Two Grandmas and the grandkids... Marathon weekend 2016 PTR (update 1/3)

[rteetz]

Howdy Folks!

I know it's been a long time since an update but I'm back with a big one!

Today Disney Visa members were allowed to book discounts for our dates. My grandma called to get the discount for the stay play and dine package applied to our reservation.

In order to do so they had to switch us to the Yacht Club. Ok, no big deal right next door whatever. Then my grandma told me they now have us in Club Level! So we are now staying club level for marathon weekend at the Yacht Club and it's cheaper than our previous garden view at the beach club! My first deluxe stay is now a deluxe club level stay!

 

[SarahDisney]

That's awesome - so cool that you get club level and save money!

I've heard a lot of really great things about Yacht Club. Everyone seems to like it, so hopefully you guys will too. And like you said ... its just next door to Beach Club, so it shouldn't really change your plans or travel time at all.

 

[rteetz]

That's awesome - so cool that you get club level and save money!

I've heard a lot of really great things about Yacht Club. Everyone seems to like it, so hopefully you guys will too. And like you said ... its just next door to Beach Club, so it shouldn't really change your plans or travel time at all.

Yep and they share the same amenities so hopefully the weather is nice enough for us to use that great pool.

 

[skier_pete]

Sweet! I'd love to stay Club Level someday. Probably never happen, but maybe we get lucky someday getting into AKV Club Level.

You do realize that that usually means a constant supply of food at your disposal. You may not need as many dining reservations.

 

[rteetz]

Sweet! I'd love to stay Club Level someday. Probably never happen, but maybe we get lucky someday getting into AKV Club Level.

You do realize that that usually means a constant supply of food at your disposal. You may not need as many dining reservations.

Yes I know. We are also on the regular dining plan. We will probably end up with a good amount of quick service credits left.

 

[rteetz]

Only 74 Days 2 hours and 59 minutes until WDW!

I know it has been almost a month since my last update about our trip but I am back with another one that isn't very long but it's an update. Football is now over for me so I am now in full training mode. Our trip thankfully hasn't changed much since the last update but we are getting closer and closer.

In just about two weeks we are able to book our Fastpasses! We of course arrive after 7 pm on 1/5/15 so we don't have park tickets for that day or any dining reservations. It will be a relaxing night getting equipped to our room and the resort maybe take a walk over the boardwalk for something to eat.

1/6/15
This is our expo day. The expo opens at 10 am and I plan on being there right around opening so we can get our merchandise and have the rest of the day to do what we want. It will likely be a day in DHS before heading over to Epcot for dinner at Via Napoli. This might be the only day we go to DHS because its the park in transition with so little to do right now but so much on the way. TSMM, Star Tours, ToT (going to try to get my sister to go on), and RnRc will be our big things to hit and whatever else we can along the way.

1/7/15
Its 5K day! My sister Jordan and I will be up early this day for the 5K (I hope to see some fellow runners there). After the 5K we are off to spend the day at the MK. We will spend a bit of time there before heading off to my sister Sydnee's Mickey Mile at ESPN WWoS. Then back to MK to finish out our day and eat dinner at Be Our Guest. We will see how long we actually stay on this day because it was an early morning for my sister and I.

1/8/15
It's 10K day! Unfortunately I am not running in that one this day. I ran last year in this race and I loved it. I hope to run Dopey in 2018 so that would probably be the next chance at running that race. Anyways we will be in Animal Kingdom this day. I just love animal kingdom, the details, the animals, its just amazing. We will then head over to Disney Springs for dinner at Portobello. This is a early night for me as I have a big day on Saturday.

1/9/15
Its Half day! I will be up before the sun rises hopefully to catch that first bus. I caught the first bus for the 10K last January and it worked out well. It is also my Dads birthday this day but he obviously won't be there to join us. he will have a nice kid free weekend with my mom back in Wisconsin. After the race I will head back to the room and get ready for an easy day at Epcot. we have an earlier dinner at Chefs de France that night. I have never been there so I hope its a good celebratory dinner.

1/10/15
Its Full Day! Another event I won't be partaking in but I wish everyone who is good luck. I hope to run it in 2018 for Dopey. This is our last full Disney day and we will be spending it at the MK. we have an 8 AM reservation for 1900 park fare another first for us. After a good breakfast to start the day we will head over to the MK for a full day of fun. I have been contemplating the idea of signing up for the Mickey Milers dessert party at Epcot but I am not sure. It would likely just be me and not the rest of my group but we will see.

1/11/15
Our last day will start with breakfast at 8:35 AM for breakfast at Cape May cafe. We have a 2:10 magical express pick up so we may just stay at the hotel for the day or head over to Disney Springs for a little bit.

 

[skier_pete]

Looks like great plans @rteetz! Nice that you are doing a bunch of "new" stuff. Hopefully you will get a couple of warm days in there that allow you to enjoy the pool there at the Beach Club. It's pretty amazing. Take lots of pictures!

Do you have your FP booking strategy mapped out?

 

[rteetz]

Looks like great plans @rteetz! Nice that you are doing a bunch of "new" stuff. Hopefully you will get a couple of warm days in there that allow you to enjoy the pool there at the Beach Club. It's pretty amazing. Take lots of pictures!

Do you have your FP booking strategy mapped out?

Yes I'm definitely hoping for warm days.

I will also be taking a lot of photos with my DSLR. I'll have my iPhone with me during the races.

I have a pretty good idea of my FP plan.

 

[SarahDisney]

Your plans look great! You seem to have a few new restaurants on the agenda, which is always nice.
We've done 1900 Park Fare, and while I didn't eat the food so I can't tell you about that, I thought the restaurant was nice and the characters were okay (not the best characters I've ever met, but pretty good).

 

[rteetz]

Your plans look great! You seem to have a few new restaurants on the agenda, which is always nice.
We've done 1900 Park Fare, and while I didn't eat the food so I can't tell you about that, I thought the restaurant was nice and the characters were okay (not the best characters I've ever met, but pretty good).

Yes last January I tried all new restaurants. This trip is a mix of both. We have friends that have been to 1900 park fare and they liked it so we have decided to try this time.

 

[momabaarjo]

Great news on your now deluxe club stay...completely jealous! Love your plans!!!

 

[rteetz]

Great news on your now deluxe club stay...completely jealous! Love your plans!!!

Thanks! Only a couple days until booking FPs.

 

[SarahDisney]

Only about 6 hours until FP+ ... I hope you're excited!

 

[rteetz]

Only about 6 hours until FP+ ... I hope you're excited!

I definitely am!

 

[MommaBerd]

I'm super-impressed with your planning skills, and yet not surprised, given your maturity and activity here on the boards! You guys are going to have a great time!

My son just submitted applications- so good to have that behind us. Now it's the waiting game.

 

[rteetz]

I'm super-impressed with your planning skills, and yet not surprised, given your maturity and activity here on the boards! You guys are going to have a great time!

My son just submitted applications- so good to have that behind us. Now it's the waiting game.

Thanks for following along!

I have submitted 1 and am working on 3 more that will be submitted very soon.

 

[MommaBerd]

Thanks for following along!

I have submitted 1 and am working on 3 more that will be submitted very soon.

Awesome!!!

 

[rteetz]

Its Fastpass+ time!

Last night I stayed up until 11 pm to get our FP+'s booked 60 days out. So I thought I would share what I have planned which may change slightly yet.

1/5/16- No park because we arrive late in the day and want to just check out the resort and the Boardwalk.

1/6/16- DHS/Epcot
We start our day at the RunDisney expo but once we are done there we will head over to the studios for some fun.

2:45-3:45 PM FP+ for Star Tours

4:20-5:20 PM FP+ for TSMM

5:50-6:50 PM FP+ for Tower of Terror (I will go on and my youngest sister wants to but my other sister Jordan is hesitant so we will see.)

Then we will head over to Epcot for a 7:30 reservation at Via Napoli.

1/7/15- 5K/MK/Mickey Mile

My sister and I will start the day early for the 5K which I am sure will be a blast. After we cross the finish line and change we will head over to MK for a bit before having to leave for my youngest sisters Mickey Mile at ESPN WWoS at 12:30. Once done with that we will head back to MK.

2:05-3:05 PM FP+ Splash Mountain (I hope its warm enough. I really want to get this ride in before its refurbishment later in the week.)

3:05-4:05 PM FP+ for SDMT

4:10-5:10 PM FP+ for Peter Pan's Flight

5:35 PM ADR for Be Our Guest

Will probably wrap up the day at MK with Wishes, and MSEP.

1/8/15- AK/Disney Springs

11:00 AM- 12:00 PM FP+ Dinosaur

12:35-1:35 PM FP+ Expediton Everest

2:25-3:25 PM FP+ Kilimanjaro Safaris

7:20 PM ADR at Portobello in Disney Springs

1/9/15- Half/Epcot

After I run my butt off in the morning we will head to Epcot to celebrate.

11:10 AM- 12:10 PM FP+ SSE

12:40-1:40 PM FP+ Test Track

2:00-3:00 PM FP+ Disney pals meet and greet (This is what I chose because Mission space got bumped up to a tier 1 while Soarin is down and I don't want to waste a FP on the seas or figment. I also figured I would want to get some pictures with my medal from the morning.

4:50 PM ADR Chefs de France

After the meet and greet I want to see what i can get for a 4th FP. I am hoping for something in tier 1 but we will see.

1/10/15- MK

8:00 AM ADR at 1900 Park fare

1:30-2:30 PM FP+ BTMRR (*Changed from earlier time*)

10:40-11:40 AM FP+ POTC

12:00-1:00 PM FP+ Space Mountain

Again I hope to utilize the 4th FP for something at MK.

1/11/15- No park maybe Disney Springs

8:35 AM ADR at Cape May Cafe

Depending on how we are feeling and time I want to maybe go back to Disney Springs before our 2:10 DME pick up.

Well what do you guys think?

 

[skier_pete]

Nicely done! I agree with most everything. Nicely thought out and a good use of FP+ for epcot considering Soarin' is down.

However, I'll argue with one. The BTMRR one on your last day is too early. I wouldn't waste a FP that early in the day. I know you are probably thinking you are eager to use up your FP+ allotment in order to snag a 4th one - but if you are using that morning FP to skip a 10 minute wait you are wasting it anyways. Anything before 11 AM the lines are too short to waste a FP+. Especially BTMRR - which loads a ton of people. Either move it to later in the day or just ride it standby and get another one for 1 PM. (Even your POTC one is a bit iffy as that's a fast loader too, but if you use it later in the time slot it will save you 20-30 minutes.)

Just my opinion of course.

 

[momabaarjo]

I think you are an amazing planner! The only thing I really worry about is getting to that first fast pass after the half marathon! But you have till 12:10. I know for me it is shower, soak feet in ice tub, change...EAT and then think about doing something. But you are MUCH younger so I expect you will have no issues at all!

I also think you might be cutting it close with BTMRR and your morning ADR.