PTR-Cheating on Mickey w/Harry!...OMG! Only a month to go!

[franandaj]

I'm salivating over the food porn! Hope that your plans turn to reality soon!

ps. I love Cooked Eel sushi (Unagi! YUM)

Unfortunately the soonest I will be able to begin to finalize plans is 11 months away, which is still over 12 months out!

 

[franandaj]

So it's a little silly for me to be posting this as my only readers to date are at the world right now, but we've made some decisions so I want to post some of my updates sooner rather than later.

Well if we are going to be staying at the VWL, we should definitely visit the MK.

Which now makes me think about another ADR that I’ve wanted to try! Tony’s Town Square

I would love to get these

And some of this

Or this

I would like to do the Wishes Dessert Party

But enough talking about food! Here’s some of the attractions that we would definitely do.

Depending on how many days we spend there and how DP is feeling mobility-wise, we may go on some other rides. Her biggest problem has been getting in and out of the ride vehicles. Water rides and those that require a “step down” have been very difficult, so with both knees fixed, we’ll test out some of the rides at DL throughout the year, and maybe we can add some more rides to this list.

 

[franandaj]

The idea of staying at the VWL is that we hang out in the room some, enjoy the scenery and not do too much. While we do want to go to the MK we also want to hang out in a nice location and just chill. However, there are few non park experiences that we think would be fun..We have done this in the past, once on a Disney cruise and prior in New Zealand. The first time we did it, DP was the one who wanted to and I thought she was nuts! But I did it in NZ and just loved it! I was so totally on top of it when we did it in Castaway Cay. I would be more than happy to do it again on Bay Lake!

It would also be fun to rent a watercraft, not sure if this is the one, but we’ll see what is available at the time…

Also it might be fun to ride this and visit the various resorts it travels to.

Otherwise I think we’ll just relax and enjoy all the other things I’ve already posted. I mean it’s only three days

 

[franandaj]

So if my Master Plan goes as planned, on day 6 we will switch to the Beach Club Villas.

I’ve been wanting to stay here ever since joining DVC. I want to try all the resorts. So far I’ve stayed in five different resorts, if you count THV and SSR as different resorts. If the plan comes through, BCV will be the seventh different resort.

I want to take my picture with her.

I’ll spend a little time in here:

Hopefully I’ll spend at least 8 hours a day here.

And I’ll spend a heck of a lot of time in here

The main reason for staying here is to take advantage of all the F&W offerings, but I didn’t want the entire trip to be all about F&W. We did that in 2009 and while it was fun, this is our first trip back to WDW by ourselves since that trip. I want to do variety of things, not just eat and drink all day like we did last time! So that’s what the first five days are for.

However, once we get to BCV, BRING IT ON! We have no plans to make any ADRs and will make most of our meals out of our room at the F&W kiosks. It’s so exciting reading about everyone who is there now, and all the tasty bites they have to offer. When we went last year these were my favorite savory and sweet dishes, and they are back in 2010. Hopefully they will be back in 2011, they come from Ireland.

Fisherman’s Pie

Chocolate Molten Lava Cake, BTW I put my hand in the picture so you could see how small it is, order two so you don’t have to go back through the line!

As I think about it, I might make an ADR for dinner Sunday night. The festival will probably be pretty hectic so we won’t want to wait in lines for small plates. Actually, maybe we should plan on dinner in the room. Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea. We’ll have been out Tu,We,Th,Fr,Sat, so a home cooked meal would be in order. Something homey like meatloaf, Balsamic Chicken, or Chicken Fried Steak….you can’t get one of those at WDW!

 

[franandaj]

So we know we’re going to be eating at the F&W Kiosks, but we don’t know which ones there will be in 2011. And I have been reading some dining reviews of people who are at the F&W Festival right now which is causing me to rethink some of our plans.

I learned about a new event that they started this year. It’s an afternoon dessert event at Bistro de Paris, and they serve you Grand Mariner, three different tastes. If I understand it correctly, one is a current day, a 100th Anniversary and a 150th Anniversary. Then they teach you a Grand Mariner Cocktail and serve you three desserts. This only happens on Saturday afternoons.

This is a picture from DisYoda’s Dining Review of the tastes you get, plus if you see that little bottle and the mint leaves and lemon peel in the background, that’s what is used to make the cocktail.

Then this was the desserts that they served:

You can see why I’m rethinking my plans!

I also found out that for the PFTS, there is a special reserved seating area that you can pay for, you get in 15 minutes earlier than the rest of the guests, you have a private seating section with a guaranteed seat. There are special cheeses in that section, a full bar and the chef served everyone an amuse bouche once they were seated. Basically by paying extra, one avoids the “running of the bulls” as so many have called the start of PFTS. With this information, we could possibly attend this event, take our time and enjoy ourselves. For those of you who have seen our “set up” for Taste (the CA equivalent of PFTS), we have “tabletops” that we attach to the front of our scooters. We would not be able to bring these on the plane, so the advance seating would be very helpful.

The thing is both of these events happen on a Saturday, and our plan had been to steer clear of F&W on Saturday. Perhaps we may need to rethink this whole possibility. Maybe if we switched things around and went to F&W first, if we came to BCV and then to VWL (this is all assuming that we could get into BCV during F&W!)

I feel like DisneyFirefly. So far I have three different permutations of my trip, involving the three different resorts, mentioned here for different days and different orders. All so that I can fit in the new parties that I have learned about!

 

[Leshaface]

HEEEELLLLLOOOOO! (Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode where Jerry thinks his GF's stomach talks to him and says 'Hello'??)

Anyways, I'm here to subscribe and i'll be back to read....I want to get updated on my TR (since I lied yesterday and said I would have an update yesterday) then I'll be back to read yours!

 

[Leshaface]

No ticker for this trip???

Or am I overlooking it in your sig...

 

[franandaj]

Yay Leshaface!

No ticker for this trip???

Or am I overlooking it in your sig...

I have a few more posts in the hopper, and once I get them up there, with my exact dates then I'm going to make a ticker. I don't want to blow the suspense!

 

[Krisscot]

I think we will be right there with you. We just got back from our trip on the 14th (I am working on my TR right now...http://MacDaddy's Fall Break Fantabulous WE ARE BACK!!! Let the TR Begin! and have already decided to go back the beginning of next October. We are going to go to Universal too. I have to see Harry Potter! We went to Sea World this strip, because we have annual passes for the San Diego park and it was just ehhh. So next year we will do Universal. I can't wait to see what you plan I may just have to steal ideas...

 

[franandaj]

I think we will be right there with you. We just got back from our trip on the 14th (I am working on my TR right now...http://MacDaddy's Fall Break Fantabulous WE ARE BACK!!! Let the TR Begin! and have already decided to go back the beginning of next October. We are going to go to Universal too. I have to see Harry Potter! We went to Sea World this strip, because we have annual passes for the San Diego park and it was just ehhh. So next year we will do Universal. I can't wait to see what you plan I may just have to steal ideas...

Welcome! Thanks for joining along!

Very cool that you just got back and you're already planning to go again! You'll be there a little earlier than us, as we have to wait until after the 16th (weekend conference trip to Seattle) but yes! We can steal ideas from each other!

 

[franandaj]

Well, it’s getting about time that I should come to terms with the fact that I may not become an owner at the VWL or BCV before the 11 month window for reservations open up. Especially since all the BCV contracts that were out there when I started this report, are now in pending sales.

There is always a possibility that at 7 months from my vacation there will be availability at the resort that I would like to stay at, but during F&W availability at BCV is spotty. So I thought I would devote a portion of my PTR to the possibility that I might be staying at SSR. This is not a bad thing, the resort itself is very nice, the theming is not overly Disney, but it is very pleasant. The pastel buildings and sprawling grounds are very beautiful.

I also really like the Jacuzzi tub, the older resorts have the better tubs they are bigger and offer more flotation!

But I just love SSR, the rooms are spacious and lovely.

If we HAVE to stay here that will be the least of our problems!

 

[franandaj]

So I think we have actually set the dates of our trip. Until we actually book, we can’t be sure, but the first step is to book our trip at SSR, 11 months from the date we want. We’ve settled on traveling Tuesday October 25 which is just a little less than a year from now! We will be spending two nights at the Lowe’s Royal Pacific at Universal and then switching to Disney on Thursday the 27th of October. So this means at 6AM on November 27th, I need to call Member Services and make our reservation. Well I really don’t need to call at 6AM when they open to get in at SSR. It’s the largest resort and often times has availability for those who are lucky enough to decide on a weekend trip, during that same week!

However, I just like to play the game and make my reservations as soon as I can. The real trick will be at seven months trying to get into BCV and VWL! Our plans have now changed. Ever since I found out about Taste, Shake, and Indulge like the French, and that we could get reserved seating at the Party for the Senses, I’ve made about five different itineraries which allow for us to attend these events.

Basically if we get into the BCV, we’ll do both because we could take a quick nap after the Grand Mariner Tasting. If we’re staying at SSR, then we will only do PFTS because we’ll have a longer trip home and won’t want to spend the whole day at Epcot. We’ll probably do something in the morning, come back for a nap and then go over in the late afternoon before the party.

So here’s the new itinerary pending our ability to get a 1 BR at the BCV.

10/25-27 – Universal, WWoHP
10/27 – Grocery shopping, check in at BCV, F&W Snacks for Dinner or cook in the room.
10/28 – Epcot – F&W Snacks for Lunch & Dinner
10/29 – Epcot – F&W Savory Snacks, 2:30-4:00PM TSILTF, nap 6:15PM PFTS
10/30 – DHS, Cook Dinner in Room
10/31 – Check out of BCV, F&W Snacks @ Epcot, Check into VWL Dinner at Artist’s Point
11/01 - Breakfast at Kona, go to MK, Late Lunch at Tony’s, Cook Dinner in the room
11/02 - No idea what we’ll do during the day! CA Grill for Dinner
11/03 – Pack up and head for home….

So now that we've agreed on dates for the trip.....ta DA! Check out my new ticker!

Why is it that we spend so much time planning and it goes by so quickly!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Hi Alison! I'm in!! I want to live vicariously through you and your DP as you plan this trip and it comes to be! I have to wait until August 2011 to even book my next DVC trip...for July 2012! We have our cruise planned and booked for July 2011...don't you just feel sorry for me, a cruise instead of WDW?!

Can't wait to read more...and I love the food porn...can't get enough of that!

 

[franandaj]

Yay Bonnie! Welcome!

2012? That's a long time, but I know that was in your master plan when buying DVC. I'm glad you guys have a fun vacation planned for next year! We had a six year famine from 2001 to 2007 because of health and family issues, so I know how cool it is that you have annual vacations planned!

We've been once every year since 2007, but it's always a different time of year, this time we went in Jan 2010 and not going back until Oct 2011. Good for DVC points, but bad for how long it's been since we've been there! By the time we get there I'm going to be so excited I won't be able to stand it!

BTW on the PTR you will probably hear about my trips to DCA for F&W and the D23 Expo since I am so looking forward to those as well. Also if I can pick up some points for the BCV and VWL for 2010 UY I might book additional stays during F&W to use up extra points, but those are all hypothetical, we need to get our loan approved and then need to have the contracts available! As I said in a previous post a lot of "ands"!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Yay for dates! We're planning on arriving 10/31, so maybe we can all meet up for a little bit That would be fun!

 

[franandaj]

Yay for dates! We're planning on arriving 10/31, so maybe we can all meet up for a little bit That would be fun!

Yay! You are home from the World! That would be fun to meet up, and you would be arriving during our chilling part of the trip. We have plenty of time to figure it out!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Yay Bonnie! Welcome!

2012? That's a long time, but I know that was in your master plan when buying DVC. I'm glad you guys have a fun vacation planned for next year! We had a six year famine from 2001 to 2007 because of health and family issues, so I know how cool it is that you have annual vacations planned!

We've been once every year since 2007, but it's always a different time of year, this time we went in Jan 2010 and not going back until Oct 2011. Good for DVC points, but bad for how long it's been since we've been there! By the time we get there I'm going to be so excited I won't be able to stand it!

BTW on the PTR you will probably hear about my trips to DCA for F&W and the D23 Expo since I am so looking forward to those as well. Also if I can pick up some points for the BCV and VWL for 2010 UY I might book additional stays during F&W to use up extra points, but those are all hypothetical, we need to get our loan approved and then need to have the contracts available! As I said in a previous post a lot of "ands"!

Hi!! I know exactly what you mean about being so excited you can't stand it! That's how I felt in July when we were going to Disney! It had been 2 years since our previous trip, and it felt great that the first official DVC trip was here! I'm sure I will feel as excited when I book the 2012 trip in the summer, and when that trip gets closer! Right now I am ecstatic about the cruise in July. Our last cruise was in July 2006, when DS5 was only 18 months old! We didn't even have our little one yet (he was our "souvenir" )! So by the time we go in July, it will have been 5 years since my last cruise...and I cruised every year from 1990 to 1996, and then again in 1999, twice in 2000, once in 2002, 2004 and 2006! This will be my 14th cruise! If I had it my way, we would go to Disney every other year, and a cruise every other year (the years in between Disney trips)! But I think what we will end up doing is Disney every other year, a cruise every 4 years, and something else in between. Who knows? I just love going on vacation at least once a year, and we always have a great time!

Looking forward to reading more of your PTR! By the time you go on this trip, my head will be spinning trying to come up with all our ADRs, as I will be making them a couple of months after your trip!

 

[franandaj]

Our last cruise was in July 2006, when DS5 was only 18 months old! We didn't even have our little one yet (he was our "souvenir" )!

That's hilarious!

I cruised every year from 1990 to 1996, and then again in 1999, twice in 2000, once in 2002, 2004 and 2006! This will be my 14th cruise! If I had it my way, we would go to Disney every other year, and a cruise every other year (the years in between Disney trips)! But I think what we will end up doing is Disney every other year, a cruise every 4 years, and something else in between. Who knows? I just love going on vacation at least once a year, and we always have a great time!

We love cruising too, I prefer the fancier ones where they have formal night and you get to dress up and have a night on the town. We've been on three cruises, all before Fran's RA got really bad and her mother got very sick. We've been to Alaska and on a Disney cruise, I'd love to do another Disney Cruise and a European (Russia), and a Canadian Fall Foliage Cruise. I'm hoping with her new drugs she'll feel up to going on vacations more often. We're talking about DC in April, maybe we'll go to the bookstore today and get some guide books. I'll fell more like we're planning it if I can make some hotel reservations!

 

[PrincessInOz]

All caught up and I love your dates. I'm going to have to keep them in mind.....NOT (and I'm going to have to stop doing this in capitals ) that I'm planning another trip to the World; but at least I can live vicariously through you.

I'm not sure how you're keeping up with 5 different plans and schedules. I have trouble with one!

 

[franandaj]

All caught up and I love your dates. I'm going to have to keep them in mind.....NOT (and I'm going to have to stop doing this in capitals ) that I'm planning another trip to the World; but at least I can live vicariously through you.

I'm not sure how you're keeping up with 5 different plans and schedules. I have trouble with one!

Well we settled on the one that I posted, that is IF at 7 mos they are available! Until then I will plan on booking SSR on Nov 27th. I will however, ask as we get closer if we could "please please please, try the BWV again" and waitlist the BCV...I mean we've been doing very well on the diet and I'll refill your sodas so you don't have to enter the fudge shop...see DP has a real problem in the fudge shop. Last trip at the BWV we came home with a six pack of fudge, that doesn't include all the fudge she bought and ate during the trip.