And I Have How Many Days to Plan this Trip??????

[#1hoosierfan]

Welcome to my PTR! I am a total newbie to the DIS, but I have become quite addicted in my short time here. I hope that I don't make too many mistakes.

I joined the boards thinking that I had plenty of time to casually research WDW and get my feet wet with all things Disney. We are planning an early June 2011 7 night AKL/club level trip...... PLENTY of time to plan my boys' first Disney trip right??????? Not quite so fast!

Let me back up for a second and "introduce" myself. My name is Michelle, and I am a first grade teacher. My husband, Ben, and I have two little boys. Owen turned 3 in February and Kaden just turned 1 in April. Owen is obsessed with all things Disney...... he ADORES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and we have to read him a Mickey Mouse book every night before bed. In addition, he is slowly recovering from his 12 month + Lightening McQueen addiction...... seriously, I am shocked the DVD didn't wear out. Kaden's first birthday theme was Pooh Bear...... I am trying to start the Disney love young!

ANYWAY, even though we know that Owen would have loved a Disney trip this year, we decided to wait one more year until Kaden was a bit older. Plus, that would give us time to save up some money for our blow-out trip...... so looking forward to staying at AKL!

Since we do love a vacation, however, and the ocean was calling our name in our severely land-locked state of Indiana, we booked a vacation to Gulf Shores, Alabama with my Mom and my sister and her family. We got a large beach front condo at a resort that we have stayed in a few times before. We all get along great, so that is not a concern at all.

THEN the tanker exploded and the oil started spilling into the Gulf Coast.... and ....... it ....... will ....... not....... stop. We have a real dilemma on our hands here. We aren't booked to go until June 19th. There is a decent chance that the oil leak will be stopped by then, however, our balance of of close $2,500 is due in full in just a few days. If we cancel before the due date, we will only be out a $35 booking fee. We all discussed it, and while we hate to cancel, we would have hated even more being $2500 poorer.

So Sunday, I was cruising the DIS (or the "other man" as my husband has been know to refer to it.) I clicked on a link to a house that a person was renting just outside of WDW. is all I can say!!!!!!! OK, so I knew that staying off property was cheaper, but I didn't realize how much cheaper!!!! A four bedroom, four bath house with its own private pool that is 5 minutes from WDW rents for well less than half of what the beach resort costs. My mind goes into overdrive. I call my sister..... just to run it by her of course...... she says, sounds great to me!

And there you have it, I became the main WDW vacation planner for 9 people with only a 48 day lead time!

OK, if we are being perfectly honest here, I am a bit OCD..... there are great meds for that BTW No, I don't have to turn the lights off and on exactly 17 times before leaving a room or wash my hands 100 times a day, but I find GREAT comfort in having a well-laid plan, and no surprises....... That is why I had already started my notes for my 2011 trip, researching restaurants, etc..... It makes me happy!

So how will this big-timer planner, slightly OCD gal get it all together in time? Did we get that great house I saw? Will we get ANY good dining reservations? How do I even go about trying to plan a trip for 5 adults and 4 kids? Will I need to up my meds before I get finished planning?

Is anybody in?????

Oh, could somebody tell me the best way to post pictures? I do have a Photobucket account. I am just not sure what is the best size and which code to use. Thanks!

 

[michellem1118]

To post photos from photobucket, use the code with this tag: - just copy the whole link that starts with that code, and paste it in the box where you type text. :) Oh, and I generally use either the medium or large picture setting - people like to see the details in the photos!

Now that the technical stuff is out of the way, I'm in. :thumbsup2 I don't envy you, trying to plan a trip for 9 people in 6 weeks, but I'm sure you're not the first person to do it, and it can be done! That's what all of us DISers are here for, anyway - to help you get it all figured out!

(Oh, and a dining hint: You probably won't be able to get reservations for 9 people ANYWHERE at 6 weeks out - but you will very likely be able to get 2 reservations for 4-5 people at the same or very similar times.... then when you check in, ask the host/hostess to seat the two tables close together). [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]