I became tour guide & planner by default An Aug ’12 Pre-trip Report

[mom2clr]

Hello!! Welcome to my first attempt at a pre-trip report. We are over a year away from our trip but I am so excited! I'm not a fabulous writer or very witty but am looking for a place to channel all my planning energy.

As for the title, simply because I have gone and my sister hasn't, I have been put in charge of taking care of all the details. My sister and niece have never been to WDW so she is sitting back and letting me plan everything…I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Lol I do intend on getting input from my (then) 14 yr old niece as we will be traveling with my 2 DDs (then ages 4 ½ and 18months).

The details:
When: Aug 28-Sep 3 2012
Where: I’d love to stay at the AoA but it seems that not only financially, but for sanity sakes, 2 rooms at POP might be the best choice. I keep going back and forth this but I’m sure once the discounts come out, I will make a better informed decision.
Who:
Let me formally introduce myself…my name is Natalie (35…36 on 8/4) and I am a stay at home mom to 2 great little girls. I was laid off in Feb ’09 and my DBF and I decided that it would be best for me to stay home and raise our DD (only one at the time) while I finished my bachelor’s degree. I graduated in May ’10 and was in the process of looking for employment when we found out we were pregnant again. Soooo, my stint as a stay at home has been extended. My first trip to Disney was at 15. My mom gave me the option of a Sweet 15 party or a trip to Disney. I don’t even think I let her finish her sentence. Best memory I have of my mom. We left my dad at home and she and I spent 2 weeks in Miami and Orlando.

DD1, Caitlyn currently 3 ½ and one tough cookie. lol She is ball of energy and sometimes too smart for her own good. She will be starting Pre-K3 in Sept and I am looking forward to it. Lol She took her first trip to Magic Kingdom at 19months but I consider our first mommy/daughter trip in Jan ’10 at almost 2 her first real trip. We spend 9 days at POFQ and had a blast. We went again in Sept ’10 and enjoyed our first MNSSHP.

DD2, Danielle is currently 4 ½ months old. She is a happy and lovable baby and I’m looking forward to her first trip next summer.

DSis, Yokasta (40) has NEVER been but is a huge Disney fan. She regrets not having been able to go on that trip for my bday but she had already left home at that point. She has lived vicariously through my trips over the years.

DNiece, Anastasia (13) has not only never been to Disney, she has never been on a plane so this will be a trip full of firsts for her. Although she is a teenager, she is very much in touch with her inner child so I have no fear she will be absolutely wowed by everything.

I will post pics as soon as I figure out how to do it.

 

[disneylovin24]

 

[mom2clr]

Here are a couple of pics of the cast...

This was taken last November for my nephew's 17th bday. L to R:
Me (about 6 1/2 months pregnant), Caitlyn, DNiece Stasia, DNephew Kris, DSis Yokasta & DBro-in-law Miguel.

Stasia & Caitlyn with Danielle at 6 days old

My girls on Mother's Day

You are probably wondering why the men in our lives aren't going...well, my isn't a Disney fan...at all. lol My sister doesn't want to deal with my nephew's "I'm too cool for Disney" attitude (even though he has never been) and by default, my bro-in-law is staying behind as he will not want to hang with all the girls alone. I have a feeling they (except my DBF) will end up coming, which is another reason why I want to do 2 rooms, but we shall see what transpires over the next year...

ETA: SORRY FOR THE BIG PICTURES. I WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THEM SMALLER.

 

[mom2clr]

Tickets:
I purchased 2 (one child, one adult) 6 day MYW tickets from undercover tourist before the prices went up in hopes we would make a trip in September. Our trip will be Sat-Mon with Sat and Mon being travel days so we will have 8 park days. Need to decide if I want to add a day or 2 and hopper.

I usually take a break mid-week and have never done park hoppers but now going with my sister and niece and actually having extra sets of hands to help with the girls, I’m not sure what I want to do. I’m hoping the YES program will be running the week we are there so at least my sister can take advantage of the tickets prices through the program.

I’m fully aware we do not have to be together 24/7 but as I said before, with extra hands to help with kids and strollers, I would love to do a couple of late nights whether it is a late EMH or shows/fireworks I haven’t been able to see.

Schedule:
Because I am so impatient, I have already created a schedule spreadsheet using this year’s times. I know times change but now all I have to do is plug in the new info when it comes out.

Dining:
If free dining is out again that time next year, I am thinking we will jump on it. I would love to do some character dining (we would have to upgrade from the quick service to regular). However, my kids and my niece don’t really eat much so we would have to crunch numbers and see it would be worth it.

Stroller:
I am taking a single stroller for Danielle, but am wondering if I should rent a double. Caitlyn hasn’t ridden in a stroller since about 2 ½. Even when we went last September, she rarely used it. But if I want to do a few late nights, I’m thinking that it would be worth the expense.

Obviously I have tons of thoughts running through my head. It’s nice to have somewhere to write them down. I know a million things will change before next year!

 

[mom2clr]

Well, that didn’t take long. In speaking with my sister last night, she has informed me my nephew now wants to go on the trip. Lol Of course she told him he has now missed his chance, but I’m not convinced she won’t cave. This only confirms my thoughts of getting 2 rooms is the better idea.

 

[mom2clr]

Happy Birthday to me! I have been so excited about this trip that it didn’t occur to me that next year’s trip could easily be a belated birthday present. Looking forward to getting my birthday pin.

I have also decided that I need to start working on this losing the baby weight. It took me 6 months on Weight Watchers with my oldest to lose 25lbs. I didn't gain as much this time around, as I only have 15lbs to get to my pre-pregnancy weight but I want to lose an additional 15-20 after that. With a year to go, I know I can do it.

 

[disneylovin24]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!


Definetely get the pin when you go next year

 

[mom2clr]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!


Definetely get the pin when you go next year

Thank you! We will have a collection of pins between first visit and birthdays.

 

[mom2clr]

So, I know I will change my mind a zillion times before we have everything set in stone but this whole ticket thing has got me going nuts. I currently have 6day MYW tickets. I know I am going to upgrade to an 8 day ticket, but the question is do I upgrade to a regular 8day MYW or a hopper??

I use Tour Guide Mike & Touring Plans (and now Easy WDW) to help with planning my days and because I have always gone with my DD, staying out late never appealed to me. However, since my sister and niece are going, I’m thinking this would be a great time to make it to some evening shows.

Now that also brings the question of strollers and buses. If I do a couple of late nights, would it be worth the cost of renting a double in case my oldest DD can’t hang and falls asleep? The upside is that with 2 other people, one can hang on to each kid while I handle the stroller. On the other hand, the hardest night I had on our last trip was getting to and on the bus after MNSSHP. My DD was out like a light and I was trying to keep her upright and deal with the stroller on a full bus. (I did wait for a new bus so I got on a seat, but it was rough.)

I’m also considering maybe renting a car. This way we can hit the park with the lowest crowd in the a.m. via Disney transportation, head back in the afternoon for a break and take then drive to the parks in the evening. The hardest part of trying to plan so far out is my 2 DDs. Who knows what their personalities will be like next year. I am basing Caitlyn’s personality on what I have seen so far and taking a wild guess on Danielle’s since she is only 4 months.

Oh well, I will keep coming up with scenarios and hopefully I will figure it out.

 

[Disney Dreamer Mommy]

Thanks for directing me to this thread. I feel like I will be learning a lot from you and I will help out as much as I can with any info I discover. I have not purchased or booked anything yet. I am still feeling a little overwhelmed. Some things you have mentioned in your posts are new to me like: easywdw etc.

I have also been thinking about the stroller rental. I don't know how much it costs yet but I think I may do it. My sons will be 4 and 1, even though my 4 year old will be running everywhere, it will only be a matter of time before he runs out of steam.

Why did you decide to buy your tickets so soon? How do you upgrade them?

 

[mom2clr]

Thanks for directing me to this thread. I feel like I will be learning a lot from you and I will help out as much as I can with any info I discover. I have not purchased or booked anything yet. I am still feeling a little overwhelmed. Some things you have mentioned in your posts are new to me like: easywdw etc.

I have also been thinking about the stroller rental. I don't know how much it costs yet but I think I may do it. My sons will be 4 and 1, even though my 4 year old will be running everywhere, it will only be a matter of time before he runs out of steam.

Why did you decide to buy your tickets so soon? How do you upgrade them?

I am certainly no expert, but I have been on these boards for a few years and I have learned A LOT. Just make sure to keep reading and asking questions. I have only recently started really posting, but lurked and learned.

My girls will be the same ages as your boys when we go. DD1 hasn't really used a stroller since 2 1/2 but I'm sure in that August heat and possible late nights, she will want it. Plus I get a little nervous in crowds and would want a place to wrangle her in. I will be renting either from Orlando Strollers or Magic Strollers and they run about $125 for the length of time I'm looking for.

I bought my tickets early because I wanted to pay 2011 prices. Disney usually increases prices in August, but this year they did it in June. From what I have read, the upgrade is rather easy. I use the ticket once, then go to guest services and the price I pay is the difference between the 6 day MYW ticket I have and what I upgrade to.

I haven't booked anything yet myself. Waiting to find out what if any deals come out.

Thank you for reading!

 

[Disney Dreamer Mommy]

So frustrating!! I typed a huge reply and of course, I did something and it all disappears!! I will give you the Cliff Notes version now...

I checked out Tour Guide Mike and was surprised to see a fee for his information. Did you subscribe to him? Was it worth it? What kind of info did you learn?

I was under the impression that Disney sells packages that include the theme parks AND hotels. Why did you decide to buy tickets and hotel separately?

I never even thought about the possibility that prices for 2012 would go up in the 2011 summer!! I am so bummed! Was the price difference so big?

The currently stroller that I have now is a Sit and Stand.... so my newborn is in the front and my older son has the option of sitting on a bench (within the stroller) or standing on a platform. I find that my oldest likes these options as we have already been on a few day trips to zoos etc. and he gets tired and takes advantage of the stroller. I figure the stroller would be WAY TOO BIG for the plane and for late nights.. I think my son would appreciate a more comfortable seat.

 

[Disney Dreamer Mommy]

What deals should I be looking for and where are some good places to look for these deals?

 

[mom2clr]

So frustrating!! I typed a huge reply and of course, I did something and it all disappears!! I will give you the Cliff Notes version now...

I checked out Tour Guide Mike and was surprised to see a fee for his information. Did you subscribe to him? Was it worth it? What kind of info did you learn?

I was under the impression that Disney sells packages that include the theme parks AND hotels. Why did you decide to buy tickets and hotel separately?

I never even thought about the possibility that prices for 2012 would go up in the 2011 summer!! I am so bummed! Was the price difference so big?

The currently stroller that I have now is a Sit and Stand.... so my newborn is in the front and my older son has the option of sitting on a bench (within the stroller) or standing on a platform. I find that my oldest likes these options as we have already been on a few day trips to zoos etc. and he gets tired and takes advantage of the stroller. I figure the stroller would be WAY TOO BIG for the plane and for late nights.. I think my son would appreciate a more comfortable seat.

What deals should I be looking for and where are some good places to look for these deals?

Tour Guide Mike is a gamble. Depending on who you ask is whether or not his site is useful. I have been a subscriber for years and to be honest, the ONLY information I care about are his best day/low crowds charts. He takes a while to update but his boards are full of people who are just as helpful as the Dis. My theory is that in the grand scheme of things, what he charges is nothing compared to the bigger cost of the trip. However, with easywdw, it's free. I'd stick with that as I hear wonderful things about it. (I tend to cross-reference the info from Tour Guide Mike, Touring plans and now easywdw to plan out my days).

If you check the Disney site, you will be able to price out your vacation...room only, room w/ tickets, room w/ dining, etc. Being that I usually travel with just my daughter, getting into a room package was not worth it to me. My daughter does not eat so the dining plan was just not worth it. The tickets I buy through Undercover Tourist (subscribe through Mousesavers.com and on the 15th of every month you get a newsletter with great information and a link to Undercover Tourist where you will get more of a discount on it's already low prices.) So I tend to jump on the room only discounts.

The ticket price increase was a few dollars....a few more dollars I now have to spend on fun extras.

I never invested in a double or sit and stand when my youngest was born as Caitlyn has not ridden in a stroller in so long and the local activities we do, she just prefers to walk. Besides the renting, I'm also looking at maybe getting one of those boards that you attach to stroller so she can ride if anything.

This is the bad thing about having so long to plan...all the what if's and different scenarios will drive you nuts.

Oh and as for the discounts: I usually keep my eyes open on the Dis boards. That is where I have known about them before they come out.

 

[mom2clr]

Between the stroller question and ticket upgrade I am going to drive myself nuts before next year.

I have never been a huge water park fan simply I think because I’m not a strong swimmer. Caitlyn has started swim classes at the Y this past summer and I plan on continuing them. She enjoys them and I want her to feel safe. Danielle is tiny but I plan on starting some classes with her myself. So now, I’m wondering if adding water parks to our trip would be advantageous? I know my sister and niece love water parks. I know, I know. We don’t have to do everything together, but it would be nice. I think the fact I will have the extra hands to help me is what is making me so indecisive. Caitlyn will be able to do so much more by next summer.

Oh well, one more thing to add to my list to figure out.