We're doing what??? A Wonder-ful PTR

[photographymom517]

Here is the problem. I was originally planning to spend 11/6 (probably won't arrive till 12) at California Adventure and do the World of Color dinner package, and then spend the whole next day at Disneyland... But that is a Monday and there is no night time entertainment (Fantasmic or fireworks) at Disneyland Monday night. I LOVE fireworks. They are my favorite things at Disney Parks. So now I am thinking I should do park hoppers and then I can do DCA and then hop over to Disneyland for Fantasmic and late fireworks, then do Disneyland Monday and hop over to DCA for WoC dinner... It's only about $30 more for the park hoppers... Suggestions? Advice?

Glad you decided to go with the Park Hopper option!!!

Its sooo much cheaper than at WDW -- wow!!! I think it will work out better to have the hoppers! There's no way I could take a trip to Disney without seeing fireworks! I swear while most people go for the thrill rides, I go to see the characters, eat snacks, and watch parades and fireworks!!!

Can't wait to see all of your purchases!!! I'm going to Target tomorrow!

I'm taking a trip to Target to find a birthday gift for my nephew. His party is Friday & normally while I do not wait until the last minute, my SIL has changed the date of his party like five times (she switched it because of our trip!) So I figure while I'm there, it won't hurt to look at the Halloween stuff & back to school supplies!!! Thanks for the heads-up on the folders & Mr. Potato Head! And so glad that Lauren told me about those shirts!!!

 

[stephielela]

Glad you decided to go with the Park Hopper option!!!

Its sooo much cheaper than at WDW -- wow!!! I think it will work out better to have the hoppers! There's no way I could take a trip to Disney without seeing fireworks! I swear while most people go for the thrill rides, I go to see the characters, eat snacks, and watch parades and fireworks!!!

Can't wait to see all of your purchases!!! I'm going to Target tomorrow!

I'm taking a trip to Target to find a birthday gift for my nephew. His party is Friday & normally while I do not wait until the last minute, my SIL has changed the date of his party like five times (she switched it because of our trip!) So I figure while I'm there, it won't hurt to look at the Halloween stuff & back to school supplies!!! Thanks for the heads-up on the folders & Mr. Potato Head! And so glad that Lauren told me about those shirts!!!

Yes, I am all about the fireworks too. I am trying to make sure we see pretty much all the entertainment possible, so we are going to be seeing Fantasmic (totally different than WDW's) and the fireworks at Disneyland and World of Color and the Pixar parade at DCA.

I bought a shirt for the cruise, but I am thinking abotu taking it back becuase it was like $30, even on clearance... but I really like it so I will think about it!

I can't believe you are going in 6 days!!!

 

[stephielela]

Woo Hoo!!!! I randomly decided to measure Jack yesterday, since all week he has been wearing jeans, and so far most of them are a bit on the short side. Sure enough, WITHOUT SHOES he measured right at 40 inches!! This of course is the height requirement for most rides that have a height requirement. I think there are only a few higher than that (California Screamin', Grizzly River, Indiana Jones) so he will have PLENTY to ride on our trip!! So far these are the rides/attractions I am interested in:
DCA
Tower of Terror
Soarin'- MUST DO!!!
Silly Swings
Fliks Flyers
Monsters Inc
Muppet Vision 3D
Toy Story Mania
Tuck and Roll Buggies
Heimlichs Train
Redwood Creek trail- Can kids do this on their own?
Lady Bug Boogie
Aladdin- I really want to do this, it's an amazing show, but it's 45 minutes long not including the wait to get in, and I am not sure we will have that kind of time...
I don't really know much about the newer rides at DCA, so any advice/suggestions would be helpful!
Disneyland
Alice In Wonderland
Autopia
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Casey Jr. train
Dumbo
Tiki Room
Nemo Subs
Gadgets Go Coaster
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Matterhorn
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Peter Pan
Pinocchio
Storybook boats
Haunted Mansion
Winnie the Pooh
Roger Rabbit
Snow White
Big Thunder
Star Tours
Space Mountain- We will ride BTMRR and Matterhorn first, and if he loves those, we might brave Space Mountain, but I don't want to traumatize him
Splash Mountain- He has said he doesn't want to ride this, so if he still doesn't want to, we will skip it
I know that's a long list, so we may have to narrow it down some and prioritize, but I am hoping for really low crowds, so maybe we will get more done than I expect?

 

[jenseib]

Yay for the growth. LOL! I sear Claire just keeps growing and growing. She needs to stop

 

[Leshaface]

AWESOME! Congrats on 40 inches!!

I think you'll be able to get ALL of your list done. Especially since you'll be going at an 'off' time. That Sunday will be a little busy, but Monday will be great! Will you be touring the parks on tuesday?

 

[franandaj]

Hi Steph! I should have known you had a PTR going!

I love your themed dinners! Glad to see you're keeping that up! I want to hear all about this cruise. I'm really trying to convince Fran to sign us up so between your TR and Leshaface's hopefully I can get some good leverage!

 

[stephielela]

Yay for the growth. LOL! I sear Claire just keeps growing and growing. She needs to stop

I know what you mean!! They just grow out of clothes so fast! We are having a yard sale Saturday and I swear I am selling more clothes of Jacks than I personally have ever owned! Even a pair of jeans I bought in Feb/March of last year. I put them on him this past weekend and they were high waters!

AWESOME! Congrats on 40 inches!!

I think you'll be able to get ALL of your list done. Especially since you'll be going at an 'off' time. That Sunday will be a little busy, but Monday will be great! Will you be touring the parks on tuesday?

I'm most excited about Soarin and BTMRR I think! They aren't really scary so I don't have to also wonder if he is "old" enough. I was pretty surprised he said he didn't want to ride Splash, but I'm not really a fan so I'm not upset
I hope you are right, I really want to see a lot, but I also want to do all the night entertainment. We aren't doing parks Tuesday, We have to get back so I can get ready for work the next day And so I can start my TR!

Hi Steph! I should have known you had a PTR going!

I love your themed dinners! Glad to see you're keeping that up! I want to hear all about this cruise. I'm really trying to convince Fran to sign us up so between your TR and Leshaface's hopefully I can get some good leverage!

Funny you should mention the dinners, I have an update on that I will post tomorrow! I promis to do a detailed report on the cruise, I really want to experience as much as I can so I can convince others to try it, and sell it to clients. It's hard to sell something you haven't experienced! If you have any specific questions let me know and I will get answers for you!!!

 

[franandaj]

Our main concern is how "accessible" things are. Foreign countries aren't known for their ADA type compliance. I know we wouldn't be booking a zip line tour but it would be nice to find something fun that we wouldn't need to be fit as a marathon runner.

I'm also curious about which night rotate dining wise and when the pirate night is so I can book Palo instead! There was far top much coconut on the menu on Leshaface's TR from the Dream!

 

[stephielela]

I FINALLY finished our countdown calendar. For anyone who has followed previous PTR's you might know that my countdowns must involve Mickey Heads from Home Depot. For our December trip last year, I got 99 of them and put them on the side of a cabinet in our kitchen. We would take one off everyday.

I always feel wierd about it because I feel like people at Home Depot are watching me as I take the Mickey Heads (they are free paint chips), so this time I spread out my trips so I wouldn't take them all at once. I really had a much mor polished idea of what I wanted my calendar to look like, but in the end, I never had enough time and it was getting late, so I just threw some stuff on posterboard and here it is!

I also went online and modified my Amazon order yesterday, so I am now getting the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland AND the one for WDW, both 2012. I think it was around $27 after shipping for both, and I know I will use the WDW for clients, so I figured why not! They should be here next week!

 

[stephielela]

Our main concern is how "accessible" things are. Foreign countries aren't known for their ADA type compliance. I know we wouldn't be booking a zip line tour but it would be nice to find something fun that we wouldn't need to be fit as a marathon runner.

I'm also curious about which night rotate dining wise and when the pirate night is so I can book Palo instead! There was far top much coconut on the menu on Leshaface's TR from the Dream!

I know what you mean, a lot of the descriptions of the Port Adventures mentioned how strollers could be taken, but there would be some situations where they may not be able to used. I am taking a couple of laid back tours, so I will let you know what I think!

I will be taking pictures of the menus every night. I really hope my table mates don't look at me like I am nuts.

 

[Leshaface]

I'm most excited about Soarin and BTMRR I think! They aren't really scary so I don't have to also wonder if he is "old" enough. I was pretty surprised he said he didn't want to ride Splash, but I'm not really a fan so I'm not upset
I hope you are right, I really want to see a lot, but I also want to do all the night entertainment. We aren't doing parks Tuesday, We have to get back so I can get ready for work the next day And so I can start my TR!

Have you shown him any of the rides he'll be able to get on, on youtube? To somewhat get him excited/prepare him for what he'll be able to ride? Or are you just waiting until you get to the parks?

Your trip is coming up mighty quick...can't believe it's already the 9th of September!

Our main concern is how "accessible" things are. Foreign countries aren't known for their ADA type compliance. I know we wouldn't be booking a zip line tour but it would be nice to find something fun that we wouldn't need to be fit as a marathon runner.

I'm also curious about which night rotate dining wise and when the pirate night is so I can book Palo instead! There was far top much coconut on the menu on Leshaface's TR from the Dream!

There was a lot of coconut! And that was one of the first things I did when booking the cruise for the MR...I checked to see when Pirate night was so we wouldn't have to eat that food again

 

[Leshaface]

Love, love, LOVE your countdown calendar!

Does Home Depot still have the Mickey Heads?! I remember a while back, someone had said that their local home depot had gotten rid of the MH's?

Steph, i'm with you on the picture taking at dinner. I'm hoping no one will care that I'll be obsessively clicking away at dinner. Hopefully they'll be some DISer's at my table that will be doing the same thing!

 

[Dream426]

What a great idea for the countdown. I am going to have to remember that. I should have stole some DH worked there. I used to look at them all the time. Anyway I think it is so cute that countdown.

 

[stephielela]

Love, love, LOVE your countdown calendar!

Does Home Depot still have the Mickey Heads?! I remember a while back, someone had said that their local home depot had gotten rid of the MH's?

Steph, i'm with you on the picture taking at dinner. I'm hoping no one will care that I'll be obsessively clicking away at dinner. Hopefully they'll be some DISer's at my table that will be doing the same thing!

All of the ones in my area still have them. I am hoping that if I tell people I am a travel agent, and that this trip is research, they won't think I'm crazy

What a great idea for the countdown. I am going to have to remember that. I should have stole some DH worked there. I used to look at them all the time. Anyway I think it is so cute that countdown.

Thanks! I love them, I always am looking for something to do with them. And Home Depot must be aware of the appeal becuase I swear there were abotu 3 times as many lime green ones as the other colors

 

[stephielela]

Well, today I made $84 more for my trip!! We had a citywide yard sale and I got all the stuff ready and my parents sold stuff while I was at work, and we split it 50/50. I was hoping for $100 each, but 84$ isn't too bad. My mom said not a lot of the baby/kid clothes I had out sold, so I think I am going to take them to the baby consignment store near our house and see if they will buy it. At this point I just want some amount of $ for it, and I want to get rid of it. I'm not expecting a lot, but who knows! I will be interested to see what sold...

 

[stephielela]

As we are getting closer I am realizing how much I still have to do!!! I think the sudden change to vacation venues really threw me, usually be now I have a day by day, minute by minute plan. When I thought we were going to WDW I was trying to pace myself so I would still have stuff to figure out, but since this trip is a whole new animal for me... I need to get on it!

So yesterday I went ahead and booked the DCL shuttle from LAX to the port. Typically I would avoid using cruiseline transportation for this because it is usually overpriced, and I don't like waiting for a bus to fill up and then head over. In this case I decided to go with DCL for 2 reasons. 1. It's a Disney bus, so I am hoping it will feel at least a little magical 2. We are arriving the day of the cruise so I want to have all my bases covered (as much as possible) to ensure we get on that ship! I wasn't thrilled with the $60 price tag, but what can ya do right?

Once I had that booked I started working on out harbor-hotel leg and our hotel-LAX leg. The hotel-LAX leg was pretty simple, Super Shuttle is $16 per person, pretty reasonable, so I booked that. The harbor-hotel leg has been trickier. It's so much more costly! It was going to be $57 (total) with Super Shuttle. I think I am just going to get a cab when we get off the boat instead. Mainly, I have no solid idea of how early we can get off, and I want to be able to leave ASAP, since this will be a park day for us. Also in the past, cabs have proven to be as cheap or cheaper than shuttles. So since I am going that route, my transportation block is checked!

Up next... luggage woes

 

[lbuzz52]

Glad you decided to go with the Park Hopper option!!!

Its sooo much cheaper than at WDW -- wow!!! I think it will work out better to have the hoppers! There's no way I could take a trip to Disney without seeing fireworks! I swear while most people go for the thrill rides, I go to see the characters, eat snacks, and watch parades and fireworks!!!

Can't wait to see all of your purchases!!! I'm going to Target tomorrow!

I'm taking a trip to Target to find a birthday gift for my nephew. His party is Friday & normally while I do not wait until the last minute, my SIL has changed the date of his party like five times (she switched it because of our trip!) So I figure while I'm there, it won't hurt to look at the Halloween stuff & back to school supplies!!! Thanks for the heads-up on the folders & Mr. Potato Head! And so glad that Lauren told me about those shirts!!!

I forgot to pick up folders again!

As we are getting closer I am realizing how much I still have to do!!! I think the sudden change to vacation venues really threw me, usually be now I have a day by day, minute by minute plan. When I thought we were going to WDW I was trying to pace myself so I would still have stuff to figure out, but since this trip is a whole new animal for me... I need to get on it!

So yesterday I went ahead and booked the DCL shuttle from LAX to the port. Typically I would avoid using cruiseline transportation for this because it is usually overpriced, and I don't like waiting for a bus to fill up and then head over. In this case I decided to go with DCL for 2 reasons. 1. It's a Disney bus, so I am hoping it will feel at least a little magical 2. We are arriving the day of the cruise so I want to have all my bases covered (as much as possible) to ensure we get on that ship! I wasn't thrilled with the $60 price tag, but what can ya do right?

Once I had that booked I started working on out harbor-hotel leg and our hotel-LAX leg. The hotel-LAX leg was pretty simple, Super Shuttle is $16 per person, pretty reasonable, so I booked that. The harbor-hotel leg has been trickier. It's so much more costly! It was going to be $57 (total) with Super Shuttle. I think I am just going to get a cab when we get off the boat instead. Mainly, I have no solid idea of how early we can get off, and I want to be able to leave ASAP, since this will be a park day for us. Also in the past, cabs have proven to be as cheap or cheaper than shuttles. So since I am going that route, my transportation block is checked!

Up next... luggage woes

i think that you made smart decisions with your transportation choices. i woudl do the same thing to make sure i got on the ship!

 

[stephielela]

I forgot to pick up folders again!




i think that you made smart decisions with your transportation choices. i woudl do the same thing to make sure i got on the ship!

I was at Target yesterday and the folders were down to $.03... so naturally I bought a bunch more!

 

[stephielela]

Our stateroom was assigned today!! I had booked 11B GTY status hoping for an upgrade... And we got it! We got upgraded to a 10C #2133. The reviews say there is som noise, but I'm just happy we got upgraded, I really wanted the split bathrooms! I know its silly since its just me and Jack, but I really wanted to see how it is! I'm so excited!

 

[franandaj]

Our stateroom was assigned today!! I had booked 11B GTY status hoping for an upgrade... And we got it! We got upgraded to a 10C #2133. The reviews say there is som noise, but I'm just happy we got upgraded, I really wanted the split bathrooms! I know its silly since its just me and Jack, but I really wanted to see how it is! I'm so excited!

The split bathrooms are great! I really liked them on our trip!