The Little Trip That Could-- PartI: Pre-PTR for our Upcoming Holiday Adventure! About This Page:

[scdisneyfan]

WOW! I missed so much while i was gone! I dont have much time today with just getting back from vacation but i wanted to say that sorry to hear times are so tough. I always tell my patients to take each day in stride and always start your day on a positive note!! Looks like things did turn around though! I'm so glad to see that things are going better. I agree with what you said earlier though...you both are young and have so many options right now in front of you. Its best to do it now and worry about the loans later....i have them myself and I wouldnt trade that for my education and the job i have now.
Glad to hear you mom took the news well along with Rob!! I bet you were so nervous. I know i wouldve been.
Just on a side note...when i went on my trip this weekend we took this quiz and it was which Sex and the City girl are you...i was Carrie...i couldnt believe that*LOL* i was so sure i was charlotte...but i knew you'd appreciate that.
Anyway, here's to being positive and knowing that life is a rough path and believe you me...there have been times i have looked to the sky and said "what else???" (dont do that it pisses him off*LOL*). Just by looking at all the comments I quess you know that we are all here for ya! Keep us updated girl!

[B.M.]

Glad your mom responded better than expected. Your trip will be here before you know it!

[MyRapunzal]

Originally Posted by Starla4436

I told my mom recently that we will probably going to WDW for Christmas after Ben finishes his first semester ...she is fine with it...its Ben's mom we are worried about...maybe you have given me the courage to at least mention the possibility next time i am around her...lol.

I am a big fan of just planting the seed and letting it simmer. Then you can throw it in as an "Oh by the way..." LOL! It worked for me at least!

Originally Posted by scdisneyfan

WOW! I missed so much while i was gone! I dont have much time today with just getting back from vacation but i wanted to say that sorry to hear times are so tough. I always tell my patients to take each day in stride and always start your day on a positive note!! Looks like things did turn around though! I'm so glad to see that things are going better. I agree with what you said earlier though...you both are young and have so many options right now in front of you. Its best to do it now and worry about the loans later....i have them myself and I wouldnt trade that for my education and the job i have now.
Glad to hear you mom took the news well along with Rob!! I bet you were so nervous. I know i wouldve been.
Just on a side note...when i went on my trip this weekend we took this quiz and it was which Sex and the City girl are you...i was Carrie...i couldnt believe that*LOL* i was so sure i was charlotte...but i knew you'd appreciate that.
Anyway, here's to being positive and knowing that life is a rough path and believe you me...there have been times i have looked to the sky and said "what else???" (dont do that it pisses him off*LOL*). Just by looking at all the comments I quess you know that we are all here for ya! Keep us updated girl!

Thanks! How sweet!
I have to say, I always think I would be pegged as a Charlotte too! Or a Carrie Charlotte mix! thats so funny!
As far as Rob and everything- this is how I explained it to him... my total student loans is only 18k and I only have a few more car payments left so I told Rob to think of the loan the way I have- I figure I will start funneling the money I used to pay for my car towards payments and then once I get everything paid down I will go for another car. He is much more of a worrier than my so I think that helped a lot. My only worry is whether criminal justice is his field. I want to make sure he has actually chosen what he really really wants to do.

Originally Posted by B.M.

Glad your mom responded better than expected. Your trip will be here before you know it!

[MyRapunzal]

Okay, so hope everyone had a nice weekend! Me and Rob took Liam to the Vanderbilt Estate on Saturday because it was just gorgeous out! (The Vanderbilt Estate in NY is one of a few on the East coast… built by Cornelious Vanderbilt and his family—I think I remember once reading that he was the 10th richest person in HISTORY). In any case here are a couple pictures (yes I do carry my camera everywhere I go)!
I love the pictures where Liam is looking out at the landscape. Althought the Italian Gardens weren't blooming yet here so its just Ghost Whisperer looking! lol!
You can't tell but I am wearing a Daisy Duck polo! This is not the best shot of me but we can consider it a "before" shot since I am working on my wieght!
I told Rob that these two older men were him and his best friend Steve in 40 years. They were so cute... just looking at the view and hanging out!)


In any case, I also made a very fun and partly nerdy Disney purchase! A Mickey USB Flash drive. My dad got me a nice new one for Christmas but it connected to my keychain by an eyelet which snapped and left me nothing but the cap! In any case because I am a visual learner instead of just describing I will add some pics with descriptions!


As you can see the Flash drive itself is one of Mickey’s ears and the center actually comes with a little removable mirror that you can put a picture in! I will probably put an actual key ring in there and keep the “M” charm for something else to make it more durable.

So back to my actual Pre-trippie-ness! I have a few updates!

I canceled my PP Club subscription because next month when the November calendar is released I am going to sign up for TGM. I love PP Club but I already have the Touring Plans subscription because I signed up when we were originally planning a trip for this week to see FGF. I figured that canceling the subscription for PP Club for 4 months pays for TGM. Plus I went through all the worksheets and ebooks and copied and printed what I needed last month so I am pretty up to date. I will re-subscribe closer to the trip if I feel the itch! LoL! In any case, on TGM I loved the least crowded parks of the day charts- plus I love the layout of his calendars and reminders (like I can set a reminder for myself to email me the day before I have to call for the Photopass Photog session and what not).

I am also looking at my Itinerary and thinking of switching some things around. By May I want to purchase my airfare AND I want to have my ADRs ready to have the TA call exactly 180 days out! That being said…

I think I am going to cross the tour off my list and wait it out on the Beluga Encounter I wanted to do at Mystic, CT—If you remember I was thinking of doing that with my money instead of the Segway Tour. I was going to call the Aquarium soon to set it up for the summer but I think it’d be better to have a buffer in the bank. We can always go in the fall. It’s actually cheaper in Sept/October, so maybe I will wait until Labor Day weekend, ya know? As far as Fall is concerned-- We have a wedding to go to in Virginia Beach for my childhood best friend Columbus Day weekend so I am expecting to have to fly down south late summer for the shower. I know the wedding will put me back some as well and with the final payment due early Fall as well- I just don’t want to spend my pennies before I have them, ya know? We can always go to Mystic next Spring OR try and get the Segway Tour at the last minute. Its not like Disney World or Mystic are going anywhere if we don’t do it this year! What do you think?

And as for ADRs- I have a few questions for everyone :
WHAT IS THE BEST RESTAURANT YOU HAVE EVER EATEN AT IN ANY OF THE 4 DISNEY PARKS?
WHAT IS THE BEST ON PROPERTY RESTAURANT YOU HAVE EATEN AT THAT IS NOT LOCATED IN A PARK?
BEST CHARACTER DINING (ANYWHERE)?
AND WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR ME AND ROB, JUST FROM READING MY PTR AND KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT ME?

So, basically, we have the following possible ADRs in some set up or another…
Weds- Dinner @Hollywood Brown Derby with FDP
Thurs- Breakfast @OHana/ Dinner @Le Cellier
Friday- Dinner @Les Chefs de France
Saturday- Dinner @1900 Park Fare

I def want the last night to be 1900 Park Fare so that we can do the photog at the last minute possible and get our photopass pics from the whole trip on there!

If we can fly in Tuesday I am going to really push it with school and like try and get to WDW in a timely enough manor to do something with our night… like maybe have an 8 or 9pm ADR? And I am possibly thinking of doing a Sunday lunch before we leave. I can’t decide. Either way I think I will be squeezing in an extra meal. I just don’t know what I want. Plus, I wasn’t quite as impressed as Rob with Le Cellier… and since we have gone to like 7 of the 11 World Showcase countries for dinner before, US doesn’t even have a Table Service restaurant and all… I would have rather hit one of the 3 countries we haven’t had dinner at yet, actually just Germany or Italy- because we are going to France already.


Also, I have a few more time-of-year questions for you guys .
Anyone else going for Thanksgiving? Thinking about an Illuminations or Wishes Cruise?
Also, what about the whole Black Friday shopping thing? Does it apply to Downtown Disney? ??

Oh and as a final note, I have gotten over my Spring-Trip-That-Never-Was Blues. Imagine finding out your boyfriend lost his job less than a week before leaving for vacation? That’s where we would be. If you recall after we returned our last trip Rob found out he had 60 days to find a new home so it spoils a lot of magic and I know that first hand! Plus, if we had went this week we certainly would have been on a tiny budget and that’s not much fun. I like Disney during the Holidays—a lot! I got to see the holiday stuff and extend my own Holiday spirit when we went in January and I think it’s a great way to kick off the season. Especially since Rob never gets quite as into Christmas as I do. Flower Garden Festival and Spring weather in Florida will wait for me for another time and I am finally just fine with that!

Next Up
:::::More Pre-Trip Purchases...at this rate I will be broke by Summer!:::::

[amandal]

Wow, that update was another doozie, in true Mel style. LOL. Hmmmm . . . . where to start??? Honestly, the Segway tour never really appealed to me, so I'm fine with the fact you're skipping it Danny and I really liked Kona and Spoodles when we went last year, so maybe you'd want to check those out. The food and alcoholic beverages at Kona were great! Spoodles has an awesome atmosphere that looks out onto the Boardwalk and lake, and is just really pretty (and the food is delish!)

I think when time gets closer, you will have no problems with people deciding on a Wishes or Illuminations cruise, so I would keep posting throughout the upcoming months.

Also, the ADR's you already have look great. When Suzy did ours, we got everything we wanted when we wanted it, so I hope the same for you!!

Anything else??? LOL

[scdisneyfan]

First of all, the pics of the mansion were beautiful. Liam is checking that place out huh???*L*
Second, WHERE DID YOU GET THE FLASH DRIVE.....i saw one in disney while i was there but had ran out of cash but it looked nothing like that one!!! do tell!!!

I LOVE 50's primetime cafe in DHS.....CRT in magic kingdom(but its pricey for princess characters and belle is always there).....those are my two park favs.
I also absolutely reccommend SPOODLES at the boardwalk. We ate there for a second time last week and its a MUST do.....

Sounds like you have some great ideas so far.....we always plan a dinner when we fly in because you dont realize how hungry you are....you could always take a cab to save time and get to an ADR on time. I know that last week we used a cab from POP to Boardwalk and it was only 8 dollars plus a tip.

have fun counting down to ADRS!!!!!

I think the ADR's you have look great though

[MyRapunzal]

Thanks girls!

Originally Posted by amandal

Wow, that update was another doozie, in true Mel style. LOL. Hmmmm . . . . where to start??? Honestly, the Segway tour never really appealed to me, so I'm fine with the fact you're skipping it Danny and I really liked Kona and Spoodles when we went last year, so maybe you'd want to check those out. The food and alcoholic beverages at Kona were great! Spoodles has an awesome atmosphere that looks out onto the Boardwalk and lake, and is just really pretty (and the food is delish!)

I think when time gets closer, you will have no problems with people deciding on a Wishes or Illuminations cruise, so I would keep posting throughout the upcoming months.

Also, the ADR's you already have look great. When Suzy did ours, we got everything we wanted when we wanted it, so I hope the same for you!!

Anything else??? LOL

People have recommended Kona to us a couple of times and I never looked into it but I am going to check it out over at All Ears when I am done here. I forgot about Spoodles ! Our last trip we wanted to either go there or that restarant on the water at DTD... its name escapes me at the moment... Captain Somethings. lol. You just reminded me about that too!

Originally Posted by scdisneyfan

First of all, the pics of the mansion were beautiful. Liam is checking that place out huh???*L*
Second, WHERE DID YOU GET THE FLASH DRIVE.....i saw one in disney while i was there but had ran out of cash but it looked nothing like that one!!! do tell!!!

I LOVE 50's primetime cafe in DHS.....CRT in magic kingdom(but its pricey for princess characters and belle is always there).....those are my two park favs.
I also absolutely reccommend SPOODLES at the boardwalk. We ate there for a second time last week and its a MUST do.....

Sounds like you have some great ideas so far.....we always plan a dinner when we fly in because you dont realize how hungry you are....you could always take a cab to save time and get to an ADR on time. I know that last week we used a cab from POP to Boardwalk and it was only 8 dollars plus a tip.

have fun counting down to ADRS!!!!!

I think the ADR's you have look great though

Flash Drive is from Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!--- when I searched for Mickey Flash Drive on google I got this review of it: The A-DATA Disney T703 Mickey USB Flash Drive Review | Gear Diary
And NewEgg is me and Rob's go to spot for anything techno-- they ship out so quickly and since a lot of it comes from NJ we get it often in a day or two (my drive is "out for delivery" as we speak)! Plus, if you order by the end of the month there is a NewEgg rebate on the grape one (currently the only one they have in stock anyway) so you get $10 back and it wil only end up costing $11.99! Look at me- I sound like a commercial!
Thanks for your recommendations... I am def goint to look into Spoodles-- We did the CRT dinner last trip and had a great GREAT experience so I decided that our OOP meal for this trip is going to be Hollywood Brown Derby. I don't know if Rob would do 50s Primetime. I always think I would like it and would want to bring my parents there... but I am not sure if its up his alley. I think I might run it by him again. lol!

[B.M.]

Your DW plans sound great! I also love your pics of the vanderbilt house! I remember learning about it in school and have always wanted to go. I actually didn't realize it was in NY. I will have to plan a trip at some point. Can you go in the house for a tour??

[DyanKJ130]

Great update!!

The mansion looks wonderful! Here is a photo of Vanderbilt's former summer cottage (The Breakers) in Newport, Rhode Island. They filmed Gone with the Wind there. It's right on the water. The photo makes it look much smaller than what it actually is.


the flash drive! For that price, I may have to pick one or two up for myself.

I don't think I could narrow down what some of our dining favorites are. Honestly, we have enjoyed nearly all of our dining experiences at WDW. The only disappointments have been a Sci-Fi lunch back in 2004 (DS & I didn't feel too great afterwards.....we really need to give it another try) and 'Ohana breakfast just this past Fall (the food was just okay and we've had better character interaction elsewhere). Our favorite character meals have been Garden Grill dinner (not so much for the food, although the catfish is incredible and we've experienced some of the absolute best character interaction there) and 1900 PF breakfast (the only character breakfasts we haven't tried are Cape May Cafe and Tusker House - we did try Breakfastosaurus, but have heard Tusker House is better......anyway, 1900 PF just stands out in my mind as having some of the best breakfast food! That strawberry soup was wonderful!! And the blintzes! YUM! ) Given the 3 countries you & Rob haven't dined in yet, I can totally see you at Biergarten! Your high energy and the energy of the restaurant, seem like they would go hand-in-hand.

I'm glad you're feeling better about your lack of trip this break! If you decide to take a visit to Mystic in the Fall, let me know.....if our schedules coincide, maybe we can take a ride over.

[mcc0313]

Mel -

What a great update...you sound so positive and your "blues" are definitely gone....

I think Thanksgiving is such a great time to go...the weather is a bit less humid, you get to see all the decorations...

Regarding an Epcot restaurant...Italy sounds good but knowing that they are going to close at some point I would probably chose Germany...I have always thought about it and then never done it but after reading some reviews lately in some recent TR's it is becoming definitely one of my choices for the holidays...

have fun deciding....

[MyRapunzal]

Originally Posted by B.M.

Your DW plans sound great! I also love your pics of the vanderbilt house! I remember learning about it in school and have always wanted to go. I actually didn't realize it was in NY. I will have to plan a trip at some point. Can you go in the house for a tour??

You def can-- Its worth a trip because Franklin Roosevelt's home, Presidential Library, and even Valkill are literally minutes away. You can do so much in a weekend in Hyde Park (we are so lucky to live 15 minutes away). There is even hiking trails from one place to another in a few cases. I think the website for info on everything is Historic Hyde Park

Originally Posted by DyanKJ130

Great update!!

The mansion looks wonderful! Here is a photo of Vanderbilt's former summer cottage (The Breakers) in Newport, Rhode Island. They filmed Gone with the Wind there. It's right on the water. The photo makes it look much smaller than what it actually is.


the flash drive! For that price, I may have to pick one or two up for myself.

I don't think I could narrow down what some of our dining favorites are. Honestly, we have enjoyed nearly all of our dining experiences at WDW. The only disappointments have been a Sci-Fi lunch back in 2004 (DS & I didn't feel too great afterwards.....we really need to give it another try) and 'Ohana breakfast just this past Fall (the food was just okay and we've had better character interaction elsewhere). Our favorite character meals have been Garden Grill dinner (not so much for the food, although the catfish is incredible and we've experienced some of the absolute best character interaction there) and 1900 PF breakfast (the only character breakfasts we haven't tried are Cape May Cafe and Tusker House - we did try Breakfastosaurus, but have heard Tusker House is better......anyway, 1900 PF just stands out in my mind as having some of the best breakfast food! That strawberry soup was wonderful!! And the blintzes! YUM! ) Given the 3 countries you & Rob haven't dined in yet, I can totally see you at Biergarten! Your high energy and the energy of the restaurant, seem like they would go hand-in-hand.

I'm glad you're feeling better about your lack of trip this break! If you decide to take a visit to Mystic in the Fall, let me know.....if our schedules coincide, maybe we can take a ride over.

I loooooooooove the summer cottage! And to think, if I had a summer cottage it would be a la cardboard box! hahahaha!
You just gave me great idea!!! Maybe I should go to the 1900 Park Fare bfast on our last day instead of the dinner the night before! That would free up an ADR plus I wouldn't feel bad skipping the Poly bfast which I have heard similar things as what you have mentioned. I have had great character interaction with Stitch both trips we have taken-- once in Character Connection in Epcot and once near the little toy story alien stand in Tomorrowland... I love Stitch but feel like I might be pushing it if we end up having the so-so interaction everyone else seems to see at OHana. Hmmm...

PS- Return to Sci-Fi! Try for dinner and if there is a choice chose to be in the back of the car, I found our seats in the back were a bit roomier!

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Mel -

What a great update...you sound so positive and your "blues" are definitely gone....

I think Thanksgiving is such a great time to go...the weather is a bit less humid, you get to see all the decorations...

Regarding an Epcot restaurant...Italy sounds good but knowing that they are going to close at some point I would probably chose Germany...I have always thought about it and then never done it but after reading some reviews lately in some recent TR's it is becoming definitely one of my choices for the holidays...

have fun deciding....

I know I would have to "sell" Biergarten to Rob but I am sure I could-- I want to return in the future for a girls only trip with my mom, sister, and niece, & I would like to do Italy with them because my mom is 100% Italian and I just feel like I would like to save that for us, ya know? I might be able to free it up though.

[MyRapunzal]

So before I get started I keep forgetting to throw this out there-- anyone else American Idol??? I usually hate reality TV but this is my guilty pleasure! Last year I told my classes if they went home and voted for Blake Lewis and he won I would bring them all candy! Haha! Little did they know I had candy for them the next day before we even knew he lost!
This year I am soooooooo in David Archuleta! I really like Brooke white too and I liked Michael Johns and was sad to see him go because there are about 2 or 3 others he was amazingly better than! I also can not stand that rocker WhatsHisName Cook... his hair always looks greasy and from day one I have been saying that he was copying other peoples arrangements of songs and pawning them as his own... I felt very validated when there was an article in People magizine after he covered a song covered the exact same way by Coldplay.

Anyways, onto something most of you would care about. It you weren't sold by the pictures I posted from New Egg or the link to the review-- I got my Flash Drive today:




I also went to Barnes and Noble to get some Travel Guides because it was like one of those teacher discount promos where I knew I could use it on anything. So I went to get these guides called "The Little Black Book of..." for DC and NYC because I am a perpetual travel planner. HaHa! Anyways.... guess what I found? A Walt Disney World one! So of course- I bought all 3!

And for a peak inside the WDW here is the front page of the DTD chapter and the fold out map...

Totally cute and discreet! They were $11 each regular price so they came down to around $9 after the discount. I also grabbed "Eat This, Not That" on my way to checkout because Amandl recommended it and it was right there in front of me with a 20% off sticker! That one came to like $13 which was sweeeeet! Okay so thats all for now! I have to nanny tomorrow and Thursday so I probably won't update again until much closer to the weekend! I will leave you with one other thing.........

Next Up
:::::::Another Spring Break Update CASTLE VS. CASTLE!:::::::

[MyRapunzal]

K... so I just made a cute intro and then when I pressed "submit" it all disappeared! So without any adeiu whatsoever... here is another fabulous Disney survey for everyone and anyone to fill in there answers and post back! Do as little or as much you have time for! I wonder what we have in common....

Disney Survey Two

Movies
Which Disney Princess film is your favorite?: Beauty and the Beast
Which non-Disney Princess Disney Film is your favorite?: Peter Pan
Which Disney film makes you cry the most?: The Lion King
Which Disney film makes you the happiest?: The Little Mermaid
Which Disney film has the best music?: Beauty and the Beast
Which Disney film has the best love story?: Beauty and the Beast Which Disney film are you most looking forward to on DVD?: The 3 Caballeros
Characters
Who is your favorite Disney Princess?: Belle
Who is your favorite Disney Prince?: Aladdin
Who is your favorite Disney animal sidekick?: Baloo
Who is your favorite Disney main character animal?: Simba Who is your favorite Disney main character non-animated? Mary Poppins
Who is your favorite villain?: Scar
Which Princess is the prettiest?: Belle
Which Prince is the hottest?: Prince Edward (James Marsden in Enchanted)
Music
What is your favorite Disney song?: "When You Wish Upon a Star”
What is your favorite Disney villain song?: "Cruella DeVille”-101 Dalmatians
What is your favorite Disney animal song?: "Kiss the Girl" –The Little Mermaid
What is your favorite Disney Princess song?: "Belle”-B&tB
What is your favorite Disney Prince song?: "One Jump Ahead" -Aladdin
What is your favorite Disney Prince/Princess duet song?: "A Whole New World" -Aladdin
What is your favorite Disney love song?: "That’s How You Know”-Enchanted
This or That
Anastasia or Drisella?: Anastasia
Maleficent or Lady Tremaine?: Lady T- I get to meet her at dinner this year!
Jack or Gus-Gus?: Gus-Gus
Iago, Abu, or Raja?: Abu
Magic Carpet or Genie?: Magic Carpet
Flotsum or Jetsum?: Jetsum
Flounder, Sebastian, or Scuttle?: Sebastian (In 6th grade Chorus we did a medley of Little Mermaid songs and our music teacher new the man who was the voice of Sebastian—Sam Wright-- and he sang with us at the concert!!!!!)
King Triton or the Sultan?: King Triton
Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, or Lumiere?: Lumiere of course—I love Law & Order!
Jasmine's Palace or Cinderella's Castle?: Cindy’s of course! It’s my favorite place to visit!
Tod or Copper?: Tod

[amandal]

Wow, I didn't know they had one of those little books for WDW . . . . It must be new. I bought a "mixed drink recipe" one for my sister not too long ago and a "bridal" one for my two best friends who are getting married this year. I am sooooo going to get that one.

[DyanKJ130]

Melissa, you should join our game! **SPOILER** Name that Idol!! Wednesday 4/15 **SPOILER**