Our "relaxing" vacation... aka what he doesn't know can't hurt him.... a PTR - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Our "relaxing" vacation... aka what he doesn't know can't hurt him.... a PTR
Our Party: Me (Dana), 28 and my boyfriend, Jon, also 28.
Trip Dates: September 8 thru 15 2011
Lodging: Port Orleans Riverside (room request in Magnolia bend. ::Fingers crossed::
Here we go from the beginning. This trip has been in the works for a while. We actually booked it a year to the date we are returning. It all started after Jon and I took a “vacation” to WI last summer. I use the term vacation loosely as we drove 24 hours straight each way and we spent only a day of it together. When we got home we decided we needed to start planning our first real vacation together. I myself have taken numerous trips to WDW in the last 25 years, but Jon hasn’t been in 15. So he caved when I asked (he thinks it’ll be relaxing, and nicely paced… and I get up for park openings What he doesn’t know, won’t hurt him...right?).
So September 2010 we booked our September 2011 trip. 7 days, 8 nights at PORS with 8 days of park hoppers and, of course, the free dining plan.
We booked our tickets for Southwest from Hartford, CT (BDL) to MCO 6 months later. This will be another 1st for Jon, as his family always drove or took the train to Disney, he hasn't every gotten there without traveling for a day (at least). In the months following, I have spent quite a bit of time trying to get the "Disney lingo" explained. I still don't think he'd know what most of the abbreviations are in this post.
So there it is. How this trip came into being, and the finer details of it.
Ok. So when it comes to ADRs, I’m one of those who mark the 180 day point on the calendar and keep an eye on it. This trip I found a countdown app for my phone. It looks like a Mickey silhouette, and keeps track of the days for you! Even better than figuring it out myself, and now it’s always with me.
Knowing that ADRs can go fast, especially when free dining is offered, I had Jon making a list of restaurants he MIGHT be interested in a couple months out (he also hasn't had much experience with Disney restaurants). We then compared what each of us wanted to do and matched them up with the park EMH. Did I mention I’m an over-planner?
Something to throw in here- I recently discovered that I have a gluten allergy and need to keep completely gluten free. Eating the wrong thing could ruin an entire day of the vacation. When booking ADRs, I made sure to mention the allergy. Side note: I am planning on doing reviews of the gluten free offerings at the various restaurants.
Here’s what we ended up booking: 9/8: HBD with the Fantasmic! Dinner Package at 4pm. (out flight lands in Orlando at 9am, giving us plenty of time) 9/9: Teppan Edo at 6:50pm (EMH!! At Epcot) 9/10: ‘Ohana at 6:50pm. This is one of my personal favorite meals, not just in WDW, but everywhere. I’m hoping the gluten free versions are just as good. 9/11: California Grill at 7:30pm with hopes to catch Wishes! while we are there. 9/12: Lunch at Liberty Tree @1:15p (this may be cancelled. If not, Paying OOP) and dinner at Boma @7:15
No ADR made for 9/13 after all that food on the 12th. 9/14: Character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. This is my favorite of the character breakfasts and something I HAD to do again. (paying OOP)
I said I was an over-planner….or maybe just detail oriented!
Up next (tomorrow or the next day): the little things!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Great start! I'm interested in reading your gluten free adventure. I have a tree nut allergy and Disney always does a great job. Just make sure that the restaurant confirms your allergy when you are seated!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Thanks everyone! POR is my favorite Disney resort. We stayed there once when I was a kid, back in the Dixie Landing days. Can’t wait to be back! (Plus it's a nice place to go back to mid-day and take a nap between parks)
Any ways, on with the show!
In planning a Disney vacation, it’s always a given to discuss plans with the other Disney fanatics I’m friends with. One of them participated in the college program a couple years ago. While I was planning, her former manager recommended she apply for a professional internship at WDW (only available to CPers). Well she got it! So now part of our plans includes spending some time with her, and trying to surprise her on night one. She knows we’re coming, but not that our first night includes Fantasmic! (she was placed as a manager in the Hollywood Hills section of the studio) I wonder if the cast members in her area would help me if I asked...
Since booking, I’ve been checking the Disney Vacation page every few days, and Passporter daily to see what I might need to plan on doing. I noticed a few weeks ago info starting to pop up on MNSSHP and decided to check the dates. I’ve been before and wanted to go again. Come to find out, there’s one during our stay…AND on the day I didn’t make ADR for! Tickets: purchased. Halloween is my favorite, and I can’t wait.
Another thing I’m attempting is getting Jon to plan something on his own, and surprising me with it. Only reason being, I planned almost everything else and I want him to have some say. If he tells me before we get there, I know I’ll try and help. Not as much fun for either of us. It’s amusing to watch him looking at the web sites and books, completely confused. Every once in a while I get “are we doing this?” or “What do they mean by that?” He’ll get the hang of it eventually, although, to his credit, I have no idea what he could be planning or what he is capable of.
Other than that, I’m currently trying to get a handle on what has changed in the last couple years, and what will be closed for refurbishment. Just the basics, LOL.
Sounds Great! I'm a planner too! I was also really worried about the allergy thing but Disney really understands and I never felt like it was trouble for them. A Chef comes to your table before each meal and goes over what you can eat on the menu and even suggests things they could make you special. My main allergy is soy. It's in everything these days. They really want your stay to be special without memories of a hospital visit.
My hubby wasn't too thrilled about us going together there for the first time. He had only gone once as a kid and had bad memories. I really kept him uninformed and let my planning and help from fellow passporters turn into Disney magic for him. Now, he keeps asking when we're going back.
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What he doesn’t know, won’t hurt him...right?). 
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P.S. 50 day mark today!!!
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