We're going back! Wait, you're parents are coming?! A Sept 2012 PTR! Update 9/10!

[mxkris]

Hello everyone! This will be my first PTR so please be gentle!

A little background:

I'm Kristin and DBF (Matt) and I have been together for almost 3 years now. We really are perfect for each other. We met one night, and literally have not been apart from each other since that night, I pretty much moved in with him and never left!

I grew up in Tampa, FL so I went to WDW quite a few times as child. Matt also went a few times growing up, since we live in GA, and really aren't too far. I also went for my HS graduation in 2004.

Matt and I went to WDW in 2010 for 3 days in a row on a FL trip where we stayed in Daytona. It was a little crazy.. we were staying in Daytona, so we drove back and forth (an hour) everyday from the beach!

From another Daytona trip (2011)

Our September 2010 Trip

We absolutely loved going in September! The crowds were pretty much non-existent! We didn't wait longer than 10 minutes for ANY ride!

World Showcase, like, Mid-Day!

We knew if we went back, we'd go in September. So, I waited for free dining and as soon as it was announced, I started planning!!

Coming up next...

My plans..
WHO else wants to go.....?

 

[archdandy]

Joining in! September has been my favorite time to go in all of our trips so far. I can't wait to read all about your plans.

 

[mxkris]

Well I got one follower!! Let's go!!

So after stalking the dis boards months and months and dreaming of another Disney trip, I convinced DBF we NEEDED to go back! He has been wanting to go back too, but we just haven't had the money. Matt and I both have what I would consider "blue collar" jobs. He's a mobile electronic installer (speakers, radios, gps, on-star..) and I'm a nurse's aide at a day care for medically fragile children. I graduated college last May with a major in marketing and a minor in management, but i've been looking for a job for a year now!


I recently just got a second job on the weekends teaching for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, teaching children and adults to ride dirt bikes, so now I have a big chunk of extra income.. Disney, here we come!

Our September Plans:

I picked a week I thought would work best with our schedules because we have a wedding in the family the 8th so we couldn't go that weekend. I don't get any paid vacation, so I knew out trip had to include a weekend that way I would miss less days of work!

I finally picked 9/15-9/19

@

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Caribbean Beach Resort!!!!

Matt and I LOVE the beach! Our dream would be to stay at the Poly but our budget would never allow that. We love the whole atmosphere and the tikis and everything. Our house has close to 20 tikis decorating it and I even have a tiki tattoo on my back! I figure we'll be staying at our "poor man's Poly" for now!!

We'll get into more details in the next post!!

 

[mxkris]

Alrighty then, lets keep this rolling! I'm working 60 hours a week for the entire month of May, plus teaching 2 classes for the MSF, so I may not have a lot of time to update this PTR!

I knew all the details of where I wanted to stay, when, I knew I wanted free dining.. blah blah, I pretty much just needed to book it! However, I mentioned to my parents that Matt and I were going back to WDW and my dad had made the comment that he would like to go back sometime. I think my parents really enjoyed the trip they took me on in 2004 for my graduation. Then a few weeks later I was at my local Disney store trading some Vinylmations and my dad mentioned it again that he wanted to go back to the World! So I figured, hey why not, I might as well see if they wanna come along! I'll handle all the planning and they can pretty much have a nice relaxing trip! Of course after I asked them they said yes and now we're all going in September!

I knew I could easily book this trip on my own. I had been pricing out every single option a million times in a million different ways! However, I thought I might as well pick out everything I want and let someone else get paid to book it for me, so I decided to go with a travel agent! I just contacted one, told him the dates, hotel, free dining, park hoppers, and he handled it!

SSSOOOOO.. after all of that.....

WE'RE BOOKED!

CBR Sept 15-19
FREE DINING
2 different rooms

 

[BillBrasky]

I'm following. Your title made me think of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWjBDPKGJPk

 

[mxkris]

I'm following. Your title made me think of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWjBDPKGJPk

HAHA! I haven't seen the show so I'm sure it's even funnier if you have!

Thanks for joining it! Hope you have fun!

 

[mxkris]

I survived another 70 hour work week! This is my only day off this week, so I figured I would try and post another update real quick before I have to head over to my parent's house for mother's day.

Happy Mother's day to the mommy's out there!

Soooooo..... it didn't take me long to decided that we needed another day at Disney! I just didn't think that 4 days was going to be enough. Sure, 4 parks, 4 days.. But I wanted some time to relax and really see everything. So I added another day to our reservation already! Now we're going the 15th-20th!!

So, should we get into the plans????!! I think so!!

I haven't decided if I'll work Friday the 14th or not.. but most likely yes, because I'll have the whole next week off and I don't get any paid vacation so I'll need to make as much money as possible!

Saturday the 15th
Leave around 4 in the morning and meet up with my parents at their house. We're all going to ride together and split the gas to save some money!!
Hopefully we'll arrive at CBR around 1. If the room is ready we'll put our stuff in the room and head to Magic Kingdom! If not, we'll leave it in the car and head their either way!
Our ADR this night is at.....

I've never been here and this is sort of a long story how I even made this ADR. We'll get to that in a minute!
Then it'll be back to CBR since MK closes at 10 to get some sleep!!


Okay, the story of the CRT ADR... When I started planning this trip everyone said, you're the expert, you make all the plans, we'll go where ever, and eat where ever! So, I had all of our park days and ADRs made. We're on the regular DDP so we only get 4 TS credits per person. SOOO I had 4 TS places picked out and reserved.

One night I was showing DBF some of the places we were eating and he said, "Have you ever eaten inside the castle?", I was like, well no, so of course he's like, oh man we gotta do that! So i go on to explain that it's expensive, and two TS credits, which means we'll have to cancel another ADR, or pay OOP, and he's so confused... long story short, I thought it would be kind of magical to do on our first night so I canceled one of our ADRs!! BUT, later we'll be paying for one OOP so it'll all work out!

I hope I didn't bore you to tears!!

Next post will be day 2, the 16th!

 

[mxkris]

4 MONTHS TODAY!!!

Okay! Had to get that out!

I wanted to share another reason I'm really excited about this trip before I get into our day 2 plans...

VINYLMATION TRADING!

I've recently become obsessed with vinylmations and can't wait to get to the parks to do some trading! So be sure to follow along with any updates of vinyls I get before the trip, and anything I get while I'm down there! I just placed and order on DS.com on Sunday with about 6 vinyls coming so I'll let you know what I got!

Anyways, onto day 2!!

Sunday the 16th

Today we'll be heading to..

This is probably Matt and my favorite park. Not really sure why.. last time we really just enjoyed walking around the world showcase and seeing everything! I'm hoping to either grab lunch at Sunshine Seasons or La Cantina de San Angel. I'll see what kind of food everyone is feeling up to! Snack credits will probably be used at Karamell Kuche, or for churros, not sure yet! As far as rides, I think we're going to miss the re-opening of Test Track, but oh well I guess!
Our ADR that night will be at..

Coral Reef!

I'm excited for this ADR! I love aquariums and have a few saltwater tanks in our house so I think we'll really like the atmosphere. We all really like seafood too so I think it'll be a good one for us!!



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[archdandy]

Woohoo for your parents coming along on the trip! That is of course unless you dont want them to come, in that case, boooo hiss! But from your report it does seem like you want them to come, so hurray!

Have you guys ever eaten at Coral Reef? We ate there once on our first trip and we loved the atmosphere. The service and food were okay but nothing special. So we haven't been back since. But I would like to go back some day because its so cool being inside the restaurant.

 

[mxkris]

HAHA! No no, I don't mind them coming! I actually work with my mom three days a week so I'm pretty used to hanging out with my mom, even at 26! I'm not so sure Matt really wants to spend all that time with them in the car, and then in the parks all day, but I figure we can go our separate ways maybe, and then meet up for the ADRs? I don't think he minds though, he likes them, and vice versa so it should be a really good time!

As for the ADRs.. The only place I've eaten at is Tokyo Dining (where Matt and I ate in 2010). I may have eaten at a TS restaurant as a kid, but I don't remember any. I'm sure we ate CS though! LOL! I've read mixed reviews on Coral Reef so we'll see!!

I'm off to Matt's show tonight (he's in a band) so I may have some pictures to post tomorrow!! Have a good night!

 

[BillBrasky]

Yeah, vinylmations are new and cool. I recently got into pins, so I'm old and lame. Vinylmations are big and clunky... you can't wear them around on a lanyard. So yeah, pins forever, vinylmations never.

We ate at Coral Reef on our recent trip. We sat in the front corner right by the tank and the big sea turtle swam up right to us and just collapsed right in front of us and stayed there, perfectly still, for the duration of our stay. I thought it might be dead, and continually told my wife it was dead for the rest of the day. But the waiter said that was just his favorite spot to sleep. Have a beer or 12 for me in Epcot.

 

[lnk1229]

So excited for you- your first PTR is amazing!!

We are going in September too... Our first time during this month so I am glad to hear you have some experience in going during September. We went in June for our first trip then in January for our second trip. The January trip was way too cold for my tastes... Can't wait to be back in Disney while it's warm out!! Your plans so far look amazing. Hope you have a fantastic time!

 

[mxkris]

So excited for you- your first PTR is amazing!!

We are going in September too... Our first time during this month so I am glad to hear you have some experience in going during September. We went in June for our first trip then in January for our second trip. The January trip was way too cold for my tastes... Can't wait to be back in Disney while it's warm out!! Your plans so far look amazing. Hope you have a fantastic time!

Oh yay! When in September are you going?! I really did love going this time of year, it's still hot, but the crowds weren't there! Are you going to make a PTR? I'd love to follow along!! Thanks for following mine! Now we just wait!!

 

[Cafeen]

Just popping by to say hello

As far as Coral Reef goes (and really any of the Disney restaurants), they all get mixed reviews. I don't think I've seen a single restaurant on property that's only gotten stellar reviews (of course, I only go by what people post, I don't actually read any )

Sounds like great plans so far maybe we'll pass by each other on Sunday too (I always end up doing Epcot on Sunday when I arrive on Thursday... no clue why, but I've done that for 3 years now...)

 

[mxkris]

Update time! Blah! I've been so busy! But my 60 hour work weeks are over and it's memorial day so I'm kickin back!!

I didn't get any good pictures from Matt's show the other night, not of him anyway. He was up on a hugeee drum riser and you could only see the top of his head in the pictures! Plus he moves so fast he's always blurry anyway! I have some older pictures I've taken so here's some to share anyway!!

Told ya he's always blurry! There are some really good ones I've taken on the band's facebook page i'm just too lazy to go get them off of there!

I also said I'd post some Vinylmation pictures! I got a DS.com package but I also met with some local traders a few days later and traded so I'll just post of pictures of my whole colection and some of the new things I got from trading with them! One of the guys just went on a solo trip to the World and picked up 10 of the 12 POTC and I bought all 10 of those from him!!

Here's my whole collection right now!

ANYWAYSSS.... Back to my trip plans!!!

Day 3

Monday the 17th

Today will be..

Matt and I didn't go to AK in 2010 so I'm excited to go! I did go on my graduation trip in 2004, but Dinosaur was closed, and Expedition Everest wasn't even there yet, so I really missed a lot at this park that day!!

I don't think this park will be an all day event for us. I think we'll most likely ride Dinosaur, EE, Kilmanjaro, try and watch Nemo, and eat some lunch at Flame Tree BBQ! Then we'll spend the rest of the day back at MK!!

Our ADR this night is the one I'm looking forward to more than almost ANYHTING!!

Matt and I are in love with anything beachy, and tikis! You may remember from one of my 1st posts that we have tons of tikis in our house even! I just know we'll love the atmosphere and I can't waittt to go to the poly! I hope I'm not disappointed!

 

[mxkris]

Just popping by to say hello

As far as Coral Reef goes (and really any of the Disney restaurants), they all get mixed reviews. I don't think I've seen a single restaurant on property that's only gotten stellar reviews (of course, I only go by what people post, I don't actually read any )

Sounds like great plans so far maybe we'll pass by each other on Sunday too (I always end up doing Epcot on Sunday when I arrive on Thursday... no clue why, but I've done that for 3 years now...)

Thanks for stopping by!! Yeah, we'll most likely be in Epcot the whole day since our ADR is there so maybe we will run into each other! We'll most likely eat CS at Sunshine Seasons or Cantina de San Angel so we'll keep our eyes open!!!

 

[mxkris]

Any lurkers have experience with the Baggallini "On the Go" Messenger Bag? I hear a lot about the Baggallini's on here and I'm watching one on ebay, just not sure about the size. The bag I took in 2010 was literally TINNYYY. barely held my phone and some money so I think we'll survive, just wanted to see if anyone had one! TIA!

 

[Cafeen]

AK day sounds decent. I'm a bit strange with AK and I REALLY enjoy it. Moreso than most of the other parks. My idea of a "half-day" here is only going for 2 days . The camera attached to my eye socket (or, the lens of my glasses) doesn't help matters much. Such a great park to photograph!

I'll keep an eye out for you that day too, as that's ALSO my AK day. I swear, you're copying me!

I can't help you on the bag, as a) I'm male, and b) I carry my camera backpack everywhere.

 

[mxkris]

AK day sounds decent. I'm a bit strange with AK and I REALLY enjoy it. Moreso than most of the other parks. My idea of a "half-day" here is only going for 2 days . The camera attached to my eye socket (or, the lens of my glasses) doesn't help matters much. Such a great park to photograph!

I'll keep an eye out for you that day too, as that's ALSO my AK day. I swear, you're copying me!

I can't help you on the bag, as a) I'm male, and b) I carry my camera backpack everywhere.

Oh man that's crazy!! Not stalking you, I swear!! I bet we're both stalking Touring Plans though! I'd love to spend a day photographing the animals too, they're like my favorite thing to shoot!! I spent a whole day at the ATL zoo recently shooting the animals with my Nikon D40, got some awesome shots!!

Only thing is, everyone else won't want to just wander around and wait for me to take pictures all day, so I'll have to do that some other time!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

Subbing! We are going in Sept too but not till the 29th. We are also staying at CBR so I cant wait to hear how you like it. Are you making any building or room requests? I'm hoping to get first floor so we dont have to carry the stroller down the steps. Let me know how the buses run too.