MRYPPNS
Practically Prefect in Every Way
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2007
It's my Birthday and I'll DIS if it want to!
I thought Id get into this game they call the Pre Trip Report, or the pre-trippie or even the PTR. For a while I referred to this vacation as the Mythical Vacation; the vacation that I was just planning in my head to pass the time and to have something good to think about as I try to fall asleep each night. Every once in a while I would pose mythical questions to my DH hey honey on this mythical vacation that Im just thinking about would you like to eat at Ohanas again? Or honey I was thinking that renting a car for our mythical vacation would be easier with DS, what size would you want to get? This went on for a few months. Then one night at dinner I was posing another one of my mythical questions and I heard those magical words from DH Stop calling it mythical, you know youll find a way to make it happen. I think the next day I bought a binder to organize all my planning so its official were going to Disney World!
Some background on my little family:
Location: Central New Hampshire
The cast:
Me:-Heidi (35) Today is my birthday and this PTR is a present to myself so I have a place to express all of my Disney musings.
Job: Currently a stay a home mom and I have a little part time bookkeeping job.
Education: BS in Tourism Planning and Development
Prior Jobs: snack bar manager at a water park; 10 race seasons in management at NASCAR super-speedway (can you guess which one?); 11 years in an accounting job at a ski area (and I also have experience at a Go-Kart track think Disney will hire me?)
Disney Experience: Went to MK and EPCOT Center as a kid and Disneyland as a teen. 3 times since 2001 to all 4 parks at WDW
DH:John (32)
Job: Engineer (mostly R&D for medical products)
Education: BS in Biology
Prior Jobs: Scuba Instructor; worked with fish in Alaska (think Sea World would hire him?)
Disney Experience: Went to MK and EPCOT Center as a kid. 2 times since 2005 to all 4 parks at WDW
DS: Liam (9 months)
Job: Being the cutest kid on the planet
Education: School of Mommy & Daddy
Disney Experience: Went in January 2007 as a ride along (I was pregnant at the time of the trip)
Doggie 1: Bailey (9 1/2)
Job: Living with a brain tumor for as long as she can
Education: Local dog obedience class - Passed
Disney Experience: Wears a Mickey Mouse shaped tag on her collar.
Doggie 2: Riley (8)
Job: Following me where I go
Education: Local dog obedience class - Failed
Disney Experience: Has a toy in the shape of Mickeys pants
Thats us in a nut shell.
On to the trip planning-----
My planning main tools are:
The Unofficial Guide
Touring plans dot come
Allearsnet.com
The DIS
Wdwinfo.com
Passorter deluxe (and I have the Open Mouse one too)
And spread sheets made in Excel
Heres the thing about this PTR I have nothing booked right now except an internet reservation for a rental car---no deposit on it. Im free to change this thing up a million times if I want and I will be asking for your advice as we go along. So please post your suggestions. If you are a lurker and have always wanted to join in but never do now is your chance. Post away my good DIS friends, post away.
We dont really have any restrictions on us right now with when we can go on vacation but I have no desire to go to Florida from June to August or anytime around Christmas. I first thought about going in September 2008 if there was free dinning. Thats a big savings even if you have to pay rack rates at a value resort (trust me I did the math). But I decided against it for 2 reasons. 1- it still can be really hot and 2- Liam will be that much younger then if we go later in the fall, hell be about 18 months when we go. Let me get it out right now for the he wont remember anything crowd were not going to Disney for my DS I want to go on a vacation to Disney and he gets to come along. I hardly remember my first trip to Disney and I was 12! I dont know a better place to go on a family vacation with a little one then to Disney, especially if you have already been there and know your way around.
Ive been planning on going in November because the number one thing I look at when picking dates is crowd levels. That usually goes hand in hand with price levels too. I want to miss Super Soap weekend (should end 11/9), and Jersey week (shouldn't get going until 11/12) if at all possible. And since Im looking for Disney to send me some wicked codes for room discounts Im looking at Sunday November 9 thru Tuesday November 18th.
But recently (like in the last week) I have realized that MVMCP might start that week. (But it might not because Thanksgiving is a week later this year then last...Why can't Disney put out it's events schedule a year in advance??) I have no interest in going to the Christmas party. And this trip is supposed to be on the super cheap as well but well get to the budget later. I had thought about going the last week of October but didnt want MNSSHP screwing up plans that week. But if MVMCP is going to hit my November trip then maybe we should just go Sunday October 26 thru Tuesday November 4th and deal with the Halloween party. Plus I secretly want to go to the party I have already thought of costumes for us to wear.
So should we go Sunday October 26 thru Tuesday November 4th
or Sunday November 9 thru Tuesday November 18th ?? Tell me what you think!
{Both are 10 days/ 9 nights}
What Im reading this week on the DIS:
Dinsey dinning reviews by Oybolshoi http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1622180
Here are links to the PTR posts...there isn't a lot of chat on this thread but it's easier to get caught up this way.
Links:
$ave it to $pend it!
Just pick a hotel already!
Binder!
Penguin Waiter
Back to the Budget
Checking on Rates
On to the fun stuff Our Itinerary
More Details
Let's Talk Dinning
Pixie Dust in the Mail
Pixie Dust continued
Even More Dixie Dust
Itinerary Recap
Days OFF
Southwest Airlines Infant Fares
Flight to Orlando
Mini Update for Odds and Ends
First ADR
2 Down...6 to go
Bingo!
The paint drying update
Two more done
Calling in sick
OT:Animal Kingdom theme 1st birthday party
MouseManager plug
Updated Dinning Plans
Rental Car Update
Mini Trip Report from 1984! Part 1
1984 Part 2
1984 Part 3 Dinning Review
1984 Part 4 What did we do before AK and DHS?
Part 5 Magic Kingdom 1984
Magic Kingdom postcards 1984
Part 6 Those other theme parks 1984
EPCOT Center 1984
EPCOT Center postcard thing
Bad 90's Fashion
It's time to wrap up 1984
Mini Trip Report to Storyland NH June 13, 2008
Storyland Continued....
Even more Storyland
The never ending Storyland story continues.....
Storyland...the saga continues....
Plan of Action for Sunday October 26th
Park Maps and Times Guides
Updated Budget
no tickie for you!
Airline Carry-on bag size chart
Quick Mini TR of Disneyland from 1988
I'm in love...with my new park bag!
The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney
100 Days to Disney Countdown Calendar
Mr. Potato Head Parts
Under the covers...of my trip binder
The Art of Disney in my house
Daily Goals
Sunday Free Day Action Plan
The all things Liam update
Resort ressies
It's Craft Time!
Odds and Ends Update
What I learned at Santa's Village
My Prince with some Princesess
We're just 52 days away!
When Snacks Attack!
Shopping!
Little Crafts for the Trip
Day 28!
Day 25 Panic!
Day 21 in the Countdown
Day 19 T-shirt Pictures
Vacation Day One
Day 13
Halloween Costumes
Vacation Day Two
Vacation Day Three
Vacation Day Four
Vacation Day Five
Vacation Day Six
Vacation Day Seven
Pictures for Day 7
A little update at T-minus 3 days and counting
Vacation Day Eight
Vacation Days Nine & Ten and a quick note good-bye
I thought Id get into this game they call the Pre Trip Report, or the pre-trippie or even the PTR. For a while I referred to this vacation as the Mythical Vacation; the vacation that I was just planning in my head to pass the time and to have something good to think about as I try to fall asleep each night. Every once in a while I would pose mythical questions to my DH hey honey on this mythical vacation that Im just thinking about would you like to eat at Ohanas again? Or honey I was thinking that renting a car for our mythical vacation would be easier with DS, what size would you want to get? This went on for a few months. Then one night at dinner I was posing another one of my mythical questions and I heard those magical words from DH Stop calling it mythical, you know youll find a way to make it happen. I think the next day I bought a binder to organize all my planning so its official were going to Disney World!
Some background on my little family:
Location: Central New Hampshire
The cast:
Me:-Heidi (35) Today is my birthday and this PTR is a present to myself so I have a place to express all of my Disney musings.
Job: Currently a stay a home mom and I have a little part time bookkeeping job.
Education: BS in Tourism Planning and Development
Prior Jobs: snack bar manager at a water park; 10 race seasons in management at NASCAR super-speedway (can you guess which one?); 11 years in an accounting job at a ski area (and I also have experience at a Go-Kart track think Disney will hire me?)
Disney Experience: Went to MK and EPCOT Center as a kid and Disneyland as a teen. 3 times since 2001 to all 4 parks at WDW
DH:John (32)
Job: Engineer (mostly R&D for medical products)
Education: BS in Biology
Prior Jobs: Scuba Instructor; worked with fish in Alaska (think Sea World would hire him?)
Disney Experience: Went to MK and EPCOT Center as a kid. 2 times since 2005 to all 4 parks at WDW
DS: Liam (9 months)
Job: Being the cutest kid on the planet
Education: School of Mommy & Daddy
Disney Experience: Went in January 2007 as a ride along (I was pregnant at the time of the trip)
Doggie 1: Bailey (9 1/2)
Job: Living with a brain tumor for as long as she can
Education: Local dog obedience class - Passed
Disney Experience: Wears a Mickey Mouse shaped tag on her collar.
Doggie 2: Riley (8)
Job: Following me where I go
Education: Local dog obedience class - Failed
Disney Experience: Has a toy in the shape of Mickeys pants
Thats us in a nut shell.
On to the trip planning-----
My planning main tools are:
The Unofficial Guide
Touring plans dot come
Allearsnet.com
The DIS
Wdwinfo.com
Passorter deluxe (and I have the Open Mouse one too)
And spread sheets made in Excel
Heres the thing about this PTR I have nothing booked right now except an internet reservation for a rental car---no deposit on it. Im free to change this thing up a million times if I want and I will be asking for your advice as we go along. So please post your suggestions. If you are a lurker and have always wanted to join in but never do now is your chance. Post away my good DIS friends, post away.
We dont really have any restrictions on us right now with when we can go on vacation but I have no desire to go to Florida from June to August or anytime around Christmas. I first thought about going in September 2008 if there was free dinning. Thats a big savings even if you have to pay rack rates at a value resort (trust me I did the math). But I decided against it for 2 reasons. 1- it still can be really hot and 2- Liam will be that much younger then if we go later in the fall, hell be about 18 months when we go. Let me get it out right now for the he wont remember anything crowd were not going to Disney for my DS I want to go on a vacation to Disney and he gets to come along. I hardly remember my first trip to Disney and I was 12! I dont know a better place to go on a family vacation with a little one then to Disney, especially if you have already been there and know your way around.
Ive been planning on going in November because the number one thing I look at when picking dates is crowd levels. That usually goes hand in hand with price levels too. I want to miss Super Soap weekend (should end 11/9), and Jersey week (shouldn't get going until 11/12) if at all possible. And since Im looking for Disney to send me some wicked codes for room discounts Im looking at Sunday November 9 thru Tuesday November 18th.
But recently (like in the last week) I have realized that MVMCP might start that week. (But it might not because Thanksgiving is a week later this year then last...Why can't Disney put out it's events schedule a year in advance??) I have no interest in going to the Christmas party. And this trip is supposed to be on the super cheap as well but well get to the budget later. I had thought about going the last week of October but didnt want MNSSHP screwing up plans that week. But if MVMCP is going to hit my November trip then maybe we should just go Sunday October 26 thru Tuesday November 4th and deal with the Halloween party. Plus I secretly want to go to the party I have already thought of costumes for us to wear.
So should we go Sunday October 26 thru Tuesday November 4th
or Sunday November 9 thru Tuesday November 18th ?? Tell me what you think!
{Both are 10 days/ 9 nights}
What Im reading this week on the DIS:
Dinsey dinning reviews by Oybolshoi http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1622180
Here are links to the PTR posts...there isn't a lot of chat on this thread but it's easier to get caught up this way.
Links:
$ave it to $pend it!
Just pick a hotel already!
Binder!
Penguin Waiter
Back to the Budget
Checking on Rates
On to the fun stuff Our Itinerary
More Details
Let's Talk Dinning
Pixie Dust in the Mail
Pixie Dust continued
Even More Dixie Dust
Itinerary Recap
Days OFF
Southwest Airlines Infant Fares
Flight to Orlando
Mini Update for Odds and Ends
First ADR
2 Down...6 to go
Bingo!
The paint drying update
Two more done
Calling in sick
OT:Animal Kingdom theme 1st birthday party
MouseManager plug
Updated Dinning Plans
Rental Car Update
Mini Trip Report from 1984! Part 1
1984 Part 2
1984 Part 3 Dinning Review
1984 Part 4 What did we do before AK and DHS?
Part 5 Magic Kingdom 1984
Magic Kingdom postcards 1984
Part 6 Those other theme parks 1984
EPCOT Center 1984
EPCOT Center postcard thing
Bad 90's Fashion
It's time to wrap up 1984
Mini Trip Report to Storyland NH June 13, 2008
Storyland Continued....
Even more Storyland
The never ending Storyland story continues.....
Storyland...the saga continues....
Plan of Action for Sunday October 26th
Park Maps and Times Guides
Updated Budget
no tickie for you!
Airline Carry-on bag size chart
Quick Mini TR of Disneyland from 1988
I'm in love...with my new park bag!
The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney
100 Days to Disney Countdown Calendar
Mr. Potato Head Parts
Under the covers...of my trip binder
The Art of Disney in my house
Daily Goals
Sunday Free Day Action Plan
The all things Liam update
Resort ressies
It's Craft Time!
Odds and Ends Update
What I learned at Santa's Village
My Prince with some Princesess
We're just 52 days away!
When Snacks Attack!
Shopping!
Little Crafts for the Trip
Day 28!
Day 25 Panic!
Day 21 in the Countdown
Day 19 T-shirt Pictures
Vacation Day One
Day 13
Halloween Costumes
Vacation Day Two
Vacation Day Three
Vacation Day Four
Vacation Day Five
Vacation Day Six
Vacation Day Seven
Pictures for Day 7
A little update at T-minus 3 days and counting
Vacation Day Eight
Vacation Days Nine & Ten and a quick note good-bye