We're Changing The Plan Again?? You mean there's a Plan? New TR Posted/Link Posted

[TinksThree]

Jumping in!! I haven't gotten very far, but I did read your Park Fare part, because I just made that ADR for us in January. We'll also be traveling with our teenage sons, so I'm always interested in how that goes!!

Welcome!! Chris was doted on by all of the princesses and Anastasia and Drizella! He loved it! I think Madison started gettign a little jealous from the attention they were paying him!

I'm sorry to hear Park Fare was a disappointment. It was my number one pick when Caitlin and I were going on our girls only trip. Glad to hear we aren't missing much.

I love the family picture infront of the castle. We didn't get many photopass pictures either. DH kept saying that we already had the picture infront of the ball, castle, etc. I guess once you have one that is all you need forever.

I was not impressed but hopefully for others 1900 Park Fare will be better! I really hope it was an off night! I know what you mean about the pictures! Keith is always telling me we have a picture of this or that but I tell him not from this trip!

 

[LoriH91]

Well I went back & read the whole thing!! I'm loving it!! And I had no idea about the emoticons!? I can see an entire page of dancing bananas getting annoying, but whatever on the rest of it. Guess I just always take stuff as sarcastic, since that's how I am!! I can even get a bit snarky, but I try to refrain from that in public.

I saw one TR where they convinced their son to give one of the girls an engagement ring at 1900 Park Fare. It sounded like so much fun!!

 

[TinksThree]

Well I went back & read the whole thing!! I'm loving it!! And I had no idea about the emoticons!? I can see an entire page of dancing bananas getting annoying, but whatever on the rest of it. Guess I just always take stuff as sarcastic, since that's how I am!! I can even get a bit snarky, but I try to refrain from that in public.

I saw one TR where they convinced their son to give one of the girls an engagement ring at 1900 Park Fare. It sounded like so much fun!!

So happy you are enjoying everything!! I agree about the emoticons! I love using them as an expression of what I mean especially sicne I am like you...sarcastic! I'm never opinionated either... I tend to get a little passionate about things at times.

I love that about the engagement ring and 1900 Park Fare! Wish I had thought of that one!!

 

[FloridaPixie]

We'll actually be leaving tomorrow and staying until the 17th (my daughter has "Meet the Teacher" for kindergarten on the 18th!). We've changed our ressie from Chef Mickey's (since we've done that one before) to Cape May Cafe Breakfast with a beachy Minnie, so we're happy to try something new. Looking forward to reading more of your report, and I hope you didn't skip anymore things that you really wanted to do . . .you're not at WDW everyday friend!

 

[TinksThree]

We'll actually be leaving tomorrow and staying until the 17th (my daughter has "Meet the Teacher" for kindergarten on the 18th!). We've changed our ressie from Chef Mickey's (since we've done that one before) to Cape May Cafe Breakfast with a beachy Minnie, so we're happy to try something new. Looking forward to reading more of your report, and I hope you didn't skip anymore things that you really wanted to do . . .you're not at WDW everyday friend!

I hope you guys have an awesome trip!! I have heard wonderful things about Cape May! The beachy Mickey and Minnie are so cute!!

 

[TinksThree]

We had our first Band Booster meeting this week....and the initial planning for the band trip has begun. The trip to Disney is set for March 22! So I am crossing my fingers it all works out and I can go!!! Of course being a chaperone to a bunch of high school kids isn't exactly a relaxing Disney vacation and it would be unlike any of my previous trips but I will look forward to just being there and soaking up whatever atmosphere I can!! Plus I am still hoping to convince Keith into a birthday trip next October (2012) for me to the Food and Wine Festival! So more crossing fingers! I am running out of fingers to cross!!

 

[LoriH91]

We had our first Band Booster meeting this week....and the initial planning for the band trip has begun. The trip to Disney is set for March 22! So I am crossing my fingers it all works out and I can go!!! Of course being a chaperone to a bunch of high school kids isn't exactly a relaxing Disney vacation and it would be unlike any of my previous trips but I will look forward to just being there and soaking up whatever atmosphere I can!! Plus I am still hoping to convince Keith into a birthday trip next October (2012) for me to the Food and Wine Festival! So more crossing fingers! I am running out of fingers to cross!!

Our Band trip this year is to LA. I'm wondering if I can get a spot as chaperone to check out DL!!

ETA: And I have to check out your tr from last year now!! We were there from June 1-10, so we overlapped!

 

[TinksThree]

Our Band trip this year is to LA. I'm wondering if I can get a spot as chaperone to check out DL!!

ETA: And I have to check out your tr from last year now!! We were there from June 1-10, so we overlapped!

Wow...LA!! I have never been out there but definitely think it would be worth it!!

That is so cool you were there at the same time! I found even that week not too bad crowd wise.

 

[TinksThree]

Sunday morning we awoke bright and early ready to take on a whole new park! We had “done” our two days in Magic Kingdom and we would not be returning. As I had said before this was by design since it is Keith’s least favorite park. But we were so fortunate on both Friday and Saturday to score some awesome wait times and we pretty much covered everything we could possibly want!! The only regret for Magic kingdom was not really getting to see MSEP!

So, where to go on this beautiful Sunday morning? It is still Memorial Day weekend so I had been anticipating large crowds for the weekend since I first began planning this trip. Also of note (I don’t think I mentioned this at all in this TR, only in my PTR): I use The Unofficial Guide and the accompanying Touring Plans web site for direction on everything from Touring Plans (which I pretty much have down to memory now), Best and Worst Park Days, and crowd levels. It is important to note this since I was really focusing on their recommendations due to the holiday weekend.

Initially I had planned on Epcot for Monday (Memorial Day) since it is a larger park and can accommodate more people since it is spread out. However, TP recommended DHS for Monday and Epcot for Sunday. They have NEVER let me down so I made the switch and on Sunday we headed to my upmost favorite park in all of the Walt Disney World Resort!! EPCOT!!!!!

First things first though! Food!!! We have two ADRs scheduled for today! Lunch is at the Mexican Pavilion—San Angel Inn—11:30am reservations. The kids and I ate at San Angel Inn in 2009 on our Spring Break trip. Ever since I was in the 6th grade and rode the boat ride in Mexico, I wanted to eat at this restaurant. It looked so romantic!! It is so peaceful and calming inside. You forget that there is an active Epcot park outside the doors! Of course our 2009 meal wasn’t very romantic with me and two teens but it was very good! We all really enjoyed it and decided to give the place another whirl.

Our 2nd ADR was for Kouzzina’s. Originally we had plans for Akershus but once I knew Keith and Chris were going I began having 2nd thoughts on another character meal full of princesses. So I made the change to Kouzzina’s since my mom loves Food Network and all of their chefs…including Cat Cora who is also from Mississippi. This reservation was for 6pm. Thankfully I was so wise to cancel that Akershus reservation months ago because after the previous night, I know this would have been the ultimate fiasco!!

Well, during the fiasco the previous night, I also learned many things about Keith’s likes and dislikes—which I listed so I will not rehash. However, one was that one of the things he really, really liked was riding the boat to DTD from POR last year and eating. I only have one day of this planned! Not good, so overnight I decide to check to see what DTD restaurants we can go to on the DDP. Captain Jack’s, Raglan Road, and Planet Hollywood are the choices. I get up on Sunday morning and while everyone finishes getting ready I see what I can do to cancel Kouzzina’s and change it to one of the DTD restaurants.

Thankfully we have an I-Phone and I had looked at the menus so I had an idea what we did and did not want. I go down to a very helpful CM and tell her my request. Within 5 minutes we have one ADR cancelled and we are all set up for another one….which I will reveal at a later time!! Bwah-ha-ha-ha (my best rendition of an evil laugh!)

So here we go….I did not realize my mom was looking so forward to Kouzzina’s! I announce at breakfast (breakfast bars from our room being eaten at the bus stop) that we have made the adjustment and she seems a little down. Boy I feel like dirt now! So thus begins a downward spiral of People Pleaser Extradonaire (me) trying to please 4 other people with different likes and dislikes plus keep the magic of Disney alive and well. As the trip progresses the plans are beginning to take major detours and there will be a few meltdowns. Hopefully by the end we will all be one big happy family enjoying the joys and adventures of WDW!!

Well, soccer practice calls so this is one short update with few pictures but I shall return and begin our Day 3 at Epcot plus reveal that new ADR!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I can empathize with feeling like you have to be a people pleaser. I was tasked with being the one that had to make the itinerary for our July trip that had eight people.

Can't wait to hear which restaurant you ended up at.

 

[ksl5f123]

I am so surprised that you haven't seen the Country Bears before. It is so funny! I love the music in there (although I am one of the people who think the bears could use some new fur).

I have never done the Jungle Cruise at night. Maybe that would improve my experience of it.

Too bad you missed MSEP.

that you get to go on the band trip. Now, this was a long time ago, but when I went on a band trip in high school we just had to check in with our chaperones every couple of hours.

Looking forward to your Epcot day...

 

[teacher1717]

Loving the report so far!!

 

[pinkxray]

Aw, too bad your Mom missed out on Kouzzina. How could you take eating at an Iron Chef's restaurant away from her? Just kidding... from what I hear you didn't miss much.

I can't wait to see where you end up. You always try places I would like to go but never will unless I am by myself.

Good luck with your future trip plans. I can't seem to make any decisions on where I want to go or when. I am so used to DH saying no I don't know what to do with myself when he agrees.

 

[TinksThree]

I can empathize with feeling like you have to be a people pleaser. I was tasked with being the one that had to make the itinerary for our July trip that had eight people.

Can't wait to hear which restaurant you ended up at.

Isn't it terrible being a people pleaser? I wish I could be a "whatever" person!! I will try to not keep the suspense too long on our restaurant choice!!

I am so surprised that you haven't seen the Country Bears before. It is so funny! I love the music in there (although I am one of the people who think the bears could use some new fur).

I have never done the Jungle Cruise at night. Maybe that would improve my experience of it.

Too bad you missed MSEP.

that you get to go on the band trip. Now, this was a long time ago, but when I went on a band trip in high school we just had to check in with our chaperones every couple of hours.

Looking forward to your Epcot day...

Country Bears was closed for refurb in '09 and last year we only had one day so it was hard fitting things in. I know I saw it as a kid but really no recollection of it! It is so funny!! And Jungle Cruise at night holds a bit of mystery to it!!

I think that is how they do it still on the band trips. I know when our oldest went to Universal they just checked in every once in awhile (although I did not go on that trip). If that is the case for us then I can meander all I want!! Well somewhat!! I go with no expectations!!

Loving the report so far!!

Thank you and I am so glad!! It makes my day to hear that people are enjoying my report!!

Aw, too bad your Mom missed out on Kouzzina. How could you take eating at an Iron Chef's restaurant away from her? Just kidding... from what I hear you didn't miss much.

I can't wait to see where you end up. You always try places I would like to go but never will unless I am by myself.

Good luck with your future trip plans. I can't seem to make any decisions on where I want to go or when. I am so used to DH saying no I don't know what to do with myself when he agrees.

I know...I am a terrible daughter aren't I?! I have heard mixed reviews so it wasn't too big of a let down for me. From reading your TRs I think our travel styles are so similar we could fit in well together!

I am "planning" a birthday trip in Oct 2012 and trying to make decisions on that now...like do I want to try to rent DVC points like you did to get a deluxe...it will be my 40th bday after all!

 

[TinksThree]

Sunday, May 29, 2011 has begun with bright sunshine and blue skies. We are up and ready to take on the day! I am super excited because I adore Epcot and last year Keith had motion sickness from Soarin’ plus a hurt foot that made our 1 day in the park not what I had planned. I was ready!! I could not wait to have not one but TWO full days in my favorite park! I also couldn’t wait to show Keith what he had missed last year…and I will go ahead and say….SUCCESS!!! Alright, so maybe he isn’t as infatuated as I am but I think he “gets it” a little more now! But I still get a fluttery feeling thinking about my Epcot days from this trip!!!

Well, the ADR has been adjusted, the breakfast consumed and we are loading on a bus very soon! My Epcot strategy is one side one day and the other side on Day 2. The plans for today (I list the times just to see if my planning is really feasible. I have to stress this to my travel companions so they do not have to think they must schedule in a bathroom break!!)

9am Rope Drop Test Track
9:25am Mission Space
Squeeze Pixie Hollow????
9:55am Innovations East/Club Cool
9:55am Sum of All Thrills (East)
10:30am Universe of Energy
11:20am Mexican Pavilion-Viva Mexico 11:30am
11:30am Lunch San Angel Inn
12:40pm Gran Fiesta Tour
1pm Norway Pavilion
1pm Maelstrom (FPs if necessary)
1:40pm China Pavilion
1:40pm Reflections of China
2:10pm Germany Pavilion
2:30pm Italy Pavilion/Sergio 2:30 or 3:30
2:50pm United States Pavilion-Voices at 2:45 or 3:30
2:50pm American Adventure
3:50pm Japan Pavilion
4:30pm Morocco Pavilion-France Serveur Amusant 4:40pm
squeeze--4:45pm Aladdin characters-Morocco or 5:45pm
5:30pm head to Boardwalk
6:40pm Kouzzina
squeeze-7:30pm Off Kilter-Canada (30min show)-2nd chance Wed
8pm back to Epcot-
9pm Illuminations


I will go ahead and say that the only change these plans really encountered were the evening. Kouzzina’s is nixed so obviously we will not be back to Epcot thus Illuminations will be out also. So we have DTD replacing the evening activities and that ADR. I will also go ahead and reveal where we ate (so you won’t have to wait forever!)…We had 3 choices: Captain Jack’s, Raglan Road and Planet Hollywood. After perusing the menus on the I-Phone we knew we wanted to try…….drum roll................


































Raglan Road!! The only catch was the earliest ADR was 9pm! Not my favorite time to eat but oh well! More on that experience at the end of Day 3!!

We arrive at Epcot at 9am sharp and begin our trek to the first stop: Test Track for me to get FPs and the kids to Mission Space. I have done Mission space once (green side) and it was okay but nothing that makes me want to go back over and over. The kids loved it and tried the orange side last year. They wanted to do the orange side again on this trip, so we so “have at it!”

I grab the FPs for Test Track with my mom and Keith in tow and then we head to Mission Space.

We want to go inside but you have to go through the line to get to the end. So we grab green passes and head in. Funny note: Madison and Chris left us upon park entry and we still pass them standing in the orange line after going and getting FPs at Test Track. Shows you how much longer the orange line is from the green! As we are walking in I am explaining the ride and why I chose not to do it. My mom and Keith decided to “maybe” try it. My mom is all up for it until they get to the part about if you do not like dark, tight places. She makes a quick exit. Surprisingly Keith goes ahead and the two of us ride. Once again, it is “eh” but at least he was game to give it a try! And only a little bit of motion sickness…cured by chewing gum!

We still finish before Madison and Chris, so we find my mom on a bench and we join her to wait. Bored, I walk around and play with the games in the area.

Finally, Chris and Madison return from their long journey to Mars and we are off to our next adventure!! First we go through the gift shop and I thought he was just too cute!!

Next up?

Another attraction we have not experienced: Universe of Energy.

I thought this was interesting. I can find us in the reflection but can you??

We go in and the video at the beginning in the large room has just started. We watch it and wait for the doors to open. The doors swing open and we are practically trampled by older people as they make their way in to ensure a front row seat!! Seriously?? Keith makes an observation about this. My mom agrees since most of these people appear to be her age and she was perfectly happy in the 2nd row! Oh, and the ride is practically empty! Evidentially seeing this from the front row must be pretty spectacular!!
I must have missed something in the ride because from the 2nd row I saw nothing worth running over people to get to the front row!!

In actuality, I did enjoy Universe of Energy. Ellen De Generes makes it pretty interesting. And I like the dinosaur animatronics. It was interesting and we all found the air conditioning refreshing even at 10:00 in the morning! I would definitely take on this one again. It isn’t a must do but worth the time!



Continued in next post....

 

[TinksThree]

We exit into the bright sunshine and head off to use the Test Track FPs.

We pretty much walk straight to a loading deck but first some pictures along the way of the queue:

We stand around waiting. I think it was maybe 10 minutes or so but it felt longer! They look extremely bored and uninterested.

We really weren’t so pictures do not always show the whole story!

Chris began getting into the Hidden Mickey thing slightly so he found this one on a board in the loading area.

In 2009 there was a video shown before loading that explained the whole testing process with the bumps, heat, cold, turns etc but this time they did not show the video. I found this a little disappointing…kind of felt jilted by not having this information. Last year when we tried to ride, the ride was down and we missed out entirely so we felt a relief when we were actually in the car ready to go!!

We went through all of the tests…the bumps, the turns, the near misses….
We didn’t seem too concerned with that near mishap!
Soon we were off racing our way around the track and soon it was all over.

Our ride photo!! I really like how PP is available at Test Track!!

Chris found his next car:

We looked around at the cars displayed for a few minutes before heading back out. We wandered towards Mexico. It is 10:50 am so still a few minutes before World Showcase opens up for the day!!! I WS

 

[IheartDDuck]

Ooohh, Raglan Road. I haven't eaten there yet, so I'm excited to hear about how you liked it.

I like Universe of Energy. I may be one of the only ones, but I like going on it.

That's strange that you didn't see the video at Test Track. They haven't done away with it, it just must not have been working that day. Bizarre.

 

[ksl5f123]

I love Epcot in the morning. There don't seem to be too many people in your scenery shots. Perhaps they were all riding the orange side of Mission: Space.

The boy in your monorail picture must have been running pretty fast - he is completely airborne!

 

[shan23877]

Just found your report and joining in! I'm cracking up at all of your pop culture references (especially the Full House reference) because DH and I do the same thing. Last time we were at WDW I asked DH if he thought I'd get to be 'princess of the day' like Michelle. Really enjoying the report, and thanks for sharing!

 

[Moira222]

I agree! Anastasia and Drizella were so hilarious! I think he has now learned that it is better to at least mention likes and dislikes!! I told him he can no longer complain about anything if he has not expressed his opinion up front!!

Yeah, that's how I roll in my family - if you don't vote, you don't gripe!

We exit Country Bears and decide to go on Jungle Cruise. I had heard the experience at night is different than daytime. It really is and we had fun!

Keith really enjoyed the corny jokes, which I knew he would!!

How fun to do two "corny" things one after the other.

This is my regret: I am a big girl and so is my mom. Keith has his own room key as do we. Why did I just follow along behind him (I am a people pleaser and don’t like to rock any boats…that is why!!) and not say “Go on and we will leave after the parade”!? Well, I didn’t so we only saw a run through of MSEP.

Been there, done that. Wasn't till our last night when Joe left feeling ill that I realized this was a good alternative. Oh well, next time!

Of course being a chaperone to a bunch of high school kids isn't exactly a relaxing Disney vacation and it would be unlike any of my previous trips but I will look forward to just being there and soaking up whatever atmosphere I can!! Plus I am still hoping to convince Keith into a birthday trip next October (2012) for me to the Food and Wine Festival! So more crossing fingers! I am running out of fingers to cross!!

A bad/busy trip to Disney beats a good day at work any day!!! Good luck with the October 2012 trip!!

So, where to go on this beautiful Sunday morning? It is still Memorial Day weekend so I had been anticipating large crowds for the weekend since I first began planning this trip. Also of note (I don’t think I mentioned this at all in this TR, only in my PTR): I use The Unofficial Guide and the accompanying Touring Plans web site for direction on everything from Touring Plans (which I pretty much have down to memory now), Best and Worst Park Days, and crowd levels. It is important to note this since I was really focusing on their recommendations due to the holiday weekend.

so where they on target???

I get up on Sunday morning and while everyone finishes getting ready I see what I can do to cancel Kouzzina’s and change it to one of the DTD restaurants.

definitely a good/bad thing _ we LOVED Kouzzina's, It was great for dinner. But I also really wanted to Raglan Road & we ended up cancelling that one. Was it awesome??

BTW when we did testtrack in May they still had the intro video..maybe they cut it to speed up lines on crowded days???