osugrad148
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2001
- Messages
- 36
October 18-27, 2002
Cast of Characters:
Mom (Liz)- age 31 and the big Disney fan of the family. Went as a child about once a year until I went to college and then did the college program (Sunshine Season Food Fair). After graduation, I worked at Disneyland Paris for 6 months. Now, I am a stay at home mom and get to Walt Disney World as often as my husband will let me.
Dad (Dennis)- age 32. Not a big fan of such on the go vacations, but he tolerates it because he loves me and his kids.
Ryan- age 6 Ninth trip to WDW and 3rd Disney Cruise. Loves Disney World, rides and he is easy to get along with.
Alex- age 6 Ninth trip to WDW and 3rd Disney Cruise. Loves all reptiles, insects and small furry things.
Brandon- age 4 Eighth trip to WDW and 3rd Disney Cruise. Happy and go-lucky, he puts up well with his big brothers.
I started planning this vacation last spring. We had taken the 4 day Disney Cruise in January and were able to book a second one this fall for just $99 per person. This was a special due to low booking rates post 9/11. Total cost for our family of 5 in a Cat. 4 came out to $629, so we couldn't pass that up! I booked this though AAA, which gave us a perk of 5 refillable drink mugs.
I decided on October since we have never been to that parks for Halloween or the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. We usually go in December or January because I don't really enjoy the parks when it is too hot out.
Next came the hotel. We had 5 nights to spend at Disney before the cruise. I had my heart set on The Beach Club, but while booking in March, there were no codes out yet and it was very out of our budget. I ended up booking the Dolphin through Dreams Unlimited at an AP rate for about $700, this was before they lowered the rate to $99 per night for cruisers, so at the time it was a good deal. A month later I got a postcard!! It was from the DVC asking me to go to a presentation, in return a free night at the hotel of my choice. I called immediately and got The Beach Club for $951 for the five nights. I think that was ($209+tax a night plus 1 free) I was really excited and had no trouble canceling the DU ressie.
I had 3 days left on our park hoppers from our January trip for my husband and twins. I had an annual pass. Only my
4 year old needed a ticket. I joined Connections to order a 4 day hopper plus for $157. While there I ordered 10 Quick and Casual Vouchers. I canceled this membersip 2 weeks later and had absolutely no problems dealing with them. This was the second time I have used them to buy tickets and vouchers and have had no trouble.
The trip felt like it was coming together very well. We would be there during one Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and it just happened to be one of the passholder events! Since we live in Ohio, it is very rare I get to something like that. The day that I was planning on ordering tickets on the website, I was on the DisBoards and 2minnies had just posted 4 tickets to the MNSSHP for the night we needed. I couldn't beleive it, so I PM'd her as fast as I could. She had already given away her 2 adult tickets, but we were able to use the 2 kids! Thanks again 2 minnies! She mailed them the next day. I ordered the tickets for the 3 of us left ($85) and arranged to pick them up at will-call.
We always drive to Florida from Ohio. I am terrified to fly, especially with my 3 children. We make this 15 hour trek about once or twice and sometimes three times a year.
That's the pre-planning that went into this!
Next up is Day 1 and 2
Cast of Characters:
Mom (Liz)- age 31 and the big Disney fan of the family. Went as a child about once a year until I went to college and then did the college program (Sunshine Season Food Fair). After graduation, I worked at Disneyland Paris for 6 months. Now, I am a stay at home mom and get to Walt Disney World as often as my husband will let me.
Dad (Dennis)- age 32. Not a big fan of such on the go vacations, but he tolerates it because he loves me and his kids.
Ryan- age 6 Ninth trip to WDW and 3rd Disney Cruise. Loves Disney World, rides and he is easy to get along with.
Alex- age 6 Ninth trip to WDW and 3rd Disney Cruise. Loves all reptiles, insects and small furry things.
Brandon- age 4 Eighth trip to WDW and 3rd Disney Cruise. Happy and go-lucky, he puts up well with his big brothers.
I started planning this vacation last spring. We had taken the 4 day Disney Cruise in January and were able to book a second one this fall for just $99 per person. This was a special due to low booking rates post 9/11. Total cost for our family of 5 in a Cat. 4 came out to $629, so we couldn't pass that up! I booked this though AAA, which gave us a perk of 5 refillable drink mugs.
I decided on October since we have never been to that parks for Halloween or the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. We usually go in December or January because I don't really enjoy the parks when it is too hot out.
Next came the hotel. We had 5 nights to spend at Disney before the cruise. I had my heart set on The Beach Club, but while booking in March, there were no codes out yet and it was very out of our budget. I ended up booking the Dolphin through Dreams Unlimited at an AP rate for about $700, this was before they lowered the rate to $99 per night for cruisers, so at the time it was a good deal. A month later I got a postcard!! It was from the DVC asking me to go to a presentation, in return a free night at the hotel of my choice. I called immediately and got The Beach Club for $951 for the five nights. I think that was ($209+tax a night plus 1 free) I was really excited and had no trouble canceling the DU ressie.
I had 3 days left on our park hoppers from our January trip for my husband and twins. I had an annual pass. Only my
4 year old needed a ticket. I joined Connections to order a 4 day hopper plus for $157. While there I ordered 10 Quick and Casual Vouchers. I canceled this membersip 2 weeks later and had absolutely no problems dealing with them. This was the second time I have used them to buy tickets and vouchers and have had no trouble.
The trip felt like it was coming together very well. We would be there during one Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and it just happened to be one of the passholder events! Since we live in Ohio, it is very rare I get to something like that. The day that I was planning on ordering tickets on the website, I was on the DisBoards and 2minnies had just posted 4 tickets to the MNSSHP for the night we needed. I couldn't beleive it, so I PM'd her as fast as I could. She had already given away her 2 adult tickets, but we were able to use the 2 kids! Thanks again 2 minnies! She mailed them the next day. I ordered the tickets for the 3 of us left ($85) and arranged to pick them up at will-call.
We always drive to Florida from Ohio. I am terrified to fly, especially with my 3 children. We make this 15 hour trek about once or twice and sometimes three times a year.
That's the pre-planning that went into this!
Next up is Day 1 and 2
Cant wait to read all about your trip.
