A Disney-Addicted mom plans an August, 2013 Autotrain Trip for 7! *Big Update! 11/19*

[DrMomof3]

We booked an August trip for this year after me saying I wouldn't bring a tiny baby to Disney. I just decided we had to.

We are going from 8/29-9/4 and then again in October.

I think I need my head examined but it should be fun.

Where are you staying??? Tiny babies are easier than toddlers....

Amanda

 

[cogero]

We were able to get Kidani for this trip. though I keep checking boardwalk or beach club but am totally fine with Kidani.

I was able to get super fabulous pricing on Southwest flights too.

 

[DrMomof3]

We were able to get Kidani for this trip. though I keep checking boardwalk or beach club but am totally fine with Kidani.

I was able to get super fabulous pricing on Southwest flights too.

Do you fly Southwest out of Islip?
Sweet! I've heard Kidani rocks!!!

Amanda

 

[cogero]

Yes we do or we do jet blue out of LGA but south west was 205 per person. We love kidani

 

[DrMomof3]

Yes we do or we do jet blue out of LGA but south west was 205 per person. We love kidani

Islip is SO far from us. We did it once but it wasn't really worth the long drive...

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Where should we stay for Marathon Weekend? It'll just be Tom and me. I have pricing for Contemporary (garden wing and Tower), Poly, and Beach Club. The least expensive of them is Garden Wing at the Contemporary, followed by BC, then Poly, and then Tower. There is a huge advantage to being at a monorail resort for the marathon.
Tom has always wanted to stay in the Tower at the Contemporary, if that helps.

Amanda

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Where are you staying??? Tiny babies are easier than toddlers....

Amanda

I have to say I totally agree-babies are easier than toddlers in many ways and just think when you've used all those diapers you packed for the trip you'll have lots of lovely room for souvenirs

Where should we stay for Marathon Weekend? It'll just be Tom and me. I have pricing for Contemporary (garden wing and Tower), Poly, and Beach Club. The least expensive of them is Garden Wing at the Contemporary, followed by BC, then Poly, and then Tower. There is a huge advantage to being at a monorail resort for the marathon.
Tom has always wanted to stay in the Tower at the Contemporary, if that helps.

Amanda

I think you should go for the Tower! I know it's the most expensive but it's just you and Tom and you both work really hard and have 3 kids to boot. Plus it's been a tough year with your mom's passing Add to that the fact that Tom wants to stay there and well I just think you both deserve it so I say go for it! You only live once

 

[DrMomof3]

I have to say I totally agree-babies are easier than toddlers in many ways and just think when you've used all those diapers you packed for the trip you'll have lots of lovely room for souvenirs

Thanks for agreeing with me! Good point about the diapers although I used to just order diapers from garden grocer! August will be our first trip with NO diapers or pull-ups!!!

I think you should go for the Tower! I know it's the most expensive but it's just you and Tom and you both work really hard and have 3 kids to boot. Plus it's been a tough year with your mom's passing Add to that the fact that Tom wants to stay there and well I just think you both deserve it so I say go for it! You only live once

That's what I'm thinking. Even though it's a lot more per night, it isn't so much more $$$ that we can't afford it...

Amanda

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I have to say I totally agree-babies are easier than toddlers in many ways and just think when you've used all those diapers you packed for the trip you'll have lots of lovely room for souvenirs

I think you should go for the Tower! I know it's the most expensive but it's just you and Tom and you both work really hard and have 3 kids to boot. Plus it's been a tough year with your mom's passing Add to that the fact that Tom wants to stay there and well I just think you both deserve it so I say go for it! You only live once

Totally agree!!! Especially since its just the 2 of you.
How long will you be able to stay?

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[DrMomof3]

Totally agree!!! Especially since its just the 2 of you.
How long will you be able to stay?

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Just 4 nights.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

A few updates:

We decided to book Beach Club for our January Marathon Trip. I just couldn't justify the extra $500 over 4 nights to stay in the Tower at the Contemporary. The garden wing was nominally less expensive than BC but I prefer BC. Poly was $300 more than Beach Club. I do like Poly - especially because of the location for Marathon Weekend - but not enough to spend the extra $$$.

My family (independent of the suggestion here) has decided that we should make Seven Dwarf shirts for our August trip. I'm waiting for a good discount at Zazzle before I order them. Although there was some discussion involved we've agreed that:

Tom is Sleepy
I'm Doc
Nathaniel is Dopey
Jessica is Sneezy (she has terrible allergies)
Zachary is Happy
Popsie (my step-dad) is Grumpy
Karin (the nanny) is Bashful

Karin isn't Bashful and Nathaniel isn't Dopey but I think it's pretty good overall. And everyone agreed to this plan. (Except Karin and Popsie who will be surprised.)

Amanda

 

[carissanboys]

Love the ideas for your shirts! So cute!

 

[natebenma]

I'm back!!!

All caught up.

Your dining plans are great! Congrats on getting a Be Our Guest reservation. The restaurant looks absolutely amazing!!! Date night sounds pretty awesome, too!

We are doing our first trip without the dining plan (my idea) so we will be collecting Disney Gift Cards, too. I think we will be paying for our stay with GC as well- my son's middle school has a deal with USScrip for the purchase of all sorts of gift cards. The school gets back 2% on Disney cards, BUT we get back 2.5% on Sam's Club/Walmart. And I can purchase $50 Disney GC for $47 at Sam's Club, so... I buy Sam's Club gift cards to benefit school, and with them Disney GC to benefit ME. Win-Win.

Do you have a Sam's Club membership? Someone suggested the Target card to you, but if you have Sam's, it is a 6% savings on face value of Disney cards.

Finally- love your idea for the matching shirts! How perfect!!!

 

[333disneymom]

Love the shirts! What a cute idea.

I'm back!!!

We are doing our first trip without the dining plan (my idea) so we will be collecting Disney Gift Cards, too. I think we will be paying for our stay with GC as well- my son's middle school has a deal with USScrip for the purchase of all sorts of gift cards. The school gets back 2% on Disney cards, BUT we get back 2.5% on Sam's Club/Walmart. And I can purchase $50 Disney GC for $47 at Sam's Club, so... I buy Sam's Club gift cards to benefit school, and with them Disney GC to benefit ME. Win-Win.

Do you have a Sam's Club membership? Someone suggested the Target card to you, but if you have Sam's, it is a 6% savings on face value of Disney cards.

http://s657.photobucket.com/user/natebenma/media/Beach Club FAQ/dwarves.jpg.html

We are doing the same thing - skipping the DDP and paying with gift cards bought at Target. To bad there is not a Sam's near us.

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[ddluvsdisney]

Love the 7 Dwarves theme!! Cute idea.

Can't wait to see what they look like.
Nice choice with the BC.

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[lindap1]

Started reading your pretrip report and had to comment on the Auto train. You are going to love it! Nothing beats sitting back and watching the land go by as you dream of what you're going to do first at Disney
We went in 2011 and that was our first time for both Disney and the AT. We upgraded to a deluxe sleeper that time and it was a little cramped for two adults and a 4 year old. This November we got a family bedroom so we could stretch out a little. Looking forward to reading the rest!

 

[DrMomof3]

Love the ideas for your shirts! So cute!

Thank you!!!

I'm back!!!

All caught up.

Your dining plans are great! Congrats on getting a Be Our Guest reservation. The restaurant looks absolutely amazing!!! Date night sounds pretty awesome, too!

We are doing our first trip without the dining plan (my idea) so we will be collecting Disney Gift Cards, too. I think we will be paying for our stay with GC as well- my son's middle school has a deal with USScrip for the purchase of all sorts of gift cards. The school gets back 2% on Disney cards, BUT we get back 2.5% on Sam's Club/Walmart. And I can purchase $50 Disney GC for $47 at Sam's Club, so... I buy Sam's Club gift cards to benefit school, and with them Disney GC to benefit ME. Win-Win.

Do you have a Sam's Club membership? Someone suggested the Target card to you, but if you have Sam's, it is a 6% savings on face value of Disney cards.

Finally- love your idea for the matching shirts! How perfect!!!

I'm thrilled that we're eating at Be Our Guest!
We aren't members of Sam's Club. There is one which isn't too inconvenient so I'll think about whether or not it's worth it to join. Thanks for the info on the gift cards.
I didn't realize that you usually use the dining plan.
I think the shirts will be cute!

Love the shirts! What a cute idea.



We are doing the same thing - skipping the DDP and paying with gift cards bought at Target. To bad there is not a Sam's near us.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thanks for the compliment on the shirts. I'm waiting for a discount code to order them...
I didn't like the dining plan when we had it.

Love the 7 Dwarves theme!! Cute idea.

Can't wait to see what they look like.
Nice choice with the BC.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thank you on all counts!

Started reading your pretrip report and had to comment on the Auto train. You are going to love it! Nothing beats sitting back and watching the land go by as you dream of what you're going to do first at Disney
We went in 2011 and that was our first time for both Disney and the AT. We upgraded to a deluxe sleeper that time and it was a little cramped for two adults and a 4 year old. This November we got a family bedroom so we could stretch out a little. Looking forward to reading the rest!

Glad to hear a good review of the auto train! We usually fly so this will be a big change for us.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Here's an interesting quandary. I was offered 2 nights at SSR for free. But I have to be able to go Monday and Tuesday. Yes. THIS Monday and Tuesday (Memorial Day and the day after). One of the nurses I know is a DVC member and her points are expiring and she can't use them....
Tom can't go. I can go but it would require some minor schedule adjustments. It looks like I can get an AP discount for SSR on Saturday night and Sunday night so I'd still be changing rooms but it would be the same resort.
Would you travel solo with 3 kids and spend about $2000 for a surprised 5 day/4 night trip to Disney?

Amanda

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Wow that would be a really awesome surprise!! I personally wouldn't be able to go by myself. But that's just me.

I hope you decide to go.

 

[DrMomof3]

Wow that would be a really awesome surprise!! I personally wouldn't be able to go by myself. But that's just me.

I hope you decide to go.

Oh you faint of heart!

Amanda