We've FALLen for WDW...An October 2010 PTR! New 10/14 TR Link Added

[DisMomAmy]

Great job sticking so close to a budget. For our first few trips we didn't budget things well. We paid for our tickets & condo then just charged the rest. We're still planning to use credit cards this year (just applied for a Disney Visa) but we have the cash set aside to pay them off right when we get back.

It's so exciting that you have two trips in the works!!

 

[Stefy]

Thats a very organised and well thought out budget and congrats for sticking to it

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Great job sticking so close to a budget. For our first few trips we didn't budget things well. We paid for our tickets & condo then just charged the rest. We're still planning to use credit cards this year (just applied for a Disney Visa) but we have the cash set aside to pay them off right when we get back.

It's so exciting that you have two trips in the works!!

We too recently applied for a Disney Visa! We used it to purchase some home decorating things and to put the deposit down on our Disney trip. We will also use it to pay for the rest of the trip and then just pay the trip off in one lump sum. This way we will get about $30 in gift cards.

Our last minute trip in December wasn't budgeted so well, either. I think we went nearly $300 over budget. This budget is more realistic and includes plenty of money for souvenirs and such. I always tell myself there's nothing I want but then I always find something! Plus, this time I really want to find some shirts, being overweight I am having a hard time finding cute Disney shirts that fit me well. They are all either too small or too big!

I just really hate putting anything on credit b/c when I pay that credit card bill every month I just think of what we could have gotten. We aren't in too much debt now. We can have it paid off in a year if we stick to our budget!

Thats a very organised and well thought out budget and congrats for sticking to it

Thanks! We are trying hard to stick to our budget. Sometimes temptation gets the best of me. Even making our list for the stores each week can grow fast. I just tell myself to stop and think about what we need to get us through the week. I have a habit of stocking up so we never run out. I think it's a subconcious thing b/c when I lived with my parents they ALWAYS ran out of EVERYTHING & I swore I wouldn't let that happen in my house.

 

[Stefy]

Thanks! We are trying hard to stick to our budget. Sometimes temptation gets the best of me. Even making our list for the stores each week can grow fast. I just tell myself to stop and think about what we need to get us through the week. I have a habit of stocking up so we never run out. I think it's a subconcious thing b/c when I lived with my parents they ALWAYS ran out of EVERYTHING & I swore I wouldn't let that happen in my house.

I get what you mean. Our grocery bill is always high and we usually get the same things, sometimes a little bit extra and sometimes not. I think that what we buy there are never any offers on them. Meat is very expensive. I live at home right now and I dread to think how much higher the bill will be when I have to start buying cleaning products and soap powder etc

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I get what you mean. Our grocery bill is always high and we usually get the same things, sometimes a little bit extra and sometimes not. I think that what we buy there are never any offers on them. Meat is very expensive. I live at home right now and I dread to think how much higher the bill will be when I have to start buying cleaning products and soap powder etc

Before I quit my higher paying job and took this babysitting job our grocery bills were around $100 a week, for 2 people! Now, it's around $40. I don't even remember what we spent so much money on. We take a few trips to Sam's Club (a bulk food store) a year with DH's parents and they are kind enough to pay for it. We get to stock up on snacks for lunch and meat and such, so it really helps keep the grocery bill down.

 

[Stefy]

Thats nice of DH's parents and well done you getting the grocery down from $100 to $40. I wish we could decrease our bill more consistently.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Finally, I bring to you our Dining Choices!​

Saturday (Arrival Day):

LUNCH: CSR Counter Service

DINNER: San Angel Inn

Sunday:

BREAKFAST: Starring Rolls Cafe

LUNCH: Toy Story's Pizza Planet

DINNER: Beaches & Cream

Monday:

BREAKFAST: Boma

LUNCH: Flame Tree BBQ

DINNER: Ohana

Tuesday:

BREAKFAST: Boardwalk Bakery in our room

LUNCH: CSR Counter Service

DINNER: California Grill

Wednesday:

BREAKFAST: Kona Cafe

LUNCH: Wolfgang Puck Express

DINNER: Le Cellier

Thursday:

(Today is our Universal Studios day)

BREAKFAST: CSR Counter Service

LUNCH: Universal Studios Counter Service

DINNER: Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville

Friday:

BREAKFAST: 1900 Park Fare

Lunch: Earl of Sandwich

Dinner: Food & Wine Festival

Saturday:

Breakfast: Crystal Palace

What do you think???

 

[DisMomAmy]

Love your dining choices - and I love that you included pictures.

 

[Stefy]

Great dining choices, so many great restaurants

 

[Joyciemc]

Great dining choices... tons of yummy food

You're eating at Margaritaville on your Universal day... have you been there before? Would you recommend it? I've been trying to figure out what to eat while at US, as we've never been there before!

 

[swwake]

Those are exciting meal choices! I love Ohana and California Grill. I would like to try Boma for breakfast - we loved it for dinner.

We have been to several Margaritavilles (Vegas, New Orleans, Montego Bay, Key West). They never disappoint!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Love your dining choices - and I love that you included pictures.

Thanks, I am getting more used to using photobucket so it doesn't take as much time to size the pictures and get the IMG code copied over.

Great dining choices, so many great restaurants

I know, I think so, too. Although many of them are places we have tried before that we fell in with. I'm wondering if we should trade them out for new places.

Great dining choices... tons of yummy food

You're eating at Margaritaville on your Universal day... have you been there before? Would you recommend it? I've been trying to figure out what to eat while at US, as we've never been there before!

Eating in Disneyworld makes such an impact on the greatness level of the trip that I feel I have to make the best choices!

I haven't eaten at that Margaritaville. My trip in high school was the only time I have been at Universal and we were given meal vouchers for Hard Rock Cafe, so we ate there. There is a Cheeseburger in Paradise not too far from our house (about 30 min.) that is really good. We may end up here or we may end up somewhere else, I'm just leaning towards that right now.

Those are exciting meal choices! I love Ohana and California Grill. I would like to try Boma for breakfast - we loved it for dinner.

We have been to several Margaritavilles (Vegas, New Orleans, Montego Bay, Key West). They never disappoint!

Ohana and California Grill are both new restaurants to us. I am very excited to try them both. I thought about doing Narcoossee's instead of CG but then I decided that (hopefully) being able to see Cinderella castle from our table was better.

We Boma breakfast! Seriously, DH and I still talk about it's deliciousness. On our last trip I felt so sick the last morning we were there and it was our Boma day but you know I still are SO much. You HAVE to try their banana bread, their red potatoes, and their goat cheese and chive eggs. Mmm...

 

[swwake]

Ohana and California Grill are both new restaurants to us. I am very excited to try them both. I thought about doing Narcoossee's instead of CG but then I decided that (hopefully) being able to see Cinderella castle from our table was better.

We Boma breakfast! Seriously, DH and I still talk about it's deliciousness. On our last trip I felt so sick the last morning we were there and it was our Boma day but you know I still are SO much. You HAVE to try their banana bread, their red potatoes, and their goat cheese and chive eggs. Mmm...

CG was our favorite the last trip, partly because of the fireworks experience. We did not have a table along the windows, but it didn't matter, because there is a huge observation deck with plenty of room for everyone. The view and photos from out there are even better than inside the restaurant. You won't be disappointed with the food OR the service at CG. We'd love to go back.

We might have to try Boma for breakfast one morning. We don't have it on our list b/c we are staying club level and want to make the most of the lounge offerings. We are thinking our breakfasts will be there. But we may get tired of that, or it may just not be enough. Maybe we'll add Boma breakfast for the morning we surf at TL, when I know we'll be starving after surfing. Do they have anything like the Tonga Toast I hear about at the Poly?

 

[Stefy]

Its good to try new places, but if you are happy with what you have and really want to eat there more than anywhere else, then why not

 

[DisneyCrafter]

CG was our favorite the last trip, partly because of the fireworks experience. We did not have a table along the windows, but it didn't matter, because there is a huge observation deck with plenty of room for everyone. The view and photos from out there are even better than inside the restaurant. You won't be disappointed with the food OR the service at CG. We'd love to go back.

We might have to try Boma for breakfast one morning. We don't have it on our list b/c we are staying club level and want to make the most of the lounge offerings. We are thinking our breakfasts will be there. But we may get tired of that, or it may just not be enough. Maybe we'll add Boma breakfast for the morning we surf at TL, when I know we'll be starving after surfing. Do they have anything like the Tonga Toast I hear about at the Poly?

No, they don't have anything like the Tonga Toast. I believe they may have their own variation of french toast, though. I definitely recommend Boma. This will be our third time! I just can't get enough of it and the juice is WONDERFUL.

Its good to try new places, but if you are happy with what you have and really want to eat there more than anywhere else, then why not

Well, actually...Le Cellier, Ohana, Beaches & Cream, Kona, Boardwalk Bakery, San Angel and Cali Grill are all new. Crystal Palace is "new" as we have only eaten dinner there not breakfast. Boma, WGPE, EoS, Pizza Planet and 1900-we have eaten at those before. So it actually isn't bad. Sometimes looking at everyone else's pictures makes me think I ate there too, only I didn't get to taste it!

 

[mrsksomeday]

We haven't ever been to San Angel Inn, I will be interested in what you think about it.

We did Beaches & Cream last trip and really enjoyed it.

We don't do breakfast reservations so I will have to live through you for Boma, we do LOVE 'Ohana. Bill wants to go there every trip.

We are looking forward to getting things from the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast items.

Bill wants to try California Grill some time. We really liked LeCellier.

Your dining choices look great, I can't wait to read what you thought about them after your trip.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

We haven't ever been to San Angel Inn, I will be interested in what you think about it.

We did Beaches & Cream last trip and really enjoyed it.

We don't do breakfast reservations so I will have to live through you for Boma, we do LOVE 'Ohana. Bill wants to go there every trip.

We are looking forward to getting things from the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast items.

Bill wants to try California Grill some time. We really liked LeCellier.

Your dining choices look great, I can't wait to read what you thought about them after your trip.

Thanks for commenting! I can't wait to TASTE them on our trip! We are definitely not morning people so they will be later morning ADR's most of the time. I love the breakfast food in WDW though, so it's definitely hard for me not to make ANY!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Taking it Back: Our Disneymoon​

I remember it feeling so weird to pick up and leave after such a big, exciting day! I was so excited for the honeymoon, though. It was DH and I's first vacation together (except for weekend getaways) and it would be my first time seeing the ocean!

We arrived in Orlando in the early afternoon and of course I forgot that the ME was on the B side and we were on A. So much walking already...for NOTHING. When we got to the resort we decided to take a nap to catch up on sleep that we had missed the past few days.

We stayed at the PO-FQ. Here's a few pictures of the resort...and us at the resort.

DH playing air guitar with the "band".

This is in front of the fountain that was in the courtyard of the building we were staying in.

This is a picture of our building from the boat ride. Unfortunately, we did not have a water view.

Anywho...oh yeah, we "yellow tagged" our luggage, which I will NEVER do again! My bag showed in sufficient time but DH's was no where to be found. He had to go to dinner wearing a t-shirt and cargo shorts. So NOT what I envisioned for Citrico's. We did go looking in the gift shop for a nicer shirt but the price just wasn't worth it. When we got back to the room that night DH's luggage was there AND damaged. There was a rip on the front right side. Of course there was a letter from our airline saying they could not be responsible for what happened b/c of seam damage from being overpacked. Too bad the rip wasn't on the seam and our pack was not overpacked. Oh well, we just rolled with it. The main compartment still zippered, we just couldn't use the front zippers.

At Citrico's we ordered sparkling water b/c I was definitely not used to eating at a place that nice and didn't even know what that meant to be honest. (Now, I know. Funny how a few trips to Ruth's Chris a year takes that lack of knowledge right away.) It was GROSS. It was carbonated but had no flavor.

I don't really remember the exact order of what we did (as I had NO idea the DIS even existed) on this trip so I will just fill in as best as I can.

The first morning I know we went to AK in the AM, I remember that much. I'm thinking we ate at Boma this morning. We loved Boma, it is now a must do every trip. (I would love to stay at AKL one day.)

We ate at Flame Tree BBQ for lunch. Those birds!!!! UGH.

We rode EE and I remember telling DH to get ready for the Yeti...that never came. It really is a shame that it is broken. I wish they would fix it.

By the look of our clothing, it appears that we went to DHS after AK.

Yes, it's all making sense now. We ate dinner at 50's PTC. I had the meatloaf (wish I would have gotten the fried chicken) and DH ordered the tuna entree, which is totally out of the ordinary for him and poor DH didn't like it. He loves tuna, just in a can. At least he said he was full from our two other big meals that day. Our waitress was great, she had the perfect voice for being a "mother" and she didn't hassle us too much probably because it was our honeymoon.

The next day was Spoodles on the Boardwalk in the AM, which I found to be a very classic breakfast. I'm sad to see it gone.

After breakfast on the Boardwalk we walked through EPCOT to get to the bus station to go back to our resort so we could take a boat ride over to DTD for our lunch reservation at Cap'n Jacks.

I remember our waitress coming over to open the shades and to tell us that we may want to look out the window in the water. All of a sudden, this boat pulls up holding this sign. I remember saying to DH, "I think that has our names on it, yep, it definitely does!" There's Disney, going way above and beyond for us! I loved it! The meal here was really good too, I had alfredo pasta and I didn't eat much of it because I was already getting full from the DxDP.

That evening, after spending some time in the pool, we headed over to EPCOT.

(Sorry for the quality of this picture. It is a photopass picture that we purchased and I scanned.)

We rode Test Track and spent the rest of our time in World Showcase exploring...and shopping. I really did not know even then the full extent that Future World had to offer and so we missed most of it.

As we were doing a split honeymoon, we only had 3 full days in WDW and our last day was spent entirely at MK.

We started with breakfast at Chef Mickey's which I remember to be very delicious. I don't have very many character pictures from here, I don't know why because on our December trip we were visited by each character twice! We did get introduced to the entire room by our waitress as being just married.

This is one of my favorite pictures from our trip. The photopass photographer was great!

We had lunch at Tony's which I remember to be just okay. I do remember drinking about 4 coke's because our waitor never let our glasses get empty and I kept throwin' em back because of the heat!

We had dinner at Crystal Palace and I do have to say that I was very disappointed. I have read many great reviews about their breakfast since then and I am excited to try it on our next trip. They were very nice there, except our waitress was always never to be found when we needed a refill.

Well, that's it. The next morning we were up early and on our way to the airport to fly to the Bahamas to start the second half of our honeymoon.

 

[swwake]

What a fun Disneymoon report! I am getting dining ideas from you. The pics are great too!

 

[Stefy]

Well, actually...Le Cellier, Ohana, Beaches & Cream, Kona, Boardwalk Bakery, San Angel and Cali Grill are all new. Crystal Palace is "new" as we have only eaten dinner there not breakfast. Boma, WGPE, EoS, Pizza Planet and 1900-we have eaten at those before. So it actually isn't bad. Sometimes looking at everyone else's pictures makes me think I ate there too, only I didn't get to taste it!

Lol, yes we do tend to live vicariously throuhg our fellow Disers when we read their dining reviews. Its fun though

Your Disneymoon looked wonderful, apart from the whole baggage fiasco. I love how you got a message of congrats from those CM's on the boat. V cool