Creature Report? Noooo 2 Pre Trip Reports!.7/21 FINAL COUNTDOWN

[Fastpassminus]

..........or how my September trip took a Christmas Planning DETOUR and ended up with a DVC purchase!!


Hi! I am Fastpassminus! AKA Amy! I am a 34-year-old higher ed admin, wife and, mom of a 3-year-old crazy boy! Also, I am a bonified Disney DORK. This is my 11th trip! My first was at 5.5 years old I was instantly hooked! Disney World is a place I associate with fun, family memories and MAGIC!

In the past, I have stayed at

Ft Wilderness 2x
CR
Off-site (DTD Hilton)
Pop
POR 2x
OKW 2x and
BLT

As my name suggests I LOVE those little slips of paper that are now sadly long gone. I loved holding them in my hand, the texture the SMELL of the ink. They take me back to a simpler time of stampeding to TSMM first thing in the morning. Memories.... Memories.....

HOWEVER, I have totally embraced the FP plus era and am ready to shake off my sadness like Tswizzle in order to get down with the Disney.

This trip was originally an XMAS gift from my DM. Seriously. She asked me what I wanted for XMAS and I said Disney and * poof * a trip was born. My DM is THE BEST ( hint: you will meet & get to know her in the " Cast of Characters" section) . So how the heck did we end up with a DVC membership??? Where the heck are we actually staying?? Are we going for Halloween Party or Christmas Decorations OR neither or BOTH?? Who are these people?? What is estoppel? All of these burning questions and more will be answered... For now I will let The Captain take over...

 

[Fastpassminus]

Well... who are these people? First there is My Mom- AKA Non Non. She is the BEST SHe lives downstairs from us in an InLaw Apartment. She takes care of DS while I work and is pretty great at it too. This picture is from the tea house I took her too as her Christmas gift. She loves tea, and Victorian things. She lets me plan whatever and loves pool time and Main Street USA. She could spend the rest of her life on MS if she had to, and never miss the rides. Although she is IN LOVE with Peter Pan's Flight. LOVES IT.Tink is her favorite character.

Of course I cannot forget DS. He is 3.5. He is the smartest little boy I have ever met. I KNOW I am his Mommy and I am SUPPOSED to say that but it's TOTALLY TRUE. He reads words, writes his name, spells a few other words with his magnetic letters, counts to 100 and does addition and subtraction ( basic) in his head. This will be his 4th WDW trip. He went when he ws 13 months old, 21 months old and 2.5. His favorite things right now are numbers, Leap Frog Shows, Peg + Cat, Jake and The Neverland Pirates and of course the inspiration for the name of this PreTrip Octonauts. He looooveeess Shellington and talks about him all the time.

 

[Fastpassminus]

Who are the other two people....

Well there is DH... He LOVES Disney. He loves Space Mountain, AYCTE eating, and Epcot. He just turned 40 and works in IT. He is most likely to screw up the plans. He has been know to grab a coffee at rope drop, INSIST on buying a raincoat during a rainstorm in the Emporium ( when I have an awesome poncho in my bag for him) and forget his MB in the hotel room. No worries though, he generally an awesome guy who lets me lead the way on our trips... Most of the time....

Then there is ME! I already told you about me a little bit... BUT SURE.... TWIST MY ARM... I WILL SHARE MORE....

I love Mickey's Premium and Fireworks. I enjoy a Dole Whip float. I am THE TRIP PLANNER in the family. I love LOVE LOVE planning the trips. I used to be a crazy commando but now I am much more laid back and enjoy some resort time, and some rest on vacation too.

This photo pretty much tells you all about H and I GOOF BALLS!

 

[Jess30]

I want to know how you became DVC owners!!!! Tell me more!!!

 

[Fastpassminus]

Hey Jess30- Thanks for posting. That is a looonnngg story. Will probably take up 2-3 posts. Basically I blame it all on this little lady

 

[Jess30]

Your little boy is adorbs btw!

 

[Fastpassminus]

Thanks Jess30. He is a handful and a HALF!

 

[AshBriSmi]

Ashlee is here!

Sounds great so far Amy!!!

 

[Fastpassminus]

I want to know how you became DVC owners!!!! Tell me more!!!

Thanks for reading! I will let everyone know the whole story with time!

 

[Fastpassminus]

Ashlee is here!

Sounds great so far Amy!!!

Welcome Ashlee! Thanks for Joining!

 

[Fastpassminus]

Soooo I will start this update by saying it was the WORST winter in Mass in a LONG LONG TIME. I mean it was BAD.

I mean this happened ( MORE THAN ONCE)

Actually a WHOLE LOT OF TIMES....

So we stopped looking like this when we saw snow....

And started looking like THIS

Anyways when I started planning this trip last November I was planning on renting points for September at the 7 month mark from a good friend who always gave a great deal on points in the past. All was well and good and I continued to put together ahem... " practice" touring plans for a SEPTEMBER 2015 trip. However sometime in early February I learned that my good friend was going through a rough time.... She had to sell her points and we would not be able to rent from her. I was really sad that we couldn't rent from her anymore and REALLY sad that she was going through such a crappy time.

H and I had always said we would think about buying DVC when we couldn't get such a great deal on rentals anymore....... WELL NOW was the time.........So faced with yet ANOTHER snow day and nothing else to do I started researching buying DVC resale..... After some number crunching and wheeling and dealing my Mom and I decided we would buy DVC together. Within 24 hours I had put in an offer on 160 points at Saratoga with a December 2015 use year. Our intentions were to rent out our point E/O year in order to pay the maintance fee.

With the 7 month deadline behind us for booking in September we set our sites on the first week in December! And we waited and waited and waited..... For what seemed like forever BECAUSE IT WAS!!!


FACT- Buying DVC resale takes FOREVER

How long you ask??? Well I was told when I put the offer in 90 days from the offer being accepted to being able to book a trip. 90 days? Seems like nothing right......


How wrong I was!!!!

 

[Fastpassminus]

Soooo... We put in the offer on SSR 160 point package for 75.00 a point with banked points on 1/28/2015. WE WAITED... ROFR 30 days........

ESTOPPEL .... Another 35 days ..................

Closing ......

FINALLY FINALLY ON April 21st ( almost 3 full months after putting in the offer)

THE POINTS WERE IN THE ACCOUNT!!!

After months of waiting and stalking the ROFR post and waiting and making fake trip plans and waiting and WAITING THE DAY WAS HERE!

 

[Fastpassminus]

But... OMG The day was here! The points were loaded. Now I had been STALKING availability( thanks to a friend who let me check with her login) for MONTHS and making crazy outlandish plans. At this point we were still about 2 weeks away from the 7 month deadline for the DREADED DVC FIRST WEEK IN DEC!


I had planned split stays and SSR only stays and AKL only stays I was sold on O! Lights and Christmas decorations and all sorts of FUN!

See PLANS using last years park hours and most recommended days from easywdw.com

Plans I was probably never going to actually use. I totally stressed myself out. I was wondering what I was going to be able to get into. I bought at SSR, but hooonneeessstttlllyyy ( and I am donning my flame retardent suit here) it wasn't my FIRST choice. It looks like a GREAT resort and I plan to check it out once Disney Springs is finished, but for this trip

I KNOW I KNOW... buy where you plan on staying. But I like the gamble. The thrill of the chase... That is when I remembered September??? Hmmmm MNSSHP, warmer ( OKAY HOTTER THAN HADES) temps low low rock bottom crowds.... Hmmmm

And just like that I was checking availability for September 2015. Less than 6 months away

planning last minute... DVC really does change you.....

But then I saw it right there in the availability BLT. My mom and I had stayed in BLT in September of 2013 with DS. We had rented points for a studio. I love BLT. I love the smell in the lobby, the sky bridge to the Contemporary the Monorail the breeze off Bay Lake at the pool. OMG. I was in LOVE. It was right there 4 nights at BLT in a 2 bedroom standard. WITHIN MY REACH!
[

I mean WHUT! I was on the phone with MS so darn fast my head was spinning. What about that fifth ( okay first) night? Where would we stay? There were only 4 nights at BLT and we didn't have the points for a 5th anyways.What about ADRS? Was I too late? All that planning and

It was so close to being mine!

Must come up with a PLAN before MS picks up. Crossing my fingers and my toes I started some careful calculations and..... THEY PICKED UP....

Did I get the room? What did we decide for the first night? Can we survive a split stay?

 

[Fastpassminus]

Soooo I am on the phone with member services. ON HOLD.

Wearing my giant phone crown that I also talk into while my background dancers break it down behind me .... AS ONE DOES....

And they PICK UP. My emotions guys they were like

What if BLT 2 bedroom standard view isn't available?

So FIRST THING I asked.... They MS lady who I TOTALLY picture as

so she checks and SCORE! Available and MINE!!!

Whoops I partied so DARN HARD I forgot about that pesky arrival night.

What about Art of Animation.... Looks Cool. Brand New Awesome Themeing... But the cost for a family suite was $$$

I checked online and saw 1 night in a Standard View 1 bedroom at AKV. I asked about 1 time use points and faster than you could say

150.00 for one night in a 1 bedroom! instead of 335 for AOA! SCORE AGAIN!

So it was SET We had a trip

ARRIVE SEPT 13th 1 night AKL Kidani 1 bedroom standard view -
4 nights BLT 2 bedroom standard view.
Depart September 18th

OMG OMG OMG

Literally my family right at that moment.

BUT BUT

ADRS... ???? ??

 

[Leshaface]

I'm so in!

As my name suggests I LOVE those little slips of paper that are now sadly long gone. I loved holding them in my hand, the texture the SMELL of the ink. They take me back to a simpler time of stampeding to TSMM first thing in the morning. Memories.... Memories.....

I really do love the paper too! I liked to look in my purse/wallet and see how many I had collected and how many cool rides I could get on!(cause I was a rule breaker and always arrived hours after the FP window Luckily Disneyland still has paper, so i'm good for a little while until they change it over.

I thought this was her house and was going to say, how cute is this!! She sets herself up for tea and everything!

What a cutie!

AYCTE eating

Okay so i'm tired (or maybe stupid) but I can't figure out the 'T'. All You Can T__ Eat.

He is most likely to screw up the plans.

Isn't that the majority of DH's?

Is that a wine tumber?! I have to get me one of those.

Within 24 hours I had put in an offer on 160 points at Saratoga with a December 2015 use year.

FINALLY FINALLY ON April 21st ( almost 3 full months after putting in the offer)

THE POINTS WERE IN THE ACCOUNT!!!

Woah that did take forever! I couldn't have handled the wait.

See PLANS using last years park hours and most recommended days from easywdw.com

Love Josh's website. Makes planning so much easier. And it's free!

Plans I was probably never going to actually use. I totally stressed myself out. I was wondering what I was going to be able to get into. I bought at SSR, but hooonneeessstttlllyyy ( and I am donning my flame retardent suit here) it wasn't my FIRST choice. It looks like a GREAT resort and I plan to check it out once Disney Springs is finished, but for this trip

I agree. I feel like the other resorts have so much more to offer in terms of amenities and location. However, we've only stayed at SSR once (one nighter so we could start our trip a day earlier and of course the resort is always available!) but wouldn't hesitate to book there again. Especially now with the overhaul of DTD

Side note: Cannot WAIT for Zoolander 2!

DVC really does change you.....

It really does

Wearing my giant phone crown that I also talk into while my background dancers break it down behind me .... AS ONE DOES....

Of course

150.00 for one night in a 1 bedroom! instead of 335 for AOA! SCORE AGAIN!

Woah, how did this happen? Explain the 1 time use thing that you did?! I must know!!!

 

[Fastpassminus]

I'm so in!

WELCOME! Thanks for coming over. I can't make the little welcome smiley work, so just imagine him... LOL!

I really do love the paper too! I liked to look in my purse/wallet and see how many I had collected and how many cool rides I could get on!(cause I was a rule breaker and always arrived hours after the FP window Luckily Disneyland still has paper, so i'm good for a little while until they change it over.


I didn't know DL still had paper!! I am furiously planning a DL trip now. I was a rebel too... I loved collecting and using later... MEMORIES...

I thought this was her house and was going to say, how cute is this!! She sets herself up for tea and everything!

Her house is pretty cute, but that tea shoppe is adorable. I want to live there forever.


What a cutie!

Thanks! I think he would get along with your cutie... they have similar priorities snacks and naps... but now DS is getting old enough to tell me what rides he wants to go on AND when... I am trying to explain FP plus & touring plans to a 3.5 year old.... It's NOT easy... LOL!



Okay so i'm tired (or maybe stupid) but I can't figure out the 'T'. All You Can T__ Eat.

Oh that's just strange Disney - Slang for All You Care to Enjoy..... It sounds nicer than All you can stuff in your face and still waddle out the door



Isn't that the majority of DH's?

Yup!



Is that a wine tumber?! I have to get me one of those.

Yes! This was my favorite grab bag gift last holiday season. I bought a 4 pack of those and a 4 bottles of wine and made little bags for work Secret Santas and Yankee Swaps. Had to buy one for myself after the holidays...







Woah that did take forever! I couldn't have handled the wait.

Did you buy direct? It did take forever.... It was crazy.



Love Josh's website. Makes planning so much easier. And it's free!

Confession Time... This is like between me and you and the WHOLE INTERNET.... I have an embarrassing crush on Josh. H refers to him as my boyfriend.... Sorry LISA???


I agree. I feel like the other resorts have so much more to offer in terms of amenities and location. However, we've only stayed at SSR once (one nighter so we could start our trip a day earlier and of course the resort is always available!) but wouldn't hesitate to book there again. Especially now with the overhaul of DTD

Yeah I am planning ( you know LONG RANGE STRATEGIC PLANNING LOL!) a 8 night split stay for May 2017 with 3 nights at The Swan on credit card points and 5 nights at SSR renting a car. I think a rental car is a must if you plan on doing the parks from SSR. I know some ( naughty) people park for free at DTD and then walk to SSR and take the busses making the busses really crowded from there.






Woah, how did this happen? Explain the 1 time use thing that you did?! I must know!!!

So I have a December UY so all of my points were borrowed for this trip. I also had 122 banked points but again they were in the December UY. I KNOW that they will unbank 1x for you as a courtesy, but I really didn't want to waste that 1x now when I can bet I will make a mistake down the road a little. So I decided to just use the 160 points I could borrow. After the four nights at BLT I still had 12 points left. The night I wanted in the 1 bedroom at AKV was 22 points. I rented ( through DVC MS ) 10 1x used points for 15.00 a point so basically got the room at AKV for 150.00 for the one night. I was planning to use those points anyways so there is my ( fuzzy) math. The best part was it would have cost me 330.00 dollars OOP for a AOA suite for the night and I rented the 122 points through David's the next day and made enough to next years' dues and the 150.00 for the points and some pocket cash for the trip. Awesome!

 

[Leshaface]

All You Care To Enjoy! Got it, thanks I just could not figure it out!

Yep we bought directly through DVC, although looking back, Resale maybe would have been a better choice? Either way, it's still a trip to Disney

And thanks for the explanation on the 1BR at AKV. Cause i'd much rather stay at AKV than AOA! Although, that resort does look nice, I can't justify paying OOP that price that was available to you.

 

[Fastpassminus]

All You Care To Enjoy! Got it, thanks I just could not figure it out!

Yep we bought directly through DVC, although looking back, Resale maybe would have been a better choice? Either way, it's still a trip to Disney

And thanks for the explanation on the 1BR at AKV. Cause i'd much rather stay at AKV than AOA! Although, that resort does look nice, I can't justify paying OOP that price that was available to you.

Trust me that man Enjoys ALL he cares.. He is one of the few people for whom DDP just isn't enough food!

Resale is cheaper... but the waiting... It's exhausting...

Yup AOA looks like it would be so fun for the kiddos BUT we always would need a suite bc my Mom will NOT share a bathroom or bedroom with us ( yet she will share with DS Oooookay...)

We actually bought our DVC because it was the cheapest way for us to all go together & still stay in the resorts I like the most. I mean I miss my cheap DVC rental but owning is so fun!

When is your next trip?

 

[Fastpassminus]

ADRs!! ADRS!!! Less than 180 days out!! HOLY CRAPMAN BATMAN

I mean I am usually counting down to 180 days as much as I am to departure day

BUT NOW... It was wayyyy less than 180 days to go and It. Was. Go. Time.

Linking reservations... Logging onto MDE...

Okay ... Inhale.. Exhale... What will be available?

Sooo... what did I get??

9/13- arrival night Saana ( my favorite restaurant on EARTH) 5:05pm
9/14 Via Napoli ( first time for us!) 12:30
Chef Mickey's 8:10pm ( going to try to push this up a little)
9/15 O'hana 9:50 am ( breakfast here is a first for us, we are not 100 percent sure about this so we might cancel)
9/16 San Angel Inn 5:00pm ( DH's pick)
9/17 Crystal Palace 10:35am ( DM's pick)

So I basically got everything I wanted. SURE I would have liked a Pre RD CP, but that is an EMH morning and I think it will be good to stop and have a meal after like 2.5 hours of touring. I am working on checking to see if we can move CMs up. Ideally we would eat an hour earlier.

Notice anything? Yup we are planning to ONLY go to Epcot and MK this trip. We decided to really ENJOY the parks we are at and NOT HOP[GALLERY=]

This is the first time I have EVER not purchased hoppers. However the last time we went with DS and the inlaws we never used the hoppers ....total waste. The time before we went with DS & DM we hopped ONCE and it was a mistake. DS does not like the heat and needs a WHOLE BUNCH of pool time. So our plans are centering around our favorite parks, and the pools. I am going to have some disney giftcards on hand jic I need to add a hopper on at the end of the day.
So now onto to the next stage of planning. Being an insane person, I am already packing and making up packing strategies, fantasizing about FP plus reservations and planning our

MNSSHP COSTUMES!!! That's right we are attending the FIRST PARTY OF THE YEAR on September 15th!!!

 

[kbainbridge]

I'm here and following along!!
We will be at WDW the same dates as you and at the same MNSSHP!!!

Looking forward to hearing about your costumes