Fall Breakin' in Disney. October 15-20. AKL.

[lazidazi07]

So..I’m back. Again. And for real this time. For anyone who read my last PTR in which I went MIA, my sincere apology. It didn’t really work out. That’s all I’ll say. Sorry for leaving it abandoned, I know I don’t like it when other people do. But life happens.

But I promise you I am back for the long haul this time and I’m so glad the last trip didn’t work out…because now I’m getting the trip I’ve been dreaming about for a while!

I'll introduce us all for now:

ME!-shanna. I'll go first because I'm the one calling the shots here. I'm a college sophmore [soon to declare my major as English Ed] at a wonderful university that I adore and I'm a happy member of my sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. I've been hooked on Disney ever since my grandparents whisked me away as an eight year old. [more on this later]. I kind of have an obsession with Streetmosphere, the Animation Academy, SpectroMagic and Dole Whips. Wishes makes me cry everytime.

DBro-taylor. he'll be turning seventeen on our trip. he's been all the other times with me except for my grad trip. he doesnt really remember much but is excited to be going again, especially for his birthday. i have a few tricks up my sleeve for this. he's kind of my best friend even though we can pick at each other for hours. he's in his kurt cobain phase right now, as in he thinks dressing grungy is cool and he listens to all that angsty music. Of course, hes looking forward to all the thrill rides.

DGpa - we'll call him Goofy. He's the best grandpa anyone could ever ask for. He's just a kid at heart and he loves making his grandkids excited about life and travels. My favorite thing he's ever told me is "Life's just a drive, no matter what kind of car you drive or what road you take. So you might as well roll down the windows and enjoy the breeze." He's always impressed with all the architecture and history of Disney. He mostly enjoys it by how fascinating it all is.

DGma - we'll call her Mary Poppins. She is a royal lady from the South. She loves being pampered and pampering others. She's my best friend. She's the queen and I'm the princess, we work in a team. She loves the luxury side of Disney, and is still in love with the Grand Floridian.

NEXT POST : back story and all the lovely details.

 

[lazidazi07]

BTW. Im planning on adding pictures from past trips to keep this PTR interesting, so I hope to not disappoint! And although, Ive started and completed another PTR I still consider myself a Disney newbie because I’ve been away from the boards for so long, its hard to keep up!

I had been scheming for a while to think of a way to get back to Disney. I’m a poor, broke, jobless, summer school attending college student, so Disney doesn’t fit into my budget much less any of my other poor, broke college student friends. So I assumed the only way I’d get back is to do the unimaginable. Ask my parents [who are my grandparents, FYI] to take me back to Disney.

I had started scheming for a while to think of the perfect way to ask. Do I drop subtle hints? Do I make a detailed powerpoint explaining all different options and plans [the most obvious for an OCD Disser as myself and others]?

Turns out, all it took was a simple email with a couple of pictures of AKL to my grandma and she replied “Looks beautiful. Fowarded to Grampa, he said Book It.”

My heart fluttered and my brain filled with ADR's. I came into town a few days later with 6 different packages planned out. Some with and without dining, etc. I wasnt sure how much they wanted to spend. But I knew my grandparents. When they go to Disney, they GO to Disney.

And FYI. Our first trip AK was being built, and we were dying to see it. Our second trip, we adored AK but AKL was being built and my grandma was dying to stay there. Her dream has always been to travel to Africa, but because of its current state and travel prices, its just not within reach. So this is her "africa trip" as she is calling it.

We finally decided on AKL Club Level, October 15-21, Park Hoppers and Basic Disney Dining. I tried to keep my composure, but it was all so exciting! I mean, Club Level! Quite a luxury I thought I would never get to experience again.

We're AAA members so we headed down to our local AAA travel agent. We had a wonderful, nice and polite travel agent who helped us. But all was about to be lost. There were no Club Level rooms available. At all.

So we ended up booking Savannah View. I'm still hoping for an opening. We REALLY REALLY want the Concierge Lounge and Sunset Safari..We'll be calling every week and hoping for an upgrade. Any experience with this anyone? Can anyone tell me how ALL the Club Level rooms [except the presidential suite, which came in at a whopping $13500 BEFORE tickets and dining] can be booked this week?!
We got an AMAZING price on Delta Airlines, and I mean amazing. $1200 roundtrip for 4 people. I got a quote from southwest around $2000, so I was very impressed. We'll be arriving at noon to be whisked away by Limo Service to AKL.

And yes, next installment: ADRS.

 

[katiebug86]

Yay am I the first one? It sounds like you guys are going to have a GREAT time. I am so glad I found someone on here my adge. My DBF and I are going for the first time (together) in December .. we wanted to stay in AKL, but we are broke college kids too so POPcentury for us. Oh well atleast it's Disney. I can't wait for more. I am subscribing.

 

[lazidazi07]

Yay am I the first one? It sounds like you guys are going to have a GREAT time. I am so glad I found someone on here my adge. My DBF and I are going for the first time (together) in December .. we wanted to stay in AKL, but we are broke college kids too so POPcentury for us. Oh well atleast it's Disney. I can't wait for more. I am subscribing.

Hey! im sooo jealous you get to go for christmas! it was between fall break and christmas but fall break just worked out better for us. Yeah, being broke sucks but when I stayed at ASMu last may i loved it better than our stay at CBR, i still wish I could get a stay in at Pop! Thanks for stopping by..looks like its just me and you right now!

 

[shaunaday]

I'm in!

You are quite lucky to have such fun and wise (I like your grandfather's philosophy on life) grandparents! I can't wait to hear all the details as you plan your upcoming trip!!

 

[lazidazi07]

So I've probably changed our ADR's at least five times..Its ridiculous!

But here's what I've come up with:

October 15th - Arrival Day
CS meal for lunch
Boma at 7PM

October 16th - MK Day
CS meal for lunch - probably Pecos Bills or Cosmic Rays
Sci Fi Dine In at 5PM
Do you think this will leave us enough time to see Fantasmic? The park hours on the Dis say theres a showing at 7 & 8:30..

October 17th - Tay's Bday!
CS meal in HS - probably Pizza Planet, any other suggestions? I tried Backlot Express last time and didnt like it much...
Coral Reef at 8PM - we are wanting the diver for this. I need some major help with this if anyone can help me! We're also hoping for a better time, but none have opened up yet.

October 18th - AK Day
CS meal for lunch - probably Flame Tree BBQ! Yumm!
Kona Cafe at 5PM - there were no openings at Ohana before 9PM! Still hoping theres an opening for that as well..[/COLOR]

October 19th - Epcot Day
Le Cellier at 2:35PM - saw a trade for this on the Dining Boards at 6PM..I'm thinking about taking it instead! Its such a heavy meal for lunch dont you think?
CS meal for dinner


October 20th - Check Out


I'll leave everyone with a blast from the past pic : Here's a pic of me and the brother our very first trip ever! Yes, WDW was turning 25!

Like our cool socks?

I'll be updating more pictures in the next update!

 

[lazidazi07]

I'm in!

You are quite lucky to have such fun and wise (I like your grandfather's philosophy on life) grandparents! I can't wait to hear all the details as you plan your upcoming trip!!

Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I love my grandparents very much
I'm excited to share details!

 

[minniemousepancake]

Hi! I'm so excited to read all about your trip! I read your graduation trip report and loved it! Have fun planning!

 

[lazidazi07]

SOOO..we just got a tiny update from our travel agent!

..still no club level rooms open, BUT we did get bunk beds for our savannah view room. I thought this wasnt possible, that it could only be requested and not guaranteed? But I guess I'll be doing some research tonight on that.

And yet another blast from the past..

Our first vision of the castle was pink! I know people hated it, but I thought it was kind of cute!

 

[dsnygirl2006]

Subscribing.....count me in!!!! I just love your TR's, they are so entertaining.....you have such a lovely and wonderful family, I cannot wait to hear more

 

[katiebug86]

Our first vision of the castle was pink! I know people hated it, but I thought it was kind of cute!

I did too .. lol. I remember being little and the commercials coming on TV showing the Birthday Castle. I can remember wanting to go so bad just so I could see it when it was pink.

 

[AGPrincess]

Our first vision of the castle was pink! I know people hated it, but I thought it was kind of cute!

Great pre-TR! And lol...the first time I saw the castle was in its pink glory as well. I really loved it too! Of course, it's beautiful in sparkly white and blue and gold too, but I never got why people beat up on the pretty pink cake!

 

[mikep_97]

Coral Reef at 8PM - we are wanting the diver for this. I need some major help with this if anyone can help me! We're also hoping for a better time, but none have opened up yet.

Have you been able to book the diver for Coral Reef? We enjoyed both a diver and personalized menus last September.

Enjoy!

 

[ThinkTink75]

Congrats on the new trip!!!
A family trip sounds WONDERFUL!! No DBF joining? Or is that an update for a later date??
Also, if you want some Coral Reef diver info feel free to email me: LaBellaVita83@gmail.com
(I don't make it to the boards as much as I used to because the Dis is blocked at the school I work at so I usually just read and write on the passporter forums. But I check my email everyday AND did the diver package for my DBF last summer.)
I am so excited to hear about your trip once you make it there and back- I want to take a weekend trip next Fall for one of the races since I have just gotten into running!
In any case, your plans look great! Congrats again!