** Grand Gathering Pre Trippie ** UPDATED 7/19

[DaPanMan]

Hello All and welcome to a LURKER'S pre trippie. Not as good as Lesley or UtahMomma, but I'll giver a whirl.

We are just shy of 4 months to go at this point and boy am I ready. Even tho the heat is up here in Michigan, I could USE A VACATION. Actually, I could have used this after the last trip to WDW, know what I mean?

This all started last year before our trip to WDW. The DW and I decided to buy into DVC after our first family foray into the World in '05. We had gone down with a bunch of couples and families trying out another time share. We ended up visiting DVC and bought that one instead.

Last year, we asked my Mom to go with use during the week of Thanksgiving. Before we left, I asked the DW if she thought her side of the family would like to go down and stay at a grand villa at SSR with us. She said go ahead and ask and see what happens. So I did.

Had a family gathering and I was talking to my DSIL and telling her about our trip and what we had planned to be doing, ADR's and all that. Then I said, "we were thinking, ( smell the rubber burning? ), and were wondering if you'd like to go with us next....." Well, I could finish because she said YES!!! while I was talking. I then mentioned to her about asking her husband. She gave me that look that all wives have..... "are you kidding?!?! he doesn't decide anything"... which may be true too.

SO a TRIP WAS BORN!!!!

We got back and told them all about it and decided to go at the same time next year, now this year...follow? Anywho, the DW thought about asking her parents to go. Her brother and SIL have 3 younguns and so do we. Then throw in her parents and we're up to 12. WOW!!

Her parents have been out of the state, but not too far. They've never been on a plane!!!! So, I asked 'em when we got back what they were doing for the next Thanksgiving. DMIL says, I dunno we'll have to check the calender. My response was "YOU'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!"

Here's the Cast

ME Disney dad, not hooked until I was forced to plan 3 WDW vacations in the past 3 years.

DW Business owner, and somewhat hooked on WDW, but likes what I plan, so I guess that's all that matters.

DD11 Turning into a sports freak, like her dad, but into Tink as well and all the coasters

DS9 Turns 9 a few months before the trip, into baseball and hockey, but not so much into coasters, although he says this year he's hitting them all, yeah we'll see

DS4 This here is Mr. Charmer, talks with his hands, and uses large words correctly....bigtime HAM

DSIL Kindergarten teacher, and assistant planner

DBIL Business owner, and according to DSIL a funsucker

DNEPH12 will be a 7th grader, don't think its hit him where he's going. Himself and all his siblings have not been on a plane either

DNEPH10 the crazy one of the bunch. He's the one who could rival Evel Knevel if he wanted to, thats what I mean by crazy, scared of nothing

DNIECE8 Self proclaimed princess, not lying

DMIL Semi retired

DFIL Retired, had a heart attack a few years back and is worried he won't get his exercise while at the world. I told him he might be the best one in walking shape when we get there.

Ok, made the decision on the trip....check.....introduced the cast .....somewhat.......check......now.......the fun stuff to come....planning.

Well, maybe the next installment will be some of the planning. Hope you enjoy it so far. If not......oh well. Thanks for reading tho.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

Looks like a fun family gathering! Looking forward to reading more! I love the trip reports!

 

[rentayenta]

Sounds like a lot of fun; can't wait to read more.

 

[ILMICKEY]

Sounds like you will be going just about the time we will!

Can't wait to read your plans. Where from Michigan are you from? I can't believe how many dissers are from here.

 

[Avivasmom]

Sounds like you guys are going to have a great time...do not leave us hanging!!

 

[DaPanMan]

Thanks for the encouragement.....much needed.

From Haslett, east of Lansing and Michigan State.

Yes, more to come..............right NOW!!!!!

 

[DaPanMan]

So with plans somewhat in line as to when, we needed to decide when. My DSIL is a teacher like a mentioned. My kids are only in school Mon and Tues the week of Thanksgiving. We were throwing the idea around of going Sat before to Sat after. Since the DW didn't care and told me to handle it....I DID.

Came up with kinda being flexible. But I needed to know for DVC and points. I called MS and asked how many points and what would be the best way to get the full week. Well, MS told me I needed 10 more points than what I currently could get and if I wanted a full week during the Holiday, I should call each and every day and make the reservation and at the end they will combine it and make one reservation. OKAY, I got it.

More discussion by DSIL and I. We came up with the plan of Fri before to Fri after. That gives us the full weekend to "recover." Because, after all, we are not going on a vacation we are going to DISNEY WORLD!!! ( This is a recurring theme )

I can make my resie 11 months in advance, and planned on the day I could start calling. I made it to that week, and started calling. Well, being the guy of the family and planning. Planning was hard enough but I did not realize I would be put thru the Spanish Inquisition by MS. Namely......MS Cast Member, "Number of adults?" 6, "Number of children?" 6 "Names of children?" uh uhm....finally rattle them off......then the big one " ages of children?" HOLY MOLY ROLLIE!!!! I uhm uhm.....well I finally figured it out that it went down from 12 to 8 and then skipped to 4. So, I passed that big test. WHEW!!

My kids knew what was going on, but the other ones didn't really understand. And until they hit the World, I don't think they fully comprehend what they are in for. So, for Christmas, I got all the kids pins for trading and lanyards. My kids have already started their trading addiction, I figured why not pass it along. Well, DNeice got all exciting. Apparently, she'd been reading and rereading the Disney guide for kids I'd given her and dog earing all the pages.

So I filled in the In Laws. Told them, next up was plane tickets. They have a computer but live WWAAAYYY out in the sticks, so speed of their connection is very suspect.

I'm home on an off day from work checking the email and daydreaming about what to do when. DSIL wanted make sure we did Cindy's and the Hoop Dee Doo. When I get an email from her still at work, saying she found airfare for cheap on Northwest. I discuss quickly with DW and she says, better start booking. OH WAIT!!!!! Gotta cordinate with the In Laws, we all need to be on the same flight. UUGGHHHH they don't answer the phone.

Last year we were able to score 1st class seats on the way down. Not this year

So anyway, after hours and hours of waiting finally get ahold of the In Laws. They say DO IT!!!! Call DSIL, tell her to start booking everyone on the flights. We book ours using AMEX points, HOLY COW......got 'em ( thats 5 full fare tickets ) for 1/2 price ...better make that a doulbe Then booked the In Laws.

Issue, flight lives a OH dark 30. That's like 6:40 in the morning from Detroit. We live 1 1/2 from the airport. Brain computing we need to be up and out the door at ???? Yeah, thats not going to happen. The DW who happens to do some business travel suggests doing a park and fly with a hotel nearby. Excellent idea Hon!!!! Suggest that to everyone and they think that'll be wonderful.

All thats left is getting the plans laid. Well, you know what they say about that???? I'll fill you in on the best laid plans next.

 

[ILMICKEY]

Hey, don't know what kind of deal you got with Northwest, but Allegiant Air runs from $49-$99. I think it only flys in to Sanford, FL. I also think they fly out of Flint.

 

[DaPanMan]

We checked Allegiant, but it was $279 from Flint, which is closer than Detroit, to MCO. And the flights they listed were all full up already. We got a decent deal with NWA anyway. But thanks.

 

[passthepixiedust]

I'm in! Sounds like you are gonna have a great trip, waiting for more!

 

[DaPanMan]

I feel like I'm running through this too quickly. I'm gonna be done with this WWAAYYY before I get close to my, I mean OUR, trip to the World. Should I slow down? What happens when I get done and gotta wait 3 months til we leave? WISH WISH WISH I guess.

So, when I left it was planning time. Well, the plans were laid. They are great plans. We discussed doing the DDP. My In laws weren't too sure about doing it. They didn't think they'd it that much. But I figured it would be cheaper for them than out of pocket. So, I ended up calling MS to see how they could not have to get the DDP. Seems, if you request DDP, everyone in the party has to get it. In order for them not to get it, they had to be listed as infants. I told them to start reverting back to sucking their thumbs. My DMIL thought that was hilarious. Works for me.

After my DW talked to her parents, and how we'd be getting the Garden Grocer to deliver stuff, especially for Turkey day, they thought better of not doing the DDP. Also, with the Hoop Dee Doo and Cindy's Castle resies, might really be worth it to get the DDP than not too. WHEW!!!

I set up ME for the pickup and drop off from the airport.

For Christmas last year I got my DSIL and DMIL the Passporter to plan the trip with me. Well, thats worked out in their favor. I'm doing it still, but they have some imput. Like I mentioned Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to my DSIL for her daughter before going to Cindy's. She thought that was a great idea. I'm leaving it up to her to get that resie done.

On with the plans.

At a family birthday gathering we all sat down and went over our plans, with me giving reasons for doing what we were doing each day. So here goes the day by day.

Leaving

Friday 11/16 from the motel the night before and catching a shuttle to Detroit Metro airport. Arrive at MCO and ME to SSR. Getting there early and hoping our Grand Villa is ready. If not, oh well, we're off to Downtown Disney for lunch at Earle of Sandwich. After that, catch a bus to Boardwalk, my daughter has been bugging me to do this, and pool hop there. My DSIL and her daughter then off to Bibbidi for some hair work by a Fairy Godmother in training.

The rest of us will head to the room and relax for a spell before heading to MK and hopping the Monorail, they've never been on it and seeing MK might get the excitement of Dis going, over to the Poly for O'hana dinner. After dinner, then watching the fireworks from the beach. Finally, head back to the room for SLEEP and get ready for the next long day.

Day 2

MK Start off with Cindy's breakfast. Figured the best way to start any vacation is at MK. This is where the bigtime magic is and all the kids love going there anyway. Also, spoke to a couple last year on the Sunday before T-day. They told me Sunday was the busiest they'd seen MK. The day before, Sat, they were walking on all over the park. Hoping this holds true for this year too.

After breakfast, having everyone enjoy the park for a long as they wish or as little as they wish.

Day 3

Either Epcot or Animal Kingdom. My kids aren't into these parks as much. Although, they enjoy the more thrilling rides at Epcot. We still don't spend a lot of time there. Figured this would be a good slower pace since the last two days were long and some people would need a rest. Or not be as active as the last few.

Day 4

Off, enjoy SSR, shop, whatever. I did schedule Wonderland Tea party for my DD and youngest DS. Also for my Dniece. Saw pictures on the Dis about this and thought they'd all love it.

Schedule the Hoop Dee Doo early show. Then go to the Chip and Dale camp fire movie and relax and watch the movie. Head for home and get ready for another busy day.

Day 5

MGM Big time fun for my kids, they love this park. My DD has to go on RNR and ToT at least twice each. What a FREAK!! I can only handle RNR anymore and scream out whatever songs are playing. My stomach ends up in my mouth if I do ToT.

Schedule lunch or dinner at 50's Prime Time. Ate lunch there last year and had an ok time. Our server wasn't Auntie Clare. Going to put in a request for her when we get there. She was awesome. She had a dad not eat his green vegies. Show she did the airplane move everyone does to their infant and he wouldn't budge. So she said it would be in his morning eggs. 5 minutes later she came back and said here's a desert especially for you. It was on a pink plate with whip cream, sprinkles and some M&Ms. She left and he twirled his spoon around and yep you guessed it, green vegies underneath the whip cream. Gotta love it.

Day 6

Animal Kingdom or Epcot whichever wasn't done before. Schedule ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern. Did this last year, good pre T-Day meal. Also, had great interaction with the characters. Will do it early enough to get out in time to see Spectro Magic and the fireworks to end our fun time.

Day 7

TURKEY DAY......Off from the parks. The boys off to ESPN Zone to hopefully find a table and watch the Lyedowns get beat by whoever. Eat turkey at the villa and get ready to pack up.

Day 8

Fly home in the late afternoon. So we can shop or whatever until we need to hop on ME and head for MCO.

Well, only one thing standing in the way of this wonderful trip. Getting the ADR's where I want them. Find out next time if that happens.

Hope you like what you are reading and will continue to do so. Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate them.

 

[DaPanMan]

I called WDW Dining and asked what our date would be for setting up our ADR's. They told me. What I didn't know, or because we were well within our 180 last year was that you could schedule 180 and up to and including 10 days of your stay. I thought I was going to have to call 180 days out for each ressie I wanted to make. I thought this was super cool and only would have to make 1 phone call.

I contacted DSIL and told her what day and what time 6:58 AM!!!!! It also fell on a Sunday. Oh well, must sacrifice for the good of the trip, right???

So the big day arrives, I'm up at 6:30 am. I got the passporter handy, I got my OJ handy, I got some toast, ready to brave the challenge of WDW Dining. I wait.....wait......wait for ITTTTTT.......DIAL!!!! DIAL!!!!! DIALLLL!!!!!!

Its ringing.....ringing....uh oh ringing......FINALLY it picks up. I had practiced the prompts before hand, so what happens. I know what to punch, but what do I do, wait for my selection to be announced and then punch it. DUMMY!!! So finally, I get a person. I start rattling of ADR"S, the big ones first. I wantCINDY"SCASTLEON11/17HOOPDEEDOOON11/1912PEOPLEFORTHE5PMSHOWCINDY"SCASTLEATTHEEARLIESTPOSSIBLE!!! GOT THAT!?!?!? C'MON LADY KEEP UP!!!. yeah that didn't go so well.

Finally, I'm breathing agian and she says "what was that first reservation you wanted to make again?" UM, deep breath, Cindy's Castle for breakfast? Ok what time? Earlier the better. "well...." At this point I see ADR's being snatched left and right on the screen. She's not grabbing and holding there going going going......."how many people?" 12, is there hope?

"Sorry, sir, there is nothing available" UUHHHH did you say nothing? "yes sir, all filled up for that date." Now, some of you might know this and some of you may not. You have to ask them specifically what you want. They do not offer anything to you. Well, I asked if there was any other times available. What I meant IN MY MIND, was that was there any other reservations available during our stay? "No sir, not for that many people." how about splitting us up? "no sir all full up"

All I could picture was a WW II fighter plane being shot down and the whirring engine spinning towards the ground.

How about the Hoop Dee Doo Review? Cast member," I can't schedule that sir, your party is too big." WHAAAAA? can I schedule my other ADR;s with you? "yes" ?????? you can do these but not Hoop Dee Doo? "that is correct"

NOW!!!! I'm really concerned...I gotta these others done, so that takes a while to get done, what will happen to the HDDR ressies, will I finish in time?

I get Prime Time done, Wonderland Tea Party check.......Liberty Tree Tavern.....got it...O'hana's ........whew, yes got that one........HOOOPPPPDDDEEEEDDDDOOOOO...."ok sir, I'll transfer you"

Talk to the large group ressie cast member. What does she do? Split our tables up.....wait a minute.....couldn't that last CM do that?????

Ok, do we get tables or WHAT?!?! Well, which areas do you want? Middle of the road.......just get it boooked. I'm dying here!!! Thinking ....eject eject.....EJECT!!!!! Then she says......"ok sir, you're all set for the Hoop Dee Doo" Whew!!!! YES!!!!! and of course......SCORE!!!!!!!

Oh but wait there's more. The Mickey Christmas Party is that Friday we arrive, do you want tickets? Well.......no, getting up at OOOO my gawd its early...fly in....swim......get room......eat.....I'm thinking bed at this point. Don't want to push the kids too early. So I pass....."but sir, only a limited number of tickets will be sold, and to ensure your admitance, you need to act NOW!!!!" Ok, didn't realize I was buying a car......no I'm good, not extra tickets for us.

So, I finally hang up. My DD comes down all wide awake. DID YOU GET CINDY"S CASTLE??????!!!!!!!!!!! Um....welll.....you see .....wha wwhhhaaa ....happened wwwaasss....welll.....no. Didn't DSIL? I dunno, I haven't called her to see, its early, I'm disappointed and want to crawl back in bed. DD well call her and ask. Maybe later..

She says.....maybe NOW. So, yes I did. I picked the phone up put freshly molded earpiece to my ear...fits perfectly....how did that happen. She answers......my daughter wants to know how you fared with WDW Dining. Her response was, " OH I DID GREAT!!!!!"

What?

Stay TUNED!!!!

 

[annakris1973]

my daughter wants to know how you fared with WDW Dining. Her response was, " OH I DID GREAT!!!!!"

What?

Stay TUNED!!!!

OH! the suspense!!!!!!!!

 

[passthepixiedust]

So??? I wanna know! Did you get it?

 

[DaPanMan]

Before I get to the pretrippie, I have a brief aside to make.

When getting ready to make our schedule with the entire family, my DSIL asked my then DS3 1/2 who he was riding next to on the plane. The little guy puts his hands on his hips and sits there for a few seconds. Then brings his hand out and bends it at the elbow as he says, " not you." and runs away. We were all dying at that point. So I had to make a rule, because he wouldn't kiss her good bye. That with no smooches comes no Disney. His nonchalant reply was, "thats a bad rule." Listen kid who made you the smarty britches you are? I guess all fingers would have to point to me.

Anyway, back to the action.

So, I'm on the phone with DSIL as requested by my DD11. I didn't get any ADR's that we wanted, how did you do? Her reply, "oh I got 'em all." Wait a minute, confussion set in on my part. How does that happen, did you get in before me? Did you bribe someone? Do you KNOW someone? What what what???

After hearing your confirmation numbers, she got in after me. SOOO how did you pull it off? I asked her for the dates we wanted and she said they were all full up. Ok IIII got that. So, she asked if I wanted to check any other dates that we were there and I said yes. Of course you did. BUT!!!! why didn't my CM do that for MEEEEE!!!!! I'm the one who's running this show, I'm the one IN CHARGE!!!! Cause you know its all about MMMEEE.

So, I played it cool and asked how she managed that. She said she mentioned her last name. LAST NAME?!?!?! Castle. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!! nope. Breakfast at the Castle with the Castles. I was dumbfounded. Completely and utterly dumbfounded. She then tells me we, meaning me, will have to readjust the schedule of when we do what where.

DSIL tells me she gets the Cindy Castle breakfast on the 4th day instead of our actual first day at WDW. She listed off all 6 kids and ages. The CM then asks if they are all her's. DSIL blows a small gasket and politely tells the lady to BITE HER TONGUE. Then she gets the other ADR I asked her to get before getting shipped over to Hoop Dee Doo.

She asks for the specific date and is told "all full up." She asks for openings for the dates we are there. They tell her our first full day at WDW is open. Book it up. Then she's told about the Mickey Christmas deal on our arrival date.

She tells me about it and that they are thinking about doing the Christmas Party. Spending the extra $55 for the 4 hours in the park. But again, I say thats too long of a day. Up at O'dark thirty, on the plane, arrival, lunch, swimming, O'hana's at 7 pm for dinner. Then wake up to get to MK in the morning. WHEW I'm tired NOW.

Back to the ADR's. I make a few adjustments and we have a new and improved daily fun time schedule. Which I'll get into next time. Just under 4 months to go and not much left to do. The other thing is I'm about done with my pre trippie and then what'll I do??????

 

[rentayenta]

The way to extend your pre-trippie is to buy stuff, change ADRs, ask for opinions, and chit chat.


Your plans looks good. I can't believe the first ADR CM didn't think to split the party.