How my "Budget" trip is becoming their dream trip of a lifetime

[IlovemythreeC's]

We cannot wait to hear more about your trip

 

[Chelley00]

One more little change to our plans.

I think we're canceling the cruise and just going to WDW.

It's been such a hard call, but we ran the numbers and the WDW trip can be a longer trip for way less money. Almost $1,000! When you are living on a budget, and with things getting more and more expensive for us, and the fact that we'll have 2 kids in private school next year, it's just making more and more sense to cheapen vacation.

Actually I'm okay with it. I had some "only if's" and those only ifs are happening. We'd only cancel the cruise if the house we stayed out last time was available. I'm still waiting to here from her, but last time I talked with her, it was available. I would only go if we could go to MNSSHP, eat at Le Cellier or Coral Reef, and do the Akershus Breakfast.

As luck would have it, I was looking on the disboards today and IlovemythreeC's was giving away a Le Cellier ressie for 5. (Thank you thank you thank you thank you) I called today and got every single ADR I could have hoped for at perfect times, including a 1900 Park Fare ressie before MNSSHP.

It just seems more and more like God is trying to tell us we need to change our plans. The kids are all more than okay with missing the cruise because it gives them longer at Disney, they get to ride some of the things that have opened since we were there last (Toy Story Mania, Laugh Floor) and DS6 is tall enough to ride Space Mountain and RNR, and DS3 is now tall enough to ride BTMR, Splash Mountain and Soarin'! I'm torn, because we've been planning the cruise for so long and I'm loving the thought of a Bahama Mama on an adults only beach, but it's only a 4 day cruise where we do 10 days at WDW

For now I'm leaving this as is and just waiting on the house owner. If she has availability for all our dates, we're changing. And sticking $1,000 into savings instead of in the Disney Cruise Line pocket

 

[IlovemythreeC's]

Sounds great! I have two kids in private school also so I know where you are coming from. It seems like everything is going up all around. I am so thrilled that we are still able to go to Disney this year. I am so happy that you were able to get all the ADR's that you want also.

I am looking forward to reading more plans about your trip.

 

[basketlover]

Not that this matters to everyone but you'll be on vaction when the election is held. So if that matters make sure to do your absentee(spelled???) vote.

 

[Chelley00]

So I did it. I sucked it up, typed out the email to DU, and canceled the cruise. Now I'm back to my budget trip, but as far as the kids say it, it's still their trip of a lifetime!

I've spent this weekend replanning and rebudgeting. Looks like 7 days at WDW (one night at MNSSHP) 1 day at Kennedy Space Center and spending the night in a hotel on the beach, then heading back to Orlando for 3 more days at Disney. The house we stayed at in '06 was available for $110 a night. Not bad for a 4 bedroom house with private pool and hot tub!

I'm a little sad about canceling the cruise. We've never cruised. I've never even been out of the US. I was so looking forward to it and had been planning and saving for 2 years! I think I will always wonder "what if" we had gone.

I just have to keep telling myself that this way we get to vacation twice as long. We get to do new things, spend more time where we had to cut it short last trip (especially World Showcase in Epcot...we really hurried through there) We loved MNSSHP and we'll be able to do that again. Plus, we got GREAT ADR's (and we LOVE to eat!) It's okay.

 

[Paparazzimama]

Just stumbled onto your journal from another thread (don't remember which one) and have enjoyed your obsessive-planningness! (Yes, it is a word! LOL!) You sound so much like me - I have lost count of how many times our plans have changed. And am kind of glad that I don't have my own journal keeping track of how rediculous I can be! Anyhoo, just subscribing to your thread in hopes of more updates - would love to see some pics from your 2006 trip!

 

[Chelley00]

Yay! The school calendar for DS12 and DD6 came out, and they are out of school 2 days for parent/teacher conferences during our trip. And now that we've rearranged things, DS15 won't miss any school at all! Do I know how to plan or what?

Well, as if I needed something else to stress over, I noticed the Universal ticket deal going on. $79.99 tickets for 7 days. Hmmmmm. DS15 was not happy with the idea of going to Disney anyhow. (apparently he thinks he's too "cool" for Disney ) and DS12 was just at WDW with his dad. After crunching the numbers, we could buy the Universal tickets for the 6 of us for only $100 more than adding to our Disney tickets, plus buying DS15 his 3 day tickets. Hmmmm.

After presenting it to the masses and gettting the A-OK for Universal, our plans have changed ever so slightly.....again. You wouldn't believe the pencil erase marks in my poor Passporter from all the changes!!! However, these plans are final. I mean FINAL

Oct 24 drive to FL (we may leave after school on the 23rd and drive until dark so we don't have to do the entire trip at once)

Oct 25 Epcot, ressies at Le Cellier
Oct 26 AK, dinner at the villa
Oct 27 DHS, ressies at Prime Time (may cancel to save $$)
Oct 28 MNSSHP, ressies at 1900 Park Fare (maybe a park trip in the morning?)
Oct 29 MK, ressies at Crystal Palace dinner (may cancel to save $$)
Oct 30 EP, breakfast at Akershus
Oct 31 kids choice day (I'm betting DHS), ressies at Chef Mickeys, p/u DS15 from MCO late
Nov 1 Kennedy Space Center
Nov 2 all day at Cocoa Beach, maybe more KSC if the kids want
Nov 3 Universal all day
Nov 4 Universal, DS flies out of MCO at 7, we drive to GA
Nov 5 drive home

I added up all my rewards from rewards sites, credit card points from the bank etc and I have $250 in giftcards coming to help pay for gas, food and a TS meal.

 

[Chelley00]

We're doing the double digit dance at our house!!

 

[stagemomx3]

Double Digit Dance

 

[DisneyFun08]

We're doing the double digit dance at our house!!

What a cute countdown marker! Hooray for double digits! I'll be there soon myself. WoooHoooooo!

 

[Chelley00]

Our tickets are here

We ordered Universal tickets when they were $79.99 and they are safely tucked away. Now, last week before the price went up, I ordered our Disney tickets. Buying them then saved us $75. They got here yesterday. Between that and school clothes/supply shopping, we're not completely broke

The final payment on the villa is due at the end of this month. We're at 74 days on the countdown calendar. It's starting to get here!!!!

 

[Alysa]

Great report! LOVE that countdown calendar!
Maybe you and DH can go on a cruise together once all the kids are off to University! We are planning to do that Star Clipper sailing ship in the Greek Isles - just the two of us, sigh!

 

[Chelley00]

Dusting off the pre-trip report. We're at 44 days at counting


Friday I sent off the final payment for the rental villa. This is a picture we took when we stayed in '06.

We thought about staying someplace new, but we honestly love this house. It has 4 big bedrooms, 2 full baths, every kitchen item we could ever need, pool, large 6 person hot tub, and a great view of a pond with a conservation area next door to it (read only one neighbor!) Plus, the owner is so very nice to deal with.

I've been so busy taxi-ing kids to school, soccer, karate etc that I haven't had much time to plan anything. My goal this week is to start making a packing list spreadsheet and to finalize our budget numbers in my Passporter. I also want to do a 30 day themed night countdown of movies/meals with the kids, so I need to start making a list (and a grocery list!)


I'm so ready for vacation!!!!

 

[Chelley00]

We added a little something to our trip this week.

DH and I were talking about how we never get any alone time, and we were trying to come up with something we could do kidless while in Orlando. We weren't horribly comfortable with the idea of leaving the kids alone in the villa while we went to dinner or something after the 15 year old got there to babysit. I'm sure they would be fine, and I tend not to get way over protective, but it's a strange house in a strange neighborhood (not to mention I have a 3 year old who loves the water and there will be a pool and a lake right outside the door)

We got to checking on things they could all do together, and decided to book the pirate cruise for the 3 younger ones (before DS15 gets to Florida) and booked Kona Cafe for breakfast for DH and I. DS12 might be a tad too old for the cruise, but we're hoping he'll have fun with his siblings and I'll feel more comfortable having him there with DS3 (who will be one week shy of his fourth birthday but the CM said he could go!) If it's really lame for him, we'll pay him babysitting money to make up for it




This weekend I told DH my main project is our packing list and some basic touring plans. I don't go overboard commando, but since I know what parks we'll be at on what days, I want to get an idea of what rides/attractions we'll want to do. Not so worried about WDW since we spent 10 days there, but I'm a little nervous about Universal

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Chelley,
Popped over after you posted on my PTR, just subbing now, will catch up! Sounds like you'll be there about the same time as us!
Di x

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Have I killed yet another thread?
Di x

 

[Chelley00]

You didn't kill it! I just sort of let it die because it didn't seem like anyone was reading anymore

We hit single digits today.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

You didn't kill it! I just sort of let it die because it didn't seem like anyone was reading anymore

We hit single digits today.

I have a bad habit of killing threads!!
I'm still reading!!!

Single digit dance!!!!

This weekend I told DH my main project is our packing list and some basic touring plans. I don't go overboard commando, but since I know what parks we'll be at on what days, I want to get an idea of what rides/attractions we'll want to do. Not so worried about WDW since we spent 10 days there, but I'm a little nervous about Universal

BTW, we have a different meaning in the UK for 'going commando'

Di x

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Hi! I just found your PTR. Everything looks great! You're a master planner You'll love universal and so will your kids, you made a good decision; it's not to be missed! It looks like we'll be there at the same time too. I hope you have a great time!

 

[Chelley00]

Okay, so since I have a few new readers, maybe I should update our plans?

8 days to go!

Friday comes the big old budget buster....new tires for the van. DH decided we couldn't drive 900+ miles to Florida on my tires. While it's there, might as well get an oil change, no?

I've packed clothes for the 2 youngest, basically because I can pull all their Disney clothes out of their closet and toss them in the Ziplocs. We have a "disney box" that we keep in a linen closet and toss the things we use only on vacation, plus samples we get in the mail. Last weekend I went through it, made a list of what we needed to buy, and started packing the samples in our over the door shoe holders for the bathrooms.

Last Sunday we took DS 3 1/2 to tons of stores with a measuring tape to buy new shoes. He's 39 3/4 inches WITHOUT shoes, but reading on the Dis made me realize he'd need to be 41 inches WITH shoes and he was about 40 1/2", so we wanted to make sure he'd get to ride something. I'm not for fudging a bunch, but I'll fudge 1/2". I'm just really bummed he won't be tall enough for Jurassic Park at Universal. He's a HUGE dinosaur fan, but at least he can do the Discovery Center.

And for my budget part of the vacation:

while we were at Target looking at shoes (which is where we found the tallest tennis shoes for DS), we found a huge suitcase on clearance for $11! It was originally part of a 6 piece set, but for some reason, the other 5 pieces were gone?

And, we've decided to be good, and cancel most of our ADRs. Since we switched our MNSSHP dates, it messed up our park of the day plan, so we'd have to change some anyhow, plus having to pay almost $150-$200 per meal for our family hurts. The only ones we are keeping at this point are the Akershus breakfast and Chef Mickey's dinner. So sad about canceling Le Cellier though but at least I can get cheese soup at Epcot during Food and Wine Festival!