Celebrate 15 years with 5 days in Disney - an Oct PTR

[frzndaqiri]

Since our last trip (2011) we've been mildly "planning" to come back every year. Of course few people are able to actually get to the World as often as they like (which for most of us here would be called "never leaving" ) and so it is that 3 years of "we're definitely going next year" have gone by.

However, THIS year. This year we are DEFINITELY going! It was a wild last second decision; we both have incredible new jobs to celebrate AND this fall will be 15 years together (and 5 years married). If that kind of thing doesn't call for a few days in the most Magical Place on Earth™ then clearly you're not celebrating right!

Let's do some introductions and history shall we? That is the sort of thing we like on the DisBoards.

So there's me: Melanie
My first visit was in 1991 with my Mom, Dad, and brother.
My second was in 1999 with my Mom, step-Dad, brother, sister, and my boyfriend-at-the-time-now-husband Chris
And my most recent was in 2011 with hubs, Mom, and step-Dad. (TR in my sig)

Pictures
Top: Me in 1991, 1999, and 2011
Bottom: Chris in 1999 and both of us in 2011

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So after talking it over and looking at our finances, Chris was adamant that we should go this fall. I LOVE Halloween (despite having a phobia that is often difficult to avoid that time of year), and have said that I really want to see Magic Kingdom decorated with pumpkins and spooks at least once, so since our anniversary is in October what better time to go?

Once upon a time I worked for AAA doing road trip maps and ticket sales - so I know my way around the travel agent system quite well. After reviewing what was available, what offerred free dining (we'd gotten it our last trip and thought it was great), and checking our vacation schedule at work we finally settled on Saratoga Springs.

Except by the time I got ahold of a TA (I'm always happy to have someone else handle the reservations despite my ability to do it directly) SS was booked solid.

However (and here's where a TA is awesome), Leigh had already found us another option and put a courtesy hold so we'd have time to review. After some short discussion it was agreed - we will spend 5 days at Kidani Village!

We are also doing the MNSSHP, because a visit during the fall wouldn't be complete otherwise.

And since we had free dining I opted to upgrade to Deluxe because we clearly weren't STUFFED from the last time.

Now for the obsessive planning and countdown!


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Table of Contents

Getting There - Where to eat? / Where to stay?

 

[frzndaqiri]

We will be driving down for this trip - from Michigan - so I've set aside 2 days for travel both ways. I plan on taking the I-77 through the mountains down and I-75 back up so we get the best of both worlds (cool scenery and an easy route home).

We'd love to hit some good BBQ joints on the way - who has suggestions?
Also any good seafood places along I-95 once we're heading out of SC.

I was considering stopping overnight in Mayberry - has anyone stayed there?

Suggestions on where to stay near WDW that will be inexpensive to "sleep it off" before checking in the next day?

I'm so excited! Chris and I regularly drive to Chicago (about 6 hours from where we live) so long hauls aren't a problem / new. This will be by far the longest road trip we've taken, just the two of us (that '99 visit to Disney was a road trip... in a single van... did I mention we'd been officially dating just WEEKS at that point?). I need to start making a music playlist...

 

[ChanFO]

Congrats on your upcoming trip and celebration! I am also going in October to Kidani. Seems like a popular destination that time of year...

I can already tell I'm going to like you, you have Lain as your avatar.

 

[frzndaqiri]

Haha should I be worried that everyone is at the African resort at that time of year? Let's hope it's not because it's more accurate temperature wise!

I love Lain - one of the first anime films I saw and it's always stuck with me.

 

[frzndaqiri]

My day job is a software engineer - and the rest of my time is spent doing photography. I also have a slew of other creative outlets I like to do: scrapbooking, drawing, writing, sewing. I'm lucky enough to have a room committed to just crafts in my house.

So naturally any trip to WDW involves crafts of some sort.

First up are the penny tubes. I really love the penny smooshers and can't wait to find some new designs. I do the mini M&M tube thing, as it really worked well last trip. I also have been collecting old pennies and cleaning them up (the ketchup trick works AMAZINGLY). Since it's all about Halloween, here are the 2 patterns I've put together.

If anyone is interested, maybe I'll make a thread in the Disigns section with the full size images.

 

[frzndaqiri]

Another craft that I really enjoyed having was a Dining Review book. I made a booklet that had all the days laid out that we had ADR's (and a few blank days for where ever we ended up) along with Mickey head outlines to color in for our "star rating".

Everything was 1 - 5 "Mickeys" with 5 being the absolute tops.

Of course only Anton would do for the front of such a discerning guide to food.

Not only did this remind me to write down our impressions each night (or during a break throughout the day) but became a fun keepsake afterwards.

This will definitely be needed again this trip - and now I'll have some hopefully good eats spots to write in for the trip down and back too.

 

[frzndaqiri]

Today I got one of the best Disney emails you can get: "Your Disney Package is paid in FULL". WAHOO

 

[frzndaqiri]

Well now, I can say my TR's are definitely a lot more involved than this but I guess I just don't have as much to put here as I thought.

We're about to start our trip - and I hope to have just as great a follow up report for you all as my 2011 one. See you real soon!