"Do You Mind?" - Disney Adventures with Teens August Trip Report

[NMAmy]

And so the parallels continue! Chris is not Katie's dad. He is her stepdad! (She calls him "Dude". Remind me later and I will share that story.)

Anyway, can we be any MORE alike?

Okay, now it's getting spooky. Caitlin has always referred to DH as "my Alex." As in, "I have my Mom, my Dad, and my Alex."

 

[swwake]

I have always claimed that I hate to research. Well, when it's for work (Internal Revenue Code, Accounting and Auditing Standards), it's NOT fun! But when it's for pleasure, I enjoy it - to a point.

DH will tell you from his experience in building our house two years ago that I am not one to be comfortable with many options. For example, when it comes to what color to paint the walls in our house, he had to go to the paint store, get the color wheel, and narrow it down to three or fewer options for me to give input on. Any more than three, and I am completely overwhelmed and I think it's a waste of my time.

Back in Late October, when Katie and I started looking at the WDW vacation, the first thing I did, of course, was log onto disneyworld.com. Makes sense, right? BEAUTIFUL, interactive website. Magical! So I was hooked. I clicked along and found myself in the section where you plan your own vacation. There it hit me. WAY too many options. On property or off property? Drive or fly? Dining plan or no dining plan? If dining plan, which one? (there are 4!!) Park hopper or no park hopper? Water fun and more or not? DME or rent a car? And that doesn't even consider the initial questions of who is going and when!!

So I immediately fired off an email to my friend Melissa, who went to WDW with her family back in August '07. I asked her what the heck am I supposed to do with all of these options?!?! I am totally overwhelmed. Someone, PLEASE, give me 3 options! Oh my.

Somehow I got past that. I think I just backed up and slowed down a bit. I talked to Melissa about her choices and recommendations. I purchased several books "Unofficial Guide", "Zagat's", "Luxury Guide to WDW", "Passporters WDW", another book I have forgotten now (the guy who does the hidden mickey guides). I think that's it. (Plenty, huh?)

Then of course I ordered the Disney Vacation Planning DVD. We had that before Thanksgiving and I made the family watch it with me. Then when Mom visited for Thanksgiving, I made her watch it with me. Then I ordered one to be delivered to my sister and her family.

Then it's on to the virutal world. I found the touring plans site from the Unofficial Guide. Then I found AllEars.net. Somehow stumbled into DIS, which I am loving (obviously). From here, I've heard about Passporter and Tour Guide Mike. So I just recently joined both of those. Melissa sent me a nice list of sites. I have checked out Mousesavers.com, but haven't been able to find anything applicable to us just yet. I just joined AAA, so I'm hoping that I get to login to that site soon (hoping for some killer deals on car rentals for our trip). And I still have a daily habit of logging on to Disneyworld.com. I just like to see when it says

"Your next vacation is 193 days away!

Can't wait to see you real soon!"

Lately, I've been hitting nwa.com checking the fares, as well as my obsession with Southwest waiting for them to release ANY Fares after August 3, 2008. I have also sporadically checked Kayak and Expedia.

Somehow it no longer seems overwhelming. And at those times I do get overwhelmed, I just take a break and visit the food porn thread for awhile. Chris laughs at me when he "catches" me viewing the food porn, but it's my little private escape!

Anyway, so I don't think anyone could claim that I won't be well-prepared for this little vacation of ours, right?

NEXT UP: DREAMING OF DISNEY?http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22976014&posted=1#post22976014http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22976014&posted=1#post22976014http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22976014&posted=1#post22976014

 

[dddisrunner]

WOW! I just found your Pre-TR from your post on my Pre-TR! You are doing a terrific job on your report! i am also celebrating my 10th anniversary this year! Your daughter is beautiful! I loved reading about all your plans and how your trip came about! I am looking forward to more!
Diane

 

[becca011906]

Somehow it no longer seems overwhelming. And at those times I do get overwhelmed, I just take a break and visit the food porn thread for awhile. Chris laughs at me when he "catches" me viewing the food porn, but it's my little private escape!
Wings

Isn't it great!!! I love food porn, but it doesn't help with the diet thing, oh well.... maybe i'll get bad down next year before vaction!!! OR maybe it will remind me that I can eat all this great stuff on vacation, just avoid it till then!!!

 

[Donald is #1]

Dining Plan - Well, ready for another story? This weekend, I took a look at our plans for all of our TS meals. I had already mapped out an itinerary, with a nice TS meal for each night. I had decided to swap out bluezoo for Flying Fish (if we could fit it in the budget), based on some amazing reviews, and since we can walk to either one. So I'm doing the whole budget analysis (it's what I do best ), and I think - we are spending our 7 TS credits on a bunch of 2-credit restaurants and we will be out of pocket a bunch!

Brainstorm! What if I switch to DxDDP and we will have enough TS credits for everything we want, with some leftover! So I run the numbers on that. Then I run it with bluezoo (not DDP) vs. Flying Fish (DDP). Then I go over it with DH for a sanity check. He catches a few flaws in the math. We correct them. Then I run the numbers again, substituting DDP onto some 1-credit meals and paying OOP for some of the less expensive 2-credit meals. After all the math, I ultimately determine that in order for the DDP to save us money, all five of us will have to order the most expensive items on the menus in our chosen restaurants, PLUS dessert (which we don't often eat), PLUS try to spend the MAX ($4) on our snacks! Well, with two picky teenagers, it is unlikely that they will eat alot on any of the TS menus. I'm guessing chicken fingers and macaroni may be the Dinner of Champions every day!

So, at the end of a long day of "figgerin' ", I decided to drop the DDP. Yes, it breaks my heart, because I have planned so much around it, but it had to be done. Anyway, we all agree that this opens up more options for dining on the go, rather than being tied to TS so much.

Hmmm, very interesting to see that you ran into the same problem with DDP that I did with regards to cost. For my November trip, I had to add in desserts for all lunches and dinners just to make it closer and it was still cheaper without the DDP. Like you, we normally wouldn't be eating dessert so much.


That's cool that you found a way to bring your daughter BFF!

 

[swwake]

WOW! I just found your Pre-TR from your post on my Pre-TR! You are doing a terrific job on your report! i am also celebrating my 10th anniversary this year! Your daughter is beautiful! I loved reading about all your plans and how your trip came about! I am looking forward to more!
Diane

Thanks for the compliments. Welcome aboard! I know we are sharing our 10 year anniversary years - which is why I have been enjoying following your PTR. Thanks again for the compliments on my little princess . She is just the tiniest little thing - most of the time weighing in at 87 lbs. She is a sophomore, so one of the smallest in her class. She's about 5'2" I think. But I was always stick-thin, so I can see where she gets it. She's lucky though - she has lots of self-esteem (unlike I did) and she LOVES being so tiny. Hope you can hang in there and I won't bore you to death!

Isn't it great!!! I love food porn, but it doesn't help with the diet thing, oh well.... maybe i'll get bad down next year before vaction!!! OR maybe it will remind me that I can eat all this great stuff on vacation, just avoid it till then!!!

That is exactly my philosopy! I am doing SBD until I get to my goal weight, then planning to live the SB Lifestyle until WDW. Then - ANYTHING GOES! The food porn helps in deciding some of the restaurants we want to try out.

Hmmm, very interesting to see that you ran into the same problem with DDP that I did with regards to cost. For my November trip, I had to add in desserts for all lunches and dinners just to make it closer and it was still cheaper without the DDP. Like you, we normally wouldn't be eating dessert so much.


That's cool that you found a way to bring your daughter BFF!

Yeah, I just can't get the DDP to pan out for us. I think it would work if everyone in the party was a big eater, but I know these girls won't be. And DH and I would prefer a good appetizer to dessert almost any day. I can't imagine eating a relatively unhealthy breakfast of pastries, etc., then having dessert with lunch, likely an ice cream or similar snack, then dessert with dinner. As much as I chocolate, I just can't see us eating that much sugar in a day - much less for 8 days straight!

And, both Katie and Caitlin are getting very excited and I'm REAL excited to see that!

 

[swwake]

So, I've been having dreams about WDW. And that would be just great...EXCEPT that they haven't necessarily been the GOOD kind of dreams. They must represent some sort of anxiety, but I can't imagine what - with the vacation still 188 days away. Maybe it's because we're getting close to "D-day" for ADRs and La Nouba tickets?

So what have I dreamed, you ask? Well, Friday night, I got home from a business trip to Palm Springs around Midnight. DH and I briefly talked about plans for Saturday. I had to work. He was taking DD to lacrosse practice, then going out to ride his dirt bike at the track for the afternoon.

That night I dreamed that I go SO at DH because we were at WDW and it was about the third day and we hadn't made it to ANY of the theme parks yet because he kept going out and riding his dirt bike in the afternoons! Hmmm...any dream interpreters out there? Ideas on what this might mean?

So then last night, I dreamed that we were in a cab in Orlando. For whatever reason, it was just me and DD, along with some other random family. Now that would be fine (I guess?), except that this other family had two SNAKES!! And on top of that, they were poisonous! One was a cobra and they kept holding it up and blowing on it to get it to flare out those wing things on its head and neck. I was just petrified that the things would bite Katie, then me. I was mostly worried about Katie. The family kept saying that it was alright, they were friendly, and they wouldn't bite me, but I was scared to death! And all I kept thinking was "these snakes can smell fear! they are GOING to bite one of us!" Katie was keeping her cool the whole time but I was so scared. I startled out of the dream and woke myself up. I think maybe I was getting too much sleep or something. The weird thing is that we don't plan to use a cab in Orlando.

Alright, so let's talk about the trip. Things that have happened in the past three days since I last posted.

1 - WDW has released the calendar for August. It shows all the park hours, EMHs, parades, fireworks and shows. More analysis for me to do! I want to check out a couple of websites for their recommended days to visit each park and NOT to visit each park and roughly plan our days around that.

2 - La Nouba has opened up the August calendar. I have just been waiting and waiting for this, thinking that I just might be able to buy our tickets on February 1st instead of the 14th (which is 180 days before we plan to see the show) once the August calendar was accessible. Well, I tried, and it wouldn't let me buy tickets for that date. I'm not crazy about the site logistics. It allowed me to select seat location, enter my CC#, etc., before it said "there are no seats available in that category. check another date." Which, I think, is a misleading message.

No way I'm going to just go enter my CC# for another date and wait to see if it goes through or I get a message. These tix are nonrefundable! I want to get the best seats we can get, but I think I'll wait until the 14th (if that's the day - I need to recalculate it) and then try again. Or I may just buy the tickets by phone.

3 - Southwest opened up their seats after August 3rd and until the 22nd (I think). Even though we've already bought our tix, I wanted to double check their prices, to reassure myself what a great deal we got on our NWA tickets out of Memphis. Well, I did and we did. The lowest SW tickets are around $282, as I expected. So no more checking Southwest.

4 - I bought some Astrobrights paper to use when I assemble my WDW Vacation Binder. Not sure when I'll get to that. Maybe next weekend.

5 - Mom mentioned she'd like to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour. She wants to see the tunnels underground (which are actually not underground. They are on the 1st floor and the visible part of MK is actually the 2nd floor! A bit of WDW trivia for ya there!). These are called "utilidoors". The tour lasts 4.5 to 5 hours and costs $60 per person. So Mom was thinking of maybe taking that tour while the rest of us are at one of the water parks one day.

We have talked about this before, as they have offered this tour (or a similar one) as long as I can remember. We just never felt like we had the time to take out of our vacation to do the tour. Or maybe it was because DD was always too young to take.

Talked to DH today and he said HE would like to also take the tour. He likes to know how things evolved and how they work. I have wanted to take the tour in the past, but for some reason I'm not finding myself so interested in it this time. But once DH said he wanted to go, then I wanted to go.

So I'm thinking maybe the girls would like to go too. And if not, maybe they'd like the day to do their own thing. But, while I have always figured they would go off by themselves from time to time during the trip, I was thinking that may be only for a couple of hours, and never too far from wherever we'll be. This would be from 5 to 7 hours away from us and I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that.

So I looked it up in one of my books and...dangit!...the tour does not allow anyone under 16 to go. Now DD will be 16 - perfect! But DD's BFF will only be 15. So I asked Katie if they'd feel comfortable without the adults around for most of a day and she said "we'd probably be fine". Not entirely confident, but not apprehensive either.

Then when I told DH that it's a 4.5 to 5 hour tour and that DD's BFF couldn't go, he said he's not sure he wants to spend that kind of time on the tour either. Maybe he and Mom can go on the tour and I can hang out with the girls. Maybe we'll go to Bibbity Bobbity Boutique and get all made up! Just kidding.

So that latest dilemma is just something I'll have to keep thinking about. I may call WDW and ask them if we can get permission to take DD's BFF on the tour, since I will be with her and acting as her guardian. But then there's still the question of whether any or all of us want to take that much time out of our vacation for the tour.

6 - Other things recently and currently on my mind:
a. possible surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon
b. renting bicycles at BC and riding around WDW
c. maybe renting the speed boats one afternoon
d. checking out the wakeboarding (remind me to add to this later)
e. Tony's Town Square (Caitlin says she likes Italian and I want to try to pick at least one restaurant especially for her. Maybe we'll have lunch there one day.)
f. Dole Whips (I really want to try this!)
g. trying to fit in all the fireworks shows. I think I want to see Wishes up close (in addition to the vista from CG at the Contemporary) because I want to see Tinkerbell's flight
h. Goofy's Candy Company (is that what it's called?) - I just want to make sure we at least stop by there.
i. making a list of "must sees" and a list of "if we have time see/do"

NEXT UP: TO DO LIST FOR TODAYhttp://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23112611&posted=1#post23112611http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23112611&posted=1#post23112611http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23112611&posted=1#post23112611

 

[dreamer17555]

Disney is really strict about the age for the tour. Sorry. I think the girls could be in a park together for that long, though just because I am a paranoid mom I wouldn't want them in a Waterpark- between water accidents and being in a bikini around guys I can just think of about a million reasons why that could turn out bad. Disney quest is a ton of fun and might work instead.

-Becca-

 

[creativeamanda]

I can't believe I'm subscribing to another PTR. But, I am.

 

[swwake]

Disney is really strict about the age for the tour. Sorry. I think the girls could be in a park together for that long, though just because I am a paranoid mom I wouldn't want them in a Waterpark- between water accidents and being in a bikini around guys I can just think of about a million reasons why that could turn out bad. Disney quest is a ton of fun and might work instead.

-Becca-

Thanks for the info. I kinda figured they'd be strict about it. I am going to have to just keep thinking about it. I think the girls could just hang around the Boardwalk and Epcot for the few hours. I may still decide to hang back with them. I would send them to DisneyQuest, but we don't want to miss that ourselves!

I can't believe I'm subscribing to another PTR. But, I am.

Welcome!! I hope you enjoy!

 

[dddisrunner]

You have been very busy! We looked at the deluxe plan for about 10 minutes and then realized that it was just way too much food and very hard to get your moneys worth! So, bummer about your DD's friend not being old enough for the tour If you get a chance to do one of the water parks, go for it we had such a blast at Bizzard Beach last year! Can't wait to find out what's next!

 

[dreamer17555]

Thanks for the info. I kinda figured they'd be strict about it. I am going to have to just keep thinking about it. I think the girls could just hang around the Boardwalk and Epcot for the few hours. I may still decide to hang back with them. I would send them to DisneyQuest, but we don't want to miss that ourselves!

I personally loved Disney Quest, that being said me and my friend did a full day there and were terribly sick all night from a nonstop day of motion simulators (we are thrill and spin junkies- totally didn't think the simulators could mess you up so bad). It didn't catch up to us until we stopped and laid down and then we were dizzy with headaches all night. So warning to the wise: Disney Quest in small doses!

-Becca-

 

[swwake]

Your next vacation is 184 days away!

Yippee!

I can make ADRs on Monday. I got an email reminder today from Stitch Kingdom reminding me to be ready for my ADRs. I plan to get up Monday morning, log in and purchase our La Nouba tickets, then call and make our ADRs. The most important one will be California Grill.

Also, I've been researching places to dance. More on that later.

Also, I have hit a nice LOW on my scale this morning! More Yippees!!

 

[swwake]

You have been very busy! We looked at the deluxe plan for about 10 minutes and then realized that it was just way too much food and very hard to get your moneys worth! So, bummer about your DD's friend not being old enough for the tour If you get a chance to do one of the water parks, go for it we had such a blast at Bizzard Beach last year! Can't wait to find out what's next!

Yeah, that DxDDP is too much. In fact, we feel that the DDP may be too much for us. We have a plan for the tour day. More on that later. Oh, we plan to do both water parks. We are excited about that. I think we're going to try the early morning surf lessons at Typhoon Lagoon. More on that later as well.

I personally loved Disney Quest, that being said me and my friend did a full day there and were terribly sick all night from a nonstop day of motion simulators (we are thrill and spin junkies- totally didn't think the simulators could mess you up so bad). It didn't catch up to us until we stopped and laid down and then we were dizzy with headaches all night. So warning to the wise: Disney Quest in small doses!

-Becca-

We are excited about Disney Quest. We all want to go there. They were building it the last time we visited. Point taken on the motion sickness. We will try to take it easy.

 

[swwake]

ADR and LaNouba reservations window is quicky approaching, so I have lots to do today. Thought I'd make a list (borrowing the idea from another DISer).

* Work with Katie to create our rough daily itinerary
* Use the TGM and UG crowd calendar for the above
* Revisit ADR selections
* Match ADR selections to appropriate days based on our itinerary
* Research - can we make surf lesson and MK tour reservations tomorrow too?
* Make a list of items we need for DDBFF and discuss with her Mom

Non-vacation to-do items for today:
* Get VIN and prepare to register and insure Katie's car tomorrow
* Grocery shopping
* Bed Bath and Beyond - pick up a couple of things with my Christmas gift cards
* Clean out a couple drawers
* Program new phones and record ans machine message DONE! (We just cancelled most features on our home phone to save $50/month, so I bought a new phone system with answering machine and four handsets.)
* Put away Christmas gifts (yes, I'm running a little late - been sitting in bags in our bedroom for over a month) DONE!
* Order Metromint. I love this stuff and I order it by the case online. We are almost out b/c I have been sharing with DH and DD. Same price to have it shipped as to buy at the store, and they never have enough at the store.
* Order some sandals and flip flops from Glass & Powder's 50% off sale. My favorite boardshop, and my friends own it.
* Help DH and DD decide if they will join our friends on a spring break snowboarding trip to NC.

So there's my list. Let's see if I can get it all done.

NEXT UP: ADR PLANS - INFORMATION OVERLOADhttp://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23124027&posted=1#post23124027http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23124027&posted=1#post23124027http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23124027&posted=1#post23124027

 

[Bonnie Grumme]

I finally joined this site and all I can say is WOW! I will start posting my own blog soon, but probably not today, although I'm tempted. I have many other things on my 2-do list for today. Anyway, I love reading all of your plans. And again, I say "Whew"! Maybe, even "Wheweeeeeee!!!!"
TTYL

 

[Bonnie Grumme]

x

 

[becca011906]

Susan, that's a great todo list!!!! maybe you'll get farther through yours then i did on mine...

 

[dddisrunner]

ADR and LaNouba reservations window is quicky approaching, so I have lots to do today. Thought I'd make a list (borrowing the idea from another DISer).

* Work with Katie to create our rough daily itinerary
* Use the TGM and UG crowd calendar for the above
* Revisit ADR selections
* Match ADR selections to appropriate days based on our itinerary
* Research - can we make surf lesson and MK tour reservations tomorrow too?
* Make a list of items we need for DDBFF and discuss with her Mom

Non-vacation to-do items for today:
* Get VIN and prepare to register and insure Katie's car tomorrow
* Grocery shopping
* Bed Bath and Beyond - pick up a couple of things with my Christmas gift cards
* Clean out a couple drawers
* Program new phones and record ans machine message DONE! (We just cancelled most features on our home phone to save $50/month, so I bought a new phone system with answering machine and four handsets.)
* Put away Christmas gifts (yes, I'm running a little late - been sitting in bags in our bedroom for over a month) DONE!
* Order Metromint. I love this stuff and I order it by the case online. We are almost out b/c I have been sharing with DH and DD. Same price to have it shipped as to buy at the store, and they never have enough at the store.
* Order some sandals and flip flops from Glass & Powder's 50% off sale. My favorite boardshop, and my friends own it.
* Help DH and DD decide if they will join our friends on a spring break snowboarding trip to NC.

So there's my list. Let's see if I can get it all done

NEXT UP: ITINERARY AND ADR PLANS

Future topics:
Where Will We Lay Our Weary Heads?
Magic Our Way?
Planning for Sustenance
Family Buy-In
The Binder of All Binders
Itinerary and Planned Activities
If We Had Wings

Very productive! I would love to take surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon.....I'm jealous, have fun! Good luck with your ADR's hope you get all you want! Congrats on the numbers going down on the scale, thats AWESOME! Keep up the good work!

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

Greetings, neighbor! We love Austin (don't hate me, I'm not your typical Dallas-ite). Your pre-trip report is fantastic!