The 'This Trip Keeps Getting Longer' Trip: PTR About This Page:

[elbodans]

Originally Posted by zettarooski

I have a very short trip (2 days pre-cruise) coming up and we're doing the same thing for dining - checking out the lounges. I don't want to plan a lot of time for meals because I know we want to do a lot parks-wise and I wouldn't want a meal to mess up those plans. Also, on the cruise I know we'll eat lots (planning to do Remy and Palo). I was bummed at first, but I think it will actually be pretty great the more I think about it. And hopefully some cost-savings!

Excited to see how it pans out for you!

don't be bummed! we are doing this on purpose and are psyched about it! ha! and yes, before a cruise it sounds like a FAB plan. of course it should also be noted that we will be there during food and wine fest. so...there will be eating.

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

So, I already commended your Paris decision on FB, but feel the need to do it again here. Good choice and I'm happy that you're happy. Plus, there's not as good of an emoji on FB!

I think the in-dining plan sounds great! I always feel like we overeat at Disney, so that sounds like it would be more controlled, and far less uncomfortable at the end of the day. Plus, probably a little more economical. Maybe I should see how many lounge options there'd be at DL if we wanted to try that.

Can't believe you haven't done any of the dinner shows yet. Not sure why, but I think Doug would like Hoop Dee Doo.

thanks for the emoji, and for the repeated commending.

not sure about lounges at DL. i know i DID eat in what could be considered a lounge in california adventure. but i have no idea what it was called. i remember there was a really pretty little mermaid themed christmas tree in the lobby area. and...that's about it. way to be unhelpful, me!

and i've done the spirit of aloha show, and we are doing it again on this trip. doug mentioned hoop dee doo. we are currently on a wing and a prayer waitlist for an additional night at WL at the beginning of the trip (instead of a marriott that friday night). if that happens, i'll try to add hoop dee doo. and yes, something tells me doug would like it too.

[Colexis Mom]

Sounds like a great idea to eat at the bars and lounges!

[elbodans]

Part 2.5--The 'I always add things to my trips' Portion

so...i just found out that now that we've extended our trip, we will be in WDW for the swan and dolphin food and wine classic.

i've ALWAYS wanted to attend the swan and dolphin food and wine classic.

so my question is--do we dare?

from what i understand, it's like a typical food festival (i've been to several such fests in other parts of the country--like south beach food and wine in miami) where you pay for admission and then you get to sample everything you want for the duration. while i can't eat that much, i CAN drink, so i'm thinking it would be even worth it for me. or i could buy general admission for my husband and a $50 book of 'tickets' for me. i like that this is an option but i'm not really clear on how it works. this would be our one splurge for the trip, and we'd look at it as equal to an expensive restaurant meal with drinks (we would easily spend that much at a signature restaurant.)

thoughts?

the alternatives for our splurge would be something like keys to the kingdom.

[cubfancolleen]

If you think it would be enjoyable, rather than a depressing reminder of your current inability to eat the way you'd like, then I say go for it!

[elbodans]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

If you think it would be enjoyable, rather than a depressing reminder of your current inability to eat the way you'd like, then I say go for it!

yeah. i'm thinking of doing the tickets for me. that seems...more wise?

[Tara O'Hara]

Originally Posted by elbodans

Part 2.5--The 'I always add things to my trips' Portion

so...i just found out that now that we've extended our trip, we will be in WDW for the swan and dolphin food and wine classic.

i've ALWAYS wanted to attend the swan and dolphin food and wine classic.

so my question is--do we dare?

from what i understand, it's like a typical food festival (i've been to several such fests in other parts of the country--like south beach food and wine in miami) where you pay for admission and then you get to sample everything you want for the duration. while i can't eat that much, i CAN drink, so i'm thinking it would be even worth it for me. or i could buy general admission for my husband and a $50 book of 'tickets' for me. i like that this is an option but i'm not really clear on how it works. this would be our one splurge for the trip, and we'd look at it as equal to an expensive restaurant meal with drinks (we would easily spend that much at a signature restaurant.)

thoughts?

the alternatives for our splurge would be something like keys to the kingdom.

You crack me up!. I do exactly the same thing. I book a great trip and then I think about what else could I add that would make it perfect! It drives my husband nuts because he would honestly be happy just to go. He keeps telling me he starts our vacation ideas low because he knows I will slowly add a million upgrades. He doesn't understand. Anyway!

I think that sounds like a really cool addition but only you can decide if it's truly worth it. If you are in doubt, the KTTK tour is really cool!!

[Cam22]

Adding on to trips is part of the fun. I've never heard of this food and wine classic, but I know how much I enjoy the Epcot F&WF and that cost sounds like a great value, so I vote for doing it.

[chezp]

If you haven't done Keys to the Kingdom, that gets my vote - it's an excellent tour!

[elbodans]

Originally Posted by chezp

If you haven't done Keys to the Kingdom, that gets my vote - it's an excellent tour!

i've done it--my husband hasn't. i think he may really enjoy it.

though i also did come up with an alternative splurge. stay tuned!

[SuperDave]

Just signing on.

Sounds like the makings of a great trip. Love the idea of having your meals in the bars and lounges. The KTTK tour as Cheryl said is a good one as I took it a few years ago and loved it!

[elbodans]

Part 3: The Plan as of Now
Aka: The Plan I'm Going to Change Over and Over

alright. so far, here are our plans for our now-10-day trip to WDW (man that's a long trip!) i like to share these plans here in my PTR because it's GREAT getting feedback from all of you so....feedback away!

please note: i have a meeting in 22 minutes, so i may need to make this into two posts, depending upon how quickly i can think/type.

day 1: arrival day
Friday

our flight lands at noon at sanford, so we will have to take a taxi to...somewhere. and then do...something. as you can tell, this day isn't very well planned out!

day 1 considerations:
-where are we staying? note: we are now on a waitlist to add a day to our WL stay for this night.
-what are we doing? thoughts include: hanging out at a hotel, going to disney springs, or doing MNSSHP.

day 2: food and wine fest day 1
Saturday

yes yes i know...i'm breaking my no food and wine fest on the weekends rule. but we are going as soon as it opens and only spending lunch there so it shouldn't be SO bad right? right? someone tell me i'm right.

anyway, we have FPs planned for epcot for this day--a throw away character spot early (and if we get there early i'm totally making doug do this), spaceship earth, and a soarin FP for something like 2:15pm, with the assumption that we will be done festing by then and on our way out.

the plan for the evening on this day is to relax back at WL and have 'dinner' in territory lounge, though i may need to rethink this plan as i believe there's no pool at WL and i KNOW we won't be spending the entire afternoon at food and wine fest so...hmm. thoughts?

day 2 considerations:
-should we change this entire plan?


Day 3: Magic Kingdom Day
Sunday

since we will be waking up at WL, we plan to take the boat over to MK and spend the morning there. i'd like to make rope drop (because of course i would). we have FPs for peter pan, haunted mansion, and pirates, all between 9:30 and 12:20, as i typically like to leave MK by lunch.

we will then take the boat back to WL, pick up our stuff (which we will leave at the desk) and take an uber over to OKW. why are we doing it this way? simple: i hate having disney move our things. it often takes until well after dinner to receive your bags, which is annoying if, for example, you want to take a dip in the pool. or respond to a work email. or shower for dinner. or do ANYTHING. i pack light, but i do NEED all of the stuff i bring. so to avoid frustration, we plan to use uber. it's faster and easier.

our plans for the evening involve disney springs, or going to another park. we're leaving it up in the air.

day 3 considerations:
-do we add a second park? or enjoy disney springs?

Day 4: Food and Wine AGAIN
monday

it's...another epcot day! sort of. we plan to sleep in this day, because it's monday and we are on vacation darn it! then we will probably go to the pool (weather permitting). the only other thing we want to do is return to the food and wine fest, this time later in the afternoon or early evening. we have a frozen FP for 5:10pm, and according to touring plans, the star wars fireworks are happening at DHS at 8pm, so if that's true (not sure if they are extending these into late october) we will head over to DHS from epcot for that.

day 4 considerations:
-none!

ok. all of my meeting alert are going off. more soon!

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans!!

[Tara O'Hara]

I love your plans!!

[elbodans]

Part 3: The Plans (Continued)

and...i'm back. continuing with our plans...

Day 4: MK and Luau Day
Tuesday

we are returning to MK again on tuesday, this time in the afternoon. sleep is very important to my husband--and we don't want this trip to be all GO GO GO! so the first thing we 'have to' do this day is an 11:05 mine train FP. we actually have to be there by no later than i'd say 11:30 for this FP, as we then have lunch reservations at skipper canteen for noon. you will note that these are the first ACTUAL dining reservations for the trip!

after lunch we have a jungle cruise FP, because that's theme-y and right there. and then for some reason that i do not understand, i made a FP for dumbo at 2:30. i recall my husband having a happy childhood memory of this ride, so perhaps that's why? in my notes, i've written '2:30 FP Dumbo because apparently we are eight'.

we will likely then head over to the poly to have a drink at trader sam's, as i didn't get to go last time i was there (it was too cold inside for mom). and by 'have a drink' i really do mean 'one of the giant drinks in the cool glasses'. i'm happy to take recommendations!

then it's on to the first family event of the trip--the first seating of the spirit of aloha dinner show. mom and i did this on her first post-chemo trip, and while she enjoyed it she felt she didn't enjoy it AS MUCH as she could have, so she wants a do-over. so we are doing it over. also my husband has never seen it, nor has chris. which reminds me--i should pause here to talk about chris.

A Pause to Talk About Chris

chris is technically my step brother, though i don't think of him as such since my mom didn't marry his dad until i was already an adult (i was 22 i believe). we also are not close. he's...not my type. he's a good guy now, i suppose. when mom first married her husband, chris was NOT a good guy. he's since been, uh...what's the word i'm looking for? rehabilitated. he has a good job (for him) doing something labor-related somewhere. he recently bought a small house and lives there alone. he's exactly one year younger than me and kind of...i don't know. we just definitely do not have similar interests, and it's going to be VERY amusing to see him in WDW.

Returning to Day 4

after the luau, we have tentative plans to head over to epcot for illuminations, as there are extra magic hours until 11 and i like to see illuminations without having the crushing rush to exit the park. we will likely then walk to the beach club and uber back to OKW for the evening, as uber in WDW is pretty much the best thing ever.

considerations for day 4:
-is epcot after MK and the luau too much?
-which drinks should we order at trader sams? seriously, this is a major decision.

Day 5: AK Finally!
Wednesday

the title of this day pretty much says it all: we're finally going to make it to my favorite park! we are also going to get up EARLY to do so, as we have a 9:05 FP for the safari, followed by everest (my favorite!) at 10:20 and Kali at 11:30. i don't particularly like Kali, but i promised our heather that i'd give it another chance.

i'm happy to have made all morning FPs, as then we can spend the afternoon being not in a hurry. my husband has never seen FOtLK, so hopefully we can fit that in. and i love all of the trails.

we plan to leave AK whenever we feel done, and may return to OKW or continue on to MK to see wishes, as MK has EMH until midnight this evening. this will likely be our one REALLY long day. but that's ok, as it's kind of in the middle of the week.

day 5 considerations:
-do we go to MK from AK? or to OKW to rest first?

Day 6: Last Day with Mom
Thursday

since we will have been out late the night before, we are sleeping in again! it's our last day to enjoy the pool at OKW, so we will likely do a bit of that before making our way to DHS by no later than 2pm for a star tours FP. knowing my husband and his love for DHS, my money is on 'we will skip the pool and go to DHS early', but i've allowed for a leisurely morning and that's all that matters.

we then have a 3:30 toy story FP and dinner at HBD at 4:20. mom booked the fantasmic package for all of us, so we are all going to have a BIG meal...and then go on tower of terror. because that's a good idea? ah well. it's the only FP time i could get that made sense. we probably won't throw up.

after a 7pm fantasmic, we will say good bye to mom and chris and likely make our way to disney springs for some drinks before retiring to OKW for our last night there.


Days 9 and 10: Oh My God We Are Still in WDW
Friday and Saturday

because we only bought 6 day tickets so far (we are upgrading Doug's to an 8 day when we arrive and upgrading mine to an AP ) we can't make FP reservations for these last two days. but we decided that's ok and here's why: we are reserving these final two days to do whatever we didn't get to do earlier in the week due to whatever reason. i feel like this is THE BEST IDEA EVER, as it makes the entire week as stress free as possible. did we miss the star wars fireworks because we were exhausted and/or sun burned and/or drunk (hey--it's been known to happen)? that's ok! we have two whole bonus days at the end!

things we tossed around for these days:

-doug suggested a 4 parks 1 day tour. if he has the stamina at this point in the trip, i'm in. i do not think he will though.

-a special tour or experience. doubtful, as these need to be booked in advance. but doug is looking into it. (he's getting really into planning things this trip.)

-calling uncle on disney magic (and giving up all pretense of saving money) and going to universal for the day to do new harry potter world. (unlikely because a 1 day 2 park pass is $150pp and that's insane.)

-attending the swolphin food and wine classic. still up in the air, though i'm leaning towards no.

no matter what we do, on friday we are checking out of OKW and moving to AKL jambo house. we have a standard view room (oh well) but will definitely spend some time in the public viewing areas. i'd also really like to have a meal at jiko, as it is my favorite WDW restaurant.

so...there you have it! thoughts? critiques? questions? desires to tell me we are insane?

[SuperDave]

Plans look great and doesn't look like you;re trying to pack to much in! Do waht you can as you're on vacation and make it a relaxing pace! I love Jiko a lot as I think I've dined there about 6 or 7 times.