$5 A Day Means Disney MY Way! Update: OUR DAY OUT!

[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
Bringing Things Together

~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
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

~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...!!!
Our Day Out at Wicken Fen

 

[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]

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

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!

 

[meggiebeth]

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!

Thank you so much for joining in!

Thank you! My parents probably wouldn't book a holiday to WDW unless I was there to plan it... but planning is so fun anyway! My friends think I am crazy pondering over what ADRs to get at school...

Thank you! And I must certainly agree, Oscar is a beautiful, amazing dog, and so friendly too! Your photo of yours was absolutely precious too.

Wow- I didn't know anyone's trip could be further! Most people book months in advance, not a year. Off I go to check out your PTR!

Thankyou! It is satisfying getting the money. My parents don't know how much I have in total, they will be truly surprised when they see.

 

[meggiebeth]

Hello!

We have hit the ONE YEAR MARK! WOOHOO! This time in a year, I will be in Florida! It's actually 11 months and 30 days now, as my ticker says.

Right, well we made progress with the holiday last weekend...

Sorting Out Oscar's Home Boarding

Oscar, our lovely 3 year old labrador, of course cannot come with us to WDW on the plane. So, we have to find somewhere for him to go. We looked round a kennel two years ago and I HATED it. It was horrible! Dogs in cages, tiny little muddy running areas, and as I thought of how sad Osc would be in there, I insisted we cancel the reservation my dad made for him and pay my cousins to look after him.

Before sorting things out with our cousins, we checked availability with home boarders- people that look after your dog in their home, and the dog essentially becomes part of their family for the duration you are away. None really had availability, so we had to settle with our cousins.

Well, after two years of using them, we came home last year after our amazing WDW holiday, to our house in a pretty bad state. The carpets had been chewed, glasses had been cracked and Rory's favourite cuddly toy had been chewed.

In addition to that, my cousin who is rather heavy, shall we say, decided to stand on our £500 garden table... and fell right through it. Yes, that is correct, our garden table had a huge hole in the middle, and was totally wrecked. Luckily my cousin was okay, but our garden table, undeniably was not. We still paid them, much to the surprise of our friends. I guess my cousins have learnt invaluable lessons not to stand on garden tables... especially if you are heavy, and to keep an eye on the dog you are being paid to look after!

This year, we were going to look for a home boarder. My dad's colleague at work has a labrador too, Max, and she is unkeen to put her dog into a kennel. So, we decided to meet up, and see if Osc and Max got along. If they did, Max could come to our house when his owners were on holiday, and Osc could go to their house while we are on holiday.

Well- thankfully they got on really well. Max is coming to visit our house in less than two weeks. I suppose this is to see if Osc will be territorial but Osc is the most gentle, kindhearted dog ever and doesn't get territorial at all.

So, here are some photos of Osc meeting his new doggie friend.

Here they are running together.

They even bumped into another labrador, a sweet little brown labrador, and they all got on really well.

Of course no walk is complete without Osc giving himself a good old shake... usually within a 1 meter radius of someone dry... and often in cold weather

So... there you have it! Looks like Osc has his arrangements almost sorted! And it is so much nicer knowing your dog is happy and safe in a friend's home than in a kennel.

 

[meggiebeth]

My savings are coming on. I didn't save as much last week that I'd have liked to. But it is progress! I am so thankful for Mummy helping me save, without her I wouldn't be able to do it nearly so well.

 

[meggiebeth]

Getting to know Daddy (Will)

Welcome back. Now, here are some photos of Daddy so you can get to know him, his likes, dislikes and hopes for our holiday to WDW.

I figured this is a great photo to start with because it sums him up in a lot of ways. He is a patriotic Scotsman. We are part of the Murray clan- our slogan is tout pret which translates as always ready in Latin. He is wearing, as you can see, a kilt. This kilt is actually made up of Murray tartan. He even has a broach on his kilt, which is exclusively for Murrays too. It bears the Murray symbol and slogan.

In this photo is Daddy, his brother (my uncle) and his nephew (my cousin).

This is Daddy at the Olympic Torch Relay with some other members of our village amateur dramatics society. Daddy is obviously wearing his patriotic hat. Many people were impressed with it and asked for pictures of him. You can guess what the other guy, Kyle, is dressed as- the Mad Hatter. Yup, we are doing a pantomime of Alice in Wonderland this year! Mummy is tweedledum and Daddy is the dame!!!

Now, this is Daddy's trademark phrase- 'You spent how much?!' Me and Mummy love to go shopping together and Daddy says his wallet hurts everytime. He is a cheapskate, haha. Me and Mummy refuse to eat unbranded Marmite, a special topping for toast we have here. He goes out and buys the supermarket brand, and puts it in the empty Marmite jar!!! Still, he wouldn't be the same if he weren't a cheapskate and we all love him.

This is Daddy and Mummy in the lobby of the Polynesian Resort in WDW. Although he didn't much like the Poly (he preferred the GF, BWI, BC & YC and SSR- the 'lighter' resorts) he still just loved Disney's attention to detail and how everything was themed.

This is one of Daddy's great passions. He loves old aeroplanes, and we have a museum near us called Duxford Imperial War Museum, that has many old planes and holds regular airshows where these magnificent planes are flown again. I just love the Spitfires personally.

Daddy also loves cars- old and new. We have lots of car shows in our part of the country and he loves to see antique cars. But he loves new cars too. We have just bought a Mercedes E-Class which he loves... but I do think he wishes we would have gotten the new brand of Jaguar. He spends ages deciding on a new car! He always goes on about someday wanting to get a 'V8'- I think this is a type of engine. He looooooves powerful engines.

Because of Daddy's love of cars, I have decided that visiting Old Town's weekly car show will be a must for us during this holiday. I told him that it is the biggest regular car show in the US... and I think he will love it when we get there.

Name: William
Age: 52
Favourite places: WDW, San Francisco (he still raves about Alcatraz and meeting a HUGE American policeman!)
Favourite food: Curry and chinese food, scones
Hobbies: Aeroplanes, car shows, hockey and badminton
Favourite Disney character: Donald Duck, and many from the Jungle Book
Favourite park: Magic Kingdom
Favourite resort hotel: Grand Floridian and SSR
Favourite restaurant: Chef Mickey's, HDDR, Chefs de France
Favourite place near us: Scotland

 

[meggiebeth]

Getting to Know Mummy (Tracey)

Welcome back. We have had a lovely half term break, and are now back at school. I have just had my first day of work experience at Rory's school. It was quite fun! Anyways...

Here are some photos of Mummy. Firstly, she loves parties, weddings, holidays and shopping! Here she is with her MIL (my grandmother).

Here she is at our cousin's wedding in Scotland, all smiley and bright.

This next photo makes me smile. Here we are with Mummy on a boat sailing around Loch Ness.

Doesn't Mummy look happy here...? (RSPC Wildlife Reserve in Scotland.)

Here we are on Mummy's friend's estate in Scotland. It was huge and very windy!

Mummy found her way into the center of the maze at Scone Palace and was very pleased...!

And here she is posing on Hadrian's Wall with her three children (me included!)

Name: Tracey
Age: 49
Favourite places: WDW, London
Favourite food: Cheese, creme brulees, and much more
Hobbies: Badminton, acting, shopping
Favourite Disney character: Rapunzel
Favourite park: Magic Kingdom
Favourite resort hotel: Grand Floridian and SSR
Favourite restaurant: Chefs de France, Akershus, Citricos
Favourite place near us: Cambridge or London