How Early is Too Early to Plan??? - TR Link Added - 12/29

[afwdwfan]

Reading up to that, I was sure thinking to myself, "He better stay away from my TR then!"

I'm going to have to know. I'm looking forward to it!!!!

Really, I can understand wanting to add Universal obviously, since we are doing it this trip. But the cost can really be prohibitive, and I totally understand that too. It's exactly the reason we didn't do Universal last trip and the one before that. I managed to convince DH that we should splurge since we won't be back for probably two years. I would say keep it on the back burner until you decide where you are staying in WDW. If you end up spending less than you planned on a resort, maybe it would make the Universal tickets a softer blow. And if you go at a slow time and use baby swap, not staying onsite at Universal might not be the end of the world either. Having done so in December myself and my parents doing it last October, we didn't feel we missed out on anything.

I'm really on the fence. I want to go so bad, but I know it is for selfish reasons.

We know from experience that this is a slow time at Universal, but the reason I'm considering staying onsite (if it really won't cost much more than a night at Disney) is just so that we can take our time. Even though we went around this same time last year, we went early and really hit the ground running trying to get everything done before lines could build. I think we would enjoy it more if we could just take our time and know that we won't have to deal with long lines no matter how late we get to something.

You are at Disney so it shouldn't really matter (well in my case when the resort is very important to me ).

It doesn't matter too much. I know some will be more convenient than others, etc. I know we'll enjoy it no matter where we stay, but it would be nice to experience different resorts.

I'm so with you about Moderates. I'd just as soon stay at Pop than CSR. DH didn't like CSR mainly because the resort was so large it took forever to get anywhere. The rooms were really nice though. We actually still talk about our stay at Pop. We really enjoyed it and felt like there was always plenty of busses and didn't feel like we were too far from AK, Epcot or DHS. If we weren't DVC members, it would always be either Value or Deluxe.

That is really how I feel as well. CSR was just so massive (yet crowded when we were there) and it was just inconvenient to go get breakfast or fill our mugs.

We stayed at Pop about as far from Everything Pop as we could get and it didn't seem like it was as far of a walk. I don't know, probably close, but for the extra money, I want to at least be closer to everything and not as spread out.

Wonder if your DW will come across your plea for the Contemporary

I doubt it. And I don't think she's nearly as crazy about it as I am. I think her pick would be Poly, my pick would be Contemporary and neither of us is really all that interested in GF.

 

[amazingact21]

All your resort choices makes sense to me. I've always said Beach Club would be better when the kids are old enough to enjoy the pools. After all, that's one of the perks of staying there, so you might as well wait to make use of it.


I hear a lot of parents get suckered into staying at AoA because of the theming. It's pretty genius of Disney. But, like you said, if you're splitting the cost of the room with your MIL and combine that with a discount, it could be worth it. Plus, all that extra room would be good for 2 kids.

 

[afwdwfan]

All your resort choices makes sense to me. I've always said Beach Club would be better when the kids are old enough to enjoy the pools. After all, that's one of the perks of staying there, so you might as well wait to make use of it.

I hear a lot of parents get suckered into staying at AoA because of the theming. It's pretty genius of Disney. But, like you said, if you're splitting the cost of the room with your MIL and combine that with a discount, it could be worth it. Plus, all that extra room would be good for 2 kids.

Yes. Beach Club is one of the top places I want to stay but it definitely makes the most sense to do it when you can enjoy the pool. Stormalong Bay just looks awesome!

I'm kind of hoping MIL does go for that very reason, but still no answer. I get my work bonus soon and told DW I want an answer so we can book and pay for part of it so we'll see...

 

[afwdwfan]

Happy Halloween (a day late).

We're at a Halloween party at my BIL's house. A lot of kids in costume. I thought I'd show our Jake and Izzy. DS was Jake last year and wanted to do it again so we decided to have DD be Izzy.

By the way... BIL's nephew is Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation. I don't have his parents' permission to share a pic, but it is the best toddler costume I've ever seen.

 

[SAT887]

Love the costumes I really think the Jake wigs are cute on little kids!

 

[Leshaface]

What great costumes! Hope they had fun at the party. Would LOVE to see a toddler as Cousin Eddie That's pretty brilliant.

 

[KatMark]

I LOVE the costumes. Cute kids!

 

[khertz]

Adorable costumes! I hope your family had a great Halloween.

 

[afwdwfan]

Love the costumes I really think the Jake wigs are cute on little kids!

Well, at one point DS took his shirt off and was running around with the Jake wig on, but not a shirt. I decided that we're just going to ride this costume out as long as we can and he'll just use the wig and be Rambo next year.

What great costumes! Hope they had fun at the party. Would LOVE to see a toddler as Cousin Eddie That's pretty brilliant.

They had a blast. There was candy and cousins to play with. What more does a kid need?

The Cousin Eddie costume was great. I mean he had the hat, a little tiny bathrobe, boots, the works. We were all laughing when we saw it and MiL made the comment that he's going to be so embarrassed about it one of these days. I corrected her and said he's going to be PROUD of it.

I LOVE the costumes. Cute kids!

Thanks!

Adorable costumes! I hope your family had a great Halloween.

We did. And I hope you were able to have a fun Halloween, even though it was the first night home from Disney World.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

The kids look so cute in their halloween costumes!!

 

[amazingact21]

Cute costumes! I can only imagine what a toddler Cousin Eddie looks like.....

 

[afwdwfan]

The kids look so cute in their halloween costumes!!

Thanks!

Cute costumes! I can only imagine what a toddler Cousin Eddie looks like.....

Thanks! It was a fantastic costume. He had the short white robe and everything.


The only thing missing was a hose, cigar and beer can.

 

[jedijill]

Late finding the report but just read all the way through. I can't believe how big the kids are getting! Can't wait to hear all the planning for the trip.

Jill in CO

 

[eandesmom]

Happy Halloween (a day late).

We're at a Halloween party at my BIL's house. A lot of kids in costume. I thought I'd show our Jake and Izzy. DS was Jake last year and wanted to do it again so we decided to have DD be Izzy.

By the way... BIL's nephew is Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation. I don't have his parents' permission to share a pic, but it is the best toddler costume I've ever seen.

So cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[that's nice]

I'm so with you about Moderates. I'd just as soon stay at Pop than CSR. DH didn't like CSR mainly because the resort was so large it took forever to get anywhere. The rooms were really nice though. We actually still talk about our stay at Pop. We really enjoyed it and felt like there was always plenty of busses and didn't feel like we were too far from AK, Epcot or DHS. If we weren't DVC members, it would always be either Value or Deluxe.

We've stayed at CSR and POP a few times. I've had longer walks at POP than at CSR. I guess it all depends where your room is. I've always requested a Cabanas room at CSR and have got it.

Happy Halloween (a day late).

We're at a Halloween party at my BIL's house. A lot of kids in costume. I thought I'd show our Jake and Izzy. DS was Jake last year and wanted to do it again so we decided to have DD be Izzy.

Love the costumes!

By the way... BIL's nephew is Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation. I don't have his parents' permission to share a pic, but it is the best toddler costume I've ever seen.

That's awesome!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Yay caught up!

I cannot believe how big DS has gotten! I think last time I was on one of your TR's DD was a tiny infant! She's absolutely adorable! Love the mirror pictures!

 

[glennbo123]

Hey Andy! Sorry that I haven't been able to keep up real well, but I've caught up now.

I enjoyed the beach mini trip report. I remember that our daughter Marlene didn't like the sand either. Judy says that she could put her on a towel and not worry about her going anywhere.

Like others have said, I think you could have good luck renting points.

 

[afwdwfan]

Late finding the report but just read all the way through. I can't believe how big the kids are getting! Can't wait to hear all the planning for the trip.

Jill in CO

They really are growing up fast...

I hope that I have more planning items to share soon...

So cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

We've stayed at CSR and POP a few times. I've had longer walks at POP than at CSR. I guess it all depends where your room is. I've always requested a Cabanas room at CSR and have got it.

We were in Cabanas last year... I think the same building as you... and it still was a frickin hike to get to food.

Love the costumes!

Thanks... I guess. I just paid for them.

That's awesome!

I definitely was.

Yay caught up!

I cannot believe how big DS has gotten! I think last time I was on one of your TR's DD was a tiny infant! She's absolutely adorable! Love the mirror pictures!

Hey! Haven't seen you around in a while. I'll have to go check out your TR.

They definitely are growing fast, and she is certainly developing quite the personality.

Hey Andy! Sorry that I haven't been able to keep up real well, but I've caught up now.

It's ok Glenn. It isn't like this thing is moving very fast anyway...

I enjoyed the beach mini trip report. I remember that our daughter Marlene didn't like the sand either. Judy says that she could put her on a towel and not worry about her going anywhere.

That is the nice benefit of it.

Like others have said, I think you could have good luck renting points.

I've been looking into it. I do like the options we would have renting points. I still don't know what we'll do. As I've mentioned, there are some non-DVC options that are near the top of the list if things shake out for us, but I'm working on a spreadsheet to compare renting points to other options.

 

[that's nice]

We were in Cabanas last year... I think the same building as you... and it still was a frickin hike to get to food.

We were in the 70's one time. It was a hike to get all the luggage to the room and a hike to the food court. I like that morning walk at CSR to get to El Centro but I am also the one who willingly ran 4 miles around that lake...

 

[Leshaface]

We've stayed at CSR and POP a few times. I've had longer walks at POP than at CSR. I guess it all depends where your room is. I've always requested a Cabanas room at CSR and have got it.

We were in the last building of the Casitas and it felt like forever to get to the lobby and restaurant. However, the bus stop wasn't too bad.

Our first time at WDW, we stayed at Pop Century and we had the BEST location! We were in the 60's building right behind Baloo and it was steps to the lobby.

We were in the 70's one time. It was a hike to get all the luggage to the room and a hike to the food court. I like that morning walk at CSR to get to El Centro but I am also the one who willingly ran 4 miles around that lake...

Well of course it wasn't too bad for you! You probably ran everywhere you went