletto]

Our Christmas trip is officially BOOKED!

Steve's boss came back early, and he was able to get his vacation days approved on the spot. Flights and accommodations are hereby arranged, and its now official:

December 17th to 24th
Jetblue return airfare from Buffalo
Even More Space Seats for both of us on both flights
One checked bag per person, each way
$742.40 all inclusive

A week in a two bedroom, two bath villa at Marriott's Grande Vista resort ($367.88 with tax)

Grand total: $1110.28.

Let the countdown BEGIN!

That is so freaking awesome!!!!
I am so happy for you and jealous for me!Waagghh poor me with three trips coming up in the next 5 months. Make sure to feel sorry for me.

I can't even believe the rate on the Marriott property. I couldn't book a weekend away that cheap!

 

[Mom2SamandJames]

Gina,

When my oldest was in the fourth grade, we pulled him out of school a couple days before Christmas break and did Sea World. We LOVED Santa's Fireside Feast. It was a wonderful meal with a terrific atmosphere, and we didn't feel rushed at all. We heartily recommend that meal. We also did the behind the scenes at the Arctic area tour on that trip. It was great too! If you do Santa's Fireside Feast, pay the little upgrade to do get the VIP seatings for all the Christmas shows. It was great, especially with two silly boys.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Congrats on booking the trip!!!

Thank you! We are both quite excited!

Great news on your Xmas trip

Thank you! I am having a bit of a hard time sitting still tonight LOL .

Wahoo! For sure to try to say hello in December before you leave.

Absolutely! Once our October trips are over, we'll have to try and make a plan to meet up, even if its briefly.

Agreed!! HDDR is my favorite dinner show on property (and probably one of my favorites around Orlando). I was just there for my birthday on Tues

Hey, I'm an adult and I went by myself! That's what I would be doing again this year

I'm Italian, but I don't think I look it. However...Italian food is my favorite!

Yay!! I'm glad you were able to book!

Happy belated birthday! I hope it was a great one for you.

Hoop Dee Doo is definitely not in the budget for this year (my poor budget just got blown to smithereens today ) but its on my to-do list for whenever we return .... hopefully fall 2017 at the latest. I hear the food is similar to Trails End, so if Steve enjoys our Trails End meal in October, I know that he will definitely be up for it too.

Yay...you got your December trip. I'm so excited that you chose the MGV. I will absolutely die is you don't like it but I really don't see how anyone could not.

Now, do tell what is this magical chocolate place you all speak of? I have never heard of it.

I had narrowed it down to the Vistana, Grande Vista, and Marriott Cypress Harbour. Steve left it up to me to make the decision, and you had been nudging me in the direction of MGV for ages now, so I thought, what the heck! Let's be wild and crazy . I've been watching resort videos on youtube all afternoon.

I can't believe you have never had World's Finest Chocolate . They have a factory outlet in Campbellford, which is where Jake's agency is based. Their chocolate is the BEST on earth. Seriously. We need to get you down for a visit so we can introduce you to the magical world of chocolate covered almonds, caramel whirls, peanut butter bears, and chocolate covered malt balls.

Yay congrats! You'll be there right after us we're leaving on the 17th.

Hopefully we both have fantastic weather and low crowds! (though your crowds will likely be much lower than ours....I'm guessing our last few days might get noticeably busy)

That is so freaking awesome!!!!
I am so happy for you and jealous for me!Waagghh poor me with three trips coming up in the next 5 months. Make sure to feel sorry for me.

I can't even believe the rate on the Marriott property. I couldn't book a weekend away that cheap!

The price on timeshares for that check in date was CRAZY affordable. One day difference (checking in the 18th versus the 17th) took us from $327 plus taxes for a week in a two bedroom, two bath villa to $1197 . Timing, as they say, is everything.

I will definitely do my best to feel sorry for you LOL. Its a tough life we're all living these days, isn't it?

Gina,

When my oldest was in the fourth grade, we pulled him out of school a couple days before Christmas break and did Sea World. We LOVED Santa's Fireside Feast. It was a wonderful meal with a terrific atmosphere, and we didn't feel rushed at all. We heartily recommend that meal. We also did the behind the scenes at the Arctic area tour on that trip. It was great too! If you do Santa's Fireside Feast, pay the little upgrade to do get the VIP seatings for all the Christmas shows. It was great, especially with two silly boys.

That is great feedback....thank you! I am excited to begin planning with our friends who will be joining us: I know she has been eyeing that Fireside Feast deal, so its quite possible it will be booked before the promo ends on Monday. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the reserved seating for the Christmas shows....we had it last year and it was the best money we spent the whole trip!!

 

[mmdis]

Oh my I'm so happy about your December trip because I can live through you!!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Oh my I'm so happy about your December trip because I can live through you!!

Thank you!!

But..don't get too excited just yet LOL ... the budget constraints will likely mean this trip is a little (or a lot) less extravagant than our epic spring and autumn getaways. I am totally okay with that, though. Just being able to spend time with my bestie and her two guys is perfect all on its own: anything else we do is just icing on the cake . I am sure we will spend at least a day or two at SeaWorld (I am just giddy knowing that we can enjoy their Christmas events again this year.....I can hardly wait to see Oh Wondrous Night again!!) and a MVMCP is a must do. I can't believe I'll finally get to see the castle all lit up in those bazillion sparkling lights!!

Oh! And my friend and I have already been chatting (we have spent a whole week discussion a plethora of "ifs") and all of us want to do ICE! at Gaylord Palms (first time for her and her fam, second time for Steve and I.....but we have only visited that attraction one other time, back in 2012). So I am sure that will be on the itinerary. If Oktoberfest in Celebration is a hit in October, perhaps we'll go back for Celebration's Christmas events too. So many decisions!! And to plan it all with my dearest and closest friend.....well, I am excited and twitchy enough right now that I'm wondering if I will be able to sleep at all this weekend .

 

[Lynne G]

Funny we did the feast with our kids when they were a bit younger. Told them don't you guys want to do it again, since could do last day it is discounted. Both said, not really. Oh well, we may do all day dining instead. I will most likely buy the photo pass annual, particularly if I get an AP discount. Also looking forward to seeing the AP Lounge.

Yep, timing means cheap, so I am pulling little one out of high school 2 days early. They should be done midterms before than, and I am sure she will not be the only kid missing those days. Older one should be done college the week before. Slowly thinking of other things to do. Kids want to visit the Busch parks. No interest in other parks. We will hit Disney Springs. Have to get a little Disney in. Plus, kids have not seen DS since it has been transformed.

 

[Joanna71985]

Happy belated birthday! I hope it was a great one for you.

Hoop Dee Doo is definitely not in the budget for this year (my poor budget just got blown to smithereens today ) but its on my to-do list for whenever we return .... hopefully fall 2017 at the latest. I hear the food is similar to Trails End, so if Steve enjoys our Trails End meal in October, I know that he will definitely be up for it too.

Thank you! Between SeaWorld and Hoop, it was an amazing day

While I've never been to Trails End personally, I've heard that the food is similar too

 

[dancin Disney style]

I had narrowed it down to the Vistana, Grande Vista, and Marriott Cypress Harbour. Steve left it up to me to make the decision, and you had been nudging me in the direction of MGV for ages now, so I thought, what the heck! Let's be wild and crazy . I've been watching resort videos on youtube all afternoon.

I can't believe you have never had World's Finest Chocolate . They have a factory outlet in Campbellford, which is where Jake's agency is based. Their chocolate is the BEST on earth. Seriously. We need to get you down for a visit so we can introduce you to the magical world of chocolate covered almonds, caramel whirls, peanut butter bears, and chocolate covered malt balls.

I really hope you love the MGV. It is their flagship resort. Otherwise, I predict it's curtains for me

Never had WFC and never even heard of it. I would actually drive a couple of hours for chocolate and the ones you mentioned.....

BTW, you MUST go to HDDR. It's totally dorky but so much fun and the food is excellent. Simple but excellent. The time that we went it was the best meal of our trip. Every seat in that place is a good seat so you can actually book cat.3 and end up with a seat almost as close as cat.1 but on the second floor. We were on the DDP so at that time you could only get cat. 2 or 3 and we booked late so it was cat.3 upstairs. I loved it, the seats along the rail give you an unobstructed view.

 

[chicagoshannon]

OOH ICE! That's the one thing we didn't get to do a couple of years ago that I totally wish we did. If we ever get back at that time of year it's on my must do list.

 

[Penguinempress]

That's so awesome about your Christmas trip, whoo!!!! I'm totally jealous but looking forward to reading all about both trips, especially with all the extra Halloween/Christmas fun added in. There's just something so addictive about Orlando vacations...when we were at Disney this year, my husband said, "Enjoy this because we're not coming back next year." Then just last week he said, "So...what parks are we doing next year? I was thinking Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios...oh, and Universal of course."

 

[Lynne G]

Oh Dancin, it was Martha Reeves birthday yesterday. Wondering if your Dis name came from the song that she and her Motown band first made famous. I have a soft spot for music from that era, and that, and Dancin is clearly said to be in my home town.

So hot today. Saturday has our seawater in the low 70's, but no match for Florida, seawater temp is in the 90's. Hot beach everywhere along the East Coast.

Hope you are having a good Weekend Gina!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yay for the December trip! We've always had a great time on our lower-budget "bonus" trips. There's something about knowing it's a bonus trip, and whatever fun happens, happens, that takes the pressure off and just leads to a happy time. Sounds like you will have tons to do though with the SW passes and MVMCP!

I like the dinner show ideas! They look awesome. I think in Orlando, dinner shows kind of get a second-tier reputation, meanwhile in other places that have less entertainment (like don't have ten major theme parks within an hour's drive lol!), they are considered much more of a main draw.

We did Medieval Times around here...loved loved loved it. It's so cheesy yet well done and the horses are gorgeous and it's just fun.

I do need to do HDDR. Hmm, maybe I will add that to our August trip since we have ten days, might be a good activity for a chill day? Hmmm....

 

[pigletto]

Yay for the December trip! We've always had a great time on our lower-budget "bonus" trips. There's something about knowing it's a bonus trip, and whatever fun happens, happens, that takes the pressure off and just leads to a happy time. Sounds like you will have tons to do though with the SW passes and MVMCP!

I like the dinner show ideas! They look awesome. I think in Orlando, dinner shows kind of get a second-tier reputation, meanwhile in other places that have less entertainment (like don't have ten major theme parks within an hour's drive lol!), they are considered much more of a main draw.

We did Medieval Times around here...loved loved loved it. It's so cheesy yet well done and the horses are gorgeous and it's just fun.

I do need to do HDDR. Hmm, maybe I will add that to our August trip since we have ten days, might be a good activity for a chill day? Hmmm....

I totally agree with this! On a bonus trip we are just grateful to sneak away unexpectedly that the expectations are so much lower aren't they?

 

[afan]

So glad you guys are getting your December trip!

Any of you that wants to send some of the heat to Seattle I would love you! We had a hotter than normal summer last year, which I loved, but most didn't. This year is more normal or a little cooler so far and I don't like it. Barely had the flip flops out. Our spring was hotter than summer has been so far. Supposed to get to 75 today. It's been humid though, which is weird for here and at least making it a little warmer because of it. I lived long enough in CA and NC that I got used to the heat so moving back home to Seattle I wish for hot weather all summer, well 85 or so. We have a/c so I don't worry, most people here don't.

 

[Ruthie5671]

Mega woo-hoo for your December trip coming together. I'm sorry that our paths won't cross in Florida, but getting to travel with your bestie is pretty fabulous. I cannot wait to hear all of your plans. I really, really need to get some more movement on my trip. You'll have two trips completely planned before my one is all figured out.