Welcome, Foolish Mortals...to an October 2011 PTR! *Trip Report link is up, pg 71!!*

[IheartDDuck]

I'm here! I haven't been on in a few weeks, so I had to get caught up with everything.

I'm totally there on a weight loss journey. I seem to constantly be on one of my own. You can do anything you put your mind to, and WW is a great program.

You guys are actually leaving the day that I arrive.

 

[Pixiedust530]

After I saw the pics of your shirts I just had to check out Walmart.

I went to 2 different ones with no luck! One Walmart had absolutely NOTHING in the way of Disney shirts. The other Walmart had 2 shirts (a Grumpy and a Mickey) in the plus size dept but the smallest was a 3X which would be too big. They also had a cute Mickey and Tinkerbell in the Juniors dept. The largest size was an XXL which MIGHT have covered the right half of my body....NOT! UGH! Oh well...I guess I will keep looking other places. I might just have to make a trip to the Disney store!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here! I haven't been on in a few weeks, so I had to get caught up with everything.

I'm totally there on a weight loss journey. I seem to constantly be on one of my own. You can do anything you put your mind to, and WW is a great program.

You guys are actually leaving the day that I arrive.

I was wondering where you have been!

WW is a great program, I hope I lose a decent amount of weight before we go! I'd at least like to be the size I was in 2008...ugh, I remember thinking I was so huge during that trip, and looking back at the whole 4 pictures I let myself be in, I really wasn't that huge! Not compared to now!

That figures, we're leaving when you get here! I wanted to go later in the month, but I have to work with the pin code I got!

After I saw the pics of your shirts I just had to check out Walmart.

I went to 2 different ones with no luck! One Walmart had absolutely NOTHING in the way of Disney shirts. The other Walmart had 2 shirts (a Grumpy and a Mickey) in the plus size dept but the smallest was a 3X which would be too big. They also had a cute Mickey and Tinkerbell in the Juniors dept. The largest size was an XXL which MIGHT have covered the right half of my body....NOT! UGH! Oh well...I guess I will keep looking other places. I might just have to make a trip to the Disney store!

I can't believe they didn't have any Disney shirts! I'm not sure if the ones I got are from the junior's department, they might be, like I said, they run kind of small. If I was going on my trip tomorrow, there's no way I'd fit into that Lady and the Tramp shirt! So I better lose a lot of weight so I can wear it! I already know which day I want to wear it!

 

[lemonsours]

Hi, I am following you over from the October thread, couldn't resist your title!
:

When, Where, and Why!
First, the dates for this trip...Friday September 30-Saturday October 8! Originally Brandon said he didn't want to do a trip that long again, but...well, I guess he got sick of listening to me whine about how we wouldn't have enough time if we did Sunday to Saturday like he wanted, so he gave in!

I actually wanted to go later in the month, the 3rd of 4th week of October, but we ended up getting a fantastic pin code for room discounts, and the 2nd and 3rd weeks were blacked out, and the 4th week didn't cover all of the days. So the first week of October it is! I'm prepared for it to be hot, but I hope it's not too horrible...

Same dates as us! We will be there 9/29-10/8 at CBR. We booked under the FD pin last fall, and had to start on 9/29 to qualify. We were there the same time in 2007 and loved the low crowds and weather.

[
We picked October mainly for 2 reasons:

1. The Food and Wine festival!

We were lucky enough to be there for the last weekend of F&W in November and we loved it! There's no other time of the year in Disney that you can get a Parisian Cosmo slush!

2. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

We've been to WDW during the Christmas season twice, and it only makes sense to check out the Halloween party, finally! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to miss the World during the Holidays this year, but I have wanted to go to MNSSHP for a while, so why not! I can't wait to see Hallowishes, the villains, and hopefully dress up! I keep hearing that MNSSHP is better than the Christmas party, so I'm excited to compare the two!

I know this trip is still really far away, but with the combination of AKL, MNSSHP and the Food and Wine festival, I'm already so excited for it, I can't wait to try all of these new things! I don't know how I'm gonna make it til October!

I can't wait for F&W and MNSSHP too. We are trying to figure out costumes. Thinking about DD6 as Tinkerbell, DS2 as Peter Pan, DH as Captain Hook, and me as Wendy.

Losing Weight for Mickey (and myself!)

Last year, I was trying to eat sensibly and exercise, and one week I'd lose 3 pounds, and the next week I'd gain 2 back. I know that can work for a lot of people, but I need more structure. I don't like counting every little calorie I eat, so I've decided to do the only thing that has ever worked for me, which is Weight Watchers! I have all of the materials, so I'm going to do the old program for now, and then maybe I'll rejoin again online and try the new program, but I've read the new program just doesn't work as well as the old. Does anyone have any experience with this?

I know the feeling. I lost 50 lbs last year, and I've gained back 10. I'm stopping it now, though. I've never tried WW, I find it easier to track the straight nutritional info than to figure out points. I use www.sparkpeople.com to track food and exercise, and there are lots of different support groups there, too.

As for exercising...well, I hate it! I have an elliptical machine in my house, and every second that I'm on that thing, I'm convincing myself to get off of it! If I don't find something I enjoy doing, I won't stick with it. I was going to Zumba classes last year, which I loved, but they were SO expensive I had to stop going, so I might order the DVD's you always see on TV! And I do like to walk, so when it gets a little warmer, I'm going to start going for walks on my break at work. I'd also like to complete the Couch to 5K program this year! Do you guys have a favorite exercise? ?

I love to Zumba too, but you are right, it does get expensive. If you get the DVD's let us know how you like them. I love to listen to music on the treadmill/elliptical, rather than watch tv. It helps me push harder when an upbeat song that I love comes on. I belong to Curves, so I get strenght training/cardio there too. And the social aspect keeps it interesting.

I hope you guys don't mind that I'm mixing in weight loss stuff with Disney planning! For me, it kind of goes hand in hand, I'm so tired of being overweight at Disney World! And I'm probably going to need to wear shorts this year, since it's gonna be hotter than I'm used to!

I think this is a great way to do it! Also, I'm on the September thread too, and they started a seperate weight loss thread you might be interested in checking out: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680539
It's kind of slow right now, but it goes in spurts.

Cute shirts! I really love the Cinderella one! I might look into getting one of those for the Disneymoon - I think it would be perfect!

That would be the perfect Disneymoon shirt!

Marce

 

[PirateKate]

I went to the Disney Store this weekend, too and almost got that Alice in Wonderland shirt. I managed to resist that time, but I'm sure it'll still be there next time.

I think all the resorts you mentioned sound great. Whichever ones you don't stay at this time will just be another reason to go back.

 

[therussells08]

YAY! I love your new stuff! I saw both of the shirts you picked when John took me to the Disney Store. They are so cute!

My Wal Mart never has cute stuff like that Lady and the Tramp shirt! I wish it did!

I can't wait to hear your decision about the resort!

 

[jenneth79]

After I saw the pics of your shirts I just had to check out Walmart.

I went to 2 different ones with no luck! One Walmart had absolutely NOTHING in the way of Disney shirts. The other Walmart had 2 shirts (a Grumpy and a Mickey) in the plus size dept but the smallest was a 3X which would be too big. They also had a cute Mickey and Tinkerbell in the Juniors dept. The largest size was an XXL which MIGHT have covered the right half of my body....NOT! UGH! Oh well...I guess I will keep looking other places. I might just have to make a trip to the Disney store!

Do they have any online? I seem to recall WalMart having a fairly decent online shop. Then again, if I can avoid going to stores, I'm a happy camper, so my standards might be a bit lower!

 

[KatMark]

Okay, I am FINALLY caught up, Jen.

First, still cannot believe we are missing you by a mere two days.

I think since Brandon has never picked a resort, that you should stick wtih AKL. As you said, you'll have a car and you can drive to the parks. We drive to the MK all the time and never have an issue with parking (although we are always there before rope drop and usually get a front row anyway and just walk to the TTC and hop on the ferry boat. IF you stick with AKL, I'll try to do a live update while I'm at AKL and post pictures for you before you leave on your trip.

Good luck with the diet. There is a group of us girls doing a DIS diet together before we all meet up in September with prizes and everything. It really has me motivated to lose some extra pounds.

I LOVE the t-shirts...especially the Lady and the Tramp one...too cute.

 

[Nermel9]

Hi, I am following you over from the October thread, couldn't resist your title!
:

Same dates as us! We will be there 9/29-10/8 at CBR. We booked under the FD pin last fall, and had to start on 9/29 to qualify. We were there the same time in 2007 and loved the low crowds and weather.

I can't wait for F&W and MNSSHP too. We are trying to figure out costumes. Thinking about DD6 as Tinkerbell, DS2 as Peter Pan, DH as Captain Hook, and me as Wendy.

I know the feeling. I lost 50 lbs last year, and I've gained back 10. I'm stopping it now, though. I've never tried WW, I find it easier to track the straight nutritional info than to figure out points. I use www.sparkpeople.com to track food and exercise, and there are lots of different support groups there, too.

I love to Zumba too, but you are right, it does get expensive. If you get the DVD's let us know how you like them. I love to listen to music on the treadmill/elliptical, rather than watch tv. It helps me push harder when an upbeat song that I love comes on. I belong to Curves, so I get strenght training/cardio there too. And the social aspect keeps it interesting.

I think this is a great way to do it! Also, I'm on the September thread too, and they started a seperate weight loss thread you might be interested in checking out: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680539
It's kind of slow right now, but it goes in spurts.

That would be the perfect Disneymoon shirt!

Marce

Hi, ! Yay, we'll be there the same week! I actually considered CBR, if for some reason I decided to downgrade to a mod, it's definitely going to be CBR, I have a feeling I'd love it there, it looks so peaceful!

Your costumes sound great! I have no idea what I want to be yet! I don't know if I want to do some kind of Disney costume, or just something simple!

Congrats on losing 50 pounds, that's amazing! WW can be a little confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy! Although, I haven't tried the new program yet, I like the old way of tracking points!

I'm going to have to look at those Zumba CD's once I'm finished up here, I saw the infomercial again last night and I really wanted to get back to doing Zumba! Curves sounds like it could be fun!

I'm definitely going to check out the September weight loss thread, that sounds great!

I went to the Disney Store this weekend, too and almost got that Alice in Wonderland shirt. I managed to resist that time, but I'm sure it'll still be there next time.

I think all the resorts you mentioned sound great. Whichever ones you don't stay at this time will just be another reason to go back.

I love the Alice in Wonderland shirt! They have really cute shirts out right now!

I eventually want to try all the resorts, so I always have a reason to go back! I'm still not sure what to do, when I think about changing, I get sad at the thought of not staying at AKL...then I think about that distance, and I want to change all over again!

YAY! I love your new stuff! I saw both of the shirts you picked when John took me to the Disney Store. They are so cute!

My Wal Mart never has cute stuff like that Lady and the Tramp shirt! I wish it did!

I can't wait to hear your decision about the resort!

Aren't those shirts so cute? I love them, especially the glass slipper one!

Your Wal Mart doesn't have Disney shirts? The ones around here always do, but most of the time, they're kind of tacky, but right now, they have some adorable ones out!

LOL...still not sure what to do about the resort situation! I have a while to think about it, so I probably won't make any decisions yet, and if I do decide to try to switch and everything is booked, then I guess I'll take it as a sign that I was meant to stay at AKL!

Do they have any online? I seem to recall WalMart having a fairly decent online shop. Then again, if I can avoid going to stores, I'm a happy camper, so my standards might be a bit lower!

I actually looked for the Lady and the Tramp shirt online, and I couldn't find it, but then again, I didn't look through every single shirt, there were hundreds! I avoid going to stores too, I'd much rather shop online!

Okay, I am FINALLY caught up, Jen.

First, still cannot believe we are missing you by a mere two days.

I think since Brandon has never picked a resort, that you should stick wtih AKL. As you said, you'll have a car and you can drive to the parks. We drive to the MK all the time and never have an issue with parking (although we are always there before rope drop and usually get a front row anyway and just walk to the TTC and hop on the ferry boat. IF you stick with AKL, I'll try to do a live update while I'm at AKL and post pictures for you before you leave on your trip.

Good luck with the diet. There is a group of us girls doing a DIS diet together before we all meet up in September with prizes and everything. It really has me motivated to lose some extra pounds.

I LOVE the t-shirts...especially the Lady and the Tramp one...too cute.

I know, I can't believe you're leaving and a day later, I'm arriving! I'm sure we will be there at the same time someday, though! I like September trips, which is when you always seem to go!

I know, I should just stay at AKL, since Brandon picked that resort, but it just seems so far away! I do really want to stay there though, it's so pretty, and I know I'll love it once I'm there...but I spend SO much time in Epcot and MK, that it's hard to be so far away! We always drive to MK too, and we never have a problem with parking, I just don't like the whole process! I think I got spoiled staying at WL that one year, when we could just hop on a boat and be there in 5 minutes and never have to drive there!

Someone else just mentioned the diet that you guys are doing on the September thread! I'll have to check it out, since I am officially going in September, even if it just for one day!

Thanks, I can't wait to wear that Lady and the Tramp shirt, it's so cute!

 

[Family Loves Disney]

subbing.

Loving all my new DisFriends PTRs! You will need to teach me how to put the links in my posts.

 

[DanieD0909]

Hi! I just spent the last 3 hours reading your November Trip report...even though I was supposed to be cleaning the house!

We are so much alike...I was laughing at some of the things you said in your report because they sound just like me and my DH! We do not have kids yet either; got engaged at WDW too; and were married there in September!

We have stayed at AKL twice now and LOVE IT!! Both times we had a savanna view room but agreed that next time we stayed there we would just get a pool view to save money since we are always at the parks anyways!!! The AKL is SO relaxing...the pool is AMAZING!! And there are two hot tubs. I love giraffes too and last year when we were in the hot tub we could see the giraffes from there! We also love the restaurant choices there...there is even a quick service restaurant there where you can get Mickey Waffles in the morning. Also, our favorite restaurant of all is at the Kidani Village...it is called Sanaa and it is just a walk or quick drive away. You should definitely check it out if you can while you are there. There are huge windows that look out onto the savanna and I've always had amazing pictures from there. I honestly have never had any problems with the transportation to or from there...the bus system always seems to be working as it should (every 20 minutes) and last time we had a car too but still took the bus to/from MK as we thought it was better than the parking situation...the bus leaves from the MK not from the TTC. Hope this helps make your decision!! We are going in October too basically for the same reasons as you...MNSSHP and EFWF but we are going Oct 15-18 for just a few days. Best of luck to you and look forward to reading more on your PTR!!! Danielle

 

[RachelNinja]

I love new Disney t-shirts! My students know that I ALWAYS wear a Disney shirt on any of our dress-down days (the kids have uniforms, and we have dress down days to raise money for causes). I was thinking this past Monday that I haven't bought a new one in a while, haha. That's bad thinking! I don't get to wear them that often anyway!

I love the one with Cinderella's slipper. So cute! Very classic.

 

[Nermel9]

subbing.

Loving all my new DisFriends PTRs! You will need to teach me how to put the links in my posts.

Yay, !

I will try to teach you how to do links, but I'm not sure if I can explain it in a way that will make sense, I'm not very computer literate! But I'd be more than happy to try!

Hi! I just spent the last 3 hours reading your November Trip report...even though I was supposed to be cleaning the house!

We are so much alike...I was laughing at some of the things you said in your report because they sound just like me and my DH! We do not have kids yet either; got engaged at WDW too; and were married there in September!

We have stayed at AKL twice now and LOVE IT!! Both times we had a savanna view room but agreed that next time we stayed there we would just get a pool view to save money since we are always at the parks anyways!!! The AKL is SO relaxing...the pool is AMAZING!! And there are two hot tubs. I love giraffes too and last year when we were in the hot tub we could see the giraffes from there! We also love the restaurant choices there...there is even a quick service restaurant there where you can get Mickey Waffles in the morning. Also, our favorite restaurant of all is at the Kidani Village...it is called Sanaa and it is just a walk or quick drive away. You should definitely check it out if you can while you are there. There are huge windows that look out onto the savanna and I've always had amazing pictures from there. I honestly have never had any problems with the transportation to or from there...the bus system always seems to be working as it should (every 20 minutes) and last time we had a car too but still took the bus to/from MK as we thought it was better than the parking situation...the bus leaves from the MK not from the TTC. Hope this helps make your decision!! We are going in October too basically for the same reasons as you...MNSSHP and EFWF but we are going Oct 15-18 for just a few days. Best of luck to you and look forward to reading more on your PTR!!! Danielle

Thanks for reading my TR! Ohhh, you had a Disney wedding? I really wanted to do that, but it just didn't work out, bad timing! I'm definitely doing a vow renewal there someday, though!

I'm glad you liked AKL so much! I'm still not sure if I will end up there or not, part of me really wants to stay there, but part of me really wants to be closer to everything!

I've always wanted to take the bus to MK, but my DH refuses to use the bus system! It's nice driving and having that freedom, but I'd at least like to take the bus to MK to avoid the parking!

I can't wait for MNSSHP and Food and Wine!

I love new Disney t-shirts! My students know that I ALWAYS wear a Disney shirt on any of our dress-down days (the kids have uniforms, and we have dress down days to raise money for causes). I was thinking this past Monday that I haven't bought a new one in a while, haha. That's bad thinking! I don't get to wear them that often anyway!

I love the one with Cinderella's slipper. So cute! Very classic.

That's so cute that you wear Disney t-shirts to work! I have only one that I will wear to work, that blue Mickey and Minnie one that I wore on my last trip, I'm not a big fan of it, so I don't care if I ruin it at work! I usually wear that every Friday! I love buying new Disney shirts! I'm constantly checking disneystore.com to see if anything new is out!

Isn't the Cinderella shirt so adorable? I love it!

 

[princesslvr]

I just found your PTR your title drew me in! I'm going back to read up but I love the Slipper shirt and I think our trip dates are close to one another, so it's fun to read/plan along with someone else

 

[Nermel9]

I just found your PTR your title drew me in! I'm going back to read up but I love the Slipper shirt and I think our trip dates are close to one another, so it's fun to read/plan along with someone else

Hi, , thanks for joining!

I love reading everyone's PTR and seeing what they are planning, especially when we all have similar dates! Are you doing a PTR? You should if you're not, they're a fun way to pass the time until your trip, and you get to know a lot of people who love Disney!

 

[Nermel9]

Well, I did it...

I wasn't going to, I really wasn't. But I couldn't help it. I've been thinking about it for too long, and something had to be done.

I changed resorts.

Where? Well, let's take a walk...through these doors

and into this lobby, where we will check in

and then proceed to our lovely room

where I'm sure I will run out to the balcony to check out our amazing courtyard view

or if we're really lucky, our MK view

I'm sure you guessed it by now, butI switched to the Wilderness Lodge!!!

I really wanted to stay at AKL, I did, but the distance thing was making me crazy. So I asked Brandon if he minded if I switched, and he said it was fine. Then I asked him to pick where he wanted to stay and he said the Wilderness Lodge. I was a little surprised, I thought he'd tell me to just pick an Epcot resort, but he said WL. I asked why, and he said "because it's my favorite."

Ok then. Done.

So I called a few hours ago, and asked if they had any rooms with my pin available, and the friendly CM that I spoke to checked and promptly said...no. All booked up.

Ugh.

I figured I'd wait a few days and try again, knowing people cancel all the time. But I'm impatient. So I called again a little while ago and spoke to another lovely CM who checked WL. She asked what type of room I would like, so I said "uh, either woods view or courtyard?" She then told me that courtyard was available, and how much my package would be if I switched, and did I want to book it.

So I said yes, of course!

I know I said I really wanted to stay in an Epcot resort, but I LOVE WL. Love it. As soon as I walked through those doors when we stayed there in 2009, I felt like I was home, like I belonged there. I love the MK area, I love taking a boat over there, I love being able to hop on the monorail and be in Epcot. I love Bay Lake. I love the rooms, the lobby, the pool area, Roaring Forks...there is nothing I don't like about WL. We got engaged there. It was our first deluxe resort. It was our escape during a horrific time in my life.

So I can't wait to go home in a few months.

(oh yes, all of these pictures are borrowed from allears.net!)

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

OH GOSH YOU'RE KILLING ME!!!

I was able to book our Vero part with my friend's CM Discount today and saved us $519 so I talked with my mom about maybe canceling our WL (last night in FL) and switching to Yc/Bc but of course they are booked since it's June but they do have Poly and it's $94 extra to stay Garden CL than just Garden so I'm thinking about booking that and surprising them since it will be their 30th wedding anniver. in June (They Disneymoon'ed at CR in 1981 but I just don't know if Poly is as "grand" as it was at YC when we stayed there. I'll probably cave and do it tomorrow but I don't know how I'll keep it a secret till June haha..what do you think???

I'm glad you changed resorts. I love WL as well..but notice I'm ready to ditch it haha. We had a courtyard view room in Dec but walking in the hallway we could see the castle from a window which was cool!!!!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I think it's really difficult to know exactly where you'll want to stay so many months out. Personally, we started out as being booked Pop with the DDP, then switched CSR without the DDP, then switched back to Pop without the DDP, and finally tonight we canceled our room only reservation at Pop. You'll have to read my PTR once I get it all updated to see where we're staying.

P.S. You talking about the MK area is making me so nostalgic. We loved being able to hop on the monorail from the GF every day. It cut down on our travel time immensely. However, this trip I'm almost positive we'll have a car so I definitely see us driving to the parks as opposed to waiting for a bus. That is, for the resorts we can't walk to. Hint Hint.

 

[Joyciemc]

I'm excited for you!

I have never been to WL (though will finally get a peek at it this trip!), but it is so pretty! And I do agree about the location- that is the one thing that I am not excited about for our stay at the AKL.

 

[KatMark]

Jen, I knew you were going to end up doing it...I jsut knew it. Too bad we are a week apart on the beginning of our trip or we could have invited Brandon over to see our room and see what he is missing out on.

Seriously, you'll enjoy your trip more if you are where you want to be.