Another dream vacation...this time, in the making!!

[jaycns]

The Table of Contents...a cheat sheet to important posts
Post 1 (page 1)How it all started (the very early stages of planning)
Post 9 (page 1) What would we get out of the Platinum Plan???
Post 17 (page 2)An important update...dh changes things up
Post 34 (page 3)The ressies have been made!! AAA Tip Alert!
Post 36 (page 3)Pins, eBay and saving some more money
Post 37 (page 3)The cast of characters (with pictures)
Post 46 (page 4)Vacation counters are added!!
Post 59 (page4)The What Ifs set in big time




I did it....I put together a spiffy little table of contents for your reading pleasure. It's sort of like Cliff Notes for a trip report. If you have missed something...you can find it (okay NOBODY but me really cares...but I thought it might help me in my planning).

Thanks for reading along!!

 

[jaycns]

Okay, I have a "what-if" for you! (hehe) What if you switch your reservations and stay at the Wilderness Lodge for that first trip in which your husband will be with you. I remember you said something about him wanting to stay there. It's a quick boat ride to the MK and the Contemporary plus probably closer to all the other recreational water stuff you wanna do than the AKL is (or so I am guessing). Maybe you could tell your DH that you are staying at the AKL and then surprise him. Hahahaha. I thought it was a great hotel (though, remember, besides the Dolphin, that is the only Disney resort I have stayed at).

Then maybe for the Christmas trip you could change to the GF. I know you said "Aladdin" really wants to try that resort at some point. It is still on the monorail and it could be another big surprise for him. Plus they have that amazing gingerbread house in there for the holidays! Just a "what-if" thought from one of your TR fans!! Not to give you anymore "what-if" headaches but like you said, what a problem to have!

GREAT ideas...except ....Our first trip will overlap the Nights of Joy. We don't want to be in a MK resort then. We have heard that you can hear them practicing all night the nights before the concerts. And also the nights of the concerts themselves. So...we want to stay far away from the "noise" and crowds. I doubt the noise would be significant...but I am sure it would be worse then hearing construction a few mornings after 8:00 AM to hear sound checks and rehersals going on ALL NIGHT. Ish .

For the second trip...I called to price that out...it's over $1000 more to do that...so for now, I am going to chance it (I think....those what ifs are still biting).

UP NEXT...I blurted...oops.

 

[momoftriplets]

The Table of Contents...a cheat sheet to important posts
Post 1 (page 1)How it all started (the very early stages of planning)
Post 9 (page 1) What would we get out of the Platinum Plan???
Post 17 (page 2)An important update...dh changes things up
Post 34 (page 3)The ressies have been made!! AAA Tip Alert!
Post 36 (page 3)Pins, eBay and saving some more money
Post 37 (page 3)The cast of characters (with pictures)
Post 46 (page 4)Vacation counters are added!!
Post 59 (page4)The What Ifs set in big time




I did it....I put together a spiffy little table of contents for your reading pleasure. It's sort of like Cliff Notes for a trip report. If you have missed something...you can find it (okay NOBODY but me really cares...but I thought it might help me in my planning).

Thanks for reading along!!

Oh - Cut it out!!! We do TOOOOOOOOO Care!!!!! Otherwise, why would we be here??? I'm living vicariously through you, you know. I have way too much invested in your family to quit on you now! Keep up the good work & Quit with the What - ifs. It'll be fine...
Barb

 

[jaycns]

Okay...so we are incapable of surprises...

And by "we" I mean me. I blurted....I didn't mean to. It was just my middle and youngest sons ("Goofy" age 7 and "Stitch" age 5) came up to me with their piggy banks and handed them over and asked if that was enough to get to go back to Disney this year. HOW ON EARTH does anyone hold up to that??!!!! I couldn't do it!! So...I blabbed. Yep..I did it. I told the kids about the first trip. I just didn't have the heart. It was so sweet and so sad to see your kids want to "make it back to Disney" so badly that they were willing to give up what they consider to be their life savings to make it happen. They were OVER THE MOON The smiles on their faces were huge and I got more kisses and hugs then I can count . I told them that daddy and I were planning it all along and we had wanted to surprise them (yep, I spilled it all....BIG MOUTH should be my new name ). I totally let it all out. As they ran in circles screaming their heads off I called "Aladdin" up from doing his school work and told him the news. He was even more excited then his younger brothers!! He yelled out THANKS!!!! And then started in on whooping and yelling with his brothers. It looked like the bonfire scene from Lord of the Flies (without all of the scariness) . Of course he too showered his mom with hugs and kisses . I felt like a queen.

HOW BAD AM I!?? I didn't even wait for dh to get home to tell them. I just broke down and spilled it like I had no sort of self control whatsoever. I will have to make it up to dh . In my own defense, when I called dh to confess, he told me he was surprised I had lasted this long (15 whole days... ) and that he was glad I had told them (although he did wish he could have been there) cause now the boys will have the fun of planning with the first trip and get the excited surprise with the second trip this year.

SO I HAVE TO BE GOOD...no more spilling the beans. . But I can do it this time rotfl: sounds familiar)! I really can!! They will NEVER suspect a second trip this year. I won't easily be caught because I can just reference the first trip if they overhear anything and I don't have to "lie" to my own children because they will NEVER ask if we are going again! Also, the guilt trip of your bitty ones so innocently offering up their piggy banks for Disney will not happen again...So I am off the hook!!

I may need moral support from time to time. I am just like that. A blabbermouth. Not with secrets. I can actually keep those. It's the surprises...I am terrible with keeping joy from others. I just burst at the seams. HOWEVER, I will do this for my kids. I want them to have the delight of driving under the Welcome to WDW sign before they realize where they are and then being overcome with the excited joy all at once. I may need some super duper heavy duty tape for my blabbing mouth...but I am going to do this!

So...that is my shameful update for the day. I do here and now make myself, my poor dh (who didn't get to see the excited smiles...I am a BAD wife), and all you trip report readers as promise...I will NOT spill the beans on the second trip. I will not do it. Even under extreme duress such as tickle torture or kids with piggy banks. My lips are sealed. My mind is clear. My will is strong. Also, I have a good hunk of guilt for telling the kids about the first trip...so I will do it.

Our Christmas season trip is now and will remain (at least until we are on the road to WDW) a surprise for my children!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh, offering their piggy banks for a return trip to Disney I don't blame you - I would have caved too!! That is just the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

But, I'm sure you will have no problem keeping trip #2 a secret, at least until after trip #1 is over

We are not going this year, so I am having so much fun living vicariously through you! Thanks for the update. I can't wait to see how the boys react to the surprise trip (in only, what 11 months ). I want to do that next time we go, but I'm soooooo bad at keeping things I'm excited about to myself!

 

[Blaynexox]

aaww how sweet is that ! They REALLY are so adorable! I HAVE A PIGGY BANK! Its an exciting high tech one that I will be taking a picture of to show you guys on my pre trip report! I have almost 100 dollars in it from the past couple of months. Guess what that means?! I can pay for both of my OOP meals with my piggy bank money! Oh boy .. Im really 5 years old! I dont think its bad you caved. Now they will be INSANELY excited when they find out they are going on a second trip. Because honestly, what kind of fantastic mom can plan a SECOND trip for their kids in one year -- YOU! You rock!

- Blayne

 

[jaycns]

Oh - Cut it out!!! We do TOOOOOOOOO Care!!!!! Otherwise, why would we be here??? I'm living vicariously through you, you know. I have way too much invested in your family to quit on you now! Keep up the good work & Quit with the What - ifs. It'll be fine...
Barb

Yes ma'am!! I know ya care! I just think I am a bit over excited about our upcoming trips! MONTHS to go and I am already reporting on this trip. I get like this EVERY time we go to WDW. I am one of those people in a perpetual state of WOO HOO over WDW. I am either planning a vacation, just back from a vacation or on vacation. And that is a WONDERFUL way to live...however...I know loads of people IRL who think we need to find another vacation destination and I should be sick of it by now! *GAAASP...who could be sick of Disney??!!!*

Thanks for sticking with me! Ya'll are great company!!

 

[jaycns]

Oh, offering their piggy banks for a return trip to Disney I don't blame you - I would have caved too!! That is just the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

But, I'm sure you will have no problem keeping trip #2 a secret, at least until after trip #1 is over

We are not going this year, so I am having so much fun living vicariously through you! Thanks for the update. I can't wait to see how the boys react to the surprise trip (in only, what 11 months ). I want to do that next time we go, but I'm soooooo bad at keeping things I'm excited about to myself!

Thanks for understanding... I felt so guilty ...however, that did NOT stop me from doing it without dh even being home. I couldn't look at those sweet little puppy dog eyes (both sets of them) looking up at me all full of hope and have it be possible for me to not tell them. I was so touched to know that our time at Disney means a lot to the boys too. They are each saving up for Nintendo DS games so it meant a lot that they were willing to give up getting those for an entire year to pay us all of their pennies and nickels and "doll-ears" (that's how my 5 year old says dollars) to get to go back to WDW.

I bet you could do it. NOBODY is as bad as I am with blabbering about surprises. It's my downfall. I guess it could be much worse!

I will keep our second trip a secret though...I cannot wait for that magic to come true for the boys!!

 

[jaycns]

aaww how sweet is that ! They REALLY are so adorable! I HAVE A PIGGY BANK! Its an exciting high tech one that I will be taking a picture of to show you guys on my pre trip report! I have almost 100 dollars in it from the past couple of months. Guess what that means?! I can pay for both of my OOP meals with my piggy bank money! Oh boy .. Im really 5 years old! I dont think its bad you caved. Now they will be INSANELY excited when they find out they are going on a second trip. Because honestly, what kind of fantastic mom can plan a SECOND trip for their kids in one year -- YOU! You rock!



- Blayne

Too cute about your piggy bank!! I cannot tell you how cute it was when they came up so seriously offering up their little piggy banks (well, a Buzz Lightyear ceramic bank and a plastic one that counts the change as it drops in the jar). It was beyond words. I wish I would have thought to snap a picture!!

Now I am insanely jealous...one OOP meal costs our family over $100 (with tip). Oh the days of only paying for two!!

 

[Blaynexox]

Too cute about your piggy bank!! I cannot tell you how cute it was when they came up so seriously offering up their little piggy banks (well, a Buzz Lightyear ceramic bank and a plastic one that counts the change as it drops in the jar). It was beyond words. I wish I would have thought to snap a picture!!

Now I am insanely jealous...one OOP meal costs our family over $100 (with tip). Oh the days of only paying for two!!

OMG! THAT PLASTIC ONE THAT COUNTS THE CHANGE IS THE ONE I HAVE!!! OMG! I got it in the kids section of the Discovery Channel Store! THAT IS TOO FUNNY! I told you .. i am just like a little kid! Thats is hilarious that we have the same exact piggy bank! HAHA! .. I know I love that each character breakfast is costing only about $40 for each one! Its great! I cant even begin to think HOW much money it costs a family of 5 to go to Disney EEK!

 

[momoftriplets]

15 days, huh? You are toooo funny! I wouldn't have made it that long, so I'm pretty impressed. My kids have done the "piggy bank thing" for other stuff, too. Melts your heart, doesn't it? I do agree that it makes the 2nd trip easier to conceal. You brought a smile to my face early today, Jay. Thanks a heap. (Now I have to get to work!)
Barb

 

[MouseTriper]

GREAT ideas...except ....Our first trip will overlap the Nights of Joy. We don't want to be in a MK resort then. We have heard that you can hear them practicing all night the nights before the concerts. And also the nights of the concerts themselves. So...we want to stay far away from the "noise" and crowds. I doubt the noise would be significant...but I am sure it would be worse then hearing construction a few mornings after 8:00 AM to hear sound checks and rehersals going on ALL NIGHT. Ish .

For the second trip...I called to price that out...it's over $1000 more to do that...so for now, I am going to chance it (I think....those what ifs are still biting).

UP NEXT...I blurted...oops.

Awww...see how smart you are!!! I know nothing about the Nights of Joy but I see your point. I wouldn't want to hear that all night long either. Ohhh and as far as the GF goes....$1000 could go for so much more, I agree with you there too!!! Gee, next time I plan I trip I think I will run my dates and hotels by you. You just might be able to point me in the right direction or away from the wrong one! Hahahaha...I just thought of something, I bet you could make some money planning other people's trips!!!!! Heheheh!!!

Ohh and I don't blame you for spilling the beans. Your boys are just too cute and it would have melted my heart too. You should have gotten the video camera out as they were jumping for joy...hahahaha!

Can't wait to hear what comes next!!! P.S. I will be posting some Christmas pics on my TR very soon for you!

 

[PrincessAlways]

Yes ma'am!! I know ya care! I just think I am a bit over excited about our upcoming trips! MONTHS to go and I am already reporting on this trip. I get like this EVERY time we go to WDW. I am one of those people in a perpetual state of WOO HOO over WDW.

You're not alone in this feeling!! I am also guilty of the "over-the-top" excitement of Disney trips! This is a natural reaction -- at least by Disney standards. This is the quote I have scrolling my computer at work "Life is what happens between Disney trips". Over the top?? Maybe, but I love seeing it!

Keep your reports coming!

 

[jaycns]

OMG! THAT PLASTIC ONE THAT COUNTS THE CHANGE IS THE ONE I HAVE!!! OMG! I got it in the kids section of the Discovery Channel Store! THAT IS TOO FUNNY! I told you .. i am just like a little kid! Thats is hilarious that we have the same exact piggy bank! HAHA! .. I know I love that each character breakfast is costing only about $40 for each one! Its great! I cant even begin to think HOW much money it costs a family of 5 to go to Disney EEK!

Too cute about the bank! I am still laughing over that one! I myself have a big old jug that I shove all of my loose change and dollars into. It's always enough (by the time a new trip comes around) to pay for all of our "etc" stuff. I don't think it will really work out for our Christmas season trip due to the fact that we will have just been (WOO HOO) a few months earlier. NOT that I am complaining!

 

[paigevz]

Oh good a Table of Contents................now, Jay, if you just had an index ........

I am missing you my friend.

 

[jaycns]

15 days, huh? You are toooo funny! I wouldn't have made it that long, so I'm pretty impressed. My kids have done the "piggy bank thing" for other stuff, too. Melts your heart, doesn't it? I do agree that it makes the 2nd trip easier to conceal. You brought a smile to my face early today, Jay. Thanks a heap. (Now I have to get to work!)
Barb

Work...people have to WORK??!! Perish that thought! I should be doing a form of that now. But instead I have ventured online to visit my trippie. I am so ANXIOUS to get to WDW. I have MONTHS to go and I am already way excited. Ahhhhh...will I make it to September with my sanity intact?

 

[jaycns]

The Table of Contents...a cheat sheet to important posts
Post 1 (page 1)How it all started (the very early stages of planning)
Post 9 (page 1) What would we get out of the Platinum Plan???
Post 17 (page 2)An important update...dh changes things up
Post 34 (page 3)The ressies have been made!! AAA Tip Alert!
Post 36 (page 3)Pins, eBay and saving some more money
Post 37 (page 3)The cast of characters (with pictures)
Post 46 (page 4)Vacation counters are added!!
Post 59 (page4)The What Ifs set in big time
Post 64 (page 5)Oops...this changes things.

 

[jaycns]

Awww...see how smart you are!!! I know nothing about the Nights of Joy but I see your point. I wouldn't want to hear that all night long either. Ohhh and as far as the GF goes....$1000 could go for so much more, I agree with you there too!!! Gee, next time I plan I trip I think I will run my dates and hotels by you. You just might be able to point me in the right direction or away from the wrong one! Hahahaha...I just thought of something, I bet you could make some money planning other people's trips!!!!! Heheheh!!!

Ohh and I don't blame you for spilling the beans. Your boys are just too cute and it would have melted my heart too. You should have gotten the video camera out as they were jumping for joy...hahahaha!

Can't wait to hear what comes next!!! P.S. I will be posting some Christmas pics on my TR very soon for you!

I so SHOULD have gotten out the video camera! I am so mad at myself that I didn't think of doing that. I will be double sure to have it running when we pull under the welcome to WDW sign (how am I going to keep them from seeing where we are until then??!!).

I will offer up a trade...my trip tips for your photo tips. I could use some photo tips from you sometime. The pictures you take are amazing!

 

[jaycns]

You're not alone in this feeling!! I am also guilty of the "over-the-top" excitement of Disney trips! This is a natural reaction -- at least by Disney standards. This is the quote I have scrolling my computer at work "Life is what happens between Disney trips". Over the top?? Maybe, but I love seeing it!

Keep your reports coming!

What a great quote. Do you mind if I borrow it and use it on my desk top as well? And NO...it is not over the top...nothing TRUE is!

 

[jaycns]

Oh good a Table of Contents................now, Jay, if you just had an index ........

I am missing you my friend.

An index....well, I'll be...that's a mighty fine idea...however, I am way to lazy. Up next is a detailed yet WAY early version of our September vacation plans. YEP, it's only late January and already I have a plan (subject to change with Disney changing EMH or tour times or anything else).