The Fab Four Hit WDW! Updated: This Time Next Week Posts!

[DreaGirl]

I've been planning this trip since September and now that it's almost time to make our ADRs I thought I would start my official PTR!

I'll start with the cast:

Me: Drea. I'm on the left. I'm a SAHM to two crazy kids. Obviously I love Disney and all things that go along with it. I love planning our Disney trips and consider that half the fun. In my former life I was a Kindergarten teacher.

DH: Rob. He's a great husband and father. He works from home doing something with computers and programming. He says that he likes WDW, but doesn't love it. He lets me do the planning but he does enjoy looking at the restaurant menus and gives me suggestions for that part of our trip.

DD: A. She's 3. Is that enough description for you? If you have ever had a 3 year old, you know what I mean. She loves the Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, and Tinkerbell. We look at pictures from our past trips a lot and we enjoy talking about what we are going to do on our upcoming trip.

DS: B. He's 9 months old. He's a very laid back little guy and basically goes with the flow. He loves his big sister and chases her around all day long. He has recently started expressing his opinion by yelling "AH" which annoys his sister so he does it more.

We've been on 3 trips as a family. Our most recent trip was in November of 2008. 1 week before my due date with B. we got a pin code for free dining. We were on the phone that afternoon and booked a stay for 2 months after my due date. Little B. was a very good baby and was born on his due date, so our plan worked out great! We had a great trip but traveling with 2 kids does have its moments. We learned a lot though.

We are going October 18-24 and where we are staying has been up in the air for about a week now. We've never had resort changeitis before, so this has been a little crazy for us. What can I say we enjoy living on the wild side.

Up next: Where the heck are we going to stay?!

 

[IluvXU]

I saw this and of course have to read along. Can't wait to see what you decide! And yes I know what it is like to have a three year old all to well!

Love the title... too cute!

 

[DreaGirl]

I started planning this trip in September of 2008. I was very pregnant with my DS and wanted a get away. Rob and I must have been on the same wavelength because as I was pricing trips he came upstairs (he works from home) and said "Let's plan a trip to Disney World. I want to go back during F&W." I just laughed and said okay.

So, I called our AAA TA and asked her to price the Family Suites at ASMu. We liked the price, the rooms, and the kitchenette so we booked it. A week later we got a pin code for free dining in November, we booked that too.

Here are some pix from our November trip. Look at little B., he was so tiny!!

We stayed at Pop that trip and we fell in love with the resort. So, in January I called and changed our Family Suite reservation to a preferred room at Pop. That was all set.

Well, then we went to Hershey PA in May. It was a fun trip and we had a great time. We learned a few things on that trip, like the fact that B. doesn't like to sleep in hotels. He was up several times a night and really enjoyed waking up at 5 am.

That combined with the fact that we won't be going next year (we hope to sell our home) meant that DH suggested an UPGRADE BABY!

So, I was off to get some prices. I got prices for Animal Kingdom, Wilderness Lodge, BoardWalk, and SSR (studio and 1 Bdroom).

When we got the prices back BW was out. We had stayed at WL before and loved it, but I wanted to try something new. So, our choices were AKL (SV) and SSR (1 Bedroom).

After much talk we decided to do AKL with a Savannah View. It was set, final, great, so happy. I called my AAA TA and had her change the reservation.

Then, on Saturday Rob looks at me and says, wouldn't the space in a 1 Bedroom be great....

 

[DreaGirl]

I saw this and of course have to read along. Can't wait to see what you decide! And yes I know what it is like to have a three year old all to well!

Love the title... too cute!

Yes, I know you know what a 3 year old is like.

Thanks for following along!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm joining in!! Your kiddos are just so cute!

I know the resortitis well! I can't wait to see where you end up staying!

 

[DreaGirl]

All day Saturday & Sunday we talked about why we should stay in a 1 Bedroom. I even e-mailed my Dis friend Laura to get her viewpoint. We were in serious talks for sure.

My mind kept wandering back to AKL and sitting on the balcony, sipping my tea, watching the animals. I could see my daughter smiling as she stared off into the Savannah....

Then I snapped back into reality when Rob said "you know B. is going to be up at the crack of dawn." That was enough for me, 1 Bedroom here we come.

After we started looking at the numbers again , I headed over to the DVC Rent/Trade board. After a lot of research I decided to take the plunge and try to rent points.

So, after a few e-mails, a few phone calls, and a pay pal transfer we are staying at....*drum roll please*

Saratoga Springs Resort!

*Images from Flickr WDWAnswerGuide*

Up Next: We need 6 TS meals...where are we going to eat?!

 

[DreaGirl]

I'm joining in!! Your kiddos are just so cute!

I know the resortitis well! I can't wait to see where you end up staying!

Thanks for joining in! I'm sure I'll have a few lists up soon, so you'll feel right at home here.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Ooh, after reading brookelizabeth's TR on her stay at SSR, I really want to stay there. It looks beautiful and so relaxing!

 

[DreaGirl]

Ooh, after reading brookelizabeth's TR on her stay at SSR, I really want to stay there. It looks beautiful and so relaxing!

I'll have to find her TR. I've been looking for one where they stayed at SSR.

I hope my kids find it very relaxing and it induces long nights of sleep and many morning of sleeping until 8 am. A girl can dream, right?

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'll have to find her TR. I've been looking for one where they stayed at SSR.

I hope my kids find it very relaxing and it induces long nights of sleep and many morning of sleeping until 8 am. A girl can dream, right?

I wish you lots and lots of pixie dust for that!

It's a good TR, she took lots of pictures!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Hey there,

Just popping in from the J&K thread! You're pre-trip report is so cute and your kids are adorable. We're coming in the day after you leave. Anyhoo, just wanted to say hi and that I'm looking forward to your trip report! I always say I'm going to do one but then I never do, guess it's the eternal procrastinator in me!

Wanted to add that you are one brava Mama to go to Disney after having a baby so soon! Now that's dedication!

 

[DreaGirl]

Hey there,

Just popping in from the J&K thread! You're pre-trip report is so cute and your kids are adorable. We're coming in the day after you leave. Anyhoo, just wanted to say hi and that I'm looking forward to your trip report! I always say I'm going to do one but then I never do, guess it's the eternal procrastinator in me!

Wanted to add that you are one brava Mama to go to Disney after having a baby so soon! Now that's dedication!

Hi! Welcome!

Thank you! I think they are pretty cute too. You should start a PTR, I'll follow along.

With my daughter, it was crazy. She had colic and we felt like we were going to go crazy if we didn't get out of the house. We ended up going to Frankenmuth, MI. So, we just planned ahead this time and went to Disney after B.

 

[DreaGirl]

I wish you lots and lots of pixie dust for that!

It's a good TR, she took lots of pictures!

Thanks, I PM'ed her and she pointed me in the right direction.

I have a feeling I'm going to need more than pixie dust, maybe a Disney miracle.

 

[DreaGirl]

So, after some more talking we are going to add 2 days onto our trip.

We are going to fly in on the 17th and either stay off-site or if a room only code comes out stay at a value. Our first day on past trips have not been that good. I usually try to get a very early flight so we are all exhausted before we even reach MK.

So our plan is this:

Fly out on the 17th (morning or mid-morning flight). Stay at a value or off-site. So, now we'll be able to wake up on the 18th, check-in at SSR and head right to the parks (hopefully refreshed).

18th-24th SSR!!!

24th-Stay offsite or a value.

We have two reason why we are staying off-site or a value on the 24th. 1st reason is because a lot of flights have been cut from Detroit to Orlando. The only cheap flights are coming up for 6:30 am or 7:15 am. I don't want to miss out on our last day at Disney (usually our DTD day). We would love to stay at SSR, but it is a Saturday and that is a lot of points.

So, on the 24th we'll enjoy the resort until 11 i.e. Rob and the kids will have a fun time and I'll be in the room packing. Then we'll check out and head to DTD for lunch and a little shopping. Check in to our hotel for the night and turn in early for our flight the next day.

What do you think? Has anyone stayed off-site? Any recommendations?!

Also, I know if you bring milk or other cold items to one of the hotels they will hold it for you (in cold storage) until your room is ready. Does anyone know if SSR does that?

 

[pooksma]

Im here!

Great start. I remember all too well what it was like to travel with DS at age 2 and applaud your braveness

Looking forward to seeing more pics of your beautiful children.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I think it's very smart to stay offsite or value on the first and last nights. You don't want to pay those high point values! Do you rent a car?? I know that I am limited to staying on property for that first night I want to add because I need the Magical Express service.

 

[jenjolt]

Awww I just had to come over and read you PTR!!! Your kids are adorable!! I can't wait to hear more about your plans!! Your ADR day must be coming...any hints on what you are hoping to get???

 

[joy13]

I'm in - we come in the day you leave. I can't wait to read about your ADR's. Feel free to stop in on my pre-trip as well

 

[IluvXU]

The Contemporary held a cooler of cold stuff for us and moved it to CSR... if that helps.

 

[DreaGirl]

Im here!

Great start. I remember all too well what it was like to travel with DS at age 2 and applaud your braveness

Looking forward to seeing more pics of your beautiful children.

Hi Welcome! The good thing is that Rob has never traveled to Disney (as an adult) without kids, so he has no idea how good it can be with just adults!

I think it's very smart to stay offsite or value on the first and last nights. You don't want to pay those high point values! Do you rent a car?? I know that I am limited to staying on property for that first night I want to add because I need the Magical Express service.

Yeah, that is what we thought too. It is just so many points and each day we aren't really going to be at the resort at all.

We do rent a car. We didn't in November and Rob hated it. Getting the stroller on and off the bus plus trying to wrangle two kids on the bus was a bit stressful.

Awww I just had to come over and read you PTR!!! Your kids are adorable!! I can't wait to hear more about your plans!! Your ADR day must be coming...any hints on what you are hoping to get???

Thank you! I thought I had all our restaurants picked but since we changed resorts I feel like I need to add in one at DTD. My husband was not surprised that I was changing my mind on the ADRs.

I'm in - we come in the day you leave. I can't wait to read about your ADR's. Feel free to stop in on my pre-trip as well

Thanks for joining in! I'm going to post about the ADRs tonight because I need some advice. I'll head over and check yours out after dinner.

The Contemporary held a cooler of cold stuff for us and moved it to CSR... if that helps.

Oh cool! I thought that each resort would do that, but you know what happens when you assume things.