I NEED to tell someone about this! 1st PTR!

[Lemurone]

Hi folks,

I've been reading some PTR and TR the past couple of days (at work, ) and am loving it. I thought I was crazy and obsessed about my trip, but I see that I'm NORMAL!

So, I have been planning this trip since November 2011. We are going to AoA (I'm so smart with all my newly learned abbreviations!) 9/29 to 10/5, catching the tail end of the Free Dining Plan! Originally, we were going the first week of December because I've read so many times that it's one of the best times to go, staying in ASMo. But dangit, I just couldn't help pricing a million options to get our cost down and when I saw the Free Dining and noticed that we could save $$ and stay an extra day, I was sold.

So, it's AoA with free regular Dining for 6 nights, 5 day park hopper, at about $2200. Now, to some that's a weekend trip, but to us, that's the most we've ever spent on one thing other than the downpayment on our house and our wedding. The next most expensive thing is my Macbook! Ever since we had kids, of course Disney was a dream, and when we moved from NYC to GA, it felt that much closer--but we just never have $2k to spend. While fantasizing one day and just seeing how much it would cost, I noticed that little "$200 deposit" button and thought, hey, what if I paid $20 here, $50 there and actually made this work? So that's what I'm doing, and I am happy to say we have made it past the halfway point

Here's the thing--I'm the ONLY one who knows. Not DH. Not DS. Not DD. Not Ralphie the cat or Mr. Weird the fish. ME. I decided not to tell DH, because he's one of those "we can't afford it so stop thinking about it" people, and I kind of wanted to prove him wrong. BUT, if it turned out we couldn't afford it, I wanted the ability to just quietly take my money back and keep that little gem to myself That may sound dishonest to some of you, but I LOVE planning surprises and this is about as big as it gets! If you knew my DH, you would understand that his first answer to everything is No, That will never work. Au contraire!

So, how am I revealing the news? I decided that once I got down to only owing a few hundred dollars, I'd tell him. My goal is to reach that point by the end of June, and it will be a late Father's Day/birthday gift since they are the 3rd week of June. He's used to late presents, if any presents at all

I plan to order one of these cards, customized to say something awesome like "6 nights at Disney World" or "We're Going to Disney!"
http://www.etsy.com/listing/74348928/slot-machine-pop-up-card-with-custom
BUT before that I am going to give him strict rules about being happy, not pessimistic, when seeing what my surprise is!

I've got our ADR's made, which was lucky since we changed our travel dates from Dec to Oct and Oct was already open for ADR's. The only one I can't get this time is T-Rex, and I'm a little bummed but I keep checking for openings. We are planning 2 MK days, and 1 day at the others. We will be driving and it's about 9 hours or so. I am definitely not telling the kids until the morning we get in the car, and I like the idea of wrapping up some Disney balloons and having them open the box and letting the balloons fly out!

I've gotten souvenirs already and plan to get some iron-ons from etsy to make us some totally fashionable matching shirts.

But seriously, I'm just dying do this all alone and having to keep it under wraps! DH probably wonders why I'm suddenly on the computer for so long (checking ADR times) or why I immediately close the window on my phone (reading Disney blogs). Only 6 weeks to go until I can spill half the beans!

Thanks for reading, and for sharing your own PTR's to take some of the edge off of my secret

 

[Alysa]

Oh my goodness - I love that little card - and the balloons in the box idea is perfect too! Can't wait to see your t-shirts!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Call T-Rex direct. We went spring break week, and I called 3 weeks before after not seeing any openings. They had ANY time I wanted. Can't remember the phone number, just google it. Was told by them directly that they only give Disney a very small portion of their reservations, because they aren't owned by them. But you can still use your dining if you call, they don't even ask.
Sounds like our first few trips, couldn't really afford it, but scraped it up. Ever since then we budget it in with our bills. Hope you have a great time.

 

[MK2010]

I did the same thing in 2009. I booked a trip and didn't tell anyone! It gave me a migraine 'cause I don't even like to order pizza, much less a $6k trip! My husband is the rational one in the family too. We're going back in Sept. This time he knows and the kids too!

I wanted T-Rex for that 2009 trip too and couldn't get it with my ADRs, but when we got to DTD I checked in at T-Rex and they were able to seat us. Maybe you'llget some pixie dust too!

 

[drlaurafsu]

Wow...a complete surprise? That's awesome...and daring.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. Are you going to try and squeeze in MNSSHP? Think about it if you can get it in the budget. Its tons of fun and a great addition on a shorter day (like AK that closes early).

 

[Lemurone]

Wow...a complete surprise? That's awesome...and daring.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. Are you going to try and squeeze in MNSSHP? Think about it if you can get it in the budget. Its tons of fun and a great addition on a shorter day (like AK that closes early).

I've thought about it, but was surprised to see the ticket prices. I will have to check the dates and think about it. I think it would be another $200!



I'm glad I'm not the only one that has tried to pull off something like this before! Yes, rational is one word to describe my husband, I prefer non-fun-loving myself

I forgot to include the cast. Well, there's me.

Bet you didn't know I was already a character? Yes, I am actually a rapping possum. Only once a year though, for an annual Halloween event at our local nature center.

Here's my little guy, Tater. He's about to finish kindergarten next week! He had a huge obsession with Cars but has moved on to like Toy Story a bit more now, and of course Marvel stuff. Don't let the macho look fool you--I'm not kidding when I say his bedroom door is decorated with pictures of Disney princesses he colored and taped up there. Last night, in fact, he chose a Belle story for bedtime.

This is my little artist, Degas. She's 3.5 and a very strange yet lovable child! She LOVES princesses and has since she was 1, I kid you not. I never would have expected to have a little girl so girly and sparkly and princessy, but here she is!

Seriously, I'm in costume in all the photos I have on this computer. Here's a family pic with DH, the "rational" one, from 2010. The mohawk was for Halloween!

 

[Lemurone]

Call T-Rex direct. We went spring break week, and I called 3 weeks before after not seeing any openings. They had ANY time I wanted. Can't remember the phone number, just google it. Was told by them directly that they only give Disney a very small portion of their reservations, because they aren't owned by them. But you can still use your dining if you call, they don't even ask.
Sounds like our first few trips, couldn't really afford it, but scraped it up. Ever since then we budget it in with our bills. Hope you have a great time.

Thanks for the tip about calling directly! I will definitely do that.

 

[Lemurone]

Yay, I made a couple unplanned payments this weekend after saving a bundle on groceries and making a nice little chunk of change at a kids' consignment store. I am SO close to owing in the 3-digits! I'm going to order my cards for DH to announce our trip, and i might use a 10% of code I got for Disney Store and order him a couple shirts as a pre-announcement teaser gift (I like the Grill Master Goofy shirt, and he NEEDS a Grumpy shirt fo sho).

So, here's what I have reserved so far. My only question is whether I should try to get T-Rex for our arrival night or keep Rainforest. I'm sure they are both fun for kids, and my kids like animals and dinos almost equally. I kind of want to try T-Rex more. We've never been to either. What do you think?

Saturday 9/29 ARRIVAL 8:30 Rainforest Cafe

Sunday 9/30 ANIMAL KINGDOM 1900 Park Fare dinner

Monday 10/1 EPCOT ROSE & CROWN 7:20 (illuminations)

Tuesday 10/2 HOLLYWOOD Sci Fi Dine-in lunch
MAGIC KINGDOM (wishes)

Wednesday 10/3 MAGIC KINGDOM Crystal Palace (breakfast)
BBB/Pirates League

Thursday 10/4 MAGIC KINGDOM EMH morning
Chef Mickey dinner
Friday 10/5 leave

I'm not too concerned with being perfect and getting it all right since this is our first but not last trip. I think I got some good character meals in there and I'm excited about Sci-Fi!

 

[Shrimpandgrits]

So exciting! Can't wait to read more!

 

[Disneychix]

Wow, I can't believe you are pulling this off! The trip sounds amazing and instead of being doubtful your DH should be praising you!!

My one critique would be to ask if your kids are night owls? The 1st dinner you have is 8:30 at DTD this could make for a very late night. You may not be done eating until 10ish and then it's a commute back to the room. Maybe you might want to stick around the resort or is it possible to move up the dinner time?

We may be at EPCOT on Mon 10/1 too. Maybe our Cars/Toy Story little boys could meet?!

 

[tevisco4]

Great start! I should attempt a PTR...I am so nervous since I have never done one

We are going the same dates but leaving Disney the 6th and staying at AoA as well

We also chose to do Rainforest for our first night. This is going to be a fantastic surprise for your family!

 

[TheNewMrsB]

You are one smart cookie for being able to pull this off! Good for you! I can't wait til you get to spill the beans.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Those pictures of your kids are SO cute, especially your son holding the fish. What kind of fish is that/
Are you staying in the Little Mermaid rooms, or a suite?
It is always nice to start and end with a Magic Kingdom day.
You might want to change your park days around.
Nothing says "I'm here!" like walking through the MK train station on to Main Street U.S.A.