Eating My Words PTR: Two Foodies Cancel 2016 Trip (10/7/16) - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Eating My Words PTR: Two Foodies Cancel 2016 Trip (10/7/16)
If I had $5 for every time I've moaned either on PassPorter or to His Drewness that we absolutely cannot return to WDW this year, well, we'd have booked a trip long before now, that's for sure. So, yes, this is the "Eating My Words PTR/TR" because I truly believed there was no way we'd be able to save enough for Disney again this year.
And then, I got another fantastic pin code via snailmail! Yep, same story as last year, the return we weren't going to be able to do either. I think it must be that Mickey can't bear to celebrate our shared birthday without my being there for it. Don't you agree that explains my getting yet another juicy pin code for His Drewness's November vacation dates which happen to start a few days after my twin brother Mickey's and my birthday? Okay, not exactly ON our birthday, but close enough.
Two things have changed since last trip when it comes to writing a TR. I've gotten smarter...and older (funniest thing!) with a memory increasingly less likely to retain all those yummy details of Disney meals we enjoyed. As a result, this will not be a live TR. (Yeah, riiiiiggght, Dot! You know how you are--completely unable to resist sharing every interesting moment with your fellow PassPorters. )
Editorializing aside, I've vowed to make notes while at WDW and hold off on the live updates I did so many of last year. Doing those real-time posts wore me out and resulted in my losing interest in finishing that TR when I simply couldn't remember anything very intriguing about too many of our meals. This year, I'm going to try recording voice memos for each meal and then writing up details after returning home. I expect that will enable me to relax more, have more FUN and do a better TR on the whole.
Here are the specifics--
Who: Me, Dot, the five-year-old trapped in a "vintage" adult body
Drew, the dignified, mature one of us
(Yeah, same descriptions as on 2015's TR. We haven't changed THAT much, yanno. )
When and Where: Leaving Saturday, 11/19 for a Thanksgiving week stay, Yacht Club, Club Level.
Currently, we're scrambling to get our ADR list put together. We're considering returns to places that were well reviewed but didn't suit us which is largely why I gave up on 2015's TR and am starting this one.
Welcome back, faithful fans of our previous TR's. A hearty welcome to newcomers.
In case returning fans were wondering, I hasten to reassure you that yes, it is STILL about the food. We're eagerly anticipating more enjoyable dining experiences to share with all of you.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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You are so lucky to be able to use the pin code. I have received multiple ones this year, but, unfortunately with our cruise already planned have not been able to manage both. Oh well, at least I got some Disney magic with our cruise. Now I just have to figure out the timing of our next adventure. Have fun planning your ADRs. Can't wait to read all of your reviews.
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Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. Jenn
I can't believe you get to go again. Call me jealous. But I can't wait to hear all about it, eat something really good for me, will ya!
Oh, we shall. We certainly shall.
Just finished our rough list of ADR's but have no idea as yet which one on what day. As a result, we'll keep ya all in suspense until we get everything confirmed...maybe.
Some of you guys know too well my inability to keep our ADR list a secret for very long. But so far, I am letting slip nary a hint.
Only 18 days for y'all to wait...
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Got our ADR list plotted day-by-day, and His Drewness is speaking with a CM now who's transferring the call to the itinerary planners for YC.
Oh, DRAT! We forgot that the IPO closes at 5:00 p.m.
Well, anyway, Drew got the number so we can call them when they ARE open.
Then, we give them our ADR list, and they do all that scheduling. Because we want a veeeery special Thanksgiving dinner. Nope, not telling unless we get it.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
At least give us a hint - a game per se for all your loyal followers
How do you keep PassPorters in suspense? I'll tell you tomorrow.
Funnin' ya aside, thanks for the well wishes. It's such a delight knowing that you guys understand how exciting it is to get to go back sooner than you thought you could. One of the several meanings of 'ohana.
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
His Drewness finished giving our ADR list and room request to the Yacht Club itinerary planner a short while ago.
We're still asking ourselves why we messed with doing ADR's! It is SOOOooo much easier to turn your list with dates and a time range for each meal over to them. Plus, they have that delightful CL advantage and can often get the biggies before your 180.
Our 180 falls again this year on a workday for Drew, so he'll check MDE when he gets to work at 5:30 a.m. to see what all they got for us. Any they couldn't get, they try for daily until 24 hours prior to your arrival date.
What's cooler still is that any new places not yet accepting ADR's, the IPO will get just as soon as they can finagle one. Last year, they got us The BOATHOUSE before ADR's opened to everyone else. We didn't even have a confirmation number! The IPO merely said, "Don't worry. You've got it. Just go there." Yes, we "what-iffed" but found that we did indeed have it! This marvelous service is largely why we fork out the buckolas for CL. It is sooooo worth the cost in numerous ways.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
That booking feature is something I never thought about as a CL perk. For someone who's never stayed, and knows nothing about, what are all the perks for CL. I kind of thought it was the added snack lounge/continental breakfast thing and that was it. Which I never thought we'd be around to enjoy enough to justify the extra $$$ for continental breakfast.
Rooms are larger and usually top floor unless as at the GF, they are in separate buildings from the standard rooms. Well, actually, the GF's main building CL is the 3rd-5th floor. Sugar Loaf is a CL-only outer lodge. Rooms are more private and often in quieter locations, we think. And, as you may know, the CL floors are accessible only by those staying CL. Your Magic Band must be used to take the elevator to any CL floor. There may be private elevators in some wings. We had one at the GF once.
Also, they usually have a better view than do standard rooms, not necessarily the case for a lodge like Sugar Loaf, I hasten to add. We've had very nice views from CL rooms without paying extra.
Oh, and the bathtubs are generally larger and fancier. That's a major perk, huh?
The IPO basically acts as would a TA in terms of planning and booking. They'll plan your entire itinerary, scheduling ADR's, FP's and any special events as you request. If you decide you want to do something spur-of-the-moment like a cruise perhaps while there, they'd be the people who can arrange it if at all possible.
The first time we stayed CL, I wrote several resort postcards which I didn't realize needed additional postage. Dropped them at the concierge desk right before we left requesting that they mail them, please. Every one arrived! The CL concierge must have affixed the necessary postage so as not to disappoint.
Then, last trip, we had to get to our Epcot ADR before our MK package could reach package pickup at the gate. Christmas Day--MK closed shortly after we got out, and we were leaving in the morning. What to do? Ask the CL concierge, of course, who said they'd send a courier to get it for us and deliver it to our room. We handed over the paperwork, left for dinner at Yachtsman, and by magic, there was our package on the coffee table when we returned to our room.
An intriguing insight: At first, the concierge manager thought we meant a package to retrieve from downtown Orlando! (He was Argentinian, he explained, and English his second language.) Before the confusion was cleared, he assured us that our package would be brought to us! So, the concierges provide services above and well beyond what you'd think customary.
That's all the additional pluses I can think of at the moment. Will add any others that may occur
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
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Eating My Words PTR: Two Foodies Cancel 2016 Trip (10/7/16)
Don't you agree that explains my getting yet another juicy pin code for His Drewness's November vacation dates which happen to start a few days after my twin brother Mickey's and my birthday? Okay, not exactly ON our birthday, but close enough. 
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Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
Parlor Panther in 'stalking mode'
Good luck on all the ADRs! 
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