First time back in 11 years!

CindyW

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Messages
20
So I've convinced my husband and finally we are headed back to WDW after an absence of about 11 years. We are both College Program alums, March 1996 being the last time we saw Lake Buena Vista.

In that time we've done all the grown-up stuff : careers, marriage, 2 kids, mortgage, pets for the kids, pets for the pets of the kids... you get the point!

We live much closer to Disneyland / California Adventure so its easier to just drive over and spend a few days in those parks to get the Disney fix. While I was planning our trip there for this summer the place seemed to be sold out or hideously expensive to get a decent room for a few nights. So on a lark I priced a few options to head back to Florida and oddly enough for less money I could get us to the World!

Well, okay... I could get us IN the World. Getting us there involves planes and we all know how that adds up. Airfare not withstanding - we could do it! Add the free dining and in that moment my husband was sold. He actually booked the trip the following morning as I got ready for work.

Pros: free dining, not having to rent a car because of the Magical Express, 6 nights at WDW with parkhoppers for the price we'd spend on 3 days in California, introducing the kids to WDW!

Not-So-Pros: we're at a Value resort (All Star Sports) but the kids picked it over the Carribean Beach and Port Orleans so I'm going with the flow, odd dining times on most days because that is what was left when I called - which will kind of dictate where we spend our days, hurricane season!, and having to take the kids out of school for a week less than a month into the school year

So to gather my thoughts I hope to use this as a way to track what I have, need, etc. for this trip. Feel free to chime in and remind me of things or tell me stuff I look like I'm leaving out!

The kids will be celebrating their birthdays on this trip (8 and 11) so we plan to get the buttons for them on their birthdays so they can walk around all special!

Details!
Aug 31 - Sep 6
All Star Sports
Preferred room w/ fridge

Dining
Sep 1 - Liberty Tree Tavern 8:15
Sep 2 - Coral Reef 3:10 (have special menus ordered)
Sep 3 - Sci-Fi Dine In 3:55
Sep 4 - Luau @ Polynesian 5:15

Clothes
Back to School stuff will work well for Disney, we're very casual out here
Crocs for all - everyone breaking in their newest pairs as we speak
Spare sneakers for all

will come back to obsess more later!
 
How exciting for you and your family! we stayed at ASSports last year for free dining because it was all we could get but we had a really nice time there. We were is the surfs up building right by the pool, main building etc. and had no complaints. The theming was really cute. We aren't sports fans by any means and the DD's still really enjoyed it!
 
Thanks Becky! We chose Sports over the other values because husband and the kiddos are all sports enthusiasts (I don't like to get sweaty but support them fully!) and we were pretty hyped about the theming. We were getting giddy thinking of the cool pictures we'd take of the kids next to their huge sports icons.

BUT!

Today I was upgraded to a 1 Bedroom Villa at Old Key West! WOOHOO!
And somehow I get a credit of $2.30 upon checkin. Not entirely certain how that happened but I'm just riding high on pixie dust right now and couldn't honestly care less!

I'm still reeling from the upgrade... now with a washer/dryer in room I will mentally re-pack.

I am a little anxious about telling the kids - I hope they get an understanding that this is a good thing!
 












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom