Well, Ain't That Fancy Schmancy! (Not So Much.) A Sept. '13 PTR. Shock-UPDATED 7/2!

[starann]

tap, tap, tap....nudge, nudge, nudge!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Woohoo! Yay resort buddies!!

Hopefully we will run into each other on a bus or something!

I'm sure we'll me unmissable!!

Our dates are September 6-15, so we should have some overlap. We can't wait, is it time yet?

We totally agree about posting a TR and wondering if anybody is reading it, but in your case people definitely are. It is great to read about all that WDW fun in detail. We have to be careful about reading it at work though, because some of the funnier parts actually made us laugh out loud. The part with Euphemisms at the Poly was hilarious!

Sorry about that, LOL! Maybe it should come with a warning!

Thought you'd like to know I'm home and started a new TR!

I haven't been on here the last couple of weeks (can you tell??), but I'll head over now that I am!

Loving your pre-trip report. Your kids are adorable! We will be at POR 9/10-9/15 in AB (hopefully) as well.

Keep an eye (and most likely ear, if I know my kids) out for us!

i just finished your TR, which I loved by the way, so I thought I would pop on over and say hello!

Based on what I have read about you and your family, I don't think it will matter where you stay--you will find a way to have a magical time and make magical memories! That is what Disney is all about in the long run anyways. Haha I sound like an after school special, so I will stop now.

Can't wait to read about more plans!!

Thank you! I hope you're right! I am getting excited about POR now, and I think we'll all love it. But you're right, we tend to have fun wherever we go! We're like a mobile party!

Just found your PTR and decided to join in! We're headed to the World in Sept too! (We arrive just a couple days after you leave) My mom will be staying at AOA so I can't wait to check out the resort. It looks like so much fun! The theming looks amazing!

Looking forward to reading about the rest of your plans for your trip, ...and from the great reviews that you've gotten from your readers, it sounds like I should go back and read your other TRs

Well, I welcome you to read them all! I have one that never ends!

Following along...we will be at POR Sept. 9-19 in a Royal Room (gotta appease the 5 year old princess since this is "her" five-year-old birthday trip (five months late, but April wasn't in the budget!)

Oh, I wish we could "fit" in a Royal Room! (We can fit by our standards, but not Disney...boo!)

I LOVE LOVE reading your reports!!!

Thank you!!

tap, tap, tap....nudge, nudge, nudge!

I KNOW, I KNOW, STAR!!!!!!!!!!! I was on vacation! And busy! And insert lots of other excuses that don't matter here!! Update is imminent.

 

[Pimama]

I feel your pain on the medical bills! We have had such a string of dr bills since Dec it has been unreal. My DH got so sick on our last trip to DW (staying at POR) that he passed out in the bathroom and hurt his knee and ankle falling to the floor- first ever 911 call, a trip to Celebration, it was quite a miserable adventure. Then in January my 21 month old had a string of febrile seizures resulting in another ER visit and a night in the hospital performing lots of expensive tests. Next, my ODD need X-rays for a bump in her back and they had to do them twice (only $250 but still...). Then my ODS had a major asthma attack, another ER visit and follow ups. And last (hopefully), my middle DS broke his arm, another ER visit, hospital day procedure, 2 casts, and X-rays every couple weeks. My YDD and I are a little afraid since we've been spared so far. I hate that every time something happens, I sigh and think my Disney fund is shrinking quickly. (And everybody is just fine now BTW!!)

We were going to go to DL this fall but it has turned into just my oldest son and I going as a special "turning 18" trip. The rest of the family will have to wait until next May. We are going to Yellowstone this summer so don't feel too sorry for them, other than my oldest daughter, they don't know they are missing out.

My oldest DD sounds a bit like your oldest. She has been a crazy, voracious reader her whole life. She was halfway through the Magic Tree House series when she turned 5, she read the first 3 Harry Potters in first grade (I wouldn't let her read the rest until she was maybe 5th grade, I think there was only 4 or 5 at that time anyway), she polished off The Lord of the Rings series the summer after 2nd grade!! We homeschool and she was part of my motivation, she would've been so bored at our school and I wanted her to have lots of time to read and write and play the piano. Always vacationing off season is a nice perk as well!

Thanks for sharing your family with us. I have enjoyed your last TR and just watched the video yesterday. My kids ran in to watch of course and started asking about going back!!

 

[KateKobs]

I've been lurking for a few weeks now, since we decided to take our DD (will be 2 in Aug) to Disney for a few days while we are down in FL Sept 18-22. Just wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading your trip reports, and what a beautiful family you have. Can't wait to read more about your upcoming trip.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I am beyond sorry about my lack of updates, and also sorry if I haven't responded to your comment; I swear I've read them all! Our life is utter chaos right now, as some of you know, but I'm going to try my best to remember to keep updating!

We all know about our resort choices now, so today we can discuss...

PARK DAYS!!!!

First of all, you should know that we do not park hop. Not at all. Not only do we not want to pay the extra money, but hauling three wild children gets tiring very quickly. We stick to one location to save our sanity.

Planning park days is very important, obviously, because since we stay in one park, it affects our ADRs for the day. It also affects our outfit choices, which is very important to my obsessive nature!

I start out looking at the Touring Plans crowd calendar, but that only plays into the planning a little. We have our traditions we can't break, and we do go in September, a very calm time of year. Even when parks are crowded, they aren't *that* crowded. I also look at the Easywdw site, which is often in direct conflict with Touring Plans. I just kind of stick to what we want to do and hope for the best, in reality.

Our number one tradition is that we have to do MK as both our first and last park days. The trip doesn't begin until we say hello to the castle, and we can't end it without our tearful goodbyes. Also, we wanted a down day this year, so that had to figure into the equation.

This is what we've come up with. Please let me know if there's any chance we'll run into you while we're there!!

Friday, September 13, 2013

Drive to WDW. Try to leave early, for goodness' sake! Arrive at POR.

Hopefully have time for dinner and pool time.



(That's totally CBR and not POR...it's a new resort for us!)

Saturday, September 14, 2013

MAGIC KINGDOM, BABY! Always on the first day!





Our plans for this day include haircuts at Harmony Barber Shop and *hopefully* the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party, if they ever decide to open that up for reservations.





Sunday, September 15, 2013

EPCOT! Just as MK is a first day tradition, Epcot is a second day tradition! Luckily, the crowds are predicted to be a 1.1 on this day, which is good news for us.



We're starting the day at the Polynesian Resort as we dine with Lilo and Stitch at 'Ohana. After that, we're planning on heading over to Epcot somehow (should we drive? park at MK and monorail it to breakfast and then Epcot? opinions appreciated.) to meet up with Matt (GrimGrinningStitch) while Dani (danimaroo) has a trading event. We cannot wait to see them! We live in GA, they live in WA...not easy having friends you can't see!

At 1:30, Brandon and the girls will be surpised with something they've longed to do: the Behind the Seeds tour at The Land!



For dinner, we're dining at Cape May Cafe with Matt and Dani. We're looking forward to strolling over to Beach Club via the International Gateway--a first for us!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Down Day...sort of.

We plan on starting the day by visiting the pools and playgrounds of POR.
At lunchtime, we'll take a boat (how cool is that?!) to DTD, where I'm sure we'll be eating at Wolfgang Puck Express.

All three kids then have an appointment at the DTD location of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! Yes, even little Sawyer will be getting the Knight Package, which includes a hairstyle, sword, and shield. That should make the rest of the day...interesting...painful?

That evening, we'll dine at 1900 Park Fare while they're all attired to meet royalty.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Before park opening, we'll dine with the stars of Disney Junior at Hollywood and Vine.





Julia's hoping to challenge the Dark Side at Jedi Training Academy, and we'll have a leasurely, unplanned day roaming around DHS.



MNSSHP is a big possibility this evening. We haven't yet bought the tickets, but all the kids want to go. Even I want to give it a second chance after the disaster in 2011 (you may or may not want to read about that in the "Magic, Memories, Maladies" TR in my signature). Of course, this brings up the question of costumes...hmmm...

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Animal Kingdom


We have no distinct plans at AK except for lunch at a new spot, Tusker House. Can you tell we like character meals??

That evening, I plan on us enjoying the nightlife at POR, like Yee Haa Bob or a carriage ride. We'll also have to pack up, as we're changing resorts the next day!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Epcot...after we switch to Art of Animation! WOO-HOO!



We have dinner plans at Akershus for our Princess fix.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Magic Kingdom

Breakfast before park opening is the best at MK, and to make it even better, we're meeting Matt and Dani at Crystal Palace!



We're going to have a fun mid-morning as our family (SURPRISE, EVERYONE BUT ME!) takes the Family Magic Tour!

MK closes early for a Halloween Party this night, but that's fine with us...we're planning on some pool time at the Big Blue Pool!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Magic Kingdom

Saturday finds us spending another full day at MK.

Most excitingly, dinner is at Be Our Guest! I worked for weeks on securing this ADR and am so happy with the success!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

MK in the morning.

Going home in the afternoon.

So...anyone up for a DISmeet?? How do these plans look to you? Anything you'd change?

 

[lsenquiz]

Looks like we will both be in EPCOT on 9/15, at MNSSHP on 9/17 & MK on 9/20. I am totally up for a DIS meet (I know we live 2 miles from each other but with all the crazyness that is daily life meeting at Disney might be the easiest way to get together )

 

[SuperNEMOfan]

We will be at the same resort of course! and we will most likely mosey over to MK on that saturday as it is our last day in the parks

 

[epsmith921]

We may run into you on the 19th at Epcot! Staying at boardwalk with a 2.5 year old so all dinners are in that area and of the "no penalty for cancellation" variety!

We're not sure how the kiddo's going to like everything so the plan is MK in the mornings and Epcot afternoons/evenings. Husband thinks we're in a monorail resort. Seriously. He doesn't mind at all trekking through Epcot to go out the front and take the monorail. Can you tell we're from the motor city?? Public transportation of any kind is a fun novelty!

 

[Blessedwithboys]

We will be at Disney nearly the same dates as you! Sept 14-21
We will be at MK twice with you 14 & 20th and we will be at AK on Wed the 18th as well!

Your plans sound magnificent!!

 

[spiritsim]

Ok just started reading your PTR and

new to this but I will read through and catch up ​

so far so good so tell me how you do a split stay sounds interesting and I am dieing to stay at poly but can't afford it was going to do moderate but you make me rethink things........ so confused, but learning.

 

[Irishdo]

So....I am a professional lurker. Seriously. I had to chime in though because I love your trip reports. And the video.....has been watched I this house many times already. Truly magical.

Part of the reason I am a stalker, er avid reader, is because we are going to disney in Sept for the first time with our kids. 3 boys ages 4,3 and 15 months so I am soaking up all your toddler tips. My middle son also has mild cerebral palsy and will be getting a stroller as a wheelchair tag so your experiences have been so helpful. I have been many times in the past but not since 2002. DH has never been.

Anyway, we will be there at the same time and will be in the same parks W,Th, and F and have a CP reservation for 8am on Friday. We are going to MNSSHP on Tuesday too.
Would love to say hi just look for traveling circus....DH and myself, 3 kids, 2 strollers, my mother who is on oxygen (don't smoke kids!) with ECV, my father, and MIL who I will be trying hard not to strangle.

Can't wait to hear more about your plans!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I will be there some of the same dates....I'll be all alone from Sept 15-19. The reason I'm going down is for the EarMarked Conference. I have no idea what the agenda is like yet, but I was hoping to get some Epcot time in on Sunday the 15th (I don't land until after 5pm, so we'll see how it goes).

 

[merbobear]

Eep updates! I check back frequently so I'm glad to see that you have posted

One thing I might change is the date you could be going to MNSSHP. I think I would do that on the MK day you mentioned, since you would already be there..or maybe not, since you would have to leave to get costumed up. But my reasoning is that, if it were me, if we were in MK all day and then there for a party at night, we would be less likely to want to go on rides and stuff we could always do, as we would have already been doing that all day, so we would probably feel more able to fully focus our time on party specific events.

How does it work out for school with going in September? Our school year starts in Sept and ends in June, and so far we have been going in mid-May. This year dd was in pre-k (but in the public school system) and she missed 6 days of school for our vacation. I don't really have a problem taking her out, at least while she's young, but obviously I want to do the least "damage" by picking the best time to miss! Do you think it is better off to have the kids miss some time in the beginning or toward the end? Just curious of another mom's opinion who has a school aged child!

I'm excited for the kids to all do BBB together, I think it's awesome that Sawyer is going to get his royal treatment! We had an absolutely AMAZING time at the DTD BBB location this year. Adison (dd) was a "window princess" and then she ended up leading the princess parade around DTD after. Magical, to say the least. I have pictures on facebook and the entire story is posted in the album, if you are interested to look.

 

[beachphotog]

Ok, so our plans don't really overlap... Like at all! But, BUT, this trip is a little different for us (me and mi madre) as we will be moving to Florida, exactly 2 weeks after. I know, the trip got planned before LIFE happened, but because we rented points we can't really cancel... But it's ok, because we're adding 2 days at the end of trip for last minute move to FL details to be handled!

Anyway, all that to say, our schedule is VERY flexible and we can make a meet happen! Like as in, we must make a meet happen! I've been so very excited to meet you and your family (and Matt and Dani) ever since I learned we would all be there at the same time!

 

[tiggerfan77]

I'll be there exactly two months before you, so no meet up this time
All your plans sound great! I am not a "Hopper" either, although one day it may be fun to try. I just like having one park for a full day to get the whole experience.
I like the idea of doing the some backstage tours! I have never done any of them but have always been curious about them. Can wait to hear how they are and if the kids like them!

 

[shan23877]

I think your plans look great! Obviously we won't be there to meet up, but I'm excited to hear about the DISmeets you do have!

Yay for all of them doing BBB! I hope that Sawyer loves it!

Can't wait to see your outfit plans!

 

[GrimGrinningStitch]

Hey, I'm in this update! HOORAY!

I can't wait for so much about this trip, but in particular: The Dessert Party, Cape May, hanging out at Epcot, CP breakfast, and, well, everything in between.

It's awesome you guys are planning for a down day. It'll be nice to be able to rest up a bit before hitting the parks again.

 

[katt789]

We definitely have a midday break on your arrival day, so it’s very possible I could swing over to riverside before MNSSHP to say hello!

How great that you’re meeting up with Matt and Dani at Epcot! Also I’d say probably the best to park at the TTC, you can walk over to the Poly and then use the loving monorail for the rest of the day!

Awwww, yay for BBB fun times!

You should definitely do MNSSHP, give it another chance, see if things will be better, and I mean, Courtney, Dani and Matt and I will all be there to play!!

AoA?! I thought you were doing Comtep? AH!! I’m extending my stay by a bit and I might be doing AoA as well!!

For BOG I seriously suggest when you check in asking if you can request Shelly S as a server!! She’s seriously the most amazing person in the world!

So excited for the trip!

 

[burly]

Hi there!
first of all I love, love , love your trip reports and your kids are soooo precious.
My opinion; Drive to Poly and tell them you are doing breakfast. park and leave your car there for the day. walk over to the TTC and ride monorail to EPCOT!

PLEASE try MNSSHP again. I agree that you should do it (if you do) on the MK day. that way you are only focusing on the party....

I hear Ye haa Bob is awesome, and really gets the little kids into it....
Plans look great.
I hope all the stress that is going on at home gets better for you...


KIM

 

[ronnmel]

Reading about your plans and helping some friends with their own plans is making me miss Disney SO MUCH right now.

I think you should give MNNSHP another chance. You can't possibly get that sick twice in a row, right?