Going to Disney again! Yay! Dec 7-13 2008

[bellasmommy0]

Well I have been a lurker and occasional poster on here for quite a while. But I finally decided to do a pre-trip report! So hopefully someone will read it!

We are going Dec 7th-13th this year and staying at Fort Wilderness in a cabin, actually we will have 2 cabins total.
The main characters in this are:
Me- 35 year old DISNEY ADDICT. I have always..LOVED! anything to do with disney!!
DH- He likes Disney alot and loves to make DD and I happy, so he goes along with us.
DD- will be 6 in Sept. Had no choice from birth but to love Disney- her nursery was Disney babies!

The other characters are:
SIL-20 something
BIL-30 something
Nephew-3
MIL
FIL

Like I said, I have always loved Disney and have dreamed of going to WDW for as long as I can remember. But growing up with a single parent the finances just werent there. So I grew up and still was convinced I couldnt afford it. Well in early 2005, DH and I were trying to plan some sort of vacation for ourselves and DD. I was looking at things closer to home and cheaper. DH tells me lets go to WDW. I informed he we couldnt afford it. His response was to check into it and work out the numbers. Well guess what I figured out we could afford it. So we went for DD 3rd bday in Sept 2005. And I fell in LOVE even more!
Well fast forward a year and SIL/BIL/MIL/FIL/nephew are planning a trip again around DD bday so we decided to go again. And my sister tagged along. This was Sept 2007.
Well after that I said we would go back again in about 2 years. Well SIL/BIL started planning to go this year in Dec. But we werent going. Other factors in our live changed and so did my mind so we are going. I will fill in more details from previous trips and live changes later on but this is a start. So somebody PLEASE read me!!!

 

[bellasmommy0]

Well where to start from here. I guess I will tell you mini trip reports from our 1st 2 times, as I dont have too much planned yet for this one as it is so far away.

The 1st time we went we planned it in about April or early May if I remember right. We went from Sept 6-12 2005. We stayed at All Star Music. I did very little planning. I only had one ADR and that was for breakfast at CRT on the day we left for our DD 3rd bday. I semi planned where we were going each day but that was about it. It was only my DH, DD, and I. We had a wonderful time! And after that I loved Disney more that ever, and my daughter was completely addicted. In fact to this day she says that her middle name is Cinderella. And that was 2 1/2 years ago.

The 2nd time we went I had found some of these boards and researched everything. We booked the trip in early 2007 for Sept 13-20. Well about 2 weeks after that we found out we were pregnant. And would be very large at this point so we canceled the trip. Well unfortunately about a month or so later we lost the baby, so what better way to pick myself up out of the rut but to start planning Disney again, and lucky us at this point they had free dining. So we got in on that. I will fill finish this trip later as I have to get to work.

 

[bellasmommy0]

OK I am not sure anybody is reading this, but I will keep going!

So we rebooked the trip and got on the free dining. But to get a good deal on the airfare from Southwest we went a day sooner than the rest of our group. We went on Sept 12, 2007 and we stayed at All Star Music. I think they put us as far away as they could. I much preferred the Movies where we stayed the year before. We were in the rock and roll section. We had quite a crew on this trip. The day we went it was Myself, DH, DD and my sister. Then the next day SIL/BIL/Nephew and MIL/FIL joined us. Although there are plus sides to traveling with such a large group it also makes it hard. I am a planner which explains why I am already obsessing over a trip we arent taking until December. Where as my husbands family are procrastinators. So I planned from April until we went on this trip. Had all of our days planned, ADR's made and such. Not everyone went along with my plan which I wasnt too happy with, but lessons learned. We spent our 1st partial day there at DTD and then had dinner at Chef Mickeys, which we loved! The next day was DD 5th bday and we spent the day at MK. We had late lunch at Crystal Palace. I think the next day we did Epcot, and ate at Coral Reef- it was OK, dont think I would go again?-, Next MGM, ate at primetime which I LOVE!!. Then only thing major from this day that stands out is my DH, BIL, and sister wanted to go on TOT, I said I would sit it out and who found then but the dream team with dream lanyards! I was so dissappointed that I decided not to go!, then the next day back to MK and we did MNSSHP, which was a complete rain out, I mean it poured. We were stuck waiting under an awning for an hour or so. This night was ruined by this all. My SIL and BIL got seperated from us and one ended up back at the room and one at the busstop. The night was a total bust!! Luckily my MIL is good at getting what she wants. They were passing out passes for people to come back some other time. Hello we knew we wouldnt be going back anytime soon. So she went to customer service and talked to them and somehow got us all refunded for the night. It was a gift card but hey it was money we could spend. Then we went to AK, ate at rainforest cafe OOP, it was pretty good. And last day we were there we again did MK and ate at the plaza and had a delicious sandwich. That is a very condensed version. But you get the idea of what we did.

This trip I am trying to learn from our mistakes the past 2 trips and get the most out of it. All I know so far is we are going Dec 7th-13th. We are staying at Fort Wilderness in a cabin, and I already reserved a golf cart. And we are doing DDP. The rest is to be decided, thats where I need all of your input!! So if anybody is actually reading this I can use anyones input.

 

[bellasmommy0]

OK so here are my preliminary plans. And they are definitely preliminary as we dont have the schedule yet for December. But we think we want to do MVMCP. Just dont know what nights they are having it. And we want to go to Chef Mickeys again and Primetime cafe again. Other than that I am thinking about LTT, and Garden Grill. And we are considering whether to do Mickeys backyard BBQ? Any opinions on that? That would be our 6 TS credits. I dont think I need much time for Epcot. Dont feel the need to go do WS again. So all we really want to do there is FW. Mainly Nemo, soarin, Test track and mission space. So shouldnt need much more than a 1/2 or 3/4 of a day. And then 1 day at MGM and 1 at AK. The rest we would probably spend at MK as it the one my DD enjoys the most.
So once we have more info we can decide what days to do what. I am only making plans for myself, DD, and DH this time, as last time it stressed me out about what everyone was doing.. not again!!
OK I have talked enough when I dont even know if anyone is reading this!! Let me know if you are out there!!

 

[OhMari]

People are more readers/lurkers on the regular Trip Board. I am going to move you over to the Pre-trip board and hopefully you will find other posters going on the same time.

 

[bellasmommy0]

People are more readers/lurkers on the regular Trip Board. I am going to move you over to the Pre-trip board and hopefully you will find other posters going on the same time.

Thanks, we will see I guess. I hope to get time to post more pretty soon. Life has been hectic this past few weeks.

 

[bellasmommy0]

Well I am changing up my plans...I think.. I have been thinking about this for the past few weeks, since I have been busy I havent had time to post or do much research until yesterday. My dilemma was that the only reason we chose the ft wilderness was because the rest of the family was planning to stay there. But after much thought, we are not the type of people to stay in the room much. At least my DD and I arent. If my husband is in the room, he is resting or watching TV. So the extra expense for the larger room/cabin was not really worth it for us. And after playing with the numbers, I realized that we can stay for 10 days-9 nights in a value room and still save a substantial amount of money. So we are leaning that way. So we are thinking of doing Dec 7- 16 in a value with the DP. We have stayed at ASMo and ASMu. I liked movies better, but am up in the air about whether to do Movies again or to try out something different and do POP?? And then have to decide on more dining options. So much to plan, but I guess there is plenty of time!! And in my opinion 10 days is SO much better than 7!! I have my husband convinced we can rest more with the extra days , oh OK maybe he can!!

 

[bellasmommy0]

Well I havent added to this in quite a while, although I have done lots of reading and learning from all of you!!
But it seems like we are changing plans again. So it looks like MIL and FIL probably wont be going after all. So my SIL, BIL, and nephew are changing to a family suite at ASMu. So instead of being at a different resort we are going to do ASMu. I know it will be OK, but I am worried after what I have read about Pop Warner, but Disney any way is better than being at home! I have looked at past schedules and am working on a prelimenary schedule, so when the days come out I can just adjust as needed.
I will post some of that a little later on today or tommorow, as I am at work!!
If anybody is reading this please drop a little line, I am feeling all alone in here!!

 

[bellasmommy0]

Well I am going to keep writing even though nobody is reading this!!
So I just got off the phone with Disney and we are officialy changed to 10 days/9 nights at the ASMu.
So on to the plans! I used Disney wanderers theory of historical schedules to come up with what I have. So of course if the schedule changes I will change some of this also. But if anyone is reading this tell me what you think.

Sunday 12/7/2008-- Flying in ( not sure of flight times yet..so uncertain of what time we will arrive), planning to get dinner ADR at Chef Mickeys, and then take a monorail tour of the resorts and check out christmas decorations, then get to bed semi-early.

Mon 12/8--plan to get to MK early and spend the whole day there, we may take a rest in the afternoon, as I think it will be EMH today.

Tues 12/9-- not sure about morning yet. May do AM EMH some where, or else do a breakfast meal somewhere, or possibly sign up DD for one of the grand adventures at grand floridian??? Help me decide. Then do MVMCP tonight and try to get early dinner at Liberty Tree

Wen 12/10 going to sleep in as we will be tired from night before and then do Animal kingdom as I think they will have evening EMH.

Thurs 12/11 if there are AM EMH at MK, we will go to these, and then off to MGM and do dinner at primetime cafe.

Friday 12/12 Spend day at Epcot- dinner at Garden Grill

Sat 12/13 breakfast at Ohana and then off to MK for the day, as they should have late hours today. Dinner somewhere in park--maybe Plaza--we had delicious sandwiches there last time we were there!

Sun 12/14 spend day at MGM-- thinking we will eat at sci- fi diner

Mon 12/15-- I am leaving this day open to do whatever we choose, maybe DTD or back to do whatever we feel like we have missed, and then get packed up to leave tommorow

Tues 12/16-- Get up EARLY and try to get breakfast at crystal palace for before park opens and stay there at MK until we have to leave for airport.

As you can see we are at MK alot but we have a 5 will be 6 at the time daughter so we try to do what she likes, as she is older the things she enjoys will change and so will our plans.

Let me know what you think. I cant wait till December!!

 

[becca123]

Hi folks-
new here. If I am booked dec`13-20 with a ceritfied Disney travel agent, does she check for discounts or do I call? Is that time frame normal for any discounts?
Thanks
R-

 

[bellasmommy0]

Hi folks-
new here. If I am booked dec`13-20 with a ceritfied Disney travel agent, does she check for discounts or do I call? Is that time frame normal for any discounts?
Thanks
R-

Well I am glad to know that somebody is reading this!!
As for who checks on discounts I am not sure, as I have always booked directly throught the disney website and just kept my eyes open for better deals! Have you been to WDW before or is this your 1st trip. I am happy to have someone here with me.

 

[bellasmommy0]

Well I havent update this in quite a while. It seemed as if I was writing to myself, hey maybe I was!! And that is OK.
If anyone can tell me how to change the title please so, as some things have changed. Ok....
So we know whos going.. myself, dh, dd, sil, bil, nephew, mil, fil.
We are all going to ASMu.
We were planning on Dec 7-16th after I changed to ASMu. Well when SW released the dates last week, it seemed if I kept those plans it was going to be 500.00 more for just the 3 of us. But if we went on the 6th, we could stay an extra day, and still save almost 300.00...no question what that decision was!!
We have all of our ADR's made. We are going to Whispering canyon cafe on the 6th, that was an add on since we added on the extra day at 640 pm
12/7 Chef Mickeys at 5:25 pm
12/8 LTT at 430 pm
12/9 1900 Park fare at 440 pm
12/11 Primetime cafe 405 pm
12/12 Garden grill at 235 pm
12/13 Ohana 9 am
12/13 Plaza rest. 555 pm
12/14 sci-fi 4pm
12/16 crystal palace at 810 am--may change that one to something on the 15th?? not sure about getting up so early on the day we leave.
We also know we are doing MVMCP on the 9th.
As for the days, we were planning on no park on the 7th,
8- MK
9- MK
10-AK
11-HS
12-EP
13-MK
14-HS
15-open
16th- MK and HOME
but with the extra day we may change it up a little bit because we are going to do something on the 7th. Not sure... We arent huge fans of epcot, so I dont think we need another day there. And I am pretty sure my daughter will insist on going to MK on the 7th (our 1st park day) But then we are only at that park for 3 days straight?? So maybe on the 8th we will hop??

 

[bellasmommy0]

I just looked back at the calender. We may do MK on the 7th, and then on the 8th go to AK in the morning, and then go to MK and have dinner and stay for EMH. Our AK day is the day after the MVMCP, so we may be tired, so if we had done some of it that day, we could take it slower.
This is crazy, we have went 2 times for 7 days, which after travel is about 5 whole days. This time we are doing 11 days, so 9 whole days.. and I am worried about doing it all. I need to relax we will have plenty of time, but with the economy lord only knows when we will get to go again!!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I just found your PTR, so now you have another reader!!! I am glad you haven't gotten discouraged and have kept up with your PTR. My DH and I are going in December too, but later in the month. You sound like I did on our last trip. We kept making all sorts of changes to the resort choice, our dining ressies and our itinerary. It's normal. I think with each trip, we've gotten a clearer picture of what we want to do and what to avoid. But, planning and adjusting can be so much fun!!!

As for your ressies, you have great choices. With the ages of your kids, doing MK a lot makes sense. We've never done Mickey's Backyard BBQ, but have thought about it numerous times. It looks like a lot of fun. Have you made a decision about that yet?

It's great that you are going to get to stay there longer and make more Disney memories with your family. How cool! Make sure to take time to relax back at the resort. We always try to break after lunch for a bit, either going in the pool or taking a nap. Sometimes a break is just getting out of the park and resort visiting or going to DT. It helps so much. Don't miss the Osbourne Lights at DHS. They are breathtaking!

What do you plan to do at Epcot? If I may, I suggest: the Nemo ride, checking the aquarium out, Turtle Talk with Crush, all the hands-on stuff in the Innoventions buildings (especially for young kids), of course Spaceship Earth and have you guys tried Soarin'? (so much fun, even for young ones) and there's The Land, where you can point out a lot of cool things to your daughter. In the World, I remember as a kid loving the rides in Mexico and in Norway. They also do Christmas around the World with neat presentations through the day at each country, showing how Christmas is celebrated in each land. They all do their presentations in such a way that draws in kids. Just some thoughts, since it looks like you weren't going to spend a lot of time in Epcot. I wasn't sure if it was because you didn't think there would be enough to do. Especially, during the holidays, there is a lot. They also do a Christmas show just before you reach the countries, at dusk (I think that's the time.). It was great, with characters.

I can't wait to read more of your plans. Feel free to check out PTR, if you'd like. The TR I did of our last December's trip has a lot of pics, if you want to see what's available. Be sure to see all the holiday parades at each park. They're awesome.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Oh, I forgot to mention, check out this site if you need to look up EMH for your trip: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/emhour.htm

This link will show you what happens during the holidays: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/holiday.htm

Also, MVMCP is absolutely awesome! Feel free to ask any questions you might have about anything with your trip. I'm no expert, but I love discussing WDW!!!

 

[bellasmommy0]

OK, well I kind of had given up on anybody reading this trip report, so I started another one with a better title-- to maybe attract readers?? I am so glad that you came to read this and gave me suggestions, so maybe you will follow me over to my other new PTR....