Committee to plan vacations presents December Dreaming...we are back withlost of Pics

[soxnation]

Well I figured it was about time to start my pre trip planning…don’t panic everyone I have in fact been planning for hours days months and months! We just came around the bend to the 2 month mark and I am getting anxious!

Who are these people who are canceling Christmas! (Well we are not truly canceling Christmas….we are starting Christmas early! And my Office magnets were inspiration)

This trip the crew is now two:
Me-Soxnation… (Btw go sox!) Cait, I will be 26 on this trip and it is a gift from mum for my birthday and Christmas. I have always loved going to Disney we used to go for the Anniversaries. The last time I was staying at the Wilderness Lodge there was a giant pink castle off the balcony! I love going to Disney planning for Disney and being the one to plan all the amazing things that happen in Disney.

Mum- She is the mother that lets her girls do what makes they happy, so for me it is to completely plan a vacation from the minute we leave Boston to the second we get on the plane to return. And did I mention she pays the tab! She humors me in all of my craziness.

Sis- The dog sitter for this trip, apparently she is tired of going to Disney. We were at the Grand Floridian now two summers ago; she got quite ill and was the one getting sick in the front flower pots. This may be her aversion to Disney now.

Pups- Ok my dogs are not going on the trip but well they are our fur babies so I might as well mention them. Colby and Jack our Cockapoos they are a year and a half old and cute as hell…some people brag about their children and as of right now these are the closest I have gotten to children!

Ok on to the trip!!!!!!!!

An Edit -- If you follow along and enjoy my rants and mindless wandering ideas...you will be rewarded! i have an IPhone and by the magic of technology i will be posting live as much as possiable!

 

[iluvuwdw]

Just popping in... I was a little worried by your title. Glad to hear you are going to Disney at Christmas. When will you be there ? Can't wait to read more.

 

[soxnation]

This trip is to finally see the world in all of its Christmas glory! After many trips in the spring and one awfully hot trip in August it was time for December.

We are heading to the world December 4th-8th short trip to see the sights and get into the Christmas spirit.

And where else would one want to soak in all that Christmas glory…The Wilderness Lodge! After booking at the Coronado and debating every other deluxe resort on property we made the leap back to the lodge

So after many back and forths and praying that rooms would open up we got ourselves one courtyard view room at the lodge.

Ok we have a room tickets, Hoppers and threw in dining for good measure.

My thoughts on dining…..
we went during free dining in August of 2006 and after learning all that there was to know about dining locations and how to get the best value from the plan…..we spent half the trip traveling to get to dinners.

My lesson was learned plan where to eat after you know where you are going, it will save you the hour on the bus just trying to get to and fro.

The general beat the system plan can work if you have more than 5 days and do not value time for a break.

This trip we are eating where we are for the day or evening and at the same time hitting some new places and good old favorites.

A view from last trip in EPCOT after a long afternoon of rain….lets hope there is more magic to be had this trip!

 

[soxnation]

I should let you all know that if you stick with me you will be rewarded with live updates from the world when we get there through the magic of my iphone! O0o0o0oahahahh


The resort- As I have said before I was last at the lodge when I was hmmmm in the 8th grade, and there was a giant pink castle. Also we were gifted with the “great” room with a view of the castle and bunk beds!!!!

They failed to mention that this “great” room was located right above the smoke house! Great room as long as you kept the doors shut!

Well that was ages ago so let’s give it another shot. I really love this resort and still remember that last trip. I wish we had stayed there on the last trip instead of the Grand Floridian …..I think I heard gasps all around… my argument it is all covered!! There is no running through ankle deep afternoon down pours to get to your room.

 

[soxnation]

Ok i just checked our Delta flights out of boston on the 4th and they now are asking over 800 per person....see i was right to bully mum into a decision when i did!

 

[soxnation]

ever get that feeling you are talking to yourself?? i hope there are lurkers because this conversations with my self in getting interesting!
57 days until i leave for disney. Payment is due to AAA next week..its all set and ready to go.
while getting dressed this morning i had my first thoughts of starting to pack! a bit early there caitlin.

anyone out there have advice on what to pack for a december trip. i fear many suitcases in my future

 

[bellasmommy0]

I'm here, I lurked yesterday...but I was at work and my boss walked in so I couldnt post!! We are going Dec 6-16th

 

[iluvuwdw]

I'm still here

 

[rockonthemoon]

Hey! Thought I'd give another pre-tripper some support!

I'm super excited to hear about your trip, I leave a little after you, so it'll be nice to hear about updates and such!

I'm subbing!

 

[soxnation]

they like me they really like me!!! well thanks all for not making talk to myself! i hope to entertain...comming up some pics from our trip in 06 to the grand i just need photobucket to cooperate with me.

can't you just feel the joy of a rainy day in Epcot! this is mum and sis.

 

[soxnation]

What type of room shall we have!
Courtyard view—why well because that was all that was available and I am sure that it would not leave us with a room that smelled like a BBQ joint.

As usual the trip ends up going way beyond and over the initial budget…yikes.

I just failed to tell mum that fact when we were all booked, just talk about the positive never mind that a few more clams will need to be saved.

Flights were not looking too bad when we booked which was the reason I could rush mum into booking a trip……”come on the flights are going to quadruple! We need to decide now…what are we going to do…you can not wait….go go go go ……” I have to have fligths that leave Logan first thing in the morning and Orlando last at night. It is just too much time wasted if it is not done this way. So who has the best times is how we pick our flights. I know not the best value of a flight this way as it also has to be non stop.
Looks like I strong armed my way into a Disney vacation.

Then it started....the constant asking if i booked my mother an isle seat!


So the day I walked out of the AAA office on a particularly steamy day in Massachusetts I skipped with joy that I had booked a Christmas trip to Disney!

Wait, eghh the planning had to begin……….


Last trip...Sis's Unbirthday Celebration at Kona Cafe

 

[rockonthemoon]

Ah, I just checked the airfare that we booked as well, and it's INSANE.

My bf thought I was nuts for making him commit ages ago.

 

[soxnation]

Well after the flight being 850 our flight out of Boston must be full now as it is off the delta sight. So fingers crossed full flight will not be messed with. now i just need to pray for no snow.

 

[soxnation]

I should tell you that after getting the vacation planning bug in 02 when a bunch of friends headed to the world after our first year of college I have never stopped.

I over plan overnight trips to NYC, 2 day trips to Phily, San Diego, and my past 2 trips to Vegas have been carried out with military precision.

There are binders, note books, note cards, laminated notes, alphabetical packing lists, even power point presentations about the destination and the fun to be had. ( yes the vegas trip in march had a power point presentation ….) I do not think I will ever be able to let someone plan a trip for me!

Why is it that at any other time I could care less what time I eat but on vacation I time dining moments like we will never eat again!

So that is where I was sitting on the Dis wondering where we were going to dine on this trip. Like I said before, I was not interested in taking 3 hours to get ready for dinner and travel to the location.

At least in December we will not have to make multiple stops for showers from the heat.

Then I realized ….my 180 is in like 2 days…I was not prepared I was sitting on the beach not thinking of what I wanted to eat 6 months from now. 4 hours of research and 6 lists later I had a plan.

 

[bellasmommy0]

and we are awaiting the plan!!

 

[soxnation]

1st night Kona Café-
my favorite from last trip. We had a great meal there the last time that ended up with us scarring small children in the bathroom because we may have had one too many tropical adult beverages. This is the official kick off to the trip after spending the day at the MK and watching the fireworks from the beach…scratch that Disney decided my planning was too perfect and is not showing wishes that night..oh come on will I ever get to see the fireworks from the beach at Poly!

That’s me in the pink btw.

2nd night- Tuto Italia ok here is where I thought I would never see myself…at work early cell phone in hand at 6:59 waiting for Dining to open to book a Candlelight processional package the first day they went on sale. I kicked people out of my office, I freaked out when I realized my wallet was in the car and had to call mum for a cc # for the reservation. You would have thought I was trying to secure a kidney donation or something! And no Le Cellier I found it over rated last trip. We ate Alfredo’s many times on our trips even in 02 we went there so it was time to see what was different. Also in my way of thinking I picked the restaurant because it was closest to the theater….can not walk too fast after tiramisu.

3rd night- Mama Melrose. Oh the dilemma, is it good, is it awful. Italian two nights in a row. Cant I be more creative…..eh transportation options would require me to take a jungle trek to get dinner somewhere outside the studios so Mama Melrose it is. And well again Italian food…the Osborne Lights are right there…I do not have to go far in a food coma!

4th night- “if we are staying there can we get BBQ”-mum. I think the 10 day stay with the smoke house under our window did something to her brain. When she hears wilderness lodge she immediately goes into a BBQ mode. So we are dining at Whispering Canyon Café tonight before the Christmas party. Not ideal timing for dinner before the party but you can not beat being able to come back to the resort take a nap, get dinner, and hop on the boat to the Kingdom. I will be sure to ask for lost of ketchup.

Those are the only planned meals. With only 2 of us I did not want to do character dining. And well mum is in the field of Infectious Diseases so buffet dining is out of the question!

We will use our counter service credits for breakfast at Roaring Forks. Gasp I know dining credit for breakfast, I go all year with oatmeal for breakfast I am getting a platter for breakfast even if my cholesterol goes up because of it! That and we are really not big eaters we can live with a big breakfast then dinner. But offer me a Mickey ice cream bar and I will break that rule.

So there you have our dining plan…in more words than anyone needed to kill time at work reading!

 

[rockonthemoon]

Those places sound great! I'm so glad to hear of another good reveiw at Kona. I'm trying it for the first time this next trip because of all of the positive reveiws on it here.

Thos dining options sound fantastic. Tutto Italia is a favorite of mine, and I'm looking foward to reading more of your TR.

 

[soxnation]

Those places sound great! I'm so glad to hear of another good reveiw at Kona. I'm trying it for the first time this next trip because of all of the positive reveiws on it here.

Thos dining options sound fantastic. Tutto Italia is a favorite of mine, and I'm looking foward to reading more of your TR.

thanks for reading along!!

Kona was great i should pull up my reviews from the last trip and post the Kona one. Loved it!!! that is why it is our first stop this trip and we made a point to let the cm know that we were celebrating my birthday this time around.

i dont remember if i mentioned but this trip is a birthday gift from my mum! my bday is in November and because of grad school the 4-8th of december was the only time i could fit a trip in.

 

[soxnation]

So with Halloween approaching i thought i would share my latest project.

This Sunday we will be attending Dogtoberfest! and there is a costume contest for the pups. I have one all finished. My dog jack in modeling his. Colby is going to be peanut butter and Jack is Fluff.

just thought i would share!

 

[soxnation]

Well the update to everyone out there is that yesterday......................................We PAID IN FULL!!!!!!!!!! woohoooooooo



Then the Debbie Downer of the world comes into play....MA is cutting 1000 state jobs and both my mother and i work for the state. So mum chirps up this morning how much it would cost to back out if we have to. Now i am not worried about her losing her job, they need her to do what she does. Me on the other hand i am expendable but we shall see. So for now i am just going to be excited that we are paid and documents should be heading our way.

i will leave you with some photos from 06....