Planned Another Trip - February 2013

We are officially booked at Bay Lake Tower in a 2 bedroom villa for Thursday, February 14 - Monday, February 18, 2013! This is a 'quick' trip because I want to take my grandma to Disney "one more time" (she will be 90 this July!) and it is not possible to get her on our upcoming October trip.

I booked Bay Lake Tower because it's our home resort and I wanted to make sure I could get a place since that is President's Day weekend but I really want to waitlist for the Beach Club Villas!!! CJ and I absolutely LOVED staying at the Beach Club this past March and I think grandma will love it too!

Since this is going to be a short trip and one planned specifically for grandma, we want to do what she loves; the Biergarten in Germany at Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. What better place to stay than the Beach Club - walk or take a boat to Epcot and enter via World Showcase and take a boat to Hollywood Studios! We will be right in the middle of her two favorite places!

My mom is going to be with u as well and really wants to see Harry Potter so we will be planning a day trip to Universal Studios as well.

Our October 2012 Itinerary

I am SO excited! Only 4 months and 27 days until we are HOME again! There are now 9 of us going - 5 adults and 4 kids. Here is the unofficial 'official' itinerary:

Sat. 10/ 6 - check in at Bay Lake Tower - Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner - 6:35pm
Wishes Fireworks Cruise 8:30pm

Sun. 10/7 - Disney's Hollywood Studios - stay until Pixar Parade is over then head by boat to Beach Club for ice cream at Beaches 'n Cream then walk to Epcot - Beirgarten for dinner - 7pm
Illuminations Fireworks 9pm

Mon. 10/8 -sleep in then hit the pool. In the afternoon head to Downtown Disney - Paradiso37 for early dinner - 4pm. Kids getting their faces painted after dinner then head to the Magic Kingdom for MNSSHP!

Tues. 10/9 - Magic Kingdom Day! Ohana's for dinner - 6:40pm then heading to the Top of the World Lounge to watch Wishes Fireworks Show!

Wed. 10/10 - Resort hop to Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village. We will likely just get up and go to Animal Kingdom Park and then around 5 pm or so head the AKL to check in. Boma for dinner - 7pm then maybe check out the pool?

Thurs. 10/11 - pool in the morning. Back to Disney's Hollywood Studios to check out anything we may have missed. Sci-Fi restaurant for dinner - 4:05pm then Fantasmic - 7:30pm

Fri. 10/12 - Magic Kingdom - Crystal Palace for breakfast - 8:35am. SPemd most of the day at the MK then head to Epcot - Marrakesh for dinner - 5:05pm.

MNSSHP is on Friday which is why we will spend the evening at Epcot. Usually the very last park we visit is the Magic Kingdom.

Sat. 10/13 - Leave :(


5YF7THWEPR86

MNSSHP 2012 Dates

The dates for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party are out! I first learned of this via the Disney Parks Blog. If you're anything like me, you plan way in advance. I, of course, started planning for this party last month - simply by looking at the Magic Kingdom's October calendar, basing party nights on nights the Magic Kingdom closes at 7pm. Makes sense, right?

I picked Monday, October 8th. I look at the announcement on the Disney Parks Blog and notice parties October 4, 5 and then not again until the 11th. That's a huge gap. (click to enlarge)

So I leave a comment asking about this. Comment goes from being in moderation to *POOF* gone. So, I ask what happened to my comment regarding my question about the MNSSHP dates. Again, comment goes from being in moderation to *POOF* gone. Hmmmmm....

I decide to go to the order tickets section of the Disney website to see if I can purchase tickets for 10/8 and sure enough it IS a party night!!!! (click to enlarge)

I am soooooo relieved there is a party on October 8th. Our dates are October 6-13 and we are at Bay Lake Tower from the 6th - 10th, then we go to Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, from the 10th - 13th. I really wanted to be close to the Magic Kingdom for the party and I prefer going during the beginning of the trip, before burn out sets in, LOL.

So, here are the official dates, thanks to AllEars.net:

-- September 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 & 30
-- October 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30 and 31
-- November 2

Who knew I would have to rely on an UNofficial Disney site! I hope Jennifer Fickley-Baker updates her blog post - I am a bit bummed my question not only went unanswered but was also dismissed.

Epcot's Red Phone Booths

If you have ever been to World Showcase in Epcot, then you may recall the red phone booths located in the UK. Many people love to pose for photos inside or next to these red phone booths.

Did you know they are working phone booths? They are! You can certainly make outbound calls. Guess what else? You can call them too! So, say you're missing Disney and need a little magic - call a phone booth, chances are someone will pick up! Here are the Epcot red phone booth numbers:

U.K. Phone Booths

• Right Booth: 407 827-9861
• Left Booth: 407 827-9862
• Center Booth: 407 827-9863

Canada Phone Booth

• 407-827-9884

On a side note - People don't always answer and once in a while callers may hear a busy signal (guests posing for a photo, receiver in hand) or hear fax-machine tones after several rings. 

If you call or answer a call, I want to hear all about it, so please leave me a comment! 

Paradiso 37 in Downtown Disney

When CJ and I were in WDW this past March for our DisneyMoon, we ate for the first time at  Paradiso 37 - in Downtown Disney's West Side. I hadn't been to the West Side since 1997 and CJ was never there. It was neat to see the Characters In Flight Balloon up close as we arrived at Paradiso 37.

Photo Credit

I wish I would have taken photos of the food items but I was too wrapped up in the scenery! I honestly cannot remember what we ordered but I do remember that we really liked the food and were extremely happy with the prices.

We requested a table outside, the view was amazing! It was a beautiful day out, although a little windy.

We are going to eat here again this October. Check out the video below - I found it online - shows the layout of the inside of the restaurant.

Never Been to Disney World? You'll FILP!

I LOVE taking people to Disney who have never been there. In October we're taking my nephew, Cody. He is 11 years old and has never been to WDW. Actually, he has never been to any sort of amusement park! Can you imagine, as a child, you're first experience at a park is DISNEY WORLD?!

Recently I posted this image on Facebook - read Cody's comments 

(click to enlarge)

He just has NO IDEA! AND...not only is he going to the Magic Kingdom, he's going to ALL 4 parks, on a Wishes fireworks cruise, MNSSHP, and to see Fantasmic! All DVC style! 4 nights at Bay Lake Tower and 3 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village!

5 months and 16 days, but who's counting?! ME!

Disney Planning for Eight in October!

YES! We are going back to Disney in October and this is going to be a very unique trip! There will be 8 adults and 3 kids! The last time we had a group this size was during our June 2011 trip - but there were only 8 people for half the trip.

The people going this coming October are: me, CJ, our 3 kids (ages 5, 7, and 9), CJ's mom, Fawn, and 2 of my best friends, Cherie and Stacey. We are staying in a 2 bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower from October 6-10 and then moving to a 2 bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village from October 10-13.

When things are organized (or as organized as they can be, LOL) even larger groups can enjoy WDW without hassle. I LOVE planning trips - for me and for others!  If you need help planning or want to book a trip - I can do that too!!!  Please contact me and we'll plan!