puffkin
DVC Owner- SSR & AKV
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2001
- Messages
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Buzz and Woodys December Adventure- Pre Trip
Cast:
Woody- Disney nut and obsessive trip planner, 5th trip, age 23
Buzz- fiancé of Woody, tolerates Disney, 4th trip, age 25
Jasmine- Mother of Woody, 1st trip, age 49
It is hard to believe, but here we are planning our 4th trip to Walt Disney World. It is especially exciting because this will be our first trip with my mother. She is one of those people who cannot understand how two adults can enjoy Disney so much. I know that she will have a great time there, but she kept insisting that she would go when she has grandchildren. Well, plans for a cruise with my Dad never materialized so she was itching to go somewhere this year. Last Christmas morning, when we were watching the WDW parade on TV, she commented that it looked like a neat place to go for Christmas.
Well, of course that set the wheels turning. I wanted to go during December as well, so I schemed and schemed and came up with a plan. The three of us would go for a week in early December. My mom would buy Buzz and I annual passes for our Christmas gift. Since we already were planning on going to WDW for our honeymoon in June 2004, we would be able to utilize the passes twice (and it would cut down on the cost of the honeymoon). Surprisingly, Mom agreed to go, so the planning began.
In the mean time, Buzz and I decided that we needed to get away for a summer trip, so Disney seemed like the most cost effective vacation. We convinced Mom to buy our annual passes early and we got a great AP rate at POR for July. So, Buzz and I will get three trips off our pass. Over the summer, I worked on an itinerary for our trip. All the special Christmas activities were categorized as must dos.
When MVMCP tickets went on sale, I purchased some for Tuesday December 9th. I also booked a Candlelight Processional package for Monday December 7th with dinner at Le Cellier. I used the PS calculator to determine my dates to call for our various PS reservations. In August, AP rates came out and I was able to get one for the Animal Kingdom Lodge Savannah view ($172/night plus tax). I had been hoping to get the Wilderness Lodge, but I knew my mom would love the Animal Kingdom Lodge (this would also be our first time staying in a Deluxe). Airline tickets were booked as soon as the price hit $200 out of Philadelphia for my preferred dates and times. Mom started to balk a little at some of the prices, but I wanted her to experience Disney first class!
We hit our 90-day mark right after the PS policy changed, which worked to our advantage. I was able to get Cinderellas Royal Table princess breakfast on the first try (this was the one thing my Mom HAD to do). I also had no problems getting the rest of our PSs including Chef Mickeys for our first night. Around this time, as I was tweaking our itinerary, I decided to include a second MVMCP, so I called and got tickets for Thursday December 11th. I was having trouble squeezing everything in and building in plenty of rest time (my Mom wanted to feel like she was on vacation). I figured one MVMCP would be for all the special shows and parades, and the second would be for the rides.
In late September, I bought my Moms 6-day park hopper plus pass at the Disney Store with my DC discount because they were offering double reward dollars when you used the Disney Visa card. Then, in October Buzz found out that he had to go to California on a business trip. Well, it turned out that he was only going to be a few miles from Disneyland, so I was extremely jealous. Well, of course I started to scheme, and I convinced Buzz to allow me to tag along. Since his work paid for the hotel, rental car, his meals, and his airfare the cost wasnt too bad. We were in Disneyland from November 1-6. Buzz and I were able to do Disneyland together for two days. While he was at work the other three days, I went to Disneyland alone. See my Trip report on the Disneyland Trip Report board for more if you are interested.
When we got back from California, we only had a month to go before our WDW trip. I made reservations at the Comfort Inn near the Philadelphia Airport for the night before our flight. I also called Tiffany Towncar and made arrangements for our towncar pick up. I also found out about the Holiday Sleigh Ride at the Wilderness Lodge right here on the Disboards. I thought this would be a great way to start our trip, and I was able to book a sleigh ride for our first night.
November flew by and all of a sudden, Thanksgiving was here. Between decorating the house, Christmas shopping, work and packing, the week before our trip flew by. And of course, leave it to Mother Nature to hurl a major snowstorm at us for the day we fly out. Mom is a bit nervous, because this is only her second time on an airplane but here we go. Stay tuned for Day 1 our December Adventure.
Cast:
Woody- Disney nut and obsessive trip planner, 5th trip, age 23
Buzz- fiancé of Woody, tolerates Disney, 4th trip, age 25
Jasmine- Mother of Woody, 1st trip, age 49
It is hard to believe, but here we are planning our 4th trip to Walt Disney World. It is especially exciting because this will be our first trip with my mother. She is one of those people who cannot understand how two adults can enjoy Disney so much. I know that she will have a great time there, but she kept insisting that she would go when she has grandchildren. Well, plans for a cruise with my Dad never materialized so she was itching to go somewhere this year. Last Christmas morning, when we were watching the WDW parade on TV, she commented that it looked like a neat place to go for Christmas.
Well, of course that set the wheels turning. I wanted to go during December as well, so I schemed and schemed and came up with a plan. The three of us would go for a week in early December. My mom would buy Buzz and I annual passes for our Christmas gift. Since we already were planning on going to WDW for our honeymoon in June 2004, we would be able to utilize the passes twice (and it would cut down on the cost of the honeymoon). Surprisingly, Mom agreed to go, so the planning began.
In the mean time, Buzz and I decided that we needed to get away for a summer trip, so Disney seemed like the most cost effective vacation. We convinced Mom to buy our annual passes early and we got a great AP rate at POR for July. So, Buzz and I will get three trips off our pass. Over the summer, I worked on an itinerary for our trip. All the special Christmas activities were categorized as must dos.
When MVMCP tickets went on sale, I purchased some for Tuesday December 9th. I also booked a Candlelight Processional package for Monday December 7th with dinner at Le Cellier. I used the PS calculator to determine my dates to call for our various PS reservations. In August, AP rates came out and I was able to get one for the Animal Kingdom Lodge Savannah view ($172/night plus tax). I had been hoping to get the Wilderness Lodge, but I knew my mom would love the Animal Kingdom Lodge (this would also be our first time staying in a Deluxe). Airline tickets were booked as soon as the price hit $200 out of Philadelphia for my preferred dates and times. Mom started to balk a little at some of the prices, but I wanted her to experience Disney first class!
We hit our 90-day mark right after the PS policy changed, which worked to our advantage. I was able to get Cinderellas Royal Table princess breakfast on the first try (this was the one thing my Mom HAD to do). I also had no problems getting the rest of our PSs including Chef Mickeys for our first night. Around this time, as I was tweaking our itinerary, I decided to include a second MVMCP, so I called and got tickets for Thursday December 11th. I was having trouble squeezing everything in and building in plenty of rest time (my Mom wanted to feel like she was on vacation). I figured one MVMCP would be for all the special shows and parades, and the second would be for the rides.
In late September, I bought my Moms 6-day park hopper plus pass at the Disney Store with my DC discount because they were offering double reward dollars when you used the Disney Visa card. Then, in October Buzz found out that he had to go to California on a business trip. Well, it turned out that he was only going to be a few miles from Disneyland, so I was extremely jealous. Well, of course I started to scheme, and I convinced Buzz to allow me to tag along. Since his work paid for the hotel, rental car, his meals, and his airfare the cost wasnt too bad. We were in Disneyland from November 1-6. Buzz and I were able to do Disneyland together for two days. While he was at work the other three days, I went to Disneyland alone. See my Trip report on the Disneyland Trip Report board for more if you are interested.
When we got back from California, we only had a month to go before our WDW trip. I made reservations at the Comfort Inn near the Philadelphia Airport for the night before our flight. I also called Tiffany Towncar and made arrangements for our towncar pick up. I also found out about the Holiday Sleigh Ride at the Wilderness Lodge right here on the Disboards. I thought this would be a great way to start our trip, and I was able to book a sleigh ride for our first night.
November flew by and all of a sudden, Thanksgiving was here. Between decorating the house, Christmas shopping, work and packing, the week before our trip flew by. And of course, leave it to Mother Nature to hurl a major snowstorm at us for the day we fly out. Mom is a bit nervous, because this is only her second time on an airplane but here we go. Stay tuned for Day 1 our December Adventure.
