Disney or Die: One Woman's Quest for the Perfect Trip (Finally completed)

[abbyjoysmom]

Part One: The Pre-Trip…or should I say Pre-Saga?

I am very new to these boards and have posted rarely but I have loved reading the trip reports so much that I have decided to try my hand at it.

To follow protocol, because who am I to mess with tradition, I will introduce the cast of characters:

DW (Me 28) – Workaholic who also is a stay at home mom and tries her best but doesn’t always succeed

DH (29) – Is willing to go to Disney World for me, but thinks I have lost my mind planning this trip

DD (5)-Very beautiful young girl who is extremely bright and extremely tall for her age, but who also thinks I have lost my mind planning this trip

I began planning our family’s trip to Disney World in February 2006; exactly 1.2 seconds after DH finally caved in and said we could go. I have to stop here and give a little background before I get too involved in the pre-saga. I am obsessed with Disney! I fell in love with Disney when I was in the 5th grade at Tish Cobb’s slumber party where we watched The Little Mermaid. Up to that point, I don’t really remember ever watching any Disney movies except Mary Poppins, and I didn’t realize that was a Disney movie at the time. I became enthralled with all things Disney. I began to collect every Disney movie ever released. I actually paid $75.00 for an unopened 1st edition copy of Fantasia on VHS, yes I also love eBay! I even have a Christmas tree with nothing but Disney ornaments but alas, I have never been to Disney World. Sick… I know!

Therefore, when my step-uncle came out of retirement to become a cast member I jumped for joy. Because my uncle is a cast member, I get half price off any onsite property and free park hopper passes for the whole family. Now the planning could really begin and I had to decide where to stay. I was a novice at trip planning, knew nothing about Disney World, and nothing of the extensive planning that many people put into their Disney trips so I did what most morons do…I picked one at random. I knew we could not afford to stay in a Deluxe property and I did not want to stay in a Value so all that was left was a Moderate. I looked at all of the pictures of the locations on the Disney website, at the time I didn’t even know there were entire sites devoted to talking about the World, and picked the one that I thought looked the prettiest. Are you wondering which resort I picked, I know the suspense must be more than you can bear?

Caribbean Beach Resort would be our new home away from home. Now that I knew where I wanted to stay, I had to figure out some dates. Unfortunately, DH had recently started a new job and would not have enough vacation time until August and with DD starting kindergarten on 8/16/06 the choice became abundantly clear. I picked 8/5/06-8/12/06, probably what will turn out to be the hottest week of the year! Airfare was next and surprisingly easy, I found an amazingly cheap fair on American Airlines non-stop from Dallas to Orlando. Whew, the hardest part was over I had airfare, hotel, and theme park tickets; at least this is what I thought at the time.

Up Next: Part Two: the Pre-Saga Continues...

 

[abbyjoysmom]

Part Two: The Pre-Saga Continues

Once I had the logistics down, I suddenly remembered all of the exciting things that I had heard about and wanted to experience. First experience on my list, why Cinderella of course. I immediately get on the phone and call Disney World; I still can’t believe that you have to pay to call them! You would think with all the money that we are gleefully handing over by the fistful that they could at least have an 800 number. I breathlessly ask for a reservation to have breakfast with Cinderella and the cast member asks me which character meal I am referring to, what there is more than one! I begin to explain that I don’t know the name but it is in the castle, this is when the unthinkable happens; she hangs up on me, so much for starting our trip off with some Disney magic. I call back and get the most wonderful cast member who explains that I want a reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table and that it is not very likely that there will be any times available. A few minutes later, he comes back and proclaims that my family will now have the pleasure of eating breakfast with Cinderella for the low low price of $110.00, and he kindly advises me that we will also receive a beautiful portrait of our family with Cinderella to treasure for years to come! I am in sticker shock, the first of many episodes I am to have before the trip even begins, but what is a Disney obsessed workaholic to do but hand over the credit card. I can feel my drained Disney magic returning! I have secured a trip to Cinderella’s Royal Table. I now feel like my Disney trip is complete, again. I am very excited about the trip but put thoughts of it aside as I am very busy being a workaholic stay at home mom.

Fast-forward two months to April, I have a discussion with DH’s aunt about our upcoming trip, this is when she springs it on me. “What restaurants have you decided on?” she asks. Restaurants? Decided On? What is she talking about? You mean there is more planning to be done! I thought we would just snack our way through Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, I am not kidding. So it is back to the Disney website for determining where we would like to eat, once again I am still oblivious to all sites but the official one. Well DH gets into this part, you can be sure he will always be there for the dinner bell. We sit down and discuss what kinds of foods we would like, read what Disney propaganda has to say, and decide on a meal plan. We have given no consideration for where these restaurants are located or how we are going to get there. I still hadn’t figured out how we were getting from the airport to the hotel, once again something else I didn’t plan, but this is for later in the report. I am once again on the phone with Disney this time making advanced dining reservations. Every restaurant we request is available and we end up with, in no particular order: Boma, Portobello Yacht Club, Beirgarten, House of Blues, Spoodles, and San Angel Inn. Yeah! My Disney trip is completely planned I have airfare, hotel, theme park tickets, reservations with Cinderella, and now advanced dining reservations! I am ready to relax and enjoy the four months until our trip in peace knowing that I have done a great job planning our family’s first trip to Disney World. If I could have only guessed what surprises lay in store!!!


Up Next: Part Three: The Pre-Saga…Yes it is a Trilogy

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

to the boards.

Sounds good so far.

 

[OhMari]

psst, there is a 800 number. Never underestimate the DIS willing to share.

 

[roberrl187]

Ohh, this is shaping up to be a good one. Great start.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

LOL your pre-trip sounds a lot like all of us before we discovered the DIS!

can't wait to read more!

 

[UtahMama]

Yeahhhh! I am so glad to see this early! This is delicious so far!!! I hope to be one of many of your fans!! I love to see the reports of people who've never DONE disney before so this looks like it'll be alot of fun!
Love, Utahmama

 

[abbyjoysmom]

Thank you for the words of encouragement already!

I promise a play by play as soon as I return, maybe sooner.

I love air cards they make using the internet anywhere so easy, including Disney World!

 

[abbyjoysmom]

Part Three: The Pre-Saga…Yes it is a Trilogy

It is now May. I have spent many hours digging around on the Disney website; I still haven’t found any of the “unofficial” sites. I know, I know, I am a little slow when it comes to realizing the potential of the internet, but there is not much brain left after a full day of managing a billion dollar project while chasing a 5 year old around the house and praying the vice president on the conference call doesn’t hear her begging to color with markers on my brand new bed spread!

During my many jaunts to the Disney website, I discovered the next missing piece of my already completely planned trip, the Magical Express. Yeah! Now we get to actually see Disney World instead of being stuck in the airport because the great Disney planner forgot about transportation! I called the long distance phone number, again, and asked to use the Magical Express. I talked to another friendly cast member, I guess that first one was just having a bad day, which took all my information and explained the process. It sure seems easy, I hope it turns out that way (knocking on wood, I am way too superstitious). Reveling in the glory of fulfilling our transportation needs, I suddenly remembered that we are going to the beach for two days and I need a rental car, yikes another missing puzzle piece. I call Hertz because I am a Gold member. Is there anything better than your car waiting for you under an awning? I ask for a convertible and mention every discount I can think of and get another amazing low low price of $64.00 per day; once again, sticker shocker has set in. I know I can find a better price, which I never have, but say book it before this is one is gone too. Now I know I have said this before but now my trip planning really is complete. I have airfare, hotel, theme park tickets, reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table, advanced dining reservations, and a Hertz convertible, hopefully a blue Mustang. I know what you are thinking. Silly, silly girl why are you so naive? Well of course, you are right, the real planning has just begun because I am about to discover the biggest missing piece of all…that I know nothing about any of the parks or how in the world we will see everything we want in just 7 short days!!

It’s now June, the World seems so close yet so far away. I have surgery in the middle of June and am stuck on bed rest for what seemed to be about 100 years but in actuality was only one week. Hey, it is hard to stay in bed when you are a workaholic stay at home mom! Out of shear boredom, I began to surf the net. Can you sense what is coming; I know you can? I found my Disney savior the DIS! I began reading and reading and reading. Yes, I read for an entire week straight. Every thread made me frightfully aware how completely unprepared for our trip I was and that I needed to take evasive action immediately, this is also where my husband and daughter believe that I lost all control of my sanity.

I don’t remember where it all began but I know I quickly found my way to a thread about autograph books. Well, this was all news to me. I knew that there were characters in Disney World and I have planned to hug as many as I can, but I can have (I mean my daughter can have) their autograph too this was way more than my easily excitable Disney brain could handle! I immediately decided the only way to go was with a homemade autograph book. My3princes makes beautiful autograph pages and I shamefully asked her to help me make one for me, hey before you too think I have lost my mind, I at least did offer to pay her for them. She of course declined but told me exactly how to make my own, thank you so much my3princes your kindness has not been forgotten. I then spent the next week making my own autograph pages, which I must say turned out pretty good for someone without a creative bone in their body.

This adventure began my quest for Disney knowledge. I can now tell you that I have purchased the Unofficial Disney World Guide Book and read it cover to cover three times, I have created a touring plan and itineraries for each day, changed our dining reservations three times ( they are now Boma, Portobello Yacht Club, Whispering Canyon, House of Blues-DH’s choice, Ohana’s, and San Angel Inn-DH’s choice) laminated every piece of paper that is in my office, my daughter’s clothes are in gallon zip lock bags, we have pennies polished and ready for pressing, mister fans and extra batteries, glow sticks, glow bracelets, ponchos, an entire backpack full of Disney stickers and coloring books, big sharpies in all colors of the rainbow, snacks, and a grocery order set to be delivered from garden grocer.

I know I have left something out and I am sure that everyone will make this grossly apparent to me.

It is now July and we leave in 2 weeks. My husband is sick of hearing me ramble on incessantly about Disney, I am actually banned from talking about it at the moment. I am so excited that I spend more time than I care to admit reading trip reports. I have laughed, cried, and learned even more about this wonderful and magical World. I now truly feel prepared, except for that darn mole skin that I can’t find anywhere!

Up Next: Part Four: The Day Has Arrived! Coming 8/4!!!!

 

[Disney owl]

Great start looking forward to more

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Whether you believe it or not, you are well on you way to a great vacation! Don't fret if you can't pack every little thing in ! Make sure that when you are there you relax and just enjoy the fact that you are there....stop., look around and store up some memories....then.....hurry you need to get those fast passes! LOL

Enjoy your vacation !

 

[OneMoreStitch]

Subscribing!

 

[KathyRN137]

to the Disboards!

Kathy

 

[benamin]

We are headed on our first trip to WDW I Don't plan, I am spontaneous, I hate schedules (my bad! ) but I have now spent hundreds of hours on this site and am going down fully armed with tips and info to make a correct spontaneous decision. My wife is the planner in our family, she has planned all our vacations. For some reason she is leaving the biggest one ever up to me, Mr.Do-Whatever-Whenever, Oh the Pressure!


A little Later.....


NO! DON'T MAKE ME DO IT! i WON'T DO IT!

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!

We are the Dis, we plan! Resistance is futile!


More Later.....


My designation is
7 of 100000000, Unimatrix DIS
Resistance is Futile! We Plan!


Now...


Gotta plan, Gotta plan!


And this is the way of things

 

[lazydazy8]

You are NOT alone! I am reading your posts and tears are welling up in my eyes! I am a planner by nature. Our trip in December will be trip #8 for me, #5 for my DH, but the first for my DD6 (will be 7 by Dec.) and DS4 (will be 5). I want it to be everything it can be, but I also don't want to miss a THING as far as my kid's expressions, comments, etc.

I want to tell you to do the same thing I am telling myself. Plan now, sit back and enjoy the show while you're there! Go with the flow, and go on the kids' whims! If we're too concerned about getting to everything on our lists and keeping on schedule, we're going to miss something!

Can't wait to hear how your trip was! ENJOY your lifelong dream come true! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Amy

 

[Jacksmom99]

Great start on the TR! Welcome to the Dis and I can't wait to read more!

My DH and I will be arriving shortly after you (8/13-8/18) for our 10th anniversary-kid free trip.

Have fun!!!

 

[50 years Too!]

Isn't it amazing how much there is to consider once you find the DIS!
I'm excited to hear how it went.
Lucky you with Uncle working there. Now if I could just talk my parents into moving from Oregon.....

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

What a fun report. I too became obsessed with planning after I found this site. There is so much helpful infomation. I cant wait to hear the rest of your report.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

This is exactly how I felt when I first found the DIS Nothing like a big slap in the face with exactly how naively undisneyfied we are! Thank God for DIS and all the wonderful DISers.

I have a couple of friends who will be visiting Disney at the same time as my family and they too are tired of hearing about the planning process. I am a planner and they hate to plan (it takes the fun out of vacation they say). In fact this is what I get for mentioning WDW . I tell them fine don't listen to the wonderful advise of my fellow Disers, don't plan anything ahead, just don't be mad at me when your spontaneous trip doesn't turn out to be as fun as you thought.

To each his own, have fun at the World!

 

[swprincess]

Add more! You're planning experiences are quite interesting. *wink* I think you have everything there is to do. But then again, my mom is always the one to plan the trips.