SilverL
My DH thinks he's Tarzan and I'm Jane. Go figure!
- Joined
- May 22, 2002
Hi everyone! I've never done a Pre-Trip report, but now I'm thinking that the process might be cathartic! So here I am.
The Cast:
My DH and I are both young newlyweds and stressed out college students who take way too many classes. I'm an English major, and he is Pre-Med. Our finances, as you can imagine, are very tight. We had a completely DIY wedding and we had to put off our honeymoon until after the summer in order to afford it without going into debt. (We are Dave Ramsey fans --- we have no debt and avoid it at all costs.) But we are going to be able to afford it, and I am SO excited!!
Me: I went to Disneyland at least 3 or 4 times when I was a kid. We live in the NW of the USA, so Disneyland is obviously much closer. However, ever since my family's first trip to Disney WORLD, I have never wanted to go back to the land! We actually tried to plan a trip to Disneyland once, and I told my mom that I would rather not go at all. (Terrible, I know, but true.) I have now been on three family vacations to Disney World. We stayed off site every time, and once our party consisted of ten people! (The answer to your question: Yes, it was insane. But it was also insanely fun.)
I am a type A personality and a planner by nature. I often say that my brain operates in lists. My mom and I have always planned our trips down to the little details. In fact, I have planned other people's vacations for them. (I handled all of the ADRs for my Grandparents a few years ago.) My DH was opposed to all of this planning at first. He wanted to just go and wing it. So, I told him, "Well, you married me!" He's now fine with it as long as there is flexibility in THE PLAN (there is) and I don't try to force him to love spreadsheets (I don't.)
DH: My DH has only been to Disneyland once or twice. I think he went when he was a kid, and his family took another trip when he was in high school. Unfortunately for him, because of this, he doesn't understand me when I start speaking "Disney World". I think he might need a glossary to understand our conversations about the trip. Poor guy. I made the mistake of showing him The Kitchen Sink dessert at Beaches and Cream and so his only requirement for the trip is that we order it.
I don't know how just the two of us will eat that, but we'll try (and then get extremely sick)
Plans A & B:
Originally, I planned for us to go from Dec. 3-11. I made an 8 page spreadsheet, including itinerary, packing lists, shopping lists, restaurants, menus, budget, etc. Then I found out that finals week for fall term was going to be Dec. 7-11. I was frustrated, but it wasn't the end of the world, and I started over.
Okay, let's take a red eye flight on Dec. 9th and stay until the 17th. DH's birthday is on the 10th, so we can still take advantage of the free birthday admission deal. This will work. Create wdw-2.xlsx. Tweak it, and perfect it. Yay! All we have to do now is book...
Plan C:
And then the college decided it would be better to move everything back and have Dec. 14-18 be finals week. I had to start over again, and at that point I was really disappointed and not looking forward to it because I was afraid my plans were just going to get screwed up again
We looked into the week before Christmas, as well as going during the last week of class and coming back for finals. Before Christmas was way too expensive ($1200 more than we had planned), and no one wants to come home from vacation to take their final exams (insert vomit smiley here). Briefly, we considered January. I started to think the trip wasn't going to happen. But then, I remembered:
In September there is free dining.
I priced it. Fall term doesn't start until Sept. 28th, so we could be flexible with our dates to accommodate DH's work schedule. Going in September would save us $800 from our original plans! YES! WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!
The Cast:
My DH and I are both young newlyweds and stressed out college students who take way too many classes. I'm an English major, and he is Pre-Med. Our finances, as you can imagine, are very tight. We had a completely DIY wedding and we had to put off our honeymoon until after the summer in order to afford it without going into debt. (We are Dave Ramsey fans --- we have no debt and avoid it at all costs.) But we are going to be able to afford it, and I am SO excited!!
Me: I went to Disneyland at least 3 or 4 times when I was a kid. We live in the NW of the USA, so Disneyland is obviously much closer. However, ever since my family's first trip to Disney WORLD, I have never wanted to go back to the land! We actually tried to plan a trip to Disneyland once, and I told my mom that I would rather not go at all. (Terrible, I know, but true.) I have now been on three family vacations to Disney World. We stayed off site every time, and once our party consisted of ten people! (The answer to your question: Yes, it was insane. But it was also insanely fun.)
I am a type A personality and a planner by nature. I often say that my brain operates in lists. My mom and I have always planned our trips down to the little details. In fact, I have planned other people's vacations for them. (I handled all of the ADRs for my Grandparents a few years ago.) My DH was opposed to all of this planning at first. He wanted to just go and wing it. So, I told him, "Well, you married me!" He's now fine with it as long as there is flexibility in THE PLAN (there is) and I don't try to force him to love spreadsheets (I don't.)
DH: My DH has only been to Disneyland once or twice. I think he went when he was a kid, and his family took another trip when he was in high school. Unfortunately for him, because of this, he doesn't understand me when I start speaking "Disney World". I think he might need a glossary to understand our conversations about the trip. Poor guy. I made the mistake of showing him The Kitchen Sink dessert at Beaches and Cream and so his only requirement for the trip is that we order it.
I don't know how just the two of us will eat that, but we'll try (and then get extremely sick)
Plans A & B:
Originally, I planned for us to go from Dec. 3-11. I made an 8 page spreadsheet, including itinerary, packing lists, shopping lists, restaurants, menus, budget, etc. Then I found out that finals week for fall term was going to be Dec. 7-11. I was frustrated, but it wasn't the end of the world, and I started over.
Okay, let's take a red eye flight on Dec. 9th and stay until the 17th. DH's birthday is on the 10th, so we can still take advantage of the free birthday admission deal. This will work. Create wdw-2.xlsx. Tweak it, and perfect it. Yay! All we have to do now is book...
Plan C:
And then the college decided it would be better to move everything back and have Dec. 14-18 be finals week. I had to start over again, and at that point I was really disappointed and not looking forward to it because I was afraid my plans were just going to get screwed up again
We looked into the week before Christmas, as well as going during the last week of class and coming back for finals. Before Christmas was way too expensive ($1200 more than we had planned), and no one wants to come home from vacation to take their final exams (insert vomit smiley here). Briefly, we considered January. I started to think the trip wasn't going to happen. But then, I remembered:
In September there is free dining.
I priced it. Fall term doesn't start until Sept. 28th, so we could be flexible with our dates to accommodate DH's work schedule. Going in September would save us $800 from our original plans! YES! WE ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!
Updates:
"I'll never go in September again!"
THE plan
I booked our trip!!
Sharing Meals on DDP
I FORGOT TO MAKE ADRS!
ADR results
Planning Cards & A Surprise for DH!
Boma ADR Change
How early does KTTK get booked?
Medieval Times... oh boy
Red Eye Flight and Dining Plans
"Honey, you didn't list underwear!"
Room Requests
Packing List
Pictures galore!
Flight and tour booked! Ebeneezer is an awesome CM!
Medieval Times and CODE NAMES!
How many cases of water?
The mail has arrived! and pin lanyards
Just how OCD am I?
Day 1 Plans
Airlines, Pins, and Day 2 Plans
Shopping Time!
LGMH, Pins & Mickey Mail!
Packing and Door Decor
New Camera!
Day 3
"Did your stomach just gurgle?"
MNSSHP Costumes!
Shoes & Bags
New Camera Pictures
Day 4 Plans
Day 5 Plans
Day 6 Plans
Day 7 Plans
Day 8 Plans
Weather Update
Day 9 Plans
Final Schedule
PACKING and we're going LIVE
"I'll never go in September again!"
THE plan
I booked our trip!!
Sharing Meals on DDP
I FORGOT TO MAKE ADRS!
ADR results
Planning Cards & A Surprise for DH!
Boma ADR Change
How early does KTTK get booked?
Medieval Times... oh boy
Red Eye Flight and Dining Plans
"Honey, you didn't list underwear!"
Room Requests
Packing List
Pictures galore!
Flight and tour booked! Ebeneezer is an awesome CM!
Medieval Times and CODE NAMES!
How many cases of water?
The mail has arrived! and pin lanyards
Just how OCD am I?
Day 1 Plans
Airlines, Pins, and Day 2 Plans
Shopping Time!
LGMH, Pins & Mickey Mail!
Packing and Door Decor
New Camera!
Day 3
"Did your stomach just gurgle?"
MNSSHP Costumes!
Shoes & Bags
New Camera Pictures
Day 4 Plans
Day 5 Plans
Day 6 Plans
Day 7 Plans
Day 8 Plans
Weather Update
Day 9 Plans
Final Schedule
PACKING and we're going LIVE