Vegan mom takes on Disney..... Dec, 2011 PTR

[veggiemama]

Hey Laura! Did you get your MVMCP tickets? I noticed you had May 8th and they put them on sale on May 1st. Just giving you the heads up so you have time to get them purchased if you are still planning on attending!

We were able to get ours for the 18th party. SO excited to have one more thing checked off the list!

Thoughts to all of you during the flooding!!

Thanks for the heads up! I guess they changed it from the weekend when I was on there.... or maybe I was just really out of it when I checked the date.

Anyways, I have booked our MVMCP tickets today!!! I'm very excited to have booked our first thing since actually booking our trip!!! with the snow this past weekend here and now booking a Christmas party I almost feel like sining Christmas carols Almost....

We are booked for Dec 14. Right in the middle of our trip, on a Wednesday.

 

[Monknmom]

Those pictures and VERY scary! I can't imagine trying to live or drive around there with those conditions!

On the better note I am glad that you bought the tickets that you wanted for when you wanted them! How exciting! Now just for the park hours!

 

[veggiemama]

Those pictures and VERY scary! I can't imagine trying to live or drive around there with those conditions!

On the better note I am glad that you bought the tickets that you wanted for when you wanted them! How exciting! Now just for the park hours!

Yes, the photos are not a bit scary. Thankfully the water is not on the road, they would close the highway if it got that high.

We have reached the crest of the river this week. On a happy note it did not get as high as expected and now it will start receding. It looks like the worst of it is over.

Yes, park hours would be nice. I'm thinking though that I really need to put together a more concrete, preliminary plan! If feel like I have NO idea what we are going to do yet.

I think I may be using this lovely DIS board as a form of proscratination! My exam is next week and I'm stressed. Even my teacher told me I need to relax more. So maybe some obsessing over ADR's will help!

 

[veggiemama]

This is probably a dumb question though I have been told there is no such thing as a dumb question.

We are going to be doing the Basic Dining Plan on our trip this time. This is a the first time for us to stay onsite and do the DDP.

So what I am trying to figure out is how many credits do we each get. I know it is 3 per day.... but which days are included? Is it 6 for the number of days I have tickets for parks for or is does it include the days/nights we stay in the hotel.

In other words (if that wasn't very clear!)

We arrive on the 10th and leave on the 17th.

Does or DDP include the 10th and the 17th? The two days we won't be in the parks? That would mean I would have 8 days of dining plan and 6 days in the parks? Is that right?

 

[Monknmom]

This is probably a dumb question though I have been told there is no such thing as a dumb question.

We are going to be doing the Basic Dining Plan on our trip this time. This is a the first time for us to stay onsite and do the DDP.

So what I am trying to figure out is how many credits do we each get. I know it is 3 per day.... but which days are included? Is it 6 for the number of days I have tickets for parks for or is does it include the days/nights we stay in the hotel.

In other words (if that wasn't very clear!)

We arrive on the 10th and leave on the 17th.

Does or DDP include the 10th and the 17th? The two days we won't be in the parks? That would mean I would have 8 days of dining plan and 6 days in the parks? Is that right?

Yeah use ADR's as stress reliever!

As for the DDP this is my first year but I have been told that it goes by night. So if your staying 7 nights you get 7 TS per person, 7 CS per person, and 7 snacks per person and you can use them in any order! I hope that someone that knows more comes on to correct me because this is what I am understanding from everything.

 

[shocky5]

This is probably a dumb question though I have been told there is no such thing as a dumb question.

We are going to be doing the Basic Dining Plan on our trip this time. This is a the first time for us to stay onsite and do the DDP.

So what I am trying to figure out is how many credits do we each get. I know it is 3 per day.... but which days are included? Is it 6 for the number of days I have tickets for parks for or is does it include the days/nights we stay in the hotel.

In other words (if that wasn't very clear!)

We arrive on the 10th and leave on the 17th.

Does or DDP include the 10th and the 17th? The two days we won't be in the parks? That would mean I would have 8 days of dining plan and 6 days in the parks? Is that right?

I know the answer to this one!!

You are there for 7 nights, on-site, and the basic dining plan goes off of number of nights you stay at the resort. SO that being said you would have:

7 Table Service credits per person
7 Counter service credits per person
7 Snack credits per person

Just remember, you will need to make ressies for non-theme park restaurants on those days you won't be in a park because you still have to pay admission into the park to eat at their restaurants located in that particular park.

So for example - there's one day we aren't planning on being in a park so we have picked a restaurant at Wilderness Lodge and one at our resort for that day.

Clear as mud?? Actually - poor choice of words with the flooding you are experiencing right now. Sorry, my friend!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm glad you picked the mid-week party.

We did our MNSSHP party smack-dab in the middle of our trip, but took a rest day the morning of (my kids are 2 and 4 and I wanted them to last the night!).

We had so much fun at the party that it totally revived us for the end of the trip!

 

[veggiemama]

Yeah use ADR's as stress reliever!

Thanks, I knew everyone here would understand

As for the DDP this is my first year but I have been told that it goes by night. So if your staying 7 nights you get 7 TS per person, 7 CS per person, and 7 snacks per person and you can use them in any order! I hope that someone that knows more comes on to correct me because this is what I am understanding from everything.

I know the answer to this one!!

You are there for 7 nights, on-site, and the basic dining plan goes off of number of nights you stay at the resort. SO that being said you would have:

7 Table Service credits per person
7 Counter service credits per person
7 Snack credits per person

Just remember, you will need to make ressies for non-theme park restaurants on those days you won't be in a park because you still have to pay admission into the park to eat at their restaurants located in that particular park.

So for example - there's one day we aren't planning on being in a park so we have picked a restaurant at Wilderness Lodge and one at our resort for that day.

Clear as mud?? Actually - poor choice of words with the flooding you are experiencing right now. Sorry, my friend!

All good here! Mud, water, sand, blah! there is a lot of it around these days! But it IS drying up..... slowly!

Yes, that is good news! So glad that I have the extra day of DDP. We are planning on eating at Resorts quite a bit this trip. Since I have never had a chance to see any resorts other than pictures, I'm looking forward to enjoying the Christmas decorations and good food!

I'm glad you picked the mid-week party.

We did our MNSSHP party smack-dab in the middle of our trip, but took a rest day the morning of (my kids are 2 and 4 and I wanted them to last the night!).

We had so much fun at the party that it totally revived us for the end of the trip!

I'm hoping that it will be quiet at the park that day. Our other day at MK is Sunday so I don't know how much we will get done that day so Wed is our time to do a lot of things! Fantasyland is on our must do list. We did not do a lot there so there are a few rides I want to do. I know they are a bit 'young' but hey, I'm young at heart!

I also like the idea of something to really look forward to in the middle of the week!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I know they are a bit 'young' but hey, I'm young at heart!

I will have you know that Peter Pan is one of my favorite rides all time... and IASW is a MUST do on this trip because I've missed it the last 2 trips.

Young nuthin'! I me some Fantasyland!!!!

 

[veggiemama]

I will have you know that Peter Pan is one of my favorite rides all time... and IASW is a MUST do on this trip because I've missed it the last 2 trips.

Young nuthin'! I me some Fantasyland!!!!

TRUE! Peter Pan is our favorite but that was the only ride we did. I'm looking forward to doing the rest. I have a feeling though my teenage kids won't be as inthralled as I will be! But I don't CARE!!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

You are planning to ride Snow White one last time right?

 

[veggiemama]

You are planning to ride Snow White one last time right?

Absolutely! We did not ride it last time so it a MUST this time.

 

[Monknmom]

I'm hoping that it will be quiet at the park that day. Our other day at MK is Sunday so I don't know how much we will get done that day so Wed is our time to do a lot of things! Fantasyland is on our must do list. We did not do a lot there so there are a few rides I want to do. I know they are a bit 'young' but hey, I'm young at heart!

I also like the idea of something to really look forward to in the middle of the week![/QUOTE]

Just as a tip I learned from someone that has gone to the MVMCP she said that she suggests going to animal kingdom (because they close early) that day and then go to the party because you don't need to have hoppers to do 2 parks that day! Just a tip that I learned and am going to use- thought I'd pass it on!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Just as a tip I learned from someone that has gone to the MVMCP she said that she suggests going to animal kingdom (because they close early) that day and then go to the party because you don't need to have hoppers to do 2 parks that day! Just a tip that I learned and am going to use- thought I'd pass it on!

Looking over the Touring Plans website, they have AK listed as a park crowd level of 4.9 and has MK listed at 3.9, so if the numbers hold, either park would be good that day.

I think it will be a matter of how you break down your park days for the trip. We're opting for MK that day because of how the rest of our schedule falls!

 

[veggiemama]

Yes, the debate is on for what to do on our MVMCP night. All day at MK or day at AK then MK in the evening. My dh is leaning toward AK/MK combo. He feels that AK is not as exciting and that we will not need to spend too much time there. It is very funny to me how different we are in our opinions. I LOVE AK I think it is my favorite park. It is a little quieter and not so crazy hectic and I feel like I am truly on a holiday when I am there, not just rushing around trying to 'do this' and 'see that' all day long.

From some subtle conversations that I had with the kids a few months ago I know they are not too enthused over AK. B loves the animals but for here it was not as up close and personnal as she wanted. She would rather spend time at AKL and walking the Savannah's with hopes of seeing giraffes, which is the only animal she is really interested in. Both kids enjoyed the river rapids, but said it was a bit boring. What made it fun for us last time was the fact that we rode it I think, 5 times in a row without getting off and the goal was to get everyone soaked by the time we got off. Only my DH managed to stay dry, even with the CM's trying to help set it up so he would get wet

My only debate for the MK/AK combo day is that I want to go to Boma and thought it would be easiest to get there after AK. We are planning on going for lunch at Yak and Yeti and so Boma would be at dinner time. I don't know, maybe I will have to schedule Boma for another time. I was just hoping to not do an extremely long bus ride to get to dinner. My original plan was to go to Boma the first night we get to WDW. But looking at flights, the flight I want to take will get us to WDW at 7pm and then we still have to get to the resort. I have a feeling by the time we get there it will be time to have dinner at Pop and wander around a bit than hit the sack so that we can make RD for MK the next day. Hmmmm, not sure what to do yet.

Glad to know that I will have 7 days on the DDP. That will make things a little easier I hope. The funny thing is that we could spend all our time going to great resturants.... I need to remember that eating all day, every day is NOT what this trip is about! I'm thinking that our TS credits will be used for dinner and CS for lunch and pay oop for breakfast. i hope that won't get too expensive for me, sometimes I pay extra for meals specially made. But the Deluxe plan seems so much more expensive and I don't think we will end up getting our money's worth.

I am planning on doing one character breakfast. I know my kids and especially DH don't really want/care about this but I really want to go to CP. Pooh has been my childhood favorite and I had all the stuffies since I was a toddler. My DH won't like the noise or crowds so I think I can manage to do one but no more than that! I thought about doing a princess once for my dd but so far there seems to be no interest from her to do this. Now, of course, that has to be taken lightly because at this point the kids don't know we are going... though if I know my dd (and I do!) she will tell me once we let them in on the secret that she KNEW for a long time!




OK, non trip......

It has been an up and down week here again this week. Flooding seems to be under control. Crest has happened, water starting to recede. Our friends are looking at moving home again next weekend.

A substitute teacher at my dd's school was killed this week. Two very stupid teenagers were stoned and driving a car and crossed they highway when they shouldn't have and hit him. It has been a tough week for my dd. He was a favorite teacher for many students.

My piano theory exam is next Saturday. I'm nervous but will be so relieved once it is done. I'm ready to think about other things and do other things. I'm tired of studying. It has been a long tough year with a lot of health issues and family crisis. I will happily say goodbye to this school year. Sorry, don't mean to sound down, it just has been a tough week and really a tough year.

I think I am going to plan a girls day out with my dd once my exam is done. Go for mani/pedi go out for dinner, go to a movie. Just go out and relax together. It has been a long time since we have hung out and I think we both need some pampering.

My dh is gone all of next week on a business trip. It is always a bit lonely when he is gone but I'm sure I will be obsessing over my exam and studying all night long.... now at least I won't feel guilty for it!

Ok ok ok. Long post. Need to go now and study and time to stop griping about my life. no more pity party for me! If you have read this whole thing.... I'm impressed! Don't mind me today, I've got a bit of the blues...... Think I will take my books and go study outside in the sunshine.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I am so glad to hear that the flooding is finally going down, one less worry for you now. I am sure you will do great on your exam, you remind me so much of my sister Bo, you both stress over things like that but in the end you'll have it in the bag and get through it with high honors.

Yay, you booked MVMCP. I love the feeling of having one more thing for the trip go from a thought on paper to a solid booked and payed for event. I like openin gup my planner and seeing it there knowing it will not change.

I can't wait to make ADR's I have already requested that day off from work, for reason I wrote, "Designated Disney Day." My boss approved it and called me a nut case but then asked me If I would help plan her trip to Disney when she takes her son. Um Yeah!!! I would love to.

In my opinion, no that you asked.....But I like the idea of the AK/MK combo on your MVMCP day, in the past I have always done MVMCP on my MK day bu tI realized this last time that being at MK from rope drop until midnight was just too much, I mean sure I had all the extra party stuff to look forward to that night, but in the end I was feeling MK overload since I had done and seen everything twice before the party even started.

I am doing the AK/MK combo this year just trying to get more bang for my buck.


Oh and Coral Reef. I really like that place, I have eaten there 3 times, the last time in 09 was a bit of a bummer but I think it was just an off night for our waiter and nothing really clicked, I would do Coral Reef again if given the chance, but I do think ya'll will like it. You are so right about the atmosphere of the place, it's great, it really is.

 

[annmarieda]

Yes, the debate is on for what to do on our MVMCP night. All day at MK or day at AK then MK in the evening. My dh is leaning toward AK/MK combo. He feels that AK is not as exciting and that we will not need to spend too much time there. It is very funny to me how different we are in our opinions. I LOVE AK I think it is my favorite park. It is a little quieter and not so crazy hectic and I feel like I am truly on a holiday when I am there, not just rushing around trying to 'do this' and 'see that' all day long.

From some subtle conversations that I had with the kids a few months ago I know they are not too enthused over AK. B loves the animals but for here it was not as up close and personnal as she wanted. She would rather spend time at AKL and walking the Savannah's with hopes of seeing giraffes, which is the only animal she is really interested in. Both kids enjoyed the river rapids, but said it was a bit boring. What made it fun for us last time was the fact that we rode it I think, 5 times in a row without getting off and the goal was to get everyone soaked by the time we got off. Only my DH managed to stay dry, even with the CM's trying to help set it up so he would get wet

My only debate for the MK/AK combo day is that I want to go to Boma and thought it would be easiest to get there after AK. We are planning on going for lunch at Yak and Yeti and so Boma would be at dinner time. I don't know, maybe I will have to schedule Boma for another time. I was just hoping to not do an extremely long bus ride to get to dinner. My original plan was to go to Boma the first night we get to WDW. But looking at flights, the flight I want to take will get us to WDW at 7pm and then we still have to get to the resort. I have a feeling by the time we get there it will be time to have dinner at Pop and wander around a bit than hit the sack so that we can make RD for MK the next day. Hmmmm, not sure what to do yet.

Glad to know that I will have 7 days on the DDP. That will make things a little easier I hope. The funny thing is that we could spend all our time going to great resturants.... I need to remember that eating all day, every day is NOT what this trip is about! I'm thinking that our TS credits will be used for dinner and CS for lunch and pay oop for breakfast. i hope that won't get too expensive for me, sometimes I pay extra for meals specially made. But the Deluxe plan seems so much more expensive and I don't think we will end up getting our money's worth.

I am planning on doing one character breakfast. I know my kids and especially DH don't really want/care about this but I really want to go to CP. Pooh has been my childhood favorite and I had all the stuffies since I was a toddler. My DH won't like the noise or crowds so I think I can manage to do one but no more than that! I thought about doing a princess once for my dd but so far there seems to be no interest from her to do this. Now, of course, that has to be taken lightly because at this point the kids don't know we are going... though if I know my dd (and I do!) she will tell me once we let them in on the secret that she KNEW for a long time!




OK, non trip......

It has been an up and down week here again this week. Flooding seems to be under control. Crest has happened, water starting to recede. Our friends are looking at moving home again next weekend.

A substitute teacher at my dd's school was killed this week. Two very stupid teenagers were stoned and driving a car and crossed they highway when they shouldn't have and hit him. It has been a tough week for my dd. He was a favorite teacher for many students.

My piano theory exam is next Saturday. I'm nervous but will be so relieved once it is done. I'm ready to think about other things and do other things. I'm tired of studying. It has been a long tough year with a lot of health issues and family crisis. I will happily say goodbye to this school year. Sorry, don't mean to sound down, it just has been a tough week and really a tough year.

I think I am going to plan a girls day out with my dd once my exam is done. Go for mani/pedi go out for dinner, go to a movie. Just go out and relax together. It has been a long time since we have hung out and I think we both need some pampering.

My dh is gone all of next week on a business trip. It is always a bit lonely when he is gone but I'm sure I will be obsessing over my exam and studying all night long.... now at least I won't feel guilty for it!

Ok ok ok. Long post. Need to go now and study and time to stop griping about my life. no more pity party for me! If you have read this whole thing.... I'm impressed! Don't mind me today, I've got a bit of the blues...... Think I will take my books and go study outside in the sunshine.

I like the MK/AK combo... I am a big fan of AK though. Using the dp credits is very easy. Keep in mind too... you can use them however and when ever. If you wanted to... you could use all of them in the first few day. (don't know how you would...but you could) Also, I have used snack credits for breakfast...so maybe that might work.

I am glad to hear that the flooding is under control!

Very sad about the teacher .

I think you need a girls day for sure!!! Good luck on your test...

and...


btw... don't feel bad about complaining. I think we all have those days.

 

[Monknmom]

Hey I don't have time to read and won't get on until Monday again, but I hope that you have a VERY happy mother's day!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Yes, the debate is on for what to do on our MVMCP night. All day at MK or day at AK then MK in the evening. My dh is leaning toward AK/MK combo. He feels that AK is not as exciting and that we will not need to spend too much time there.

You are making quite the compelling argument for a split day... if the family is hinting that AK is a half-day park, hit up rope drop, go all day and then catch an late lunch/early dinner (3:30-ish). That would give you enough time to go to Boma at AKL then head to the Christmas party and get you into MK no later than 5:30/6p

It is a little quieter and not so crazy hectic and I feel like I am truly on a holiday when I am there, not just rushing around trying to 'do this' and 'see that' all day long.

Me too. AK isn't my top 2, but it beats the tar outta DHS for me. I love the foliage, and I love walking through the animal trails. It was one of the few places we found refuge during Easter week. It was quiet and uncrowded!

From some subtle conversations that I had with the kids a few months ago I know they are not too enthused over AK. B loves the animals but for here it was not as up close and personnal as she wanted.

Has she seen any of veterinary procedures back at Rafikis?

My only debate for the MK/AK combo day is that I want to go to Boma and thought it would be easiest to get there after AK. We are planning on going for lunch at Yak and Yeti and so Boma would be at dinner time.

As I eluded earlier... could you hit AK RD, grab lunch right at 11a and then schedule Boma for 3:30/4p? That would give you an hour or so to eat (Boma was our fastest meal last trip - great service too!) and then another 45-an hour to bus over to MK. You'd definitely make it to MK before 7p which would give you plenty of time to line up for any must-see characters!

I am planning on doing one character breakfast. I know my kids and especially DH don't really want/care about this but I really want to go to CP. My DH won't like the noise or crowds so I think I can manage to do one but no more than that!

We did CP on a morning EMH opening (breakfast ressie was at 8:15, EMH started at 8a). They let us into MK about 7:55a and I was really surprised that CP was as empty as it was. There were maybe 15-20 tables sat in the entire restaurant! It was nice and quiet!

A substitute teacher at my dd's school was killed this week.

Oh geez, I'm sorry to hear that.

My piano theory exam is next Saturday. I'm nervous but will be so relieved once it is done. I'm ready to think about other things and do other things. I'm tired of studying.

I'm sure you've got this nailed. If you study as half as well as you plan, you've got this down pat!

I think I am going to plan a girls day out with my dd once my exam is done. Go for mani/pedi go out for dinner, go to a movie. Just go out and relax together. It has been a long time since we have hung out and I think we both need some pampering.

Sounds like a great plan!

My dh is gone all of next week on a business trip. It is always a bit lonely when he is gone but I'm sure I will be obsessing over my exam and studying all night long.... now at least I won't feel guilty for it!

There ya go! Nothing beats the blues like a great distraction!



BTW, Happy belated Mother's Day. I didn't get on the internet all weekend. Even the internet on my phone!

 

[shocky5]

I'm still internally battling the whole 'what to do on the MVMCP day' scenario, too. We want Boma's, too, so I'd put AK day on a different day... but I like the idea of an earlier Boma's meal before heading back to the party... more to ponder and tinker with before ADR day!

We will spend our first full day at Epcot and I had initially thought we'd go to Epcot again if we wanted to the next day... but now I'm wondering if we shouldn't hit rope drop at AK on our party day... it's a low crowd day and we could knock that park off pretty quickly without too many long lines? Do you all think we'd have time to work in the Lion King show? Have never seen it... it's a must do this time...

Happy belated Mother's Day!!!