Been a LONG time coming! Our 3rd time's the charm, Mama FINALLY graduated WDW trip!!

[AuroraSheasMom]

Well, our family has made the magical trip to WDW twice now but this is the 1st time I've attempted a PTR. I'm ashamed to stay I started a TR after our 1st trip in 2002 but for some reason or the other, never got around to finishing it.

This time, I promise, I will do better!
Our trip is not until 2013 so I have PLENTY of time to work on it!!

Well, I'll kick it of with a introduction to the cast of characters.

First of all, there's me.
Although my DH and kids would say I'm more like

I'm 30ish, wife, Mom and full time student. I'm currently a sophmore in college, studying to become a Middle School Language Arts/Social Studies teacher. I'm also a full time chauffeur, since both my girls paly basketball AND softball. I am also the one responsible for all the WDW planning and dragging the rest of the family into the WDW madness with me.

Next, we have my DH
He turned the big 30 this year, and loves to remind me that he's younger than me.

My WDW planning and obsession makes him say

But he loves me, and vacation, although WDW vacations make him feel a bit when he sees the total bill. He pretty much is OK with whatever the girls and I decide with 2 exceptions. The food and this trip, the accomodations.

He works very hard and is is out of town from Sunday through Thursday for his job, so he misses alot. So vacations, for us are rare occasions where we have him all to ourselves for the entire week!

Next up is my oldest DD.
She's 13 and loves WDW too. She's a great kid. Gets good grades, plays ball, is in band and is a typical 1st child. Responsible and caring, but a bit bossy and starting to enter the terrible world of teenagerhood.

This will be be her 3rd trip and she is my 2nd in planning command.

Last, but not least is my youngest DD

Although she often acts more like
She is 8, allllmost 9, as she frequents reminds me. Besides me, she is the biggest WDW lover of the family. She still thinks it's magical. She's a ballplayer as well. Smart as a whip but not quite as focused as her big sister. She is also a bit bossy, tempermental and is quite a character. :rolleyes
She is the baby of the family and tries (usually successfully) to take full advantage of that fact.

By the time of our trip, I will be 35+, Dh will still be younger and the girls will be 14 and 10!!! So keep that in mind, as the trip I am planning is not what you would expect from the intro! No more running to Dumbo 1st but finally, FINALLY I have someone else to ride RnRC with me. (DH gets motion sickness so every other trip I've had to ride all the thrilling stuff all alone) NO MORE!!! Bring on the Yeti!

Most importantly, I will finally be finished with college by the time of the trip!!

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

With the introductions out of the way, I have to explain my PTR title.

This trip has been in the works since August of 2009. Trip was booked, and was not so patiently waiting to pay off our balance 45 days before our trip. August 22 was supposed to be arrival day at WDW!!

Unfortunately, on July 13, as I was preparing for bed, our dryer caught fire due to an electrical short. I grabbed my shoes, the dogs and my kids and got out. I took the kids across the road to my Mom's, woke her up and had her call 911 and I headed back to see if a fire extinguisher would put the blaze out. It didn't. Due to the smoke damage, out house was totaled.

So we cancelled our trip to WDW to try to get out housing situation settled. From July to October , we lived with my parents until we could get a new home. The 2nd weekend in October, we finally had a home of our own.

Meanwhile, we had every intention of simply rescheduling our trip until October. But becasue we were trying to move, we cancelled it too.

We had every intention of going in June of 2010 but decided to wait instead until October. In June, Shea (oldest DD) broke her leg sliding in ball practice. In 3 places. Was in a thigh cast for 5 weeks, a regular cast for 4, then a boot and finally a brace. She spent the entire summer in a cast. It was removed the day before school started.

So needless to say, it was cancelled too.

And due to trying to get used to paying a mortgage, paying off credit cards that we used to get by after the fire and to pay dr copays, and medical bills, we decided to plan far, far in advance this time. By next year, we should have all CC's and dr bills paid off, money in savings and have some $$ put back in our WDW fund!!

So when I say this trip has been a loooong time coming, I really mean it!

 

[My sister's princess]

I'm in!!!!

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

Wohoo!!! At least I know I'm not talking to myself!!!

 

[MelMel11]

Count me in too.

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

Keep in mind, all flights and fares are subject to change, here's what I have planned so far....(Sorry, I worked for an airline at one time and just couldn't resist!)

Our trip dates aren't completely solid yet because we are looking at a 2014 trip, over 3 years away.

But for the moment, I have 2 sets of dates in mind.

Either Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 8, 2014
OR
Friday, May 9 to Sunday, June 15, 2014

And like everything, since it's so far out this too could change but it's highly doubtful.
Because my kids get out of school in May, and here in GA we do have strict attendance policies, a during the year trip is out. At least a 9 night trip like I want to take.

Since Memorial Day is May 26, we're hoping to miss some of that crowd by going later in the week. Yes, I know it's going to be crowded and hot. But our last trip was in June, we all had a great time and let's face it, there's no way I'm going to FLorida in July!

Our plan is to stay at Bonnet Creek. Maybe. Possibly.

I have convinced DH that it is worth $160 a night for a 1 bedroom unit. The units all have a fulll kitchen, seperate master bedroom and a full size pullout couch. For some reason, my kids LOVE a pullout couch, so no complaints from them. From all the 100's of pictures off the We Love Bonnet Creek thread, evena 1 bedroom has more space than a standard Value or Moderate room.

And since DH has asked (commanded) that this trip be a vacation for ALL of us, we will be leaving the parks around luch to take a break. I would tour all day every day, but for some reason he and the girls don't think that's fun?!

With that in mind, the kitchen is a huge factor in our decision to stay off site. DH loves to eat. My DD's and I love to snack. And to my (now) 7 yr old, it is NOT vacation without an unending supply of grapes, popsicles, fruit bars or ice cream.

And on a side note, there is a seperate master bedroom with affords Mom & Dad a little umm, privacy.

My secret hope is that I can book a 1 bedroom in advance, which are harder to find, and upgrade to a 2 bedroom at the 60 day mark for less money than we were originally paying for a 1 bedroom!!

DH is satisfied with this plan. The kids are satisfied with this plan. I am OK with this plan. But I am still trying to find a way to rent a 2 bedroom DVC for the same price. Or maybe 2 adjoining rooms at a Value or a Moderate with a discount or an awesome PIN code.

So all this may change.....just have to wait and see!

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

Count me in too.

Nice to meet you! Hope you enjoy it!

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

Since our original trip date of 2009, I have been getting PIN codes like crazy. Emails, flyers through the mail...it seems like there is a SPECIAL discount for every single resort in the next few months.

Which gives me a little hope for our trip. Just today there was a flyer in the mail for dates between the end of May and June 4th, I believe.

Of course, things could change drastically in the next 3 years. I'm hoping our finances will and that we can go a year earlier. Even though it's a graduation trip, I think I can talk DH into it

Right now, I have school and am studying to take a test to get into the teacher education program. I have to take it next week so I am concentrating on that at the moment.

And in my free time, I'm working on dining spreadsheets. A going all out budget, a moderate one and a eat every meal possible at the resort budget.

Any ideas or comments will be welcomed!

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

So maybe I started a PTR a bit too early. OK, waaaaay to early.
And I'm still a little far out but since I hit the 500 day mark yesterday, I just can't seem to help myself from celebrating and planning!!jumping:

I actually convinced DH in a weak moment over Christmas break and questioned or interrogated (as he called it) him about what he wanted from the trip. Other than reminders every so often and kind of daydreaming aloud, I haven't really done much REAL planning, so I assumed he wanted Bonnett Creek like I described above. Well, you know what happens when you assume things...

He informed me that after much deliberation (or 5 minutes) he thinks that we should stay on site. ONLY on site. Not close by, not a Good Neighbor hotel but on property.

I didn't argue with him. I was estatic. Bonnet Creek made sense and it's beautiful. The extra room and the kitchen would be great. But we love staying on site. I love being immersed in the Disney theming, surrounded by the magic 24/7.

DH, well, he loves being able to take the bus and not having to drive.
Either way, it's onsite for us.

Then almost immediately DH tired of the interrogation and switched his attention to his primary concern.....booking our annual beach vacation.

 

[My sister's princess]

So maybe I started a PTR a bit too early. OK, waaaaay to early.
And I'm still a little far out but since I hit the 500 day mark yesterday, I just can't seem to help myself from celebrating and planning!!jumping:

I actually convinced DH in a weak moment over Christmas break and questioned or interrogated (as he called it) him about what he wanted from the trip. Other than reminders every so often and kind of daydreaming aloud, I haven't really done much REAL planning, so I assumed he wanted Bonnett Creek like I described above. Well, you know what happens when you assume things...

He informed me that after much deliberation (or 5 minutes) he thinks that we should stay on site. ONLY on site. Not close by, not a Good Neighbor hotel but on property.

I didn't argue with him. I was estatic. Bonnet Creek made sense and it's beautiful. The extra room and the kitchen would be great. But we love staying on site. I love being immersed in the Disney theming, surrounded by the magic 24/7.

DH, well, he loves being able to take the bus and not having to drive.
Either way, it's onsite for us.

Then almost immediately DH tired of the interrogation and switched his attention to his primary concern.....booking our annual beach vacation.

for onsite!!!! PSSSSSS rumor has it Mickey popped something in the mail to the kids