A Disney-addicted mom plans a trip in August, 2010! *New pics #574*

[klacey1]

We're officially staying at CSR the 1st night. I remembered that we're doing Dave Ramsey for a reason and I told me inner princess that she'll get another opportunity to stay at AKL when $$$ isn't as much of an issue.
I think I'm going to buy the kids 7 day park hoppers for now and then decide if we're going to upgrade or not once we get there. I think we'll have a better idea of finances by August. I'm dreaming about a Star Wars weekend for my eldest and DH next year so the AP would be used then (and hopefully in January, too).

Amanda

Very mature!! It's only one night-- definitely the smartest decision!

 

[dismagiclover]

I'm sure you'll enjoy CSR. Plus it can help you get back in January. Good call

 

[DrMomof3]

Very mature!! It's only one night-- definitely the smartest decision!

Thank you! It was quite the inner fight.

I'm sure you'll enjoy CSR. Plus it can help you get back in January. Good call

And if we like CSR enough, we could stay there in January and make that trip more affordable! If we hate it (which I doubt since it IS Disney), we will have only spent about 12 hours there.

It was hard to justify spending an extra $100+ when we're really only going to be at the 1st night hotel for 12 hours. If it weren't were DME, I'd stay off-site the 1st night and save even more. I still care about queen beds for my DH but we certainly don't need special amenities for one night. And I've heard good things about the quick-serve restaurant at CSR - good variety and decent quality of food.

I'm still trying to figure out APs vs. no APs for the kids. For some reason I thought the cost of an AP (for a child) wouldn't be *that* much more than a 7 day park hopper. The difference in price is significant. So now I have to "guesstimate" how many days the kids will spend in the parks from August 2010 to August 2011. If we're definitely going to the half-marathon, it's a no-brainer. But that trip isn't definite. Maybe by August I'll know. (Or maybe I can use having APs as an excuse to get my DH to agree to the January trip???).

Amanda

 

[lexmas]

LOL if you already have the AP's, then it's not extravagant to go again, it's just "getting your money's worth".

The price difference is a lot, we landed on AP's because we know we're taking a 10 day trip this September and a 9 or 10 day trip next August or September, so with those two trips alone it's worth it.

 

[-Hope-]

I hope you enjoy CSR! Of all the mods its the one I would choose if I were going to upgrade from a value. The queen size beds are the main reason, why pay more to still sleep in tiny beds! Anyway, good for you for looking at the big picture- AKL will always be there.

As for APs I'd just wait, you don't have to decide now so waiting until August makes sense. You'll have a better idea about the January trip and if they'll be worth it at that time. If you're like me you want all of these decisions made NOW and waiting is hard but it really seems to be the best option.

 

[DrMomof3]

LOL if you already have the AP's, then it's not extravagant to go again, it's just "getting your money's worth".

The price difference is a lot, we landed on AP's because we know we're taking a 10 day trip this September and a 9 or 10 day trip next August or September, so with those two trips alone it's worth it.

Tom and I bought APs. In April Tom spent 3 days in the parks and I spent 2. In August we'll be there 7 days (with park-hopping since most of our ADRs are at Epcot). The January trip would be 4-5 days. Tom will use his AP for 14-15 days (at least) and mine 13-14 days. I'm hoping to get an AP room discount in January, too.

I hope you enjoy CSR! Of all the mods its the one I would choose if I were going to upgrade from a value. The queen size beds are the main reason, why pay more to still sleep in tiny beds! Anyway, good for you for looking at the big picture- AKL will always be there.

As for APs I'd just wait, you don't have to decide now so waiting until August makes sense. You'll have a better idea about the January trip and if they'll be worth it at that time. If you're like me you want all of these decisions made NOW and waiting is hard but it really seems to be the best option.

Exactly! I like everything settled. I'm going to buy the park hoppers before we go (but I'm waiting because I just paid for airfare and the 1st night hotel so I don't want to spend all the $$$ at once!). I think by August we'll see how things are going financially. We have a few monthly expenses that end soon (car payment almost done and a personal loan almost done) so that will help our monthly cash-flow a lot. Tom has some changes happening with his practice which are stressing him out a lot. Once that gets settled we'll have a better idea of monthly income.

Amanda

 

[cdotla]

Hey Amanda! Finally caught up with your PTR!

Good call on CSR! Kudos to you for being restrained...I should take a lesson from you! Seriously though - I completely agree with your rationale...the queen beds seem to be the only moderate option for you. I wish CBR had queens...I made out fine there with just DD, but if we were sleeping 2 adults to a bed CSR would win out for sure!

Sounds like a great deal on airfare! But I sympathize with the decision whether or not to do APs for the kids. It is too bad that Disney didn't allow you to keep expired tickets and upgrade if you decide later within the year once you know for sure if you are returning. However, I guess that is how they make their money!

And finally - that is such great photo of you guys...so nice to put a "face" to a name!

 

[DrMomof3]

Hey Amanda! Finally caught up with your PTR!

Good call on CSR! Kudos to you for being restrained...I should take a lesson from you! Seriously though - I completely agree with your rationale...the queen beds seem to be the only moderate option for you. I wish CBR had queens...I made out fine there with just DD, but if we were sleeping 2 adults to a bed CSR would win out for sure!

Sounds like a great deal on airfare! But I sympathize with the decision whether or not to do APs for the kids. It is too bad that Disney didn't allow you to keep expired tickets and upgrade if you decide later within the year once you know for sure if you are returning. However, I guess that is how they make their money!

And finally - that is such great photo of you guys...so nice to put a "face" to a name!

Thank you!!! I have such mixed feelings about CSR but I'm feeling good about the decision. We're trying to learn to cut back and stay in our budget. We are surrounded by wealth (some of which is probably not true wealth but who knows?) and it's hard to tell yourself, "We'll get there some day but we're not there now." We both have good salaries but we have debt leftover from years of education and training. We need to get ourselves back on track first. And it's a hard lesson! I shouldn't complain (especially here) because we can afford BCV for most of the trip - thanks to a 40% discount - but we're also trying to cut back wherever we can.

Amanda

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I was looking at CSR for our trip a few months back, I think it looks really nice. I'm sure you will enjoy it!!

 

[Jake & Crew]

Okay, I know I should be doing my own PTR, or better yet sleeping....lol....but
decided to surf the board instead and your PTR caught my eye since we will be there the same time! Have a lot of catching up to do but want to sub so here I am

Also have to tell you I love your idea of 3 days Dis, 2 Univ and 3 Dis again! We would love to "break away" to Universal (or Seaworld) but so love the ME and being in Disney.....think you have a great solution, thank you for sharing

 

[Charlefours]

for finishing the C25K program!! I am still working my way through it. So exciting you are down in double digits! for booking airfare!

I love working with my TA--she will do as little or as much as I need her to do. It is such a relief off my mind having her in my corner!!

I hope you like CSR. I know for my trip it seems like a good fit.

At least you know you can upgrade the tickets before you leave to go home--hopefully that will take off some of the pressure of making the decision "right now."

 

[DrMomof3]

I was looking at CSR for our trip a few months back, I think it looks really nice. I'm sure you will enjoy it!!

Thank you!

Okay, I know I should be doing my own PTR, or better yet sleeping....lol....but
decided to surf the board instead and your PTR caught my eye since we will be there the same time! Have a lot of catching up to do but want to sub so here I am

Also have to tell you I love your idea of 3 days Dis, 2 Univ and 3 Dis again! We would love to "break away" to Universal (or Seaworld) but so love the ME and being in Disney.....think you have a great solution, thank you for sharing

Welcome to my insanity! Can't wait to find your PTR.

for finishing the C25K program!! I am still working my way through it. So exciting you are down in double digits! for booking airfare!

I love working with my TA--she will do as little or as much as I need her to do. It is such a relief off my mind having her in my corner!!

I hope you like CSR. I know for my trip it seems like a good fit.

At least you know you can upgrade the tickets before you leave to go home--hopefully that will take off some of the pressure of making the decision "right now."

Thanks! The TA is definitely helpful for me.

So I'm off to San Fran for a work convention tomorrow morning. Don't know how much online time I'll have. I'm totally annoyed that the convention spans Memorial Day weekend (and I get to take that lovely red-eye home on Sunday night so I can spend Memorial Day with my family). But I'm also excited for some peace and quiet in a lovely hotel time without screaming children or a needy DH. Did I say that out loud???
I've been considering going to the Walt Disney Family Museum while I'm there but I think it'll be fairly expensive to get there (I think it's an $18 cab fare each way) and it's supposed to rain on the only day I could do it. Oh well! I'll be back in San Fran another time....

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Have fun in San Francisco! Sounds heavenly to have a few days away!

 

[lexmas]

Have a fun trip and some nice alone time!

BTW, you made me google the Walt Disney Family Museum and it looks amazing! Some day I'll have to get there.

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[DrMomof3]

Have fun in San Francisco! Sounds heavenly to have a few days away!

Thank you!

Have a fun trip and some nice alone time!

BTW, you made me google the Walt Disney Family Museum and it looks amazing! Some day I'll have to get there.

It looks awesome, right?

joining in

Welcome!!!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm B-A-C-K!
Actually I've been back since Monday morning since I took the red eye Sunday night. The trip was a whirlwind! I arrived Thursday around lunch-time. It was pouring in San Fran. I checked into my hotel and got a beautiful room on the 19th floor. Great views of San Fran! I had all intentions of going to either the Walt Disney Family Museum or SF MoMA. The combination of rain and general exhaustion kicked in and I took a 3 hour nap instead! Once I woke up, I wandered over to the registration area and got my stuff. And I was lucky enough to run into a good friend who had no dinner plans. We had drinks and bar food at the top of the San Fran Marriott. Gorgeous views of the bay!
Friday morning I was awake by 6 am (well I had woken at 3am, 4am, and 5am) so I went to the hotel gym. Then I headed over to the conference (after a shower and appropriate change of clothes but I figure that goes without saying!). Friday was a long day. Not only did I have a full-day of conference but I also had a lunch meeting. There was a cocktail reception and then a dinner for about 20 of us. It's funny because dinner was me and a bunch of older men (in their mid 60's). An occupational hazard!

To be continued...

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Back to my San Fran trip...

Dinner Friday night was great except I was exhausted and jet lagged. The reservation was at 7:30pm (which is 10:30pm in NY). They had wine and passed hors d'oeuvres for a while. Then we sat and had a 4 course meal. It was served in a very European style - meaning about an hour per course! At 11pm we had not yet had dessert. I was falling asleep at the table!

Saturday I was up early again. I headed to the conference but I was losing focus. A friend and I left a bit before the lunch break. I had to upload my presentation at the Speaker center and then we grabbed a sushi lunch. A listened to a bit more of the conference before sneaking out to shop at Old Navy. They had a great sale! I bought the kids a bunch of much-needed summer clothes.

Saturday night was the reception at the Aquarium. It was a beautiful evening and a great venue for a party!!! I met some cool people - including a couple who live in Anchorage.

Sunday I had an early morning breakfast meeting. I then checked out of my hotel. In the afternoon I had my presentation (which went pretty well) and then met up with a dear friend for a quick drink (I had to go to the airport and he was heading to dinner). The red eye home was exhausting!!!

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Wow that sounds like a very full weekend- not a relaxing break at all! I'm glad you had some time for fun with friends and made it home okay!

 

[DrMomof3]

Wow that sounds like a very full weekend- not a relaxing break at all! I'm glad you had some time for fun with friends and made it home okay!

These work conferences are never relaxing. I always think I'm going to get plenty of sleep and relax and then come home more exhausted than before I left! I really should know better at this point!

Amanda