WDW Tips

Well, what can I say other than “this sucks!” I know that there had been rumors of this happening, but I honestly thought they would leave Adventurer’s Club alone. Unfortunately that is not the case as it was confirmed today that it too would close on September 27th. Distant Creations has some concept art while The Disney Blog has the press release.

I am just sick over this. We loved going to the Adventurer’s Club on each trip. We would spend most of the night there taking in as many shows in the Library, Mask Room, or Trophy room as we could. We loved the personal interaction with the Pamela, Hathaway, and Emil to just name a few. I am so sad that I will not be there before it closes to have one more Kungaloosh. This was truly an unique experience for Disney and one that will be missed by many, many guests.

Our next upcoming trip is what I lovingly refer to as the “Grizwald” Family Vacation. This is the 1st family vacation my family and I have taken as adults. The attendees are as follows:

Me(33)- Disney Veteran of 30+ trips. I am the master planner for this vacation

Jim (35) (DH)- Disney Veteran of 20+ trips.

Dad(54)-15+ trips to world but last was in 2002; Sometimes referred to as Jed Clampitt

Mom(54)-same as dad; we will be celebrating her 55th birthday while there

Chris(Brother)(27)-10+trips to WDW, Only one of us who has been to any overseas parks (Tokoyo Disneyland) Currently stationed in Hawaii; will be deployed to Iraq again this fall for the 4th time

Crystal (Sister in Law)(28)-2nd trip ever to the world

Patsy(Grandma)(75)-3rd trip

Possible Attendee: Cousin Melissa(26)-never been to Disney;currently live in NC. Undecided if she will be joining us

Background:
My immediate family has not all been together since 2004. My brother is currently in the Marine Corps and has been stationed in NC and HI. In 2005, both my parents and my husband and I lost our homes in Katrina, 3 days after my brother was deployed to Iraq. While both me and my brother have been home since then, neither of us have been back to MS at the same time. Late last year my parents sold their property to a casino developer and were able to purchase a new home and basically be financially secure into their retirement years. My parents are taking both their kids and spouses as well as my dad’s mom on an all expense paid trip. We will be celebrating my mother’s 55th birthday while at Disney and well as enjoying being together before my brother is once again deployed. Also last August we lost my grandfather while my brother was in Iraq and was unable to come home for the funeral. This is the first time he will be seeing my grandmother since then. This is also my grandmother’s 1st trip without my grandpa.

Accommodations:
We are currently booked at Old Key West in a 2-bedroom villa. This is the same place we stayed in 2002 when we took my grandparents on their first Disney vacation. I would have liked to be at a different DVC resort but this was the only thing available when we made the reservation and also when AP rates were released. We will be there for 7 nights. I also tried to get a bounce back rate while at the Poly in Feb, but again nothing else was available. I have also inquired into a Grand Villa but have had any success with price and/or availability

Travel:
Obviously since my Brother and SIL live in Hawaii they will be flying. They are actually flying in 2 days before everyone else and will be staying at All Star Sports for their first night on property.
My husband and I will be flying in but not arriving until 11:30pm the first night
My mom, dad, and grandmother will be driving from MS and arriving approx 3:30pm the first day

All flying travelers will be using Magical Express.

Advanced Dining Reservations:
April 4th
Whispering Canyon-Lunch
Chef Mickeys-Dinner

April 5th
Yak and Yeti-lunch

April 6th (Mom’s Birthday)
Hoop Dee Doo 9pm Show

Apirl 7th
LeCellier Dinner

April 8th
No ADR’s

April 9th
Ohauna Dinner

April 10th
check out day No ADRs

Other info
Our park plans will basically follow the ADR’s. We are not planning any water parks. There will probably be a few night for us to go to Pleasure Island and the marketplace. I have an EPCOT fireworks cruise booked on the Breathless on the 5th. At the time it was booked we did not think that my grandma was going to want to go to the parks with us so the 6 person limit on the Breathless was not an issue. We are still not sure how we are going to handle this but I am not wanting to cancel it. Maybe we will draw straws..who knows. I am hoping maybe there will be a cancellation with a pontoon boat and then the problem will be solved. We are also wanting to have a photo session at the Grand Floridian seeing as all of us have not been together in such a long time. I will book that over the next 2 days.

Well that’s the plan so far. I’ll keep you updated on any changes.

Here is what I have come up with for my upcoming trip

Wednesday September 26
My friends fly into Sanford Airport and arrive in Orlando at approx 8pm.
Staying offsite with a friend for the night

Thursday Sept 27
I fly into MCO and arrive approx 11am
Meet at All Star Sports around 1pm
Tour Boardwalk, Contemepary, Poly, and Grand Floridian
Dinner at Downtown Disney
Pleasure Island after dinner

Friday September 28
Start at Animal Kingdom
Early Evening Magic Kingdom-Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Saturday September 29
Epcot morning
Dinner LeCellier 7pm

Sunday September 30
Morning Magic Kingdom
Evening Disney Studios-Extra Magic Hours

Monday October 1
Check out of hotel
Me-head to Epcot for Rededication Ceremony
Everyone else-sleep in check out of hotel
Meet at Beaches and Cream for lunch
Everyone else-shuttle/taxi to airport
Me leave at 5pm for airport

Trip over! BOO!

So that’s the plan. Pretty quick trip just to get my “fix” Hopefully next year there will be several trips now that we are living close to a major airport.

I found this web site via The Disney Blog Its pretty neat…I knew there were corporate rooms at the Land Pavilion but had no idea of the options for different locations. I seriously doubt I will ever need use of one of this for a party, but it’s nice to know they are there. Link

Jim and I ate here one night this past trip. I know that I commented on it in the dining post, but I wanted to expand on it a little more.

We did not have plans to eat here. We were shopping at DTD (Downtown Disney) and called WDW DINE that same day to get at reservation. We knew we were going to be going to the Adventure’s Club that evening so eating Downtown seemed like a good choice. We had a 7:30pm reservation and was seated immediatly. We had a good table near the stage. Our waitress was very attentive as was the manager. He came over to our table 2 or 3 times during our meal to make sure everything as ok.

Jim had a Boddinger’s draft and I had a very berry cosmo. If you have ever had a Sydney’s cosmo at Outback Steakhouse that is exactly what this drink tastes like. As far as starters I had the “Drunk Chicken” and we can’t remember what Jim had. For dinner Jim had the “It’s not bleeding chowder”which he enjoyed. It wasn’t quite what he expected and next time he said he is going to try the salmon. I was going to have the sirloin, but our waitress said that I could have steak anywhere and I should branch out. She brought me out a taste of the “Keen Eye for Shepard’s pie” for me to try and I ended up ordering it. Dessert consisted of the bread pudding and Bates Banger Badnoffi Beauty. The bread pudding was the better of the two but both were very good.

About half way through our dinner they had an Irish band which played. The music ranged from traditional Irish music to U2. They were quite entertaining.

Throughout the entire resturant there are signed pictures of famous Irish people. There are several signed pictures of the members of U2 and even an large oil painting of Bono. After dinner we were shopping in the gift shop and the associate told us the one of the owners is a cousin of Bono and the other owner invented Lazer Tag.

We really enjoyed our meal and will return