You're Going AGAIN?????

[Victoriasmom98]

Ok, YAY! I just realized that you will be there until MONDAY!!! I thought you would only be there Thursday & Friday that we are there, that gives us lots more days to work with. Do you have your itinerary ready yet?!?!? If you don't, shame on you!!!

Ok, Ok....shame on me......but I'm waiting on TGM to come out with the crowd calendars to see when the best days to go to which parks will be. But yes, we will be there until October 3rd, and we are staying at POFQ so just a quick jog to where you are even if it's just to say hi for a minute.....

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ok, Ok....shame on me......but I'm waiting on TGM to come out with the crowd calendars to see when the best days to go to which parks will be. But yes, we will be there until October 3rd, and we are staying at POFQ so just a quick jog to where you are even if it's just to say hi for a minute.....

OH HOW COOL, staying at sister resorts! We can just meet at the pool!

I just look up what TGM said for last years dates on those days and it usually is pretty similar when they release hours!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Well, going by Karen's recommendations of looking up last years crowd calendar and basing plans on that.....I have come up with Days 1 and 2 of my plans....

Day 1 will be spent flying into Orlando and settling in at POFQ. We usually get a 6am flight and are in Orlando by noonish, so it makes for a really nice first day. We will unpack, maybe even swim a little. We are planning on taking the water taxi to DTD and eating at T-Rex! (Maybe even do the Build a Dino! ) I'm thinking maybe a 3pm or so ADR!! I know it's not on the Dining plan, but it will be worth it to see Peter enjoy it!!

I'm sure while we are RIGHT THERE in DTD, there will be shopping that will be done! I mean, we are RIGHT THERE, right??

Day 2 (our first full day at Disney) I am planning on Animal Kingdom. Now, I know what you all are thinking --- what an odd choice for the first park. Well, I have never really understood the wonders of that park so I'm thinking if I make it the first one we go to, while we are still fresh, I may enjoy it more. Of course I love Expedition Everest, but I've never done the Discovery Island trails, Pangani Forest Trail, or the Maharahah Jungle Trek. On the last trip we didn't do the Wildlife train or the Affection section, so I really want to hit those things and enjoy the park for what it is. The morning will start out at Donald's Safari breakfast as we didn't get to go to that one either last year. I think that will be alot of fun. My goal this year is to get lots of character pictures......after all, isn't that half the fun???

So there you have it.......my first 2 days......so far, so good, right???

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ha! I'm such a pusher.

GREAT plans so far!

Now, I know what you all are thinking --- what an odd choice for the first park. Well, I have never really understood the wonders of that park so I'm thinking if I make it the first one we go to, while we are still fresh, I may enjoy it more.

This is a GREAT idea! I wish I could do the same with Epcot for us, both times we were tired by the time we got to Epcot...but, we are arriving on the opening weekend and it won't be any fun if it's cram-packed and we can't enjoy it, so once again I have it near the end of our trip!

I've heard really great stuff about T-Rex, I bet it will be a blast...and if you didn't shop at DTD, I might think you were crazy.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I really wanna try Tusker house this trip too! AK is a half day park for us. We spent a lot of time in Camp Minnie Mickey in 2009 to see all the characters in their christmas outfits but this trip I think we will only go over there for Lion King

 

[annmarieda]

So there you have it.......my first 2 days......so far, so good, right???

awesome!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Great plans so far! I agree that it's a really good idea to give AK another shot while you all are still fresh and not worn out from days of touring I also agree about DTD. It would be crazy NOT to shop if you're already there!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Just did a little shopping on someone's Avon website

 

[Victoriasmom98]

So.....On Day 3 we will be doing EPCOT. I'm thinking it will probably be the Future World section as Victoria would be chomping at the bit for Mission Space!

This leaves the dilema of chosing a TS restaurant in Future World. I've heard lots of good things about Garden Grill, but I haven't really looked over the menu there yet. I know----I'm slow on that process, too. I think there's a character meal...geez, instead of just guessing, I should really go check it out.....it's not like I even have to get off my recliner to do that, either.....

Ok, yep it's character dining and look at this menu:
Warm Breads with Maple Butter
Harvest-inspired Farmer's Salad
Char-grilled Beef Strip Loin with Herb Sea Salt
Roasted All Natural Turkey Breast with Cranberry-Orange Relish
Sustainable Fish of the Day with a Florida Citrus Crumb
Garden Fresh Vegetables
Smashed Potatoes
Turkey Dressing
Freshly Baked Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp with Hand-Whipped Vanilla Bean Cream

Yep.....this is a MUST DO!!! I really hope it's as good as it sounds....so yummy!!! Ok, now I'm getting hungry!!! I think I will probably try to get an ADR for 4pm or so since we will have eaten breakfast and probably had a snack or two during the day. This is all I am really planning on doing. Knowing my family, we'll keep doing the rides over and over and over again. My favorite is Test Track. Last year we didn't bother doing Captain EO, so I'm not sure if we will this time either. Michael Jackson is neither Peter or Victoria's favorite performer.....oh well.....

I MUST INTERRUPT THIS PTR FOR THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT......MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND JUST CAME HOME WITH CHOCOLATES FOR BOTH VICTORIA AND I AND 1 DOZEN ROSES.....I LOVE HIM!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

 

[Tinkermom76]

Awwwwwww so sweet!

Garden Grill does sound yummy, I really want to try it some day

 

[klacey1]

Awww, you're hubby is too sweet! You picked a keeper!
I've honestly heard nothing but great things about Garden Grill-- you should go for it!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Take it from me, Garden Grill IS as good as it sounds! I absolutely love how the restaurant spins and that by the time you do a full rotation, you're usually done with your meal. My goodness, THE MEAL! It is really great IMO and as you can see from the menu, there is something for everyone. The kids loved the food. And the food keeps coming and coming. On our first visit there, I didn't realize it was all you can eat until the server insisted that it was OK if we wanted more steak, fish and chicken nuggets! The dessert seems to change every year because in 2008 it was some sort of bread pudding. I actually don't care for bread pudding at all, but seeing that I was paying for dessert whether I liked it or not, I tried it. It was divine! I was almost disappointed that blueberry buckle was the dessert in 2009 until I tasted that! It was heaven in a pie pan, I tell you! So I can't wait to try this rhubarb thing they have going on now! OK, enough about the food! I just had lunch and this is making me hungry all over again! On to the characters. The interaction is really great. They spent a lot of time with my kids both years. I think that was because we had an early ADR in the 4pm time frame too, so it was busy, but they didn't make us feel rushed because there weren't a lot of people having dinner at that hour. Great plans for your EPCOT day!

That husband of yours...what a wonderful man!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Take it from me, Garden Grill IS as good as it sounds! I absolutely love how the restaurant spins and that by the time you do a full rotation, you're usually done with your meal. My goodness, THE MEAL!

THE RESTAURANT SPINS????!!!! How did I not read about this before??? OMG!!! This totally rocks!!! Now I really can't wait!!! I'm going to definitely keep this a secret from my family....if I can....

Oh, and according to the September hours, there should be a MNSSHP on the 27th which would line up perfectly with our plans. Yeah, I cheated a little at work today and worked on my schedule instead of my actual work....whooops.. I had that day planned as a rest day so it's perfect.....resting in the am and part of the afternoon then off to party!! Whoot!!!

 

[basketkat]

Take it from me, Garden Grill IS as good as it sounds! I absolutely love how the restaurant spins and that by the time you do a full rotation, you're usually done with your meal. My goodness, THE MEAL!

THE RESTAURANT SPINS????!!!! How did I not read about this before??? OMG!!! This totally rocks!!! Now I really can't wait!!! I'm going to definitely keep this a secret from my family....if I can....

Oh, and according to the September hours, there should be a MNSSHP on the 27th which would line up perfectly with our plans. Yeah, I cheated a little at work today and worked on my schedule instead of my actual work....whooops.. I had that day planned as a rest day so it's perfect.....resting in the am and part of the afternoon then off to party!! Whoot!!!

Make sure you ride Living with the Land first...they use some of the veggies that are grown there!

Oh and I'm planning on on MNSSHP on the 27th too!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

[Make sure you ride Living with the Land first...they use some of the veggies that are grown there!

Oh and I'm planning on on MNSSHP on the 27th too!!

Hey Basketkat!!! Yes, I had read that about using the veggies grown in the greenhouse. I think that is so neat, although we are not huge veggie eaters, I do eat a bit. I am so excited to hear nothing but good reports on this restaurant. I am still hung up on the fact that it spins...

Today I'm staying home with my daughter as she is sick again. For the last 2 weeks she's either not gone to school or I've been called to come pick her up. She's had awful stomach pain and I just can't figure out what's wrong. The nurse at school said there is some type of bug going around that will affect the kids on and off for a couple of weeks. Ugh! I don't like to miss work but I really wanted to keep an eye on her to watch what's going on. We layed down for a nap, but she is too restless.....whereas I could have used one! Oh well. I'm making her some rice for lunch now. She seems to be able to eat ok. Quite honestly I've had my bouts of nausea lately, too, so maybe we both have a touch of something. I told her she really will need to toughen up a bit and try to make it to school tomorrow. She can't keep missing her schoolwork. It's her birthday this weekend, too and she wants a sleepover party, so I'm hoping she will feel better soon. I have to make sure I have enough time saved up for my Disney vacation, too.

I've been working on ADR's this morning. I received my Passporter book in the mail yesterday and have been reading constantly this morning. I love it especially for the restaurant reviews and prices. I'm very indecisive about my ADR's for my MNSSHP day (the 27th) and my second HS day, though. Since we are going to MNSSHP at 4pm, I'm thinking of either a breakfast or lunch at a resort or DTD. We don't get the parkhoppers so that's basically our options. Then there is the second HS day. I already have ADR's on the first day at Mama Melroses, so I really don't want to repeat that one. I definitely don't want to have breakfast at H & V with Playhouse Disney (yeah, a bit too old for that one!) and I didn't want to waste 2 TS credits on the Brown Derby. That really leaves the Prime Time Cafe and Sci Fi. We've already been to the Sci Fi, and I really didn't go crazy over the menu at Prime Time. Anyone have any suggestions??

I put my name into a Photopass share on Facebook the other day. I haven't heard back from the organizer and honestly, I'm a little nervous about participating. I just don't want to pay and then never see the disc. I know that's highly unlikely, but the thought is still there. Now, Hope, I remember you said you took part in one, so what was your experience like??

I have another question for those more experienced than I..... is it really crazy busy during EMH in the evenings? I didn't plan it that way, but on our first MK day, our first HS day and our second EPCOT day there are pm EMH in those particular parks. Again, I don't get the parkhoppers, so leaving the park is not an option unless we are done for the day. Heck, by the regular closing time we might be so pooped that we are leaving anyways....

 

[Tinkermom76]

I did a share on my last trip and just got the CD last week (we got back Dec 17th) so if you don't mind waiting to get it then my experience was good. But like I said you have to wait for everyone to edit, then the organizer to get it, then make copies and mail them so it's a long process

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I did a share on my last trip and just got the CD last week (we got back Dec 17th) so if you don't mind waiting to get it then my experience was good. But like I said you have to wait for everyone to edit, then the organizer to get it, then make copies and mail them so it's a long process

I don't think I would mind waiting.....I mean it's already taken me this long to scrapbook my September trip and I'm not even done yet. I just hope it works out and I get to participate. Any little savings will help!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hmmm, I would consider maybe something on Boardwalk so you could take the boat over there and then back to DHS? How about Beaches & Cream? That's a TS option over there. If not, I guess you could consider just doing 2 CS meals and then saving that TS for another day.

I did a photopass share and although it took the woman a while, I did get my disc and it was totally worth it b/c I saved SO much money!

 

[annmarieda]

hope your dd feels better. Not fun when we have kids home sick.