Instead of having a few more chapters I am going to lump everything else into here, and just break it up into parts.
So we are set on the resort set on the dates, set on the transportation.
WRONG!!!
We have changes resorts, changed, dates, might as well change the transportation aspect of the trip as well.
About the time that we changing everything else, I figured out how much it would cost to drive down with gas, hotel, food etc.
Then I looked at flights, total cost for flights was about 400 more than driving, not much, but still a good chunk of money.
So looked into flights a little more, and southwest was running a deal that when you sign up for there credit card, and make a purchase you would get 25,000 bonus points in your account.
hmmm, sounded interesting.
so I quickly figured out that was enough points for some free flights.
So i called, was approved for the card, and the next day used my account to book the flights HOME from disney.
Home? you might be thinking okay you ding dong, you have to get there first, but there was a method to my madness.
the flights home were about 10 dollars more than flights down to disney.
convert the price of the flight to points,
flights home were roughly 26,000 points, more than they would be giving me.
convert the price of flights to points for the
trip down and they convert to roughly 24,000 points.
less than what i would get as my bonus. so i had to wait one week till my billing cycle of the card credited my points and prayed that the price of flights did not go up and ruin my plan.
they didnt and i had enough points in the account to book one way tickets for all of us to disney.
the only thing i had to pay for was the $2.50 security fee for us three.
so the four of flew to disney world for a grand total of $7.50 (noelle was free)
add up the cost of the flight there and back and we would actually save about $100 over the cost to drive both ways, not to mention the difference of a 2 hour 20 minute flight to 21 hour car ride.
so everything was completely set, with the trip, just had to pay it off now.
the next six months consisted of my parents taking my sisters family to disney for there turn, and them checking out AoA and excited for our trip.
many family camping trips, candis birthday, hanging out at home, doing things around the region.
Noelles first birthday party celebration. of course it was pixie themed and everything miniature and bit size.
Grandpa and Grandma took the whole family, mine and my sisters to Indiana Beach for a long weekend getaway, The rides are not disney but the kids have a blast and enjoy it.
I may or may not have taken a picture on a moving zip line that i was not suppose to.
We had a blast climbing along the 3 story tall rope/obstacle
even enjoyed the pool throwing parker back and forth.
KEEPING THE SURPRISE FROM PARKER
The Surprise for parker was easy to keep.
Sometimes anyway.
Here are some things he asked us the last few months.
Parker questions listed and our responses back to him at different times
"Daddy When can we go to disney world?"
-it cost alot of money buddy
-well sissy needs to be a little bigger still
"Do you guys have enough money in your piggy bank to go?"
-not yet buddy it costs alot of money.
then the one that followed that that almost broke us down and told him
"well do I have enough money in my piggy bank that we can use?"
-no you save your money buddy
then another dozzy
him singing this song as we are driving to grandparents for dinner one night about 3 weeks before go on the trip
"sometimes you just gotta, gotta go to disney world"
-our response to that was just laugh and tell him how cute that was, when asked where he heard it, he said i just made it up because i want to go to disney world.
there were a few other variations and questions but those were the ones that stand out to me.
KEEPING THE SURPRISE FROM CANDI
this one was a mix of easier and more difficult.
started out easy. first few months flew by, i told marv, and of course or TA dawn knew.
cover almost blown...about 3 months old, i was texting marv back and forth talking about it, well the conversation wasnt right back and forth some time was going between texts, with both of us being busy at work.
so fast forward about an hour, and i am at home sitting down for dinner, when i hear my phone ding for a new message, we dont check them while we eat, but for some reason candi had to run to the living room, and on her way back by, she glanced at the phone and said it is a message from marv.
then sits down and says "does AoA stand for art of animation?"
me always quick on my toes said smiled and said, yes, i was going to try and surprise you later, but since we could not get in there, marv was going to surprise you with coming down for a few days and using some DVC points to get a room there so we could use the pool and what not.
the charm and the quickness at which i said it she, instantly believed me and all was well again.
from that point forward me and marv were more careful with our texting. lol
fast forward about 4 weeks from the trip, and candi says, i tried to look up our reservation online, but could not find anything...i even called POP and she says that they dont show us staying there.
me deer in the headlights look but still calm, say i have no idea why she couldnt find it.
she then told me that the CM said it was probably because we booked through a TA that it didnt show up.
i then told her that our reservation didnt show anything important just our dates or travel....so nothing to look up.
NEXT hurdle was when the ME tags showed up, luckily i got the mail first that day and took them and hid them, just showed her the mickey head luggage tags.
Next hurdle was the huge package of info that dawn sent us, including resort info, schedules etc...so i had to take all the AoA stuff out, i redid them and printed out POP info in its place...not alot of work but still sneaky sneaky.
we were down to days before our trip and all was set...i just never brought up the bright yellow luggage tags that needed to go on our bags the days before we were packing.
Parker saw our luggage in our room, and when he asked what it was out for, candi just said it is easier to store away our summer clothes in and get out or winter stuff...he bought it.
my parents came over the day before our trip, and gave the kids gift cards to spend, but told them that they wanted to just let them have them for the next time they go...parker was just thrilled he had a card with mickey on it.
next up will be the morning of the trip and how we broke the surprise to parker and candi, and heading out.
here is a disney picture for this update, last night we had the minnie head sugar cookie that we got with one of our snack credits before we left...
verdict, not worth it, very dry and no flavor, parker even made a face and didnt want to finish his part, and asked for milk.
GB nice to have you on board...i havent seen to many of them yet either so i hope people get some good info and enjoy the pictures that we have of the resort...pretty soon we will get to the resort, not having a PRETR has me playing a little catch up before we get there.
Joining in. I've read your other trips reports and can't wait to hear all about this trip and AoA.
, this "avoiding Atlanta during a weekday" excuse is stretching it! 
