4.33 years is WAY too long between visits!

[HizMinnie2015]

Heck yeah its something to brag about lolll.

We are at 346 days, I'll be glad when April gets here.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I have been tenatively using the park hours from this year to guess at next year. And usually this is very reliable! But, we don't usually go around a major holiday so do I use the dates that correspond to my dates or do I go by the day's relation to the holiday? Plus the actual holiday is on a Friday so will that have an effect on the schedule?

I am also planning two different attacks.

We are definately getting 10 day hoppers with water parks and more but I'd really like to take the leap to annal passes if we manage to save enough. An annual pass would most definately make our trip more fun and relaxed. So I am working it out both ways...and believe it or not it does really effect plans, especially dining.

Oh and dining...I really think we will be doing the deluxe dining...I just cannot seem to make it work without it. And even though it is a lot of money, money we normally would not spend on food, eating is one of the things we look forward to at Disney becasue we do not eat like that everyday. And even with me planning all counter service I think I'd spend a large amount and I think we'd still be hungry so that means potentially more snacks. I mean I don't want to be worrying about money whole I am on vacation and saying no to requests for useless snacks. And I know I would, no matter how well I budgeted. Plus, Dylan has been hearing us talk about all the wonderful Disney foods and that is one of the things he is most looking forward to. And I tried to make it work with quick service dining but that's another problem. I am prepared for a packed park for most of our trip, if not all if it. Do I really want to have to stand in line for food for an hour only to have to look around for someplace to sit to eat it for another hour? Nope, I do not. But if I have an ADR my table is, for the most part, waiting for me when I arrive or shortly after. Someone else waits on my food and drink and we get to sit and relax out of the hustle and bustle of Christmastime at Disney World. Sound like the way to go.

I am also thinking of having my online travel agent watch for a free dining (preferably) or other discount that might open up for our time frame at Port Orleans Riverside or Caribbean Beach (who I hear should be open for business for parties of 5 by the time of our trip and I like Caribbean Beach better than Port Orleans, I know I am in the minority!) or even a family suite or two value rooms if the discount is right and will get me in at or below what I am going to pay for for a full price trip with site, DDDP, and 10 day hoppers with water parks and more. If that happens I will have her change us to that and we will not camp...which while I love love love the idea of camping (so does Skyler) would be one less thing I have to worry about, no make that two...cold and rounding up all the necessary camping equipment we will need (tent, electric blankets, space heater, air mattresses, etc). But I do like the idea of camping so I won't be heart broken if a deal on a room doesn't show up!

So there is a lot of tenative planning and a lot of saving going on. Hopefully we can make all I have planned work out and we can enjoy a great trip without cold and money worries and time constraints and cold food.​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So, I have not had a lot of time to plan anything imaginary lately ... LOL!

I have four people at home sick...Dylan has been to the doctor but I think his doctor is a bit unconventional. The kids has been snotting continually for a couple of weeks and he gives him a nasal antihistamine and an inhaler...the kid needs an antibiotic not an inhaler! Cary is used to just dealing with it so hasn't gotten around to going to the doctor yet but I think he needs to becasue I think he needs an antibiotic too. My two kids have an appointment tonight. ANd suprizingly enough, I have not gotten it yet...although I probably will, right about when they are all getting better and I'll be miserable for the next 5 months!

The kids all are at their last day of school now. They are off until Monday. Cary is off today and Thursday. I am off Thursday and Friday. So we are hoping to get the countdown calendar done and start working on planning movie nights for after the new year starts.

So, while there is a lot of a little bit of stuff going on with planning, I probably won't be back until after the holiday so Happy Thanksgiving everyone!​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

365 DAYS
or
1YEAR
.........

Which sounds better???​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So one year from now what will I be doing?

BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS, that's what!!!

No, really, I will have just gotten all the kids off to school. Tyler and Dylan (who will be a Junior and a freshman at the time) will have their last day of finals. Tyler will be out by 10:30am and Dylan by 11:30pm (freshmen have a first hour class that upperclassmen do not). Skyler has a full day (and the next day bit she was already going to be called in for that one!) but since I just realized the boys will be out earlier than I expected (I thought they had a full day so wasn't expecting them home until around 3:30pm) I will just pull her early.

But anyway, I will be getting myself ready and packing all the last minute things needed. Getting the car loaded with any last minute items. Stocking a cooler of snacks and drinks so we don't have to stop more than necessary. Packing any Christmas gifts I might have managed to sneak in. And closing down the house as much as possible for the long trip.

I will have a hardy type snack/lunch ready for the kids for when they get home and we will probably load in the car and head to pick Skyler up at school around noon. And I would like to get right on the road from there! She will have to wear a uniform so she might need to change eventually but she should be ok for the first leg of the trip...so she'll need a bag with a change into comfy clothes.

I figure we should be able to Drive to quite Southern Illinois before needing to fill up for our first stop. Maybe close to Nashville, TN before having to stop again for gas. Then again somewhere before Macon, GA. And that should take us to Fort Wilderness with gas to spare for our start of the journey home in a couple of weeks.

Now, if I can get the potty breaks to a minimum other than when stopping for gas, we'll be in good shape!

This is a different route from where we are now vs what I am used to...we usually go through Indiana but from Joliet, it is straight down through Southern Illinois. Has anyone ever used this route?​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok…so I have a question. I feel so out of the loop! I used to be so up on all the goings ons at Disney and now I’m feeling lost!

Fast Plus +…So when I reserve fast pass +, I can do it at 60 days if I am staying on property and have tickets attached to my package? Or does it just have to be attached to my account?

Maybe my dilemma will help…We are going over Christmas and New Year’s. I have an idea of what I can definitely afford, probably afford, and hope to afford. I want to book the smallest and work my way up as I go, paying off each step towards the ideal vacation. So, I want to start by booking a package (well not start, I already have a Fort Wilderness Campsite reserved, room only) with 10 day hoppers. Ideally, I’d like to upgrade those to Annual Passes but I don’t want to have to downgrade later…I’d rather upgrade. Initially I thought I could upgrade when we arrive in the world. But as I “talked” to my online travel agent, I think I understood that if I do that I can only reserve my fast pass + options for 10 days because that is what my passes are for. Is that correct? So if I upgrade at the park, I will only get what is available on the day for fast pass + options, right? And since our trip is December 18 thru January 3, will I have to book for 10 consecutive days or will it just let me book any 10 days? If we do the 10 day passes, we will definitely not be doing the first 10 days….we will break them up with off days in between.

At that time of the year, being able to insure we get three rides a day is definitely preferred since we are expecting crowds to be huge! I should know by just prior to 60 days out if I am going to be able to do the upgrade or not but the way things are going in my life right now, maybe not! Darned car!!! But in case I don’t I just want to be prepared. I mean if I do upgrade to APs and we cannot get fast pass + for those days, I guess, we’re still in the parks so it’s better than nothing!​

 

[Disneychix]

You will be able to make 10 days of FP+ with 10 day tickets. You have 14 continuous days to use your 10 days of tickets (14 days from 1st date used).
If you try to make an 11th FP+ you will get a warning saying you have to delete a different days FP+ in order to make them for your new date.

Hope that helps.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Yep...it does...thank you very much!

I got a lot of info from posting in the theme park section too...although one was a bit seemingly put-out by my asking questions to verify that I understood what I have already read about. Why do people respond at all if they are put-out by the post? I mean if I read something and it is something I don't agree with or I feel put out to reply, I just DON'T REPLY! Sheeze!!!

I think this Fast Pass+ thing is gonna be a wait and see thing for us. Meaning, I don't know if I like it or not. I do see the value in it, especially at the time of the year we are going but it seems like a lot of problems for me in my situation...being undecided on what type of pass, I mean. We may end up booking at 60 days out for our 10 days and then having to wing the others if we do upgrade. I am hoping I will already have annual passes by 60 days out but I am not going to steel money from somewhere else to do it. It will all come down to budget and sticking to it! The past two months we have had to put about $1500.00 unexpectedly into our car. Luckily, I had the funds to do it but it is things like that that will cause my budget to burst. So, lets hope nothing else earth shattering comes along to cause me to have to un-budget the optional things...like vacation!​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well, were at 315 more days!!!

Does not sound like much and I have not posted much but that is because I have so many things going on right now in my real life (some bad and lots good I hope!) and a ton of plans coming together in my head. My problem is that I am so up in the air about what plan to choose...I have so many viable options...a lot depends on how smoothly the next 10 months go but at the same time I want to be able to book and pay for at least the bare minimum but I am not quite sure what that is!!!!

Skyler and I have a binder set up for info and we have been trying to fill it but I keep changing little pieces in order to get the best possible trip without killing myself...it's probably all of my doing and I am probably way overthinking it and should just save the money and when it comes time to pay it off, book whatever I have the money for, right? I am just always afraid I am going to miss something...LOL!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Hmmm....well....it's been a while.

We have had so much going on in our "real" life that I have not had much time to plan.

First...we moved. We were living in a house owned by one of Cary's relatives who moved to Kentucky and it was being managed by Cary's aunt. This house was a real hole but it was what we needed at the time. Well, the landlord's son dies of an overdose and then she was done and kicked us out because she did not want to deal with anything anymore. We were planning on getting out anyway but it made the search for a home much quicker and we got a much larger home in the same area that fits out family much better. But now she is taking us to small claims court saying we owe her money...so now the burden of proof is on us.

Then Cary got his promotion to manager at his store and had his work cut out for him because the previous manager and his assistant manager cousin were a mess! So he's had a lot of extra hours getting the store back into shape.

Then he got an infection in his knee and was in the hospital for 3 days!

The following week I got pyelonephritis/sepsis and was in the hospital for 4 days!!

And last weekend was Skyler's first birthday sleepover with 7 girl friends over.

We're closing in on recital time so that's always a busy time.

We're getting close to 8th grade graduation time.

We've just been crazy busy!

BUT...today my plans changed. We are now booked for 14 nights (Dec 18 thru Jan 1) at Caribbean Beach with 10 day hoppers and free regular dining plan!!!! It's not the dining plan I really want but if I save well and stick to my budget I should be able to upgrade before arrival...if not, well, at least everything we NEED will be covered. I mean, really, we will eat quite well on the regular dining plan so room, tickets, and food are paid for...all else is bonus!

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Hey Girl!!! So glad that you were able to get life situated... we are in the midst of looking for a new home, a 2nd car and planning an impromptu wedding. The wedding was suppose to be more formal but life is getting in the way. In the end all that matters is that we say I do, so I'm ok with just having a little ceremony and moving forward...

Excited that you get to extend your trip!!! I can't wait to see pictures!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Hey there! It's been a while...I guess that's what happens when you plan so far out, hu? Life gets in the way of the pre-trip report! LOL

Yep...what really matters is that you say "I do" not the size of the gala!

I just checked the Southwest fares and WOW!!! Not that I expected them to be low enough to talk me into springing for airfare but they are way above what I have been seeing even! So, unless I catch some huge sale one day in passing, we're set on driving...even if I end up renting a car to do it (which is a possibility because one car is too small and the other would still be a bit cramped for the kids for that long of a ride AND neither one is reliable to travel that far in!) and then gas on top of the rental fee, I still will be paying less than half of what it would cost to fly! But I'm good with driving because on the way there, the excitement gets you through and we'll go straight through. But since the 1st is a Friday the only one that would have to be off the Saturday and Sunday after is Cary and since he's the manager, we're all good there! And then we can take our time coming home. Maybe stop and explore a little. Or take a side trip to the ocean or whatever...that'll be something to determine at a much later date!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Sssoooooo...I am at 211 days which is 31 days from ADR day and I am at a loss!!! This is sssooooo unlike me!!!

First off, I do not have a working desk top or lap top at home. Tyler has a school lap top but he will be out of school by then which means the lap top will be in school...so that leaves my phone as my only link to dining reservations...especially since ADR day is a Sunday!!! So I will not be at work either!

Second off, and most importantly, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE I WANT TO EAT!!!! Our last four or five trips we have had the deluxe dining plan. This time we have the regular dining plan. And realistically, I don't think I want to pay for the upgrade. And I know we would eat quite well even on the regular dining plan and nothing else. But I am having a hard time wrapping my head around that. I have attempted to plan out how we would eat paying out of pocket and then how we would eat on the dining plan. It's not helping! There are just too many variables!

There are so many places we want to eat.
There are so many places we want to take the newbies.
I am just so torn on this and it shouldn't be that big a deal, right???

 

[tyandskyesmom]

200 days from today we are leaving for Disney World!!!!!

And I am closer to being able to figure out dining plans.
I am closer to making ADRs.
I am closer to getting all that I want.
But, still so far away.
There are so many variables between now and then!
Happy and stressed all at the same time...​

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We are celebrating 200 days with a Lady and the Tramp night...fresh mozzarella and tomato salad, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic mozzarella bread sticks, and Italian Orange Cake for dinner and Lady and the Tramp 1 and 2 for entertainment! We're starting easy...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Today marks 200 days until we arrive in THE WORLD!!!!
​

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Sounds like it was a great night!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

SO...some plans...

TRAVEL : We are planning on renting a mini van. I have been able to price from Dollar for about $1600.00 for the whole time with unlimited mileage. This should give us more than enough room for everyone to have their own space and enough room for a cooler for travel food ( I only hope to stop for gas and bathroom breaks on the way down!), luggage, and our small (although it is a decent size) Christmas tree and decorations. Skyler will have a regular day of school that day. She gets out at 2:50pm. Dylan and Tyler will have finals that week so the 17th will be a shortened day. Unless there are finals to make up...which there may be because Friday (the 18th) is periods 4, 5, and 1. Tyler does not have a first hour (only freshmen do) and periods 4 and 5 could be lunch or gym...so could be easy. Dylan will have a first hour so we have to hope his classes land in a good testing order so he has most of his on Wednesday and Thursday. If either of them needs to make up a final on Thursday, whey will be at school until 3:15pm, otherwise, they get out at 1:35pm. So, if the boys get out early, we will pick them up from school and then pull Skye out early (around 2pm). If the boys have to stay late, we will pick Skye up at her regular time then go get the boys. And we will be on the road immediately. The first half of the route we will take is new to me as we usually went through Indiana/Indianapolis and we'd probably hit rush hour traffic. But the way we will take from where we live now goes down through Southern Illinois so I am hoping not so much traffic for rush hour. We should have to stop about four times for gas (leaving a decent amount in the tank when we arrive for the start of the return trip) and hopefully we can avoid too many extra potty breaks. We shouldn't need too much "stretch you legs" time because they should all have decent room (Tyler is about 6 feet 3 inches tall with size 14 feet so he'd be the biggest complainer)...plus everyone will be excited to get there...and hopefully the kids will sleep most of the way. Our last day is actually New Year's day but since that is on a Friday, we have Saturday and Sunday to get home so we can take our time.

TICKETS : We have 10 days hoppers booked with our package. I intend to be upgrading to annual passes when we arrive. I hate the though that I will only be able to book 10 days of fast pass + options with the 10 day hoppers but it is what it is. With our package we have to have tickets and the dining we got for free is worth having to wait until December 18th to book 5 more days of fast pass +. My reasoning was this...with 10 days in the parks we were looking at taking off on arrival day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day/departure day. But I know the 18th (arrival day) is probably going to be the least crowded day we have. So I really wanted to be able to get into the Magic Kingdom that day. And it's a party day so it would probably be even less crowded (although that might be subjective at that point). So I thought maybe we'd do the Christmas Party that night. But that would cost up near $500.00!!! But, I was willing to pay it. Until the park schedule came out for our timeframe and I noticed that the Festival of Fantasy's last run for the time we will be there is at 3pm on Friday the 18th (then the 3pm parade turns into the Christmas parade) and I REALLY, REALLY want to see the Festival of Fantasy! But with party tickets we cannot get into the park until 4pm so we'd still miss it. Then since I originally wanted Annual Passes, I priced out the difference and it is only about $1000....which means only about $500 more than going to the party for one night! We could go in and out throughout the whole 15 days we will be there with an Annual Pass and not worry about losing a day if we decide Christmas is just too crazy for us (or whatever day)...and tickets are the one thing that never changes in price so if I have tickets already, possibly we can sneak another trip or two in! So I am planning as if we have annual passes.

ROOM : We have Caribbean Beach booked! I am so happy with that. I actually, against popular opinion, love Caribbean Beach. It is my favorite moderate hotel. I did briefly consider Port Orleans Riverside because with the boys being older and the route/parking at Downtown Disney being such a mess, I thought the boats would be a bonus but I did not really want to go there. And the dining offer was most important and often times now POR is not included due to it's popularity. We have a pool/water view and I am hoping for water, not pool, as I would rather look out over the water than the boring quiet pool. I requested Aruba or Jamaica and would like a ground floor on a corner. Every time we have been to Caribbean Beach we have been in a corner, ground floor room and the extra windows are great...and this year with our Christmas Tree, it would be awesome to have the corner windows! So I am debating online check-in. I think I heard with the new Magic Bands that if I did online check in I would not have to physically "check in" but what happens if the room we are given is completely not what I want? I have always had good luck getting what I wanted at check in at Caribbean Beach, even when the original room I may have been assigned to was not.

DINING : This has been my biggest problem! Our last 4 or 5 trips we have had Deluxe Dining. This time, we have free regular Dining. And I cannot seem to wrap my head around it! My dilemma is multiple. First, I cannot narrow down where I would eat...what to leave out! Second, with how crowded I am expecting it to be, I do not want to stand in line for food and then hunt for a table for hours at a time! Third, With how crowded I expect it to be, and how long our days may be an hour or two of forced sitting and being waited on out of the hustle and bustle of the crazy crowds but without leaving the action sounds like a great option! Forth, we have loved, in the past, the whole experience of dining and do not feel it takes away from our park time. Fifth, dining out is one of those things we do not do a lot of at home and when we do, it is very defined by how much things cost...I do not want to be worried about money. I want to be able to let someone have what they want because they can! And I really did try to plan with one table service meal per day. But with the extras to be able to have fun would end up pushing the upgrade cost and I would still be counting money all the time! So per my budget, if there are no unexpected expenses and nothing I forgot about and no catastrophes, I should be able to upgrade to Deluxe Dining before we leave...even though my travel agent tried to talk me out of it (sensibly, I know, and I really do appreciate it, and I really was trying to work with the regular dining, really, I was!). So that is how I am booking my dining in 20 days...as if we are getting the deluxe dining plan...because as far as I am concerned, we are...come on, put that positive energy out there with me! And Skye is technically a Disney Adult but will not eat a whole adult credit worth of a meal...and frankly, even though she is usually my least picky, will try most things at least once, eater, let's face it, she is a mac & cheese connoisseur and would be just as happy with a kid's meal and picking off of everyone else's appetizers, entrees, and desserts. So, we will be paying out of pocket for her (except at buffets/family style/pay one price venues) and using her adult credits for more fun!!!! I know, most people will say that that is just too much food...but we are good with it! No one said you have to lick the plate clean!

PLAN : I am still working on the details of dining so I have not gotten around to choosing fast pass + options yet but from what I am understanding, I think I am going to go with times in the late morning/early afternoon so that we can get into a park early, ride some rides without big lines, hit breakfast and then hit our past pass +. Hopefully, after that we will be able to get more, but being that is it that time of year, maybe not. But at least we will have done more this way. Then we can either hang out in the same place, go somewhere else, or go back to the room to rest/swim/play before heading back to a park for the evening.

I do have a list of ADRs I want...I'll post it next...then we can watch if/how much it changes before we leave!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Sounds like it was a great night!

It was! Everything was good...the orange cake was a bit on the sweet side but everyone was happy with it...our only hiccup was that we couldn't find our Lady & The Tramp DVD so we had to watch the second one...not a huge sacrifice!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

And here are what I am hoping to get on ADR day…

Friday 12-18-15 Arrival Day

12:00pm Kona Café
8:30pm California Grill


Saturday 12-19-15

7:30am Ohana
3:00pm Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
9:30pm 50s Prime Time


Sunday 12-20-15

10:00am Crystal Palace
3:00pm Coral Reef
9:00pm Narcoossees


Monday 12-21-15

10:30am Tuskerhouse
8:30pm Boma


Tuesday 12-22-15

7:30am Cape May Café
2:30pm Via Napoli
8:30pm Flying Fish


Wednesday 12-23-15

11:30am Tony’s Town Square
7:00pm Artist Point


Thursday 12-24-15 Christmas Eve

10:00am Hollywood & Vine
3:00pm Hollywood Brown Derby
9:30pm Sci-Fi Dine In


Friday 12-25-15 Christmas Day

8:00am Akershus
2:00pm Teppan Edo
8:30pm La Hacienda de San Angel


Saturday 12-26-15

7:30am The Wave
2:30pm Chefs de France
8:00pm Cinderella’s Royal Table


Sunday 12-27-15

1:00pm Yak & Yeti
8:30pm Jiko


Monday 12-28-15 Cary’s Birthday

10:00am Chef Mickey’s
3:30pm The Plaza
10pm Be Our Guest


Tuesday 12-29-15 Tyler’s Birthday

7:00am Grand Floridian Cafe
1:00pm Restaurant Marrakesh
8:00pm Yachtsman Steakhouse


Wednesday 12-30-15

9:30am 1900 Park Fare
2:30pm Whispering Canyon Cafe
8:30pm Citricos


Thursday 12-31-15 New Year’s Eve

11:30am Tutto Italia
7:00pm Le Cellier


Friday 1-1-16 New Year’s Day/Departure Day

11:00am T-Rex
5:00pm Ohana