perchy
WDW Resort Hopper
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2008
- Messages
- 403
If no one follows this, I'd completely understand. I don't have a blog anymore, but I need someplace to dispense my Disney dreamin'. This looks like a pretty good forum for spewing details my husband doesn't want to hear. 
We are a family of 4...
Who am I?: Just call me Susan--or Perchy, even. I'm a full-time working older mommy to 8 and 3 year old girls. I'm from New York originally, met my husband in Florida, and we came to North Carolina for his job. I went to Disney for the first time as a young adult, with girl friends. My parents were far better at saving their money for practical things like my college education and their retirement. Nevertheless, I manage to re-do my childhood in my adult life with every Disney trip I've made since. My husband is an ex-Disney employee. He even has screen credit on a few movies--his last, Brother Bear. Then he had to go change his career. We used his last few non-expiring cast member passes in November 2014. The balance of my Disney history is in my signature.
What am I planning for?: February 2017. Most likely Feb. 26 through March 4, or maybe Feb. 5 through 11. I'm ultimately waiting on the crowd calendars to confirm this will any certainty. President's Day comes in on Feb. 20 this year (2017) and so I'm unsure of the timing of any princess runs or other events that I'd want to steer clear of in order to keep crowds down and my husband happy.
Why am I planning this?: Because our last "big" trip was in February 2012, when I was pregnant with DD#2 and before DD#1 started kindergarten. It's only fair that DD#2 gets to do a big trip before she starts kindergarten too, right? You just have to keep these things fair, right? It's also going to be DD#1's last opportunity to go as a "child," since Disney seems to think you're all grown-up by age 10.
What's my thinking on where we'll stay and what we'll do while we are there? I mentioned I have two girls, right? They will be 9 and 4 when we go. DH used to work for Animation Studios when they had a presence in Orlando. (So this also hints to why he changed careers.) I am thinking a Little Mermaid room at AOA is just what my daughters would absolutely love, while DH can reminisce about his olden days and/or feel a little "at home." A Nemo suite is a consideration as well. Especially with Finding Dory on the horizon (haha, get it?). I think it'll depend on any package deals and final pricing, since currently LM seems to be excluded from most packages.
Anyone else joining us?: I don't know yet. Maybe? My mom has the means (because she never took us as kids, remember?), but her husband (former military and about 14 years my mom's senior) may or may not be up for the trip. My daughters are my moms only grandkids. She will probably want to come.
Any chance of sneaking in a small trip before 2017?: A dream is a wish your heart makes, right? I'm currently considering a solo trip just to visit the hotels, maybe in November 2015, when my mom, her husband and his family are at their DVC space. I wouldn't stay with them tho. Maybe only meet for a dinner. If this trip were to happen, it'd be one or two nights max. And no parks. My kids would never let me live that down. (See *)
What are you doing with your Disnenergy now? I just signed up for the Disney Movie Club. The movies with digital copies are my priorities. And I've been listening to Disney Princess Radio on iTunes. And I must click on Disney ads from other random websites on a daily basis. I'll play with November 2015 or February 2016 reservations while I wait for 2017 to show up. I have a current copy of Mini Mickey, am a member of TouringPlans.com and make sure I "see first" a whole bunch of Disney posts on my Facebook feed. I will be dusting off my Disney Grolier Collectible Christmas ornaments in about a month.
I guess that's it for now.
EDITED 10/18/15:
How am I saving for it all? I've been tucking money aside weekly. Today, however, I opened up a Disney Vacation Account with $10, with the intentions of letting it sit until right before I make a Disney purchase. (So I earn interest keeping the bulk of savings in an actual savings account.) But in hindsight, I think I have a better deal with my credit card, a BofA Travel Rewards card that lets me earn points toward travel purchases. So if I buy with my card, I can use the points to get money off my Disney trip. I imagine if I end up with several purchases (tickets / hotel + dining) maybe anything I don't have enough points for I can use the vacation account for... hmmm... may need to open a thread on this...
* EDITED 1/4/16:
About that small trip before 2017: <Blink> Was that the holidays that came and went? Sheesh! Mom seemingly enjoyed her stay in November, but I didn't make it because the holidays! Meanwhile, during the Christmas week lull at work, I picked the second cheapest two-night stay in February 2016 at Pop Century, across the lake from AOA! About a week later, I decided to add a third night. So with free cancellation, that pencils me in for Feb. 21-24! Hubby is going to a Bruce concert in Atlanta the few days prior, so his trip, I'm hoping, is my ticket to go it solo. I would probably book a flight too, but without a free (cheap) cancellation option, I need to wait on that a bit for official spousal consent.
How's the savings coming along?: <Blink> Was that the holidays that came and went? My wallet certainly took notice. So until the past weekend, I kind of took a few weeks' break from my weekly savings plan. I need to make sure bills get paid. In full. That also will affect my ability to get a small trip in next month. #justsaynotodisneydebt
We are a family of 4...Who am I?: Just call me Susan--or Perchy, even. I'm a full-time working older mommy to 8 and 3 year old girls. I'm from New York originally, met my husband in Florida, and we came to North Carolina for his job. I went to Disney for the first time as a young adult, with girl friends. My parents were far better at saving their money for practical things like my college education and their retirement. Nevertheless, I manage to re-do my childhood in my adult life with every Disney trip I've made since. My husband is an ex-Disney employee. He even has screen credit on a few movies--his last, Brother Bear. Then he had to go change his career. We used his last few non-expiring cast member passes in November 2014. The balance of my Disney history is in my signature.
What am I planning for?: February 2017. Most likely Feb. 26 through March 4, or maybe Feb. 5 through 11. I'm ultimately waiting on the crowd calendars to confirm this will any certainty. President's Day comes in on Feb. 20 this year (2017) and so I'm unsure of the timing of any princess runs or other events that I'd want to steer clear of in order to keep crowds down and my husband happy.
Why am I planning this?: Because our last "big" trip was in February 2012, when I was pregnant with DD#2 and before DD#1 started kindergarten. It's only fair that DD#2 gets to do a big trip before she starts kindergarten too, right? You just have to keep these things fair, right? It's also going to be DD#1's last opportunity to go as a "child," since Disney seems to think you're all grown-up by age 10.
What's my thinking on where we'll stay and what we'll do while we are there? I mentioned I have two girls, right? They will be 9 and 4 when we go. DH used to work for Animation Studios when they had a presence in Orlando. (So this also hints to why he changed careers.) I am thinking a Little Mermaid room at AOA is just what my daughters would absolutely love, while DH can reminisce about his olden days and/or feel a little "at home." A Nemo suite is a consideration as well. Especially with Finding Dory on the horizon (haha, get it?). I think it'll depend on any package deals and final pricing, since currently LM seems to be excluded from most packages.
Anyone else joining us?: I don't know yet. Maybe? My mom has the means (because she never took us as kids, remember?), but her husband (former military and about 14 years my mom's senior) may or may not be up for the trip. My daughters are my moms only grandkids. She will probably want to come.
Any chance of sneaking in a small trip before 2017?: A dream is a wish your heart makes, right? I'm currently considering a solo trip just to visit the hotels, maybe in November 2015, when my mom, her husband and his family are at their DVC space. I wouldn't stay with them tho. Maybe only meet for a dinner. If this trip were to happen, it'd be one or two nights max. And no parks. My kids would never let me live that down. (See *)
What are you doing with your Disnenergy now? I just signed up for the Disney Movie Club. The movies with digital copies are my priorities. And I've been listening to Disney Princess Radio on iTunes. And I must click on Disney ads from other random websites on a daily basis. I'll play with November 2015 or February 2016 reservations while I wait for 2017 to show up. I have a current copy of Mini Mickey, am a member of TouringPlans.com and make sure I "see first" a whole bunch of Disney posts on my Facebook feed. I will be dusting off my Disney Grolier Collectible Christmas ornaments in about a month.
I guess that's it for now.
EDITED 10/18/15:
How am I saving for it all? I've been tucking money aside weekly. Today, however, I opened up a Disney Vacation Account with $10, with the intentions of letting it sit until right before I make a Disney purchase. (So I earn interest keeping the bulk of savings in an actual savings account.) But in hindsight, I think I have a better deal with my credit card, a BofA Travel Rewards card that lets me earn points toward travel purchases. So if I buy with my card, I can use the points to get money off my Disney trip. I imagine if I end up with several purchases (tickets / hotel + dining) maybe anything I don't have enough points for I can use the vacation account for... hmmm... may need to open a thread on this...
* EDITED 1/4/16:
About that small trip before 2017: <Blink> Was that the holidays that came and went? Sheesh! Mom seemingly enjoyed her stay in November, but I didn't make it because the holidays! Meanwhile, during the Christmas week lull at work, I picked the second cheapest two-night stay in February 2016 at Pop Century, across the lake from AOA! About a week later, I decided to add a third night. So with free cancellation, that pencils me in for Feb. 21-24! Hubby is going to a Bruce concert in Atlanta the few days prior, so his trip, I'm hoping, is my ticket to go it solo. I would probably book a flight too, but without a free (cheap) cancellation option, I need to wait on that a bit for official spousal consent.
How's the savings coming along?: <Blink> Was that the holidays that came and went? My wallet certainly took notice. So until the past weekend, I kind of took a few weeks' break from my weekly savings plan. I need to make sure bills get paid. In full. That also will affect my ability to get a small trip in next month. #justsaynotodisneydebt
Last edited:
Hi jmccoy18! 
I think March and April would be ideal weather wise to go. You will probably have temperatures warm enough to swim but not all the humidity and heat that hits Florida in late May - August. 
I have always dreamed of staying in them. Every since I have been a kid I have wanted to spend the night in a treehouse, and so a treehouse at Disney seems ideal! I caught a glimpse of them on the boat ride from PORFQ to Downtown Disney. What is your opinion of them? 
