Have a Holly Jolly Disney! A Dec 2013 PTR!

[Lbachelot]

Hi Danielle!

Fellow Texan here and close neighbor, we are from Beaumont!

Jumped over from the December 2013 thread.

I can't get enough DIS while planning our upcoming Christmas Trip either. Also, spreadsheets, yes! Spreadsheets are my friend!

 

[DisMomJill]

Joining in. We are planning a trip the first week of December.

 

[mckelvey72]

I am another one from the facebook group and going first week of December. Man, now that i have read about the golf carts I want to spend an afternoon evening over at Ft Wilderness. My kids would love it. Hmmm....may have to check into the schedule to see if it can fit in!!!!!

 

[mckelvey72]

Crap, I really should be working.....now I want to extend our vacation a day and spend Friday 12/6 at Ft Wilderness with a golf cart and then do the campfire......you people are PURE EVIL

 

[pigletto]

Hi! I also hopped over from the December thread.
Our dates are the same! We're at Wilderness Lodge Villas. Although I may try to sneak in Universal at the end and come home on the 23rd. We'll have to see what the budget looks like as it gets closer.
This trip is a surprise for the kids (9 and 16) so I can only obsessively talk about it here

 

[::danielle::]

My poor little PTR thread! I've ignored this thread for so long. It's become quite pitiful!

Welcome to everyone who just joined in! And "Hello!" to everyone who have been here for a while.

I'll write a decent update soon. I just found out yesterday that my MIL will be joining us for the first 4 days of our trip! I'm really excited to introduce her to Disney but it changes everything I have planned so far. I want her to participate in all the fun stuff so instead of spreading it out across the week I'm going to do as much as possible in the beginning of the week.

My ADR date is Monday so I have to get all the rearranged plans figured out quickly!!

 

[::danielle::]

Hi Everyone! I’m finally back! Since my last post so much has happened! My 180 ADR date has come and passed, MVMCP tickets went on sale, and now we’re on the eve of the release of the CP Packages! That means we have a lot to catch up on!

The first big news is that my Mother-in-Law has decided to join us on for half of our trip!! She has only been to Magic Kingdom once for a few hours while she was in Orlando on business. So she has never really *been* to Disney! It’s so exciting to introduce someone to something you love! But, there are some complications which have me worried. The biggest one is where will she stay?! Although our 1-bedroom condo at Bay Lake Tower will fit 5, having her sleep in the living room with the kids is not an option. I researched all the lodging choices and presented her with the information this weekend. As we all know, Disney is not exactly a budget vacation. After I finished, she didn’t comment or respond. That has me very worried. She hasn’t booked her airplane ticket either. I’m really worried that she’ll change her mind at the last minute and then I’ll be on the hook for the ADR’s and tickets that I’ve already paid for! Speaking of ADR’s, let’s get to the fun stuff!

In the days before the big day, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to do a pre-park CRT ADR in the morning and MVMCP (with dinner at BOG) that evening. It’s such a long day! But we’re at BLT, a 5 minute walk from MK. It’s certainly doable with a nice afternoon nap. The best day to do all of this is our first park day, Sunday December 15th. MIL will be with us, we’ll have lots of energy and excitement to keep our adrenaline going for the long day! But that’s also an excellent day to visit other parks with predicted low crowd levels. What’s a girl to do?

When my ADR date *finally* arrived after months of thinking, planning, and stressing I woke up extra early to hop on the internet. I opened both the old and new reservations site. I drank my coffee and tried to enjoy the quiet stillness of my house. I pondered my plans over and over again to make sure that I was making the right choices. Before I knew it, it was GO TIME!

I did what any commitment-phobe would do. I booked each reservation twice (except for BBB, more on that later).

As of now, here is the plan:
Sunday, December 15th – BBB 8:40am, CRT 10:30 am, BOG 6:30 pm
Monday, December 16th – Sci Fi 11:30
Tuesday December 17th – CRT 8:30 am, BOG 6:30 pm

That’s all, folks! I know. Totally underwhelming. I just can’t commit to making too many commitments! While we follow a touring plan, I like to leave room for spontaneity. I don’t want to spend our trip constantly looking at my watch to make sure we’re not late for something. Fast passes already put enough pressure on me to make sure we don’t miss our window.

I said I would get back to why I only booked BBB on one day (instead of twice). It was a last minute addition. I didn’t think it was worth the price until I realized that my daughter, girly girl that she is, would love it. Then I felt bad and called to book it so my MIL could go with us too. Disney sure knows how to suck the money right out of my wallet! I’m sure I won’t regret it for a minute!

That being said, I do have plans for other more exciting things that have not yet been booked.

Thursday, December 19th – Sanaa
Friday, December 20th – Biergarten CP Package

On Thursday, I’m going to treat hubby to a surprise Disney Date Night at Sanaa! I’m going to put the kids in the childcare at Animal Kingdom and spend some time alone with DH. I cannot express how excited I am to show him that Disney is not just about rides, lines, and characters. But I am preparing myself that it’s going to be an expensive night! [sticks head in sand].

So, my virtual friends, that is all I have to share for now! I’m still fretting over the ADR details. Please don’t be a stranger. I’d love to hear any insight, advice, criticisms, and thoughts that you may have to offer!

 

[serene56]

The first big news is that my Mother-in-Law has decided to join us on for half of our trip!! She has only been to Magic Kingdom once for a few hours while she was in Orlando on business. So she has never really *been* to Disney! It’s so exciting to introduce someone to something you love! But, there are some complications which have me worried. The biggest one is where will she stay?! Although our 1-bedroom condo at Bay Lake Tower will fit 5, having her sleep in the living room with the kids is not an option.!

Curious to know why her sleeping in the living room with the kids is not an option?

Her going into a room alone-- will be a LOT of money.
Maybe she feels you dont want her to go.

 

[::danielle::]

Curious to know why her sleeping in the living room with the kids is not an option?

Her going into a room alone-- will be a LOT of money.
Maybe she feels you dont want her to go.

Unfortunately there are several reasons why she needs a private room (with a door). I'd rather not go into the details because it's a personal issue about someone else besides my immediate family.

I've been asking her to join us ever since we started planning last year. I wanted to get a 2-bedroom when I booked so she could come but she wasn't sure back then. I hope she doesn't feel like we don't want her because that is simply not true!

The reason she's hesitating is that between the 180 day mark an now she purchased/closed on a house. She really wants to do some renovations but she cannot afford to do both the trip and the renovations. I really want her to come but I also understand if she feels like the renovations are the best use of her money right now. It's a tricky situation. I'm praying that she will have clarity and peace about which ever one she decides.

 

[serene56]

I asked because i am a MIL and we are going on a family vacation in Dec. (actually its the first one for ALL)
and as the MIL i am kinda afraid of what I can do and what i cant do.

(I am planning my day and will share with them if they want---lol

 

[benjyt]

Joining in! We've got a (relatively) late-planned FW trip for Dec. 8-13. We've never camped at WDW before, so we're not locked in yet. I'm looking forward to your Report!