Yo ho, yo ho, a bounceback life for me LEAVING TOMORROW 9/12!!!!!!!!!!!

[OhioDisneyLover]

This morning I updated my TGM account for ADR dates. I still am not thrilled with this 90 day window stuff and I wish that we could make our own ADR's on line.

I also compared our dining plan to inkedupmomma's to see what days we had the same plans with Jenn and her family. They are:

Breakfast at Boma on 9/14

Breakfast at Tusker on 9/15 (becoming one of our favorite places for breakfast)

Breakfast at Kona on 9/17 -- Yay for Tonga Toast

Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare on 9/18

We are also both doing the Fantasmic package at Mamma Melrose once we get the schedule and know when Fantasmic will be. We are hoping for 9/14 which is a Monday. I wish they would pubish the schedule already....everything can change once we get that!

I am hoping for MNSSHP on Friday that week. It has been on Friday of that week for the last three years that we have been going so I hope the luck continues.

It seems that last year I missed Spectro and so I need to be sure that I don't this year.

Here are a few other things that I missed that I am hoping not to miss this year. My DH is not a huge fan of parades so I have no clue how to pull some of this one off but..........

Missed Jammin Jungle last visit
Missed Spectro last visit
Missed Illuminations last visit
Missed the Dance Party at DHS last visit
Missed the Character Connection at EPCOT last visit
Missed all of Toon Town (I wanted to go see the characters)
Missed Snow White and her peeps last year at MNSSHP (we tried though...didn't we Jenn?)
Missed Camp Minnie Mickey

So, you get my drift here. I am trying to get all this stuff in which is also part of the reason I want to add a day or two. Right now the goal is to add two days at the end of our trip. Not sure if we can, but that is the goal.

Oh, and I have a new boss now. I sent her my vacation request the other day along with some other days and I didn't get this trip back approved yet which scares the crap out of me. I take this same time every year and pay as much as I can in advance so cross your fingers for me please. I want to ask again but that is our year end month so I'm sort of afraid to....... DH says we are going and that's it so I keep telling myself that.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I have a rough itinerary for the May trip with my brother (first time at Disney). What does everyone think:

Day of Arrival
Go directly to DHS for Star Wars weekend activities
Go to MK for Spectro at 9 and Wishes at 10
Check in hotel after Wishes if we didn't in between parks

Day 2
ADR at Kona for Breakfast
Spend the day at MK
Go back to DHS for Fantasmic (only night playing that we are there)
Get Fantasmic dinner package wherever available (too early to call now

Day 3
DTD in the morning
Epcot
ADR Biergarten for Dinner
Stay for Illuminations

Day 4
ADR at Tusker House for Breakfast
Spend day at DAK until it is time to leave for the airport


I know that 4 days is not a lot of time so I am trying to cram in what I can for him during our visit.

All comments and suggestions welcome.

 

[inkedupmomma]

I took another stab at our itinerary and dining arrangements today. Here is what I ended up with. Granted, if my mom decides that she is going we will probably go back to no dxdp and fewer plans. We'll see soon. She promises to let me know right after she has her taxes done.

Day of Arrival
Stop at Walmart to get snacks
Check in at CS
Epcot
Dinner at Sunshine Seasons (love the variety there)
Stay for Illuminations

ok, this is Saturday the 12. Are you doing DTD with us, or sticking to this?? If so what are you doing for din?? Our dxdp will not start until the next day, so we are doing earl of sandwich oop then dessert at trex

Day 2
Crystal Palace for breakfast - early so I can get good MK pics before the crowd
Possible Keys to the Kingdom Tour - if so, no Columbia for lunch
Columbia Harbour House for lunch
Break for Joe - get zebra domes from AKL on the way back to resort
Back to Magic Kingdom
CRT for dinner
Hopefully Spectro and Wishes will be scheduled this night
We are doing Maya grill this day for breakfast since we have to check into csr and it doesnt make much sense to go elsewhere. crt for dinner with you guys!

Day 3
Boma for breakfast
DHS
Lunch at the produce place by BatB (can never remember the name of that place)
Fantasmic dinner package at Mamma Melrose if Fantasmic is playing tonight

If no Fantasmic, change plans for the day -- need to wait for the calendar to come out.
Our breakfast and dinner match up this day! we may also do 50's ptc for lunch... but might not if we are doing dhs again, then we will do it for lunch another day or even a dinner??
Day 4
Tusker House for Breakfast
DAK
Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ - my favorite CS of them all
Break for Joe
Dinner at Cap'n Jacks or Earl of Sandwich
Shopping at DTD
Dessert at TRex
our breakfast match on this day, but we are leabiubg twds yak and yeti for lunch, and then possibly narcooses for dinner since dak closes so early

Day 5
Breakfast at Pepper Market
Epcot - World Showcase
Lunch - either Mexico CS or back to Sunshine Seasons
Break for Joe - go back to resort
Dinner at Akershus
we have no match ups this day. we are doing akeshurs for breakfast and havent figured out the dinner yet. possibly le cellier, or biergarten,or chefs de france or coral reef..lol

Day 6 - wedding anniversary
Breakfast at Kona (yeah...Tonga Toast)
Photo session at the Poly
Magic Kingdom
Lunch at Casey's (Joe's favorite CS)
Break for Joe
Back to Magic Kingdom
Hopefully Wishes and Spectro are today if they were not scheduled when we were there a few nights ago
weill having fun anniversary breakfast with you! I;m so jealous of your photo shoot!! what are you doing for dinner this day?? I think we will be going back to dhs this day, as mnsshp is the next day.maybe i will work 50's ptc in this night??

Day 7
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
DHS
Lunch - 50's Prime Time or Starring Rolls
Break for Joe
Early Dinner at Kona Cafe
MNSSHP if it's scheduled -- so far it has been over the last couple of years that we have gone this same week
We have breakfast together!! this will be fun. not sure what we will be doing this day. maybe dak just for fun. then back early for relaxing . then dinner at crt again for us!

Day 8
Breakfast at Maya Grill
Epcot
Lunch at Rose and Crown
Break for Joe
Back to Magic Kingdom for anything we missed
Dinner - TBD
we will be doing Ohana for breakfast this day, then going to Epcot. Again, not sure what dinner???? may possibly do a lunch as well. we will at least get to hang out this day!

Day 9
Depends on when our flight leaves. We may also add a day and go home the following day. If we add a day, not sure what we are doing this day. It's our friend John's birthday so we'd like to celebrate that with him and his family...if they'll have us.

we are doing chef mickeys this day for breakfast then who knows... oh I do, MK!! then HDDMR for John's bday dinner fun times!!!

So, any thoughts? comments? suggestions?

so SEE we have quite a few meals togther.. although you gots osme figuring out to do with that first day. we wont have a dxxp or tix to the park that day so we can not join you in epcot but please feel free to join us in dtd for earl of sandwich and dessrt at trex! also our last day is the day after you guys leave and will unfortunately not be a full day by any means!! I am sneakily using our last little bit of credits at CRT for breakfast just so I can see the park one last time.... although I may chnage this as I want to get to the MK early early and have breakfast and a nice full day in the park.. I just gotta see what I can switch arouhd to make that happen! perhaps I can switch it out with chef mickey's teh day before... yes that is a good idea... yes I am talking...err writing to myself here.. see how a.d.d i am !! Ok so does this make anything easier for you at all?????? sure hope so!

 

[inkedupmomma]

so SEE we have quite a few meals togther.. although you gots osme figuring out to do with that first day. we wont have a dxxp or tix to the park that day so we can not join you in epcot but please feel free to join us in dtd for earl of sandwich and dessrt at trex! also our last day is the day after you guys leave and will unfortunately not be a full day by any means!! I am sneakily using our last little bit of credits at CRT for breakfast just so I can see the park one last time.... although I may chnage this as I want to get to the MK early early and have breakfast and a nice full day in the park.. I just gotta see what I can switch arouhd to make that happen! perhaps I can switch it out with chef mickey's teh day before... yes that is a good idea... yes I am talking...err writing to myself here.. see how a.d.d i am !! Ok so does this make anything easier for you at all?????? sure hope so!

Scratch Ohana, we are going to sleep in and do small breakfast at pepper market, then early lunch at coral reef, and dinner biergarten! i think I have all my days planned thanks to your outline.. now we just need to sync them together!

 

[inkedupmomma]

Ok, Also, on your anniversary day, we are now going to do Dak THEN dhs! Since the next day will be MNSSHP we figured doing a park that day after breakfast will just be too much. So this will probably be our late breakfast day at 1900, then maybe some dtd if i can convince John, then resort for swimming and drlaxing, then early adr at CRT!!! By late 1900 I mean 830ish lol! Wow, this is actually all coming together and I am feeling super excited and more organized than I have felt in a LONGGGGGG time!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Ok, so I looked at this again.

Arrival - if we see Illuminations in May then I am game for DTD and TRex for sure! I just have not seen Illuminations in a few years. I can also go back and see when we are going to Epcot again and change it to then.

Days 2 and 3 are cool because we have time together

Day 4 - we will probably still go to DTD so I can do my "mega" shopping at World of Disney, etc. If we have already done dessert with you guys then we will drop this one. My friend went to Narcoossee's recently and said it was terrible and she won't go back. Since we have similar taste in food I'm too scared to try it.

Day 5 - we can change to Akershus for breakfast with you guys and if you do Biergarten that day we can too. It's not a day that I don't mind changing. If we stay at Epcot all day, we can see Illuminations this day too and then on arrival day be with you guys.

Day 6 - our anniversary. So, since I am pre-paying for the Photopass CD and stuff, why don't you guys join us for our photo session? Tell me, just how many pictures can they take of just me and Joe in a 30 minute session? And if mom comes, there are still only three of us. If you are interested, I will make the reservation for all of us if they let me. I'm thinking Flying Fish for dinner.

Day 7 - we are open for either DHS or DAK this day. We thought DHS just for TSMM....Joe loves that ride. Not a big deal though because I love DAK too! And we have MNSSHP that night!

Day 8 - I'm up for moving breakfast to O'Hana's. I loved that place for breakfast! Not sure what we are doing for dinner that day for dinner but there are so many possibilities at EPCOT.

Day 9 - still not sure if we are leaving this day or extending. If we are extending, then the entire day is open to plan.

So,that's what I got so far..............

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

So I typed nearly an entire rant just now about my troubles getting my AP renewed and it said "thank you for posting" but I have no clue where it went! Scary! ... and I can't get myself to type the whole thing out again.............

 

[inkedupmomma]

Ok, so I looked at this again.

Arrival - if we see Illuminations in May then I am game for DTD and TRex for sure! I just have not seen Illuminations in a few years. I can also go back and see when we are going to Epcot again and change it to then.
Oh yeah.. you get to go on a hold over trip.... must be nice hahaha, just joking!! that trip will actually be a perfect chance for you guys to maybe do some stuff that your afraid of missing in September!

Days 2 and 3 are cool because we have time together
word

Day 4 - we will probably still go to DTD so I can do my "mega" shopping at World of Disney, etc. If we have already done dessert with you guys then we will drop this one. My friend went to Narcoossee's recently and said it was terrible and she won't go back. Since we have similar taste in food I'm too scared to try it.
Really, cause all I ever read is good stuff about it I fgorget what we are doing earlier this day.. DAK right? We could do DTD as well, but I don't care for any off the menus, and we really wanted to try narcooses.. i'll have to so some more research!

Day 5 - we can change to Akershus for breakfast with you guys and if you do Biergarten that day we can too. It's not a day that I don't mind changing. If we stay at Epcot all day, we can see Illuminations this day too and then on arrival day be with you guys.
Cool! We would do din there, but we did not care for it at ALL! I can switch Biergarten to this day. Def stay for Illuminations!

Day 6 - our anniversary. So, since I am pre-paying for the Photopass CD and stuff, why don't you guys join us for our photo session? Tell me, just how many pictures can they take of just me and Joe in a 30 minute session? And if mom comes, there are still only three of us. If you are interested, I will make the reservation for all of us if they let me. I'm thinking Flying Fish for dinner.
Sweet nibblits! That would rockkkk! we could still do dak, and dhs after that! This is our no stress day [ha!]

Day 7 - we are open for either DHS or DAK this day. We thought DHS just for TSMM....Joe loves that ride. Not a big deal though because I love DAK too! And we have MNSSHP that night!
not sure if we are going to do a park after breakfast this day. john wants to take it easy since we have mnsshp that night... plus i kinda wanna got to dtd.. although if we go the previous night then I may be able to scratch that... either way going back to the resort before mnsshp and swimming and relaxing is a must for john!

Day 8 - I'm up for moving breakfast to O'Hana's. I loved that place for breakfast! Not sure what we are doing for dinner that day for dinner but there are so many possibilities at EPCOT.scratch ohana. we are doing pepper market this day, then coral reef earkly lunch, then we can do le cellier for dinner this night

Day 9 - still not sure if we are leaving this day or extending. If we are extending, then the entire day is open to plan.
get on it!

So,that's what I got so far..............

Yay for being able to think again!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Sophia,

Your plans all sound like they're coming together, you seem to have a good selection. What about Citricos or Spoodles instead of Narcooses? Is the Californian Grill still open? It's hard when you get a bad review from someonme you trust, it throws everything up in the air. Hopefully you'll get it all sorted.

How many stops are you planning to make at AKL for the zebra domes?

Your trip with your brother sounds good - you've made sure he's getting to see a bit of everything.

Di x

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi Sophia,

Your plans all sound like they're coming together, you seem to have a good selection. What about Citricos or Spoodles instead of Narcooses? Is the Californian Grill still open? It's hard when you get a bad review from someonme you trust, it throws everything up in the air. Hopefully you'll get it all sorted.

How many stops are you planning to make at AKL for the zebra domes?

Your trip with your brother sounds good - you've made sure he's getting to see a bit of everything.

Di x

Di,

Citricos and Spoodles are good ideas! Have you been to Flying Fish? CA Grille is still open. We did not have a good experience there for some reason.

I plan to make as many stops as I can for Zebra domes!!!!

 

[inkedupmomma]

Di,

Citricos and Spoodles are good ideas! Have you been to Flying Fish? CA Grille is still open. We did not have a good experience there for some reason.

I plan to make as many stops as I can for Zebra domes!!!!

I am looking forward to trying these Zebra Domes.. but not too many for you or me!! We are behaving ourselves for our health remember!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I just called Disney to see what the AP rates are for my trip in May. We changed resorts and went from a total of $401.15 split between my bro and us to a total of $261 to split. Yay, $130.50 each for the entire three night stay!!!!!!!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

You won't believe this one.........

I was making my ADR's for my May trip. Anything after May 25th has to be made in the new dining system. The person I talked to said that they wait t talk to someone is at LEAST ONE HOUR!!!!!! Apparently the system went down yesterday and no one could make ressies. So, I am sitting on hold so that I can make an ADR at Tusker on the 26th. I figure I may as well do it now and get it over with.

Here are the ADR's that I made:

Day of arrival - none

Day 2 - Early (and I mean early) ADR for breakfast at Kona. I want to show my bro the Poly. I love that place!

Brown Derby Fantasmic package. That is the ONLY place I could get with Fantasmic seating. I am freaking now about September because the person I talked to said that since Fantasmic is down to a few shows a week it is no longer easy to get these.

Day 3 - Biergarten for Dinner. I KNOW he will totally dig that place!

Day 4 - I am trying to make ADR's at Tusker for breakfast. I have a feeling this is going to be a nightmere..........

Jenn, if you are reading.........the exact date that we can call for September dining is June 15th. She suggested that we call right at 7 am and that we have our more "difficult" ressies ready to do first.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the wait time is incredible if you are making ADR's for 5/26 or later.

I just waited 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 14 seconds........

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Hello! I'm here!

I don't want to make your ADR decisions any more difficult, but have you guys eaten at Sci-Fi Drive In? It is SO good; definitely one of our favs! We go during lunch hours because they have the best burgers known to man; haha. They don't have them on the dinner menu for some odd reason.

LOVE your tree!! I've wanted to do a Disney tree for so long, so DH and I drove around like crazies after Christmas and got some great Hallmark ornaments!! We literally got about $500.00 worth for well under $100.00; I'm so excited to start the tree this Christmas! I'm hoping to pick up some things at the store at DTD in September; and, I need to dig our really, really old school Disney ornaments out of my parent's attic. We had some when I was little, so I hope they're still in good shape!

LOVE your scrapbook pages, too. I love scrapbooking. I need to work on (and finish, haha) our honeymoon book before our September trip. Did you send off for the Jif/Smucker's book kit?? I did; I hope it comes!

And, that wait time for ADRs? D'oh!! Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to need to go in to work late the morning we can start ours! I'm worried about not getting what we want since we're going during free dining!

EDITED: I forgot to say this (my DH would be ashamed) he's a HUGE Steelers fan, too! He's actually from Pittsburgh!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hello! I'm here!

I don't want to make your ADR decisions any more difficult, but have you guys eaten at Sci-Fi Drive In? It is SO good; definitely one of our favs! We go during lunch hours because they have the best burgers known to man; haha. They don't have them on the dinner menu for some odd reason.

LOVE your tree!! I've wanted to do a Disney tree for so long, so DH and I drove around like crazies after Christmas and got some great Hallmark ornaments!! We literally got about $500.00 worth for well under $100.00; I'm so excited to start the tree this Christmas! I'm hoping to pick up some things at the store at DTD in September; and, I need to dig our really, really old school Disney ornaments out of my parent's attic. We had some when I was little, so I hope they're still in good shape!

LOVE your scrapbook pages, too. I love scrapbooking. I need to work on (and finish, haha) our honeymoon book before our September trip. Did you send off for the Jif/Smucker's book kit?? I did; I hope it comes!

And, that wait time for ADRs? D'oh!! Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to need to go in to work late the morning we can start ours! I'm worried about not getting what we want since we're going during free dining!

EDITED: I forgot to say this (my DH would be ashamed) he's a HUGE Steelers fan, too! He's actually from Pittsburgh!

Hi! Welcome!!

We've done Sci-Fi a few times. Love the atmosphere in there. Burgers are good too! Good suggestion!

Thanks for the compliments on our tree and my scrapping. It took me years and years to get enough ornaments to do a large tree. We started off with just a pencil tree in our dining room and once we had enough ornaments we went with the full sized tree. I go NUTS in the Christmas store at DTD. In fact, last year we had to find a UPS store and have it all shipped home.

I did not send for the Jif/Smuckers kit but now I'm curious....I want to know what it is. Learn something new every day. Have you posted any scrapbook pictures? If so, I'd love to see them. I'm still sort of new at this. Been doing it for around a year now.

I could not believe how freaking long I had to wait this morning. I'm freaking out about our September trip especially because of free dining. We're on it too but I think that we're going to do dxdp....Jenn (inkedupmomma) has talked me into it! Seriously though, she's right! I'm wondering just how long I will be on the phone on June 25th...the first day that we can call!

My DH is from Pittsburgh too. He lived in Jeannette as a child and then Crabtree later on. I've only met one person that actually knows where Crabtree is so far.

Thanks for joining!!!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

We'll have to do a mini tree this year, but I'll keep adding - especially after my DTD trip!!

Did you find the Jif/Smucker's promo? If you google Jif Disney Scrap Book, it should come up. You just have to buy 2 Jif products OR 2 Smucker's jelly products, fill out the form on their site, and send it in along with your receipt. They'll send you a new celebration's scrap book - no shipping and handling or anything! I hope it shows up!!

Hi! Welcome!!

We've done Sci-Fi a few times. Love the atmosphere in there. Burgers are good too! Good suggestion!

Thanks for the compliments on our tree and my scrapping. It took me years and years to get enough ornaments to do a large tree. We started off with just a pencil tree in our dining room and once we had enough ornaments we went with the full sized tree. I go NUTS in the Christmas store at DTD. In fact, last year we had to find a UPS store and have it all shipped home.

I did not send for the Jif/Smuckers kit but now I'm curious....I want to know what it is. Learn something new every day. Have you posted any scrapbook pictures? If so, I'd love to see them. I'm still sort of new at this. Been doing it for around a year now.

I could not believe how freaking long I had to wait this morning. I'm freaking out about our September trip especially because of free dining. We're on it too but I think that we're going to do dxdp....Jenn (inkedupmomma) has talked me into it! Seriously though, she's right! I'm wondering just how long I will be on the phone on June 25th...the first day that we can call!

My DH is from Pittsburgh too. He lived in Jeannette as a child and then Crabtree later on. I've only met one person that actually knows where Crabtree is so far.

Thanks for joining!!!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Sophia!

Just catching up!

Di,

Citricos and Spoodles are good ideas! Have you been to Flying Fish? CA Grille is still open. We did not have a good experience there for some reason.

I plan to make as many stops as I can for Zebra domes!!!!

Never been to FF - or Citricos or Spoodles to be honest either, I've just heard other people talk about them! Just thought you'd like to know I'm recommending dining options with no personal experience of them!

I am looking forward to trying these Zebra Domes.. but not too many for you or me!! We are behaving ourselves for our health remember!!

Just one or two won't hurt....or three or four....or five.....

I just called Disney to see what the AP rates are for my trip in May. We changed resorts and went from a total of $401.15 split between my bro and us to a total of $261 to split. Yay, $130.50 each for the entire three night stay!!!!!!!!!

I am so jealous - we need to move to the US, you never get these kind of discounts over here!

You won't believe this one.........

I was making my ADR's for my May trip. Anything after May 25th has to be made in the new dining system. The person I talked to said that they wait t talk to someone is at LEAST ONE HOUR!!!!!! Apparently the system went down yesterday and no one could make ressies. So, I am sitting on hold so that I can make an ADR at Tusker on the 26th. I figure I may as well do it now and get it over with.

Here are the ADR's that I made:

Day of arrival - none

Day 2 - Early (and I mean early) ADR for breakfast at Kona. I want to show my bro the Poly. I love that place!

Brown Derby Fantasmic package. That is the ONLY place I could get with Fantasmic seating. I am freaking now about September because the person I talked to said that since Fantasmic is down to a few shows a week it is no longer easy to get these.

Day 3 - Biergarten for Dinner. I KNOW he will totally dig that place!

Day 4 - I am trying to make ADR's at Tusker for breakfast. I have a feeling this is going to be a nightmere..........

Jenn, if you are reading.........the exact date that we can call for September dining is June 15th. She suggested that we call right at 7 am and that we have our more "difficult" ressies ready to do first.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the wait time is incredible if you are making ADR's for 5/26 or later.

I just waited 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 14 seconds........

Is the online booking not up and running yet? Sounds awful!

We'll have to do a mini tree this year, but I'll keep adding - especially after my DTD trip!!

Did you find the Jif/Smucker's promo? If you google Jif Disney Scrap Book, it should come up. You just have to buy 2 Jif products OR 2 Smucker's jelly products, fill out the form on their site, and send it in along with your receipt. They'll send you a new celebration's scrap book - no shipping and handling or anything! I hope it shows up!!

Hi there,

Just noted your user name - it made me smile because Heather Belle is our nickname for our DD!

Di x

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi Di,

Well, if you could have seen my face while I was on hold with dining. In all my trips I have never seen anything like that...even when they first introduced free dining.

Sophia

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

We'll have to do a mini tree this year, but I'll keep adding - especially after my DTD trip!!

Did you find the Jif/Smucker's promo? If you google Jif Disney Scrap Book, it should come up. You just have to buy 2 Jif products OR 2 Smucker's jelly products, fill out the form on their site, and send it in along with your receipt. They'll send you a new celebration's scrap book - no shipping and handling or anything! I hope it shows up!!

I still have not found the Jif/Smuckers promo but I plan to look today! Thanks for the tip! Now I have to go out and buy some jelly....just got peanut butter the other day and I don't have the receipt.

I posted on your PTR. Jenn is good for a meet up on the 12th too at DTD. We had originally planned to do desert at T-Rex. Not sure if we should meet there but anywhere is good for me. Yay, we get to meet another DISer.