Dragging the Beast Back to the World... Grumble Grumble Gripe Gripe!

[marriedtothebeast]

So, our last trip to WDW was May of 2008. We did 8 days at POFQ on the Deluxe Dining Plan and LOOOOOVED it! But for some reason DH whom I affectionately refer to as the "Beast" was under the misguided impression that this would be our Big Disney Finale, the last Disney trip. Sheesh! I don't know where he got that idea, but it certainly wasn't from me!

So when we started talking vacations this year, my mind naturally went straight to Orlando. When I said Disney, he looked at me as if I had suggested we possibly take a trip to Mars. Yeah, the planet. Preposterous, right?

"I thought we were through with Disney World. Why do you love it so much anyway? You're like obsessed or something!"

Great. Thanks honey. I love you too, right?


But here's the thing. I do love Disney. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed. I often go weeks or even months without even looking at the DIS or at Allears or at Disney.com. So I wouldn't put myself anywhere near the obessed category, would you? But when I think vacation, I think: fun, relaxation, great food, comfortable environment. For me, Disney has all of these things.

You moms understand...
Planning a trip is a big job. Not that I mind it. It's a lot of fun, one of my favorite parts. But when I actually start the trip, I want the planning and coordinating to be over. That's why I love a Disney package! Hotel, transportation, tickets, dining plan (and reservations): all tied up neatly with a bow and paid ahead of time.

The Beast cast his vote for Pigeon Forge, TN. He still doesn't know that he has not and will not win this argument.

Here's where I stand:
Pigeon Forge is fine. Maybe even great! I've been there. Lot's to do and see. Lot's of great places to eat. Plenty of nice hotels or condos to choose from (although they aren't any cheaper than Disney). So what's my problem?
This vacation sounds like a lot of work for mom; that's my problem!

I don't want to have to purchase eighteen different sets of tickets for eighteen different shows/parks/attractions and keep up with which is for what. I don't want to have to plan a budget for meals etc. without knowing what's on the menu at the 85 various restaurants in the area and how much they cost and whether they are even any good... I don't want to have to try to navigate us around a city I am unfamiliar with to get from one activity to another, and then when we end up lost or late, it's my fault!

This is just the tip of the iceberg and I won't bore you with any more of my "mountain misgivings" but suffice it to say that we will not be spending our vacation dollars in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in 2010.

Now for the fun part... Convincing the Beast that Disney is BEST without making him want to strangle me. I'll let you know how that works out!

The Beast on Anniversary trip to Bahamas in 2008

DD practicing to be a diva when she grows up. Too bad she can't carry a tune in a bucket.

DS actually smiling in a non-vacation picture.

Just me.

 

[marriedtothebeast]

If you are following this Pre-Trippie, please bear with me as I work on getting it moved to the Pre-Trip Forum. It somehow ended up in the regular trip reports which is obviously not where it belongs.

So.....

I thought some introductions were in order.

My name is Amy. I have been a lurker on the DISboards for over 5 years, just reading trip reports and scanning for planning advice, stuff like that. I have soooo enjoyed the reports, especially the food porn threads! Almost feel like I know so many of the posters. So I wanted to try my hand at a report myself.

About me:

Age: 31
Location: southern Georgia, US
Profession: currently a stay-at-home mom but I have been in restaurant and hotel management, freelance journalism, and education

I have been married to the Beast since August of 2000. Our first child, DS Luke, was born in December of 2001. Second child, DD Josie, came along in December of 2003, turning the our world upside down! We call her Taz due to the high level chaos and disaster left in her wake... But she's sweet as pie and we wouldn't trade her for anything.

I included a few pics in the original post, so you already know what we all look like. You'll learn more about our individual personalities as this Pre-Trip Report unfolds. Here are a few more pics for your viewing pleasure...

This is the most recent pic of the kids, our Christmas card photo.

Me with my other baby, Henry, a shar-pei and boykin spaniel mix. He's grown a lot since this was taken right before Christmas though. It looks like he's going to be a monster!

DD in safety mode (ahem, asleep), resting on Daddy's chest. She used to sleep like this a lot when she was tiny, but I haven't been able to catch this shot in years, so I was thrilled to walk into the Family Room and find this a few days ago.

DS at Halloween. He was a boxer in case you couldn't tell... Don't worry, it's just makeup.

Chef Mickey's on our last trip to Disney. Hmmm... I look a lot like Minnie Mouse in this picture, right?

 

[mousetravel]

I'm subscribing to this! I am in SC, probably not far from you all. Can't wait to hear more, sounds fun!

ETA: I totally agree with your point on Pigeon Forge. We've been there a few times and love it! But it's true what you said about having to buy tickets for this, and that, and really, after you total all the costs of activities there and hotel, etc, Disney still seems to be a better bargain!!!!

 

[marriedtothebeast]

Thanks for joining me! This is my first Report and I was nervouse no one would be interested. Where are you in SC? When DH and I first married, we lived in Aiken, SC. In fact, DS was born there, and then we moved back to GA when he was 2 weeks old. That was one difficult move!

That's what I keep trying to tell DH about Pigeon Forge! And now that I am not working for Holiday Inn (long story, maybe I'll talk about it later), we don't get the hotel discount he was planning on either!

 

[mousetravel]

Thanks for joining me! This is my first Report and I was nervouse no one would be interested. Where are you in SC?

That's what I thought when I decided to do my trip report, that I'd spend a lot of time on it, and no one would be intersted. But I had a lot of readers and a lot of good responses!

I live in the Greenville area in the upstate.

Also, even in the past as I've went on Myrtle Beach trips, it's still about the same price to do Disney, just further to drive!

 

[marriedtothebeast]

I started a PTR for a trip that didn't happen back in February. I forgot about that!

I was planning at that time to "drag the Beast back to the World" in October. Well due to some job changes that I wasn't expecting, that did not happen and I forgot all about my report. So if any of you had read that origina post early in the year, sorry to just leave you hanging!

I had planned to save up the money myself and spring the trip on the whole family, including DH. Although that trip did not happen, the Beast and I did make a quick mini trip to WDW in May. We went down on a Thursday night and stayed until Sunday. The whole point of the trip was for me to attned open auditions for Disney Park stage performers. The audition was a bust ("based on your vocals, we could give you a callback, but we are not casting for your body type at this time" = "Sorry, we don't need any chubby princesses.") We stayed at The Doubletree in Downtown Disney. It was just the two of us and very short notice, so we didn't do the Dining Plan or any water parks, but it was a nice little escape from reality. I had just gotten a check for several freelance articles that were picked up by a local regional publication, so we spent it at Disney. But I don't really count that as our last trip to Disney because a) it was so short, b) we didn't take the kiddos and c) it was supposedly more business than pleasure. Although I didn't make the cut for Disney stage shows and I am not planning to try again (too old now I think), I AM trying to lose weight and get back into shape. So that will be part of my planning and preparing for this trip.

But I have decided I really love Disney in May! So May it shall be... The kids have CRCT at school the last week of April, which is a standardized test given in GA that is used to help gauge student and school success. I mostly think it is a load of crap since they take ITBS about halfway through the schoolyear, but the state of Georgia is BIG on the CRCT scores, so I can't have them miss any of that. But it makes a really long week of testing for the kids, so I was thinking we would head to Disney after the kids finish up all the testing on Friday. Actually, DD won't be tested because she is in Kindergarten and they don't start testing until 1st grade AND DS should be finished by Thursday because 2nd grade will only test math, language arts, and reading; so he won't have to test on the science or social studies testing days.

So I'm thinking we leave on Friday morning with the kids as if we are taking them to school as usual, then just keep going 'til we reach those magical gates!

Of course they will know something is up very shortly into the trip because their school is only about a mile from our home, but we can probably keep them guessing for a while, right?

Our 2008 trip we stayed at POFQ. To stay within a reasonable budget I'm pretty sure we are going to have to go Moderate again this time, but I am trying to decide if we want to go back to FQ or try something new this time. We really loved the homey feel of POFQ. I love that it's small and quiet. What I don't like is that the bus is shared with PORS. I'd love to try a Deluxe Resort this time, but Good Grief! The prices are soooo much higher than the mods and we really love the Deluxe DP because of the flexibility. Yes, it is too much food. Way too much food. But just because it's there, doesn't mean we have to eat it all. And we don't eat it all. But I like trying lots of different appetizers and entrees and desserts. And we would try all those things without the DDDP, so it really does save us money. And a lot lot lot of aggravation by having it all paid ahead of time. I just miss the tip included portion. I would be so awesome if Disney offered an option to ADD ON tip included to the DDP just so that it would be one less thing to think about. I am ALL ABOUT the "paid in advance" stuff!

May 2008 at Animal Kingdom

 

[coteau_chick]

I found you.

We stayed at two delux hotels at Disney before we stayed at PORS. I thought it felt like we had more room in PORS than in our room at AKL. I like the delux but you are right about the price being so much more and you are never really in your room long on a Disney vacation. We stayed at AKL and Boardwalk. We had to call the front desk to get a repair man to look at our AC at Boardwalk and he couldn't fix it. He said that was the best it could get. We were hot. I like to sleep with the AC cranked up and I was miserable. AKL was way more comfortable than BW but I really liked the PORS because it felt like we had more space. It is probabbly just my imagination but it did feel like that.


Your kids are sooooooooooooooooo cute. Sorry you didn't make it as a singing princess. Too bad for them. I can't wait to hear more about your plans.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hi! joining in...love to ride along for a planning adventure...seen you over on Laura's PTR.

I am currently planning our last (for a little bit, at least) trip to Disney...we just went this past May and DH thought we would not be returning for at least 5 years (which is our next trip after this one). I, too, would love to try a deluxe but cannot justify the cost difference. We have stayed at POFQ in the past and loved it...DH said it reminded of the New Orleans he like to visit (we are from just outside of NO and he hates to go there...crime too high for him...I think it has more to do with his teens years; too much partying). We, too, love Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area but I agree with you on the planning. We have not done the DDP, with my older kids it just worked out cheaper for us to go OOP and that way DS17 has enough food to keep him going

you have a beautiful family and I can't wait to plan along to see how your plans develop...we were thinking about May (along with a number of disser friends I have made in the last year) but, just wasn't in the cards. So, we are planning for Nov and the holiday decorations!!!

Connie

 

[marriedtothebeast]

Well, fellow Disers, I have good news and bad news...

The good news is:
We are still going to Disney. Yay!

The bad new is:
We are going in September instead of May. Boo!

I am about to start a new job. No more stay at home mom. Waah! Looking forward to making a paycheck again, but will not be eligible to take vacation time until July. And of course I want to go during a less crowded and value priced season, so September it shall be. Maybe we'll luck up and get a FREE DDP package!

I'll keep you posted as plans progress.

 

[disneylovin24]

Sorry your trip won't happen untill september, but just think! It will be all the more sweeter when you do go

 

[marriedtothebeast]

More good news!!

Although our trip has been postponed until September, and I was soooo ready to head back in May...

The consolation is this:

We get to stay longer! Or something.

The budget is bigger since I am now working again. All debt but one vehicle and the mortgage will be paid off within 3 months. So we will have waaaay more "expendable" income. So I am trying to decide how to set it up.

On option I'm looking at is doing a short Disney cruise along with the WDW vacation. Not really thinking about a "land and sea" PACKAGE because we just need more than 4 days in the parks. BUT. I am kicking around the idea of sticking with the 7 day vacay plan and just tacking on a 3 night cruise at the end... OR reverse it and cruise first then do WDW. What do you think?

Another option is to just extend the trip, maybe take a couple of days off to check out some other attractions (Seaworld, perhaps) and possibly upgrade our planned accommodations? I'd love the convenience of a monorail resort, so we'll see if the "more relaxed family budget" will be enough for me to justify the added expense... Hmmm...

Or we may just keep the trip the originally planned length, but add in some new experiences that we usually wouldn't fork over the hard-earned dough for. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for sticking with me!

 

[marriedtothebeast]

Just for fun... New hairdo...

I was going for something like a Vintage 1940's Golden Age of Hollywood type thing. What do you think?

 

[heaven2dc]

Love the new "do"! Disney definitely is missing out on an awesome princess by not signing you up.

Your kids are so adorable As far as what options for what you can do with your extra money and time, I would pick adding a 3-night cruise at the end of your 7 night WDW stay. It seems like a nice relaxing vacation after WDW plus if you want to head over to Sea World, you could do it within the 7 day time frame (not sure if renting a car for the day would work or if you would drive down and have use of your own car).

 

[marriedtothebeast]

I'm back again after a several week hiatus! Life has been FULL. Not of anything in particular, just FULL!

New job is going well. Kids are adjusting to afterschool daycare. Well, I say "are adjusting," they are really pretty much adjustED. I like to think it took them a few weeks to get used to not being picked up by dear old mom every day, but to be honest, it hasn't fazed them one bit. I feel so special.

The most exciting thing going on in my life right now is...

I got a new washer and dryer!! Yay!

You have no idea how truly excited I am about this! I have been using the same tired washer and dryer since the Beast and I got married in August of 2000. Finally the dryer quit drying clothes for the 4th time in 2 years and I REFUSED to have it repaired again. Yes, my friends, I put my foot down! I told the love of my life that if he wanted any of his clothes to be washed and dried by your truly, that a new, high efficiency washer and HUGE new dryer would be required. They were delivered within 3 hours!

I'm still playing around with some different possibilities for our September Disney trip. After going back and forth with it though, I am pretty sure we will go moderate again because it just seems such a waste to spend that much extra money on a deluxe resort when we hardly spend any time in the room! Maybe if it were just the two of us..., but with 2 kids just itching to go go go, see see see, and do do do; well it just doesn't make sense. But I have decided to definitely add a 3 day Disney cruise to the Bahamas at the end of our 8 day tour of the World. As pointed out by the previous poster, this will be a nice, slower paced, relaxing way to end our action packed Disney vacation. I am so excited. These next 6 months CANNOT go fast enough!

 

[SunnieRN]

As far as moderates, Coronado Springs has queen beds! The grounds are beautiful and both the quiet pools and the main pool are wonderful!

Are you aware that the deluxe resorts are priced differently? The wilderness lodge is the lowest price moderate, at least it was last year, and it may not be too large a difference in price from the moderates. Especially since you are going value season. Also if they change the dining plan as rumored, you would get the QSDP in values and mods and basic at deluxe. From my understanding, and I am not completely sure of this, you can only upgrade QS to basic, but can upgrade basic to deluxe.

If that is not enough to stew over, the WL has boats to the contemporary, poly and the Magic Kingdom (hence monorail), so you would only take bus service to two parks.

Special events, how about the epcot fireworks cruise. We are doing that this June and I can't wait! There is the princess tea at Grand Floridian and a pirate makeover at BBB along with princess makeovers now. Sept is also food and wine time! Yummo!!! DxDDP and food and wine may be overkill, but you can do signature restaurants on non food and wine days and 1 table sevice meals on F&W days.

Have a great time planning and the cruise sounds heavenly!

 

[15isto2]

Subscribing

 

[marriedtothebeast]

Last time I priced the deluxe resorts, AKL was the cheapest (if you can call any of them "cheap"). But the biggest draw for me to a deluxe would be monorail access. The rest of it I really don't care that much about. And we'd rather spend the extra money on Delux Dining Plan rather than Delux accommodations. Who knows what the Free DDP offer has in store this year? We are budgeting according to currently quoted online rates, and if the Free offer materializes, that will just be a bonus.
And what I understand about upgrading DDP is you pay the difference in the plan you select and the plan that is included in your package, so it is possible to upgrade from QS to Dx, just a bigger difference to pay. And who knows, if things go REALLY well in the next few weeks, we may just throw frugality to the wind and book the Polynesian anyway!

Thanks for all the feedback, suggestions, advice, encouragement, etc. You guys are great!

 

[TokyoDina]

Subbing! Sorry your trip didn't go over in May. I'm going then. But I'm sure it'll work out better for you guys then!

Where are you from in GA? I lived in Warner Robins for 7 years before I enlisted.

 

[marriedtothebeast]

More changes!!

Okay. I promise I will make up my mind at some point.
Really. I will.

So guess what I got?

Drumroll please...

I got me one of them there new fangled-y whatchamacallits: the (dum-da-da-dum!) Disney Rewards VISA!!

And the crowd goes wild!

So here's the NEW plan. Again.

We are doing a little short trip in May. Yes, really. Got the Disney Visa and read about the Kids Stay, Play, and Dine offer. And I'm needing my Disney fix SOOOOO bad! So we are going for 4 nights May 21-25. Staying at Pop Century and doing the QS Dining because it's included in the package. Quick trip. Few ADRs. Basic accommodations. But it's still Disney! I just couldn't stand it anymore.

We are suprising the kiddos. May 21 is their last day of school before summer vacation. Picking them up from school right after lunch and heading to Orlando. It takes us about 4 hours, so we will be there before dinner time. Speaking of which, I have made reservations for the Wishes Dessert Party in lieu of dinner that first night. It's a "School's Out, Let's Party!" kind of celebration. The only other ADRs I have are for Crystal Palace bkfst on Saturday morning to get us into the Magic Kingdom early (and cause the kids love it), and for Raglan Road on Monday night as a special treat for Mommy and Daddy - it's our fave. All three will be OOP because, as I said, we'll be on the Quick Service Dining. The plan generally is not a great deal, but when the kids get theirs for free, it's worth it.

So. Since we are doing the short trip next month. Yay, next month! Ahem, where was I? Oh yes, since we are doing the short trip in May, we have decided to push back the big trip until November. I can wait. This one should tide me over until then. Not really, because I always want to go back 3 minutes after returning home, but it'll have to do.

{{{THEN}}}

We are going all out for the big one in November! Deluxe resort (still a toss up between Contemporary and Poly), Deluxe Dining, 10 days plus a 3-day cruise at the end. I am having so much fun planning! It's gonna be AWESOME!!

 

[marriedtothebeast]

I keep forgetting to respond to TokyoDina's question. Sorry.

We are in Douglas, GA. That's south east of Warner Robbins. We are about 40 miles northeast of Valdosta, if you know where that is...

Also!! I am down 15 lbs from where I started back at the beginning of the PTR!! Yay for me!