We're Going to Disney! Yey! (With Pics)

[DizFan101]

“Your attention please! DizFan101 PTR is now posting for a trip to Disney for2010!”

Intro​

Hi! Let me introduce myself, since I’m new to Disboards. My name is DizFan101, but in reality I go by the name Megan.

I haven’t always been a Disney Fan(atic)… I know. I got into Disney World in October of 2005, when I returned to WDW as a HS graduation present. Before 2005 I’ve only been 2x before (and only one of those times I remember in 96. 3x if you count being in my mom’s stomach. lol) Ever since then, my mom and I have been going every year. It’s just my mom and I because my dad doesn’t like the Florida heat and hates the long lines associated with Disney. ​

A little MORE Background to our Disney Stays.​

In 2005 we stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort which was nice. But since moderates and the deluxe resorts are not in our budget, we headed towards the values. In 2006 we stayed at All-Star Music. It was just okay, it was a long walk to our room and the atmosphere was just “eh” in our opinion. In 2007 I saw Pop Century pop on to the screen on Disney World and did some research on allears and thought perhaps we should give that one a try and little behold it is our Favorite.

Our first stay at Pop, we were lucky enough to stay in the 80’s? (Rubric Cube Section). Then in 2008 throughout 2009 we have gotten the section with the Bowling Pin pool and the HUGE jukebox. (Funny Story: On our first stay at Pop, it was the first time I saw those huge old fashion cassette tapes and thought they were cigarette boxes. My mom soon explained that they were cassette tapes. Lol.

PLANNING
- We had thought last years trip would be it for a while. But.....

ADVANCE DINNER RESERVATIONS + OTHER

Day Plans

January 2009 Trip Photos!

Paid Off

Disney Mail​

Disney Thoughts and Changes

 

[DizFan101]

Being bored stiff at 10:28pm with absolutely nothing to do and nothing in the brain box (lol) I decided to continue this PTR.

Planning​

Last year’s trip we had told ourselves that we weren’t going to return to WDW for a few years. But it turned out to be more like months. Even though we had no plans to go to Disney World I kept looking at the prices of the tickets and hotels… the whole shebang. In July I went to AAA to see what discounts they had…absolutely nothing. The end of July came and I was checking my email to see how many people DIDN”T email me.

Well little behold, I got an email from Disney… FREE Disney Dining Plans available for Fall/Winter. So I check the price for the QS Dining plan and it came out to be a reasonable price. So I ask my mom and dad to go to Disney because I was missing it and they agreed.

So Nov 14-19th my mom and I will be on another Disney Trip. Hopefully our friends from Atlantic Beach can join us. We booked the trip twice because the first time I made a mistake…a boo boo. I had played around with the number of days to get tickets and instead of 6 it was left on 5. So I didn’t catch this until we booked w/ a credit card and so my mom says it will be okay, and we can spend that 6th day at DTD. But I still up in the air about it so we canclled and rebooked. This time we did not go with the Water Park tickets because we don’t use them anyway…nor Disney Quest. It made the trip a tad cheaper. Then we found out we can upgrade from QS Dining Plan for only $10 a day or so. So we did. (We only put a down deposit on the trip. So I will have to remind mom and dad to pay the rest.)

At the time of booking, flights were very expensive on Continental. (We Fly Continental because we are Continental card holders which means a.) you earn air mileage with purchase and b.) Free Bag Check). A week or so passes and the flights $$ goes down. . I made sure my dad booked the earliest flight available and reasonable from Newark.

Anyway, a few weeks ago by (or perhaps a few days or so) we get a small envelope from Disney stating that we are at the Pop in the Classic Hall. (Not soo sure what that exactly means. Does that mean we’re in the area with the Bowling Pin Pool?) Anyway, we got two of these because of the cancellation.

So we are going Nov 14-19th…a week or so AFTER Jersey Week and the week prior to Thanksgiving…

In the past we went to Disney all sorts of times,

2005 – October
2006 – May
2007 – January
2008 – ? I think it was October
2009 – January and October!
2010 – November!​

One January we were there while the marathon was going on. SO it was alittle more packed with the marathon runners + their families.

Every year we have done the Basic Dining Plan. The first or so was w/o reservations for any of the restaurant… GASP!!! But since then we have made reservations. Now it’s a lot easier to make them via Internet. THANK GOD!. Lol…

Up next My ADR’s and past experience’s with restaurants…the good…and the bad.

 

[DizFan101]

ADR’s and Past Dining Experience(s)​

I remember the first time having the Dining Plan in 2005. When we were originally planning our first trip back (and on Property) we didn’t know whether or not to do the dining plan for the extra $$. My dad being an accountant, plugged in the numbers to see which way would be the best way to go, money wise. And of course he comes out with “Go with Dining plan,” extra. So we did. We do the basic dining plan because I believe you kind of eat more and spend more time eating then doing attractions when you get the deluxe plan.

Where I have Eaten at the World

Since 2005 I have eaten at a few dozen WDW park restaurants and a one time at a resort restaurant in 2009, and DTD.

Mostly though, my dinner reservations been in Epcot because there are many restaurants to choose from in the World Showcase.

At Epcot I’ve eaten at: Coral Reef, Nine Dragons, Biergarten (Germany), Tutto Italia, Les Chefs De France, Rose and Crown, and Le Celliar.

I had remembered Le Celliar last because I had a horrible experience there in 09. In 09 I had gotten an ADR for that place because I heard all the wonderful press about it from other Disney fans, and so I made the ADR for my birthday to make it a magical experience… Except it was FAR from Magical. We got seated in a FAR corner, which I would say is okay because you don’t get people bumping into your chair that often. But the waitress ignored us the whole time, for the new people sitting next to us…an older couple in their 40’s. Grrr. I am not a HUGE steak person so I decided what the heck I’ll order a steak and see how it is. I get it and it’s too salty but by that time I was mad because we’ve been ignored and my soda was empty and was thirsty from the salty steak, so I didn’t send it back. How could I? Nobody was paying any attention to us. Usually restaurants do something special for b-day’s and since I mentioned it to the front, just as we were chatting, I thought maybe they come by and sing happy birthday or something….Nope.

My new favorite in the Showcase is Les Chefs de France. : We eaten there in 06 and I really was disappointed back then. Then in 2009 I learned about Remy appearing there, and just HAD to see him. I had a better experience in 2009 then in 06. I really loved the duck they serve there, and so I Just HAD to make ADR’s for LCDF this year for 2 days. Lol.

At DHS I’ve eaten at: Mama Melrose’s, Hollywood and Vine, Prime Time Café, and the Sci-Fi. I’ve eaten at HV and PTC at least once and MM and SF two times, and both times I thought the menu was bit boring and out dated. So I haven’t eaten there since 08.

Other then that, I’ve eaten at The Wave @ The Contemporary in 09 which was just okay.

And I have eaten at Planet Hollywood at DTD in 2005/2006. It was good.

So I booked my trip in July for Nov 14-19th and since I believe it was less then 180 I was able to make ADR’s the following 2 weeks. : I heard about Via Nepoli opening in Aug/Sept so I just had to leave a day open for it, hoping to be lucky to get an ADR. I called Disney Dining and asked when I can make ADR’s for it, and she had said Aug 10th, but I looked on Allears and I learned that ADR’s could be made on the 6th. So I went on DisneyWorld.com as I did with my other ADR’s and booked it.

Here’s my list:

Nov 14, 2010 – Les Chefs De France (EP) @ 5:20pm
Nov 15, 2010 – Ragland Road (DTD) @ 5:45pm
Nov 16, 2010 – Via Napoli (EP) @ 5:45pm
Nov 17, 2010 – Captains Grill (YC) @ 5:15pm
Nov 18, 2010 – Les Chefs de France (EP) @ 5:30pm

If you have any suggestions at what to pick at any of the Restaurants, please post!


Up Next: Day Plans ​

 

[DizFan101]

I decided to put all my day plans all in one instead of a new post for each day because they are rather short right now. lol.

DAY 1: November 14 – Arrival (69 days away)​

November 14th is a Sunday. I picked going out on a Sunday so I miss the weekend crowds (hopefully). My mom and I fly out of Newark via Continental because we are card holders which means no bag fees and you earn mileage when you use your card for every day things.

Our Flight is at the earliest and reasonable time. If it was up to me I’d fly out at 6:30am...but mom doesn’t like that time so we’re leaving around 7:30am which means, we’ll get to FL airport around 9:30-10:30am and then arrive at our “on property” resort, Pop Century, at or around noontime. When we are at the parks, our plans are really flexible because it’s just my mom and I.

For our first day, I’m wanting to go to Epcot for lunch (or after lunch) until after dinner. We have 5:20pm reservations at Les Chefs de France. After dinner, I want to catch the EMH at the Magic Kingdom (7-11pm).

DAY 2: November 15, 2010​

Second day, we usually get up around 7:30am and go to breakfast at the Food Court at the Pop. The French Toast is our favorite and usually have it every single day (without fail). Lol.

November 15 will start out at the Hollywood Studios with lunch at the Backlot or the Commissionary, until 2-3pm when we start heading to Down Town Disney for dinner at the Raglan Road and for some shopping.

Then back to DHS for EMH afterward. :

Day 3: November 16, 2010​

Get up, head to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom to ride Splash Mt, BTMRR, maybe Space MT or Everest. (if we don’t go to the AK on the 16th then we’d go on the 17th for EMH in the morning.)

We’re not BIG on AK because it the attractions are spread out a little more wider then other parks and therefore, more walking time/distance.Especially to and from the bus terminals. Blah. If we do go to Animal Kingdom it will be for a few hours to ride Everest, Dinosaur (Maybe), The River Rapids and perhaps the Safari.

We have reservations a Via Napoli that night, yey. So heading to Epcot for lunch or after lunch. We love the Electric Umbrella.

Day 4: November 17, 2010​

Get up, head to DHS or MK or EP.. Not Sure. : But we do have reservations at the Captains Grille at the Yacht Club. We never eaten at a resort before… oh wait, scratch that, we had eaten one time at “The Wave” at the Contemporary which was just alright. So, knowing we have reservations at the YC we are going to be taking a boat over from either Epcot or DHS.

Many times, we will cancel reservations the day or in case one of our favorite restaurants open up at the last minute. So perhaps we will be doing this, this day in the morning to go to Coral Reef or Rose and Crown.

Day 5: November 18, 2010​

Get up, clean up a little since today is the day before we head home and usually find an envelope of some sort on the door. Head to breakfast and get on a line to any park w/o a long line in the front. Sometimes we just go to whatever park is less lines, but hopefully November 14-19th won’t be too crowded.

We have reservations at Les Chefs de France again, so sometime after Lunch we head to Epcot via the Monorail.

Last Day: November 19, 2010-09-05 ​

Get Up, drag our luggage to the front of the hotel to put on our night flight and for the concierge to hold our carry on’s so we can go to the parks. Then eat breakfast and then head to a non crowded park. At this time in our trip we have done all the parks at least once or twice. So it doesn’t really matter unless I wanted to get a special item from a store in a specific park.

Head back to the resort around lunch time, and have our sundae. We always have a sundae at the resort on the last day to finish our snack. Not sure whether or not we’ll do that this year cuz of weight watchers. But we’ll see.

We have a late flight home (always do, so I can get a good day at the parks) but always have to leave the park/resort the same time every year. Oh well.

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I’m not much of a parade person, so that’s why I don’t mention about them in my report, but will hopefully get to see the Electric Parade at MK this year, since they brought it back just for me.
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Up Next: Photos from My Jan 2009 Trip​

 

[DizFan101]

Here are just some picture's from my January 2009 trip.

Big Thunder Mountain R.R. (Alittle more crowded then usual in Jan of 2009 because Splash was closed.

A photo of Splash Mountain w/o water

Splash Mt was open on the day we got there.

Epcot's Christmas lights were still up. . They look like dandylions.

Epcot at night. My camera doesn't do well in the dark.

Sorcerer Hat at night, again not a good camera.

I forgot I had this photo. It's a sunset over Splash Mountain.

Looks like a ghost sitting in the rocking chair.

Sorry but I don't think you're supposed to go there...

For all you Dumbo Fans.

The Sign from the underpath into MK.



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** Can somebody message me (or reply here) on how to focus on one item and have the background a bit fuzzy? I’m not sure if my camera will do that though.
(my camera My Camera (it was $89.99 when I bought it)

 

[DizFan101]

So yesterday i get home from shopping and realized that we only paid the initial $200.00 deposit and it was 57 days away from the BIG TRIP!

I didn't want a duplicate of last year where we did not get our package with the luggage tags etc. So i paid yesterday, September 17, 2010.

Hopefully they will be able to send the package. Last year they said it was "Computer Glitches" which mostly means (from experiance) that some was not smart enough to send it out early. Thanks to them we had to take care of our own luggage...sort of. We had to go to the luggage claim but no luggage. Our luggage got lost. . So we told the luggage people where to bring it if it does arrive... we got it like that evening. But i really don't want to spend 2 hours standing by the luggage again so hopefully someone will send it out early. .

 

[DizFan101]

Another Update for my PTR

I thought I'd have followers by now...Oh well. What can one do? Right?

Only such amount of days are left until my upcoming Disney Trip. Friday 10-08-2010, we received Disney mail...Yey!!!!

It turned out to be from: DME

With our Luggage tags and booklet:

I realized that I never informed them of our flight information...oppps. So i guess I will have to do that..

Even though the booklet has a map of the Orlando Airport and where to go to catch the buses, we always end up getting lost. :rolf2:. Usually thanks to Me because I'm usually just so darn excited (as we all are when we get to Orlando Airport...Sooo close to Mickey!

-----------------

I was also doing some more ADR's. Trying to see what opened up for restaurants to see if I wanted to keep the ones I got. I was questioning Captains Grille at the Yacht Club, and to go with Rose and Crown @ Epcot but decided to keep all my reservations the way i have them. Why not try something new?

I rememebr my first Resort Restaurant was last year at the Contemporary. I had thought this year would be the first but I realized we had eaten at The Wave last year which was only okay. (ended up spending an hour in the bathroom...opps too much info....:rofl2: ).

 

[Headlesshorseman]

WOW.....can you plan my trip?????

Sounds like FUN!!!

HH

 

[DizFan101]

Well, only 28 days left till my Disney Trip. I don't know why both tickers say something different. I think one counts the day i leave and the other doesnt?

Anyway, 33 days left of the countdown I received my Disney package (the plastic luggage tags with the Photo pass ticket and coupons.

With collecting and trading pins I decided to buy some off ebay. I search Ebay with "Lot of ?? Disney Pins" in the search. Lot of 10 didn't work out as i was out bid. So i decided to try just "Lot of Disney Pins" and found one for a decent amount. 50 Pins for $24.99 (that's 66 cents per pin + $8.00 shipping. Still not bad).

I'm planning to give 20 away to two kids (10 each). then keep the ones I like from the lot and trade the ones i don't like from the lot. I always seem to find great pins off of the cast members.

I found some cast members are really nice about the color of the lanyards they wear. Last year i found one on a kids lanyard that i needed to put in with the collection...(it was the post office pins that the po once had). So She was really nice about it (plus i had on my bday pin ).

Anyway, that's about it. I'm trying to loose at least 10 pounds before Disney. So far it's not working out so far. But i'm getting back to the gym. .

28 Days from this post till My Disney Trip.

 

[ilovedisney1]

Thats a good price for all those pins. I can't wait to read more!

 

[DizFan101]

Not long now... only 16 more days until Disney World and yet no pins arrived in the mail. I ordered them on 10-13-2010 from China. Tracking hasn't been updated so I messaged the guy and he stated that they should have arrived in the USA by now and its only days until they get it. But he did say there is no guarantee that they will arrive before my trip...

So what happens if they get here after we leave? I'll be stranded with 50 pins I can't trade until my next trip which is unknown.

Anyway,
I did some changing of my ADRs. I had to call WDW-Dine 2 times because the ADR's did not show up on the website. The first time i got the confirmation numbers my dad decided to delete the microsoft word document I had them in. Then i decided to call again and rite them down on paper...(which i don't know where it is. ) I still have to cancel my reservation at Captain's Grille. I might cancel before going by calling or the morning of. (Sorry).

Sooo. I had Captains Grille on the 17th of November, which I changed to Rose and Crown. THen i decided that I didn't like R&C because they took off my favorite dish there. So i decided to ponder around the reservations and what shows up? Kona at the Polynesian. I never stayed there, only passed through on the monorail so it will be cool to eat there. I think I'm either going to order the Pomegranate Barbecued Pork Chop or the Coconut Almond Chicken. For dessert, either the White Chocolate Cheesecake or the Chocolate Fondue which looks amazing. .

​

Over the weeks I've been thinking about Disney World and what i'm going to do differently.

Well for starters I'm going to over come my fear of Space Mountain. I am definiately going to ride it, and make sure my mom holds me back so I don't change my mind last minute. . I always think of going on it, but as I get to the door of the line i chicken out.

Other then that, i'm going to make sure I get the front seat of every ride (even if it means waiting a while). I want to get a few pictures because now I have a neck strap to keep my camera on at all times (w/o having to ask my mom to dig through the bag.

I am going to slow down this trip and take more pictures of things... Lol. What is a Trip Report w/o pictures? lol.

Anyway, that's about it for now... Read my Disney Blog on Xanga.com (located in my signature).

 

[DizFan101]

Anyway, 2 weeks till Disney. . Man, it still feels sooo far away. Time goes slower when the countdown is near the end.

I do have mixed feelings about going. perhaps it's because its been more then a year since we have been there and I just forgot about the fun stuff we do. It has been stressfull here at home the past year.

I just don't know any more. I feel like I'm bored 24/7 because I am not doing anything with my life at this time. I am afraid I'll get to disney world and feel all "Blah" and feel like doing absolutely nothing.

Other then that,
yesterday while I was at a street fair, the Postal man came around and left a slip saying there is a parcel waiting for me. (actually it has my dad's name on it) but i do believe it is the pins because he didn't order anything. So i'll have to wait one more day to get them. It's always a surprise what I get from ebay seller lots. No duplicates and hidden mickeys. There are always a few I want to keep instead of trade or give away. Mostly anything Stitch related or sometimes chip and dale (depends on the cuteness). lol.

Oh hum...

 

[DizFan101]

Well, well. It's 11-4-2010, only 10 more days til Disney World... (I'm still not all Yey about it yet).

Anyway, being that it is 10 days away, i was able to do Online Check In on DisneyWorld.com. Everything went smooth, although it did take a little longer to load each page as normal. I guess a lot of people were using Online Check in. Hmm.

i did try to request a room near transportation, but it was denied for some reason. Oh well. That either means that they already placed us somewhere near transportation or that I wasn't allowed. However it did say to call the reservation line if i have any questions why it was denied.

Anyway, I' have been looking at youtube videos of Disney World trying to get more excited about Disney. Why Can't I get excited as I was last year? i was soo hyped up about it, and now i'm just like "Blah" grrr.

 

[DizFan101]

Right now it is 4:35pm on 11.07.2010 and so this time next week my mom and i will be at Epcot probably because we have 5:40 ADR's at Les Chefs De France. I'm not 100% what the Dish is called but it has duck + sweet potato sides. It is out of this world good. .

Anyway, I have been thinking about my trip and deciding on what new things to do.

1.) Ride Space Mt. This time i won't chicken out.
2.) Eat my FIRST Dole Whip
3.) Pick A Pearl @ Epcot
4.) Perhaps get a Hair cut at MK. LOL.

 

[ilovedisney1]

I have heard alot about pick a pearl but never have done it. I even watched people pick the pearls. One piece of advice is to pick the ugliest one. I heard the better the pearl looks or something like that.

 

[ilovedisney1]

Can't wait for another update!

 

[DizFan101]

Anyway, today is 11.12.2010...but it feels like Friday the 13th.

Today i went to use my camera, the one i was planning to take to Disney because it as panorama view option... So I turned it on and looked at the screen of the camera.... this is what i saw:

I am sooo upset...My camera broke 2 days prior to Disney. I'm more upset over the fact that it broke 2 days prior to Disney because I was planning on getting a better camera in the FUTURE. well i guess the future came early. I loved my camera because of the panarama view option... Just my luck.

Tomorrow i get to check into my airline (Continental!!!). I am going to try to get seats closer to the door so i can get out quicker to be on the line for the buses w/o having to wait for ever. lol.

I just hope the trip goes better then I hope.

*I was able to get earlier reservations for Les Chefs De France on Sunday. However I thought my original reservation was at 5:40pm on the 14th but it was for 5:20pm. So i now got a 5:10pm reservation. Wanted an early reservation b-cuz EMH is at MK that night. Boo Yah! Two parks in 1 day. I'm a night owl any way.

 

[DizFan101]

Well, it's 8:02pm on 11.13.2010 and we are currantly packing for DISNEY.
Today was rather stressfull.

Went to Best Buy and bought a Nikon s6000 and when I got home it had no strap so i believed it to be used or broken. So i take it back and the people there give me grief. Soooooo freaking stressfull, people can't do their job. It has a lot of features which i am still trying to learn and being EXTRA carefull with it so it doesn't break/crack.

I did buy a case but it's too small and it's too late to go out and get another one. Hmm. Or is it? Oh well. Right now i have it in a sock in a camera bag a little too big. lol.

Anyway, my plane seats 26? ??. Right by the left wing. . Tried to move it but no seats were open. . Oh well. Don't you just hate knowing you are in orlando and people take sooo long getting up and getting their carry ons. I'd be off the plane in nano seconds if i knew i was going to disney. lol.

Forgot to pick up a journal today. . Oh well. I'll use my ipod to jot down some important facts... lol.

I can't believe DIsney is HERE. I remember i was just pushing the CONFIRM Trip or what ever is on the Disney world trip thingy. lol.

 

[jelloarms]

I realize you are probably already at the airport but I just wanted to say have fun on your trip!