FIRSTS, BIRTHS, and GIRTHS…A September 2013 PTR - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Wow! You are one organized woman...but I guess you have to be with 20 people on the trip Looking forward to reading more of your plans!
I would definitely agree that I'm pretty organized (I get it from my dad). I just like to be able to organize information in a way that I can share with my group. Many have already thanked me for sharing info in a way they could understand and wrap their heads around...it's made their planning much easier. Most of the info came from PassPorter!
Congrats on the Poly as it is such a beautiful resort!
Thanks! I am so excited! Thanks to our tax refund, we just paid most of our package off...I'm anxiously waiting to see if Disney releases a room discount or free dining for our dates, which historically they've done with the fall free dining promotion.
Before I start this update; Happy Valentine's Day!!! I'm really crossing my fingers that I get the best Valentine's gift ever; that my new Passporter shows up on my doorstep when I get home from work today!! I know some of you already received yours and I'm anxiously waiting!!!
Dining and Touring: Let’s See That OCD Plan!
Since we are celebrating SO MANY things, we (DH and I) decided to book the Deluxe Dining Plan. I really like the convenience of having meals prepaid and I did a lot of research to make sure we would get our money’s worth and save more rather than paying out of pocket. Fortunately, I stumbled upon the Dining Plan Calculator spreadsheet created by “Dad” from “A Dad’s Guide to WDW” (I have the one from 2010/2011 – he updated his site to include an analysis for each of the dining plans). I also found another one on another forum, but I think I like them equally for different reasons. I researched plenty of restaurants including several character meals and dinner shows and plugged them into the spreadsheet based on where we plan to tour each day (to minimize traveling all over Disney property to simply eat!) and then went back and reviewed the menus and costs and plugged those numbers in as well. I started in 2010 and each year, I updated the cost of the dining plans to make sure I had an accurate comparison of each of the plans versus out of pocket costs. I also averaged snacks to cost $4 (to calculate snack credit costs). What is great is the spreadsheet also calculates gratuity so I know approximately how much to bring in cash ahead of time. I completed the analysis and learned that we will save a few hundred by utilizing the Deluxe Dining Plan, based on the restaurants and dinner shows we plan to visit! YES! I totally just high-fived myself! I will absolutely do back flips if Disney offers Free Dining again during our trip dates!
Now, for the moment of truth…here is our draft touring/dining itinerary…
Saturday, September 7, 2013-Arrival Day!
*We hope to reach the Polynesian Resort by lunch - our flight lands at 10:40am
Lunch-Captain Cook’s
Dinner-Spirit of Aloha
Sunday, September 8, 2013-Boardwalk Day
Late Breakfast-Ohana’s Best Friends Character Breakfast
Lunch-Use snack credits
Dinner-Flying Fish Café
Monday, September 9, 2013-Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast-Captain Cook’s
Lunch-Use Snack credits
Dinner-The Crystal Palace
Tuesday, September 10, 2013-Downtown Disney Day/Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boutique
Breakfast-Kona Café
Lunch-Use snack credits
Dinner-Fulton’s Crab House
Wednesday, September 11, 2013-Magic Kingdom Day/DH’s Birthday
Breakfast-Captain Cook’s
Lunch-Use snack credits
Dinner-Liberty Tree Tavern
Thursday, September 12, 2013-Resort Pool/Golf Day
Breakfast-Supercalifragilistic Character Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
Lunch-Use snack credits
Dinner-Hoop Dee Doo Revue
Friday, September 13, 2013-Magic Kingdom Day/DD’s Birthday
Breakfast-Captain Cook’s
Lunch-Use snack credits
Dinner-Cinderella’s Royal Table
Saturday, September 14, 2013-Departure Day/Downtown Disney
Breakfast-Chef Mickey’s
Lunch-Earl of Sandwich
And there you have it! What do you all think? Our ADR day is March 11 and I JUST CAN’T WAIT!
Plans look good Have some Tonga Toast at Capt. Cooks for me and fingers crossed for free dinining during your stay
Hello! ...and Thanks! I am DEFINITELY trying Tonga Toast...everyone seems to rave about it! I have to chuckle a bit because every time I see your signature photo here on the boards, I always think, "Oh look! It's DH's Uncle Mark!" You could totally pass as his twin!
Great start. Your very fluid and smooth in your writing. Enjoying it!
Great plans. That's quite a cast! You seem to have done a GREAT job.
May I provide a few thoughts? :wink: I would suggest doing BBB on your dd's bday for MK day. I'd hate for you to have her done up on a no park day. Not sure if I'd be able to wait until Monday to visit MK! I'd also not be able to just visit MK. I know MK is the fav, but I think everyone would enjoy the other parks as well. I "get"what your saying though by scouting and hoping to get dh hooked.
Great start. Your very fluid and smooth in your writing. Enjoying it!
Great plans. That's quite a cast! You seem to have done a GREAT job.
May I provide a few thoughts? :wink: I would suggest doing BBB on your dd's bday for MK day. I'd hate for you to have her done up on a no park day. Not sure if I'd be able to wait until Monday to visit MK! I'd also not be able to just visit MK. I know MK is the fav, but I think everyone would enjoy the other parks as well. I "get"what your saying though by scouting and hoping to get dh hooked.
Thank you for the compliment...I pretty much had a drill instructor for a writing teacher in college...thankfully it stuck!
I considered every single piece of advice you just provided...With BBB, we are actually going with the other family that includes Ariana (the other 4 year old) and since their schedule is a little tighter than ours, it was easier to schedule it like this (they plan to leave the bubble to see Sea World and possibly Universal ). It's easier to delay seeing Magic Kingdom by a day because it's a first visit for DH and DD. I'm just minimally concerned by the "overwhelming-ness" of this trip for a couple reasons: 1) It's our first big family trip. 2) DH can get a little overwhelmed if I put too much on him at once...his vacation experiences have always been very relaxed and slow paced so I don't want to shock his system by doing too much in one trip, especially if he agrees to come back. Add to that my mom and I are already planning a trip in our minds for August 2014, right before DD starts Kindergarten. She's already researching resorts with me!
So, as a reminder, we are celebrating quite a bit on our trip this September…
DF’s Birthday
DH’s Birthday and First Visit
DD’s Birthday and First Visit
DSFiL’s First Visit
Ariana’s First Visit
I’ve scoured the Disney Florist website drooling over the amazing gift options and I think I’ve nailed down my planned purchases. All of the photos are from the Disney Florist website; I do not own any of these.
For DF’s and DH’s Birthdays:
Golfing with Mickey
For DD’s Birthday:
Ariel’s Mermaid Treasures
For DSFiL’s First Visit:
Disney Family Treats Tote
For Ariana’s First Visit (to share with her brother):
Mickey’s Kool Snack
I’m so excited! I’m not planning to say that the gifts are from me/us, but rather a “surprise!” I’ll probably plan to order these in July, after our final payment is due, so I can spread out the funds. Now to practice patience!
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Looking forward to reading more of your plans!
Kristin
...and Thanks! I am DEFINITELY trying Tonga Toast...everyone seems to rave about it! I have to chuckle a bit because every time I see your signature photo here on the boards, I always think, "Oh look! It's DH's Uncle Mark!" You could totally pass as his twin!
I'd also not be able to just visit MK. I know MK is the fav, but I think everyone would enjoy the other parks as well. I "get"what your saying though by scouting and hoping to get dh hooked.
). It's easier to delay seeing Magic Kingdom by a day because it's a first visit for DH and DD. I'm just minimally concerned by the "overwhelming-ness" of this trip for a couple reasons: 1) It's our first big family trip. 2) DH can get a little overwhelmed if I put too much on him at once...his vacation experiences have always been very relaxed and slow paced so I don't want to shock his system by doing too much in one trip, especially if he agrees to come back. Add to that my mom and I are already planning a trip in our minds for August 2014, right before DD starts Kindergarten. She's already researching resorts with me! 
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