Booked 2 cabins for 6-4 thru 6-11!!!!!!!!!

[lorac4disney]

I got two cabins under the buy 4/get 3 free deal. Hopefully, they will be near each other (or hopefully not ). There are eleven people staying between the two.

Here's our crazy cast of characters:
Me(Carol): Overworked and stressed out mother/grandmother/wife
Tony: Quiet kind of guy who puts up with me
Darren: My 16 yo son who also puts up with me
Jacob: My 16 yo nephew who's joined at the hip with my son
Cheyenne: My 11 yo daughter (she's autistic and very sassy in a good way)
Tona: My 21 yo stepdaughter and fellow Disneyaholic
Jose: My 23 yo SIL who is still trying to teach me Spanish
Seth: My 3 yo grandson with way too much energy
Aiden: My 8 mo grandson who has my eyes (don't ask how: it's a miracle)
Rolana: DH's ex-wife and Tona's mother
Miranda: Rolana's 14 yo daughter

Anyway, that's our bunch. Of course, Rolana and I have become good friends over the years and we get along really well. I have a lot of respect for her. She did a great job raising her two girls as a single mom. It's not at all unusual for us to talk or visit for hours on end. Strange, I know, but it works. Plus, I come from a big family so I felt a bit lonely last time we went to Disney with just six of us.

What is so great is that with the deal, it won't cost me that much more for two cabins than it was going to cost for just one with half of the people.

Dining reservations are going to be a challenge. Since we are in the cabins, we plan on eating breakfasts and lunches in to save a little money. Since money is going to be a little tight, I'm treating to one sit down dinner a day for everyone.

After our week at Disney, we are going to the spend a couple of days at Cocoa Beach before heading back home. I am so looking forward to this much deserved and needed vacation.

 

[lklasing]

I'm jealous! We absolutely love the cabins. We had 2 next door to each other over Thanksgiving. Make sure it's noted on your reservation that you want them to be together.

Have a great trip and report back!

 

[lorac4disney]

I almost messed up and forgot to add it when I reserved the second cabin so I had to start over on the reservation. Thankfully, I realized it in the nick of time so it is definitely on there. I was on the phone with my stepdaughter and she just kept laughing at me the whole time because I freaked out when I accidently went past that part. Needless to say, my nerves were a bit shot by the time I actually got it done right.

We are both bringing laptops with us so we should be able to give a live report and post pictures while we are there.

 

[fldisneymommyto2]

Please note that the first weekend in June is Gay Days at Disney. Just an FYI

 

[AuburnJen92]

Please note that the first weekend in June is Gay Days at Disney. Just an FYI

If you check with the front desk, they usually know which park will be the "most crowded" so that you can avoid that park on that day. I have found out (the hard way) that things get a little too carefree for my taste, especially in MK. I think PDA should stand for private displays of affection, no matter what the makeup of the couple may be. Kids don't need to see that.

 

[fldisneymommyto2]

If you check with the front desk, they usually know which park will be the "most crowded" so that you can avoid that park on that day. I have found out (the hard way) that things get a little too carefree for my taste, especially in MK. I think PDA should stand for private displays of affection, no matter what the makeup of the couple may be. Kids don't need to see that.

ITA... we learned the hard way too... I thought DH was gonna get himself in trouble!! Also there is a website and it lists their park of the day so you can avoid that park too. Just didn't want someone else going through what we did!!

 

[Skyw]

Congrats on the ressies..... I love the cabins. I haven't done a grand gatering at one.....YET. I have been trying to get my family to join us and they never really want to. Man our they missing out. It is so relaxing at the Fort. I know I sound crazy...but after the parks, it is so nice to settle in and only hear the fireworks and the boat horn in the background. No kids running up and down the halls!!!! Enjoy.

What kinds of plans do you have so far?

 

[lorac4disney]

fldisneymommyto2 and AuburnJen92, thanks for the tip. I will definitely need to arrange our schedule and reservations accordingly.

Skyw, I know what you mean. I was heartbroken when the cabins first came up as unavailable and had to start looking into the other resorts. Much to my relief, it popped up as an alternative offer on one of the other resorts both times.

As far as GG plans, I don't have any yet. Argh! Help! I was so worried about getting us the cabins and thinking about where to eat, I've totally forgotten about the GG things we can do.

So far, we all want to eat at Teppan Edo. We are definitely going to do Chef Mickey so Cheyenne can get her Minnie Mouse fix. I would kind of like to try Ohana's. Eating at Trail's End is a given, but that's all I have so far.

 

[Skyw]

I have been wanting to try Ohana's too. It looks so good when people take pictures!!!! I know it is undisney but we get in the car and eat out too.

You are going to have so much fun with your family. How exciting and what great memories. I am sooooo jealous.

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Congrats on booking your trip.

One thought about feeding that many. Our experience has been that we save a lot of money by eating the lunch meal out and cooking dinner at the cabin. The lunch menus are usually less expensive and it is kind of nice to grill/cook at the cabin for dinner after we've been at the parks. Then if you want to go back for an evening you can.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[lorac4disney]

Skyw, I know what you mean about wanting to eat off property. I really want to go out to Joe's Crab Shack. We may try to schedule it during the middle of our stay. That way we can also hit the mall for some cheap souvenirs or even a run to the grocery store if we forget something or run out of something. I can't imagine two 16 year old boys who are both built like linebackers causing us to run out of food.

KeepSwimmingDory, thanks for the lunch tip. Now that I think about it, it's a really good idea. It would save us some money and might even allow us to eat a little better on the same dime. I'll have to run it by the family, but I'm pretty sure they will go for it. They're pretty much game for anything since I'm footing the bill for this whole thing. That would also save all of us from cooking during the heat of the day.

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

We have done Joe's Crab Shack, Chevys, and Pizzeria Uno on different trips. There is a Walgreens over there down from Joe's and a grocery store a little further down. I think a Winn Dixie but I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly.

You can see pretty current menu prices on allearsnet.com in the dining section.

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm#mk

 

[Goofy4]

We have 2 cabins for a Grand Gathering, starting on June 4 as well! Perhaps we will see you there!

 

[lorac4disney]

KeepSwimmingDory, thanks for the link. I'll definitely be spending a lot of time on it. Thanks for letting me know about the grocery store nearby. I am absolutely certain we will have to go there. I've never eaten at Joe's before so I hope you don't mind me asking you some questions about it. Was the food good and what are the prices like? I just don't want to find myself shelling out a week's salary for one meal.

Goofy4, how exciting! Hopefully we'll get to meet! If all goes well, we'll be the idiotic bunch of misfits wearing matching personalized t-shirts. If you don't mind me asking, who all are you going with?

 

[Goofy4]

Goofy4, how exciting! Hopefully we'll get to meet! If all goes well, we'll be the idiotic bunch of misfits wearing matching personalized t-shirts. If you don't mind me asking, who all are you going with?

My mom and sister's family. The grand kids are between 7 and 15.

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

KeepSwimmingDory, thanks for the link. I'll definitely be spending a lot of time on it. Thanks for letting me know about the grocery store nearby. I am absolutely certain we will have to go there. I've never eaten at Joe's before so I hope you don't mind me asking you some questions about it. Was the food good and what are the prices like? I just don't want to find myself shelling out a week's salary for one meal.

It's very casual/heavily themed. It was decent food but not the best seafood and a little expensive. It is a chain restaurant. You can go to joescrabshack.com and see a menu. You have to put in Orlando, FL to see the prices. I'll try to post the link to the menu I was looking at. It is for the appetizers and there are links along the left to the other foods. I think they've changed their menu since we were there too. It has been several years since we ate there.

http://www.joescrabshack.com/menus.php?LC=CSOD

lunch specials $7-$10 but not much choices
sandwiches/burgers $9-$12
seafood platters $12-$20
crab buckets $22-$29
bucket of shrimp $9-$13

 

[lorac4disney]

Goofy4, if you see us, stop and say hi. One thing I regretted about the last time we were at the Fort was that we didn't spend near enough time enjoying it so we will definitely be around.

KeepSwimmingDory, I can handle those prices. I like good seafood though. Perhaps I'll look around and see if there is another seafood place we could chow at. If you know of any, I sure would appreciate it.