Feckless
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2011
From Sunstroke to a Concussion: A Yacht Club Disney Trip to Remember
Intro:
For those who dont know me, just a quick introduction to our family:
Me, Disney nerd and part-time unpaid travel agent.
DH, who comes along for the ride.
DD, age 12, who loves the thrill rides.
DS, age almost 11, who hates the heat but loves the Mouse.
When we went to BC in the spring of 2012, we thought that we wouldn't be back to the World in at least a couple of years. That's why my last trip report was called "Trip of a Lifetime"! Well, never say never...
My first plan to sneak back to Disney was to run the Tower of Terror 10 miler in October 2013, which would be great motivation. Unfortunately, I injured my knee after training for two months, and instead of working towards a 10 mile race, I had to work at physio to be able to walk without pain! So that plan was off, and nothing in its place. Right now I have the will to exercise but the knees of a middle aged Bobby Orr.
In February, a close friend called to tell me that she and her DH had decided to take their kids to Florida for the last two weeks of August, and that the first week would be Disney as they had done Universal the previous two years. She asked if our family would like to join them, and the plan was hatched to surprise the kids. The four kids are great friends, and have known each other since birth. They have barely had a cross word to each other, and spend considerable amounts of time together, including other, shorter trips. I knew this would be a dream come true for our kids, as they have asked me on multiple occasions to try to do a trip like this with this family. We had already made plans for DD to fly to Alberta to visit with my sister for the second week in August, and also had plans to go to Toronto for the last week of August for my DS to see the Blue Jays play the Yankees on his 11th birthday. The other familys planned Disney week fell directly in between our other two planned trips, and so it seemed to be meant to be! Then our friends said that they would be willing to stay at the Beach Club, which we loved so much last time. At that moment, I knew I had to try to make it happen.
Somehow, after much time at my computer, I managed to work out flights so that we arrived in Terminal 3 of Pearson International in Toronto one hour before DD's flight arrived from my sister's city so that we could meet her when she got off her flight right at the gate. Unfortunately, the next flight to go to Orlando on that airline didn't leave until 5 hours after DD arrived, but I figured the kids could deal. Originally, the plan was to not tell either set of kids that the other was going until they saw each other in the lobby of the hotel. I knew it would be hard, but I knew we had to try! My DD knew about the Toronto leg of the trip, and DS also had some suspicions after overhearing conversations, but neither knew when we would be going exactly, or where we would be staying in Toronto. They thought that would be the extent of our surprises! Little did they know.
After we booked, the search began for discounts! First I got a PIN code for free dining in the mail. Unfortunately it was for the week AFTER our dates! Boooo... So, I watched the Boards and waited until discounts came out for our dates to try to get a RO discount. Finally, they were announced! I immediately called Disney and the CM on the phone told me that there was nothing at all showing for our dates. Rechecked with the wonderful people on here and on another group I frequent, then I checked the Disney website myself. Lo and behold, there WAS a huge discount for our dates, but at the Yacht Club, not the BC. Lesson here is to never give up! Keep checking! So glad I didn't listen to the CM on the phone. Initially I was a bit disappointed to not get my beloved BC, but the discount was so good I booked it right away. The other family was booking CL which meant of course we had to as well (LOL). I spoke to the other family, they also found the discount and switched their reservation to the YC and saved about $1,000. I booked YC standard view CL for our family. It was a go!!!!
We were going HERE. Could not believe it.
Next up: Surprise/Travel Day!
Intro:
For those who dont know me, just a quick introduction to our family:
Me, Disney nerd and part-time unpaid travel agent.
DH, who comes along for the ride.
DD, age 12, who loves the thrill rides.
DS, age almost 11, who hates the heat but loves the Mouse.
When we went to BC in the spring of 2012, we thought that we wouldn't be back to the World in at least a couple of years. That's why my last trip report was called "Trip of a Lifetime"! Well, never say never...
My first plan to sneak back to Disney was to run the Tower of Terror 10 miler in October 2013, which would be great motivation. Unfortunately, I injured my knee after training for two months, and instead of working towards a 10 mile race, I had to work at physio to be able to walk without pain! So that plan was off, and nothing in its place. Right now I have the will to exercise but the knees of a middle aged Bobby Orr.
In February, a close friend called to tell me that she and her DH had decided to take their kids to Florida for the last two weeks of August, and that the first week would be Disney as they had done Universal the previous two years. She asked if our family would like to join them, and the plan was hatched to surprise the kids. The four kids are great friends, and have known each other since birth. They have barely had a cross word to each other, and spend considerable amounts of time together, including other, shorter trips. I knew this would be a dream come true for our kids, as they have asked me on multiple occasions to try to do a trip like this with this family. We had already made plans for DD to fly to Alberta to visit with my sister for the second week in August, and also had plans to go to Toronto for the last week of August for my DS to see the Blue Jays play the Yankees on his 11th birthday. The other familys planned Disney week fell directly in between our other two planned trips, and so it seemed to be meant to be! Then our friends said that they would be willing to stay at the Beach Club, which we loved so much last time. At that moment, I knew I had to try to make it happen.
Somehow, after much time at my computer, I managed to work out flights so that we arrived in Terminal 3 of Pearson International in Toronto one hour before DD's flight arrived from my sister's city so that we could meet her when she got off her flight right at the gate. Unfortunately, the next flight to go to Orlando on that airline didn't leave until 5 hours after DD arrived, but I figured the kids could deal. Originally, the plan was to not tell either set of kids that the other was going until they saw each other in the lobby of the hotel. I knew it would be hard, but I knew we had to try! My DD knew about the Toronto leg of the trip, and DS also had some suspicions after overhearing conversations, but neither knew when we would be going exactly, or where we would be staying in Toronto. They thought that would be the extent of our surprises! Little did they know.
After we booked, the search began for discounts! First I got a PIN code for free dining in the mail. Unfortunately it was for the week AFTER our dates! Boooo... So, I watched the Boards and waited until discounts came out for our dates to try to get a RO discount. Finally, they were announced! I immediately called Disney and the CM on the phone told me that there was nothing at all showing for our dates. Rechecked with the wonderful people on here and on another group I frequent, then I checked the Disney website myself. Lo and behold, there WAS a huge discount for our dates, but at the Yacht Club, not the BC. Lesson here is to never give up! Keep checking! So glad I didn't listen to the CM on the phone. Initially I was a bit disappointed to not get my beloved BC, but the discount was so good I booked it right away. The other family was booking CL which meant of course we had to as well (LOL). I spoke to the other family, they also found the discount and switched their reservation to the YC and saved about $1,000. I booked YC standard view CL for our family. It was a go!!!!
We were going HERE. Could not believe it.
Next up: Surprise/Travel Day!
