DONE 7/28!! My Life on the DVC Blacklist - an August '09 Pre-Trip.

[Hedy]

V, your fuzzy math is amazing.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

What’s worse is that I’ll soon be doing it… as PART OF MY JOB!!! Good grief.

Now THAT could be entertaining. I can't imaging having to do that for my job. "Today I fixed a blackberry. Then I fixed another one. And then I fixed two more. And then I ate."

For starters, there’s been a little change in resort.

Well I for one am shocked! That the trip plans have changed was completely a surprise!

Heretofore, my longest stay was 6 nights/ 6 days. And it was great! We never felt the need to rush around seeing “everything” and had a ton of downtime. V likes downtime. So does Leo.

This is one thing I also looking forward to. My first trip with built in down time.

With no clear front-runner, I settled down for some serious number and ambience crunching.

This is not a matter to be taken lightly! In our case, DD, age 6, looked at photos of multiple resorts and absolutely feel IN LOVE with the hippy dippy pool. Thus to Pop we go. Which is good cause it fits our budget.

Fuzzy Resort Crunching With V

You know, that could be a new show on the Travel Channel.

Nope. For July 30-Aug. 2, there was availability at every single resort, in every single room category. Holy carp – it’s a wonder this state even has a pulse with tourism down that much!

Yeah, I'm wondering what to expect this summer when it comes to crowds.

And, lucky day, a Standard View Garden Wing was available last week for a cost just less than what I’m paying at a discount at the Poly!

Now that's just plain nifty.

So, as of today, we’re booked for three nights at CR, followed by five nights at AKV. I think the two resorts make for a nice contrast, essentially giving us two vacations in one. The Big Picture shows us feeling pampered and spoiled as we release the weighty stress of school and work from our shoulders and melt into vacation bliss. Oh yes, I can see it perfectly. Coming soon: More planning with Leo, Spreadsheets are the Devil, and Restaurant Roulette.

Are we laying odds yet on whether this will be the final "modification".

Looking forward to more! Have a great time trip planning & fuzzy mathing!

 

[jcc0621]

Well I for one am shocked! That the trip plans have changed was completely a surprise!

Is this the first time you are reading one of V's reports J/K V LY/MI

This is not a matter to be taken lightly! In our case, DD, age 6, looked at photos of multiple resorts and absolutely feel IN LOVE with the hippy dippy pool. Thus to Pop we go. Which is good cause it fits our budget.

My DS Loves the Hippy Dippy too

You know, that could be a new show on the Travel Channel.

Awesome idea

 

[Philadisney]

Here’s where Leo comes in. Wanting him to feel a part of the planning, I narrowed it down to the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary and asked him which he liked better.

His answer? “I like them equally.”

V: “Yeah, but we can only pick one. Which do you think we should stay at?”
Leo: “You decide Mommy. I trust you!”

So much for letting Leo feel a part of the planning!

Wow, Leo is well trained! Let's see if he'll have that same "I trust you Mommy" attitude in ten years

 

[PrincessAlways]

Well V.....I do love your fuzzy resort crunching!!! It sounds good to me! I've only stayed 7 nights one time. All the other trips were 4-5 nights. I'll have to try a longer stay again sometime.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

This… random thoughts dispelled at random times… feels an awful lot like blogging. Twittering. Facebooking. And all those other “ings” that mean “I’m so narcissistic that I want the entire world to know that I’ve just treated my dog for fleas and will soon be heading to the store for pimple cream.”





Hey – I’m allowed to poke fun.
Know why?
Because I do it, too.

But you don't have a dog. Or pimples.

Anyway, I digress. I’m here to tell you about what’s been happening with our Aug. WDW trip plans.

For starters, there’s been a little change in resort.

With no clear front-runner, I settled down for some serious number and ambience crunching. Yes, ambience crunching. Numbers aren’t everything – I need the place to feel right. Remember? Big Picture. Just how would any given resort fit into the trip – how might one enhance the experience over another - based on the time of year we’re going, the people with whom we’ll spend some time, the parks we’ll visit, the meals we’ll eat (which is a WHOLE ‘nother saga – aren’t you glad you signed on to this thing?!), and the secondary resort at which we’ll stay. You might want to think of it as Fuzzy Crunching.

oohhh, I like that one.

I was feeling pretty good about how quickly I’d whittled down my options… until I realized that still left me 10 regular resorts and 6 DVC resorts to crunch Fuzzily!

Seriously? 10?

Next round – AKL and AKV were eliminated. Because we’ll already be there for five nights and I wanted something different for these three.

Makes sense.

At that point, I thought upon the situation for a few days, mulling the choices around and trying to get a vision of what our trip might look like at each.

I LOVE MULLING!!!! Just call me cinnamon and plop me in some cider.

It hit me then – I should go online and see what availability was even left at that point; that might narrow the options considerably!

Also very sensible.

Nope. For July 30-Aug. 2, there was availability at every single resort, in every single room category.

And I was still at a loss. So the Fuzzy Crunching got serious. It was time to consider minute details…

Minutia is almost as good as mulling.

The Contemporary – Leo and I just love this place, from the monorail sailing through it, to the lakeside location, to the Bauhaus-esque design aesthetic (yes, Leo enjoys Art History, too). First time we stayed there was just after they’d begun room renovations and we got a brand-new room in the South Garden Wing. Leo took three steps in and said “Mommy THIS is a nice hotel room!” And he was right – it was so soothing and comfy and relaxing in there. And, despite its lack of theme, we enjoyed the pool very much.

Here’s where Leo comes in. Wanting him to feel a part of the planning, I narrowed it down to the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary and asked him which he liked better.

His answer? “I like them equally.”

What a great kid.

V: “Yeah, but we can only pick one. Which do you think we should stay at?”
Leo: “You decide Mommy. I trust you!”

Awwwww......

And, lucky day, a Standard View Garden Wing was available last week for a cost just less than what I’m paying at a discount at the Poly!

That’s how I’m rationalizing it. I’m hoping for an Annual Pass discount before July, but if I can’t get one, I’m okay knowing I’m still paying less than the Poly at a discounted rate.

Fuzzy Disney Math at its finest, folks.

Well done!

And I totally didn't see CR coming. You may not have fooled me with the resort change, but you got me with your pre-DVC choice. Now....will we see changes there????

 

[cmp1111]

My heart melted a little at Leo's "planning."

I'm glad you got what you wanted, especially at a good Fuzzy Math price.

 

[lovemyblt]

I love it! I too am looking forward to 9 LONG and slow paced (well okay I don't do slow paced at Disney ) days in the Magic.
I promised my DH and DS that we would smell SOME of the roses and enjoy our resort this time!

and the COntemporary AHHHHHHHHH I am so excited for you! I am hoping to get BLT towers in 2011.

 

[Sooze]

Awesome update, V! Just loved hearing your reasons to like/not like each resort!! So happy you chose CR, even with Leo's "input"

We are about to take our longest trip ever... 6 nights. Can't wait til we can pull a 10-12 nighter some day!!

 

[Trentmom]

Fuzzy Resort Crunching at it is finest


WOO HOOTY for staying at the Contemporary

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Oooohhh! I highly approve of your fuzzy decision - Contemporary is a clear winner. I've been crunching the numbers with the awesome Garden Wing rates myself. You can't beat the location/newly renovated rooms/price. Then again... if you added on 3 days at the end of your trip, I'm sure you'd be able to get member discount cash nights at BLT... I'm just sayin'... Plus, your trip might overlap Janet's by a day or so. (I think - don't remember everyone's exact dates right now.)

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Dude, I'm going to pull out all my crafty tricks and make you a "Disney's Wheel-O-Resorts".


I'm ready for the next installment.

 

[lazydoxy66]

I bow to the Queen of fuzzy math.

 

[englishrose47]

I bow to the Queen of fuzzy math.

Me too Oh Queen of Fuzzy Math!

 

[DisneyJo]

V do you tweet?

I love how Leo trusts your opinion, make the most of it as that will change

 

[PrincessV]

Hae you stayed in the new Pirate Rooms yet?

Not yet. To be honest, I'm not so sure i like them... I loved the artist renderings, but not so much the real deal.

V, your fuzzy math is amazing.

Thank you!

Now THAT could be entertaining. I can't imaging having to do that for my job. "Today I fixed a blackberry. Then I fixed another one. And then I fixed two more. And then I ate."

You know, that could be a new show on the Travel Channel.

Ooo, that would be fun!

Are we laying odds yet on whether this will be the final "modification".

Nah - too easy!

Is this the first time you are reading one of V's reports

So true!

Wow, Leo is well trained! Let's see if he'll have that same "I trust you Mommy" attitude in ten years

I wouldn't count on it; it's faltering even now!

I've only stayed 7 nights one time. All the other trips were 4-5 nights.

That's us, too. For a long time, my usual was 2-3 nights, and it was good, but 6 or more is a whole other kind of trip!

Seriously? 10?

I think so - using Fuzzy Math, anyway!

I LOVE MULLING!!!! Just call me cinnamon and plop me in some cider.

I love that!

And I totally didn't see CR coming. You may not have fooled me with the resort change, but you got me with your pre-DVC choice.

Really? I guess I don't talk about it much, but it was one of my all-time favorite stays, even though it was only for 1 night!

Now....will we see changes there????

Anything's possible!

I'm glad you got what you wanted, especially at a good Fuzzy Math price.

Thanks, me too! Those Std. Garden Wing rooms are few and far between.

I promised my DH and DS that we would smell SOME of the roses and enjoy our resort this time!

You'll be sooo glad you did!

We are about to take our longest trip ever... 6 nights. Can't wait til we can pull a 10-12 nighter some day!!

10-12 sounds like heaven, doesn't it?!

Fuzzy Resort Crunching at it is finest

Thanks - I do try!

Oooohhh! I highly approve of your fuzzy decision - Contemporary is a clear winner. I've been crunching the numbers with the awesome Garden Wing rates myself. You can't beat the location/newly renovated rooms/price.

Exactly! I've never stayed in the Tower, but I suspect I'd still prefer the Garden Wing - I like being away form all the action in our hotel.

Then again... if you added on 3 days at the end of your trip, I'm sure you'd be able to get member discount cash nights at BLT... I'm just sayin'... Plus, your trip might overlap Janet's by a day or so. (I think - don't remember everyone's exact dates right now.)

I know - I wish I could! But Leo goes to his Dad that weekend.

Dude, I'm going to pull out all my crafty tricks and make you a "Disney's Wheel-O-Resorts".

BWAHAHAHA!!! Do it and bring it to WDW - can't you see us in the Turf Club, sucking back Mojitos and spinning the Wheel of Doom?!

I bow to the Queen of fuzzy math.

Me too Oh Queen of Fuzzy Math!

Oooo, I like that, lol! If only my bank saw things the same way...

V do you tweet?

NOOOO!!! But how much you want to bet that'll be my next job responsibility?!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Ok, I'm late, but I'm always late for everything.

I always LOVE the V Fuzzy Disney Math , and now she's even stimulating the Orlando economy by keeping the MS folks in a guaranteed job.

Love Leo's planning. He know that his Mama knows best!

I thought you might go for a Caribbean Pirate room. Have y'all done that yet?

Oh, and I'm sure your FB status statements would really rock!

Glad to see you back at what you do best V!

 

[Lauralee131]

I LOVE MULLING!!!! Just call me cinnamon and plop me in some cider.

Hmmm...was this before or after MY Cinnamon??

Dude, I'm going to pull out all my crafty tricks and make you a "Disney's Wheel-O-Resorts".

I love it!!

BWAHAHAHA!!! Do it and bring it to WDW - can't you see us in the Turf Club, sucking back Mojitos and spinning the Wheel of Doom?!

Ok, you owe me a new keyboard! Diet Coke EVERYWHERE

 

[PrincessV]

Hmmm...was this before or after MY Cinnamon??

Oh dude - DED! If you won't do a TR, you've got to make a guest appearance when I get to that part here and tell the Tale of Cinnamon!

 

[PrincessV]

Ok, I'm late, but I'm always late for everything.

Hi Allie!

I thought you might go for a Caribbean Pirate room. Have y'all done that yet?

I haven't - I'm still unsure about them. I really liked the artist renderings, but the pics I've seen of the real deal? Meh.