RipperSB
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2013
- Messages
- 223
THE BACKSTORY
Back in 2010, the family was gathered at our place for Christmas. We have two boys who are now grown and (like Mom & Dad) are serving their country. They and their wives were managing to share holidays with both families and it was our youngest and his wife who suggested a Walt Disney World family Christmas. They were members of the Disney Vacation Club and would use their points for the two bedroom accommodations. After some careful thought we decided on Christmas 2012 as that would give us time to plan and budget.
Planning was left to our DS and DDIL as they (and especially her) were the WDW experts. They had booked the room for 29 Dec 5 Jan so we would be there over New Years Eve THE Busiest Time of the Year! They planned for us to be on the Deluxe Dining Plan which we paid for as our contribution. As the date approached, however, military life reared its ugly head and saw both my kids families get disrupted with postings that resulted in the oldest and his wife unable to make the trip.
Nevertheless, we pressed on and had a FANTASTIC time! DDIL was just mentioning putting together a trip report for that one, so I wont go into details here but will post the link when it becomes available. We did attend a presentation about the DVC while we were there but there was a certain amount of sticker shock and so we declined, despite a discount of $7.00/point and double bonus points. It wasnt until we returned home, crunched numbers, reviewed options with our bank that we were able to say YES, we can do this! We called our Guide did a direct purchase of 200 points at BLT no discount but we did get a bonus of 200 points; and now, to plan our first trip as DVC owners.
THE PLANNING
It will be a party of two, to begin. DW and I will be there for the first week and the DS and DDIL will be arriving during our second week there for a week of their own.
Travel dates are: Arriving Sunday, 1 Dec 13 and departing Friday, 13 Dec 13 for 12 fun-filled nights of WDW magic!
Air travel was booked almost the day after the room was. Got a real good deal with United, the only problem is the last time they rescheduled our departure from a reasonable 1100 to a redonkulous 0600. Sure enough, in the time between booking the flight and typing this they did reschedule the departure flight but only from 1422 to 1305 still manageable. Ground transportation to/from MCO will be with the Disney Magical Express, the only way to go IMHO. We are staying at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, with a Lake View booked and a Standard View waitlisted.
I made ADRs for all our Table Service Meals at 180 days out. I had only one shutout Be Our Guest was completely booked on the day I wanted but got the rest OK. I have also listed our intended lunch destinations (were planning on breakfast in our room before we head out for the day, except for a breakfast at Kona Café (TONGA TOAST!) and a departure breakfast on the last day):
Sun 2013-12-01 19:00 Contempo Cafe
Mon 2013-12-02 11:00 Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
Mon 2013-12-02 18:40 The Crystal Palace
Tue 2013-12-03 11:00 Studio Catering Company
Tue 2013-12-03 18:30 50's Prime Time Cafe
Wed 2013-12-04 11:00 Wolfgang Puck Express
Wed 2013-12-04 18:30 Whispering Canyon Cafe
Thu 2013-12-05 11:00 Tangierine Cafe
Thu 2013-12-05 18:30 Biergarten
Fri 2013-12-06 11:00 Flame Tree Barbecue
Fri 2013-12-06 18:40 Ohana
Sat 2013-12-07 19:30 La Hacienda de San Angel
Sun 2013-12-08 18:20 1900 Park Fare
Mon 2013-12-09 15:15 Sci-fi Dine-In Theatre Restaurant
Tue 2013-12-10 11:00 Be Our Guest QS
Tue 2013-12-10 17:35 The Plaza Restaurant
Wed 2013-12-11 8:00 Kona Cafe
Wed 2013-12-11 17:00 Teppan Edo
Thu 2013-12-12 11:00 Yak and Yeti Restaurant
Thu 2013-12-12 18:30 The Wave... of American Flavours
Fri 2013-12-13 9:00 Chef Mickey's
I have set an Itinerary (with DDILs help), including Special Events as noted:
Day 1 Sunday Arrival
Day 2 Monday Magic Kingdom
Day 3 Tuesday Disneys Hollywood Studios
Day 4 Wednesday Downtown Disney
Day 5 Thursday Epcot
Day 6 Friday Animal Kingdom
Day 7 Saturday OFF (Carriage ride)
Day 8 Sunday Downtown Disney (joined by DS & DDIL)
Day 9 Monday Disneys Hollywood Studios
Day 10 Tuesday Magic Kingdom *Mickeys Very Special Christmas Party
Day 11 Wednesday Epcot *Candlelight Processional
Day 12 Thursday Animal Kingdom
Day 13 Friday Departure
We are also planning on viewing all the parades and fireworks in each park.
Other planning in the works:
We are returning 23-30 Mar 14 for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, BLT has been booked for that; and
Planning a trip to Aulani around Valentines Day 2015 to celebrate our 30th anniversary (April 20th).
Back in 2010, the family was gathered at our place for Christmas. We have two boys who are now grown and (like Mom & Dad) are serving their country. They and their wives were managing to share holidays with both families and it was our youngest and his wife who suggested a Walt Disney World family Christmas. They were members of the Disney Vacation Club and would use their points for the two bedroom accommodations. After some careful thought we decided on Christmas 2012 as that would give us time to plan and budget.
Planning was left to our DS and DDIL as they (and especially her) were the WDW experts. They had booked the room for 29 Dec 5 Jan so we would be there over New Years Eve THE Busiest Time of the Year! They planned for us to be on the Deluxe Dining Plan which we paid for as our contribution. As the date approached, however, military life reared its ugly head and saw both my kids families get disrupted with postings that resulted in the oldest and his wife unable to make the trip.
Nevertheless, we pressed on and had a FANTASTIC time! DDIL was just mentioning putting together a trip report for that one, so I wont go into details here but will post the link when it becomes available. We did attend a presentation about the DVC while we were there but there was a certain amount of sticker shock and so we declined, despite a discount of $7.00/point and double bonus points. It wasnt until we returned home, crunched numbers, reviewed options with our bank that we were able to say YES, we can do this! We called our Guide did a direct purchase of 200 points at BLT no discount but we did get a bonus of 200 points; and now, to plan our first trip as DVC owners.
THE PLANNING
It will be a party of two, to begin. DW and I will be there for the first week and the DS and DDIL will be arriving during our second week there for a week of their own.
Travel dates are: Arriving Sunday, 1 Dec 13 and departing Friday, 13 Dec 13 for 12 fun-filled nights of WDW magic!
Air travel was booked almost the day after the room was. Got a real good deal with United, the only problem is the last time they rescheduled our departure from a reasonable 1100 to a redonkulous 0600. Sure enough, in the time between booking the flight and typing this they did reschedule the departure flight but only from 1422 to 1305 still manageable. Ground transportation to/from MCO will be with the Disney Magical Express, the only way to go IMHO. We are staying at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, with a Lake View booked and a Standard View waitlisted.
I made ADRs for all our Table Service Meals at 180 days out. I had only one shutout Be Our Guest was completely booked on the day I wanted but got the rest OK. I have also listed our intended lunch destinations (were planning on breakfast in our room before we head out for the day, except for a breakfast at Kona Café (TONGA TOAST!) and a departure breakfast on the last day):
Sun 2013-12-01 19:00 Contempo Cafe
Mon 2013-12-02 11:00 Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
Mon 2013-12-02 18:40 The Crystal Palace
Tue 2013-12-03 11:00 Studio Catering Company
Tue 2013-12-03 18:30 50's Prime Time Cafe
Wed 2013-12-04 11:00 Wolfgang Puck Express
Wed 2013-12-04 18:30 Whispering Canyon Cafe
Thu 2013-12-05 11:00 Tangierine Cafe
Thu 2013-12-05 18:30 Biergarten
Fri 2013-12-06 11:00 Flame Tree Barbecue
Fri 2013-12-06 18:40 Ohana
Sat 2013-12-07 19:30 La Hacienda de San Angel
Sun 2013-12-08 18:20 1900 Park Fare
Mon 2013-12-09 15:15 Sci-fi Dine-In Theatre Restaurant
Tue 2013-12-10 11:00 Be Our Guest QS
Tue 2013-12-10 17:35 The Plaza Restaurant
Wed 2013-12-11 8:00 Kona Cafe
Wed 2013-12-11 17:00 Teppan Edo
Thu 2013-12-12 11:00 Yak and Yeti Restaurant
Thu 2013-12-12 18:30 The Wave... of American Flavours
Fri 2013-12-13 9:00 Chef Mickey's
I have set an Itinerary (with DDILs help), including Special Events as noted:
Day 1 Sunday Arrival
Day 2 Monday Magic Kingdom
Day 3 Tuesday Disneys Hollywood Studios
Day 4 Wednesday Downtown Disney
Day 5 Thursday Epcot
Day 6 Friday Animal Kingdom
Day 7 Saturday OFF (Carriage ride)
Day 8 Sunday Downtown Disney (joined by DS & DDIL)
Day 9 Monday Disneys Hollywood Studios
Day 10 Tuesday Magic Kingdom *Mickeys Very Special Christmas Party
Day 11 Wednesday Epcot *Candlelight Processional
Day 12 Thursday Animal Kingdom
Day 13 Friday Departure
We are also planning on viewing all the parades and fireworks in each park.
Other planning in the works:
We are returning 23-30 Mar 14 for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, BLT has been booked for that; and
Planning a trip to Aulani around Valentines Day 2015 to celebrate our 30th anniversary (April 20th).
