It's a Marshmallow World...at New Year's!The End! Future trip?? 7.21.14 Update

[Surfinpiratee]

So glad I found this TR!!! I'm most likely going this New Years, so I gotta study up on how others 'do' New Years!! Loved reading your TR!

 

[TinksThree]

I, for one, am happy for the delay ending because I don't want your TR to end!

The pics around the World Showcase at night are so pretty. That's my favorite time to be in the WS.

So sorry you didn't feel well though!! It's never any fun being sick like that but especially on vacation and then on your last night. Glad you did feel better in the morning at least. That would have made a long, miserable trip home.

ETA: I know you had to be bummed about the 4 parks, 1 day streak coming to a halt. But, that's just one more reason to go back again. Got to get the streak back going! LOL!

Aw gee thanks!! Of course it has taken me almost two weeks to even respond much less post!! I love WS at night! It has such an atmosphere that we adore!

I agree about the streak needing a reboot!!

Oh No!!!!!! I have to admit (thankfully) to never having to rewrite a post. I'd be way to scared of that happening so I always write everything in Word and copy/paste.

This is what I normally do for my TRs. I started doing it because the Dis would lock up on me so much. This TR I have just been posting as I go and until this last time, I'd had luck...well luck ran out!!

Wow, Epcot did have a pretty cool looking vibe that night.

Very cool vibe!

All I can say is thank goodness for Martin Short. We could not ask for a better ambassador.

Agree!!

Double oh no at getting sick. So sorry you didn't make the 4 parks 1 day. I know this is pretty much tradition.

Getting sick AND missing out on the 4 parks 1 day tradition was a double whammy!

So glad I found this TR!!! I'm most likely going this New Years, so I gotta study up on how others 'do' New Years!! Loved reading your TR!

Hey!! Glad you found the TR too!! New Years is really a great time to go...New Years Day was the best! Definitely focus on Epcot or DHS is my biggest advice. MK closed off to guests early so I can't imagine!! But you may be into handling crowds better so it may be easier to adjust. I think we would have done better at Epcot had we stayed in Future World until after the crowd thinned a little with people exciting after the first Illuminations but the crowds in WS just exhausted us! Oh, and MK has in the past had a test run of NYE on December 30th so make a note of that! The crowds were really manageable and we could have easily stayed the extra 30 minutes to see those fireworks!!

 

[TinksThree]

The Long Road Home...January 2, 2014​

This post will be the end of the TR...I know...so sad!!! And technically it is little Disney involved and will cover two days but this is still a big part of our trip!!

We woke up on Thursday, January 2, and loaded the car but before we headed out we stopped at the food court for a quick fill me up and some last second shopping!

Breakfast was typical of our usual breakfasts...

French Toast:





More French Toast:



And danish for the trip home:



You have to us up ALL of those snack credits you know!!

Soon we were in the car and seeing this sign for one last time!



And one of the saddest signs ever (but with such promise!!)



Oh please see me real soon!!!

And from there it was just miles and miles and miles of interstate. Somewhere along I-10 west bound we got stuck in sit-still traffic due to a wreck. It delayed us about an hour which also meant our evening plans had to be adjusted. We put it in perspective when I looked it up the next day (we saw one car in really terrible shape) and learned someone had lost their life...

And also we stopped for lunch somewhere but 6 months later who knows where! Definitely a fast food place! I do remember going into a gas station to grab a coke and realized I still had my magic band on...I may or may not have tried to pay with the band...

Eventually we were rolling into Pensacola and across the bay, and by this time the day was becoming evening:







We had planned to roll into town about 6 pm but it was pretty close to 8 pm when we arrived. We were in New Orleans!! Our reason for this out of the way stop was putting Chris on a plane back to Ft. Leonard Wood. It was cheaper for us to 1) drive to NOLA to pick Chris up, 2) get a hotel room on this night and 3) drive back home from NOLA PLUS the plane ticket than to simply fly in/out of the Jackson airport which is a mere 15 miles from our house! And this is why our family ALWAYS drives to Orlando...I have yet to rationalize $200 in gas plus food vs $2000 minimum for us to fly plus the times are so bad we'd still arrive when we do when we drive!

Thus, we are in New Orleans and I was so focused on planning the Disney portion plus Christmas/holiday activities that I made a rookie mistake!! I realized a little too late that our ONE night in NOLA was the same night as the Sugar Bowl. This meant I had very little choices in room accommodations. One night I managed to find a Sleep Inn on Veterans Blvd for $72!! I mean this was HUGE because everything else available (and in a safe area) was minimum $250 a night! Let me just say this was a great location in the end and I recommend this hotel if you are ever in the area and not staying downtown!





By the time we got to the room it was time for the Sugar Bowl to kick-off so we dropped our bags and watched the kick-off...then off to dinner!! We had planned to go to one of our most favorite restaurants: Deannie's in the French Quarter. But we decided it was too late and with the football crowds parking may be a nightmare and who knows what the crowds may be. We could have gone to the original in Bucktown but honestly we were just tired and ready for food so we decided to go to Acme Oyster. We arrived and were sat immediately. Good food and atmosphere but we were disappointed in that we love getting the platter which has fried oysters, shrimp, catfish and other odds and ends (and feeds all four of us!) at Deannie's but at Acme it just was not the same...at all!



Compared to the one from Deannie's:



Madison decided to get gumbo and it smelled SO GOOD!!!!



She pretty much licked the bowl so it must have been pretty good!

Dinner over, we made our way back to the hotel and finished watching the game!

continued in the following post...

 

[TinksThree]

This is it!! January 3, 2014​

The next morning we went to the little breakfast they have in the lobby and were dining with a TON of Oklahoma Sooner and Alabama fans. I have to say they were in fine spirits and were all getting along pretty well...if you aren't familiar with 1) football, 2) SEC football and 3) SEC football, then the getting along may not mean much but let's just say that Alabama losing the previous night could have been MUCH uglier! Heck it can be ugly when they win!! Just ask Auburn and LSU fans! (and please if you are an Alabama fan, I am a Roll Tide fan having spent most of my childhood in Alabama and admiring Bear Bryant from afar, so I'm not bashing anyone!! I mean everybody has their crazies!! )

We decide to head to the French Quarter for beignets but the line was so long and it was freezing!!!!! So we decide not to stick around! I did grab one souvenir and this picture of the kiddos:



We head out and find a free standing Cafe du Monde that is enclosed and, thus, warm!!



Some of the best coffee ever!!



And it may not be in the quarter but the same delicious, warm doughy goodness of beingets!!





Chris' flight wasn't until 3 pm so we drove around a bit (still too cold to get out to explore!) We drove into the Garden District which is gorgeous!!

A few pictures along St. Charles:



Loyola University:



Streetcars...I love Streetcars in New Orleans!! And I always want to scream "STELLA!!!!" (not sure how many get that these days though!!



Then we head to the airport and Chris and Keith get in the long line for Chris to check-in and after 45 minutes or so they finally made it:



Madison and I had occupied ourselves sitting on a bench people watching and picture taking:



We grabbed a little lunch in the airport. This place was pretty good but I was shocked at the lack of places to eat in this airport...Jackson I can understand but New Orleans!?





Soon Chris was going through the boarding gate and we had to leave him behind!



Unfortunately thanks to snow storms in the Midwest, Chris' plane was delayed for 3 hours! Thankfully he had other Army buddies to hang out with! Meanwhile, we were crossing the state line and close to being home!



And that was the end of our trip!! There had been some ups and downs but overall it was a good trip and fun to go during the holidays!!

So I always love seeing what people get souvenir wise on their trips so here's the low down on our purchases:

The mugs...part of the meal plan but come-on, who's kidding who? I paid some serious dollars to get this "free"!!



The new 2014 design which I'd voted for months earlier!! This is the Christmas ornament:



Corn cob picks-I'd seen these several trips prior and when I went back, I could never find them! So of course I snatched them up right away! And at $4.95 I felt this a good, inexpensive souvenir!



Layla and a Mickey head magnet:



The 2014 magnet:



Madison bought a Minnie Mouse Christmas Vinylmation:



A pin, an owl necklace from China and a guitar pic (for the boyfriend) from RnR:



And a cup:



And finally my New Orleans purchase (this is posted for you Saintstickets!!)

Wrapping It All Up​

In the end and now 6 months later, I think our biggest issue with this trip was the time! After much discussion, we have decided that the time we were there was too short to really enjoy. We had to fight crowds and pretty much go non-stop. The wait times were longer although we never really waited for many things...we just skipped them (like Soarin'). And to me the tiered FPP system is at fault for that!

But we also were able to experience some amazing new things like Candlelight Processional, the MK Christmas parade, The Osborne Dancing Lights and all of the holiday decorations!

We got to spend NYE in the Happiest Place on Earth even if we didn't see midnight in a park! Lessons definitely learned there and if I ever make it back I know I will do a few things differently. I really wish (in hind sight) that we had stayed at DHS but Illuminations was so good!!

Overall, this trip wasn't bad but not one of my favorites. I just don't think any trip can compare after July 2012 (Stop and Smell the Roses) but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and top it in the future!!

Thanks so much to everyone that read and followed along...even if only as a lurker!! And thanks for the comments because they always make me smile!! I have loved sharing our trip with ya'll even if at times it took me forever to catch-up!! I really do Thank You for reading!! So now maybe I can catch up on TRs I have fallen so far behind on and...See ya real soon!!!

 

[amandaw]

Awww....I'm so sad it's over!

Glad y'all had safe travels home. And that's fun that you got to stop in NOLA before going straight home.

I can't believe you got such an awesome hotel rate on the night of the Sugar Bowl. WOW!

Loved seeing all your pics of NOLA. I really love your purchase you made there. I need one for my home!!

And yeah, the NO airport is awful as far as food options go. It's pitiful. Especially for an "international" airport in a major US city.

Thank you for sharing another vacation filled with your wonderful family memories with us!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Oh God... seeing that POP sign (my home away from home) and then "See Ya Real Soon". So heart-warming and heartbreaking at the same time.

So interesting to see a TR about this period in particular given the horror stories that usually come from that week. But, there really is so much special stuff for the holidays, that even if you don't ride a thing, it can still be pretty darn magical.

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I didn't realize that I had missed the update before this last one. So sorry to hear that you were feeling so bad. It's a bummer to be sick anytime much less on vacation.

Aww, it's departure day! At least you were feeling better and were able to eat a good breakfast before getting on the road. Speaking of on the road...I'm with you on the cost of flying vs. cost of driving. I tallied up what it cost us to drive and it was about $300 including our hotel for one night. I saw recently that Southwest no longer flies from Jackson and they always had the cheapest airfare. Guess flying is totally out of the cards for us in the future.

It looks like you all enjoyed yourselves in New Orleans even if it was for a short time and to send Chris off again.

Sooooo, when are you going back to "the world" again?

 

[saintstickets]

We love ACME Oyster out in Metairie...never tried the one in the Quarter...but if Deanie's Seafood is as good or better...Deanie's here we come!!

And it may not be in the quarter but the same delicious, warm doughy goodness of beingets!!

My mouth is watering looking at those beignets! Others have tried but nobody beats the ones at Cafe du Monde!!

And finally my New Orleans purchase (this is posted for you Saintstickets!!)

WHO DAT!! I am SOOOOOO ready for the season to start!!

But we also were able to experience some amazing new things like Candlelight Processional, the MK Christmas parade, The Osborne Dancing Lights and all of the holiday decorations!

If you don't do anything else during the Christmas season at WDW, those are the things to do. If CP doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, you better check your pulse!! I just realized it has been 4 years since we were there at Christmas so we've started planning for Dec2015 already!!

Great TR Tinks!! I always love reading your reports...finding new things to add to my bucket list to do...read about other things that remind me of our trips...these TR's are a pure pleasure for me. It takes a lot of time and effort and I appreciate it so much!

But the question is....when is the next trip?!?!?!

 

[TinksThree]

Awww....I'm so sad it's over!

Glad y'all had safe travels home. And that's fun that you got to stop in NOLA before going straight home.

I can't believe you got such an awesome hotel rate on the night of the Sugar Bowl. WOW!

Loved seeing all your pics of NOLA. I really love your purchase you made there. I need one for my home!!

And yeah, the NO airport is awful as far as food options go. It's pitiful. Especially for an "international" airport in a major US city.

Thank you for sharing another vacation filled with your wonderful family memories with us!

I was so shocked about that hotel rate too and grabbed it fast!! I don't understand why such a big city, international airport would be lacking so much!!

Thanks for joining me and so happy you enjoyed the journey with me!!

Oh God... seeing that POP sign (my home away from home) and then "See Ya Real Soon". So heart-warming and heartbreaking at the same time.

So interesting to see a TR about this period in particular given the horror stories that usually come from that week. But, there really is so much special stuff for the holidays, that even if you don't ride a thing, it can still be pretty darn magical.

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!!!

There were so many things that could have been a nightmare but I think the great things way overshadow!! Plus planning helps!

Thank you SO MUCH for reading!!!

I didn't realize that I had missed the update before this last one. So sorry to hear that you were feeling so bad. It's a bummer to be sick anytime much less on vacation.

Aww, it's departure day! At least you were feeling better and were able to eat a good breakfast before getting on the road. Speaking of on the road...I'm with you on the cost of flying vs. cost of driving. I tallied up what it cost us to drive and it was about $300 including our hotel for one night. I saw recently that Southwest no longer flies from Jackson and they always had the cheapest airfare. Guess flying is totally out of the cards for us in the future.

It looks like you all enjoyed yourselves in New Orleans even if it was for a short time and to send Chris off again.

Sooooo, when are you going back to "the world" again?

When Southwest announced they were pulling out of Jackson, I knew flying would be close to a pipe dream! It cost too much before! We love New Orleans so much so it was a good ending and took some of the sting out of leaving Chris behind!

Uhm...future trip? I'm going to post below!

We love ACME Oyster out in Metairie...never tried the one in the Quarter...but if Deanie's Seafood is as good or better...Deanie's here we come!!

We probably should have tried a different dish but as far as the platter...Deannie's is so much better!! But Acme is good so I definitely wasn't taking too much away from them! We were at the one in Metairie! After Saints games Bobby and Deke do their show at the FQ Deannie's...we have sat next to them and listened several times!! SO COOL!!!

My mouth is watering looking at those beignets! Others have tried but nobody beats the ones at Cafe du Monde!!

Nope, no one does! I pretty much only get beignets from Cafe du Monde! POFQ tries and even though others love them...I found them extremely disappointing. I am either a beignet snob or spoiled (or both)!

WHO DAT!! I am SOOOOOO ready for the season to start!!

Let the Training Camps begin! Two weeks and we will be looking right into the first pre-season game!!

If you don't do anything else during the Christmas season at WDW, those are the things to do. If CP doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, you better check your pulse!! I just realized it has been 4 years since we were there at Christmas so we've started planning for Dec2015 already!!

Great TR Tinks!! I always love reading your reports...finding new things to add to my bucket list to do...read about other things that remind me of our trips...these TR's are a pure pleasure for me. It takes a lot of time and effort and I appreciate it so much!

But the question is....when is the next trip?!?!?!

So glad you read along!! You add things to my bucket list too so we can just keep trading off! Yep....future trip to be mentioned below!

 

[TinksThree]

Hey all! So one more post...I just can't leave it alone! But a few asked about my next trip and so I shall share my latest conundrum!

So planning a next trip should be easy and a no brainer...right!? Well...maybe not! Even for a Disney lover like me! I have a trip booked and pretty much paid off for September 21-27. Keith mentioned going back to Food and Wine many months ago and I jumped on it! I had one hotel booked and then changed to POR when I lucked out receiving a PIN for free dining that allowed POR since the regular one did not. We were using military discounts prior but with FD the cost was the same plus we got POR.

I have some pretty great ADRs and pretty much when I hoped to get them. And tonight is the night to book FPP! Also I have the magic bands all ready...this trip is all but set to go!

Except for one minor issue...I am having second thoughts! Crazy huh!? Why you may ask? Well:

1. I have many things I want to do and Keith has no desire...AT ALL. This means going by myself if it gets done, which I'm okay with but how much will we do separately?!

2. I really would like to do MNSSHP...Keith says NO WAY! Even after seeing the videos...

3. And this seems to be a hot topic every where I read "Is Disney out pricing themselves?" We have discussed going to the east coast which is an area we love! I have priced hotels, mock food orders, gas, and tickets/admissions to various activities...the total is almost $1000 less than Disney! This has just added to me being torn! After researching I really want to do some old favorites and some new things in the Virginia area.

BUT I want to go to Food and Wine and eat at some of the restaurants I painstakingly made ADRs for and at times stalked to ADR site to get it just right! Plus I'd love to lay around by the pool, relaxing and having fun at POR. And I want to see the new MK parade and 7DMT...and maybe catching a few things for possibly the last time.

I know I'll be back...Disney just released the military extension so surely we will find a way to use that! We plan to go to New York City and Boston next summer. That means a Disney trip will have to be using military discounts ifin the cards at all!

Oh the decisions!!!! But I have until August 6th to make up my mind! Sorry y'all asked now!?!?!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Yep, we asked for it and you dished it! Seriously, I fully understand your dilema. I'd like to go to Disney more often so that we could see some of the holiday happenings but it's just getting so expensive. Guess we'll just have to stick to our once a year trips.

As far as your upcoming trip, well, that's a tough one. If you're going to end up doing a lot of stuff alone, then, it may not be quite as fun as if you had a partner in crime...I mean...someone to partake in ALL of the fun with you. It sure would be tough for me to be right there knowing that MNSSHP was going on and I wasn't there to see it though.

Buuuuuut, we are talking about a trip to Disney and it's better than no trip to Disney.

Didn't help much did I?

 

[amandaw]

You have quite the conundrum, don't you! I don't know if I'll be of any help here. I think it ultimately comes down to how you feel about doing a lot of things solo. I, personally, would love it. But, I've also been secretly desiring a solo trip to WDW. Shhhh.....don't tell my family! I would even go to MNSSHP by myself because I love it that much. But, if you're not keen on doing these things by yourself (and there's certainly nothing wrong with feeling that way), then maybe the other trip would be better this year for y'all.

 

[saintstickets]

Hey all! So one more post...I just can't leave it alone! But a few asked about my next trip and so I shall share my latest conundrum!

So planning a next trip should be easy and a no brainer...right!? Well...maybe not! Even for a Disney lover like me! I have a trip booked and pretty much paid off for September 21-27. Keith mentioned going back to Food and Wine many months ago and I jumped on it! I had one hotel booked and then changed to POR when I lucked out receiving a PIN for free dining that allowed POR since the regular one did not. We were using military discounts prior but with FD the cost was the same plus we got POR.

I have some pretty great ADRs and pretty much when I hoped to get them. And tonight is the night to book FPP! Also I have the magic bands all ready...this trip is all but set to go!

Except for one minor issue...I am having second thoughts! Crazy huh!? Why you may ask? Well:

1. I have many things I want to do and Keith has no desire...AT ALL. This means going by myself if it gets done, which I'm okay with but how much will we do separately?!

2. I really would like to do MNSSHP...Keith says NO WAY! Even after seeing the videos...

3. And this seems to be a hot topic every where I read "Is Disney out pricing themselves?" We have discussed going to the east coast which is an area we love! I have priced hotels, mock food orders, gas, and tickets/admissions to various activities...the total is almost $1000 less than Disney! This has just added to me being torn! After researching I really want to do some old favorites and some new things in the Virginia area.

BUT I want to go to Food and Wine and eat at some of the restaurants I painstakingly made ADRs for and at times stalked to ADR site to get it just right! Plus I'd love to lay around by the pool, relaxing and having fun at POR. And I want to see the new MK parade and 7DMT...and maybe catching a few things for possibly the last time.

I know I'll be back...Disney just released the military extension so surely we will find a way to use that! We plan to go to New York City and Boston next summer. That means a Disney trip will have to be using military discounts ifin the cards at all!

Oh the decisions!!!! But I have until August 6th to make up my mind! Sorry y'all asked now!?!?!

Well now...ask and ye shall receive...a lot of answers you probably regret asking for! I have the solution for you...change your trip to Oct 5-11 and then whatever Keith does not want to do, you can do with DW and I!!! Easy enough...right?

 

[amandaw]

Well now...ask and ye shall receive...a lot of answers you probably regret asking for! I have the solution for you...change your trip to Oct 5-11 and then whatever Keith does not want to do, you can do with DW and I!!! Easy enough...right?

I second this! And for another backup, my family would be there at the same time. You'd have LOTS of friends to hang with!

 

[TinksThree]

Yep, we asked for it and you dished it! Seriously, I fully understand your dilema. I'd like to go to Disney more often so that we could see some of the holiday happenings but it's just getting so expensive. Guess we'll just have to stick to our once a year trips.

As far as your upcoming trip, well, that's a tough one. If you're going to end up doing a lot of stuff alone, then, it may not be quite as fun as if you had a partner in crime...I mean...someone to partake in ALL of the fun with you. It sure would be tough for me to be right there knowing that MNSSHP was going on and I wasn't there to see it though.

Buuuuuut, we are talking about a trip to Disney and it's better than no trip to Disney.

Didn't help much did I?

I definitely agree about any trip to Disney is better than no trip to Disney!! Maybe I can twist his arm on MNSSHP!! If it weren't for military discounts we surely wouldn't go as much but this last trip was not discounted in any way and my vacation savings fund took a serious hit!!

You have quite the conundrum, don't you! I don't know if I'll be of any help here. I think it ultimately comes down to how you feel about doing a lot of things solo. I, personally, would love it. But, I've also been secretly desiring a solo trip to WDW. Shhhh.....don't tell my family! I would even go to MNSSHP by myself because I love it that much. But, if you're not keen on doing these things by yourself (and there's certainly nothing wrong with feeling that way), then maybe the other trip would be better this year for y'all.

I really don't have an issue doing some things alone. In fact I agree...I would love it! The ability to stop and take pictures or browse stores with no rolling of the eyes or toe tapping! I think if it was the whole family I could go off alone easier. I think in thinking about it I feel guilty about leaving Keith all alone!

Well now...ask and ye shall receive...a lot of answers you probably regret asking for! I have the solution for you...change your trip to Oct 5-11 and then whatever Keith does not want to do, you can do with DW and I!!! Easy enough...right?

I second this! And for another backup, my family would be there at the same time. You'd have LOTS of friends to hang with!

Okay guys...don't think I haven't thought about this with very serious consideration!! Vacation time requests or the issue or I'd be making that change lickity split because the military discounts came out!!!

Thanks for the inspiration everyone! Okay an update...this didn't take long! Decision has been made. After I stayed up to make FPP reservations "just in case" Keith decided that going to Virginia would be more fast paced and constant going where Disney will be on hotel, pool time and more relaxing...plus he likes the eating there so....

WE ARE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!​

 

[amandaw]

WE ARE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!​

YAY!!!

I think y'all are going to have a great trip and I'm already looking forward to the TR!

 

[saintstickets]

WE ARE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!​

I knew Keith would come along...maybe with some resistance at times but he's getting there!! I assume this trip will be just the two of you? It's a whole different trip when there aren't any kids, regardless of their age. Don't get me wrong, I love it when we take our adult children every other year but there's a lot to be said for when it is just DW and I!

 

[TinksThree]

YAY!!!

I think y'all are going to have a great trip and I'm already looking forward to the TR!

I'm excited now. Seems once the decision was made I could start focusing on the plans I had made! I'm trying to decide if I want to do a mini-PTR with my plans....

I knew Keith would come along...maybe with some resistance at times but he's getting there!! I assume this trip will be just the two of you? It's a whole different trip when there aren't any kids, regardless of their age. Don't get me wrong, I love it when we take our adult children every other year but there's a lot to be said for when it is just DW and I!

It is just the two of us. We planned this trip due to Madison being away and having a pretty empty nest. Madison kept us so busy in the fall that it is going to be mighty quiet! My poor planning on the timing means we miss two home games for Southern...if we wanted to go. I'm afraid how beat up they'll be after State and Bama though! We went once before in October 2012, just the two of us. It is different but fun in its very own way!

 

[saintstickets]

My poor planning on the timing means we miss two home games for Southern...if we wanted to go. I'm afraid how beat up they'll be after State and Bama though!

Look at it this way...after 4 games USM will be 2-2 and that's double the wins from last year!

 

[TinksThree]

Look at it this way...after 4 games USM will be 2-2 and that's double the wins from last year!

This is true! We plan to be at the Alcorn State game. If they lose that one...oy! I don't want to even think about that!!!