One HUGE PTR Update for my September 2014 Trip!
(Many pictures I have used in this update have been borrowed from the DIS, Disneyworld.com, or Google images! A few are mine, some from my Instagram, but some have been borrowed, just wanted to get that out of the way, so no one thinks I'm stealing pictures!)
Hi everyone!
I know I said I was going to do a PTR for my upcoming trip, but if you take a look at my ticker, I have 2 months and 2 weeks until my trip...I really don't think there's any point in trying to keep up with a PTR so close to my trip, when I can't even get caught up on the TR's that I'm following! Which I feel TERRIBLE about by the way, my new goal is to be caught up by the time I go on this trip in September! I promise I will...
Anyway! I thought I'd do one huge update about my trip, since I've mentioned it so much in my TR but I've given pretty much no details. And honestly, I don't have many, which is another reason I don't want to do a PTR! This trip is SO hard for me to plan, with FP+ and everything, it's driving me crazy and I really don't have anything set right now. And I only have a few weeks until I have to make my FP+ reservations...but I'll get to that later in this update!
The Resorts!
We will be spending our first six nights at the lovely Caribbean Beach Resort with Free Dining!
I've never stayed here before and have always wanted to, but for some reason, when I've had to choose which moderate to stay in, Port Orleans Riverside always won! And it probably would have won again this year, if it was offered with Free Dining, but sadly it was not, so it was a choice between CBR and CSR. We stayed for one night at CSR and Brandon hated it, so it gave me a chance to finally try CBR!
I know a lot of people complain about it, that it's too big, and the rooms are run down...neither of those things really bother me. We will have a car, so waiting for buses won't be a problem, and if we are really far away from the main building, we can always drive there. And the rooms are apparently getting a refurb, so I might request a nice, new room!
I just think it looks really pretty and tropical and I'm excited to finally check it out for myself! And claim one of these hammocks as my own!
When we check out of CBR, we will be checking into one of my dream resorts for a few nights. I've actually stayed here before, but Brandon has not, and this is a total surprise, so PLEASE, no one tell him about this!
For our last few days in Disney, I was lucky enough to rent DVC points from one of my amazing DIS/Twitter friends at...
Kidani Village!
Actually, now that I think about it, Kidani is new to me also! I've stayed in Jambo House, but not Kidani, so I'm super excited to try this area of the resort out! It was pretty fantastic how this worked out, my friend posted that she had points to rent on Twitter, and I just happened to see it right when she posted it so I told her I was interested...maybe 30 minutes later I had my reservation at Kidani!
(I am on a wait list for the Boardwalk, but I'm not holding my breath, since it's a weekend, and it's Food and Wine, but hey, you never know right?)
Brandon has wanted to stay at AKL for a long time, I even had us booked there for more than one trip, but I've always changed it because I felt like AKL was too far away...well, since I've stayed there with my sister last year, I know that's not true, and having a car will make it even better since my sister and I relied on the buses. I can't wait to wake up and tell Brandon we're checking out and moving to AKL the morning we have to go...although, I'll probably tell him the night before, so we can be packed and ready to move in the morning!
Special Events!
Two reasons I wanted to go to Disney in September this year, instead of our normal November/December trips that we always take...
1. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!
SO excited for this! As of now, we're only doing one party, but I might try to add another, since there is just so much to do and see! I haven't been to a Halloween Party since 2011 so I can't wait to see what's new! I know Jack and Sally will be there, and I really want to meet them, but I don't want to spend my whole night waiting in a line! I also can't wait for the Boo to You parade, and HalloWishes! I doubt I will dress up, but I may Disneybound as a character, that's the most dressing up you'll get out of me haha!
I just have to figure out which character!
2. The Food and Wine Festival!
Brandon's favorite thing in Disney is the Food and Wine Festival, so we will be spending a lot of time in Epcot this trip!
I can't wait to eat and drink around the world again, it killed me missing it last year so I plan to make up for it this year! They should be releasing the menu's soon so I can plan which booths I definitely need to hit! (I know I'll be at Canada multiple time, especially since I don't have a Le Cellier ADR for this trip...yes, I know, you're all shocked...don't be surprised if I add one right before we go, but as of now, NO Le Cellier ADR!
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ADR's
Ok, so at this point in the trip planning, I would normally have all of my ADR's set and memorized, and guess what? I have like, 3 set ADR's. Maybe more. I don't even know! I made them on the 180 day mark, just randomly guessing what parks we'd be in, and I only made ADR's for the hard to get places. Once I have our schedule more set, I'm going to go back and make more, but for now...here's what I have...
California Grill
As of now, we're going here our first night. Which I might change, because IF I end up getting a migraine or something from the plane, I'm going to be really mad if I can't enjoy my CA Grill! The goat cheese polenta is like, my favorite thing in the world to eat. I seriously want to ask for extra when I order my pork. And Brandon is obsessed with the sushi here. So even if I move this ADR, we will definitely be eating here at some point!
Crystal Palace
A few weeks ago at work, I randomly looked for a Crystal Palace ADR for our trip, and there was nothing. Then one popped up for a morning that I'm not even sure if we'll be in MK, but I grabbed it. Because I need puffed french toast in my life. And meeting Pooh and Friends is always fun. It would be nice to finally get a picture with Eeyore, since I've been to Crystal Palace a million times and each time, we've been snubbed!
'Ohana
I actually have ADR's for 'Ohana twice, because I'm not sure which night to go there...but either way, I'm definitely going. If it were up to me, I'd keep both ADR's because one can never have too much bread pudding, but there are also so many other places I want to try, I can't use up all of my time with 'Ohana, right?
Other ADR's I have...50's Prime Time, which terrifies me, and I might change, and I think Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner before MNSSHP, but again, might change that if we end up going to 2.
ADR's that I want?
Well, I'm trying to decide between Yachtsman and Jiko...I've been to Jiko and Brandon hasn't, and I thought it was the BEST steak in the world. And staying at AKL, it would be nice to eat there since we're right there. But I've been dying to try Yachtsman forever, and everyone says it's so good, so I'm not sure what to do here.
I also want to try Sanaa, which again, would be great since we're staying there! Just not sure which day I can squeeze that into!
I need to find time to go to Raglan Road, and Downtown Disney all together! I have to go to the new Marketplace Co-Op, and I'm not sure which day to go there! I'd hate to go during the week when crowds are lower in the parks, and give up precious Epcot Food and Wine time, but I HAVE to go to Raglan. I just have to.
I'm trying to decide between Kona and the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast...Kona is awesome and has Tonga Toast
but GFC is just as awesome, and it gives me an excuse to visit the Grand. But no Tonga Toast.
I also wanted to go to Tusker House for breakfast, but I don't think I want to do 2 character meals.
And then you have to think about Counter Service as well...I know I want to do Be Our Guest for lunch, and I'm going to try to get an FP+ for that, even though I have no idea how it works...I need to go to Earl of Sandwich at least twice...Brandon loves the Japan counter service in Epcot...I wanted to go to Beaches and Cream again (even though now you can make an ADR for it, I guess it's not technically counter service, but I still think of it that way!). When am I going to fit all of this in???
FastPass +
Ugh. I'm dreading this. Seriously. This is why it's been SO hard for me to plan my days, because I know once I make these FP+ reservations, it will be hard to move things around. And I know, you can change them right up to the day of your FP reservations, but it's not that easy, it's not like you will be able to get the times you want! And what's the better strategy, make FP+ reservations for later in the day, so you have them when everyone else is waiting in line, and do rope drop for what you want in the morning? Or make morning FP reservations and then make new ones for later in the day, one by one? I don't know. I really don't.
I do know that my priority FP is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
I'll probably make one for our first day there, because even though we usually go to Epcot on our first day, it will be a Saturday during Food and Wine and I'd rather avoid that, and I can't wait one second longer to ride this Mine Train!
I feel like everyone but me has ridden it and I'm just over here like "yep, 2 and a half more months"!
My other priorites...well, Tower of Terror I guess
Is ToT even necessary in September? Or should I go with RnRC instead?
I definitely also have to get one for Toy Story Mania. And Soarin'.
Other than that, I have no clue what to go for! Anna and Elsa are not a priority for me, because I don't meet princesses, so that's not a problem. Maybe I might want one for Festival of Fantasy, since again, I'll be one of the last to see this parade and I can't wait another second to see it, and I've love a good spot to watch it from!
Do you need them FP's for Splash, or Space? I'm not even sure I'll bother with Test Track, Soarin' is my obsession in Epcot, so I can skip TT if I have to. Oh, what about Animal Kingdom? Is Everest going to be crazy, or can I just do standby all morning in AK and use my FP's for when I park hop later that night?
See why I hate FP+ and I'm dreading making these reservations? It take all the fun out of planning a Disney trip!
Well, that's it for the plans I have so far! There's no way I could have stretched this into a 2 month long PTR! Hope you enjoyed reading about my upcoming trip, and I will probably do a TR for it, so hopefully you will all be back to read it! And I still have one more update to do here, a trip wrap up and then I will be finished!
Stay tuned!
Oh, and if anyone has any opinions about Jiko or Yachtsman, I'd love to hear them! Or any advice about FP+ would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much in advance!
That's my vote. I'm sticking to it. I'm also looking forward to your recap. 
I just like what I like. I really don't care about everyone else. 
I was off the DIS for a while because things were crazy at work and that's were I do the majority of my DISing.
I am trying so hard to get caught up, it's just, when I have free time, I end up doing other things. And I'm so behind that I'm overwhelmed! My goal is to get caught up before my trip! 
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