My Very "Meety" Christmas Party - COMPLETED!! 12/15/10 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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My Very "Meety" Christmas Party - COMPLETED!! 12/15/10
Who: Me (Cindy) flying solo but then meeting a bunch of potential Disney buds
What: Reunion2010 and MouseTacular -- great opps for a solo Disney nut to meet others of like minds (or like out-of-minds? )
When: November 30-December 5, 2010
Where: Wilderness Lodge -- first time staying there -- can't wait to see it decorated for Christmas!
Why: Because my AP is burning a hole in my pocket, and I've never been to MVMCP
How: This will take a bit of 'splaining, so get comfortable
I was determined to get back to WDW in December, and at the beginning of the year I kept posting questions on the PP boards about "anything going on with PP in December"? It was on these very boards that I read about both Reunion 2010 | December 1-5, 2010 and Mousetacular - A Gathering of Fans. So I started investigating and decided "this sounds PERFECT for me!"
I heard about Reunion 2010 first, so made my ressies with Mouse Fan Travel long before I heard about MouseTacular . So for those PP pals who are going to the MouseTacular events, our paths may not cross -- our groups are going to different parks on the various days -- but I'll be on the lookout for you! And I am managing to squeeze in one MouseTacular event, so I hope to see a few familiar faces there!
I still know practically NOTHING about Reunion 2010/WDW Today and don't listen to podcasts. Their preferred means of contact is Twitter, so I started a Twitter account but am not enamored with tweeting. But I'm still going and have become pen pals with one solo traveler on the PP Boards (Kathy - aka TikiGoddess) and with another on Facebook (Sandy). And some of you know Mike Scopa -- he's one of the guys behind Reunion 2010. I think the RSVPs are up to 150 people now. I'm bound to find at least a COUPLE people in that group who will want to be my friend -- right?
I am an uber-planner! Which I think about 90% of WDW fans are! Which we all know ensures a great visit every time, right? As long as you build in some time for being silly, that is!
OK, first let me say that Mouse Fan gave me a rate of $236.25/night for WL to start with, and then after WDW brought out some good deals, Mouse Fan lowered my rate to $212.63/night. I can't pass that up, even if I am going solo!
The Reunion 2010 stuff doesn't start until Wednesday (Dec. 1) at 5:00, but after getting my schedule so full of potential "meets," I decided to arrive on Tuesday (Nov. 30) to do some solo stuff. I'll be arriving at WL around 12:30pm. I was at WDW in early December 2005 and absolutely loved Holidays Around The World - Candlelight Processional | Walt Disney World Resort which wasn't built into the Reunion schedule.
Nov. 30 (Tuesday): So I got myself a table for 1 at Les Chefs de France | Epcot Dining & Restaurants | Walt Disney World Resort because I love the food there and had a happy solo lunch there in February. I got the candlelight package, so will have an early dinner (4:10 p.m.) followed by the 6:45 p.m. show. The narrator for this date hasn't been announced yet, but it's the best day for me to see the show, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a great speaker.
Dec. 2 (Thurs.): I'll probably hit MK when it opens at 8:00 that morning, even though I'll be there for MVMCP that evening. The Reunion 2010 meets start that afternoon.
2:00 - Dole Whip meet at Aloha Isle! I my Dole Whip Float (in pineapple juice!!)
4:00 - Shootin' Arcade Meet
6:00 - Pecos Bill Meet for dinner
8:30 - Fireworks Meet
10:00 - Dumbo Without Kids Meet
11:00 - TTA Meet
11:30 - Tomorrowland Speedway Meet
Now, let's be real -- I 'll probably head for WL right after the Dumbo ride. But it's nice to know there are times I can meet up with other Reunion 2010 travelers if I feel like it. My first MVMCP -- can't wait!
Dec. 3 (Fri.): And here's another reason I won't make it till midnight on Thursday -- I'm participating in MouseTacular's 7:30 a.m. "The Toys Are Back in Town" breakfast with the Toy Story characters at DHS before the park opens -- and we'll get to ride TSMM before the throngs enter the park.
Then I'll take the bus to Epcot for a 1:00 p.m. "lunch bag & greet" with Reunion 2010 at the Wonders of Life pavilion. I miss that attraction so much -- don't you?
4:00 p.m. - Skagway AK meet at Spaceship Earth
5:40 p.m. - Flying Fish Cafe | BoardWalk Inn Dining & Restaurants | Walt Disney World Resort - I made a ressie for 3 people because I love the Flying Fish and we can walk to there from Epcot. At this point, I have no idea if I'll convince a couple people to go with me, or if I'll be hungry enough to go there. But it's nice to have a ressie, right? Hey, anybody out there interested?????
8:00 p.m. - Reunion 2010 has an Illuminations Dessert Party. Oh yeah, I am definitely gonna be there! And it doesn't matter whether I'm or not -- as you know, there's always room for chocolate!
Dec. 4 (Sat.): Reunion 2010 at DHS all day. DHS is my favorite park!
10:00 - Jack Diamond Keystone Clothiers Meet
11:15 - Rock 'n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror Meets
2:30 - Butterfinger Cupcake Meet at Starring Rolls
4:00 - Meet Indiana Jones (and Marian!) after seeing the stunt show
6:15 - I've made a ressie for 2 at my fave WDW restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby | Dining & Restaurants | Walt Disney World Resort and I've convinced a new pen pal (Sandy) to join me.
7:45 - Osborne Family Lights Dessert Party -- we'll have the back streets to ourselves after the park closes at 8:00 p.m. Woo hoo!
Here are a couple Osborne Family Lights photos I took in December 2005 -- can't wait to see those backlot streets all lit up again!
Dec. 5 (Sun.): Getting up bright and early to catch my 7:00am DME to the airport! I'll have the afternoon to recuperate, and then it's back for a busy week at work.
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You've got one full schedule planned Cindy!! I can't wait to see you at the "Toys are Back in Town" event!! Great start to your trip report
Judi, I am SO thrilled about that "Toys Are Back in Town" breakfast meet! You really got my attention with that event. Thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing you that morning!
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but, of course, your old buddy, your old pal will be there as well (keep fingers crossed) and crabbypants is coming along as well. he he he. maybe we will join you at flying fish for those ressies on friday....keep us in mind....
Your schedule looks a lot like mine... I'm going to be following most of Reunion's events. I'll post a pre-trip report when I get some time to type it all up! (yes, right now it's all on an Excel spreadsheet... total nerd...)
If you get a chance, take a listen to the WDW Today podcast. It's so much fun, especially the listener question shows on Weds. Also -- they have live shows (with chat room) every month. This month's show is on Sunday. Lots of people to talk to in the chat room and you can even call into the show and ask advice. Let me know if you need info.
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Your schedule looks a lot like mine... I'm going to be following most of Reunion's events. I'll post a pre-trip report when I get some time to type it all up! (yes, right now it's all on an Excel spreadsheet... total nerd...)
Kathy
Oh great Tiki Goddess, don't you know that my itinerary is in an Excel spreadsheet, too? Can't wait to meet you, Kathy -- it certainly sounds like we have a LOT of nerdy things in common. . . .
And I'll try listening to one of WDW Today's podcasts one of these days, I promise.
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