Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[Angies1274]

Hmm....so strange that those rates just disappeared. Well, I hope some come out that are even better. (sending some pixie dust your way)

BTW--Love the pics of your day trip!! They were just beautiful!!

Wow!! this has been like a roller coaster for you. I hope everything works out!!!

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by All7OfUs

Such a shame those more than totally awesome rates disappeared!! I guess someone else claimed them and got the pixie dust this time. You never know-maybe something else even better is in store for you! Keep the faith!

Good call on the car! Better safe than sorry, the way things are going.

I have faith. I have faith the AAA rates will come back. And if they don't I can use the entertainment coupon. I can live with $141, I'd just much rather pay $101 for a 3 bedroom

I also have faith in my TA to keep after it like a dog with a bone and get it back down. Part of the reason for doing the Nick for that many days was the rate. If the rate is too high then we might be better off with more days at Disney for the FD But...the Nick thing is for the boys. So... my brain shouldn't hurt figuring out rates 11 months away! I figured out a solution for Paul and Sandie and then my brain went into overdrive. Need to turn it off. It IS 11 months away!

I need to just let it go, breathe in the pretty colors and trust.

Originally Posted by jordanyosh

Okay, I just read the whole thing..well most of it anyways...

I know about loss. check out the first post of my original PTR in 07...hard year for my family....

I miss the NW..lived in Beaverton, OR for 2 years.

Blended families can be hard, but it seems like you have it down pretty well.

I am not close to either of my brothers, but close to my cousins..weird isn't it.

I've stayed at BWV and YC and BCV...you will LOVE the Epcot Resort Area. Sandie and Paul will too. The convenience to Epcot and DHS can't be beat. While CS locations are scarce, you have a TON of Table Service locations within walking distance.....

Glad I found your PTR!

Jordy!



I have family in Beaverton I'm usually down there once a year or so. I need to go check out that post in your original PTR. Family is family, I know for years Doug was far far closer to his cousin than to his brother. That's fallen apart as the cousin (who interestingly enough worked at Paul and Sandie's church) has really falllen into a sad sad space. While he wasn't good for Doug, it's still a loss of its own.

I can relate, I have some fabby cousins and you seem to really have a good time with yours. That is a blessing. I saw your update last night but didn't get a chance to post, WTG on the 5.25 hours of work!

Thanks for the compliments on the blended family. I really thank my mom (my stepmom) and to a lesser extent, Jeff's. We had some GREAT role models!

I am not worried about the lack of CS, as long as there is an option, that's good enough. That was a big drawback to the Fort, no CS, and no snacks. I am really excited about YC! I wish I could do more nights there. We did 7 nights on the last trip and it was easily 1 short. Part of that was flight times, as a west coaster I am sure you can relate. I am hoping that if we get the flights right this time, the 6 nights will be enough, especially with the Nick/IoA stuff up front.

Originally Posted by Angies1274

Hmm....so strange that those rates just disappeared. Well, I hope some come out that are even better. (sending some pixie dust your way)

BTW--Love the pics of your day trip!! They were just beautiful!!

Wow!! this has been like a roller coaster for you. I hope everything works out!!!

Thanks Angie! It was a beautiful day. This has been quite the unexpected ride to be sure but fun, in its own twisted way. I hope some come out that are even better too!

[eandesmom]

Up first.

I bring you a small moment from Evan.

Evan brought home a rough draft of a creative writing sample yesterday. I will not scan it as, well it’s disastrous from my perspective although I am assured that the real thing is neat, legible with a decent illustration and that he expanded a bit on the front part as it doesn’t quite make sense. Their task was to write about a “small moment”. Evan chose to describe the reaction he had, after buying with the very last of his souvenir money, specifically saved to find the "coolest" shirt (and immediately putting on) his EE shirt and then turning around and going right back on EE during EMH on our last park day. This is what happened when he got off EE, in his words. I had NOTHING to do with his topic choice, I found out after the fact.

“I finally got my t-shirt. I jumped up and hit my head on a bar, OW!!
My dad said I should have gotten a concussion and my brother practically laughed his head off.”

It is accompanied by an illustration of a stick figure whacking his head on a bar, seeing stars with the eyes “x’d” out, under a sign that says

Disney World
watch your head

It cracked me up.
Despite the horrendous writing.

Recent Updates!

Gotta love it, still more than 11 months away and I am on v0.3! Although according to my new ticker it is technically 10 months, 4 weeks and 2 days. Which just sounds weird. I know we have 5 week months 4x a year and all that. But I look at 10 months 4 weeks and go....isn't it really 11 months and 2 days??

I digress.

Welcome to The BFP_YC_V0.3

As of today we have...one Nickelodeon Family Suites 2 bedroom reserved for 8/23-8/27. I have requested anything BUT Rugrats for the room theme. Kendall and I will have to bunk up on the sleeper, Taylor and Jeff in the King and then the E’s will get bunks. I hope once AAA rates come out we can upgrade to the 3 bedroom but at least we know we have a room and the price will only go down.

I also booked a mini van at a rate I can live with for the first part of the trip. If we find a better one, great but if not it is livable. Those puppies go fast and it has caused problems in the past. I am banking on returning it on move to YC day, I can’t afford it for 10 days!

I had a BRILLIANT solution to the “grandparents not wanting to stay in nick character themed rooms and be there for 10 days” situation. If they decide they want more than the 6 nights, they can come down on the 25th days before the YC, instead of our 4 and join us for an adult only dinner on their first night and IoA on the 2nd day and then we will all move to the YC.

They could stay stay at a mod or pay for more nights at the Yacht Club. I vote for the mod. If they decide to do that, we will add it to their room as a split stay. I think it is brilliant because it gets them on the dining plan 2 days early and works really well as that “adult only” dinner is hopefully a 2TS meal! I’d planned to have it be OOP but this way, for them, it would really work out since on IoA day we will eat at City Walk. Plus this way they don’t have to move their stuff themselves, (or be involved in watching us move our stuff) which Sandie loves. I have a sneaking suspicion T will go stay with them for those 2 nights, which is fine. I have to admit, thinking about this option for them…made me think about this option for us…and then my head swam. Literally. I got very caught up in the FD versus Nick internal debate.

I need to remember something.

Nick is for the boys. I need to repeat this. Nick is for the boys.

MAN is FD a great deal if you are 3 adults in a mod! It of course doesn’t pencil the same for 2 adults and 4 kids who can’t fit in a mod!

They will still need a car for 2 days I think though.

We will see. Right now we are confirmed for all 9 of us for 6 days in Disney, the 6 of us, 4 days prior to that at Nick. Doug will not be really able to confirm that he can go (with his job) until we get a lot closer but is in assuming it works with his work schedule. He is his own boss so theoretically, possible, but....it just depends. And we get that.

Since it won’t hurt us to pull him off, we will leave him on the ressie, assuming it will work out. I’ll be paying that Yacht Club deposit later this week.

Speaking of which. I am a bad daughter in law. A bad influence. Yes, it’s true.

I have brought Sandie to the dark side.

I have introduced her to…

The Disney Visa.

She is SO all over that!



We are going to put both deposits on ours (can’t let those reward dollars slip away) and then try to do the refer a friend thing for both of us so she can get theirs. Jeff is going to call today.

Such a bad influence!

Now, of course, because it’s only 5+ months away till I can make ADR’s, my mind wanders to where I want to eat. But first I must decide.

To I want to gather grandly?

Or not.

There are 3 grand gathering options.

International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception 2 TS

Meet your friends and family at the Odyssey in Epcot for a celebration of international friendship. Your well-travelled and fun-loving hostess, Auntie Roz, welcomes you to amazing tastes from around the world. Help yourself to delectable international cuisine served family-style, where everyone from Grandma to Junior is sure to find a favourite dish.

As you feast, Auntie Roz and some of your favourite Disney Characters sing, dance and tell stories — sometimes they even need your help! And Auntie Roz loves birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions, so if you've got something to celebrate just give her the word and she'll give you plenty of recognition, including a special song.

After your international eating adventure, end your evening on a sweet note with a scrumptious dessert buffet and a private, reserved viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Theme park admission is required.


Safari Celebration Dinner 2 TS
Make dinnertime an adventure with an amazing experience. Meet your tour guide in Asia at the "Flights of Wonder" theatre for an exciting tour on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Restaurant with a delicious all-you-can-eat African-inspired dinner menu served family style. Dine on a full range of delectable foods that will please even the youngest members of your family. Then, have an "up-close" experience with exotic wildlife brought to the restaurant courtyard just to meet you — even get an autograph from one of the special Disney Characters who stop by the restaurant to say hello! And if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, family reunion or other special occasion, your Disney friends will surely add their recognition to the festivities. Theme park admission is required.

Good Morning Character Breakfast 1TS

Start the morning with Tony, the proprietor from "Lady and the Tramp," at his Tony's Town Square Restaurant for a fun-filled breakfast with plenty of Character. Mingle with Mickey while you enjoy the delicious dishes of an all-you-can-eat breakfast. Then sing and dance with your Disney pals or talk to them tableside. Tony will be happy to recognize birthdays and special occasions along with a special serenade of "Bella Notte" for anniversaries.
After breakfast, take Tony up on his invitation to visit Mickey's PhilharMagic, one of the most popular attractions in Magic Kingdom Park, for reserved seating at the very next show. Theme park admission is required.


Am I the only one who reads these and wonders who is Auntie Roz? Who is Tony? Do I care about either one of them?

I am just not sure I can justify 2TS on the dinner ones. They sound great in some respects, don’t get me wrong but 2 TS is a lot. And there are a LOT of great places to eat that are only 1TS. I am not at all sure the newbies would be into it. For the breakfast one….it intrigues me BUT I have never, ever, seen a review of this. Tony’s doesn’t offer breakfast except for this (to my knowledge) and so I am a little leery. I DO want to do a character breakfast this trip but had been leaning towards Cape May. Just not sure that this is worth it either.

If, heaven forbid, Doug can’t go and Kendall really can’t go (the thought of which makes me ill) then we lose our GG status. I won’t know the answers to that at ADR booking time. However I’d imagine I might be best served by booking regular ADR’s and then IF we decide we want to try and book a GG event, see if it is available. I would imagine they are more available then regular ADR’s?

Who knows.

What do you guys think?

Next The BFP_YC_v0.3 con't...

[Lady Lallie]

I have heard awesome things about Tony's Breakfast. Tony is the guy from Lady & Tramp who gives them the spaghetti dinner. If you go over to the restaurant board there are reviews of the grand gatherings I believe. We were going to go with a big group and we had decided on Tony's after ready reviews and such, it's a nice experience for 1 TS.

[jordanyosh]

IF I were going to do any of them, I'd agree with LL and do the Tony's for 1TS...the other ones just don't seem to justify using 2TS....

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by Lady Lallie

I have heard awesome things about Tony's Breakfast. Tony is the guy from Lady & Tramp who gives them the spaghetti dinner. If you go over to the restaurant board there are reviews of the grand gatherings I believe. We were going to go with a big group and we had decided on Tony's after ready reviews and such, it's a nice experience for 1 TS.

That's good to hear, I nosed around on there but didn't see anything, need to go look again a little deeper I guess.

Originally Posted by jordanyosh

IF I were going to do any of them, I'd agree with LL and do the Tony's for 1TS...the other ones just don't seem to justify using 2TS....

Okay, that sounds like 2 votes for far for the Tony's GG bfast over Cape May...This will impact our dinner ADR's so is important lol!

[jordanyosh]

Here's my take on Cape May Breakfast. We had good character interaction, as we were seated near the end of breakfast and there really weren't that many people there. The food is serviceable, not memorable. I would've preferred a Character meal inside one of the theme parks. It just feels different....hard to explain. For the kids, it probably makes NO difference.

[PracPerfPatricia]

Too funny-I had your same reaction when I was reading -Who the heck is Aunt Roz?...

I'd have to go with LL and Jordan...I ate at Tony's some time ago for breakfast when they still did that with Em-we enjoyed it...It's pretty in there and a nice place to begin the day...

I'd also go for it over Cape May for breakfast...

[glennbo123]

Originally Posted by eandesmom

“I finally got my t-shirt. I jumped up and hit my head on a bar, OW!!
My dad said I should have gotten a concussion and my brother practically laughed his head off.”

What a great story. I love that he said "should have" instead of "could have". My fear is that it wasn't a misquote!

[All7OfUs]

Great story! I had to laugh at his metaphor in saying his brother almost laughed his head off. HA! How ironic that he almost knocked his own off.

NICK is for the boys.... Repeat after me...

So, you sucked Sandie in, huh! You evil temptress you!

3 adults in a mod? Good deal?? That's exactly what we're hoping for!

Last year for our GG, I wasn't tempted by any of those "extras". Seems like another Disney way of gauging the public. I certainly would NOT spend 2TS on one. You're right, too many other 1 TS credit places to go to. As far as booking them, I think you're right; I doubt they fill up very fast. Of course I could be wrong, but that's just my gut feeling.

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by jordanyosh

Here's my take on Cape May Breakfast. We had good character interaction, as we were seated near the end of breakfast and there really weren't that many people there. The food is serviceable, not memorable. I would've preferred a Character meal inside one of the theme parks. It just feels different....hard to explain. For the kids, it probably makes NO difference.

That makes sense..and great point!

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

Too funny-I had your same reaction when I was reading -Who the heck is Aunt Roz?...

I'd have to go with LL and Jordan...I ate at Tony's some time ago for breakfast when they still did that with Em-we enjoyed it...It's pretty in there and a nice place to begin the day...

I'd also go for it over Cape May for breakfast...

Tony's...winning by a landslide...

Originally Posted by glennbo123

What a great story. I love that he said "should have" instead of "could have". My fear is that it wasn't a misquote!

Glenbo!



Nope, definitely not a misquote. Although I was not there I am QUITE sure it was "should have"

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by All7OfUs

Great story! I had to laugh at his metaphor in saying his brother almost laughed his head off. HA! How ironic that he almost knocked his own off.

NICK is for the boys.... Repeat after me...

So, you sucked Sandie in, huh! You evil temptress you!

3 adults in a mod? Good deal?? That's exactly what we're hoping for!

Last year for our GG, I wasn't tempted by any of those "extras". Seems like another Disney way of gauging the public. I certainly would NOT spend 2TS on one. You're right, too many other 1 TS credit places to go to. As far as booking them, I think you're right; I doubt they fill up very fast. Of course I could be wrong, but that's just my gut feeling.

Evil temptress...that's me.

Somehow I don't think Evan was trying to put the metaphor in there but boy, can I completely picture the scene as he described it. He must not have hit that hard if I didn't find out about it until this week! They certainly didn't mention it when it happened, we caught up with them maybe 1/2 hour after it would have happened and not a peep. All I heard was how AWESOME EE was the 2nd time.

I wish there were more GG offerings. The night ones just don't seem worth the TS...just like eating at a signature isn't worth 2TS. But I am leaning towards Tony's for the breakfast. I imagine that it wouldn't be as crowded as some of the other character bfasts and assuming I can even get the crew UP in the am...it would be a good fit.

I do think 3 adults in a mod is a killer deal for FD. The room costs only a little bit more than the value of the plan. I mean for us, we love the DDP and would want to do it regardless, it saved us money last year even paying for it OOP and we bought the plan with our 4/3 room deal. FD is an even better deal for us.

So in our scenario last year we saved 43% off of our room with the 4/3 deal but then had to buy DDP OOP which brought the total package discount back up to 35%. Still a good deal.

This year we will save 69% on the package. Which allows us to go deluxe. Having all (DDP) adults in the package makes a HUGE difference.

Your scenario is even better, you save 81% on your package. Take the DDP costs out and you are getting your room for only $31 a day. 10 bucks each! Granted, I'm not included ticket prices as they are somewhat of a fixed cost and you only need a 1 day pass to get FD I think. Maybe 2.

This may be overstating things...Disney says the plan is $47 for adults but it looks more like $43 but still. A good deal.

[cjackearl]

I wish the Dis worked like TiVo. I'd really like to pause it for a bit so I could keep up! What a great story from Evan. The boy's got voice in spades. Must get it from his Momma.

Gorgeous mountains, thanks for the pictoral. My DH and his family did oodles of western trips including lots of hiking and I know he'd like to get us all back in the mountains some day.

Hope your Nick rates fall, and congrats on the mini van.

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by cjackearl

I wish the Dis worked like TiVo. I'd really like to pause it for a bit so I could keep up! What a great story from Evan. The boy's got voice in spades. Must get it from his Momma.

Gorgeous mountains, thanks for the pictoral. My DH and his family did oodles of western trips including lots of hiking and I know he'd like to get us all back in the mountains some day.

Hope your Nick rates fall, and congrats on the mini van.

Oh I wish the DIS worked like that too! I get so behind sometimes on TR's and PTR's. It helps so much when people put dates or pages or both, at least then I know just how lost I will be once I get there

Evan does have his own voice, and LOVES to use it, no doubt about it!

[KathyRN137]

The mental image of the grandparents having to spend ten nights in a Rugrats-themed room had me rolling!!


Kathy