1 Excited, 1 Doesn't Understand, and 1 Yelling No! No! No!

[Trishtack]

Prologue and the Beginning:

Hi and welcome to my first attempt at a pre-trip report. I am Trish and I am married, DH (43) , and we have one DD (3). This last year has been rough as DH was paralyzed with no apparent cause in Sept. We spent months at 5 hospitals and had to spend nights away from DD for the first time. Also, had to purchase a new home which meant DD leaving the only home she has known. SO - I decided (yep just me...prelude to the yelling) we all needed a little MAGIC in our lives this year. And everyone knows the only place to find true magic is WDW. So I started to talking to a dear friend who has two DDs (3) (2) about joining us for a WDW vacation. After much nail biting (by me), she and her DH agreed and the negotation of dates started. Hmm...since my DH is at home full time and my company has no restrictions on vacation dates...I lost. Pleasantly so. DF(hope that stands for Dear Friend) works for a school board and was able to use Fall Break. SO - we decided on dates. Sept. 26th - Oct. 2nd. Great dates except it's hurricane season (which I neglected to share with my DF until after booking). An honest slip! I swear.

 

[Trishtack]

SO - dates are set and the need to choose a resort was looming. Now I am a planner. I organize. I make lists and spreadsheets. Now I don't usually follow through but I great at the planning. SO - I spent hours evaluating each resort. I was torn between AKL and the Poly! DH and DD love animals. Yet I was scared of transportation for DH as he is a paraplegic and the bus transfers sounded more complicated. The monorail resorts won. SO - I tell DF that we would like to stay at a monorail resort. DF doesn't like the cost so we start exploring. Eons and eons go by (okay well maybe only about two weeks) before she decided the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom are her choices. Okay I can work with that. SO - I stay up all night (did I mention I am a planner) and reserach the resorts. I say okay we can do either but I would prefer Animal Kingdom. I go to work so EXCITED about a Savannah room at AKL. Then lo and behold, I get an email (the 33rd since booking - gmail keeps track) saying she ran the numbers again and she was willing to do the Poly. OK, sounds great. SO - I have the TA run the numbers again wait for my quote. I get it but hold off on booking to confirm with DF. That night I get a call saying, "Guess what, I booked the Poly today". La Dee Da, La Dee Da, I can't hear you. SO - we are staying at the Poly.

 

[Trishtack]

The one thing we both agreed on is that we want the Deluxe Dining Plan. I love to eat (hence no pics of me), DD loves to snack (healthy of course except for brown cookies and white donuts), and my DF and her DH love to eat as do their DDs. SO - we book the deluxe dining plan. SO - up comes my friend Excel and the fingers starting typing. 3 X 6 = 18 and therefore 18 ADR's..right? Well as you DISers know, it isn't that simple. First, we are arriving on different days so we have three more meals to plan. Many of the things we want to do require 2 credits and did I mention that my DH HATES being committed to a reservation for anything (remind me to share about our honeymoon hotels sometime...). SO - I start my research, review the menus on allears.net (WOOHOO for allears) and start salivating. I don't eat anything that swims unless it's a cow crossing a creek so of course I head straight to the steak house menus. Tough choice but Shulas wins. That's a no brainer I think as DF and her DH eat steak most nights. I have my menu choices imbedded in my cortex. I move on reluctantly to the rest of the days. I make enlightened choices for each of the meals. I cut and paste, I delete, I add until my schedule is a thing of culinary beauty. A program of unparalleled culinary delights (and a few furry friends). SO - DF calls and asks "So where are we going to eat". Funny she should ask that..... SO - I start my spiel. I get maybe two sentences in and she says, "Wait I don't mean every meal, I just mean the highlights". Hmm, since I hadn't planned the snacks, I thought I was just giving the highlights. I mean I did leave some room for individual thought... SO - I highlight my main choices and she says, "Okay you've given me something to think about" and has to go! Huh? Where's the worship for my superstellar planning? Where's the oohing and aahing over my spreadsheet?

 

[Trishtack]

Anyone? Am I doing this corectly? I have no clue what I am doing. Thoughts?

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Funny she should ask that..... SO - I start my spiel. I get maybe two sentences in and she says, "Wait I don't mean every meal, I just mean the highlights". Hmm, since I hadn't planned the snacks, I thought I was just giving the highlights. I mean I did leave some room for individual thought... SO - I highlight my main choices and she says, "Okay you've given me something to think about" and has to go! Huh? Where's the worship for my superstellar planning? Where's the oohing and aahing over my spreadsheet?

She SO doesn't get it, does she? I'm sure your spreadsheets are amazing. Good job so far. Keep us updated as the planning pans out.
We'll be there 9/24 - 10/3. Can't wait!

 

[shordiebecka]

DF doesn't get it...at all...lol. I created a power point presentation for DBF about all the places to eat, had him pick the places he wanted to go then i picked some and combined them, and volila, i now have my ADR's all made as of Monday. Super stressfull but I found the PP to be amazing when trying to decide things!

Can't wait to hear more of your plans. I'm subscribing so you'll hear from me!

 

[Trishtack]

Yeah someone's reading!! Thanks so much gals. This so adds to my excitement over the trip.

Okay so where was I..ah yes dining....SO after the sharing of spreadsheets, a get an email saying which restaurants have character experiences. I send off the list with my recommendations. Get a great response and so I happily adjust my spreadsheet. Hmmm.....WRONG! I share it with DF again and she says she would prefer not to plan breakfasts as "We can just STROLL down each morning and have breakfast with Lilo and Stitch....WHAT?? STROLL! People are staying awake to make ADR's 90 days in advance but we are going to just STROLL right in. Anyone catch that perhaps I have a little problem with that statement? SO - I give up on ADR planning jointly and just happily play with my spreadsheets, knowing they mean diddly squat now.

I get a call Mon night that DF has received paperwork from Disney that states you can reserve 180 days out (now I'm thinking she's hit the mother lode and life is good...but that Eeyore side of me thought hmm not so much) and she wants to plan our dining so we can reserve. SO - I sent off an email to my trusty TA saying Tell Me It's So. She says nope Disney just sent out old paperwork. SO - I pick up my broken dreams (exaggerating a little) and email my friend telling her she got bad paperwork. Hmm...it's really not fun being the bearer of bad news...DF called we talked for a bit and the following bombs were dropped..."We don't want to plan EVERY meal and we don't want any timelines except for the things we really want to do." (HEY I REALLY want to do all of these things ) and I am interested in Akerhaus (after saying a gazillion times that she isn't) and I thought we were doing Epcot on day of arrival..blah blah blah. Basically 1/2 was opposite of prior plans. Alas, I assure DF that those changes are fine and we will adapt and go with the flow. THEN I get an email this morning saying "I thought we discussed this on the phone yesterday..blah blah blah". OKAY we did but I sent the email BEFORE the phone call so since my psychic powers are temporarily on loan I didn't know that we were doing this and that. SO - I responded back nicely with a modified schedule that has a whopping 1 event a day planned for the week! Am I a bad friend??

 

[Trishtack]

I thought I should probably explain a little of the dynamics so I wouldn't seem like an ogre or ungrateful friend. I love my DF. We meet in fourth grade and went to the same schools until junior year of college. We are both overachievers with the tenacity that would rival any bull dog. SO - we both have opinions and we both will have to concede. But as I am the one writing the report, I get to be the good gal and she gets to be the bad gal (for literary purposes only). Actually I am really surprising myself. I have found that I am willing to give in on my things because after deeper thought I can live without experiencing everything in trade for our families sharing this total experience together.

Now have I mentioned that my DH (reference yelling no, no, no) doesn't think he can make the trip. He insists it is not medically possible and that I planned this trip just to torture him. Let me assure you that both thoughts are wrong. He is capable of so much but is not in a place to try yet after seven months. He has backslided since coming home and needs a jolt. This is my idea of motivation. DH is the most frugal person on earth and to think we would lose money (we won't) if he didn't go should perk him up some.

Now DD is very happy to be going to Disney but she really doesn't understand the concept of time or really even understand the concept of Disney. She knows some characters and is excited when I mention it but she wouldn't understand my level of excitement for us. Disney however is a powerful motivator for her to do #2 (I know too much info) in the potty. Last week she had her stuffed Piglet in the floor and was diapering him. As she was diapering him she was telling him to not poop in his diaper so he could go to Disney World.

SO - as my DF and I don't share the excitement of the same things, DH just growls, and DD listens but doesn't quite get it...I have turned to the DIS boards to share my excitement. Luckily for everyone they just have to close out the box to get away for my lunacy.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I completely share in your excitement. As for your DF, sometimes it takes getting there and seeing it for the total excitement to kick in. I'm happy your families get to go together and you are a good friend to give up on things you want to appease everyone else.

I haven't been to Disney since Dec, 07, has the dining changed? I know they offer deluxe diing now, but do they still take ADR's 180 days out? I was confused by that part of your PTR.

 

[Trishtack]

Thanks. No they don't take them 180 days out anymore. But evidently they have not updated all their paperwork and they sent DF old paperwork stating 180 days.

 

[disneyaddicted]

Holy cow, I've got me some relearnin to do. How far out can we make ressies?

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm reading!

I panicked for a minute when you said your friend was told she could book ADR's 180 days out, because that would mean I missed my window! Whew!

 

[Trishtack]

90 days + 10 for on-site guests. Meaning 90 days prior to your arrival date you can book and you can book out for 10 days. So if you are staying more than 10 days then you will have to call back once you hit the 90 days prior mark for your 11th day of vacation.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Hey Trish, you are doing great! BUTTTTTTT I like pics.. so start uploading some! People love to read PTR's/tr's with pics! I hope your friend realizes what a big deal making ADR's is! Have her call Disney directly and ask how she would do if she were to just stroll on up.. maybe an official person telling her no way, will get her attention!

It's always a bummer when no one is as excited about disney, and your mad planning skills! My DF (Dear Fiance) has learned to thank me over and over, and shows lots of interest now!

Great job so far, and I am subbing!

 

[Trishtack]

Thanks inked! I'm more than happy to share but....I don't have a clue how to upload pics. The only option I see is to insert image but that requires a URL. HELP! Please.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Thanks inked! I'm more than happy to share but....I don't have a clue how to upload pics. The only option I see is to insert image but that requires a URL. HELP! Please.

go to photobucket and upload your pics, then I will help you from there!

 

[Jitzy]

Hey! I'm joining in!

Look on the bright side! You have plenty of time DH and DF will really appreciate all of your plans. AND I'm excited for you guys staying at the Poly. It will make things much easier on your DH.

Way too cute story about DD with Piglet. I love it!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

...WHAT?? STROLL! People are staying awake to make ADR's 90 days in advance but we are going to just STROLL right in. Anyone catch that perhaps I have a little problem with that statement?

"We don't want to plan EVERY meal and we don't want any timelines except for the things we really want to do." (HEY I REALLY want to do all of these things )... SO - I responded back nicely with a modified schedule that has a whopping 1 event a day planned for the week! Am I a bad friend??

Perhaps you could explain to her that you DH's condition will make it difficult to "wing it" and you will accomplish much more with a well-laid out, but flexible, plan. Young children automatically slow you down. A wheelchair automatically slows you down. Seriously, if she wants to go any slower, she might as well just ride the buses all day.

I hope you've been visiting the disABILITIES forum for support, and allears.net has an EXTENSIVE amount of information regarding touring with all sorts of disabilities.

I think it's a good idea for your DH to realize how much he can still do. My DBF's mother has been paraplegic for over 20 years, and she is amazing. She cooks Thanksgiving Day dinner, babysits her grandkids, and lives alone, just to name a few things.

 

[shordiebecka]

Well, I am excited with you! This is what I think you should do: make your ADR's as you wish with enough people for everyone to go (don't tell df). Tell her you are making ADR's for yourself because you know what happens when you try to walk up at disney resteraunts, and you don't want to do all counter service meals. Then it's her choice whether or not to come with you to your ADR's. Once she realizes that she can't just "mosey on up" to have some of these meals, my bet is she will decide to join you. If she doesn't want to, it's been my experience that Disney is always happy to downgrade the party..it opens tables up for them! That way, it's kind of like a very polite..."told you so, but I'm a good friend and you can come with me to eat all these places.."

 

[Myhappythought5]

Well, I am excited with you! This is what I think you should do: make your ADR's as you wish with enough people for everyone to go (don't tell df). Tell her you are making ADR's for yourself because you know what happens when you try to walk up at disney resteraunts, and you don't want to do all counter service meals. Then it's her choice whether or not to come with you to your ADR's. Once she realizes that she can't just "mosey on up" to have some of these meals, my bet is she will decide to join you. If she doesn't want to, it's been my experience that Disney is always happy to downgrade the party..it opens tables up for them! That way, it's kind of like a very polite..."told you so, but I'm a good friend and you can come with me to eat all these places.."

I agree with this. Keep the ones that you agreed on for each day and then plan the ones you want for the rest of the day. Maybe leave two or three open just in case you all want ot do Beaches and Cream ( which doesn't take ADR's) Plus that will give them so room to do other stuff. But this way if you make plans and they want to go you already have them added to the res.

Great TR. Signing on.

Like inkedupmomma said go to photobucket. That is where I upload my photos to.