Dancing Babnanas 10!!!....Some bacon, a pole, and more udder nonsense

[LegoMom3]

So, for YYA and anyone else even mildly interested, this is what I am tossing around for our trip next year.

I am definitely on a budget, and cost is always a factor when planning a Disney trip, but I like to think I know my way around "working the system". What I will be doing very shortly is booking a campsite at Fort Wilderness (hopefully with a AAA discount), and putting a deposit on a rental pop-up camper. That will hold both of those until next year, at which point I'll be watching to see if Disney extends the Free Dining into the fall (at this point they always do the late summer offer; the last few years they've opened up dates into the rest of the year, with holiday black-outs of course). IF they do offer FD, I'll book that package and we'll stay at Port Orleans Riverside instead (where we've always stayed, as a family of 5, and everyone wants to go back). I'll then cancel the campsite and camper and get my deposits fully refunded on both.

If there is no fall FD next year, then we keep the camping reservations and do the trip that way. DH and I stayed at the Fort on our first (pre-kids) trip to WDW and it's a wonderful place; our boys would love it! Tons to do right there (including watching Wishes! and the Electrical Water Pageant right from the beach!). I don't mind doing some meals there, as that will keep the overall cost way down.

So, here's to watching and waiting and planning and saving!!

.

 

[Smileybug]

LegoMom that sounds like a good plan. One I never would have thought of.


What do ya'll think about the new wrist bands and the fastpass plus? I have been out of the Disney loop since our last trip. (Last Nov.) Boy some things sure have changed.

 

[LegoMom3]

I'm quickly warming up to the Magic Bands. The FP+, not so much. It just doesn't work for me. I like to park-hop, and sometimes on a whim if we go one place and it ends up being really busy. I feel the FP+ just ties you down. I really have NO interest in booking my rides that far in advance! That's not how I roll.

The Magic Bands, though, I'm liking more and more. I like that I can go out early for my coffee walk (or a run) and not have to carry a card to get back into the room. I like how it works for purchases, since you now need a pin number. I like that you can customize them (like color) before you arrive, and that they have little accessories you can buy there! (you gotta admit, Disney is a marketing genius....). I already know that there's a decorative sleeve that looks like the Haunted Mansion wallpaper, that I want for mine!

.

 

[YoYoAurora]

LegoMom, that sounds like a great plan! Either way it works out, you'll have a memorable trip. I hope we're at Disney at the same time so we can meet up!

I'll have to get up to speed on the Magic Bands and FP+. Right now, it's back to work so I can make some extra do-re-mi for the trip!

 

[Smileybug]

I'm not sure how I feel about the fastpass either. On our last trip I had almost two years to plan and just to pass the time.... I PLANNED. Planned, planned and planned some more. (I made one awesome Disney binder though!!) It was over kill. We did the deluxe dining. I can't see us doing that again either. If you could go and eat when you wanted where you wanted I would do it in a heart beat. Just not having every single meal planned out so far in advance. This trip is going to be very laid back. I will probably try to book 2 or 3 sit downs and the rest will be counter service. The only other thing I am doing is looking at the crowd calendars. We just want to kick back and do what we want when we want to. (Well, as much as possible. )

 

[kimmar067]

So you want to




CASH IN YOUR COW?

....in a word?























































H*LL YEAH........oh....that's two words.....wuteva....

 

[kimmar067]

I wish I had a cow to cash in!


Good morning ya'll. Hope you have all been doing well.

.....coming from someone who has the PERFECT tag and avi.....

 

[kimmar067]

Kimmar what did you do this time to annoy the Tag Fairy? Honestly, I've never seen anyone who gets picked on by the Tag Fairy more than you. It almost makes me think that you are the Tag Fairy.

...darned if I know....

 

[kimmar067]

I can not believe your oldest is pushing 18. Wow!! Where has the time gone? I'm here hoping and praying that your trip happens!!

...my oldest turned 27 on August 27.....but I'm not getting old.....

 

[Smileybug]

The moo has returned. Hey kimmar.

Maybe the tag fairy will give you a bit of awesomeness this time around......nah......just wishful thinking.

 

[SadieDog]

I was messing around on the Disney site last night, plugging in numbers and such, just for fun. My dad cruises a lot, so I was looking at those for kicks and giggles. I have looked into a Disney cruise in the past, so I started with that. Then I went to a non-Disney cruise site. Apples to apples (all things included being the same, and same number of nights, same dates, stateroom category, etc.), my family of 5 could cruise Disney for just over $3k, but a non-Disney cruise would only run $1,700.....!!! I'm sorry, I know it's Disney and all, but that is a HUGE difference! I'm not considering a cruise for next year, but like I said, just playing with numbers and such. I was shocked, really. Just, wow....

.

That IS a huge difference.

 

[daisyyy]

...darned if I know....

Well..... the way I see it.. is. if Kimmar was really the tag fairy.. wouldn't that make her the Moo Fairy instead?

Afternoon LegoMom.... I think your plans sound great.. That is exactly what I would do.. I've always wanted to try the FW Camp ground... then we could all fit... but, then there was that episode a while back... remember... anyway... I still want to try it out, and I know my kids would love it.. we loved hoop de doo and the whole feeling of the place, but then I still love love love Port Orleans... of course I'd have to leave DH home so the rest of us could fit in one room.. but I'm willing to leave him home..

 

[SadieDog]

My new belief is that if you can make something happen without killing yourself financially..... DO IT!! August was an unbelievably bad month for us. Our middle son was in a serious accident. It was raining and he hydroplaned and hit a tree head on doing 60mph. Only spent a day in the hospital. But if you had seen the truck. Talk about being spared! Oh my goodness.... The next day my brother was rushed to the hospital he is a diabetic and his blood sugar level skyrocketed to over 900. He was incoherent. He ended up in ICU and needing his heart shocked. We almost lost him. Then 2 days later my DH's mother died. So we have a new outlook on spending time with the people we love the most. So ladies...... if it is at all possible.....make those memories.

Oh my! I can't believe your son was only in the hospital for 1 day. I've had too many car accident deaths in my family. So happy your son is ok. Scary! Glad your brother is ok too. Sorry to hear about your MIL.

 

[SadieDog]

I'm not sure how I feel about the fastpass either. On our last trip I had almost two years to plan and just to pass the time.... I PLANNED. Planned, planned and planned some more. (I made one awesome Disney binder though!!) It was over kill. We did the deluxe dining. I can't see us doing that again either. If you could go and eat when you wanted where you wanted I would do it in a heart beat. Just not having every single meal planned out so far in advance. This trip is going to be very laid back. I will probably try to book 2 or 3 sit downs and the rest will be counter service. The only other thing I am doing is looking at the crowd calendars. We just want to kick back and do what we want when we want to. (Well, as much as possible. )

I have no interest in planning all my meals or fastpasses way in advance.

 

[SadieDog]

So, for YYA and anyone else even mildly interested, this is what I am tossing around for our trip next year.

I am definitely on a budget, and cost is always a factor when planning a Disney trip, but I like to think I know my way around "working the system". What I will be doing very shortly is booking a campsite at Fort Wilderness (hopefully with a AAA discount), and putting a deposit on a rental pop-up camper. That will hold both of those until next year, at which point I'll be watching to see if Disney extends the Free Dining into the fall (at this point they always do the late summer offer; the last few years they've opened up dates into the rest of the year, with holiday black-outs of course). IF they do offer FD, I'll book that package and we'll stay at Port Orleans Riverside instead (where we've always stayed, as a family of 5, and everyone wants to go back). I'll then cancel the campsite and camper and get my deposits fully refunded on both.

If there is no fall FD next year, then we keep the camping reservations and do the trip that way. DH and I stayed at the Fort on our first (pre-kids) trip to WDW and it's a wonderful place; our boys would love it! Tons to do right there (including watching Wishes! and the Electrical Water Pageant right from the beach!). I don't mind doing some meals there, as that will keep the overall cost way down.

So, here's to watching and waiting and planning and saving!!

.

Sounds good.

 

[Smileybug]

Hi SadieDog
I hope you are having a good day!!

 

[SadieDog]

Hi SadieDog
I hope you are having a good day!!

It's fine except I'm cold. I need to get used to the temperature change. It's only Sept. I have a feeling it's going to be a long winter.

 

[Smileybug]

Our temps are still in the low 80's during the day and the low 60's at night. And probably will be for some time.

I've been reading a lot on line where a lot of people are predicting a colder than usual winter.

 

[SadieDog]

Our temps are still in the low 80's during the day and the low 60's at night. And probably will be for some time.

I've been reading a lot on line where a lot of people are predicting a colder than usual winter.

Heck I would like low 60's during the day. We had a few nights of 30's, but it's back up to 40's at night.

 

[kimmar067]

The moo has returned. Hey kimmar.

Maybe the tag fairy will give you a bit of awesomeness this time around......nah......just wishful thinking.

....are you familiar with the phrase: "...when H*LL freezes over!" ??