May the Force be with who? A May 2013 PTR

[kwitcherkicken99]

POST 1: But your TR isn’t done yet!
In honor of me crossing the 8,000 post barrier AND not having completed my current TR – I’ve decided to start a PTR for my family’s upcoming trip to the World in May 2013.


This is officially my 8,000th post on the Disboards!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Placeholder for the plans!


Of course they're all tentative for now...


Goal resort: BWVGOT IT!
Goal meals: Akershus, 50sPT, Le Cellier, Boma, either the Wave or Cali Grill and others TBD (most likely a stop at T-Rex )
BOOKED: 50sPT, CRT, Sanaa, Le Cellier, H&V, and Mama Melrose (with F! priority seating)
Goal days: 7 days/6 nights including SWW
BOOKED: 8 days/7 nights

Special goals: BBB for DD3 (4 at time of travel). We will do the Crown package as it will give her a t-sirt and tutu that will "hopefully" hold up better than a princess dress. (and should be cooler!)
BOOKED!

From Allears.net

NOTE 3/12: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique has added a new package to the services they provide. The Courtyard Package includes: shimmering makeup, nails and Courtyard Package exclusive hairstyle, Princess sash, face gems and princess cinch bag, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique T-shirt and tutu. (The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique T-shirt will be available in youth sizes from S to XL and adult sizes S to XL. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique tutu will be available in two sizes, small and medium.) This new package costs $89.95. The boutique has also adjusted the prices on two other packages: the Coach Package is now $54.95; the Crown Package is now $59.95.

Pirate Adventure for DS. I asked DS about this and he's really excited. Wants either me or DH to go, but we can't. Once I told him it was like going to babysitting at the Y, he was okay with going solo.

From the Disney site:

Disney's Pirate Adventure

Aspiring buccaneers between the ages of 4 and 12 board a pirate-themed boat and scour the waterways around Walt Disney World Resort in search of pirate treasure during a swashbuckling high-seas adventure.

On this guided expedition, each participant enjoys a light snack and beverage, learns how to talk like a pirate, visits legendary ports-of-call, and—if he or she is lucky—returns with a bag of pirate booty! Disney's Pirate Adventure is a 2-hour sailing voyage that takes place each day at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Additional information and reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance by calling the Walt Disney World Recreation Department at 407-WDW-PLAY (407-939-7529). Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

and a surprise for DH's birthday. Surprise TBD as the Richard Petty Diving Experience is WAY out of budget. The ride along price isn't bad, but DH would want to DRIVE, not ride along. Maybe I'll hit the lottery.

BOOKED A CAKE FOR LE CELLIER, BUT WILL CHANGE THAT TO CRT because I'm a fool to skip out on the chocolate moose and creme brulee!

I also booked our Photopass + package and our airfare

Tips I found for SWW this year.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

DH and I have been throwing around our next trip to WDW since about a week after we left in 2010. We had PLANNED to wait until the FLE was complete, but I’ve managed to finagle 2 trips without him into the last year.

A dear friend of mine and her family landed in Orlando today for their first family trip and SWW. He is jealous and wants to go. While texting with him today about them landing and getting on ME, he caved. He said to plan for next May, so here we are.

We know we’ll miss the Mine Train coaster and the opening of the new Royal Princess Hall by about a year, but honestly, he can’t wait any longer.

The plan all along has been to rent DVC points to stay at BWV. I had to promise him no more pre-RD ADRs and while I know that we’ll need to be up SUPER early for SWW, if we stay closer to DHS, it may entice him to get up early. Once. Proximity will be key here.

I’m also planning on getting DS into one of the YES programs while we are there – providing there is a class available. He’s super excited for the opportunity to do it. I also want to do something special with him and that’s still up in the air. With DD going to BBB, I’d like to do something for him, but thanks to my mother making a backhanded comment when he was 3, he outright refuses to put gel or any type of color in his hair nor will he allow face paint. THANKS MOM! I’m considering the Pirates and Pals cruise but the jury is still out.

We would also be at the World around 4 days after DH’s birthday. I’d LOVE to surprise him with a morning at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. After my epic failure at a birthday surprise this year (I bought him a new grill – and he doesn’t want to give up his old, rusted, cooks-too-fast other one…), I’m worried about investing in the deal in case he doesn’t want to do it.

I also plan to take the whole family on the Behind the Seeds tour one of our days. I really enjoyed it in December and I’d love to take the family through the exhibit. The kids remember me telling them that Aunt E and I got to let some ladybugs loose into the exhibit and they want to do it too.

I also put out an invitation to the MIL. She has expressed in the past that she’d like to see “my” Disney. She doesn’t like the idea that we’re planning this far out and are looking for a commitment. “It’s a year away!” If she only knew what goes in to planning a successful trip AND how it saves money, she’d be on board in less than 30 seconds! I’ll keep trying. I do need her to decide by the end of summer. I’m planning to book a studio. If she comes, we’ll need a 1 bedroom villa.

I believe I can pull all of this stuff off. Only time will tell!

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah! I'm in!

And may the force be with you.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Yeah! I'm in!

And may the force be with you.

Thanks! It's a lofty goal but I think I can do it.

As much as people tell me not to invite the MIL, I'd really like her to go. I know... I'm NUTS!

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks! It's a lofty goal but I think I can do it.

As much as people tell me not to invite the MIL, I'd really like her to go. I know... I'm NUTS!

Brave you are.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

The players:

Me. I have been tirelessly losing weight for Mickey for the last 3 years and that goal will continue into our next trip. I WILL be lighter than our last trip. I work in education as a parasite **erhm** paraprofessional and do photography on the side. If it exists… I’ll shoot it. I’ve covered events like the 2012 Super Bowl and I’ve also had the honor of photographing the POTUS and VPOTUS within a one year time span.

DH and DD. DH works in production locally and DD is just an adorable little red-headed princess in the making. She’s looking forward to her first trip to BBB and he’s looking forward to SWW. She’ll be 4 at the time of travel.

Finally, there’s

DS. He’ll almost be 7, just a couple months shy. He’s an intelligent kid who is an avid character hunter.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Checking in

 

[annmarieda]

I am here!

I don't blame you for inviting your mil. I seem to be a glutton for punishment too.. Funny how when we love something we want to share it with others we love...even if they won't enjoy it in the same way we do.

How fun that your dd will be doing BBB! I loved that dd did it on our December trip. I have it booked again for the fall... but dd actually said she may not want to do it.

Can't wait to read along with your plans!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Help me Obi Wan Kwitch! You're my only hope!

Getting to the World for a SWW...any weekend......is as likely as me leaving the Death Star in our moment of triumph!

Staying on this Kwitcherkicken Falcon is gonna be my only way of seeing it.




p.s. Congratulations on 8K.

 

[Chicago Mo]

I'm in!!! also trying to lose weight (again) and amateur photographer!
the SUPERBOWL?!?!?! WOW!!!
your my hero.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I am so happy for you Now you can't make me feel guilty any more about getting my fix sooner than you Is it bad though that I want to go with you I want to meet Darth Goofy and Storm Trooper Duck

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Checking in

I am here!

I don't blame you for inviting your mil. I seem to be a glutton for punishment too.. Funny how when we love something we want to share it with others we love...even if they won't enjoy it in the same way we do.

We've had a bad run lately and she really could use the vacation. She officially retired (early) but is considering going back to being a parasite **erhm** paraprofessional for a couple of years to offset her pension until she can receive full benefits.

She is also fighting me on leaving FIL for a week. He doesn't want to go. He is refusing to go. There's no reason she can't go anywhere without him for a week. He loves it when she's gone because he can get stuff done.

How fun that your dd will be doing BBB! I loved that dd did it on our December trip. I have it booked again for the fall... but dd actually said she may not want to do it.

It's something that DH wants her to do and she wants to get her nails done in the castle (of all things...) We decided a while back that we were going to wait to have it until she's older - we couldn't see spending the money when she was 3.

The only thing that stinks is that we know we don't want to use two DDP credits on CRT and frankly DH wants to go back to Akershus because the character interaction was just SO GOOD. I know we'll do BBB in the castle, not at DTD. So now, I wrestle with to hop or not. That's an extra $200-250 that I don't necessarily want to spend.

KWIM?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Help me Obi Wan Kwitch! You're my only hope!

I want that on my avatar!!!

Getting to the World for a SWW...any weekend......is as likely as me leaving the Death Star in our moment of triumph!

Staying on this Kwitcherkicken Falcon is gonna be my only way of seeing it.




p.s. Congratulations on 8K.

Thanks. DH became a big fan of the special events when we went to MNSSHP. I did have to tell him though that we'd have to share SWW with EVERYONE ELSE ON PROPERTY.

He is also NOT an early riser. My hope is that with being at BWV he'll be more open to getting up early, at least ONE day...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm in!!! also trying to lose weight (again) and amateur photographer!
the SUPERBOWL?!?!?! WOW!!!
your my hero.

neighbor!

I've been on this journey since our September 2010 trip.

I've relapsed quite a bit this month but I know I can reach my goal of being down 50lbs.

I have a lot of things that I need to change and frankly, I've just been lazy since I got back from my December trip. And gained back pretty much everything I lost for that trip. It didn't help that I gained 10 lbs on the trip... I blame it on not having the kids to push around.

I've been doing photography since I was 9 years old. I have my degree in photography and that's how I met my BFF, E (DisneyAddict). We met at photo school.

I freelance for a local paper and it has awarded me some fantastic opportunities.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I am so happy for you Now you can't make me feel guilty any more about getting my fix sooner than you Is it bad though that I want to go with you I want to meet Darth Goofy and Storm Trooper Duck

I know.

I think I'm more excited for the photo op with Chewy.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Okay, so DH mentioned going down Tuesday to Tuesday.

That's 8 days/7 nights.

W.O.W.!!

Now, do we go for that long or go Wednesday to Tuesday? If we order tickets from UT, you buy 6 days and get the 7th "free". No deal like that for 8 days... :

We'd also have to pay on a 7th night on DDP.

I'm throwing around the idea of a signature meal (paging Cali Grill) and I'd be willing to do that if we stayed 7 nights, BUT is it financially worth it?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Also, we've discussed DS doing a YES program while we're there.

He's super smart and loves to learn and what better than to marry education and a trip to Disney?

I finally remembered to call them today and it's a bit on the hopeless side. They don't release the dates for individual enrollment by a set date...

It appears as though they only book 6 months out. So there would be no guarantee that a program would be available for him to do. The YES ticket price is extremely tempting but I'd only be able to get that rate for 1 AD and DS as DD would be too young for any enrollment.

BUT... and it's a BIG BUT...

Disney is due to raise ticket prices again and if we go by the 6 month outage, that puts me way out of the window for cheap YES tickets and over by several months of the price increase.

Blast.

 

[Moodyzblu]

Joining in !! SWW is going to be a blast. We went last year, but I had no idea what it was really all about. We just stumbled upon it ... I wish I had done more research and took full advantage of it once I realized exactly what it was.

Looking forward to seeing your plans unfold.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Joining in !! SWW is going to be a blast. We went last year, but I had no idea what it was really all about. We just stumbled upon it ... I wish I had done more research and took full advantage of it once I realized exactly what it was.

Looking forward to seeing your plans unfold.

I actually helped a childhood friend of mine just plan their SWW trip (they're on property right now) so I feel pretty comfortable with some aspects. I'm hoping her first hand report will get us the rest of the way there.

I'll admit, I've never seen the ENTIRE Star Wars series (the movies) but I'm pretty good with generalities of the franchise. EG - I fake it! My ex was bent on making me a fan but I just couldn't get rabid about it. I completely appreciate what George Lucas has done with the story and it has grown on me a bit. Maybe being fully immersed would put me over the edge?

I was listening to a podcast on Sorceror Radio before my buddy left and they were interviewing Ashley Eckstein who voices Ahsoka Tano on the Clone Wars series. If you don't know anything about her, her story is AMAZING! I have fallen in love with her persona listening to reports from SWW about her. She truly "gets" it. I love, too, that she has been given permission and license to start a Star Wars clothing line called Her Universe that's targeted towards girls. That podcast I listened to had her talking about the new line and how she is trying very hard to keep the cost down so the clothes are accessible to everyone! There are rumors of a children's line coming so I'll be able to (hopefully) find some girly things for DD when we go. It won't be ANY fun if she doesn't get to dress Star Wars for the event!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahsoka_Tano