$5 A Day Means Disney MY Way! Update: Updated ADRs!

[meggiebeth]

Hello, and welcome to my PTR!

I shall explain the logic behind the PTR title and the basis of this trip later in this post.

Please click here to read my summary of the trip, which I update as new things are booked and planned. We have a total of 162 TS meals so lots of input on ADRs and restaurants is encouraged and really appreciated!

Now, first of all, let's get introductions under way. This PTR shall be composed by myself- the Disney planner of my family... and the dedicated writer of this TR!

Me (Meg) Aged 16



My name is Meg. I am 16 years old, and plan our Disney trips to the World when money allows. My parents love WDW, but do not obsess about it like me. So, therefore, they like me to plan all the trips we go on.

Daddy (AKA Will)



This is my dad- AKA Will. He is a true, patriotic Scotsman and loves WDW. He is also really cheap however, and HATES parting with money! He does think Disney is worth it though, in a way I never thought he would.

Mummy (AKA Tracey)



Here he is with my mum, the next person in this PTR! Going by the name of Tracey, she loves Disney and actually wants to go back just as much as me! Our first trip was August 2011 and she absolutely fell in love with the place... well... that and the buffet breakfasts.



Here is me with Mummy, at my cousin's Christening in London. We have a close relationship and we can always talk about Disney together... the things my dad doesn't like. He prefers to show up for the holiday and enjoy it without having to plan anything himself!

William (AKA Willum) Aged 14



This is William (we call him Willum) who is 14 years old and loves Florida, just not the actual Disney stuff! He cannot wait to get back. He is very 'teenager' in personality. But we gotta love 'im.

Rory (AKA Rorsie) Aged 8



And little Rory. He is 8 years old (as of the 10th October) and LOVES Disney. Disney movies, Disney parks, you name it- he loves it. We sit down and watch Disney movies regularly, spending some good brotherly-sisterly time together.

Oscar (AKA Oscie) Aged 3



And here, is my best little friend, our dear labrador Oscar. Of course, he cannot fly all the way to the US with us, so he will be staying at home with a dog sitter.

$5 A Day Means Disney MY Way!

Now, allow me to explain the title of this TR.

We went to WDW as a family (after much begging on my part) in August 2011. My parents were reluctant to say the least, and not expecting much in the holiday. We spent a week at Reunion Resort and a week at SSR with the DeluxeDDP. It was the most amazing holiday we have EVER had, and we all really want to go back.

We are booked to go back in October/November 2013, so yes, this is a year away! However, being from Britain, it takes a lot of planning and we have to book a year in advance anyway.

We are booked to stay 11 nights at SSR with the regular DDP. However we prefer the deluxe a lot and because this is going to be an expensive and rare trip already (we have been saving like mad) I have been forced to resort to my own tactics. Teeheehee.

I have been putting away $5 a day (about £3) which is not exactly much- really just my lunch money. Now I have about $300 already after two months of saving. I need £1200 to upgrade to deluxeDDP and have calculated that by the end of October 2013 I should have enough to pay for that AND our tickets to MNSSHP or MVMCP.

This is a fun little challenge for me to do and really inspires me to get through this awful year of exams and such.

I shall post regular updates regarding how much I have saved so far so you can all keep up with my progress.

So, please read along. I will be posting regular updates, updating you on our plans, bookings, my personal 'Florida Fund' and letting you get to know my family a little better.

Many thanks, fellow DIS'ers and please read along!

-Meg xo

[meggiebeth]

Contents of PTR

Up To Date Summary of Trip

~Getting To Know Us~
What Are We Looking Forward To Most?
Getting to Know Me (Meg)
Getting to Know Daddy (Will)
Getting to Know Mummy (Tracey)
Getting to Know Willum
Getting to Know Rorsie
Getting to Know Oscie

~Planning Posts (Input appreciated)~
Ratings Scheme
What Are Your 2 Favourite MK Restaurants?
What Are Your 2 Favourite Epcot Restaurants?
More Epcot Restaurants
Even More Epcot Restaurants
ADR Proposals

~Formal Trip Bookings Updates~
Getting Oscar's Arrangements Sorted
Our Flights Are Booked!
Our (Old) Advance Dining Reservations ~ Confirmed
Our Updated Advance Dining Reservations
Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour

~Planned Activities and Excursions~
ICE Exhibition at Gaylord Palms Resort
Fork and Screen Downtown Disney
The Kennedy Space Centre

~Florida Savings Updates~
Florida Savings Update 31/10
Florida Savings Update 22/11
Florida Savings Update 19/12

~Family and Real Life Updates~
Halloween 2012
Bonfire Night 2012
Christmas 2012
New Year's Eve 2012
The Verulamium Museum and St Albans
My Handmade Disney Hair Bows
Burns Night 2013
My First 'Craft Show' (Art Exhibition)
Chaos... Chaos... Chaos...!!!

[Riles_and_Gabe]

Sounds like fun! I will enjoy hearing about your plans!!

[t_daniels]

Joining in!

Good plan with the saving like that!

[meggiebeth]

Originally Posted by Riles_and_Gabe

Sounds like fun! I will enjoy hearing about your plans!!

Thanks for joining in! We hope it will be very fun!

Originally Posted by t_daniels

Joining in!

Good plan with the saving like that!

Thanks for joining! Thank you, it is really the only way we could get to eat at all the places I... I mean we... want to eat at!

[t_daniels]

Originally Posted by meggiebeth

Thanks for joining in! We hope it will be very fun!

Thanks for joining! Thank you, it is really the only way we could get to eat at all the places I... I mean we... want to eat at!

I completely understand. Disney food is my undoing.

[meggiebeth]

What Are We Looking Forward To About WDW 2013?

Welcome back!

Now, so you can get to know what we like most about WDW... I am going to explain what each of us are looking forward to.

Moi- Megan



1) I would like to be here again. The MK Castle is one of the most sentimentally wonderful things for me in the World. MK is my favourite park... and my parents' too. Just getting back there is important- seeing as we feel so far away from it now!



2) I am looking forward to the festivities at the parks- we will be at MNSSHP and MVMCP, but also the Epcot Food and Wine festival! Another reason for the $5 a day motive upgrading to the Deluxe DDP is that I believe all the food costs a snack credit each... (PLEASE correct me if I am wrong)... so we will have more credits to spend!

Daddy



1) Daddy LOVES DHS, but primarily TOWER OF TERROR!!! *Play dramatic music here.* To save myself from posting a photo more than once, I should also mention Mummy, Willum and Rorsie all are also looking forward to ToT.



2) Daddy loves movies so he LOVED Planet Hollywood and we shall be returning this year if all goes to plan! He also loved DAWM...

Mummy



1) Mummy loved the pools in Florida. Pools here are really cold, and we just loved our pool at SSR. This photo is of the main pool at Reunion, and yup, the lady sitting in the middle of the photo is, infact..... my mother.



2) And restaurants. She loves the restaurants in WDW... especially the breakfast buffets! We don't get lovely breakfasts like that in this country. She is helping me to save up to upgrade to the Deluxe DDP too... woop woop!

Rorsie



1) Rory loves the rides! Expedition Everest and Tower of Terror are two of his favourites. He didn't make the height requirement for Rock n' Roller Coaster and is already so EXCITED to ride it next year!!!



2) He loves meeting the characters too- like Remy. But also the Fab 5- you cannot miss them! And we ALL need our Mickey waffle fix! A year without Mickey waffles and I miss 'em so much!

Willum



1) William loves Splash Mountain and all the other thrill rides. He just thinks Brer Bear, Rabbit and Fox are the most 'epic' (his words) things ever.

2) If I had a photo of a TV, I would post that too. William loved watching American TV Channels in his bedroom at Reunion. He stayed there quite a bit whilst we enjoyed the parks.

[meggiebeth]

Originally Posted by t_daniels

I completely understand. Disney food is my undoing.

I'm glad someone understands! I was reading dining reports here on the DIS last night and my parents were acting like I was insane!

[debbiedana]

I love your report so far! You remind me of my DD13, always saving for Disney. Looking forward to your whole report!

[meggiebeth]

Originally Posted by debbiedana

I love your report so far! You remind me of my DD13, always saving for Disney. Looking forward to your whole report!

Thanks for joining in! I'm really glad that another teenager is constantly saving for Disney! As far as my parents are concerned it's only me! Your DD sounds like my kind of friend

[megveg]

im in! although im a bit older than you, im trying to convince/save for a family vacation in sept 2013! my parents will be celebrating their 30th anniversary and itll be a birthday gift for my brother. Im saving my $$$ along with you. (my name is Meg too!)

[meggiebeth]

Originally Posted by megveg

im in! although im a bit older than you, im trying to convince/save for a family vacation in sept 2013! my parents will be celebrating their 30th anniversary and itll be a birthday gift for my brother. Im saving my $$$ along with you. (my name is Meg too!)

Hi Meg! What a great name, right! How neat!

Thanks for joining in! That sounds great- 30 is a milestone! Keep persuading your parents! I had to beg before mine would agree, but that was more due to having to pay for it

Hope your savings are coming along nicely! And we'll be going just a month after you!

[meggiebeth]

Getting to Know Me (Meg)

Here is a post dedicated to getting you to know me better! First off, here, take a look at some photos of me... and find out where I like to go.



This is me and Mummy at my cousin's wedding in Scotland.



This is the Imperial War Museum in London.



This is in Sardinia, a beautiful island just off the coast of Italy- we went here the year before we went to Florida.





These two are pictures taken in our most recent holiday to Scotland when we were exploring the CairnGorm National Park- beautiful!!!



This is me at a car show. Very English!



This is me, Mummy, Daddy and Oscar outside a pub near our home. It was such a fun day (and nice weather for a change). Rory was taking the picture, and Willum was at home, on the Xbox presumably.

Personal Profile

Name~ Megan
Age~ 16
Favourite places~ WDW, France, Sardinia and London
Favourite food~ Mickey waffles and chocolate
Hobbies~ Art, scrapbooking, singing and holiday planning
Favourite Disney character~ Hmmmn. Mulan, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Mushu, Maximus... and many more.
Favourite park~ Magic Kingdom
Favourite resort hotel~ Grand Floridian and SSR
Favourite restaurant~ Chef Mickey's, Akershus, Citricos and HDDR are some of them
Favourite place near us~ Cambridge

We visit here frequently. This photo was taken by Mummy and Daddy- they went punting as an anniversary treat. But I couldn't get it out of my head that that time last year, we were in Epcot.

[meggiebeth]

Savings Count

£247.50 (£952.50 left to save)

[eeyoresnr]

joining in...it's so refreshing to see someone your age take such an active roll in not only planning your Disney trip, but saving for it also...
your family is just too cute and your dog is absolutely gorgeous!

I too am doing a PTR and my trip is further away than yours (Dec 2013)

you are doing an awesome job saving that money!