**A Disney Salute! June 2011 Military Discount/Anniversary PTR!** Update 6/23 Pg 12

[therussells08]

Hello everyone and to my second PTR! Some of you may already know me from my first PTR and TR (which is still in progress)! If we haven't met before, it's very nice to meet you!

Our last trip to WDW was in December, and I never expected to be able to go again this soon; however, thanks to Disney's awesome military discounts it became possible!

I'm sure you are ready to hear all about this trip. Since this is a military vacation, I am going to do it my husband's way: with the "5 W's" that he would include in an Army Operation Order!

Who?

Me: Joni, a 23 (24 next week) year old high school English teacher. I am a born and raised southern girl from North Carolina! I am the self proclaimed Disney nut of the family. This will be my eighth trip to WDW! Ever since my first trip in 2007 I haven't wanted to vacation anywhere else.
My Disney facts:
Favorite Disney Movie: Aladdin
Favorite Disney Character: Woody
Favorite WDW Park: Disney's Hollywood Studios
Favorite WDW Ride: Rock'n RollerCoaster Starring Aerosmith

DH: John, a 24 (25 next month) year old soldier in the US Army. John and I started dating in high school and we were married in 2008. He has been in the Army since 2004, and he absolutely loves his job. He is my true Prince Charming and I am so proud of him! While he may not be quite as obsessed as I am, John is still a Disney nut and he looks forward to each and everyone of our vacations. He's a big strong soldier covered in tattoos, but when we drive under that magical sign welcoming us to Disney World he becomes a little kid again!
John's Disney Facts:
Favorite Disney Movie: Disney Earth
Favorite Disney Character: King Louie and Buzz Lightyear
Favorite WDW Park: Disney's Hollywood Studios
Favorite WDW Ride: Mission:Space and Tower of Terror

That's our basic information, but I'm sure you'll learn a lot more about us as this PTR progresses!

What?

A six night WDW vacation with the Disney Dining Plan, plus four day Magic Your Way Park Hopper tickets We might add the Water Park Fun and More option, but we haven't decided yet.

Where?

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside!

When?

June 11-17, 2011

Why?

To celebrate our three year wedding anniversary!

Also, because it's not very often that John and I have vacation from work at the same time, we so when we do we try to use our time wisely! Thanks to Disney's promotional offer on rooms and tickets for military personnel this year, we are going to be able to do just that!


Well, there you have it! Those are the basics of our upcoming vacation! I just booked everything today, which is really exciting, but really stressful as well. I started planning our last trip nine months in advance, and here I am with this trip barely two months away! Planning this baby is gonna be a wild ride, but I know it will be tons of fun too! So strap on your seat belts, because here...we....GO!

Up Next: Exactly how this trip came to be, and some birthday shopping!

 

[therussells08]

How it all came to be...

Disney Shopping!

Birthday Fun!

Tie Your Napkin 'Round Your Neck! ADRs!

Maybe I'm Crazy, But...Changes!

My Mouth is Watering Already!

MORE Shopping!

Vacation Plans: Days 1 and 2

Vacation Plans: Day 3

SURPRISE!

Vacation Plans: Day 4

MORE Changes!

Random Shopping/Changes Update

Oops, I Did it Again!

Adieu, Adieu, to You and You and You!

Trip Report Link!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm in!! And first??

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I'm here! I'm so excited to hear you're planning another trip! And so soon! I can't wait to hear all about the planning!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on going to Disney World again!! Am looking forward to hearing all about your plans

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm here too! We'll be there the same time..well maybe. If we fly we'll fly in the 16th and are staying at POFQ and if not, we'll be driving and will arrive on the 17th and staying at POFQ!!!

So I guess depending on when you're leaving on the 17th I could may or may not see you!!!

Congrats on the discount, I think it should be offered more often. A little girl's dad (in my pre-k class) is in the Army as well and is overseas right now. He left in the fall but got 2 weeks leave a few weeks ago which was great for them! They've decided to plan a trip to WDW (first time) when he gets back in the fall so I pray my little girl gets to go because that's all she has been talking about!

 

[stephielela]

Joining in!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Yay! I'm here!

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

Subbing! I love the military discounts WDW has. We have taken taken advantage of it for the past 3 years! Can't wait to here about your plans!

 

[Parla]

How exciting! A new trip already! I would be totally freaking out trying to get ADRs done on such short notice. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

 

[saralexander97]

Joining in =)

 

[RachelNinja]

Yay for a new trip in the near future! That's going to be a lot of planning in a shorter amount of time, but it might end up being more fun. No need for all that waiting and anticipation! I'm so glad that your vacation times line up and that you can celebrate your 3-year anniversary!

 

[therussells08]

I'm in!! And first??

Yay for being first!

I'm here! I'm so excited to hear you're planning another trip! And so soon! I can't wait to hear all about the planning!

Thanks for joining in! If I have my dates correct, I think I will be coming back the day before your Big Day!

Yay on going to Disney World again!! Am looking forward to hearing all about your plans

Thank you for joining in! I am so excited to share my plans!

I'm here too! We'll be there the same time..well maybe. If we fly we'll fly in the 16th and are staying at POFQ and if not, we'll be driving and will arrive on the 17th and staying at POFQ!!!

So I guess depending on when you're leaving on the 17th I could may or may not see you!!!

Congrats on the discount, I think it should be offered more often. A little girl's dad (in my pre-k class) is in the Army as well and is overseas right now. He left in the fall but got 2 weeks leave a few weeks ago which was great for them! They've decided to plan a trip to WDW (first time) when he gets back in the fall so I pray my little girl gets to go because that's all she has been talking about!

YAY! If we are there at the same time we HAVE to meet up! That would be awesome!

Thank you! I love the military discounts. They are amazing! A few years ago they were even better, John's tickets were totally free and mine were only $99. I hope the little girl in your class gets to go!

Joining in!

Thanks for joining in!

 

[therussells08]

Yay! I'm here!

Yay! I'm so glad you're here!

Subbing! I love the military discounts WDW has. We have taken taken advantage of it for the past 3 years! Can't wait to here about your plans!

Thank you for subbing! The military discounts are so great; I'm glad you've been able to take advantage of them!

How exciting! A new trip already! I would be totally freaking out trying to get ADRs done on such short notice. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Oh I am DEFINITELY freaking out! Don't worry, you will be reading about all of my freaking out very soon!

Joining in =)

Thanks for joining in!

Yay for a new trip in the near future! That's going to be a lot of planning in a shorter amount of time, but it might end up being more fun. No need for all that waiting and anticipation! I'm so glad that your vacation times line up and that you can celebrate your 3-year anniversary!

I'm nervous about the quick planning, but you're right: it's going to be so nice not having to wait an eternity to go! We have been really lucky to be able to go for our anniversary every year (even though last year we were six months late! )

 

[therussells08]

Thank you all so much for joining in on my new PTR! All of my old friends are here, and already I have a few new friends subbing! I love making PTRs and TRs because it's such a great opportunity to make new friends!

Anyway, as you all know by now, my last trip to Disney was in December 2010. Usually I do not get to go to Disney more than once a year. Actually, it had been a year and a half since our last trip when we went in December. However, this time I just got lucky! See, John and I thought that our December trip would be our last for a really long time. We didn't expect him to get any time off, but he found out last week that he is supposed to have three weeks off in June! My last day of work for the summer is June 4th, so it was perfect!

However, there was one drawback: John told me in January that he didn't want to go to Disney on our next vacation. I was completely thrown when he told me that. I've never known John to not want to go to Disney! I asked him why (actually I said, "Did I do something wrong?!" in a total whiney brat voice) and he said he wanted to try something new. Oh no! The dreaded words every Disney freak never wants to hear from his/her spouse! I spent a few days sulking and feeling sorry for myself, but then I had an idea. I approached John with the proposition of going to Orlando a few days early (probably on the 9th) and trying some other stuff that we had never done before and then going to Disney. He was hesitant at first, but as soon as I mentioned the Kennedy Space Center he was totally on board! Whoopeee!

Now the only question was, when to book the trip? I was dying to do it as soon as John told me we could go back to Disney, but I didn't know his exact leave dates. Now here's the kicker: I still don't know his exact leave dates. At this point you might think I'm crazy, but I promise I'm not. We are 99.99% sure he will be off for the 11-17, and if he's not it won't be the first time we've had to modify reservations at the last minute.

So, what finally convinced me to take the plunge and just book the darn trip already? Well, this little puppy came in the mail:

A 2011 vacation planning DVD! One look was all it took! I had to book it! So, that brings us to where we are today: 2 months and 6 days away from our awesome anniversary vacation!

Up Next: Disney shopping for my birthday!

 

[RachelNinja]

Try something new?!? Uh, pick a restaurant you've never eaten at before! That's new!!!

Haha. I hope it never gets to the point when one of us doesn't want to go to Disney! Howard and I do want to try different things (you know, different like Disneyland and all!), but hopefully it'll be a mutual decision when that time comes! So happy John agreed!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Gotta love that DVD!!!!!

More details PLEASE!!!

 

[Nermel9]

LOL...I get that same speech all the time from Brandon, wanting to go somewhere different, and I have the same bratty reaction! He keeps telling me we're not going next year, but I REALLY want to go in May for our 2nd anniversary, which is why I keep bringing it up every once in a while, to see how he reacts to it, and telling him we should buy AP's if we are going to go back in May...and if I have an AP in my hand...there will be another trip after May!

I think that's a great idea, going to Orlando early and going to the Kennedy Space Center!

I love the planning DVD! In fact...I might just watch it later...

 

[Parla]

Now the only question was, when to book the trip? I was dying to do it as soon as John told me we could go back to Disney, but I didn't know his exact leave dates. Now here's the kicker: I still don't know his exact leave dates. At this point you might think I'm crazy, but I promise I'm not. We are 99.99% sure he will be off for the 11-17, and if he's not it won't be the first time we've had to modify reservations at the last minute.

I've heard bad things about military leaves not really be solid. Good luck with that.

Now to the more important point. New rule! No posting on the PTR without making a post on the TR in between. I've seen too many TRs get abandoned and it's a very sad thing.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I dread the day that Miguel ever says he'd rather go somewhere other than Disney! I do want us to vacation other places together, but I just have to go to Disney at least once a year. Thankfully, he seems to love Disney just as much as me, so so far, so good! I love how you very cleverly convinced John to go to Disney after all!