We'll be "Walking right down the middle of Main Street USA" - Nov 2013 PTR

[HHMcG]

Well I booked our flight which means OUR NEXT DISNEY TRIP is official and I can start my pre-trip journal.

I hope to use this space to mull over ideas and keep record of our plans as we decide on them. Oh and probably to vent a little too but more on that later.


Cast of Characters: (age at time of trip)
Me  Heather  40!!! Disney lover, organizing guru & a bit of a control freak  previous visits 81, 86, Feb 97, May 99, Jan 04, Jan '10 & Jan '12
DH  Bill  45 - PSU loving, laid back & happily lets me do all the planning  previous visits 79, Feb 97, May 99, Jan 04, Jan '10 & Jan '12
DD  Lucy  7 - Thoughtful, loving but anxious  previous visits Jan '10 & Jan '12
DS1  Jack  6 - Rough, cuddly but does not listen to a word I say  previous visits Jan '10 & Jan '12
DS2 - Quinn - 2 - Smiley, sweet heart or terror, can change in the flip of a switch - previous visit Jan '12

FIL - Pop - Laid back, humorous but doesn't know when he takes things too far sometimes - previous visits 79, '03

SIL - Beth - Loving, generous but misguided at times - previous visits 79, '00, June '10 & Jan '12
DNi - MK - 6 - Adventurous, but will not eat real food - previous visits June '10 & Jan '12

I will mention the trip to my family too. There is a chance my parents will join us. But they are pretty independent.


Location: (not booked yet)
Art of Animation Nemo Suite

When:
Monday, November 4 - Tuesday, November 12 (SIL & DNi will be arriving Thursday, November 7)
We are switching from our usual January time frame to November to accommodate DD's school schedule. I'm one of those parents who doesn't like to pull their kids from school for vacation. This is Jersey Week, so her days missed will be limited. I hope we do ok with the larger crowds.

 

[HHMcG]

I need to book our packages. My family of 5 will be in our own suite with 8-day Park Hoppers plus Dining. FIL will be in another suite with the same package. SIL & DNi will join him on day 3. SIL already priced out 5-day Park Hoppers from AAA. And they will have to pay for dinning out of pocket. (Unless by some chance we can get free dining. Then I'll put SIL & DNi on same package as Pop.)

 

[HHMcG]

None of the kids know about the trip yet. I assume we will tell ours about a month out from the trip. SIL is not telling DNi until they get on the plane. I think it will be hysterical because DNi will be so mad thinking that we are going without her. But I could not do that to my kids. I think the anticipation of the trip is too fun for them to miss out on completely. And DD would be too anxious if she found out at the last minute.
Our past two Jan trips we told the kids at Christmas with a big present and a scavenger hunt. I'm not sure how we'll do it this time. I'm open to ideas?!?

 

[HHMcG]

Oh, the title of this PTR comes from a DL video my kids watch all the time. Since we have been planning I've had the song running thru my head nonstop.

 

[HHMcG]

This weekend was DS2's second birthday. So fun! But I must admit I had Disney on the brain too much. I wanted to think about planning our Disney trip more than planning his big day. We ended up having a great couple of days and he had a blast.
Oh and he has taken to yelling "Mickey" every morning to watch the DL video I mentioned last post. I find it so cute. Everyone else in the family just finds it annoying.

 

[HHMcG]

DH and I made our list of Must-Dos, Probables and Maybe restaurants. Now I need to forward it to the ILs for their input. But first, I'd love input here!

I'll add up front that family style/buffets will be big with us this trip. Our 2 year old is a big eater and free at those meals.

We will have 8 TS credits to use. Assuming we get ADRs for our Must-Dos and Probable, that leaves 3 to pick from our Maybes. I feel like one should be at HS (maybe a Fantasmic! Dinner package) because I love that park and we spend a good amount of time there.


Must-Do
O'hana (dinner) - favorite that we missed last trip
Chef Mickey's (b-fast or dinner, first or second day of trip) - love seeing the big 5 early in the trip so we don't have to wait in lines to see them later

Probably
Cinderella's Royal Table (b-fast or dinner) - we have never done CRT and I think it is something we should at least do once before the kids get too old to love it.
Garden Grill - never been but I am getting really excited for this one

Maybe
Be Our Guest (probably for lunch. I'm not crazy about the dinner menu but I guess if I can swing an ADR I should take it)
Crystal Palace - love the b-fast. Just depends if we have too many meals already planned at/near MK
50's Prime Time Cafe - never been
Bongos Cuban Cafe - never been
Raglan Rose - never been
Liberty Tree Tavern
Hollywood & Vine
Mama Melrose
Sci-Fi Drive In - never been
La Hacienda de San Angel/San Angel Inn
Rose & Crown - depending on timing of Illuminations
Whispering Canyon Cafe - never been
Tusker House - never been

 

[naumannln83]

Looks like you have a great trip planned so far!!

 

[HHMcG]

Thought I would resurrect this thread now that our trip is getting closer - less then 100 days!!!!!

I'll start by posting our ADRs

11-5 5:25 Garden Grill (first time)
11-6 6:35 O'hana (a favorite!)
11-7 5:30 Chef Mickey (had to wait for DSIL & DNi to join us)
11-8 5:30 Ragland Road (first time)
11-9 6:25 Be Our Guest (first time)
11-10 3:30 Mama Melrose Fantasmic! Package
11-11 8:05am Cindy's Royal Table (first time)

I also have 2 back up ADRs
O'hana on our arrival night because my aunt and uncle (who live in FL) are hoping to join us one of the nights. Once I know which night I'll cancel the other ressies.
Crystal Palace for breakfast because I love it and hate the idea of skipping it but I know I'll end up canceling.

I'm also thinking about trying for an ADR at Hollywood & Vine, bfast or lunch just in case Sofia gets added. I know my DNi and DD will love to see her. But should I add a meal for that when we could just wait in her line?? Will her line be awful?? We've eaten at H&V and I don't love it. Maybe for breakfast I would. I love breakfast. Hmm...



I'll be back on Friday will and overview of our itinerary.

 

[wiigirl]

Following along.