Kristen's 3 Night Hotel Hopper - Day One & Two!

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Kristen's 3 Night Hotel Hopper - Day One & Two!

I woke up a couple of days ago with no Disney trips planned for the rest of the year, I did have one complimentary night booked in October, but I wasn't counting on making it. However as I cleaned off my desk, I discovered an unused Park ticket. Wait... what? I had a complementary hotel night booked, and a free Park Ticket!?! I debated just booking a flight down and doing a crazy 48 trip. I really need an all work trip for the blog. My daughter and husband thought that was just plain crazy, so I checked my DVC points and what was available. I had a handful of points available to use but I couldn't find two room nights in a studio anywhere.

My daughter Tori said she was going to come along with me. We joke that she is my "service human" and needs to come along to keep an eye on me and make sure I don't over do it. She convinced me that we needed at least one more night anywhere. I took a leap and booked us into the Polynesian. Suddenly - I had another Disney trip on the books! Fast forward to this morning, I check in on my DVC points again and see if I could find us one more hotel night either before or after what we had booked. There was one night available that I could afford on points at Old Key West. Bam! I snagged that right up. That brings us to the point we're at!

Here's what I have so far! Kristen's 3 Night Hotel Hopper awesome

  • Travelers: Kristen & Tori
  • Transportation: Air & Magical Express
  • Purpose: This is a work trip so I will be trying as many new to me things as possible on this trip. Tons of pictures to write from is the plan of attack.

October 19th @ Disney's Grand Floridian, Theme Park View Hotel hopping around the Magic Kingdom Resorts

  • Arrival about 11am
  • Point Bar & Grill Lunch (First for me)
  • Garden View Tea Room (First for me)
  • Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar (First for me)

October 20th @ Polynesian Resort, Lake View (First DVC stay) Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • Tusker House Donald's Safari Breakfast Rivers of Light Package (Both firsts for me)
  • Pandora - Flights of Passage, N'avi River, Pango Pongo Bar (First for me)
  • Mr. Kamal's, Eight Spoon Cafe, Thirsty River Bar (First for me)
  • Up Avian Adventure
  • Safari
  • Yak & Yeti Local

October 21st @ Old Key West, Near Hospitality House (First stay)

  • Kona Cafe
  • I have no idea what we are doing this day!

October 22nd Disney Springs

  • Breakfast at Good's To Go (Firsts for me)
  • Boat to Disney Springs
  • Probably be picked up for DME about 3PM

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Yay!!! No one likes not having any trips planned - boy what a great turn of events!!!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on FoP and Na'vi. And if you are at all wondering, the Mini Mango Pie from the Yak & Yeti local is every bit as good as, if not better than, the restaurant version. I had to try it three times just to make sure. laugh

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Sounds like an amazing trip! And loads of firsts! I can't wait to read what you make of everything.

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JeffC wrote:
the Mini Mango Pie from the Yak & Yeti local is every bit as good as, if not better than, the restaurant version. I had to try it three times just to make sure. laugh

OK! laugh That's totally on my list to try!

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What an awesome trip!! I love split stays and you certainly found some great accommodations! You will absolutely love tea at the Grand Flordian. My granddaughter who was 15 at the time said it was the highlight of that particular stay. She will be joining us again a week from tomorrow. Like you, we will be dining at Yak & Yeti for the first time and since life is short I might have to have desert first and try that mango pie. wink Although we have managed to get fast passes for N'avi multiple times this will be the first time for Flight of Passage which Caroline specifically requested. I'm really looking forward to that one!

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You're taking a trip to Disney for work? Dining at new restaurants for work? Riding new rides for work? Staying at new resorts for work? Why can't I have a job like that gaah gaah gaah

Seriously though, this sounds like an awesome trip. Short and busy but I'm sure you'll have a great time! mickey

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Spook wrote:
You're taking a trip to Disney for work? Dining at new restaurants for work? Riding new rides for work? Staying at new resorts for work? Why can't I have a job like that

It's not as cool as one would think. It completely changes your perception of the whole Disney experience. Not that I am complaining, because I'm NOT. It's just a different state of mind.

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Kristen K. wrote:
Spook wrote:
You're taking a trip to Disney for work? Dining at new restaurants for work? Riding new rides for work? Staying at new resorts for work? Why can't I have a job like that

It's not as cool as one would think. It completely changes your perception of the whole Disney experience. Not that I am complaining, because I'm NOT. It's just a different state of mind.

True. Turning it into work must take some of the magic away. Still, it would have perks laugh

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*squee* I booked our flights today, so this is really happening! yay

I don't know why airfare is so expensive for this weekend from Chicago to Orlando, but it was completely stressing me out. Finally I just bit the bullet and bought our plane tickets so I would stop having so much anxiety over it. While doing so, I discovered that I could book my return flight on points! I ended up saving $140, which brought our total ticket cost down to what I consider a "good" fare to Orlando. biggrin

This is a bit of a whim of a trip for me, and it wouldn't be happening if the stars weren't aligned so well. I had a free night at the Grand Floridian, the other two nights were booked on DVC points, I found one day unexpired ticket, and now half my flight was booked on points! All told I have saved about $900 on this trip. awesome

Next on my list is the rest of our Park Tickets, Food, and Ground Transportation on the Chicago side. mickey

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Yay!!!!!! It's always more real when you book the flight!!!

yay clapping yeah yeah clapping yay

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yay!!

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yay Sounds like a fun trip.

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Glad everything aligned for you to make this trip happen. Planning is always at least half the fun. wink

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October flights were crazy this year for some reason! I'm used to paying around $300 round trip and we paid close to $600 for our October trip! Ouch! yuck

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Soooooo - when I told Becks that I had booked my tickets, she told her husband Carlos, and now they will be there that weekend too! Whooo hoo! The magic of Disney. clapping

Tori and I will be headed down to Chicago a day early and spending the night with Carlos & Becks. We're all on the same flight down.

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clapping hope you have a magical time can't wait to hear all about it.

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Kristen K. wrote:

October 21st @ Old Key West, Near Hospitality House (First stay)

  • Kona Cafe

  • I have no idea what we are doing this day!


yay yay yay yay yay

I was sprinkled with pixie dust today and get to add in another Park day to our trip!

October 21st @ Old Key West, Near Hospitality House (First stay)

  • Chef Art Smith's Homcomin' Brunch
  • Disney Hollywood Studios - Hoorah for Toy Story Land!

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Hooray for Toy Story Land!!!!!

muchlove yeah yeah muchlove

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awesome

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Can't wait to hear how the Homecomin' brunch is! It looks awesome and I love me so Homecomin'!

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yay We're in double digits now! yay

This week has been all about getting these reservations together and refining our schedule for the trip. My purpose is to go down and squeeze in as much as possible new materials to be able to write better articles for the blog. We decided that we're going to do two days on the dining plan, so I was able to book a couple more table service meals. I also re-subscribed to touring plans and spent some time playing around with their scheduler to figure out what the best way to attack the park so that I can squeeze in the things that I want to do most. Turns out we had some time for me to add in other things.

Because of the way our ticket media is coming to us, we won't be able to make 60 day FastPass+. However, I'm hoping that between same day FastPass and my DAS Card that we will still be able to do the attractions that I want to cover. In theory it will work just fine.

I've got two meet-ups snugged in here. Drinks with Florida friends on Friday night, and Homecomin' Brunch is with Becks and Carlos. If anyone will be down there on these days and in the same Park/area I am, I would love to touch base for a quick meet. Just let me know!

~~ Here's the new plan of attack ~~

October 19th @ Disney's Grand Floridian, Theme Park View Hotel hopping around the Magic Kingdom Resorts

  • Arrival about 11am
  • Point Bar & Grill Lunch (First for me)
  • Boating on Seven Seas Lagoon / Bay Lake via transportation
  • Garden View Tea Room (First for me)
  • Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar (First for me)
  • New addition! Hallowishes from our hotel room

October 20th @ Polynesian Resort, Lake View (First DVC stay) Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • Tusker House Donald's Safari Breakfast Rivers of Light Package (Both firsts for me)
  • Pandora - Flights of Passage, N'avi River, Pango Pongo Bar (First for me)
  • Mr. Kamal's, Eight Spoon Cafe, Thirsty River Bar (First for me)
  • Up Avian Adventure (first for me)
  • Kilamanjaro Safari
  • New addition! Yak & Yeti Table Service
  • New addition! M. Jungle Trek
  • New addition! Rivers of Light (first for me)

October 21st @ Old Key West, Near Hospitality House (First stay)

  • Disney Springs - Homecomin' Brunch (new to me)
  • New addition! Alien Spinning Saucers (new to me)
  • New addition! Woody's Lunch Box (new to me)
  • New addition! Slinky Dog Dash (new to me)
  • New addition! Toy Story Mania
  • New addition! Baseline Tap House (new to me)
  • New addition! 50s Prime Time Diner (first back in 20 years)
  • New addition! Star Wars Fireworks

October 22nd Disney Springs

  • Breakfast at Good's To Go (Firsts for me)
  • Boat to Disney Springs
  • New addition! Maria & Enzo's (new to me)
  • New addition! The VOID (new to me)
  • Probably be picked up for DME about 3PM

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Sounds like a great plan! You've got some of my favorites on your list (including Trader Sam's, Tusker House, Pongu Pongu, Yak & Yeti, Woody's Lunchbox, and Baseline Tap House). We're staying at the Contemporary on the 19th and 20th (leaving late afternoon on the 20th) so maybe we'll squeeze in a meet!

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Allie wrote:
Sounds like a great plan! You've got some of my favorites on your list (including Trader Sam's, Tusker House, Pongu Pongu, Yak & Yeti, Woody's Lunchbox, and Baseline Tap House). We're staying at the Contemporary on the 19th and 20th (leaving late afternoon on the 20th) so maybe we'll squeeze in a meet!

Our plans are fairly chill on the 19th. We get there about 11A, we have Tea at 3:50P, and then I haven't scheduled a time yet I'm meeting my other friends for cocktails. I want to be back in my room by 10:00P though because we have to leave at 7A-ish for DAK the next morning.

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So many firsts to look forward to!!!!

banana

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Kristen K. wrote:
Allie wrote:
Sounds like a great plan! You've got some of my favorites on your list (including Trader Sam's, Tusker House, Pongu Pongu, Yak & Yeti, Woody's Lunchbox, and Baseline Tap House). We're staying at the Contemporary on the 19th and 20th (leaving late afternoon on the 20th) so maybe we'll squeeze in a meet!

Our plans are fairly chill on the 19th. We get there about 11A, we have Tea at 3:50P, and then I haven't scheduled a time yet I'm meeting my other friends for cocktails. I want to be back in my room by 10:00P though because we have to leave at 7A-ish for DAK the next morning.

I'm wide open on the 19th also!!

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JeffC wrote:
So many firsts to look forward to!!!!

banana

Yes! I wanted to do as many things as I could write about without repeating as possible. Some days I feel like I have already written all the things, the whole point of this trip is to shake it up and get my creative juices flowing again.

muchlove

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JMed wrote:
Kristen K. wrote:
Allie wrote:
We're staying at the Contemporary on the 19th and 20th (leaving late afternoon on the 20th) so maybe we'll squeeze in a meet!

Our plans are fairly chill on the 19th. We get there about 11A, we have Tea at 3:50P, and then I haven't scheduled a time yet I'm meeting my other friends for cocktails. I want to be back in my room by 10:00P though because we have to leave at 7A-ish for DAK the next morning.

I'm wide open on the 19th also!!

clapping clapping clapping

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OK. JMed - you've convinced me. laugh Tori, Beck, Carlos, and I are going to try and do The VOID after lunch on Monday.

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sounds great. hope we can find some time to meet up after the cruise

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Kristen K. wrote:
OK. JMed - you've convinced me. laugh Tori, Beck, Carlos, and I are going to try and do The VOID after lunch on Monday.

YEEEESSSS!!!!!

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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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Kristen K. wrote:
JMed wrote:
Kristen K. wrote:
Allie wrote:
We're staying at the Contemporary on the 19th and 20th (leaving late afternoon on the 20th) so maybe we'll squeeze in a meet!

Our plans are fairly chill on the 19th. We get there about 11A, we have Tea at 3:50P, and then I haven't scheduled a time yet I'm meeting my other friends for cocktails. I want to be back in my room by 10:00P though because we have to leave at 7A-ish for DAK the next morning.

I'm wide open on the 19th also!!

clapping clapping clapping

Oooo yay!!! We're at Magic Kingdom on the 19th but it closes at 6pm so we should be pretty open after that! yay