Post by sydney on Jul 29, 2014 15:30:56 GMT -5
Ok, I know I probably shouldn't have, since our plans are so up in the air between DS going in the AF and DH in the process of getting a new job after retiring and just working a temp. job now, but the military discounts came out and I couldn't resist! I've been imaginary planning days, resorts, and dining for months, so I called to get rates and then just shared them with DH last week. After commenting on some of the resorts and dates while I was going on and on, he asked "so what did you book?" when I was done! I said "nothing yet." Then I casually asked him this weekend if I could book a trip when he gets a new job and has some more certainty of time off and he said "sure." But I was afraid things wouldn't be available, and I figured I could change if neccessary. So I booked a room and was able to book dining at 180 days today!
We both previously decided we want to try new resorts to make trips fun and different, wanting to do the park hoppers with "more" so we can do Disney Quest again, so I thought Port Orleans would be great since they have the boats to DTD. I was able to get POFQ garden view from Jan. 25- Feb. 1 at 30% off! Plus it's a very low crowd time.
My other goal is to try almost all new places to eat for this trip! For the first time in a long time, we're not doing the dining plan. The kids really said next time they want to be able to order more or less and not be limited by the plan, but DH was worried that we'd either "be cheap" and not order as much trying to save money, or go way over budget. Well for a Scout badge, Jared researched the cost differences between common places we eat, what we may order, and figured that we would really be at or under budget even with eating the same way. His work is actually what I'm basing how much to save up on!Here's the rundown so far (I'm not sharing with the family, so thanks for listening:):
Sat. Jan. 24: We'll drop the pets off at the boarders, do last minute packing (or for the guys, just packing), go to church, and get a good night's sleep.
Sun. Jan. 25: Get up, eat, and on the road by 9am, 6 hour drive with a lunch stop, and arrive at POFQ by 4pm. Check in, unpack in the room, and hop a boat to DTD.
Dinner at 5:30 at Paradiso 37, then Disney Quest.
Mon. Jan. 26: Breakfast at Sassagoula food court (only place on the list weve eaten, but only for lunch) then bus to DHS (9-6).
Hope we can get fp for TSMM, RnR, and ToT.
Lunch at Brown Derby (ok technically I went here as a kid- I hope their Cobb salad is as good as I remember!) at 12:15.
If we're hungry for dinner before they close at 6:00 we'll try Studio Catering Co., or maybe just a snack from Starring Rolls.
Hop on boat to Epcot till 9:00. If we eat dinner here maybe France or Germany cs.
Tues. Jan. 27: Breakfast at Trail's End at 8:30.
Mini golf probably at Winter Summerland.
Lunch at Beaches and Cream at 12:30- hopefully I can get everyone to agree to the kitchen sink!
Disney Quest for the afternoon.
Dinner at House of Blues. I was not able to book yet, but the CM said to call back becuase it is not avaiable yet.
Shopping or DQ then back to POFQ to hang out.
Wed. Jan. 28: Breakfast at Contempo Cafe, then on to the monorail and MK for the whole day (9-8).
Hope to get a fp for SM, BTMRR, and Peter Pan.
Lunch at Sleepy Hollow ( I want to try the waffle sandwiches), snacks at Gaston's Tavern (LeFou's brew:)
Dinner at the Lunching Pad. I figure this will give us a relaxed do what we want and eat when we want day.
Thur. Jan. 29: Breakfast at Grand Floridian Cafe at 8:30. (may push this back)
DTD for shopping.
Lunch at Cookes of Dublin.
DQ for the afternoon.
Dinner at Maya Grill. This one also wasn't available to book yet, but I'm hoping for around 7:00.
Then back to POFQ to hang out.
Fri. Jan. 30: Breakfast at Sassagoula or if we get up early enough, at Pizzafari at AK (9-5).
Hope to get fp for EE, Safari, and Dinosaur.
Lunch at Flame Tree.
Hop on a bus to Epcot for emh till 11:00.
Dinner at Lotus Blossom Cafe, maybe dessert in Japan.
Sat. Jan. 31: Breakfast at Capt. Cook's, then monorail to Epcot (9- whenever we've done everything we want).
Hope to get fp for Soarin' and TT and whatever else we haven't done, or Maelstrom.
Lunch at Electric Umbrella, maybe a snack in Norway.
Hop on the monorail to MK emh till 11:00.
Dinner at Pinocchio's.
Do everything we want to again at MK to finish the last park day!
Sun. Feb. 1: Breakfast at Sassagoula.
Pack up and check out by 11:00.
Head to Boardwalk area and check it out.
Lunch when we get hungry at ESPN Club (no adr needed).
Head back home by 3:00 with dinner on the road.
Any thoughts or opinions on any of my park plans or dining plans? I did look over menus to make sure there was something everyone would like at each place and considered variety. I also tried to maximize park time with the hoppers but not wear us out.
We both previously decided we want to try new resorts to make trips fun and different, wanting to do the park hoppers with "more" so we can do Disney Quest again, so I thought Port Orleans would be great since they have the boats to DTD. I was able to get POFQ garden view from Jan. 25- Feb. 1 at 30% off! Plus it's a very low crowd time.
My other goal is to try almost all new places to eat for this trip! For the first time in a long time, we're not doing the dining plan. The kids really said next time they want to be able to order more or less and not be limited by the plan, but DH was worried that we'd either "be cheap" and not order as much trying to save money, or go way over budget. Well for a Scout badge, Jared researched the cost differences between common places we eat, what we may order, and figured that we would really be at or under budget even with eating the same way. His work is actually what I'm basing how much to save up on!Here's the rundown so far (I'm not sharing with the family, so thanks for listening:):
Sat. Jan. 24: We'll drop the pets off at the boarders, do last minute packing (or for the guys, just packing), go to church, and get a good night's sleep.
Sun. Jan. 25: Get up, eat, and on the road by 9am, 6 hour drive with a lunch stop, and arrive at POFQ by 4pm. Check in, unpack in the room, and hop a boat to DTD.
Dinner at 5:30 at Paradiso 37, then Disney Quest.
Mon. Jan. 26: Breakfast at Sassagoula food court (only place on the list weve eaten, but only for lunch) then bus to DHS (9-6).
Hope we can get fp for TSMM, RnR, and ToT.
Lunch at Brown Derby (ok technically I went here as a kid- I hope their Cobb salad is as good as I remember!) at 12:15.
If we're hungry for dinner before they close at 6:00 we'll try Studio Catering Co., or maybe just a snack from Starring Rolls.
Hop on boat to Epcot till 9:00. If we eat dinner here maybe France or Germany cs.
Tues. Jan. 27: Breakfast at Trail's End at 8:30.
Mini golf probably at Winter Summerland.
Lunch at Beaches and Cream at 12:30- hopefully I can get everyone to agree to the kitchen sink!
Disney Quest for the afternoon.
Dinner at House of Blues. I was not able to book yet, but the CM said to call back becuase it is not avaiable yet.
Shopping or DQ then back to POFQ to hang out.
Wed. Jan. 28: Breakfast at Contempo Cafe, then on to the monorail and MK for the whole day (9-8).
Hope to get a fp for SM, BTMRR, and Peter Pan.
Lunch at Sleepy Hollow ( I want to try the waffle sandwiches), snacks at Gaston's Tavern (LeFou's brew:)
Dinner at the Lunching Pad. I figure this will give us a relaxed do what we want and eat when we want day.
Thur. Jan. 29: Breakfast at Grand Floridian Cafe at 8:30. (may push this back)
DTD for shopping.
Lunch at Cookes of Dublin.
DQ for the afternoon.
Dinner at Maya Grill. This one also wasn't available to book yet, but I'm hoping for around 7:00.
Then back to POFQ to hang out.
Fri. Jan. 30: Breakfast at Sassagoula or if we get up early enough, at Pizzafari at AK (9-5).
Hope to get fp for EE, Safari, and Dinosaur.
Lunch at Flame Tree.
Hop on a bus to Epcot for emh till 11:00.
Dinner at Lotus Blossom Cafe, maybe dessert in Japan.
Sat. Jan. 31: Breakfast at Capt. Cook's, then monorail to Epcot (9- whenever we've done everything we want).
Hope to get fp for Soarin' and TT and whatever else we haven't done, or Maelstrom.
Lunch at Electric Umbrella, maybe a snack in Norway.
Hop on the monorail to MK emh till 11:00.
Dinner at Pinocchio's.
Do everything we want to again at MK to finish the last park day!
Sun. Feb. 1: Breakfast at Sassagoula.
Pack up and check out by 11:00.
Head to Boardwalk area and check it out.
Lunch when we get hungry at ESPN Club (no adr needed).
Head back home by 3:00 with dinner on the road.
Any thoughts or opinions on any of my park plans or dining plans? I did look over menus to make sure there was something everyone would like at each place and considered variety. I also tried to maximize park time with the hoppers but not wear us out.
.
