Today's Special Moments are Tomorrow's Memories - A September 2014 PTR - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Oh my gosh your DD is going to LOVE MNSSHP!! What costumes do you have in mind for her?! Are you & the hubby dressing up??
Can't wait for more!
I cannot explain how excited I am for this party! We all knew we wanted to do a group costume and the best way for DD to get excited was to let her decide what we would do. So, what does any girl who's seen a recent Disney movie want to be? Elsa, of course! I'll have more details later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TinkerbellJenn99
it!! You're going to love the BC! So excited for you guys!
I'm so excited...everything about this trip from the lodging, to the dining choices, the party, and the rides. Only 45 more days to go!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lfredsbo
I just love it when staying an extra night makes total sense!!! And I have been wanting to stay at Y&BC - thinking next summer maybe? You have so many celebrations!!!
I was shocked at what we could do by simply leaving a day early. Granted, we won't get an entire day (not even half a day), but we'll be there earlier than originally planned and that's just fine by me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by iwonathomas
You are going to LOVE MNSSHP!
I think so too...the way everyone talks about it and describes the vibes and decorations and characters...I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Continued !
How great you'll be at BC and going to the rest of the parks plus MNSSHP! I love that party!
Not sure why Epcot stands out for me, but I'm REALLY excited about visiting this park for the first time. I think World Showcase is beautiful and can't wait to experience it in person. Of course, for me, Magic Kingdom holds a high place of honor...so we'll see!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
It's always great when adding an extra night in Disney is actually cheaper! Love that Disney math You are going to have so much fun at MNSSHP, I'm so excited for you! The Boo to You Parade is my favorite
I'm not sure what triggered the idea to actually consider leaving a day earlier, but I'm so glad I checked and worked it out. I'm a huge fan of nighttime parades so Boo To You seems right up my alley. I can't wait to see the whole park transform!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stardust190
Sounds like you made a good decision with accommodations! I would not want to stay at the Poly with construction either. MNSSHP sounds like so much fun - can't wait to hear what you think of it. We're planning on cruising in October 2016 and I'm going to tack on a day for MNSSHP either before or after.
I hope things turn around soon for your DH.
I agree...I have every intention of convincing DH to return once they finish all of the construction. I would love to do a comparison. Considering how everyone talks about MNNSHP, my expectations are high, but I have a feeling I would love it no matter what. We'll have to compare notes after you go too! DH is slowly back on the mend. He's had good days all week so far and is eating better and better. I'm so proud of him!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MinneyCaT
Glad you will be going to the other parks as well this time
I can't wait to experience SO MANY new things this year! I'll finally be able to understand the hype about the various parks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Always cool to add a day on Disney! Beach Club is an incredible resort! I hope you all enjoy it. Congrats on the MNSSHP tickets!
The first thing I'm looking forward to doing at Beach Club is taking a deep breath in the lobby. I've heard so many people talk about how great the lobby smells, and after experiencing them at the Poly, I bet the Beach Club's will be just as fantastic. Really looking forward to MNSSHP!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
I think you made a good choice, bypassing the Poly this year. And, it's a great opportunity to try an Epcot Resort.
Looking forward to reading about your ADR plans. Hope you are able to satisfy everyone.
Absolutely agree...I plan to convince DH to return after construction completion. ADR plans will be up shortly, and I think I was able to please everyone...including the little princess.
Since we really enjoyed the whole experience of having dining reservations at several locations with a wide range of themes and styles, we decided to book the Deluxe Dining Plan again. I really like the convenience of having meals prepaid, eating at signature and character meals, and experiencing the food as part of our whole Disney experience. Of course, once DD turns 10, I might change my mind...but for now, I LOVE it! I did receive input from the other travelers and we were in complete agreement that we had to return to Flying Fish Café and Hoop Dee Doo Revue. Other than that, we were open to anything. Again, I used my dining plan spreadsheet and compared restaurants to our touring plan, including character meals and dinner shows. I plugged them into the spreadsheet and then went back and reviewed the menus and costs and plugged those numbers in as well. I also averaged snacks to cost $4 (to calculate snack credit costs). The spreadsheet also calculates gratuity so I know approximately how much to bring ahead of time. I completed my research and learned that we will save a few hundred again by using this plan based on the restaurants and dinner shows we plan to visit and we received a discount for the free regular dining plan promotion. ADR day was March 17th and we were able to get every reservation we wanted at the time we wanted. WOOT WOOT! I originally freaked out because we had a crazy snowstorm that morning and my work had not yet announced whether we would close for the day before I left the house. I carefully made my way in to work (an hour from home) to be there in time to make my reservations online at 6am. As I pulled into the empty, snow-covered parking lot and watched the guards leave the building, my heart skipped a few beats. Oh no! They closed! I can’t get to my computer! I double-checked my email on my cell phone and sure enough, I just wasted 2 hours of traveling when I could have stayed in bed a bit longer. The time stamp on the email was literally 6 minutes after I left the house. So what’s a girl to do with 15 minutes to spare before the online reservation window opened? I carefully, but swiftly hightailed it out of there and began the trek home and made it before 7am. Apparently, everyone else got the memo to stay off the roads. I quietly set up my plans in the living room while DH and DD slept and went to work on snagging our reservations.
Now, for the moment of truth…here is our touring/dining itinerary…
Friday, September 12, 2014-Arrival Day
*No dining reservations on this day-our flight lands at 9:05pm
Saturday, September 13, 2014-Transfer Day
*We hope to reach the Beach Club Resort right around lunch time
Light Lunch – Quick Service at Resort
Dinner – Flying Fish Café – 6pm
Sunday, September 14, 2014-Epcot AM/Hollywood Studios PM
Breakfast – Akershus – 8am
Lunch – Quick Service at Epcot or Resort
Dinner – 50s Prime Time Café – 5:30pm
Monday, September 15, 2014-Pool Day
Breakfast – Use Snack Credits
Early Lunch – Beaches and Cream – 11am
Dinner – Hoop Dee Doo Revue – 4pm
Tuesday, September 16, 2014-Magic Kingdom/MNSSHP
Breakfast – Quick Service at Resort or MK
Lunch – Use Snack Credits
Dinner – Be Our Guest!!! – 4:15pm (We do not want to miss a minute of the party!)
Wednesday, September 17, 2014-Animal Kingdom AM/Hollywood Studios PM
Breakfast – Use Snack Credits
Lunch – Quick Service at Animal Kingdom
Dinner – Sci Fi Dine In – 5:35pm
Thursday, September 18, 2014-Animal Kingdom AM/Epcot PM
Breakfast – Use Snack Credits
Early Lunch – Tusker House – 11:15am
Dinner – Le Cellier – 6:10pm
Friday, September 19, 2014-Pool Day
Breakfast – Cape May Café – 9am
Lunch – Use Snack Credits
Dinner – Yachtsmen Steakhouse – 6:55pm
Saturday, September 20, 2014-Departure Day
Breakfast – Quick Service at Resort
Lunch – Quick Service at Resort
There it is in all its glory! And if you are anything like me and really want to see it in spreadsheet form, well have I got the goods for you…
Sounds like some great ADRs. And I love the spreadsheet. I make them too and my DH always just rolls his eyes at me. It's nice to come here and have my OCD validated!
We've Covered the Who; How About the When, Where, and How?
Trip Dates: Friday, September 12, 2014 – Saturday, September 20, 2014
Transportation to Disney: Flying for sure! We booked Southwest again. It took forever for the flight costs to come down, but eventually they did! This will be Hannah’s second trip on an airplane! My parents are driving again so they can make pit stops to visit family on the way home. Disney’s Magical Express to our resort.
Transportation Around Disney: Monorail, boat, bus; we love it all!
Accommodations: Originally, we planned to leave on Saturday the 13th; however, the difference in flight costs between Friday and Saturday were SO drastic, it was cheaper to fly a day earlier and stay at a Value Resort for our first night! Yay for extra days in Disney! Our first night will be at All Star Movies!
I am VERY excited to stay here this year! When we all discussed accommodations, it was tough to look anywhere else but the Polynesian; we were in awe when we stayed there last year. It was magical and beautiful and the smells were amazing! However, as I am sure most of you know by now, there is major construction happening there to renovate the resort to include DVC and return to the Polynesian Village Resort. Unfortunately, we could not justify paying those rates to stay there during renovations; it just does not make sense. Fortunately, we spent a day at the Boardwalk last year; we rented surrey bikes, walked around, and enjoyed drinks at Hurricane Hanna’s. During our bike ride, we slowed significantly to check out the exterior of the Beach and Yacht Club Resorts with their amazing pool complex and as the week went on, DH mentioned how fantastic it might be to stay at one of those resorts next year instead of the Polynesian. It took DF a little more convincing than the rest of us, but once I explained the construction “schedule” (thanks Tikiman!), he was onboard. How cool is it that we can walk to Hollywood Studios and Epcot?!
Dining: So…last year was our first experience with, not just the dining plan, but the Deluxe Dining Plan! Did we love it? Um…yeah! Are we doing it again? You bet!!! I love that we have enough credits to try out signature restaurants that we might not if we paid out of pocket. The convenience of pre-paying is great too…just one less thing to worry about while on vacation. I will discuss ADRs with touring in the next update. I am so proud of myself for snagging some tough reservations!
And we can’t forget; we are celebrating again!!
DF’s Birthday
DH’s Birthday
DD’s Birthday
Our Family’s First Visits to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom
And here is another surprise…
WE ARE GOING TO MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY!!!
Up Next: Dining and Touring: Let’s See That OCD Plan!
I love all the resorts, however, that being said, I don't know if you can beat the pool at the BCV with a quick walk to the BW at night, and EPCOT a quick walk around the corner. In reality, I think that is the best place for entertainment value in one location. I would add the BWV, but they can't swim in the BCV pool. Side note.....the pool at the BCV's is the only pool to have to be licensed as a 'water park' that isn't a full on water park in Florida. So now you know!
We are there the same dates, minus us leaving on Friday morning to go to Vero Beach for the day and night. I will be curious to see if my family wants to do half a day at the parks both days. If so we won't go back. lol.
We are doing the Halloween party Sunday night, might do it again another night too. parade is great, special fireworks for the party which is cool....celebrates the villans. Plus the ride lines are pretty much non-existant. We did it two years ago and my girls loved it. Maddie loved the dance party in the Silver Saloon? Think that was the name. Diamond maybe. She had lots of fun with Daddy dancing. I cant hold her anymore though!
EPCOT is fun. You will miss the food and wine festival, which is food a palooza in booths. As it is, there is so much to eat at the world showcases, it is amazing. Check out the 360 shows at China and Canada. Rest in the hidden garden with the hedge maze behind the UK section.
Akershus is the best character meal IMO. Breakfast is great, they have a buffet which...well, meats and cheeses and Danishes is about it for me. But they bring a plate of cheesy potatoes, sausage and bacon that is huge. And if you want more, they bring more! Bacon palooza~! Hannah will LOVE the Princess Parades (every 15 minutes or so).
Cape May was ok for me, normal breakfast buffet, but both my girls want to go back, so..there is that.
Brown Derby is really nice without being dressy or pretentious I thought. Get the sliders! I don't have my wifes meal schedule off of her computer, but you have many of the same meal places as us. I want the HDDR, but she isn't quite as keen on it as I am.
Hope Tommy is feeling good. We are getting close to going! We will be doing the 7 am flight out this time again. I like being able to do a park the day we get there, as do my girls, so we give up sleep. We also sleep in the next morning! No rope droppers for us!
Last edited by Timon-HakunaMatata; 08-06-2014 at 02:35 AM..
Jumping onboard. As everyone has said, you do certainly need this trip. Great choices in ADRs. We love Flying Fish also, especially the steak. Continued prayers for you DH.
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You're going to love the BC! 
And I have been wanting to stay at Y&BC - thinking next summer maybe? You have so many celebrations!!! 
!
I'm a huge fan of nighttime parades so Boo To You seems right up my alley. I can't wait to see the whole park transform!
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Liz 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
bummer! But I'm glad you got everything you wanted! 
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