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

[janloz]

Where did you get info on the Grand Gathering events? Now that we added my Nieces that put us up to 8 and we had to finish booking through GG.

Dana

Here is the page on the Disney page:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

And reviews from allears:

http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=85

We were considering the Safari but with all the holiday events we are doing we just didn't have time to fit it in. Plus I am planning the celebration wishes cruise so we didn't want to do 2.

According to the Dining paperwork, The Illuminations Dinner/Dessert and Safari Dinner are both 2TS and Good Morning Character Breakfast at Tony's in MK is 1TS.

We booked everything with AAA so we aren't using GG help. I got all of the ADRs I wanted and I don't know what else the offer.

 

[luckytobeme88]

We didn't do anything special for Grand Gathering. Only had our rooms at AKL situated all on the same floor right next to each others. We were thinking about the Illumination Dessert thing but decided not to waste 1 TS credit.

 

[janloz]

We didn't do anything special for Grand Gathering. Only had our rooms at AKL situated all on the same floor right next to each others. We were thinking about the Illumination Dessert thing but decided not to waste 1 TS credit.

My inlaws wanted to be on ground level but we don't so TA requested our room to be in the same bld/section of POP but they will be on ground level and we will be on 2nd or 3rd floor.

 

[janloz]

Hi folks, I'm back to the PTR. We are finally under the 100 day mark. It is starting to feel real. All the planning is finally coming together. Everyone has their reservations and airfare set and paid for. The ADRs are set, I have made a promise to myself that I won't change them anymore. I am trying to figure out some of the items that I still need to get.

I already have for the room:

1. Fridge/Coffeepot swap
2. Closet Organizer http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5508737 To hang in the closet area to keep stuff off the floor
3. Portable hamper so clothes aren't on floor and easier to take to laundry area
4. Power strip to plug in phone, blackberry, camera chargers
5. Curtain easy remove hooks to make changing area between beds and sink area
6. Window decorations
7. Mousekeeping tip envelopes
8. Small basket to hold keys, wallets, change, etc in room
9. plug in night light (Bear still wants one)

For hotel:

1. Laundry soap samples
2. Goggles for pool (kids don't care how cold it will be, they are going swimming)

For parks:

1. Small messenger bags for Shark (Red w/Pirates) and Bear (Pink w/Tink) from Disney shopping so mom isn't a pack mule. Yes, I am in denial that I will end up carrying the bags by the end of the day.
2. Disney pins for trading from ebay (about 30 pins for each kid) They each wanted to just keep the pins for themselves but then they would want to buy more at the park. Nope, not happening. I will make a small board for each of them to fasten their pins to so they can keep in messenger bag instead of wairing their laynards all the time. They get really heavy by the end of the day.
3. Not just for parks but DH just got a beautiful new Canon TSi Digital camera which also accepts the zoom lense our old Canon film camera took. So be ready for 1000's of park, resort and food porn pictures.
4. MVMCP tickets, I ordered them in May and already have them in the binder.
5. The must have kit: band-aids, antibacterial gel, mole skin, Advil, scissors (or removing tags on new purchases )
6. Cinderella dress for Bear to wear to Princess Breakfast I got it last year after Halloween from Disney shopping for around $20. Then Cinderella sent it to her for Christmas with a note for Bear to wear it when they had breakfast together. I think she will be wearing it for Halloween this year too.

Well that's it for now.

 

[mybabesuz]

All Great ideas...

Adding pop-up hamper and Night Light to my list...
Thanks...

What do you have for Window Decorations?

 

[janloz]

All Great ideas...

Adding pop-up hamper and Night Light to my list...
Thanks...

What do you have for Window Decorations?

I took some of the cute and creative signs that Dis members made for me and laminated them. Here is a new one for our room:

Then this one for everyone's room which I cant use until Wed since SIL won't be there yet:

She also did one for my mom's and inlaws rooms with them and the kids.

I have to go to Dollar store to find bday banner for Shark and of course I will have a Nemo in there somewhere.

 

[janloz]

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a nice Labor Day and now the kids should all be back to school (ours have been back for a week now! ). We had a quite weekend with family bday party then small picnic with friends and their kids on Sunday. Since our garden is overrun with tomatoes this week, 50 in 3 days, I decided to try my hand at making homemade pasta sauce. It actually turned out really good and we had it for dinner last night with pasta & meatballs. I put 18 containers in the freezer to keep for the winter.

On with the PTR:
You may have noticed that I changed the title of the thread. I think it gives a better sense of how our planning is going now. I will be creating a count down calendar for the kids (and me) this week since we are now under 90 days. Since we started at close to 400 days, less then 90 days is a piece of cake. I will post a photo of it when finished. This Thursday is the day that I can finally book my Wishes Celebration Cruise for Shark's birthday. I will be on the phone at 6:58am hitting redial as quickly as possible to get through. I have discovered that there is SOOOO much more special things to do for girls then boys at WDW. Bear had no problem picking a special ADR for her bday (CRT) during last trip, Shark didn't have anything that is geared toward that Tween boy. Plus Bear will be doing the BBB this year but other then Main St. Barber Shop, there really isn't anything for boys ( he was not interested in the "cool dude" at BBB). I really want to get the cruise for him so he has the special experience on that night. Not that he won't enjoy the attention at all the meals during the week since I had his bday added to the ADRs.

Another sidenote: Two weeks ago, we had our local fair. The kids started 2 years ago entering their collections, baked goods, artwork and items from the garden. Each year we find more things to enter and this year they won 22 ribbons. 16 blue ribbons (1st), 5 red ribbons (2nd) and 1 4th place. I mention it here since not only am I extremely proud of them but 3 of the items were Disney related.

Shark entered his Disney trading pins as a collection and won 1st plus a Mickey Mouse decorated cake and won 1st plus Best Decorated Cake in Jr. Division. Bear also enter decorated cake with Tink and won 2nd to Shark. Now I have learned that we will NEVER again let them enter in the same category since who ever wins will not let the other forget it. Here are their entries:

 

[janloz]

Just wanted to let you know that I was able to get the Premium Wishes Celebration Cruise for Shark's birthday night. It is the 25ft pontoon boat that fits 10 people (we have 8), they will decorate with "Happy Bday Banner and about 12 balloons, we also get the sound system so we can hear the wishes music.
I called starting at 6:58am and got through right at 7am (why does my heart start pounding a mile a minute when I need to get through to Disney first thing the morning?). The CM I spoke to was really nice and helpful and I quickly spit out the date and cruise that I wanted and the long pause while she checks and then finally says "Yes, we have that available." So she asks where we are staying and says that we have to meet the boat at the CR, and I asked "Can't we go out of WL since we are eating WCC?" Nope sorry. So I am trying to quickly figure out how to get everyone to CR from WL and still keep the cruise a secret. CM asks for address and I tell her CT, "Oh, I grew up in CT and my aunt still lives in T--------." "Really, my mom lives in T------ too." She says hold on a minute, I need to check on something. Then comes back on to say that they CAN pick us up on WL afterall. for us indeed. Wishes are at 8pm that night so we have to meet at the WL dock at 7pm to depart at 7:30pm. I have read several reviews that say if you get whole party there early, they will leave early. I have to figure out exactly where we have to meet the boat since I know it is not at the same dock we meet the launch to MK. Hopefully we won't get delayed at WCC, we have 5:30pm reservations and they open at 5pm so we should have one of the first tables.

The cruise comes with soft drinks, water and bagged snacks. I called WL in room dining (they supply any additional items we would want) and they offer 2 different cakes. 8" that is not able to personalize that is either choc cake with choc. frosting or yellow with buttercream for $21. Or 10" cake that has 3 different cakes(Choc, Yellow or Marble) , 4 different frosting (Choc, Buttercream, Whipped cream or choc ganache) and 4 fillings (Choc mousse, strawberry, vanilla and something else (forgot)) which will be $45. So I guess what is another $45 plus they will give us a box to take remaining cake back to hotel. I have to figure out what combo I should order, I think Yellow which choc mouse with choc ganache. I will also order some decaf coffee & tea and some milk. they do supply plates, silverware, napkins, cups. She said to call back about a week before we go to order.

 

[Couturier]

yummy! I cant wait to hear all about the CAKE! Hee Hee! I plan on getting one for my 2 that are having Bday celebrations in the World.

Dana

 

[Couturier]

Hi everyone,

YAY!!!!!!!!!! congrats kiddos! That is wonderful! I really like this concept, but I agree about the entering both in the same, that must be hard.

Dana

 

[janloz]

YAY!!!!!!!!!! congrats kiddos! That is wonderful! I really like this concept, but I agree about the entering both in the same, that must be hard.

Dana

Thanks, we have another local fair Oct 4th & 5th (CT has at least 2 or 3 every weekend in the fall) and they are entering stuff again. Not as much from the garden since most of the stuff is finished now. Bear is entering the decorated cake again but has decided to switch to Minnie Mouse since she won first with it last year.

 

[janloz]

yummy! I cant wait to hear all about the CAKE! Hee Hee! I plan on getting one for my 2 that are having Bday celebrations in the World.

Dana

Just an FYI, each of the resorts have their own bakeries. If you are eating at one of the GF restaurants, they make the most beautiful cakes, check out the cake thread on the rest. board. YUMMY! They make a Cinderella slipper one from white or dark chocolate that Bear had last time on her bday at CRT. Plus one with white choc. Castle on top of small cake, I think I am going to order it for Bear when she eats at 1900 Fare with my mom this time. Something to make her feel special. Here is a picture of Bear with her slipper in 2006:

 

[janloz]

Here is the link to the cake thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25734133#post25734133

I put on weight each time I look at it.

 

[mybabesuz]

Thanks, we have another local fair Oct 4th & 5th (CT has at least 2 or 3 every weekend in the fall) and they are entering stuff again. Not as much from the garden since most of the stuff is finished now. Bear is entering the decorated cake again but has decided to switch to Minnie Mouse since she won first with it last year.

What town is that one ???

 

[janloz]

What town is that one ???

Harwinton, we don't exhibit at Berlin

 

[janloz]

Just wanted to share, my DS got his purple belt in karate last night. He has been taking it with two of his classmates for 5 years now and worked very hard to reach this level. He is 10 and was being tested with 14-17 year olds and kicked butt. (Pun intended )

 

[janloz]

Sorry for the delay in continuing this PTR but I am back now and we only have 36 days left until we arrive at POP!!

First update on our plans, of course I have tweeked our ADRs a bit, here is the revised/final (I hope) ADRS:

Here is what I got for ADRs

11/29 (arrival day): Le Cellier 6:20pm

11/30: Crystal Palace 8:20am
Tony's Town Tavern 1:10pm
50's Prime Time 7:05pmpm

12/1: Akerhaus 8:30am
Coral Reef 11:40am (Got Diver)
Teppan Edo 5:30 CP dinner

12/2: Boma 8:20am
Flame Tree (CS)
Narcoossees 6:50pm just DH and Me
1900's 6:05pm (my mom & DD)
Chef Mickeys' 6:20pm (DS, MIL, FIL)

12/3: Cape May Breakfast 7:50am (DS 11th bday)
Sci Fi 12:10pm
Whispering Canyons 5:30pm then Wishes Celebration cruise (Booked)

12/4: Breakfast at Pop
BBB @ 10am
Wolfgang PuckGrand Cafe 1pm (5 of us)
Brown Derby 12pm (3 of us)
Kona cafe 5:20pm before MVMCP)

12/5: Ohana Breakfast 7:50am
Garden View Tea at GF 2:00pm
California Grill 5:30pm

12/6: Breakfast at POP (departure day)


I am trying not to change anything now since I have already made index cards for everyone in the group with ADRS time and place plus visiting park with hours. Yes, I am an overplanner but this way there is no confusion about where we will be and when. More to come soon....I promise.

 

[Mocharilla]

Sorry for the delay in continuing this PTR but I am back now and we only have 36 days left until we arrive at POP!!

First update on our plans, of course I have tweeked our ADRs a bit, here is the revised/final (I hope) ADRS:

Here is what I got for ADRs

11/29 (arrival day): Le Cellier 6:20pm

11/30: Crystal Palace 8:20am
Tony's Town Tavern 1:10pm
50's Prime Time 7:05pmpm

12/1: Akerhaus 8:30am
Coral Reef 11:40am (Got Diver)
Teppan Edo 5:30 CP dinner

12/2: Boma 8:20am
Flame Tree (CS)
Narcoossees 6:50pm just DH and Me
1900's 6:05pm (my mom & DD)
Chef Mickeys' 6:20pm (DS, MIL, FIL)

12/3: Cape May Breakfast 7:50am (DS 11th bday)
Sci Fi 12:10pm
Whispering Canyons 5:30pm then Wishes Celebration cruise (Booked)

12/4: Breakfast at Pop
BBB @ 10am
Wolfgang PuckGrand Cafe 1pm (5 of us)
Brown Derby 12pm (3 of us)
Kona cafe 5:20pm before MVMCP)

12/5: Ohana Breakfast 7:50am
Garden View Tea at GF 2:00pm
California Grill 5:30pm

12/6: Breakfast at POP (departure day)


I am trying not to change anything now since I have already made index cards for everyone in the group with ADRS time and place plus visiting park with hours. Yes, I am an overplanner but this way there is no confusion about where we will be and when. More to come soon....I promise.

It all looks so good! Here's what I think (Pretend you care! )


11/29 (arrival day): Le Cellier 6:20pm - YUM! Now, we only tried desserts and apps, but I loved it! We're going back.

11/30: Crystal Palace 8:20am - Never been there. Considered it next trip, but it just didn't work into the schedule.
Tony's Town Tavern 1:10pm - Again, never been.
50's Prime Time 7:05pmpm - OHHH! Delish! We're going back, of course.

12/1: Akerhaus 8:30am - Never been.
Coral Reef 11:40am (Got Diver) - Good, but definitely overpriced. But, not that it matters on DxDDP, right?
Teppan Edo 5:30 CP dinner - OH! This was our number 1 must go back. Steak + Chicken. YUMMY!

12/2: Boma 8:20am - Never been.
Flame Tree (CS) - Never been.
Narcoossees 6:50pm just DH and Me - Never been.
1900's 6:05pm (my mom & DD) - We're going next trip, but for breakfast. Yum!
Chef Mickeys' 6:20pm (DS, MIL, FIL) - We went this trip. It was fun, but not that awesome. But, it was the last meal I ate before we got engaged, so it still is special!

12/3: Cape May Breakfast 7:50am (DS 11th bday) - We're doing this next trip.
Sci Fi 12:10pm - Originally had this booked, but we switched to 50's. Heard too many scary things.
Whispering Canyons 5:30pm then Wishes Celebration cruise (Booked) - Good, but our server wasn't too "into" it.

12/4: Breakfast at Pop - Never had it while we were there.
BBB @ 10am
Wolfgang PuckGrand Cafe 1pm (5 of us) - Never been.
Brown Derby 12pm (3 of us) - Going this next trip!
Kona cafe 5:20pm before MVMCP) - Again, going this trip.

12/5: Ohana Breakfast 7:50am - Never been.
Garden View Tea at GF 2:00pm - Going this trip!
California Grill 5:30pm - Never been. Not big sushi people, plus the other things seemed semi-standard.

12/6: Breakfast at POP (departure day) - Again, never been.


Sounds like a good list! Can't wait to hear your reviews! I hope you do a dining review, too! You really should.

You're getting so close!!!!

 

[janloz]

It all looks so good! Here's what I think (Pretend you care! )


11/29 (arrival day): Le Cellier 6:20pm - YUM! Now, we only tried desserts and apps, but I loved it! We're going back.

11/30: Crystal Palace 8:20am - Never been there. Considered it next trip, but it just didn't work into the schedule.
Tony's Town Tavern 1:10pm - Again, never been.
50's Prime Time 7:05pmpm - OHHH! Delish! We're going back, of course.

12/1: Akerhaus 8:30am - Never been.
Coral Reef 11:40am (Got Diver) - Good, but definitely overpriced. But, not that it matters on DxDDP, right?
Teppan Edo 5:30 CP dinner - OH! This was our number 1 must go back. Steak + Chicken. YUMMY!

12/2: Boma 8:20am - Never been.
Flame Tree (CS) - Never been.
Narcoossees 6:50pm just DH and Me - Never been.
1900's 6:05pm (my mom & DD) - We're going next trip, but for breakfast. Yum!
Chef Mickeys' 6:20pm (DS, MIL, FIL) - We went this trip. It was fun, but not that awesome. But, it was the last meal I ate before we got engaged, so it still is special!

12/3: Cape May Breakfast 7:50am (DS 11th bday) - We're doing this next trip.
Sci Fi 12:10pm - Originally had this booked, but we switched to 50's. Heard too many scary things.
Whispering Canyons 5:30pm then Wishes Celebration cruise (Booked) - Good, but our server wasn't too "into" it.

12/4: Breakfast at Pop - Never had it while we were there.
BBB @ 10am
Wolfgang PuckGrand Cafe 1pm (5 of us) - Never been.
Brown Derby 12pm (3 of us) - Going this next trip!
Kona cafe 5:20pm before MVMCP) - Again, going this trip.

12/5: Ohana Breakfast 7:50am - Never been.
Garden View Tea at GF 2:00pm - Going this trip!
California Grill 5:30pm - Never been. Not big sushi people, plus the other things seemed semi-standard.

12/6: Breakfast at POP (departure day) - Again, never been.


Sounds like a good list! Can't wait to hear your reviews! I hope you do a dining review, too! You really should.

You're getting so close!!!!

Of course I care!! We are really excited to be doing Dxl Dining this trip, there are so many places we want to try and now we don't have to worry about the prices on the menus. I am definitely doing a dining report, hopefully some of it will be live, I expect that we will be done in the parks by 9:30pm each day since we have early mornings so I might even do a LIVE dining report, we will see what happens. Since there are 7-8 people dining at each restaurant, we should be able to cover most of the menu items so everyone will get to see what is available. I have to get everyone on board with me taking pictures of their food before they eat it. More in a bit, my DD is home sick today so we are watching movies together.

 

[Mocharilla]

Of course I care!! We are really excited to be doing Dxl Dining this trip, there are so many places we want to try and now we don't have to worry about the prices on the menus. I am definitely doing a dining report, hopefully some of it will be live, I expect that we will be done in the parks by 9:30pm each day since we have early mornings so I might even do a LIVE dining report, we will see what happens. Since there are 7-8 people dining at each restaurant, we should be able to cover most of the menu items so everyone will get to see what is available. I have to get everyone on board with me taking pictures of their food before they eat it. More in a bit, my DD is home sick today so we are watching movies together.

Yay!

I can't wait to read it!!!

Aw, sick is no fun! Everyone here is sick too.

They better be Disney movies!