PHXscuba’s Spring Trip: **Say CHEESE for the Mouse! -- Reflections in progress**

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Hello

Just spent all day reading (er I mean working) your entire pre trip report.

I liked all the old pictures. Looks like you start your trip a few days after I return from mine, so I think I'll be reading your trip report as a buffer to my depression that my own trip is over.

Ya know, I've never really thought I was the type to have kids, but reading pre trip reports like this one makes me want to. Looks like your family is going to have a lot of fun

[tbgmom]

Just wanted to say you have a beautiful family, and I'm enjoying your PTR. Also, are you sure we aren't the same person with the same dh?

I agree that planning is half the fun (or more!) My DH worries that I spend some much time planning that there is no way the trip can live up to what I've built up. Well, so far my planning for vacations has saved us a lot of time and money, even if everything doesn't go perfectly. And I have fun for months, not just one week of travel.

This is me & my dh exactly! He always worries about how much I plan, but then is always grateful that I do, and realizes that it was worth it. I just try not to bug him too much with plans & ideas I have, unless I really need his input. Thankfully the dis boards help me get my fix!

[PHXscuba]

Originally Posted by OhioStateBuckeye

Hello

Just spent all day reading (er I mean working) your entire pre trip report.

I liked all the old pictures. Looks like you start your trip a few days after I return from mine, so I think I'll be reading your trip report as a buffer to my depression that my own trip is over.

Ya know, I've never really thought I was the type to have kids, but reading pre trip reports like this one makes me want to. Looks like your family is going to have a lot of fun

Welcome OhioStateBuckeye! We lived in NE Ohio for 4 years while DH was in grad school. I am cold just thinking about it right now.

Thanks for the compliment on my kids. We enjoy them when they're not being numbskulls (with teens it's intermittent). They behave pretty well on trips so we'll keep traveling!

Originally Posted by tbgmom

Just wanted to say you have a beautiful family, and I'm enjoying your PTR. Also, are you sure we aren't the same person with the same dh?



This is me & my dh exactly! He always worries about how much I plan, but then is always grateful that I do, and realizes that it was worth it. I just try not to bug him too much with plans & ideas I have, unless I really need his input. Thankfully the dis boards help me get my fix!

Thanks for reading, tbgmom! I think every family has the Dis nut and the spouse who loves us. He knows it's what makes me happy so he rolls with it. I try to include things I know he'll like -- food places, rides, hotel, etc. Other than that, he's happy to take pictures and be with the family.

That's also one reason I think we'll make it back to Disney World -- things there that excite him. He'd like to dive the Epcot aquarium again, and he liked the idea of the backstage animal trek (remember the tiger picture?) in Animal Kingdom. So I am plotting just a little for that in the future.

PHXscuba

[PHXscuba]

So the Disney Parks blog just posted that the Princess Fantasy Faire will open Mar. 12 ... the first day we plan to be in Disneyland (after spending day 1 in DCA). Anyone have any idea how this will affect the park overall? I doubt we'd try to go -- my girls at almost-14 and almost-11 think they are too big for princesses and I certainly wouldn't wait in an opening-day-sized line for it. But I wonder if it will increase the amount of people in the park that day or just in that area?

PHXscuba

[kaoden39]

Originally Posted by PHXscuba

So the Disney Parks blog just posted that the Princess Fantasy Faire will open Mar. 12 ... the first day we plan to be in Disneyland (after spending day 1 in DCA). Anyone have any idea how this will affect the park overall? I doubt we'd try to go -- my girls at almost-14 and almost-11 think they are too big for princesses and I certainly wouldn't wait in an opening-day-sized line for it. But I wonder if it will increase the amount of people in the park that day or just in that area?

PHXscuba

I would be willing to hazard a guess that they will be at least nearly as busy as they are for a new ride. We were there the week they opened WoC and boy was it BUSY.

[DizNee Luver]

I was thinking it might increase the crowds a little, but there's lots of people that don't bother with the Princess Fantasy Faire. If spring break crowds start that week....it will be busy......lol

[PHXscuba]

Originally Posted by kaoden39

I would be willing to hazard a guess that they will be at least nearly as busy as they are for a new ride. We were there the week they opened WoC and boy was it BUSY.

Originally Posted by DizNee Luver

I was thinking it might increase the crowds a little, but there's lots of people that don't bother with the Princess Fantasy Faire. If spring break crowds start that week....it will be busy......lol

I know it will be busy right in that PFF area. I wouldn't mind poking around (without getting in line for the princesses), but I don't think I'd be able to see much with all the people in the way. We'll see. I'm building some big breaks into the schedule and I could see sending most everyone back to the hotel and just wandering around solo or with one of the kids.

So the hours for ALL of my days were finally up as of Thursday!! One thing that surprised me is that there are NO fireworks and NO Fantasmic the Monday through Thursday we will be in the parks. And every day is 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in both parks. If Disney is not prepared with staff for spring-break crowds it could make for some long lines. I can live without the fight for a Fantasmic spot and I'm only a little disappointed about not seeing the fireworks from inside the park (we can watch from somewhere in DTD on Sunday night).

PHXscuba

[kaoden39]

I think that if they were expecting big crowds they would have both Fantasmic and WoC on more.

[PHXscuba]

Wahoo! Wahoo!! Wahoo!!!

I am getting my AP!!!!

Those of you who read from the beginning know how I was plotting to get an AP this year ... but was about to give up hope that the discounts would justify it.

So BlackJackDelta (a frequent and very helpful contributor) posted over the weekend about a new hotel discount -- 25% for AP holders -- that runs through Mar. 15 (coincidentally our checkout date).

I called this morning almost afraid to hope that it would apply on my date, to my room type, for both of our rooms ...

I GOT THE AP RATE!!!

The rate saves me $450 on the rooms -- two rooms times 4 nights adds up fast. Getting an AP is about $200 more than my 4-day parkhopper. So I am up $250 already!!

It also means 10% off on food, and the same on souvenirs. I already had the souvenir discount through my Disney VISA, but only when I spend $50 at a time. This means not having to wait and group purchases together -- yeah, like I could get my 4 kids to want stuff from the same store!

I am beyond excited!! This is a dancing-banana occasion!

PHXscuba

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Originally Posted by PHXscuba

Wahoo! Wahoo!! Wahoo!!!

I am getting my AP!!!!

Those of you who read from the beginning know how I was plotting to get an AP this year ... but was about to give up hope that the discounts would justify it.

So BlackJackDelta (a frequent and very helpful contributor) posted over the weekend about a new hotel discount -- 25% for AP holders -- that runs through Mar. 15 (coincidentally our checkout date).

I called this morning almost afraid to hope that it would apply on my date, to my room type, for both of our rooms ...

I GOT THE AP RATE!!!

The rate saves me $450 on the rooms -- two rooms times 4 nights adds up fast. Getting an AP is about $200 more than my 4-day parkhopper. So I am up $250 already!!

It also means 10% off on food, and the same on souvenirs. I already had the souvenir discount through my Disney VISA, but only when I spend $50 at a time. This means not having to wait and group purchases together -- yeah, like I could get my 4 kids to want stuff from the same store!

I am beyond excited!! This is a dancing-banana occasion!

PHXscuba

sweet

[cristyhas3]

That is AWESOME!!!

Did you book as room only, or package?

[kaoden39]

That's great!!

[PHXscuba]

Originally Posted by cristyhas3

That is AWESOME!!!

Did you book as room only, or package?

Yes, it is awesome!!

I have it as room-only, but I would guess they would have moved things around in a package.

PHXscuba

[lsulindy]

AP and a nice discount? sweet!

[cristyhas3]

Originally Posted by PHXscuba

Yes, it is awesome!!

I have it as room-only, but I would guess they would have moved things around in a package.

PHXscuba

You totally inspired me, so I called to check. I didn't get good news, though. I booked a package, and the discount can't be applied to packages. Ah well, at least I tried. Next time...

So, how are your park plans coming along? Have you made any dining reservations yet? Still staying at PPH? It would be fun if we pass each other in the lobby.