Thanksgiving with Mickey again...a November 2016 TRIP REPORT! (DONE)

[kittylady1972]

We will be at Epcot on Black Friday, doing CP that night. Should I expect crazy crowds? I'm nervous about it! We leave for the Fantasy the next morning and then are returning back to WDW for 4 nights after. The only way to fit in CP was to add the pre cruise night as well.

I am sure it will be crowded on black Friday. I would take advantage of getting there when the park opens and doing as much as you can during those first few hours. You will LOVE CP though, it's totally worth it. Are you planning on getting a CP dining package? I would HIGHLY recommend that. You'll still wait in line, but at least you will get a seat for sure. The only time we did CP was when we did that and we loved it. Oh and you will love the Fantasy also, if you haven't been on it. We just got off a Fantasy cruise in October...it was AWESOME!

 

[kittylady1972]

We interrupt your day here for...FOOD PORN.

Just a quick photo of my kids' version of Tonga Toast, made for me on Mother's Day:

Believe me, it was very very good!

 

[ELSA711]

I just wanted to say I really hope your mom feels better and that she is able to come with you this year! Sounds like an amazing trip you are planning for everyone.
I'm trying to convince my parents to visit with us for the first time ever but Dad is pretty stubborn and says 'no' quite a few times. Is it wrong to bring Mom alone? LOL

 

[kittylady1972]

I just wanted to say I really hope your mom feels better and that she is able to come with you this year! Sounds like an amazing trip you are planning for everyone.
I'm trying to convince my parents to visit with us for the first time ever but Dad is pretty stubborn and says 'no' quite a few times. Is it wrong to bring Mom alone? LOL

Thanks so much! Right now we are in a holding pattern really as we wait to see what the new oncologist suggest for her. I know she's just sick and tired of chemotherapy and she's been through so many different trials of drugs over the last five years. Wow...even I didn't realize it's been that's long but I'm pretty sure her latest diagnosis was in about 2011 so yes.

Yeah my dad isn't big on the amusement park trips, but Mom is and he'll do it for her for the most part. I would say if your Mom wants to go then by all means take her and leave dad behind!

 

[kittylady1972]

So it's been a while since I updated...thought I'd do a quick check-in here.

As far as the Disney trip goes...nothing new to report. I mistakenly thought I could book our dining reservations TODAY, but as it turns out I have about 4 more days to go on that. Figures I'll be in a class all day the day I can book them, so I'll have to try to get some done early that morning before class.

With regards to mom, her appointment Wednesday at Duke went well. They ran some bloodwork and are going to put her on another oral medication that hopefully with target the cancer that remains in her lung. No surgical options still, which was disappointing to hear. If the pill doesn't work, they will try a few new chemo combinations, which I'm sure she hates. Her hair hasn't grown back since her last chemo sessions about this time last year and really all those chemicals have just taken a toll on her body, and she was always very active and in good shape. She still has to gain some weight too. In any case, it sounds like things are looking promising for them to join us in 6 months.

I've been busy otherwise planning our more immediate trip to Florida next month. It's been 4 years since we've been to Universal Studios and the kids were younger then and couldn't do all the big rides. Now that they can, we are doing it right and staying on property at Universal to get Front of the Line access. I still think 3 days of those 2 parks will be more than enough, so I'm hoping we get plenty of time to relax by the pool and just enjoy the atmosphere and hopefully even check out the other Universal Resort pools. We are also considering a day at Discovery Cove, which we've never done, and then some time at SeaWorld before heading to Tampa and doing Busch Gardens there. It will be a lot to pack into a week but we are really looking forward to it.

Until then, we spend our time taking short trips to our local Six Flags park for our ride fix and I spend most of my spare time on the tennis courts when I'm not at work. Both DH and myself are trying to lose weight and doing pretty well so far in our 3 weeks of effort. I need to fit into my summer clothes again!

Hope everybody has a great weekend!

 

[ariane37]

I mistakenly thought I could book our dining reservations TODAY, but as it turns out I have about 4 more days to go on that.

Ugh, that stinks! So do you make them Monday or Tuesday? I make mine Monday for the first part of our trip. Stupid split-stay, can't make our last 3 days until the 27th

With regards to mom, her appointment Wednesday at Duke went well. They ran some bloodwork and are going to put her on another oral medication that hopefully with target the cancer that remains in her lung

Glad to hear that. Hope the new medication works, please keep us updated!

I've been busy otherwise planning our more immediate trip to Florida next month. It's been 4 years since we've been to Universal Studios and the kids were younger then and couldn't do all the big rides. Now that they can, we are doing it right and staying on property at Universal to get Front of the Line access. I still think 3 days of those 2 parks will be more than enough,

Fun! We did Universal last August. First time for the boys, first time since 2000 for DH and I. We didn't stay on property though and while it was supposed to be a Uni-only trip, we ended up doing a day at MK We did 3 days at the Universal parks; one at IOA, one at US and then one split between the 2 and that was definitely enough; we didn't even spend the whole day there except once. Also since we went end of Aug. crowds were great and it didn't matter that we didn't have the Front of the Line access, we had no long waits except for a couple rides one day that the Hulk was down for hours.

 

[kittylady1972]

Ugh, that stinks! So do you make them Monday or Tuesday? I make mine Monday for the first part of our trip. Stupid split-stay, can't make our last 3 days until the 27th

Glad to hear that. Hope the new medication works, please keep us updated!

Fun! We did Universal last August. First time for the boys, first time since 2000 for DH and I. We didn't stay on property though and while it was supposed to be a Uni-only trip, we ended up doing a day at MK We did 3 days at the Universal parks; one at IOA, one at US and then one split between the 2 and that was definitely enough; we didn't even spend the whole day there except once. Also since we went end of Aug. crowds were great and it didn't matter that we didn't have the Front of the Line access, we had no long waits except for a couple rides one day that the Hulk was down for hours.

I can make all my dining reservations beginning tomorrow...and still not sure of which ones I will be booking. For NOW, I'm thinking of booking:
Sunday: Kona Cafe (dinner)
Monday: LTT Lunch, dinner in EPCOT somewhere
Tuesday: Chef Mickey or O'Hana (bkfst); T-Rex Dinner
Wed: Tusker House (bkfst)
Thu: Boma (dinner)

That's it for now...but we'll see what happens. I don't know if the boys are into Playhouse Disney but if so I'll book Hollywood and Vine for them for a character meal, but we may skip that one.

Yeah I'm really trying to make this next trip all about Universal and SeaWorld parks, and I do think 3 days will be more than enough for the Universal parks especially with the FOTL access. We definitely won't do Disney, and I'm even going to avoid booking dining in Disney as much as I'd like to do just that. We'll stick to Universal and off-site dining while there.
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So I stalked the DVC site again this morning, and still no rooms for the entire week. Best I could do right now is book a 2BR Savannah view at Kidani for Sun-Wed night (but not Thanksgiving night) or book Wilderness Lodge (just a 1BR) for Mon-Wed night and none of those really works. I wouldn't mind staying at Wilderness again, but I'd need to book two rooms there for the 9 of us or a 2BR and that's not available right now or I'd probably move us.

We'll see what happens as our vacation approaches and maybe just maybe some magic will happen and we'll all be at BLT like I hope!

 

[ariane37]

OMG all day today stupid DIS won't let me multi-quote for some reason Anyway, were you able to make any ADR's today? From all I'm reading the site was down ALL DAY. Ugh! Feel bad for you and everyone else trying to book today. I hope either it eventually got back to working or somehow you got to make yours!

Our waitlist hasn't come through yet either and I'm honestly not at all hopeful that it will. I've just resigned myself to being at CSR for our last 3 days which really isn't terrible, even though I'd prefer to stay at BCV the whole time. But I'll still cross my fingers of for pixie dust for both of us

 

[CMAG38]

OMG all day today stupid DIS won't let me multi-quote for some reason Anyway, were you able to make any ADR's today? From all I'm reading the site was down ALL DAY. Ugh! Feel bad for you and everyone else trying to book today. I hope either it eventually got back to working or somehow you got to make yours!

Our waitlist hasn't come through yet either and I'm honestly not at all hopeful that it will. I've just resigned myself to being at CSR for our last 3 days which really isn't terrible, even though I'd prefer to stay at BCV the whole time. But I'll still cross my fingers of for pixie dust for both of us

Yesterday was my day to make ADRs. It's also my first rodeo with booking a WDW trip. It was very irritating and I hope this is the only hiccup. Fortunately, I only needed to make one. We are going to SoA for Thanksgiving!

 

[kittylady1972]

OMG all day today stupid DIS won't let me multi-quote for some reason Anyway, were you able to make any ADR's today? From all I'm reading the site was down ALL DAY. Ugh! Feel bad for you and everyone else trying to book today. I hope either it eventually got back to working or somehow you got to make yours!
Our waitlist hasn't come through yet either and I'm honestly not at all hopeful that it will. I've just resigned myself to being at CSR for our last 3 days which really isn't terrible, even though I'd prefer to stay at BCV the whole time. But I'll still cross my fingers of for pixie dust for both of us

Sorry I've been in a class for work for the last two days...so finally getting around to responding. UGH...I could not make any ADRs on Tuesday and I was annoyed...then I read the system was down...pretty much all day! It finally came back up and around 6am I made a ton of reservations...and just spend tonight modifying them. I'm amazed at how LITTLE is left for us. I made the best of what I could get and I am sure I will make changes between now and our trip. With a party of 11, having NO ADRs just wasn't happening. For some places I even tried breaking the group into party of 6 and then 5...but didn't do much better.

Here's hoping your waitlist comes through. Still plenty of time!

Yesterday was my day to make ADRs. It's also my first rodeo with booking a WDW trip. It was very irritating and I hope this is the only hiccup. Fortunately, I only needed to make one. We are going to SoA for Thanksgiving!

Yes yesterday was VERY frustrating and I can imagine for a first timer. Glad you got what you wanted.

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So yes I did get many ADRs booked between this morning and tonight. I'm still not sure about a few of them, but glad I have something. My SIL requested Chef Mickey or Tusker House...and I got both even though Chef Mickey is brunch, which we've never done, but it's on a MK day so easy enough to slide over there around lunchtime to do that. Hopefully I finally get to try Tusker House this trip!

 

[kittylady1972]

Quick update here to say...no new updates really. However in case anyone is curious, these are the meals I have booked for our Thanksgiving trip!

Breakfast at O'Hana
Brunch at Chef Mickeys (1pm...so more like lunch but whatever)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern
Brunch at Tusker House

Dinner at Crystal Palace
Dinner at Captain's Grill
Dinner at Boma
Dinner at Kona Cafe

These are subject to change, since most of our breakfast/brunch meals are character dining and that will get $$$$! I love LTT for lunch, so don't see me dropping that one. We will most likely drop the dinner at Crystal Palace also. It has been years since we've eaten there, but since my nephews will most likely be more into Mickey and Friends I'll just have to find someplace else to meet my favorite...Tigger!

I'm trying not to mess with these at all and I honestly haven't done any checking into resort availability recently, so may do that again today just out of morbid curiosity. Don't know at what point I'll give up on thoughts of all of us at BLT though.

Right now my focus has been on our next upcoming vacation, a trip to Universal Studios later this month, with a day at BG Tampa and possibly some time at SeaWorld and Discovery Cove. Really looking forward to our first trip here in 5 years and having the kids experience everything with us this time around. Oh and we'll be getting annual passes to the Universal Parks during this trip just so that when we return to Florida in November...we can make a short jaunt over to Universal one day JUST to ride the Hulk when it reopens!

 

[ariane37]

Hi there, so first off I went over to your Universal PTR and read through quick Sounds like a fun, packed trip! And just a quick little tidbit, older DS goes to 6 Flags Great Adventure in Jersey for is 8th grade class trip on the 23rd.

Aren't ADR's always subject to change lol? I've already changed mine since making them last month and I'm having second thoughts about the ones I have - do I really want certain ones? Do I want to add a couple more new ones? But I always do this so it's nothing new. I'll be changing right up until we go!

 

[kittylady1972]

Hi there, so first off I went over to your Universal PTR and read through quick Sounds like a fun, packed trip! And just a quick little tidbit, older DS goes to 6 Flags Great Adventure in Jersey for is 8th grade class trip on the 23rd.

Aren't ADR's always subject to change lol? I've already changed mine since making them last month and I'm having second thoughts about the ones I have - do I really want certain ones? Do I want to add a couple more new ones? But I always do this so it's nothing new. I'll be changing right up until we go!

Yes we are definitely looking forward to this upcoming trip to Universal for sure. How cool for your son and his class!

Of course ADRs are always subject to change and yes I've also already made a few changes/cancellations myself. I'll be doing the exact same thing, and the same will go for the ride reservations!

 

[jandlinz]

Joining in. You have a beautiful family. We'll be there November 12-23. We are also DVC owners. This is our first trip as owners. The past two trips before we have rented. I really hope your wait list comes in. I also had problems booking. I'm still waiting for a wait list to come in. One of my wait lists actually showed up as available. I had to quickly call and grab it. Right now we have the first night in a different room and I was able to piece together all the other nights. So we have a split stay. I'll keep a lookout for you.

 

[kittylady1972]

Joining in. You have a beautiful family. We'll be there November 12-23. We are also DVC owners. This is our first trip as owners. The past two trips before we have rented. I really hope your wait list comes in. I also had problems booking. I'm still waiting for a wait list to come in. One of my wait lists actually showed up as available. I had to quickly call and grab it. Right now we have the first night in a different room and I was able to piece together all the other nights. So we have a split stay. I'll keep a lookout for you.

Thanks so much...for the compliment and for joining in here! We got started in DVC the same way...rented once or twice and then were hooked so we bought. That very first DVC stay is just so great! I don't have high hopes for my waitlist, but thanks. It's okay if we end up where we are currently, there is absolutely nothing wrong with SSR as it is our home resort. I have contemplated piecing together a few nights at other resorts (AK has been available for 3 of our 5 nights) but I've decided to just stick with what I have for now. Definitely if you see a 2BR at BLT open up, or a 1BR and a studio, let me know. I'd be happy to book just the 1BR or Studio for the rest of our party and then just keep us where we are if that happens.

 

[mom of mogue]

Hi There! I usually just creep around Disboards to get ideas, and I found your trip thread for Thanksgiving 2016. I made reservations for Boma on Thanksgiving day because of you! Anyways, I would love a copy of your spreadsheet. Would you be so kind to share it with me. This will be my first trip at holiday time and I am planning for extended family too. It would be a great help. I also might have some questions for you if you are military. My sister-in-law is in the Navy and she made reservations for all of us at the Shades of Green. However, I am doing majority of the planning.
Thank you so much!

 

[kittylady1972]

Hi There! I usually just creep around Disboards to get ideas, and I found your trip thread for Thanksgiving 2016. I made reservations for Boma on Thanksgiving day because of you! Anyways, I would love a copy of your spreadsheet. Would you be so kind to share it with me. This will be my first trip at holiday time and I am planning for extended family too. It would be a great help. I also might have some questions for you if you are military. My sister-in-law is in the Navy and she made reservations for all of us at the Shades of Green. However, I am doing majority of the planning.
Thank you so much!

Welcome and thanks for joining in here. I'll do my best to attach my spreadsheet here. You will love Boma for Thanksgiving. We certainly did back in November 2014 and are looking forward to returning. We are not military but qualify for DOD rates so I will do my best to help there. We do LOVE our stays at Shades of Green though and have done it two or three times so happy to try to help there!

SORRY no luck in getting the attachment. I'll try to figure something out!

 

[LindyWebb]

Just found your ptr on cruise dis. I have been reading your stuff for hours (I need to sleep!). I love your spread sheets! My family is doing a New Years cruise this year. I miss DW since I haven't been there since March 2015. Good luck with your DVC wait lists. BTW as a high school principal family vacations are just (if not more) as important as school. As long as your kids are responsible with their schooling, missing for vaca is not a big deal. Every family should be so lucky to be as close as yours. Cherish it while you can. They are only young once!

 

[kittylady1972]

Just found your ptr on cruise dis. I have been reading your stuff for hours (I need to sleep!). I love your spread sheets! My family is doing a New Years cruise this year. I miss DW since I haven't been there since March 2015. Good luck with your DVC wait lists. BTW as a high school principal family vacations are just (if not more) as important as school. As long as your kids are responsible with their schooling, missing for vaca is not a big deal. Every family should be so lucky to be as close as yours. Cherish it while you can. They are only young once!

Glad you enjoyed the trip reports! I would love to do a New Year's cruise one day. I'm glad to hear your take as a principal on vacations and I totally agree with that. Family time is very precious to us, with both of us working and kids growing up so fast, we take any opportunity to enjoy time together and vacations are the perfect way to do that, especially with the extended family.

 

[kittylady1972]

My poor neglected thread here...thought I'd give it some love.

NO updates from me for now. Won't even purchase tickets for another two months and that's when I'll book our rides and nail down our park days for sure.

I've done random checks on availability to try to change our rooms...but no such luck. Best I can do is get a Monday night and Wednesday night somewhere...and I'd have to waitlist the other nights. Still hoping we end up at Bay Lake with the rest of the family (my parents) but if not it's no big deal. I'm glad they will get to stay there.

There is a good chance we'll try to arrive a little early Thanksgiving week (like early Saturday morning) and maybe spend at least a few hours at the Universal Parks to ride the Hulk which should open back up at the end of this summer. Since I have an annual pass from our June trip, and I have a friend who can probably get me some free passes to the parks, we would love to try to make that happen.

As of now, it's just getting through the summer with no real vacation planned again anytime soon. After driving from MD to Florida, from Tampa, FL to NC, to MD and then driving back to NC from MD the following weekend...we've put some miles on our travel vehicle and are content to hang at home for a while.