Waiting patiently (NOT) for our Grand Gathering trip in 4 days!

:cake: Wednesday, Dec 3rd Shark's 11th Bday :cake:

We will take taxi from POP to Beach Club for 7:40am ADR at Cape May Cafe. We originally had ADR for Chef Mickey at 8:50am (which I transferred to another Diser) but Shark decided that since he was eating there on Tuesday, he would rather try somewhere else today. Again, we show MickeyNicki's DR that included Cape May and he was sold. We have not worked out how Sue will surprise Mark that morning. I will probably check in the group and explain that we are surprising Shark and have them seat us then have Sue call Shark to wish him Happy Birthday and somehow have her get around to Wishing She was there too and tell him that you know Disney is where wishes come true and have her come out and surprise him. The video will be running and I will post when we get back. After breakfast, we will take the boat from BC to HS to start our day there.

Shark wanted to spend his bday in HS, we didn't do ANY of the rides last time, just dinner at 50s PT so this time we made a point of spending time there. Of course Toy Store Mania is one of our priorities for that day, hopefully the lines won't be too long and we can ride plus get FP for later. We also plan to do:

Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show (Shark's request), Star Tours, RNR (only Dave & I), Muppets 3D, Magic of Disney Animation, One Man's Dream, Indiana Jones plus walk around the park. We might see some of these things on Sunday during EMH.

We have lunch ADR at Sci-Fi which we have not tried before but think the kids will really like the atmosphere. I have read that the food isn't the greatest but I'm sure all will like the milk shakes.

We will return to POP to change for dinner and then take bus to MK & then boat to WL for ADR at WCC. This was the favorite dinner of everyone from our last trip and Shark's No.1 request for dining on his bday. We are the type of family that will get into the place and the characters so it should be alot of fun.

At 7pm, I have to check in with the captain of the pontoon boat for Shark's Wishes Celebration Cruise. The boat should have a Happy Birthday banner and balloons and comes with chips, soda, water, etc. I will place order with WL in room dining for personalized bday cake (yellow cake with chocolate filling with chocolate frosting plus Red Sox logo), decaf coffee & tea, hot chocolate. I was told they will supply plates, napkins, silverware and box for left over cake. The boat is scheduled to leave the dock at 7:30pm for tour of 7 Seas Lagoon and then will be in position for Wishes at 8pm. After Wishes, they will return us to WL. I'm not sure if we will return right away to POP or spend some time exploring WL. We will then take taxi back to POP.

Up next BBB, DTD and MVMCP plans.......
 
Yeah, my ticker finally turned from months to DAYS!!!!! Only 30 more until we get to POP! :dance3:
 

Okay...popcorn::
So where's Thursday and Friday...:rolleyes1
I'm always here....:wave2: pixiedust:


Working on them right now, I can only type so fast unless you want a lot of spelling mistakes. :rotfl2: Should be up tonight.

:hug: to you.
 
Thursday, Dec 4th:

Today is our quiet day and we will split into 3 groups. My mom is booked to participate in the Yultide Tour. Here is the description from Allears Guided tours to theme parks and resort hotels, learning stories about the themes of the Yuletide decorations and how Disney elves transform the parks and hotels into an annual winter wonderland She debated about doing this tour and one of the AK ones but figured we might never get back at the holidays so it was Yultide tour. She has to be at Epcot GS at 8:30am and the tour takes them through Epcot, backstage to where they store the decorations, GF, Beach Club and MK and then returns to Epcot about 12:30pm. She will then take the bus to DTD to join us for lunch.

Dave, Shark, Bear & I will either have breakfast at POP or jump on the bus to DTD and grab something in WGP express or Earl of Sandwich. I will leave it up to them. Bear has a 10am appt at BBB in DTD so I will take her there while Dave takes Shark to Lego Store, he is dying to check out the Star Wars Lego sets. He is asking everyone for money for his bday to use here. I can only imagine what our shipping bill will be to send all this stuff home. :scared1: He said he would take an empty suitcase since he can take 2 for free so he could bring home all the Legos he wanted. :rotfl2: We will just walk around DTD and do some shopping the rest of the morning and hit Goofy's for sure. We will then meet up with mom about 1pm for our ADR at Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe. This is mom's choice and despite reading some not so great reviews lately, we will keep it and hope for the best. After lunch we will do some more shopping and then head back to POP to change for dinner and MVMCP.

MIL/FIL/SIL have 12pm ADR at Brown Derby but I am not sure if they will join us in DTD for the morning or go their own way.

For dinner, we have ADR at Kona Cafe in Poly. I am still debating whether to keep it or change our plans and enter MVMCP :santa: earlier and just eat CS in MK later in the night. I think we will decide that day since we are all eating larger lunches and I REALLY want to the Christmas lights on the Castle show. We want to see the first Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas so that we can get in the other shows like Belle's Christmas. We will skip the first parade to ride some rides, get photos with characters and get spot for Holiday Wishes at 9:30pm. and then once the crowds have left, wait for 2nd parade. We told the kids that we could stay until midnight (a BIG deal for them) so after the parade we will ride some more rides and shop a little. We want to get one of the limited edition MVMCP pins. After this, we will take the bus back to POP for some well deserved rest.

Up next, Friday schedule, a tour, some great dining......
 
Sounds like a fun day...:thumbsup2

That is a hard decision about dinner.
What time is the first Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas?
 
Sounds like a fun day...:thumbsup2

That is a hard decision about dinner.
What time is the first Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas?

Our ADR is at 5:30pm and the first MTNBC is at 7pm but I read that you should start lining up at 6:15pm to get a good seat. By the end of the week, we might be so full from Dxldining that we might just want a CS meal and then start the party early.
 
Our ADR is at 5:30pm and the first MTNBC is at 7pm but I read that you should start lining up at 6:15pm to get a good seat. By the end of the week, we might be so full from Dxldining that we might just want a CS meal and then start the party early.

That would be kind of rushed... The CS food at Magic Kingdom isn't bad.
You can find just about anything.
The Plaza was Very Good but I'm not sure how late they are open...
It is mostly Sandwiches so it's fast...
They take walk-ups even if you can't get an ADR...
And they have Yummy Ice Cream for Dessert !
 
That would be kind of rushed... The CS food at Magic Kingdom isn't bad.
You can find just about anything.
The Plaza was Very Good but I'm not sure how late they are open...
It is mostly Sandwiches so it's fast...
They take walk-ups even if you can't get an ADR...
And they have Yummy Ice Cream for Dessert !

According to the hand out from last year's MVMCP the only TS open is LTT and TT plus CS is Peco Bills and Cosmic Rays. I will call Disney Dining and check to see what else is available or else we might just grab something at POP before we go. Another thought is we can grab some sandwiches from Earl of Sandwich in DTD on our way out and eat them before we go to party.
 
Friday, December 5th:

This is our last full day in Disney :sad2: but we have a lot of stuff planned. :banana: We have an ADR at Ohana Lilo and Stitch Breakfast at Poly at 7:50am which I changed from previous time of 10am. Since Thursday night is a late night, I am hoping we will still make this one but if kids are still sleeping, we might skip it. I didn't want to keep the 10am since by the time we are done with breakfast most of the day is lost. I will probably be booking a Photo session at Poly at 9:30ish for the whole group. Since I purchased the photo CD before Sept, we can still get the session for $25. I would like to get some group shots as well as individual family shots with the kids. After the photo shoot, we will jump on the monorail to TTA and then onto Epcot. We have the Behind the Seeds tour booked for 11:15am so we can spend some time at Epcot after the 45min tour. We will probably grab some snacks around Epcot to hold us over. We have booked Grand Tea at GF at 2pm but now it looks like alot of traveling back and forth so we might cancel and just stay in Epcot for a while then go back to POP to change for dinner at Calf. Grill. :yay: When I booked the ADR for 5:30pm, Wishes was scheduled at 6pm but then Disney changed their schedule and will no longer be doing Wishes early, just the 9L30pm show during MVMCP. But we will still be able to see the lighting of the Christmas Lights on the Castle. After dinner, we will probably head back to Epcot since they have EMH then back to POP.

Up next, final morning at WDW :sad1:
 
Addition for Friday: I just booked the Photopass Photo Session at Poly after Ohana breakfast for 9am. :banana: Dave, Aunt Sue and his parents stayed at Poly when they went as children so they have special memories there which was the reason we booked there. We will all wear the red matching golf shirts for the session. Here is the picture again:

xmasshirts.jpg
shirts.jpg
 
7:50am-8:50am- Breakfast...9:00am-9:30am- Photos...Monorail...
10:00am-11:00am- Epcot...11:00am-12:00pm- Tour...12:00pm-1:30pm- World Showcase
Monorail...2:00pm-3:00pm- GT at GF
3:00pm-4:00pm- ??? That leaves time to kill....4:00- Head back to POP...
Dinner 5:30pm-7:00pm... 7:00pm-10:00- Epcot

Good Plan....:)
If it was me...but it's not...;)
I would skip the GT at the GF...
Isn't that more of an adult thing...:confused3 I don't know much about it...
Spend 12-4 at Epcot WS...
Go have Dinner...
Then Either go back to Epcot to Future World
or another option would be HS. Open until 9:30 that night...
Bummer Fantasmic is at 7:00...
Not much goes on in the World Showcase at night...
I guess there will be Christmas Lights to look at...:cool1:
Forgot about that...:rotfl:
And Illuminations at 9:30...
 
7:50am-8:50am- Breakfast...9:00am-9:30am- Photos...Monorail...
10:00am-11:00am- Epcot...11:00am-12:00pm- Tour...12:00pm-1:30pm- World Showcase
Monorail...2:00pm-3:00pm- GT at GF
3:00pm-4:00pm- ??? That leaves time to kill....4:00- Head back to POP...
Dinner 5:30pm-7:00pm... 7:00pm-10:00- Epcot

Good Plan....:)
If it was me...but it's not...;)
I would skip the GT at the GF...
Isn't that more of an adult thing...:confused3 I don't know much about it...
Spend 12-4 at Epcot WS...
Go have Dinner...
Then Either go back to Epcot to Future World
or another option would be HS. Open until 9:30 that night...
Bummer Fantasmic is at 7:00...
Not much goes on in the World Showcase at night...
I guess there will be Christmas Lights to look at...:cool1:
Forgot about that...:rotfl:
And Illuminations at 9:30...


I am definitely leaning towards canceling the GT since it also leaves the boys on their own for lunchtime. My mom will be here tomorrow and I'll discuss it with her. The kids are really excited to spend a lot of time in Epcot this time so that might be the plan. Maybe my mom, MIL, SIL and FIL will go instead.

After dinner, we could head to HS if there is still stuff we want to do there then take boat over to Epcot since they have EMH that night so they should be open until 12:30am (I think). Since this will be our last night at Disney, we will let the kids stay up as late as they can. We don't have anything planned for Saturday morning except the fridge swap :fish: so they can sleep in but I doubt they will if they know we can hit a park for a few hours prior to leaving. I am trying my best not to be the crazy touring mom and letting the kids have some time to do what they want especially on their last day. But if the offer that is being discussed on the budget board is true (stay 4 nights, get 3 free), we might just be going back next year. :yay:
 
I was checking out some options about the NEW DEAL but...
I was thinking early March before DD turns 3 on the 21st,
But the Dates I was looking at are Peak Season...:scared1:
That's 2-13 to 4-18... Plus DH's vacation time runs July 1st- July 1st
I'm not sure if he will have a whole week left to take...:sad2:
It would be better if it was just a discount so we didn't have to go a whole week.
I have to stop torturing myself...:laughing:
They just keep coming out with new deals...
I'm sure there will be something when we decide to go back...
I was soooo mad when I got the free dining code for this December...
I would have canceled September and rebooked for December...
 
I was checking out some options about the NEW DEAL but...
I was thinking early March before DD turns 3 on the 21st,
But the Dates I was looking at are Peak Season...:scared1:
That's 2-13 to 4-18... Plus DH's vacation time runs July 1st- July 1st
I'm not sure if he will have a whole week left to take...:sad2:
It would be better if it was just a discount so we didn't have to go a whole week.
I have to stop torturing myself...:laughing:
They just keep coming out with new deals...
I'm sure there will be something when we decide to go back...
I was soooo mad when I got the free dining code for this December...
I would have canceled September and rebook for December...

I would rather see the discount as well, another week off from school will be too hard for the kids this school year. But we could go end of June when they are out of school and still make it on the discount but DH doesn't want to stand in long lines in the heat so that is out. I might try to convince him if they are offering bounceback when we are there to go for 4-5 days for either my birthday to get the celebration perks or October for our anniversary. I would love to go without the kids but they would NEVER go for that. We will see, if the economy stays bad disney will offer discounts for later in the year too.
 
7:50am-8:50am- Breakfast...9:00am-9:30am- Photos...Monorail...
10:00am-11:00am- Epcot...11:00am-12:00pm- Tour...12:00pm-1:30pm- World Showcase
Monorail...2:00pm-3:00pm- GT at GF
3:00pm-4:00pm- ??? That leaves time to kill....4:00- Head back to POP...
Dinner 5:30pm-7:00pm... 7:00pm-10:00- Epcot

Good Plan....:)
If it was me...but it's not...;)
I would skip the GT at the GF...
Isn't that more of an adult thing...:confused3 I don't know much about it...
Spend 12-4 at Epcot WS...
Go have Dinner...
Then Either go back to Epcot to Future World
or another option would be HS. Open until 9:30 that night...
Bummer Fantasmic is at 7:00...
Not much goes on in the World Showcase at night...
I guess there will be Christmas Lights to look at...:cool1:
Forgot about that...:rotfl:
And Illuminations at 9:30...

I am definitely leaning towards canceling the GT since it also leaves the boys on their own for lunchtime. My mom will be here tomorrow and I'll discuss it with her. The kids are really excited to spend a lot of time in Epcot this time so that might be the plan. Maybe my mom, MIL, SIL and FIL will go instead.

After dinner, we could head to HS if there is still stuff we want to do there then take boat over to Epcot since they have EMH that night so they should be open until 12:30am (I think). Since this will be our last night at Disney, we will let the kids stay up as late as they can. We don't have anything planned for Saturday morning except the fridge swap :fish: so they can sleep in but I doubt they will if they know we can hit a park for a few hours prior to leaving. I am trying my best not to be the crazy touring mom and letting the kids have some time to do what they want especially on their last day. But if the offer that is being discussed on the budget board is true (stay 4 nights, get 3 free), we might just be going back next year. :yay:

Guess what? I changed our ADRs again. :rotfl: I know, I know, STOP already. I am driving myself (and I'm sure others ;) ) crazy with this but now here is the revised Friday Plan (and hopefully final!):

7:50am Ohana Breakfast
9am Poly Photo Session
Then take monorail over to Epcot
11:30am Tutto Italia (I couldn't believe they still had openings)
1:30pm Behind the Seeds Tour
rest of afternoon, wander around WS then back to POP to change for
5:30pm at Calf. Grill
We will probably go to HS from dinner so SIL can see Osborne Lights
then take boat over to Epcot for EMH.
 
Guess what? I changed our ADRs again. :rotfl: I know, I know, STOP already. I am driving myself (and I'm sure others ;) ) crazy with this but now here is the revised Friday Plan (and hopefully final!):

7:50am Ohana Breakfast
9am Poly Photo Session
Then take monorail over to Epcot
11:30am Tutto Italia (I couldn't believe they still had openings)
1:30pm Behind the Seeds Tour
rest of afternoon, wander around WS then back to POP to change for
5:30pm at Calf. Grill
We will probably go to HS from dinner so SIL can see Osborne Lights
then take boat over to Epcot for EMH.

Don't STOP...:cheer2: Go Go...:cheer2:
That sounds like a GREAT Plan...:thumbsup2
 
Don't STOP...:cheer2: Go Go...:cheer2:
That sounds like a GREAT Plan...:thumbsup2

Thanks, :hug: I feel much better about this plan plus we aren't running from park to hotel and back.

I picked up all of our travel paperwork from AAA agent yesterday, it even came in a really cute Disney folder. I will be doing the "Disney Dance" all weekend. :banana:
 
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dog...
Now we got ears, it's time for cheers...
:cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
Hot dog, hot dog, the problem's solved...
Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dog...
 




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