After 13 years, 8 kids and a big move, the hubby and I are going to Disney Solo... May 2016

[cantoine]

Hello, and welcome to my first ever TR. Bear with me as this is new to me, and I am still figuring things out.

So as the tile reads, after 13 years of marriage, and raising 8 children (2 step children, 2 adopted children 4 biological) and relocating from Illinois to Texas, the husband and I have finally decided to take a short 4 night vacation without anyone but us. He threw around a bunch of different places, the usual, Vegas, Colorado, California, but he could tell I was just not happy with those places. Finally he came in to the house and said, I put some money into your account, go ahead and book our trip to Disney!!! Of course I jumped right up and got to it. I love that he knows me so well!

Here is a little background about me and DH:


Jason ( the one on the right) age 40
Occupation: CPS investigator for the State of Texas
Favorite Resort: POFQ
Favorite Disney Restaurant: The Wave
Favorite Ride: Big Thunder Mountain
Favorite thing to do at Disney: Pin trading and watching the fireworks



I am Crystal (the one on the right) age 32
Occupation: Government Employee
Favorite Resort: SSR or POLY I cant choose
Favorite Disney Restaurant: O'hana
Favorite Ride: Splash Mountain
Favorite thing to do at Disney: Eat and check out the resorts!

We have been to Disney world several times over the years. In February 2011 we made our first trip, 7 nights at POR. Next we went back in October 2013 for our DD 5th birthday and stayed at POR. But the trip wasn't as magical as I would have liked despite my year of planning, so in June 2014, we went again and Stayed at YC and BLT. This trip was the beginning of a habit. It was our 5th wedding anniversary so the husband decided to buy my DVC points for our Anniversary. I became a proud owner at AK-K. Well now I had these points which prompted another trip in September 2014 where I stayed at AK-K and SSR. Then my graduation trip May 2015 where I got even crazier and we stayed at VWL, bungalows POLY, AK-K and AOA. ( I used way to many points, and I have now been banned from making reservations by the hubby for 2 years). Then in July 2015 my SIL talked me into going again (ok, ok I actually talked her into us going lol) We stayed at POFQ. After this trip, my husband said a break would be taking for at least 2 years. (Yeah ok!) but low and behold we are planning our first solo trip!

Here is what I know so far:

When: May 27th-31st
Where: A Deluxe with a king bed (husbands request)
Park Tickets :2-3 days with a hopper, we never get a hopper because of the kids, but I would love to have one this trip
Dining Plan: I want a platinum plan, he wants steak, it all works out good.

Budget: Husband said I better not go over 3500.00 (not including airfare) or else....

So I called Disney and talked to the reservation specialist and started narrowing down some options. Of course, I like to think it is important to go over everything with my husband before I make any final decisions, so I told her I would call back after discussing the options with him...

 

[adudeinblue]

Definitely a nice decision for you guys to be kids, without the kids! There must be so much love in your home with such a big family!

My SO and I are planning a trip for the 2 of us as well. We have exactly the same parameters too! We want a deluxe resort with a king size bed, regular DDP, and hopefully aiming for under $3,500.00 for just the Disney budget. So I am excited to read how you are planning yours out! Hopefully learn something from an experienced DIS family!

Do you also buy Disney GC through Target to push your budget out a little and pay your Disney through Disney GC? Right now for only today, it's 10% off Target GC (max $30.00 saving). I'm not trying to be a salesman or anything, but I'm planning to get a few $300.00 Target GC for $270.00 later today, then get Disney GC to push our budget a little as well.

 

[cantoine]

Our home is completely filled with love, and messes, and sticky hands, and tantrums. And we wouldn't have it any other way. Currently, Our 21 year old is a Petty Officer 3rd class in the Navy, we have 2 in college in southern Illinois and one graduating senior who lives on his own. So in our home we have DS 10, DD 7,4,2. So our days are filled with plenty of love and Advil.

I do buy plenty of Disney gift cards, to pay for my trips. I use my target red card to purchase gift cards, for every hundred, I pay $95.00, so for every $1000.00 I get a free 50.00 to Disney. I also purchase gift cards from SAMS. They sell them in packages of $150.00 for 142.98. So for every $1050.00 I pay $1000.86. I also get(for free) anywhere between $500.00-$1500.00 in gift cards from swag bucks in either Target, Walmart, or SAMS club gift cards which I use to purchase Disney gift cards. I actually picked up some of those target gift cards today, and I was able to get the deal they had last week, where I was able to purchase 2 $25.00 Disney gift cards and I got a free 5.00 target gift cards. So so far I have been able to score $300.00 from target for $270.00 and, $300.00 in Disney gift cards from target last week and I got $60.00 in target gift cards to put to the side until my $50.00 from swag bucks gets here to get a free $100.00 in Disney Gift Cards

When are you and your SO planning on heading to Disney? Any resorts sticking out as somewhere you guys are dying to stay?[/QUOTE]

 

[adudeinblue]

You're doing a great job budgeting it; Keep it up! It's awesome how well you can stretch your dollar! I can tell your family works hard and plays hard!

We have a long time to finalize both our WDW and Orlando visit. We are aiming for January 2017, but 2016 is just around the corner! She would love to stay at AKL or WL, but I wouldn't mind AKL or the PORS. I was excited to read about your choices, and what you guys ultimately decided on, but I think I spoiled it for myself when I saw your countdown in your signature! haha

 

[cantoine]

Well after discussing it with the husband and going over all the numbers we have finally decided on a resort(s) and have finalized our packaged and I got to make the wonderful phone call and book our vacation!!!!

From May 27-May 30 we will be staying at...


I really wanted to do a 4 night trip but with the platinum dining plan it was taking me to over $5,000.00 which DH was cringing. So as I was going back and fourth and trying to figure it out it dawned on me that I had banked 10 of my DVC points that I have to use in 2016. Since e are not planning on using our points in 2016 because we are saving them for our vow renewal in 2017, I knew this would be the only opportunity to use them, so I got on the website as was able to book a room at...

One of the reasons we choose this resort as our home resort is so we could get the 11 month booking window for the value rooms, with us having such a large family we usually require a 2 bedroom which can get pricey depending on what time of the year we travel. We will be occupying a nice Value Studio on May 30-May 31


The great thing about the value rooms IMO is I use less points for the room, but I still have a chance of getting either a pool view, or a Savannah view room. We are happy with either view, and are so excited to enjoy our home resort and do some of the adult things they have there.

Now that my package is booked I have to get the ball rolling with my ADR's and activities that I get with the platinum dining plan. I am lucky that I get an itinerary planner that will help me make all of my reservations and draft up an itinerary for us. I will be excited to see all the things we are going to be able to do in our 4 nights that we don't normally get to do when the kids are with us.

 

[cantoine]

Well Happy New Year!!! Today marks the first day of 2016 and puts me that much closer to Disney!!!! I have been super busy with holiday stuff. On a good note, one of my older kiddos made it out to Texas to celebrate the new year with us, while the other 3 all met up in Boston MA. to ring in the new year. Of course the younger 4 were excited to see their big brother come home and have been bugging him since he got off the plane.

So as of today I have 147 days left to go until Disney! 87 days until my fast pass day and my online check in. My husband and I saw they finally released the room discounts. I was so excited, because we were curious if we would be able to get a good deal. Well, good news and bad news. The bad news is we are not allowed a discount if we have the platinum dining plan, the good news is, with the room categories that are offered at our resort, with our 2 day park hopper and the deluxe dining plan it comes to $2857.00 plus roughly $1500.00 in additional charges for the other things we wanted to do. So a total of $4357.00, however I was able to get my non-discounted package which includes all that I want to do for $3426.00 so for what I want to do, our non-discounted package is actually better than the discounted one for us!!!!!

so when I showed DH those numbers he was a lot happier that we are going with the platinum plan vs the discounted rate!