An Obsessed Disney Goer's Pre-trip Report - *UPDATED with pics!!*

[heathers4um]

Aren't we all though....obsessed I mean? It's like a cult, no doubt...a happy but borderline crazy cult motivated by pixie dust and creating magical memories for our loved ones. And this is the cult's homebase...DIS boards. I have done little else since buying into DVC a few months ago...and thats when it all started. I have always been Disney obsessed...but this gave me a reason to be so with an outcome...a real trip!

My name is Heather and I am 39 years young. My DFiance is Jose and he is 37 years old (please look past the cradle robbing...I really feel 25 so HE's the one who we should be pointing fingers to)

Together we have 3 children - I have a 17 yr old Prince, Connor and he has a 20 yr old Prince, Jose Jr., an 18 yr old Prince, Felix and an 8 yr old Princess Josiris (Josie). However THIS is an adults only trip so wave goodbye to the Princes and Princess until next time!

When I got it in my head to buy into DVC I thought I was going to have my work cut out for me. DF isnt what you would call a plan ahead kinda guy. Nor is he the kind to go on vacation unless you can afford to just pick up and go. I am the exact polar opposite: I plan and plan and plan - it keeps me happy until I get there. AND if I have to budget and save and put towards my trip monthly then thats what I do! But surprisingly, he heard what I had to say and the next thing I know he's signing papers and we are OKW'eners!!

This ends the intro...I have alot more to report and do not want to overload you all - at least all at once.

Next up: Is it normal to pick dates and book flights BEFORE you have the accomodations taken care of? It is if you are ME!!

 

[heathers4um]

Ok so in hopes that I havent confused you all totally with the fact that I have 2 exactly the same PTR's going on, I thought I would add to this one so we can all follow one. I dont know how to delete them so I am hoping a Mod will come along and save me.

Before we even signed the papers and were officially 'welcomed home' I booked our flights. I am what you would call a Filght Snob and really try to only fly JetBlue for many reasons. So I went to their site and looked around and it was while I was doing that I got bit by the selfish bug. You know the one...it comes up and injects tunnel vision into your system and all you can see is what you want. All the sudden I heard this voice in my head (must have been Walt's) saying...you are turning 40 in November...

That did it. I know we got 09 incentive points when signing on to DVC and I wanted to go for it - kids free - in a 1 bedroom villa, complete with King bed and a hot tub! WHAT?? Since we have never stayed DVC before we have to scout it out before we bring the kids ALL the way down there, right?? Who cares that I wont be using the kitchen much...and the fact that I have never been to Disney without my Prince Connor...well, ok that stung alot, but I AM GOING TO BE 40!! I deserve some sort of adult vacation!

Ok, not totally convinced but...I am trying. Mother guilt is an awful thing.

SO...I book the flights QUICK! I get the absolutely earliest I can on the Sunday we leave and get the absolutley latest flight out on the day we go home. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Now to hope that OKW will have that 1 bedroom I want so badly!!

I call MS and book for my birthday week - using only the 09 points so as not to take away from the family points and staying within the Sun-Thu nights so we can conserve on points...THEY HAVE ONE!! I even was able to request one close to Hospitality House! The thing with OKW that I have learned through Dis boards is everyone likes a different area there. Its wide spread and sprawling and gorgeous and lush! So I thought if we stayed near the hubbub this 1st time, we will know what we like best after scoping it all out.

Next up: the real obsession begins....

 

[heathers4um]

Ok one last post before I go home for the night...see what I mean about the obsession? If there is a pill for this I dont want it.

So I decide that since we are going just us, we can do all the sorts of adult things like DTD and Resort Hop that we dont have time for when we have kids of all ages begging us to do this and that and whatever so I begin planning our itinerary. In my head I imagine us sleeping til 8 or so and enjoying coffee on the balcony and making long leisurely breakfasts...ordering from Garden Grocer and really making use of the amenities of the villa. I can see us wandering around the resort and laying by the pool and then taking the monorail to those resorts or a boat to POR and DTD and then a bus to whichever resorts we cant get to via monorail, maybe have some drinks at the lounges of said resorts and then hit a restaurant for dinner. AHHHH....the laid back feeling! So thats what I begin planning...a no park vacation filled with spending time at the places and spots we dont get to absorb while we are busy rushing from park to park!

AND there goes the guilt of going to Disney kid free!! Everybody wins!!

Next up: we really can convince ourselves of anything, cant we?

 

[heathers4um]

Best laid plans, right??

So in the throes of my genius idea of a no park visit, I find out that the Food & Wine Festival will be going on in EPCOT. I have NEVER done this!! *jumps up and down* So that means I have to right?? How could I waste THAT just to stick stubbornly to my plan?

Wouldnt that be cutting my nose to spite my face?

I decided yes...yes indeed it would be.

So I plan to pick ONE day to go to EPCOT to do the F&W. Hey, while I am at it, I may as well book the early morning Segway Around the Wrold Tour! BONUS! I also book the Keys to the Kingdom Tour - I have always wanted to do that....whats that you say? lunch is included? NICE! Oh, and I have to buy a ticket to enter MK? Hmmmm.....*thinks this isnt going to....* OK!

On to ADRS....although I am going to use my villa kitchen, I pick a couple of my favorites: Crystal Palace, Boma, Tusker House...

WAIT just a cotton-pickin' minute....that means I have to get tickets to enter AK....OK!

Maybe we should consider AP's....you know, due to the fact that we get the discount on shopping and all...and with obviously NEEDING to get into the parks to do all of these ADULT things...

So off I go to plan the daily itinerary. This has blown up to a full-fledged trip and I am not going to fight it anymore!!

Well, since we have the AP's, maybe I should consider the Tables in Wonderland Card. I know we are only going to eat out a bit but it lasts a year like the AP's and we do enjoy adult beverages so the 20% dicount would be great!

*starts to look at DDP to compare prices to the 20% TIW discount*

*gives up and decides to book DDP*

I can always cook at home...and all hope is not lost as we will be making coffee in the morning!

OK to recap - now we have gone from a no-park, eat-in, lay-around vacation to a no-holds-barred, eat-out-for-every meal and take-over-the-parks vacation.

I CANT WAIT!!

Next up: Surprises, celebrations and excitement for all the firsts about to happen!

 

[heathers4um]

As I stated before, we have a few firsts going on during this trip:

It's our 1st trip 'home' to OKW
It's Dfiances 1st trip to WDW ever (well he went to the sports complex once for his sons basketball championship series but thats it)
It's our 1st trip together anywhere without a child

AND its my 40th birthday

So I decide that I want to make this trip something so special it would be hard to live up to! I add on his 1st trip celebration and my birthday celebration to all of our ADR's and to the reservation at OKW. I go to Disneystore.com and poke around for some special check in gifts for us: I decide the personalized caps, a pair of matching personalized robes and sweatshirts for us to keep in our Owner's locker is a great thing! Gift wrap....no gift wrap...I cant decide. Gift wrap...I think.

I have already compiled a list of things we need to buy for the OL so that I can ship it all down a week before we leave so we dont have to pack anything but some clothes. We may even be able to just do a couple of carry ons!!

I have purchased a Passporter and cannot put it down! I cant - I tried. I have been to WDW MANY MANY times...but even I have learned so many thngs with this book! Its definitely coming with!! When I showed it to him, although as I stated hes not what you would call an excitable guy, he looked interested and asked that we look it over together some evening soon...he said he cant wait to see what we are in for!

*cleans ears with q-tips and stares at him*

Next up: the Itinerary

 

[heathers4um]

Heather and Jose’s Fantabulous Disney Vacation
ºoº 40th Birthday Celebration ºoº

10/31
• Arrive in OKW and check in
• Wander around OKW
• Magic Kingdom (Get AP’s, Casey’s, Dole Whip & Main St)
• Resort Hop (Contemporary, Bay Lake Towers, Grand Floridian)
• Break
• Polynesian Resort for drinks and wandering the resort
• ‘Ohana’s for dinner – 8:15 pm

11/1
• Tusker House for breakfast – 8:35 am
• Animal Kingdom (9am-4pm)
• Hollywood Studios (4pm-10pm)

11/2
• Boma for breakfast – 9:10 am
• Resort Hop (Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo & Kidani)
• Fort Wilderness - Horseback Riding
• Resort Hop (Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Coronado Springs)
• Whispering Canyon Café – 5:00pm
• Break
• Boardwalk - Resort Hop (Beach Club, Boardwalk Villas, Yacht Club, Swan & Dolphin)
• ESPN? Beaches & Cream?

11/3
• EPCOT Segway Tour 8:30am
• EPCOT Food & Wine Festival (11am-9pm)
• Break
• EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
• EPCOT – Illuminations & Futureworld (9am-12am)

11/4
• Crystal Palace for breakfast 8:10 am
• Keys to the Kingdom Tour 9:30am
• Lunch at Columbia House (during tour)
• Magic Kingdom
• Wishes (9pm)

11/5
• Check out day
• Olivia’s for breakfast – 10:00 am
• Resort Hop (Saratoga Springs)
• Downtown Disney
• Meet Magical Express @ OKW 6 pm
• Go home and begin planning next Disney vacation
You know you want to!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Hey Heather, I'm here!! Oh, your plans sound so relaxing and peaceful. You guys are going to have so much fun for your birthday. You'll have to make sure to do a trip report so I can hear all about the tours you're doing. I've always wanted to do the Keys to the Kingdom tour. So fun!!!

Can't wait to hear more.

 

[heathers4um]

YAY my 1st groupie!!

Hi Kirsten! I still feel a bit guilty but I have decided to get over it.

I keep changing the itnerary but I think I have it the way I want it. What I have to keep reminding myself is this is supposed to be laid back and fun so I need to remain flexible...after all we will be able to go back with the DVC!

I just want DF to get a feel for the magic and a taste of the pixie dust that flows so freely and to do that I have to go easy on him.

Thanks for checking this out! I am sure I will be adding more as time gets closer....

I am wondering about maybe trying to check out Jellrolls on the Boardwalk night. Have you ever been?

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Sounds wonderful! And, I bet that Wishes Desert Party would be lovely on your MK day...

 

[heathers4um]

oh Hey!!

Thanks for following me over here!

I am SO going to check that out! Thanks again! When was it you are going again?

Sounds wonderful! And, I bet that Wishes Desert Party would be lovely on your MK day...

 

[WonderlandsMostWantd]

Nov 30-Dec 10. So, about a month after you.

 

[heathers4um]

Then I will let you know how great it is when I get back!

Nov 30-Dec 10. So, about a month after you.

 

[ccgirl]

My DH and myself went this past October for our 10th Anniversary. We went for whole week without the kids. I did feel guilty at first but they go at least once a year. The F&W is amazing!!!!! Great that you decided to do the AP's. That is a great discount perk! With the dining plan; did you know you can use snack credits at the F&W booths? We found the food amazing. The drinks were great too. Have to get a grey goose slush in France. That is so YUMMY!!! Your trip sounds great. I am turning 40 next month. I have requested a surprise party but I don't think that's happening. We are going to WDW in December so maybe I will add a little something special for me.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

We've never been to Jellyrolls but I've heard nothing but awesome things about it. I've always wanted to check it out, but never have gotten around to it.

 

[heathers4um]

Hi all!

So this is my dining nightmare....some of you may have seen what I like to call my 'panic posts' in another forum regarding this and if you have please accept my apologies. After all...this is a 'PANIC post', not to be confused with any other post.

I am so confused....and hungry now.

I dont know whether to do the DxDP, or do the TIW card. If I did it correctly, the TIW card will give us a bit more flexibility and will not make me so crazy.

I counted up where I want to go and averaged out the meal costs OOP (sans adult beverages since the DxDP doesnt include those). Then I compared it to the cost of the DxDP. Its about equal although I didnt figure in the snacks.

Then, I took the figure it would cost for the meals OOP and compared it to what I would save with TIW. I would save about 160 after the $75 the TIW costs, and that doesnt count the adult beverages.

I should tell you here that we will be in EPCOT one day for F&W so I know I should figure that in but I dont know how since I have never been. I know we can use snack credits from the plan..so that may help! But I think they take TIW also...

Soooo...am I seeing it clearly that TIW is my best bet? For my wallet and my waistline?

Or...

is it best to go regular DDP and use TIW?

See, for THIS moment, that makes more sense to me. But...

I know - I have asked this all before but I am still having trouble figuring it out...can someone please take pity on me and tell me what to do?

 

[heathers4um]

SO....in preparation for our 1st trip home in Nov, and DBF's 1st trip EVER, I went to Disneystore.com and ordered some special check in gifts...personalized robes, bathing suits and hats, tshirts and sweatshirts, personalized toiletry bags and pj's...you get the idea. They will live in our OL!

I spent weeks perusing the site and waiting for the best deals...some things went on sale and then personalizing went free and I jumped on it! I think I had 3 different carts going...adding and deleting and basically doing a no holds barred wish list kind of thing. You know, just so I didnt miss anything! I want this to be SPECIAL for him!

So I finally put my order in last Friday! I was responsible and scaled back on the things that we really didnt need and I couldnt justify, and added some others that I could! I have to say I got some nice stuff!!

3 days later, disneystore puts out a promo code for 20% off - your enitre purchase!

I have emailed them and I guess we will see what happens. But the charge to my debit hasnt even gone through my account yet and it was a considerable amount - over $300!

Does anyone have experience with this? Please send some pixie dust my way that they credit me for the new promo discount and then I can put that savings into our souvie account!

Oh, and any advise on how the heckles I will be able to keep the HUGE box from the Disney Store away from him until I can mail it all down a week ahead of time is appreciated!

 

[heathers4um]

I am so happy there's another 40 club person!

I cannot wait for the F&W - I have heard its wonderful and currently I am trying to figure out how to incorporate that into our dining plans - reservations in a restaurant or graze our way thorugh? BOTH?

I did know we could use the snack credits, but I dont see myself letting them pile up to use them just there...*hangs head*...I mean theres the dole whips and the bakery and the ice cream and the popcorn...

If F&W takes the TIW card, maybe we should just do that and get a wrist gift card to whip out at each booth? OR we could do the DDP and the TIW and the gift card....

I have never had the grey goose slushie but everyone raves...its on my list!!

I hope you get your surprise party! AND a trip to WDW as a gift!!

My DH and myself went this past October for our 10th Anniversary. We went for whole week without the kids. I did feel guilty at first but they go at least once a year. The F&W is amazing!!!!! Great that you decided to do the AP's. That is a great discount perk! With the dining plan; did you know you can use snack credits at the F&W booths? We found the food amazing. The drinks were great too. Have to get a grey goose slush in France. That is so YUMMY!!! Your trip sounds great. I am turning 40 next month. I have requested a surprise party but I don't think that's happening. We are going to WDW in December so maybe I will add a little something special for me.

 

[heathers4um]

Today is a very special day...

today is the day that I can FINALLY do the...

DOUBLE DIGIT DANCE!

in 99 short days, I will be on

My PTR is kinda stalled right now only because I am waiting for my big box of special check in gifts, and I am still agonizing over which dining plan to do.

On that note however, I received an email from Disney Store and they are happy to send me a gift card as a credit for the new promo code that came out just after I ordered all of the goodies!

Now I just need to figure out where to hide all said goodies!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

All of your check-in gifts sound so great! You should take pictures of all your stuff when you get it. I'd love to see all your goodies. That's cool they're sending you a gift card for the 20% adjustment. Woo-hoo!!

My first thoughts would be to go w/ the TIW card. We consider ourselves eaters, but the DDP was too much food for us. We had a bazillion snack credits left and I wound up getting what seemed like a years supply of Rice Krispy treats.

 

[Glite]

Ok so in hopes that I havent confused you all totally with the fact that I have 2 exactly the same PTR's going on, I thought I would add to this one so we can all follow one. I dont know how to delete them so I am hoping a Mod will come along and save me.

After before we even signed the papers and were officially 'welcomed home' I booked our flights. I am what you would call a Filght Snob and really try to only fly JetBlue for many reasons. So I went to their site and looked around and it was while I was doing that I got bit by the selfish bug. You know the one...it comes up and injects tunnel vision into your system and all you can see is what you want. All the sudden I heard this voice in my head (must have been Walt's) saying...you are turning 40 in November...

That did it. I know we got 09 incentive points when signing on to DVC and I wanted to go for it - kids free - in a 1 bedroom villa, complete with King bed and a hot tub! WHAT?? Since we have never stayed DVC before we have to scout it out before we bring the kids ALL the way down there, right?? Who cares that I wont be using the kitchen much...and the fact that I have never been to Disney without my Prince Connor...well, ok that stung alot, but I AM GOING TO BE 40!! I deserve some sort of adult vacation!

Ok, not totally convinced but...I am trying. Mother guilt is an awful thing.

SO...I book the flights QUICK! I get the absolutely earliest I can on the Sunday we leave and get the absolutley latest flight out on the day we go home. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Now to hope that OKW will have that 1 bedroom I want so badly!!

I call MS and book for my birthday week - using only the 09 points so as not to take away from the family points and staying within the Sun-Thu nights so we can conserve on points...THEY HAVE ONE!! I even was able to request one close to Hospitality House! The thing with OKW that I have learned through Dis boards is everyone likes a different area there. Its wide spread and sprawling and gorgeous and lush! So I thought if we stayed near the hubbub this 1st time, we will know what we like best after scoping it all out.

Next up: the real obsession begins....

You do deserve an adult trip. You work hard, you take care of the kids and he deserve a trip. my DW likes flying on Jet Blue as well. I love OKW, we stayed there on our 2007 trip. We stayed there on our last day(after 1 week at Pop Century). I love the pool and hot tub. The hot tub is kind of excluded as it has the plant\flower\tree atmoshere. It is a nice and peaceful place. As I'm sure you know that the rooms are bigger at OKW than any other resort because it was the first DVC resort that was built. Looking forward on reading more.