I don’t know where we’re staying, but I know where we’re eating! May 2011 *NEW 5/10!

[Joyciemc]

Hey there! I am flattered that you decided to click on my pre-trip report! I hope you’ll enjoy reading about the planning of our latest adventure…

That’s us…Ben and Joyce. We love to travel (almost anywhere, especially if it means we have time off work) and love to have fun (why do people say this? Have you ever met anyone that said they didn’t like to have fun? I mean, I know a lot of people who don’t seem like they have a lot of fun, but I don’t think they would admit they wouldn’t like to.)

I’m 30 and I am the assistant manager at a very busy animal shelter. I am clumsy and socially awkward at times. I also love to type with parenthesis (you may have noticed already).

Ben’s 31 and is the sales manager for a company that sells stuff for pollution treatment equipment. He works from home and has a couple of cats as office assistants. He’s less clumsy than me and way less shy then me. He makes for a very fun travel partner!

We got married last April

And took a honeymoon to Jamaica, followed by part two at Disney in September (our 2nd WDW trip together.)

The trip report for that adventure can be found here: This Trip Broke the Bank.

We’re both fans of multiple choice trivia questions. In fact, we had Ben & Joyce Trivia at our wedding to determine who would take home the centerpieces.

So in the spirit of that, let’s start with such a question:
Where did we have a trip planned for our first anniversary?
a) Antigua
b) A Florida beach resort
c) Disney World
d) All of the above

So this shouldn’t be a hard question, considering that you are reading this on a Disney discussion board. But the answer is d) all of the above.

While on our honeymoon in Jamaica, we booked a trip to Antigua for a year later. But then we both realized that we didn’t have a compelling need to go there. So we canceled that trip a few months later.
Then, we went to Disney this past September. And Ben let me know that he didn’t really want to go back to WDW every year. But then we bought DVC (if you wanna know how all that happened, read the trip report!)

That’s us moments before we got in a maroon van that led to us purchasing 50 years worth of vacations a couple hours later.

Once we returned home and completed all the DVC paperwork, it was time to think about how to use our first points. I knew Ben wasn’t thrilled about Disney World again so soon, so we settled on a short anniversary trip to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in May and a longer trip to Hilton Head in the fall. Disney World would have to get by without us until October 2012 or so.
A pretty good compromise, all in all. So right when our 7 month window opened, we booked the May trip to Vero Beach.

But if I’m to be completely honest (and why shouldn’t I, we’re all friends here, right?), I couldn’t help but wish for a little WDW action. To be so close and not go to the parks… it would be torture! Before I got around to mentioning it to Ben, we happened to catch the WDW Holiday decoration special on HGTV. Ben said he’d like to do WDW at Christmas sometime. I agreed. Then we took our dog to the dog park.
While there, I mentioned adding some WDW days to our May trip. But Ben accurately pointed out that the cost of park tickets for just a couple of days would be ridiculous. And APs wouldn’t make sense because we are 100% going to HHI in the fall, not WDW (that’s a trip I am super stoked about and we better not change!)
So then he said, “We could just go to Disney. Where would you want to stay?”

 

[Missyrose]

Hi! I'm in! Well, you knew I'd follow you over here after that fun TR

 

[Trinity524]

I made the first page SCHWEET! I'm in

 

[LisaKeys]

If I make page 1, it will be my first time - wahoo!!!

Loved you TR that just finished up - and happy to be on board for your PTR(s).

Read you soon!

 

[JMat]

I'm In - ready to go again!!

 

[Joyciemc]

Hi! I'm in! Well, you knew I'd follow you over here after that fun TR

Thanks for tagging along!
And reading your TR is gonna help me pass the time till my trip!

I made the first page SCHWEET! I'm in

You're quick! Glad you're here, I'll try to make this fun!

If I make page 1, it will be my first time - wahoo!!!

Loved you TR that just finished up - and happy to be on board for your PTR(s).

Read you soon!

Thanks for hopping over here! Glad my TR didn't scare you away! I have some high hopes for this trip (but not too high, we saw what happened with that last time!)

I'm In - ready to go again!!

Jessica! I can't believe you already went on your trip and are back. I'm a terrible DISer! (I feel like I say that a lot )
Off to check out your TR now...

 

[annmarieda]

I am here!!! Can't wait to follow along.

BTW...I have been meaning to share with you... I think my dd got a wedding dress just like yours...only pink. Other than that update on wedding plans...there are none.

 

[Tracy161]

Woohoo! I'm in again too... wouldn't miss it!!!

 

[klacey1]

Sweet, first page! Can't wait to hear more about your plans!!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Yay! I was so excited to see you had started a PTR! I love your intro.

 

[Joyciemc]

I have stuff to share about the plans for this trip, and I will update this PTR soon, I promise!

I am here!!! Can't wait to follow along.

BTW...I have been meaning to share with you... I think my dd got a wedding dress just like yours...only pink. Other than that update on wedding plans...there are none.

YAY! I loooooooved my dress. Can't wait to see a picture of it in pink!
Kira is like me- I had my dress picked before any other plans were made!

Woohoo! I'm in again too... wouldn't miss it!!!

Woohoo! Thanks for joining in!

Sweet, first page! Can't wait to hear more about your plans!!

And I can't wait to share them... and I will, very soon. I promise!

Yay! I was so excited to see you had started a PTR! I love your intro.

Thanks! And I am excited to see you started your TR! If I don't get an update written super quick, it's cause I got sidetracked by reading yours

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I'm in! Congrats on getting married and on 50 yrs worth of DVC lol.
I am getting married this Aug, your trivia thing was so cute!

We have gone to WDW in May, such a nice time to go, would love to go there again in May but with FD being offered in Aug I don't think I have much of a choice now lol!
Happy Planning!

 

[Joyciemc]

We are cat sitting for friends of ours for a little while, and he just met our dog. I thought this picture of his reaction was pretty funny:

The past few days have been pretty busy, and I haven’t had a chance to update with our latest trip planning. I didn’t even watch TV on Thursday (I am majorly addicted to TV. To go an entire day without watching shows just how busy I must be!) The good thing about that is a few more days have passed towards our trip, and it is that much closer. We’re less than 5 months now! Though we still don’t know where we’re staying. But let’s tell this in order, huh?

This is one of the things that we’ve been busy with:

Here it is less naked:

Our Christmas tree!

And the ornament I mentioned at the end of my TR. We found it, and now I remember what it looks like.

Let’s talk Disney for a moment, shall we? I want to share some trip details!
Once Ben suggested changing our May Vero Beach trip to a WDW trip, it was a done deal. But before we could call to make a reservation, we had to figure out where we wanted to stay. We would be spending more points at WDW than if we went to Vero Beach no matter what, but we wanted to try to keep it to a minimum. So we narrowed it down to Boardwalk Inn, Wilderness Lodge, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Weekends are more points, so we’re doing a Sunday-Friday trip.
Once we called Member Services, we learned that cheap studios (we don’t care about views, so we don’t want to spend more points on a higher level room) at these resorts weren’t just lying around waiting for us. After trying a few different things, we booked a studio at Kidani Village for 5/1-5/6. Our first choice of Boardwalk Inn only had availability 5/2-5/5. Ben wanted to think about doing a split stay, but for such a short trip, I thought it would be too much hassle. So we are wait listed for the Boardwalk.
And that’s why I don’t know where we’re staying… we will automatically be switched if a studio opens up at the Boardwalk, but otherwise we’re at Kidani (not a savannah view, remember- we are not view people!) It’s actually kind of fun to have this little element of uncertainty… mostly because I would be happy at either place.
Even though we aren’t sure where we’re staying, as the title of this PTR implies, I do already have ADRs booked. As we were getting off the phone with Member Services, the CM pointed out that we were ‘well within 180 days of your trip, you can make dining reservations and park hours can be found at Disneyworld.com’. I hadn’t even thought about that! I don’t think I’ve ever planned a Disney trip within 6 months of going… to already have park hours out? To already be a month behind getting ADRs? This is so cool (that’s right… cool. I am not a very good planner, and I am even worse at waiting for things. Only have to go 5 months from booking to travel instead of painfully marking every day for a year is a very nice change!)

Of course, I wasted no time in checking out park hours and figuring out where we wanted to eat. Next, I just had to see if we could get the ADRs!

 

[Joyciemc]

I'm in! Congrats on getting married and on 50 yrs worth of DVC lol.
I am getting married this Aug, your trivia thing was so cute!

We have gone to WDW in May, such a nice time to go, would love to go there again in May but with FD being offered in Aug I don't think I have much of a choice now lol!
Happy Planning!

Thanks for reading!
I am glad to hear that May is a good time to go. How's the weather that time of year- is it super hot? (we melted in early Sept!)

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I think Kidani or BWI would be great places to stay. AKL is a beautiful resort, and I find the whole boardwalk area so intriguing (I've never even been over there!). I can't wait to see how it pans out. I'm excited to see what ADR's you got, too!

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

Subbing in, after reading your fabulous TR.

We will be staying at AKL in January, wow I can now finally say "next month", granted our first night is the 29th of January.....but whatever!!!!

 

[klacey1]

The cat picture is adorable! Have she and Penny gotten friendly yet? LOL!
That is a short amount of time to plan a trip-- I hope you got the ADR's you wanted! As much as I hate surprises, I agree with you, and think the uncertainty in your hotel is kind of fun. Both have such great theming and would be fun to stay at! And since you know that you'll be returning to WDW for the next 50 years, it's not like you won't have the chance to stay at whichever one you miss out on this time.

 

[Stefy]

I'm in popcorn: Looking forward to seeing what ADR's you scored

 

[Joyciemc]

I think Kidani or BWI would be great places to stay. AKL is a beautiful resort, and I find the whole boardwalk area so intriguing (I've never even been over there!). I can't wait to see how it pans out. I'm excited to see what ADR's you got, too!

AKL is gorgeous, and when we toured the studio model, I really liked the way they look!
Ben and I spent a little time exploring the Boardwalk on our last trip, and it was also a beautiful resort. Not to mention being in walking distance of WS! Can't wait to see what happens...

Subbing in, after reading your fabulous TR.

We will be staying at AKL in January, wow I can now finally say "next month", granted our first night is the 29th of January.....but whatever!!!!

I love when it's time to say "I'm going to Disney next month"!
Have you stayed at AKL before? It seems like such a great resort!

The cat picture is adorable! Have she and Penny gotten friendly yet? LOL!
That is a short amount of time to plan a trip-- I hope you got the ADR's you wanted! As much as I hate surprises, I agree with you, and think the uncertainty in your hotel is kind of fun. Both have such great theming and would be fun to stay at! And since you know that you'll be returning to WDW for the next 50 years, it's not like you won't have the chance to stay at whichever one you miss out on this time.

Crush never did trust Penny. Though she loved him! His parents picked him up last night, I bet he was happy to get away from his new doggy friend.

The uncertainty is fun because I truly want to stay at both places. And you're right- we'll have a chance to stay at either again!

I'm in popcorn: Looking forward to seeing what ADR's you scored

Hi Stefy! I think I managed to get all the ADRs I was looking for. At least until I change them, that is...

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Thanks for reading!
I am glad to hear that May is a good time to go. How's the weather that time of year- is it super hot? (we melted in early Sept!)

We went 2xs in May
the first time the weather was PERFECT! Not much humidity, but the sun was strong. The nights were very nice, during the day we did tanks and shorts at night we did t shirts and shorts. And I swear to you we got 1 shower our whole 7 day stay while we were at Epcot. I ran into the shop thats right as you enter WS and when I came out it stopped.

Now the second time was totally flukey, everyone in FL kept saying so. It rained all day everyday. But as I said, a total fluke, I think when we left we found out that was the most FL had gotten in May in a few decades lol.

That being said I would go back in a heartbeat in May b/c crowds are awesome and the weather is too.