Completed Trip Report! ****What? Am I crazy? Disney during Thanksgiving week?!?! ****

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Completed Trip Report! ****What? Am I crazy? Disney during Thanksgiving week?!?! ****

Well, here it is, another day, another Pre-Trip Report. I have officially been reigned in on Disney planning until after the Star Wars Cruise. There is NO WAY I am missing the BIG Meet Up so Joe will have to put up with just a little more.

So as most of you know, we have booked a few days during Thanksgiving week. WHAT?!?!? You say? Yea, I know. It's crazy and probably a death sentence but I am looking forward to it. I have always worked Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, only taking the days off that we all have. I decided this year with the "extra" points that were existing with out DVC resale we purchased we might as well use them before they are gone. We are not doing much in the parks so I think we will be ok.

I got Blondie's AP Monday and made our FP selections at 57 days out. I was sweating it a bit thinking I wasn't going to get what I wanted... WRONG! I have also just completed on-line check-in for Kidani (same as last time, Upper Floor with a Sunset Savannah View.

So here is a quick rundown of plans thus far. I'm trying not to overload us and I want to relax a little this trip laugh laugh laugh honestly, I don't think I can!

This trip will be just the 3 of us. Joe and I of course and Blondie who is 8. She is really excited about the trip, she was getting a little jealous the last couple weeks with us both going and then me again. But the Elsa Mickey Ears, Mickey Gummies, Shirt and other gifts are keeping her quiet!

TUESDAY We are leaving super early to avoid the HORRIBLE Charleston traffic. I was thinking of swinging by the Character Outlet but I bought enough pins there last time to have plenty for her to trade with. We will check into AKL, show her all around then head out for our first adventure. We are going to hit Winter Summerland for a round of putt-putt before heading to dinner at Raglan Road. This will be a first for us and I am really looking forward to the food. Blondie is excited about the dancers. I showed her a video and she thinks it is super cool!!

WEDNESDAY AKL has EMH starting at 8 so we will head over early and hit the Safari and Everest. Blondie loves the coasters so I am sure there will be several rides. I want her to see FotLK so we will hit a showing. Since there isn't much more there that we really want to hit that day, we will grab lunch at Flame Tree then head back to AKL until it's time to head to HS for FPs around 3. ToT and RnRC are a must for Blondie. We have and ADR for Mama Melrose then it is off to see the Osborne Lights for the last time. It will be a first for Blondie. I wanted to take her last year and we couldn't manage to get back down even for a short weekend so I am really thankful she gets to see them before they are gone.

THURSDAY Happy Thanksgiving! Since we will be doing something new and exciting for Thanksgiving, I figured why be traditional? We are going to lounge around the resort all morning until our lunch ADR at Beaches & Cream. I have promised Blondie ice cream for lunch if that is what she wants! They both want to try the Kitchen Sink. I don't eat much ice cream so I think they are out on that one! We will head back to the resort after lunch to rest up for the evening. We are planning on grabbing dinner at the food trucks before going to La Nouba. I think it sounds like a perfect holiday! (I just booked FP for Soarin this morning... we need to do it at least once!)

FRIDAY will find us heading to Epcot for a little bit to check out Holidays around the World until early afternoon. Another break may be in order before heading to the MK for the Mine Train FP. The only time I could get was 8-9 pm but hey, I got us one. Fireworks after and heading back to rest up for the drive home

SATURDAY I want to order room service breakfast and eat on the balcony before we head home. Hopefully it won't be too cool for this while we are there.

WOW, typing this out made me realize there isn't a lot of relaxing. I knew I couldn't do it. I even added FP reservations while typing it up...

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RobynPrincess's picture
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Wait, there's no drinks round the pool with Mrs and mr princess in that plan?! eek

The plans sound awesome, la nouba is awesome and I'm sure blondie will love it muchlove

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Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

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RobynPrincess wrote:
Wait, there's no drinks round the pool with Mrs and mr princess in that plan?! eek

The plans sound awesome, la nouba is awesome and I'm sure blondie will love it muchlove

Well of course there will be! LOL We just gotta figure it out!

Mr Princess!!! rolling rolling rolling

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"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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This will be our 4th Thanksgiving in a row we've spent in WDW. We love being there over Thanksgiving week. We've found that if we avoid MK on Thanskgiving day and go to Osborne Lights right before it closes, we can avoid a lot of the holiday crowds.

lolastardust's picture
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Sounds great JMed. I'm gutted that we're just gonna miss each other but I don't know if I could withstand the Thanksgiving crowds. Have an amazing time!

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AnnielovesDisney wrote:
This will be our 4th Thanksgiving in a row we've spent in WDW. We love being there over Thanksgiving week. We've found that if we avoid MK on Thanskgiving day and go to Osborne Lights right before it closes, we can avoid a lot of the holiday crowds.

I am hopping for the little bit that we are doing in parks we are going to be ok! I knew parks on T'giving was going to be a big NO!! wink So in other words take our time at Mama Melrose for dinner before hitting the lights that evening??

lolastardust wrote:
Sounds great JMed. I'm gutted that we're just gonna miss each other but I don't know if I could withstand the Thanksgiving crowds. Have an amazing time!

Thanks! There is always next time!!! muchlove

__________________

"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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JMed wrote:
RobynPrincess wrote:
Wait, there's no drinks round the pool with Mrs and mr princess in that plan?! eek

The plans sound awesome, la nouba is awesome and I'm sure blondie will love it muchlove

Well of course there will be! LOL We just gotta figure it out!

Mr Princess!!! rolling rolling rolling

He would totally love that nickname laugh

Can't wait for the trip to get here already! 49 days today for us muchlove yay

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

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JMed wrote:
AnnielovesDisney wrote:
This will be our 4th Thanksgiving in a row we've spent in WDW. We love being there over Thanksgiving week. We've found that if we avoid MK on Thanskgiving day and go to Osborne Lights right before it closes, we can avoid a lot of the holiday crowds.

I am hopping for the little bit that we are doing in parks we are going to be ok! I knew parks on T'giving was going to be a big NO!! wink So in other words take our time at Mama Melrose for dinner before hitting the lights that evening??

If you can, wait at least an hour to an hour and a half after they've been lit. They light them between 6-6:30, you have to check the day of for exact time. It's shoulder to shoulder the first hour. We go about 30 minutes before the park closes and stay 30-60 minutes after the park closes.

Since you have a little one, if the park closes at 10, this may not work for you. But if closing time isn't too late that night, go as late as possible to have a more enjoyable, less crowded experience. Your little Blondie is going to love it muchlove

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AnnielovesDisney wrote:
JMed wrote:
AnnielovesDisney wrote:
This will be our 4th Thanksgiving in a row we've spent in WDW. We love being there over Thanksgiving week. We've found that if we avoid MK on Thanskgiving day and go to Osborne Lights right before it closes, we can avoid a lot of the holiday crowds.

I am hopping for the little bit that we are doing in parks we are going to be ok! I knew parks on T'giving was going to be a big NO!! wink So in other words take our time at Mama Melrose for dinner before hitting the lights that evening??

If you can, wait at least an hour to an hour and a half after they've been lit. They light them between 6-6:30, you have to check the day of for exact time. It's shoulder to shoulder the first hour. We go about 30 minutes before the park closes and stay 30-60 minutes after the park closes.

Since you have a little one, if the park closes at 10, this may not work for you. But if closing time isn't too late that night, go as late as possible to have a more enjoyable, less crowded experience. Your little Blondie is going to love it muchlove

Thanks so much for the tip! I will keep it in mind for sure. She usually hold up pretty well! But you never know.

__________________

"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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Hey, it sounds more relaxing then your girls' weekend! laugh What a great place to spend the holiday, busy or not!

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Magic bands arrived yesterday!!!! And I have been tweaking plans. It was supposed to be a relaxing trip and the more I look at it, there isn't a lot of down time. Anywho.... I refuse to change anything else!

Arrival Day Tues - Leaving early early so that we can meet up with Robyn and Sy and be able to chill a little before putt putt at Winter Summerland and dinner at Raglan Road at 7:15.

Wed - 8am Animal Kingdom for a couple spins on Everest, FotLK, Dinosaur and maybe a couple others, lunch at Flame Tree then back to AKL to rest before heading to HS around 3:30. I have ToT and RRC fastpasses. Mama Melrose at 5:40 the stroll the Osbourne Lights until we are ready to head out.

Thurs - Thanksgiving day - Ride over and check out Wilderness Lodge. I want Joe to see it since I fell in love with it last time I was down. Then on to Epcot for a final ride on the soon to be old Soarin! Lunch will be at Beaches and Cream. Then back to AKL for down time before heading to Disney Springs for Thanksgiving dinner from the Food Trucks and La Nouba! If we are not totally wiped out, we will go for gelato after.

Fri - Try to sleep in a little and lounge around before heading to Epcot for a little Holidays around the world until about 2. We will head back to the room for a bit before we face the MK... I kinda dread this but we have a couple must dos for Blondie so we have FP for Ariel, Pirates and Mine Train. The first one is for 6-7 pm so we will have plenty of time to rest. We are going to try to fit in a couple other meet and greets in the times between FP.

Sat - I planned on sleeping in late until I saw that HS opens at 7am. So I added FP for TSM, Star Tours and ToT... Then the long sad drive home.

I can't wait, I have started packing lists and getting things together. Blondie and I have matching Stitch shirts and we all have our Mickey shirts that we will wear! Star Wars Shirts one day are a must also! I am so so so excited about a trip with Blondie on our own! All the others were with my parents... Oh I broke down and I'm getting Memory Maker, gotta have all the ride pics with Blondie!

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"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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Awesome, enjoy the season! mickey

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Sounds fun. La Nouba's on my wish list, I' ve heard it's fantastic.

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Emilio wrote:
Awesome, enjoy the season! mickey

Thanks! We caught the very beginning of Christmas stuff last year so I am hoping for lots more this time! crossfingers awesome

jtownpluto wrote:
Sounds fun. La Nouba's on my wish list, I' ve heard it's fantastic.

It's wonderful! Joe and I went a couple years ago. I heard they change it up a bit so hopefully we get a little something new. Blondie loved the Cirque show we went to here last year.

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"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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Have a fantastic time! clapping

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Amazing plans. I can't wait to see the pictures and read the trip report. yay

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Have a great time. clapping

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Thanks everyone! My guess is it is going to be a **live** report. awesome biggrin You know, typing up a TR overlooking the AKL Savannah while everyone else is still sleeping!

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"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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Enjoy!

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So our trip of relaxation just got a little more added to it LOL!!!

We worked in time with Robyn and Sy on arrival day yay

A little extra time for Holidays Around the World (I mean they have a passport to stamp, I just HAVE to...) biggrin

Joe and Blondie will be playing 9 holes of golf at Oak Trail Friday morning. It's the Sunrise 9 package. I may go along just to report on it for you all or make them take notes and pics! wink

And a little side trip to Wilderness Lodge so that I can convince Joe we need to stay there at least once! awesome

I am so glad it's only 13 days away, the last couple days at work have been gaah to the point I want to just walk out...

I just keep taking breaths and humming Disney tunes... I can do this..... I can do this..... I can do this.....

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"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

Jennifer Huotari | Create Your Badge

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Your trip sounds awesome! We're having Thanksgiving dinner at Beaches & Cream too. We always have the most "UN-thanksgivingy" meal we can when we are at WDW on Thanksgiving day laugh

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AnnielovesDisney wrote:
Your trip sounds awesome! We're having Thanksgiving dinner at Beaches & Cream too. We always have the most "UN-thanksgivingy" meal we can when we are at WDW on Thanksgiving day laugh

AWESOME!!! awesome I think lunch may end up just being the kitchen sink laugh

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"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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Ice cream for dinner sounds perfectly reasonable to me laugh I think I need to start with the No Way Jose sundae and see if I have any room left for real food after that. awesome

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Well, here we are, just 4 days until we head to Orlando for our not so relaxing trip!

We've worked in time with Robyn and Sy, added golf (I am going to go with them), visiting the gingerbread houses and Blondie has made a couple of requests that I have to work in.

We are leaving tonight when I get home from work to go to Atlanta for the weekend. Shopping, a hockey game and Thanksgiving lunch on Sunday with the family is on the agenda. I will have to repack on Sunday night since I work Monday out of town (another 4 hour round trip for me) and we are leaving before the sky is awake Tuesday!

I already have a majority of our stuff together so I will just have to switch stuff out of my bag and finish all the odds and ends.

I got Blondie the first book of Kingdom Keepers for the ride down (I want to read it too) a Disney Card game and her very own gift card to buy what she wants. I think I want to find a couple other things and give them to her every hour of the trip for a little extra fun!

I will catch up and start the live trip report in just a few days!!!!

__________________

"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

Jennifer Huotari | Create Your Badge

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Have a super trip Jenn!!! Give Robyn a hello from me!Smile

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Have a great time! mickey

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Woohoo have a great time! Can't wait to see you xxx

__________________

Our Very Merry 24 nighter Nov/Dec 15
Watson's go West May 15
The one with all the birthdays Oct 14 4 Big Birthdays and a Vow Renewal thrown in
The OMG trip June 14 30th Birthday present from the hubs
Girly trip March 14 A last min cheapy week
September 13 our first all DVC stay
TR May 2013 the last min bargain trip offsite
Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!big family trip featuring the beach club, AKL, the dream and a villa offsite
TR on a budget May - June 2011offsite condo
TR Sept - Oct 2010 big family trip in an offsite villa

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You are totally crazy. And yet I would love to spend a big holiday at WDW. So you and Robyn fill us all in on what it's like, okay?

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We made it home from Atlanta around 7 (I think) and I have unpacked, freaked out, and repacked. Everything is piled in the hall ready to go in the truck tomorrow night after I get home from work. I have a bag of snacks for the truck and to have in the room. Joe is picking up drinks tomorrow. I have 6 small gifts for Blondie and she will get one each hour of the trip!

I.

Am.

SO.

Ready!

CCP, I will keep you posted! Robyn, see you soon! Spook and Boomer, I am on it!!!!!

__________________

"I do not like the cone of shame."

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."

"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."

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Have fun!

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Have a great time. clapping

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