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

[Joyciemc]

Great plans! Your trip is going to be so much fun!!!

 

[MEK]

Your plans look great (and very busy for the first couple days). It will be here before you know it.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

We'll be at MNSSHP on Friday, DHS PM EMH on Sunday, MK PM EMH on Monday, Epcot PM EMH on Tuesday! We love taking advantage of the late nights as we like to sleep in!

 

[jenbear123]

So I may be going back at the end of October so I thought yay, we'll be there at the same time! But then went back to find your dates and sadly you'll be there at the beginning of October I'm excited to see the costumes you decide to wear for MNSSHP. I'm hoping to go to the last MNSSHP on Nov 1. Your itinerary looks fabulous. Isn't it so exciting once everything is all lined up?!?!? It'll be here before you know it

 

[Disneymoon23]

No, I've never been to MNSSHP, so I'm really excited to go to my first one. It will also be my first time at the Food and Wine Festival. I have no idea what costumes we're going to wear yet though.

 

[Nermel9]

Great plans! Your trip is going to be so much fun!!!

Thanks! It's definitely going to be a lot of fun, but really tiring!! I'm thinking of taking Monday off from work after we get home, just to have a little more time to recover, since we will get home so late on Saturday night!

Your plans look great (and very busy for the first couple days). It will be here before you know it.

Thanks! The first few days will definitely be busy, but I think it will be so worth it! And since we are only going to MK the 2nd night to see Wishes, it won't be so bad, since we won't be running around the park to do attractions! I hope it's here before I know it...I'm running out of patience already!

We'll be at MNSSHP on Friday, DHS PM EMH on Sunday, MK PM EMH on Monday, Epcot PM EMH on Tuesday! We love taking advantage of the late nights as we like to sleep in!

I love the evening magic hours! I sometimes think about staying offsite, since you can stay in a luxury hotel for SO much cheaper than Disney prices, but I can't imagine not having access to EMH! I'd love a few mornings to sleep in, but...I have to cram in all the Disney I can in one week!

So I may be going back at the end of October so I thought yay, we'll be there at the same time! But then went back to find your dates and sadly you'll be there at the beginning of October I'm excited to see the costumes you decide to wear for MNSSHP. I'm hoping to go to the last MNSSHP on Nov 1. Your itinerary looks fabulous. Isn't it so exciting once everything is all lined up?!?!? It'll be here before you know it

Ohhh, that's too bad you're going later in the month! I actually wanted to go at the end of October, but my pin code only went through the first week, so that kind of decided it for me! I have no idea what costume I'm going to wear for MNSSHP, I have a few ideas, but it all depends on how much weight I lose! I definitely want to be something Disney inspired, but I'm not exactly sure what yet!

No, I've never been to MNSSHP, so I'm really excited to go to my first one. It will also be my first time at the Food and Wine Festival. I have no idea what costumes we're going to wear yet though.

I can't wait for our first MNSSHP either! You are going to love Food and Wine, we got to go for the last 2 days of it last year, but it was awesome! The food and drinks we tried were soooo good! I can't wait til they release the menus and the booth info this year, should be sometime in July I hope! I'm not sure what costume to wear either, my DH won't dress up, so it will just be me!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

You guys will LOVE MNSSHP I absolutely love that party; it's my favorite time of year!

 

[Simba22]

Hey!! I've been wondering if you abandoned the DIS! Ugh, sorry about Lumar and the job, but at least you get to keep yours a little longer! :

I can't wait to go in October, it's going to be so much fun! I'm just nervous about the weather, I'm afraid it's gonna be 90 and humid!

Ugh, that's too bad no Disney this year. But at least you have 2012 to look forward too! I'm not sure if I'm going in 2012...if I do, it will have to be the cheapest trip possible!

Keep in touch!

I'm still here! It's hard to keep coming on and reading about everyone else's trips when I'm going through such horrible withdrawal! I'm still reading all of your updates though and I'm so excited for your trip!

FYI - it will be hot lol In 2009 it was in the 90s most days and in 2010 it was in the mid-high 80s most days. But it's still my FAVORITE time to go...we're planning a Christmas trip for 2012 and somehow, I'm bummed out about it! It was nice when we went in December back in 2006...but I'm just obsessed with October. We're planning a big family trip with 10-12 of us and because one my cousins is a teacher and the other will be in her 2nd year of college, we have no choice but to go on a school break. So it was either Christmas/New Years or over the summer...and at least if I have to deal with crowds, I won't ALSO have to be disgustingly hot!

 

[KatMark]

I'm still here! It's hard to keep coming on and reading about everyone else's trips when I'm going through such horrible withdrawal! I'm still reading all of your updates though and I'm so excited for your trip!

FYI - it will be hot lol In 2009 it was in the 90s most days and in 2010 it was in the mid-high 80s most days. But it's still my FAVORITE time to go...we're planning a Christmas trip for 2012 and somehow, I'm bummed out about it! It was nice when we went in December back in 2006...but I'm just obsessed with October. We're planning a big family trip with 10-12 of us and because one my cousins is a teacher and the other will be in her 2nd year of college, we have no choice but to go on a school break. So it was either Christmas/New Years or over the summer...and at least if I have to deal with crowds, I won't ALSO have to be disgustingly hot!

Just wanted to say hi to you...we miss you around here.

 

[amazingact21]

Just discovered your PTR and am following along!
I did the Couch to 5K Program a few months ago and found it really helpful, but I did repeat certain weeks several times.

I love that you're going to MNSSHP twice and doing the F&W Festival. Your itenerary looks great, especially with your ADRs.

 

[Simba22]

Just a quick, random update!

So last night, I was on the DIS like I usually am, and I found the Haunted Carriage Ride 2011 thread! They started booking the rides a few days ago, and it seems like quite a few people booked their rides already! I've been going back and forth since I started planning this trip whether or not I wanted to do it, I wasn't sure when I'd fit it in.

Then last night after reading that thread, I figured, why not, just do it! I have no idea when I will be back to WDW in October, so I might as well just do it on this trip!

So, as of about an hour ago, Brandon and I will now be going on a Haunted Carriage Ride at Fort Wilderness on Wednesday, 10/5 at 10 pm!

I'm SO excited! I can't wait to see some of Fort Wilderness! And it's nice that we are staying at WL, because we can either just hop on the boat back to the resort, or walk (although, I'm not sure I'd walk through the woods in Florida that late at night, I don't know what kinds of scary creatures live in there!)

The carriage ride was a LOT of fun! It's something different to do and I would definitely do it again!

Walking back to WL at night....hmmm...watch out for bears! (known locally as armadillos )

 

[Simba22]

I don't know if you're still debating on any of these since I'm behind but my thoughts are in blue:

Arrival Day, 9/30
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern*

I'm trying to get 'Ohana for this night, but it was booked already, on my ADR day, 180 days out! So I've been stalking Disney dining, but so far, no luck! I was also thinking of maybe changing to Artist Point instead? We are doing MNSSHP this night, so I picked LTT because we will already be in the park, but Artist Point is pretty close to MK!


We really enjoyed LTT when we went there for dinner in 2007. A lot of people say it's microwaved Stouffer's but we didn't have a problem with it. We liked it a lot better than Tonys.... Of course, if you can get Ohana, go with that instead.

Day 2, 10/1
Dinner at Tony's Town Square*

Another one I'm not sure about. The way I have our day planned is Epcot in the morning, break, DHS for a few hours (just so I can go on Tower of Terror a few times, basically!) then over to MK so I can see regular Wishes. We have to eat dinner at some point, and I know Tony's is pretty good, I don't know. I'd really like to be in MK this night, since it's the 40th anniversary!

A lot of people recommend going here for lunch instead of dinner but I've only ever had dinner here so that's all I can comment on...we ate here, also in 2007 and it was AWFUL. There were 4 of us...2 of us had steak, 2 of us had spaghetti and meatballs. The 2 steaks were supposed to be medium rare and they were cooked OVERLY well...to the point where they were just dry and tough. Our server brought out or water glasses and our bread, took our orders but we never saw him again until he brought us the check. We had to stop some random server to ask for steak sauce, which we never got. The spaghetti was cold and there was hardly any sauce...we asked for more marinara at the same time as the steak sauce...never got that either. We stopped another random server after a few minutes to repeat our requests...they brought us ketchup...but no steak sauce or marinara. It was just horrible. I'm not the kind of person to not pay for a meal so I didn't make a big deal about it but I will definitely not go back.

Day 3, 10/2
Breakfast at Crystal Palace

I just made this ADR last night. I originally had us eating breakfast at Kona, then going to rope drop at MK after, but I changed it to CP. I didn't want us to have to get up at the crack of dawn to get over to Kona after such a busy first full Disney day. I suppose I could make a later Kona ADR, after rope drop, but that seems like a pain.

No comments here!

Dinner at Cape May Cafe*

We had dinner here on our Disneymoon, and it's so good! We needed somewhere near DHS, since we will be going there that night for EMH, but again...I'm just not excited about it! Maybe I can do Artist Point this night instead? This was Brandon's choice though, and I feel bad changing it!

I wanted to do this for breakfast SO BAD, but we were at MK until 3am and just could NOT get up to make it there. I had the same thoughts though...it's close to DHS. Our plan was to go into DHS, run for FPs for TSM and then head over to Cape May for breakfast but we just couldn't get up. Next time!

Day 4, 10/3
Late lunch at TRex*

I actually really want to eat here...but I'm not happy with where I have it scheduled in! This will be our only morning at Animal Kingdom, and I have us leaving to go to DTD for lunch, because well, it's the only time I can fit it in! Is this a stupid plan, or should I leave it?

This was one of our favorite meals! Maybe you could push it back to a dinner reservation so you don't have to rush out of AK?

Day 5, 10/4
Lunch at Le Cellier
That's staying where it is, no question!

Dinner at Via Napoli*

I really want to eat here, I've wanted to try it since it opened, but I might move it to the end of the trip, not sure yet.

It's scheduled for us for 2012 because we want to try it too! I say leave it where it is but make it a late dinner. Steak for lunch is bound to fill you for several hours, I would think. You don't want to have dinner scheduled too early because you won't be hungry by the time it rolls around.


Day 7, 10/6
Breakfast at Boma*

I love Boma, but I made this ADR when we were staying at AKL, so it made sense. Now it doesn't make sense to wake up early and drive all the way to AKL just for breakfast. I might replace it with Kona, or I might move it to our AK day earlier in the week.

Since you have your own car, I say do it. If you were relying on Disney Transport that would be different because it's such a pain to get to. But it's a dang good meal and I wouldn't pass it up if I had my own way to get there!


Day 8, 10/7

Dinner at Rose and Crown*

Another one Brandon picked, but basically just because I had no idea where to eat that night. I know we will be in Epcot, because my last night has to be in Epcot, and I couldn't decide! I'm thinking of maybe moving Via Napoli to this night instead? Or maybe doing Les Chef's instead?

WE LOVE ROSE AND CROWN!!!! DO IT!!

I just feel like I have too many ADR's, and they are going to take too much park time away. I'm also not happy with the park hours, which makes my first few days crazy, 3 EMH nights in a row! I can't skip them, I love EMH nights, it's one of the reasons I always stay in a Disney resort!


I feel your pain! I always feel like I have too many ADRs and we go for 10 days so time is not really an issue for us! The problem is that I'm so OVER QS food that I'd rather take the time to eat a nice meal three times a day than ever eat QS again. Except for CHH...I'll eat there any day!

We're also not trying many new places. LTT for dinner will be new, since we have only eaten lunch there, and TRex and Via Napoli will be new, but that's it! I'd really like to fit in Artist Point, and my friend at work said the Hollywood Brown Derby is amazing, so I'm thinking of maybe adding that?

We hated Brown Derby....In our opinions, it's WAY overrated and WAY overpriced. Our food was bland, not cooked the right way, and more expensive than any other meal on our whole trip. Skip it. I've never been to Artist Point but if it's at your resort, than why not? You could always make it dinner on your last night so you're at the resort right before you leave...

As far as new places go...I, again, feel your pain. I always want to try new places but I worry about being disappointed. However, that's how we found Rose & Crown which we literally drool over now. You could always save your "Must Do" places for your anniversary trip (let's face it, we all know it's gonna happen! ) and try new places in October. That way, you won't feel like you wasted time on a Special Trip if you end up not being completely thrillled with them...but if you end up really liking some of them, you know that your anniversary trip will that much better because all of your dining experiences will be ones you know you guys will love!

ETA:

So I read the follow up post where you added in Brown Derby and I felt horrible for giving you my bad review...then I saw you canceled it and changed it to Artist Pointe and I feel better! Your itinerary looks great! And you will LOVE the Halloween Party! And I'm officially all caught up with you now!

 

[Nermel9]

You guys will LOVE MNSSHP I absolutely love that party; it's my favorite time of year!

I can't wait for MNSSHP, I know it's going to be so much fun! I wish we were going a little closer to Halloween, but I'll take what I can get!

I'm still here! It's hard to keep coming on and reading about everyone else's trips when I'm going through such horrible withdrawal! I'm still reading all of your updates though and I'm so excited for your trip!

FYI - it will be hot lol In 2009 it was in the 90s most days and in 2010 it was in the mid-high 80s most days. But it's still my FAVORITE time to go...we're planning a Christmas trip for 2012 and somehow, I'm bummed out about it! It was nice when we went in December back in 2006...but I'm just obsessed with October. We're planning a big family trip with 10-12 of us and because one my cousins is a teacher and the other will be in her 2nd year of college, we have no choice but to go on a school break. So it was either Christmas/New Years or over the summer...and at least if I have to deal with crowds, I won't ALSO have to be disgustingly hot!

LOL, I know, I wouldn't be able to be on the DIS if I didn't have a trip in the works, it would definitely be too depressing!

I'm kind of assuming it will be hot! I wish it would stay in the 80's, but I'll be prepared for 90's too. I just have to remember to drink lots of water!

A Christmas trip sounds like fun, I love going for Christmas! I know I'll like Halloween, but I can't imagine liking it more than Christmas!

Just discovered your PTR and am following along!
I did the Couch to 5K Program a few months ago and found it really helpful, but I did repeat certain weeks several times.

I love that you're going to MNSSHP twice and doing the F&W Festival. Your itenerary looks great, especially with your ADRs.

Thanks for joining!

The Couch to 5K program is SO hard!! I am going to try to start week 3 next week, but if I can't do it, I'm going to have to repeat it, week 2 was a struggle! Sadly, I just don't think I'm a runner...but I'd like to at least get through it, I really want to be able to run a 5K!

I'm so excited for MNSSHP and Food and Wine, it's going to be such a fun, tiring trip!

The carriage ride was a LOT of fun! It's something different to do and I would definitely do it again!

Walking back to WL at night....hmmm...watch out for bears! (known locally as armadillos )

LOL, I actually went back to your TR and read about the carriage ride when I was debating booking it or not...it seems like a lot of fun, I can't wait! I hope we don't run into any bears!

I don't know if you're still debating on any of these since I'm behind but my thoughts are in blue:

ETA:

So I read the follow up post where you added in Brown Derby and I felt horrible for giving you my bad review...then I saw you canceled it and changed it to Artist Pointe and I feel better! Your itinerary looks great! And you will LOVE the Halloween Party! And I'm officially all caught up with you now!

Thanks for all of the advice!

LOL don't worry about the bad Brown Derby review, even if we did keep it, I wouldn't have been offended! I know some people love certain places and other people don't like them at all (like me with Teppan Edo...everyone loves it, but I just wasn't impressed! It was good, but not great, and I don't really have any desire to go there again!) and that's ok, it's what makes Disney dining so much fun!

I'm so excited about Artist Point, though, I think it's going to become my new favorite!

I'm probably going to end up canceling Rose and Crown, I just have to make sure that I'm really certain that I don't want to go there! I'm so excited to try Via Napoli, I think it's going to be yummy!

 

[Simba22]

i replied in blue

I can't wait for MNSSHP, I know it's going to be so much fun! I wish we were going a little closer to Halloween, but I'll take what I can get!

The closer you get to Halloween, the more crowded it is...and the parties are all the same! We went ON Halloween in 2009 thinking they would do something a little different or special...they didn't. It was just literally, packed to capacity. Going earlier in the month is better, IMO!

LOL, I know, I wouldn't be able to be on the DIS if I didn't have a trip in the works, it would definitely be too depressing!

It's horribly depressing. I keep hoping Lumar gets a job so maybe we can afford even a small trip but it's not looking good. He applied to 8 jobs the other day and hasn't heard anything yet.

I'm kind of assuming it will be hot! I wish it would stay in the 80's, but I'll be prepared for 90's too. I just have to remember to drink lots of water!

And take advantage of the AC! Get FPs for something and then sit in the stand-by for something else. And try to aim for indoor QS places when you stop for lunch.

A Christmas trip sounds like fun, I love going for Christmas! I know I'll like Halloween, but I can't imagine liking it more than Christmas!

And I can't imagine loving Christmas more than Halloween! Especially since we're looking at arriving on 12/26 and leaving on 1/2...it's going to be so crowded....

The Couch to 5K program is SO hard!! I am going to try to start week 3 next week, but if I can't do it, I'm going to have to repeat it, week 2 was a struggle! Sadly, I just don't think I'm a runner...but I'd like to at least get through it, I really want to be able to run a 5K!

BTW - Congrats on this! In the middle of the night last night, it occurred to me that you said you started this and I forgot to congratulate you!

LOL, I actually went back to your TR and read about the carriage ride when I was debating booking it or not...it seems like a lot of fun, I can't wait! I hope we don't run into any bears!

Oh yay! Glad I could be of assistance! Seriously, if you could have seen us when we heard that noise in the bushes....I can only imagine how ridiculous we looked

 

[Nermel9]

i replied in blue

I wish we could quote quotes on here! I guess I could have copied and pasted, but...too lazy!

I hope the first week of October isn't too crowded. I'm sure the weekend will be, with the marathon and 40th anniversary, but I hope it thins out by Monday. If not, I can deal, but I'm so used to low crowds! I don't know if I could handle going the week after Christmas! Although, I'd love to go for New year's someday!

Thanks! I was supposed to do an extra day of the C25K today, but I've had this awful migraine all day, and if I tried to run today, it would have made it so much worse! I can't wait to start week 3 next week, I have a feeling it's going to be really hard!

LOL I hope we don't hear any weird noises in the bushes! And to think, I actually considered walking back to WL from FW on the little pathway...no way am I doing that at 10:30 at night in the middle of Florida!

 

[Nermel9]

Stolen from my 2010 PTR!

Hi everyone! I'm so excited that it's JUNE! That means I only have to get through June, July, and August before I'll be getting ready to go to Disney! Well, ok, yes, I have to get through September too, since we are leaving on the 30th, but still, September will be easy, it's the summer that's going to drag!

Although, I suppose I don't want the summer to fly by too quickly. In a few weeks, Brandon will be working days for a couple of months, which will be nice, and I seriously need to lose some weight before our trip! Remember that whole "I'm joining Weight Watchers and losing 50 pounds before Disney" update from when I started this PTR? Yeah, never happened. I tried. I would lose a pound here, 2 pounds there...but then I'd have a bad week and I'd gain 3 pounds back. It's a never ending cycle with me, I'll lose a few pounds and then get bored dieting and gain it right back. I honestly don't know what to do anymore, I'm so frustrated and discouraged. I weighed myself this morning and gained a pound from last week. I almost started crying, because I did really good this week, with exercising and eating right, and I still gained a pound.

I have 17 weeks til our trip. 17 weeks. If I do WW for 17 weeks, and lose 2 pounds a week, I can still lose 34 pounds by the time we go to Disney. It's not 50 or 60 like I wanted, but it's something. I don't know. I'm just so discouraged right now. I know I asked for advice last year, but if anyone has any tips, I'd greatly appreciate them!

Ok, anyway, I'm sure you're all sick of hearing me whine about my weight, so I'll get to the actual update. I looked at my old 2010 PTR a few days ago, and remembered I did a list of WDW attractions that I've never done. So I went through the list to see if we did any on our November trip, and we did a few, but there are still SO many I haven't done yet! So I thought I'd repost the list, highlight what we did last year, and then pick one attraction from each park that I really would like to try this year!

MK:
WDW Railroad*
Jungle Cruise*
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Liberty Square Riverboat
Cinderella's Golden Carousel*
Dumbo*
Mad Tea Party
Astro Orbiter
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Stitch's Great Escape
Enchanted Tiki Room*
Barnstormer
Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade

Epcot:

Innoventions
Universe of Energy
Circle of Life*
Honey I shrunk the Audience
Reflections of China

DHS:

Sounds Dangerous
American Idol Experience
Lights, Motor, Action
Studio Backlot Tour*
TOY STORY MANIA!!!!!
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage

AK:

Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade
Festival of the Lion King
It's Tough to be a Bug
Finding Nemo, the Musical
Primeval Whirl
TriceraTop Spin

So last year, we did the attractions that are underlined, which leaves everything else! Like I said, I'd like to do one thing from each park this year that will be new to us, so here are the ones I'd really like to do finally!

MK-

The Jungle Cruise

Epcot-

Reflections of China

DHS-

Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage!

AK-

The Festival of the Lion King

Seems do-able, right? I've learned from last year that if I want to see any shows, I need to do them first thing and not put them off til later in the afternoon, because I won't go back to see them! So as soon as we walk in AK, we will go right to FOTLK! That is probably the one thing I really want to see the most that we didn't do last year! I love that there are still things that are new to me in WDW after so many visits!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hi! I'm also so excited that it is June!!

Don't beat yourself up about the weight - if you are upping your excercise it may take a while before the weight drops as muscle will be built and stored. That's what our WW leader tells us! I've been so bad recently as well - can't get myself in the right frame of mind.

Love the list! It just shows that no matter how many times you go to Disney World you still have attractions that you can come back for!

I can't wait to watch Beauty and the Beast and FOTLK!! I was going to cover them in the afternoon but may take your advice of doing them first thing!

Hope you have a great weekend as well!

 

[Mrs T 2009]

Sounds like great plan of what you want to do in the parks that you still haven't done yet. Beauty and the Beast Musical is my FAV show!!! love it! We always see it when we go

FOTKL is also great We always watch that show as well when we go to AK

Your weight loss goal is great! You can do it!!! I have a hard time getting the weight off of myself, and muscle weighs more than fat.. so don't beat yourself up over it! You are probably gaining muscle, not fat!!! You will see the results soon and feel better about it all. Eating right and watching portions and exercising is key. It's what I do and I am slowly but surely lossing weight for our trip in september. YOU CAN DO IT!!! I have faith in ya girl

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I was just counting the weeks left until our trip myself. While I don't want to rush the summer away (but it is the busiest time of year for me and both jobs (kids out of school so I have longer days of babysitting and the summer reading program at the library is in full force), I love knowing that at the end of this crazy, hectic summer, we'll be heading off to WDW for a week of fun and relaxation!

I really recommend that you do the Jungle Cruise at night, it's awesome!

Beauty and the Beast is a good show, just not something I want to see over and over. I want to catch and AI show this year if possible, although I'm not sure it is.

FOTLK makes me tear up EVERYTIME. It's a must do for me!

I don't really have any tips on losing weight as I struggle myself. WW worked quite well for me in college but I just don't have the time to log everything I eat to track points.

 

[jenbear123]

I'm over the moon that it's June too! That means only one more month until July when I'm going back

Keep your chin up about the weight loss. It's all mind over matter. You can do it if you set your mind to it. Don't get upset over 1 pound here or there. If you set your mind to it, you can do anything! Keep up the healthy eating and exercise. Forget about the numbers. If you feel good about yourself than that's all that matters

You haven't done Jungle Cruise??? It's so much fun.... as long as you get a good Skipper. Some are better than others. If your sides don't hurt from laughing when you get off the first time, go on again to get a different skipper. I swear the skipper makes the ride.