Cheers to Friendship A ladies weekend Oct. 12 PTR NEW only 2 days till Disney

[DisMomAmy]

What a fun choice, especially for what I think a big part of your plans will be Can't wait to see if you get to make the view changes you are hoping for

It's a great location for a girls weekend! We'll be at the 7 month window on Sunday. Hopefully other people will be making changes at 7 months, opening up some better options for us.

So funny!

Of course, you know I love DVC Villas.... Epcot area is PERFECT for a girls weekend!!

Good Luck with airfare!

Kathy

I think the location is great! More coming up soon on the airfare drama.

Julie and I kept referring to guy that we are renting points from as "Amy's guy".

"Hey Amy call your guy"
"Amy, what did your guy say?"
"Amy, did your guy get us wait listed?"

Like Amy has a dvc dealer or something!

I have a guy!

Yeah for the Boardwalk. I so hope I can get bwv at our 7 month window. Fingers crossed.

I hope so too! 7 month windows are opening up for people so hopefully their changes will open something up for us.

Yay for BWV!!! I think that the Epcot resort area sounds just perfect for a princess trip!!!

I love it there & can't wait to be back with my favorite princess friends.

Deluxe accomodations! So swanky! Sounds like a fabulous plan for a girls' weekend. Jealous!

Swanky! Love it!

I'm in!!

Can't wait to see your plans! I'll be there around the same time with my hubby! (Friends would probably be easier but I can't imagine doing the food & wine festival without him at least for the first time!)

I'd love to do a couples trip but I'm not sure my DH would be interested in spending it at Disney! Although food & wine would be a good temptation! Have fun!

Whoo hoo! I just found this one too I need to get all caught up on this! Where have I been on the dis all this time? And to think I have been reading these boards since 97' Just dropped the kids off at school, and have a bit of free time until I go to work

Thanks for reading!

Joining in! Sounds like so much fun!

It should be a ton of fun!

I think you made the right call. BLT studios are really tiny I believe so might be a little awkward for 3 anyway.



That is SO funny! I do find it a bit interesting that garden/pool view is the same points as boardwalk. It would seem like it should be a little less. Mary Ellen and I are trying to move our ressie to there at the 7 month mark, we could be there right after you if it works out! I really hope so, very excited.

What she said.

I agree about the BWV points. Boardwalk view should totally be more. Crossing my fingers that something opens up this week as our 7 month window approaches & others make changes.

 

[smile4stamps]

I'd love to do a couples trip but I'm not sure my DH would be interested in spending it at Disney! Although food & wine would be a good temptation! Have fun!

Thanks for the Welcome! I get Disney.. he gets Vegas! The only reason I can convince him to go to Disney again is to go for the FOOD!

 

[mousescrapper]

Hey everyone....

to many new readers....it is so fun to meet new Dis people

I am so excited to stay at the BWV and experience what this area has to offer! I have never stayed in this area before, but have visited the Boardwalk area quite a few trips back.

I think it will be fun too to walk to EP as I love the walking convinence to MK from BLT ( my DVC home)

J~

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

I think the Boardwalk is a great choice!!! I loved staying there and it is so nice to be close to Epcot. You all are going to have so much fun!

 

[cinderella crazy]

Joining in! How exciting that all of you get to go together! Can't wait to hear more about the princesses' trip.

 

[PixieMama]

Joining in!

I just went on a "Girls Only" trip last September with my mom, sister, and three friends... and had THE. BEST. TIME!

Can't wait to hear more about your plans!

 

[mousescrapper]

Sorry we havn't posted here in awhile...we all have had alot going on in our homes w/ busy schedules and such...Amy was shuffling between some important doctor appointments for her boys (they are ok ) Heidi has been going over some things for her youngest and shopping for her upcoming trip in April, and I have been swamped w/ things regarding my oldest children and school plus we had to sadly put our beloved dog down 2 weeks ago


but we are eager to get back in the planning mode as official October hours are out and our ADR window will be coming up in less than a month now

I think the Boardwalk is a great choice!!! I loved staying there and it is so nice to be close to Epcot. You all are going to have so much fun!

i can't wait to stay there and yes I totally agree

Joining in! How exciting that all of you get to go together! Can't wait to hear more about the princesses' trip.

yes we can't wait to go again together and especially me I can't wait to see them!

Joining in!

I just went on a "Girls Only" trip last September with my mom, sister, and three friends... and had THE. BEST. TIME!

Can't wait to hear more about your plans!

too! Oh yes going w/ friends, girls is a hoot! I had so much fun last yr January on my first solo trip w/ these ladies and 4 more wonderful friends

 

[mousescrapper]

With accommodations booked, it was time to reserve our chariots. We all usually fly Southwest, taking advantage of the smaller airports in our areas with direct flights into Orlando. We watched flights come out through September and were a little worried about prices. We watched & watched, waiting for the day Southwest would open up flights through October. Heidi & I are lucky enough to fly out of the same airport so we get to travel together. Since Julie is out in the Chicago area, she’ll be on her own. We did want to coordinate our flights so that we would all arrive around the same time if possible. We had all talked about taking an early flight down on Thursday, 10/11 and a late fight home on Sunday, 10/14.

Finally in late February the day came. Not sure what time the schedules would be extended, I checked the website first thing that Monday morning. And much to my surprise, the flights were there! It was before 7am Eastern time, which meant it wasn’t even 6am yet in Julie’s world. Heidi & I messaged back & forth through facebook and looked at our options. We decided to check things out before calling Julie. As usual, Southwest changed the schedule again. They do that all the time…

you look at the flights that are out & make a best guess on the times you want, and then they change things! The early flight was really early this go around but we wanted to fly direct & the next direct flight of the day wouldn’t get us in until after 4pm so that made the decision easy... we’ll be getting up REALLY early on October 11th!

The return flight wasn’t as easy.


The September scheduled had a nice 6:30 flight that got home at 9:30pm. We wanted that, but again, Southwest changed the schedule on us. Our choices were 3:15 getting home at 6pm or 7:45, getting us home at 10:35. A 3:15 flight would mean a 12:15 Magic Express bus, giving us very little park time on our last day. So 7:45 it was.


Then, before actually booking these flights, we checked Julie’s options. They weren’t pretty…


Thinking we wouldn’t be able to coordinate our flights with Julie, and having limited options ourselves, Heidi & I booked our flights. Then I texted Julie… and after no reply, gave her a wake-up call.


And that wakeup call came…


I think I was in such a daze the day before, I didn’t bring my cell into my room, didn’t have my computer ready w/ the sites or my SWA rapids reward number handy…I did have my ipad in my room and I vaguely remember ed hearing the little bleep for a FB notification and then I hear the phone ringing…I instantly jumped out of bed and checked the caller id on the phone in the room and say Amy’s name

I answered and said “I only get up this early for you”

Of course it was a no school day too so uh no sleeping in now…

Amy quickly clued me in to what was going on as I quickly tried to snap back to life and get myself together by the computer in the kitchen. And no sooner did I realize the Southwest flights were just no good at all…

It wasn’t so much the price but the times….they stunk and like Amy said before didn’t match at all to them. So more tabs I opened up checking other airlines…Amy was checking on her computer while trying to get her boys up and fed to go to school, plus Heidi chiming in on FB w/ her thoughts and suggestions…

It was pretty frantic I tell you …I prefer SWA and have to Orlando and Vegas to w/ them for the past 5 times and was floored nothing was going to work this time.

Amy came up w/ the idea that I may have to book two separate flights on two different airlines….good thing she was on the phone w/ me helping me navigate through it all.

I ended up biting the bullet and going that route and even thought I love the rate prices and times I am stuck w/ baggage fees GRRRR! And flying out of the smaller airport Midway on the 11th on Airtran and flying home on American into the bigger airport O’Hare…

Not to mention this is the first time I have ever flown completely alone AHHH! Yes I’m a scardy …flying SWA going in and out of Midway oh that is easy peasy but now I will have to navigate O’Hare too…ugh at least it’s coming home.

I was able to stay under my max budget of $350 even w/ the baggage fees so that is one plus and really the fact that I get in basically at the same time as Amy and Heidi and we can take the DME over together and my return flight is like 15 minutes after theirs we can take the same DME bus back to MCO.

I know I could probably try and manage a carryon suitcase…but I know me and how I like to travel and I have way to many toiletries plus I am planning on doing Christmas shopping there…probably cost me same amount to ship home as it would to pay the baggage fee anyways…

Oh well just glad we all have our flights and that part is done!


Up NEXT: some royal dining picks and how crazily organized we are choosing them…you will laugh or roll your eyes

Thanks for reading~​

 

[DisMomAmy]

That was a crazy morning! The funny part is that's the second time I've had to call Julie in the wee hours of the morning about flights!

Luckily it all worked out, and we are all booked for our trip!!


(And for anyone who couldn't tell... the purple portion of Julie's update is the part I wrote. )

 

[Native NYer]

That does sound crazy!
Airfare has been just nuts this year.

Julie, I've flown Airtran twice and had good experiences. And I use American a lot and have never had trouble. Hope you have the same experience!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Hooray for booked airfare and staying under budget. Sounds like a crazy morning, but glad you girls got arrivals and departures close together. You all are going to have a GREAT time.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

The fact that you were even able to coordinate arrival and departure times at all is Magical! Nice job ladies!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Glad your flights finally all worked out!

Can't wait to hear where you are eating.

 

[smile4stamps]

Congrats on the flights!

I haven't booked ours yet... Trying to coordinate my flying into Denver so I can continue with my hubby to Orlando. Unfortunately same thing happened to me with southwest changing their schedule and the only connecting flight from San Jose through Denver to Orlando would get us in really late and that just won't work! instead I may have to spend the night in Denver and then we would leave together early the next morning. Still hoping prices come down.. may be wishful thinking!!

 

[mousescrapper]

That does sound crazy!
Airfare has been just nuts this year.

Julie, I've flown Airtran twice and had good experiences. And I use American a lot and have never had trouble. Hope you have the same experience!

thanks hoping for the same smooth outcome!

Hooray for booked airfare and staying under budget. Sounds like a crazy morning, but glad you girls got arrivals and departures close together. You all are going to have a GREAT time.

thanks Jess yes we all came in under budget w/ what we wanted to spend

The fact that you were even able to coordinate arrival and departure times at all is Magical! Nice job ladies!

I agree Missy that was the main goal

Glad your flights finally all worked out!

Can't wait to hear where you are eating.

yes it was a bit hairy but worked out well...food stuff coming up soon

Congrats on the flights!

thanks!

I haven't booked ours yet... Trying to coordinate my flying into Denver so I can continue with my hubby to Orlando. Unfortunately same thing happened to me with southwest changing their schedule and the only connecting flight from San Jose through Denver to Orlando would get us in really late and that just won't work! instead I may have to spend the night in Denver and then we would leave together early the next morning. Still hoping prices come down.. may be wishful thinking!!

I totally understand good luck hope you get some good flights

 

[mousescrapper]

so now that our Castle is reserved, the flights are booked it was to start ironing out some plans…you know of course we were already talking about these things well before we decided on the Castle and booked those flights

I know I said I’d start w/ food…but I’ll let you hang on where these 3 Princesses haven chosen to eat for just a bit longer….


we began like any good Diser and looked at the hours and event times from last year around our dates to start formulating a base plan. The spreadsheet Queen Heidi started making some itinerary schedules and Amy added in the TGM and easywdw info…

we first came up w/ two basic plans one for staying in the BW/BC area and one plan for staying at BLT

they were somewhat like this:

Plan 1) BW/BC
Day1) Thursday DAY travel NIGHT Epcot

Day 2) Friday DAY early AM @ EP/late AM @ MK NIGHT MK

Day 3) Saturday DAY DHS NIGHT DTD/Jellyrolls/bowling/whatever

Day 4) Sunday DAY MK NIGHT travel

We also were starting to map out some basic dining thoughts too …

Day 1) Dinner TS @ EP
Day 2) Breakfast TS and Dinner TS
Day 3) Dinner TS
Day 4) no ADRs​

Plan 2) BLTWas basically the same except for some dining choices and that on Day 2) we would do MK all day

We knew early on we would skip AK this trip w/ wanting to focus on EP w/ F&W…well not so much Amy and MK for any expansion openings.

We also felt that if the only MNSSHP option would be on Thursday our arrival day it probably just wasn’t gonna work out…Heidi wasn’t sure if she wanted to go, Amy was Switzerland (which I dorkily had to ask for clarification on ) and I was bummed…but knew we had so many other fun things were thinking of doing too.


We knew we wanted this trip to include a lot of relaxation and fun girl time not just rushing from one thing to another!


As we analyzed the above plans and made some tweaks to them we decided that we all liked the flow of the BW/BC area plan 1) and went w/ that and as mentioned in a previous post to not try and change over to BLT at the 7 mo mark.


Then fast forward a few weeks and this was our plan before the afternoon of Sunday March 25th:

Arrival Day: Thursday 10-11-12 (like that date [thumbsup]

DAY: Travel all arriving at MCO in the 10 am hour

NIGHT: EP including a TS dinner

*************

Day 2) Friday 10-12

DAY: EP for F&W OR DHS

NIGHT: MNSSHP OR Free Evening including a TS Dinner

************

Day 3) Saturday 10-13


DAY: DHS (AM EMH) OR EP

NIGHT: EP for Mouse Gear and BW for Jellyrolls & Atlantic Dance Company (plus TS dinner out) OR MK

************

Day 4) Sunday 10-14

DAY: MK
NIGHT: Travel all heading back on DME in the 5:30 time frame

And somewhere in this plan we’ll have our TS Breakfast​

So what do you think of the plans thus far?


Well stay tuned as the next topic of discussion is MNSSHP or Bust?

Thanks for reading, J~ for H and A​

 

[DisMomAmy]

Thanks for doing that update Julie! We were throwing around so many different itinerary options, I couldn't remember where things stood before Sunday.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Thanks for doing that update Julie! We were throwing around so many different itinerary options, I couldn't remember where things stood before Sunday.

I started a trip binder right from the get go -- that's the only way I could keep track of it all ! And for months I had forgotten that we didn't have the actual park hours....only my guesstimates.

I'm sure we will all miss going to AK this trip but it's the one park that all 3 of us can experience really well with our own families.

 

[mousescrapper]

I spent 20 minutes of going thru the back log of old emails to find the right exchanges and plans

 

[eandesmom]

Arrival Day: Thursday 10-11-12 (like that date [thumbsup]

I like that date!

Plans look really good. Bummer about AK but with a short trip, you have to make choices. You guys are WAY more organized than we are, we have a sort of ADR wish list, a sort of event wish list, a sort of meet wish list and are planning around those at the moment and then fitting park hours around it. Totally backwards! About the only thing we've done in relation to park hours is try to determine, based on them, when MNSSHP is. Ah well, we have 3 weeks till ADR day so I'm sure we will have our act together by then. I'm struggling a bit with what the right number of ADR's should be, given that it's F&W.

Can't wait to see where you are eating!!!