VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge, a lot!!

[bagsmom]

Bagsmom, sounds like your trip is shaping up quite nicely. I don't think you need to feel sorry for possibly being obsessive about your WDW vacation (especially on this thread) because for us Dis'ers that's the norm.

Here's my current trip obsession. For our Oct/Nov trip later this year, a couple weeks ago we still didn't have 2 days yet booked but I decided to have Jimmy post our trip resort locations on page 1. Since we were out of VWL points & wanted to stay there those 2 days, I had to wait for the 7 month window to open up. I had been checking VWL studio availability for 3 weeks & everything looked wide open. Well the day before I could reserve many of the days were getting booked up. I was afraid we might not be able to get the ressie at VWL after all. I thought great, it's already posted that we're staying there (on this thread), and maybe I jinxed ourselves. Anyway the next day I was ready online minutes before booking opened up & was able to secure those 2 days at VWL. Talk about obsessive. Next upcoming obsessive behavior - ADR's.

Oh yeah! You almost have to be OCD to plan far enough ahead for the dining reservations. (Unless you are flexible about when and where you eat.) I think it's fun, though!

I guess I'll stick with Rose and Crown for our reservations. I figure if we can't get a table outside, we could just eat and then find a spot somewhere. The crowd isn't supposed to be bad that day...

I looked at the R and C menu -- if nothing else, Mr. Picky can eat fries!

 

[bagsmom]

PS -- TwinMom -- tell us all about your ADR obsessions! It will be fun to hear about where you are going.

The first (and only other) time we went, we had the deluxe dining plan. The kids were young enough that they weren't interested in a lot of the headliner rides, so stopping our park time for food time was not a problem.

We did breakfasts at Tusker House, Crystal Palace, Beach Club, Hollywood and Vine. Lunches at Coral Reef, 50s Prime Time, Dinners at O'Hana, Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier, Japanese place (can't remember the name), Whispering Canyon -- and a bunch of others. I had a big chart all made out and called the reservation line about 5 minutes before it opened. Then I asked for reservations in order of how much I really wanted to go there. I swear my heart was pounding and I was soooooooo excited to get them all!

Of course, with all the food on the deluxe plan, we walked around feeling like we needed to belch. Kids ate almost nothing, because the mac and cheese wasn't Kraft. The nuggets weren't Chik-fil-A or McDonalds.

But we got WONDERFUL pictures at all the character meals we did. Those pictures are just priceless, with the kids grinning from ear to ear.

I think I'll go back and look at those pictures right now!!!!!!!

 

[twinmom108]

PS -- TwinMom -- tell us all about your ADR obsessions! It will be fun to hear about where you are going.

During our 1st 5 days we're considering the following ADR's

Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast) - Thought this one would be good since this will be my friend Wendy's 1st Disney trip ever.

Ohana (Dinner) I haven't been in years & would like to try it again.

Be Our Guest - DH & I ate there in December & I think Wendy would be in awe.

Tusker House (lunch)

Next 3 days We're on the Disney Dream.

Last 6 days we're staying at BWV & going to concentrate mostly on the Food & Wine Kiosks, but we think we're going to make ADR's for:

Sci-Fi & Dine
Coral Reef Restaurant - Wendy wants to do this & I haven't been since 2001.
1900 Park Fare (breakfast)

Then "Wendy's Excellent Adventure" is over. She flys home & I meet up with DH & Dmil to sail off into the sunset on the Disney Fantasy for a B2B.

 

[bagsmom]

During our 1st 5 days we're considering the following ADR's

Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast) - Thought this one would be good since this will be my friend Wendy's 1st Disney trip ever.

Ohana (Dinner) I haven't been in years & would like to try it again.

Be Our Guest - DH & I ate there in December & I think Wendy would be in awe.

Tusker House (lunch)

Next 3 days We're on the Disney Dream.

Last 6 days we're staying at BWV & going to concentrate mostly on the Food & Wine Kiosks, but we think we're going to make ADR's for:

Sci-Fi & Dine
Coral Reef Restaurant - Wendy wants to do this & I haven't been since 2001.
1900 Park Fare (breakfast)

Then "Wendy's Excellent Adventure" is over. She flys home & I meet up with DH & Dmil to sail off into the sunset on the Disney Fantasy for a B2B.

Oh wow -- what a long and wonderful vacation!!!!! That is so fun that you are going with your friend! I have often said that it would be fun to be able to go to Disney often enough to have a "family" vacation, a "friend" vacation, and a "romance" vacation.

How soon do you go again?

 

[twinmom108]

Oh wow -- what a long and wonderful vacation!!!!! That is so fun that you are going with your friend! I have often said that it would be fun to be able to go to Disney often enough to have a "family" vacation, a "friend" vacation, and a "romance" vacation.

How soon do you go again?

I've been planning to do a Disney trip with a friend for many years. We've done many family trips with our boys, a couple with just DH & me & finally I now get to go with a girlfriend & one that's never been.

After this coming Fall trip, we won't be doing anything Disney for probably a couple years. We've exhausted our DVC points through next year & then we need to save up 3yrs worth of points for our 25th Wedding Anniversary in 2016. We might do Aulani then.

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Birthday Horselover!!!!

 

[Muushka]

Twin and Bags, you 2 are a hoot to listen in on plans! They sounds great

Happy Birthday Horselover!!

So, where are we having lunch or dinner at??? What sounds yummy???

 

[twokats]

Happy Birthday, Horselover!!!

Hope it is a good one.

And also. . . . where's lunch (so Muushka will know!!)

 

[DiznyDi]

Happy Birthday Julie!
Have fun celebrating your special day!

 

[Granny]

Happy Birthday Horselover!!

I hope your day is full of magic!

 

[MiaSRN62]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE !!!​

 

[bagsmom]

Horselover -- Happy Birthday!!!!!!

I wish we could all be at Disney and have some cake! Maybe the dessert buffet with Wishes.

And of course, you should go to the Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boutique beforehand to get all fancied up for your celebration!

 

[eliza61]

Happy birthday Horse lover, some friends of mine brought the cake!!

Hope your day was magical

 

[eliza61]

And what do I get? 3 inches of snow!! ugggh.

So one of the great things about being a dvc member, outside of nice accomadations at discount prices is that after a few trips you get to notice all the little things around disney and one thing disney excels at is immersions and picking up the little details.
This trip unbeknownest to me, we landed in the middle of the flower and garden event. Way cool.

 

[eliza61]

They had a really neat garden dedicated to new movie Oz

A little story about the "laughing like a loon" picture. The photopass gentlemen was a very "spry" senior citizen and I got the feeling a bit of a Don Juan down at the senior center in his off time. Any way, as is normal the line to take pictures including mainly moms with their little ones and some of the moms really looked a bit "worn" out from a day in Epcot. Well Don Juan insisted that the moms get in the picture (how many of us just shove our kids in the scene) and told a few "off colored" zingers about what Emerald city little people do when they are behind closed doors to get a more natural smile out of them. He was an excellent example of enjoying your job and sharing that joy.

 

[bagsmom]

They had a really neat garden dedicated to new movie Oz

A little story about the "laughing like a loon" picture. The photopass gentlemen was a very "spry" senior citizen and I got the feeling a bit of a Don Juan down at the senior center in his off time. Any way, as is normal the line to take pictures including mainly moms with their little ones and some of the moms really looked a bit "worn" out from a day in Epcot. Well Don Juan insisted that the moms get in the picture (how many of us just shove our kids in the scene) and told a few "off colored" zingers about what Emerald city little people do when they are behind closed doors to get a more natural smile out of them. He was an excellent example of enjoying your job and sharing that joy.

Thank you for sharing your pictures, Eliza! It looks like you had a great time!!!!!!! (I love how Lady's soft puppy ears were made with grass!)

 

[MiaSRN62]

eliza...love your Flower and Garden pics too !!! We were able to make the first day of it back on March 6. Looks like you enjoyed the trip very much

 

[Muushka]

Awwwwww E, your smile is going to make my day.
I am so glad you had a magical time and that DJ was a part of it

 

[twinmom108]

Happy Birthday Horselover!!
Hope your day is simply magical.

Eliza61, wonderful pics of the Flower & Garden show. Especially like the OZ additions, thanks for sharing!

 

[bagsmom]

More itinerary sharing....

We changed our plan a little. Kids decided they'd rather spend an evening in the MK -- seeing it lit up at night, riding rides at night,etc. -- instead of doing the campfire sing-a-long. This prompted me to re-think our arrival night plan.

Original plan was to go to MK first evening, and try to stake out the train depot around 7:00 for both parade and fireworks.

HOWEVER, if we will have a nighttime MK option for parade on Tuesday, wouldn't it be fantastic to start our vacation with the Wishes Dessert Party?

Why, yes! It WOULD be fantastic!

I was bummed when I tried to reserve online. It said nothing available. Sad.

So I called reservations to see if people sometimes cancel their reservations. To my surprise and delight, I found that this isn't even open for my dates yet! So I'm not too late!!!!!!

If I can't make it work, plan A will still be fine -- but this would be SO COOL!