Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Our plans

Here's what we have planned for our trip. If you see something called a "meet", it's a get together with our friends for MouseFest. The fest is a get together of Disney people: travel agents, forums, artists, and authors. It's also a chance for people to not only meet them, but to see each other after talking remotely online. John and I have met people who have become good friends this way, and it'll be great to see each other again and share in some great experiences.

Tuesday, December 9th:
Wednesday, December 10th:
  • Check-in at Fort Wilderness Campground Resort
  • Have dinner with our friends at the Trails End Restaurant
  • The Fort Wilderness Lights and Dogs Tour! We're hosting this meet with our friends Gary and Carol from Canada; we giving a tour of all the holiday decorations in the resort, the official ones and the ones everyone put up around their sites and cabins. Afterwards, we're going back to our sites for dessert, featuring goodies you can only get from our region and their home region in Canada. At the end, we're going to the beach for the fireworks and water electrical parade. We also have a few gifts for each of our guests, including a button/pin I designed. I can't tell you how excited I am about this! And just as thrilling are the people who have said this is one of the things they are most looking forward to doing.
Thursday, December 11th:
Friday, December 12th:
John and I then separate out of necessity. He's:
  • Eating at Mom's Prime Time with a number of friends.
  • Ho Ho Ho Lotta Lights meet: we were both co-hosts for the Osbourne Lights and I adore the Lights, but I became an All Ears Net team member and we're having a team function. So I'll catch the lights later.
I'm heading for:
  • The Gaylord Palms: Deb Wills and her All Ears Team are having a get together to celebrate a good year for the site and the holidays together. And I am so lucky to be part of them! We're having dinner and then touring ICE! Everyone who has seen it has told me this is fantastic! What a great treat! ICE! has a webcam so if you're looking at it starting at 9pm on Friday night, you might see the All Ears team going through!
John and I then meet up again for:
  • The Gift Exchange: a big number of us are doing a Yankee Swap. We're meeting at the Yacht Club for it. We got a couple good gifts, including a piece of Disneyana!
Saturday, the 13th:

John knows what a great morning person I am - NOT! But when we saw who else was doing this, we signed up for -
Sunday, the 13th:

Things slow down as far as meets. But it's a classic!
  • Capture the Magic! A photo scavenger hunt! Last year, our team won first place. The best part is the fun in taking pictures as you try to convince strangers to do things like hoe-down at Country Bears while you trash talk with other teams!
  • Dine at Le Cellier with our friends.
  • Deb Will's Illuminations party
Monday, the 15th:

MouseFest is over at this point.
Tuesday, the 16th:
Wednesday, the 17th:
  • Animal Kingdom Day! Including evening Extra Magic Hours! (Which means only a limited number of resort guests can stay late). The lighting here is fantastic!
  • Lunch at the Pepper Market in the Coronado Springs
  • Dinner at the new Tusker House buffet in the Animal Kingdom
Thursday, the 18th:
Friday, the 19th:
  • Breakfast at the Crystal Palace before Magic Kingdom opens! I want to get photos before the crowd comes in.
  • Play around in MK during the morning.
  • Studios in the afternoon!
  • Fantasmic to close the vacation
Saturday, the 20th:

Pack, leave, and cry!

Of course, we'll be visiting Downtown Disney throughout the trip and the Christmas Chalet which is taking dogs this year! We are really going to miss the Adventures Club though! It was a big part of our vacation!