** Magic Mirror's ** Pre-Trip Report for MVMCP !!

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Magic Mirror's picture
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** Magic Mirror's ** Pre-Trip Report for MVMCP !!

We left off with this "story" last October 2012..... Amy & I had just returned from the World after enjoying the Food & Wine Festival awesome . Although there were many magical moments, including Amy getting hugged by Sugar Ray *insert: see review here- http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/magic-mirror-back-world-video-added * there was also the one major let down (cue ominous music here ) -------- MNSSHP was cancelled during a tropical monsoon of a thunderstorm that led to my momentary breakdown.....with tears flowing harder than the rain storm outside....Amy was more than understanding ~ and suggested we return at another time for MVMCP ! clapping Although, I'm not sure she knew it was going to be the following year!!

The big vacation this year was one from Amy's bucket list, a cruise to Alaska with another couple I work with. This was a non-Disney cruise (gasp*I KNOW!) with Norwegian leaving roundtrip from Vancouver, Canada and cruising the inside passage with stops in ports; Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau. We started planning this trip about eighteen months before and had an amazing experience. The cruise was not so expensive, but considering all your excursions are by air or sea, that's where the money goes up! We were able to whale watch in Juneau on a small 6 passenger boat and were lucky enough to have an active baby humpback entertain us with flips, breaches, dorsal fins and tail flops, flew on a bush plane 5000 feet to the top of a glacier, land on plane ski's and walk on about 50 feet of snow (talk about being on top of the world!), sea kayak across the Tongass Narrows and hold Starfish in our hands, the 4 of us and a private guide drove out of Skagway and into the Canadian Yukon along the White Pass Gold Route to the Yukon Suspension Bridge, and fly over the Tongass Rainforest with a skid landing on a small lake, get out, stretch & watch the seals playing nearby. It was a truly spiritual experience to get out in the back country of Alaska and realize just how small you are amongst the eagles, bears and mountains. So while we had an incredible time and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering it....the bank accounts are a little low from paying off that trip.

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banana banana Whoo hoo for a new Disney trip! banana banana

crazycatperson's picture
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OMG that whale photo, how amazingly close you got. Awesome. Looking forward to reading the WDW plans.

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what breathtaking photos. I agree about the spiritual experience aspect...I am so enjoying more of these I get older. Life takes on a different perspective - less about stuff, more about experiences.

Thanks for sharing, and woohoo for WDW, indeed! mickey

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Allie's picture
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LOVED your trip report last time and am looking forward to another one! Where are you staying this time around? ADRs?

Magic Mirror's picture
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One more Alaskan Photo before moving on to new trip plans biggrin

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Those pictures are amazing Smile

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Magic Mirror's picture
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Well, I have to admit, no sooner than my feet touched the ground, my mind was racing for a Disney Trip!

This past January, Amy started having severe abdominal pains. After several months and rounds of testing,
they determined the gall bladder was down to 17% functionality. So she had it removed but is still suffering some
pain to this day, although it is getting better. Due to the surgery, we almost cancelled Alaska, but she was a real
trooper and with the help of pain meds in the evening..she made it through.

So when I got home I started crunching the numbers for the Disney Trip...then the hospital bills started coming in. *BLAH* I had still played around with the idea but there just didn't seem to be a way to make it work.

One day I'm home, minding my own business, when I started flipping through the mail.

** D I S N E Y M A I L ** mickey clapping mickey clapping mickey

I started jumping up and down! Free Dining Plans! And the week I had thought about going to Disney,
The first week of December, is covered! WHOO HOOOO! I couldn't wait till Amy got home so I could show her.
She was very excited but we still didn't know if we could afford to swing it.

Then...things just started to fall into place! In between my full time police job, I teach at our Police Academy and get paid a nice wage to do so. However, they have been cutting down on the academy's due to the lack of jobs in Michigan. I got an email that said the next academy was a go and they gave me my instructor dates. * A co-worker finally sold her father's house and had several items she needed to get out of there ASAP, so she called Amy and I because she knows we dabble with antiques. We purchased several items for a very reasonable price. I sell and buy on Ebay, so I flipped them on Ebay and they took off with bids! The first item we got 10x more than we paid for it! And I have more items to list. * Then I got the mail only to find we overpaid on a medical bill somehow so they refunded us the money. Money seems to be falling from the sky. WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN??? While one part of my brain is saying that money could be used towards financial matters aka bills *BLAH* , the stronger side of my brain says DISNEY MONEY!

The real test was going to be the dog/cat/house sitter. Our dogs have never been kenneled and we've always been lucky enough to have a dear friend stay at the house with them. This not only saves huge amounts of money but gives us the peace of mind that they are loved and cared for. She told me a few years ago she would never be able to stay in December because there is just too much going on during the holidays. So I talked to her about it and she said it was no problem! Go for it!

I checked the schedule at work and no one is off , Amy the same.. so the schedules are cleared.....

THIS HAS TO BE A SIGN ! Don't you think?????

Vettelover's picture
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Of course it was a sign, so take advantage of it.

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I sat down and started dabbling on the Disney website for plans and hotels..I even compared them to renting DVC points even though we would lose the free meal plans. I finally settled on Pop Century, 5 day tickets (no park hopper) and MVMCP hard tickets. This would qualify us for the Free Dining (Counter Service). We only used the park hopper once last year, due to ADR'S..so I think we won't have any problem skipping that option this time. And while I most certainly will miss, so very much, my beloved POFQ, I can't justify the $500 difference it would cost to stay there. After running the totals I came up to about $1600 + airfare. I feel comfortable with that and I think its very doable financially between now and December.

HERE WE COME DISNEY!

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This is the schedule I am tentatively looking at, I'm mostly scheduling around
the EMH to take advantage of long resort days as we won't have the hopper option:

Fly to Orlando Nov. 30th (Sat) (First day of Dining Plan)
Settle in & Downtown Disney
Dec 1st (Sun) Hollywood Studios 9am-10pm
Dec 2nd (Mon) Magic Kingdom 9am-11pm
Dec 3rd (Tue) Tour Resorts to see Christmas Decorations, Maybe DVC Tour?
Dec 4th (Wed) Animal Kingdom 8am-5pm -see Animal Kingdom Lodge for Christmas Decorations in evening
Dec 5th (Thu) Relax during day, MVMCP 4pm-Midnight
Dec 6th (Fri) Epcot 9am-11pm
Dec 7th (Sat) Choice of Park (avoid MK due to parade taping?)
Dec 8th (Sun) Fly Home

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Sounds fun!! Can't pass up the free dining offer!! The pics of Alaska are awesome. Would you recommend the cruise you took? My mom wants to go on an Alaskan cruise. I've heard Norweigan is good, would you agree? Of course, I'd love to cruise Disney to Alaska, but I'm either going to have to win the lottery or sell a kidney to fund that!

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I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise.

Pop Century is a great resort. Glad everything is falling into place for your December trip.

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Yea MM that all your Disney plans are falling into place. Mickey really wants you to come and be part of the party!

Magic Mirror's picture
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Vettelover wrote:
Of course it was a sign, so take advantage of it.

awesome

YES! I would highly recommend Norwegian Cruise Line! We traveled with Royal Caribbean before and while we enjoyed it, we really prefer Norwegian's more laid back approach to casual dining at the time you want , no reservations needed.

Thank you everyone for the photo compliments! It was a very beautiful place to take pictures of......

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Allie, no ADR's such we will be on counter service only this time.... I'm not really too bummed about that as it will be nice not to have to be somewhere at a certain time, allowing us to move more freelance style thru the park. Also, I really felt like I didn't research the counter service options good enough last time as I was too involved in planning the ADR's. This time I've started making notes about food that we may want and I still need to go back and update all those delicious cupcakes as last time I didn't have one cupcake or dole whip!! eek

I plan on calling Disney Friday to make the reservations!

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Well it sounds like this trip was just meant to be and so very well deserved! Excited for you! clapping

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how exciting!!!! Don't forget to take us all along with you. awesome

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Big yay!!!!!!! The plans sound so awesome too! Woo hoo!!

Those Alaska pics are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing.

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Alaska looks amazing!

I'm so glad everything fell into place for your next Disney adventure. And yay for Amy feeling better. clapping

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yay yay yay yay
So glad you are going!!! MVMCP is great! The only reason we're not doing it this year is because we decided to do the train tour instead. You'll have a blast though!

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Thank you everyone! I called and attempted to get a standard room at Pop Century but the ones available thru the Free Dining Pin were full... I ended up with All Star Music which actually ended up being about $100 cheaper. While their food court is closed for refurbishment and we will be in the farthest building...I'm just excited to be going to Disney!~ clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping ~

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Don't you just love it when things fall into place? What an amazing time of year to be in the World! clapping

Love the Alaska pics - sounds like you had a blast!

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Magic Mirror wrote:
This is the schedule I am tentatively looking at, I'm mostly scheduling around
the EMH to take advantage of long resort days as we won't have the hopper option:

Fly to Orlando Nov. 30th (Sat) (First day of Dining Plan)
Settle in & Downtown Disney
Dec 1st (Sun) Hollywood Studios 9am-10pm
Dec 2nd (Mon) Magic Kingdom 9am-11pm
Dec 3rd (Tue) Tour Resorts to see Christmas Decorations, Maybe DVC Tour?
Dec 4th (Wed) Animal Kingdom 8am-5pm -see Animal Kingdom Lodge for Christmas Decorations in evening
Dec 5th (Thu) Relax during day, MVMCP 4pm-Midnight
Dec 6th (Fri) Epcot 9am-11pm
Dec 7th (Sat) Choice of Park (avoid MK due to parade taping?)
Dec 8th (Sun) Fly Home

AWESOME! I want to go during Christmas time so badly. So, so badly. The decorations and the Osborne lights are literally screaming my name.. sigh... Sounds like you have a great trip planned!

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Thanks Belinda & Hardy it will be our first time in the World at Christmas!

I also posted more Alaska pictures under the General Discussion Forum "Alaska 2013" if anyone
would like to see more.

wink

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OMG!~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just saw the Candlelight Processional started accepting booking on July 9th so I jumped
on Disney Food Blog and they have a partial list of narrators -

OMG!~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally we were going on Friday Dec 6th- well that's been changed now to
Thursday Dec 5th ..

the narrator is ............. drum roll please.............................

ASHLEY JUDD

clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping clapping

While I have nothing against Ashley, I am not that excited except for ..........
She is Amy's absolute favorite actress, for years, she loves her more than any other actress, super cool, all she talks about....... and that makes me the most awesome Disney Trip Planner in the World (according to Amy) (even though
it's all a freaking coincidence..but hey, I'm gonna roll with it and take the credit)

biggrin

So right now, I called Amy at work and told her the list was out and there would be 2 people that week
for narrators and one was Whoopi Goldberg and umm..hmmmmm.....who was that other person?
Oh yeah, I found it right here, some girl actress, uhhh her name is Ashley Judd?? and who would you like
to see between the two??

TOTAL SILENCE then a quiet, What? Are you serious ?
( good question as I have been known to gently pull her leg now and then)

YES I'm serious

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY JJJJJJJJUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***
yes well I think you get the point of her excitement.
***

and as if getting hugged by Sugar Ray last fall didn't cement Amy into being a Disney Fan Fanatic forever..
this most certainly did!

I feel DVC closer to my future cool

So I jumped on the phone to Disney, and after quickly refreshing my memory on the great advice here, knew we
wanted to do the 8:15pm show to experience the magic of darkness and candlelight, and started looking for available
dinner packages....the Italy and France options were sold out for that time, however we did get Rose and Crown !
Reservations made now back to trip planning as we have to move around MVMCP and some parks...

yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

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Wow, how awesome for Amy! Sugar Ray last summer and Ashley Judd this winter! What a lucky lady!

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yay yay yay I am excited for Amy, too!

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So dear Disney family, here is my dilemma-
knowing that we are for sure going to be dining at Rose & Crown to get preferred entry to the Candlelight Processional, we will have to pay out of pocket $120 dollars for dinner.

We currently have the free Disney dining quick service.

If you have the standard or above, you can use 2 dining credits each for the Candlelight Dinner at R&C.

I could upgrade my quick dining to the standard and pay the difference between them.
The upgrade would cost $252.14 for both of us..
subtract the required dinner we are paying anyway at $120- that leaves me with $132.14 more
that would basically ensure we have sit down dinners almost every night.

OR

I could attempt to upgrade my whole reservation to a Moderate Resort...thus getting the
Standard Dining Plan "free" with the moderate...and that would cost me about $535 more.

ahhhhhh the wonders of crunching numbers...

To be on the safe side.. I went thru and snagged some reservations just in case.....
I can always cancel a little later on - but at least we have some places we have never been to before.

The pro's are better meals, forces us to sit down for at least an hour to relax, eat places we normally wouldn't
the con's are it ties us down to a set dining time and it costs a little more money.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
what would you do? confused wink

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If it were me, I'd upgrade to the standard dining plan but stick with the value resort. It's only a little more expensive, and you'll get better dining choices.

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Do you want to be tied to reservations every day?? I would probably just pay out of pocket and enjoy the flexibility of not having to someplace at a certain time.

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