Lifelong Disney Freak and TA's first Pre-trip Report

[Disneymama5816]

Hi Everyone- I have never done this before, but thought since the DIS Boards have become a daily addiction, I would attempt a Pre-trip Report. If it goes well, you can expect a post trip report and a dining review as well.
The best way to begin, I guess is to introduce everyone. I have not figured out how to post pix yet, but hopefully I can figure that out before we actually leave.

Me - A 43yr old Northern VA resident. As the title suggests, a lifelong Disney Freak. Grew up in FL and went to Disney every summer. Usually just for day trips. I did not stay on property until I booked it myself as an adult. I have been a TA for over 15 years. I own my own agency and work out of my home. Decided to start my own agency so that I could stay home with the kids and to help pay for my Disney addiction. We usually travel to Disney 2x a year. Short trip for Spring Break followed by a week trip during the summer. So far, our favorite resort is the CR, but we need to try out more for comparison.

DH - Married to the Disney Freak for 15 years. He pretends that he doesn't like Disney as much as the rest of us, but still goes on all the trips. Makes you wonder....Makes lots of dissenting remarks, but I believe deep down he loves the World as much as the rest of us.

DD11 - Just like me. She lives to vacation in Disney and knows almost as much as I do about it. She LOVES the CR and does not want to stay anywhere else. Not too much of a princess anymore, but definately a pirate.

DS4 - Definately the baby of the family. Has been to Disney 8 times already himself. He is always asking when we are going back to Disney. He is enchanted by the monorail therefore loves the CR also.

DGM - My mom who lives in Boca Raton. She tries to come on the summer trip with us. This summer will be her second trip in a row. She enjoys the parks and the resorts and spending time with the kids. She is not a coaster freak, but still likes all the rides and can easily keep up with the group.

Since this took a little longer than I thought, I will have to come back later with the "working schedule" as it is now and my dining reservations.

 

[Disneymama5816]

Picking up where I left off.... we are arriving on Sunday, August 23 through Saturday, August 29, 2009. Since we are going with DGM, we have two rooms at the CR for this trip. Due to the economy, we are doing Gardenview Gardenwing. We are hoping for connecting rooms. In the past, we have been really lucky with that request. We will fly to Boca to pick up DGM on Saturday and drive up on Sunday. We are real creatures and habit and pretty much do the same schedule everytime.
Sunday - MK
Monday - DHS
Tuesday - Epcot
Wednesday - MK/DTD
Thursday - AK
Friday - DHS
Saturday - MK
As you can see, we really like MK. Maybe that is the reason we stay on the monorail resorts.
One thing we are doing different on this trip is that we are taking a break every afternoon and returning to the resort. With the heat in the summer, we have found that this makes for a better more relaxing trip. Plus we get to enjoy the CR so much more.
I ensured this by making most of the dinner reservations in the resort hotels restaurants as opposed to the parks. We shall see how/if that works.

At this point, our dining reservations are as follows:
Sunday - Crystal Palace - Dinner
Monday - Hollywood and Vine - Breakfast
Narcoosees - Dinner - YIPPEEEE**
Tuesday - Chef's de France - Remy Lunch**
Kitchen Sink Snack at BC**
Kona Cafe - Dinner**
Wednesday - 1900 Park Faire - Breakfast
E of S - Dinner**
Thursday - Tusker House - Breakfast**
Flame Tree - Lunch**
Whispering Canyon - Dinner**
Friday - Sci Fi Dinner Theatre - Lunch
Chef Mickeys - Dinner
Saturday - Tony's Town Square Lunch**

**New restaurants. As you can see, we are trying a bunch of new places this time. I think finally because the kids are getting older, I feel more comfortable trying new restaurants.
DGM and myself are huge foodies, so I am really excited about the choices this time.
This was the first time I was able to make the reservations with the new online system. It really worked out great AND was sooo convenient. It is making my life a lot easier to plan reservations for my clients also.

Disney is wonderful to TA's regarding discounts etc. Unfortunately, we don't get to take advantage of the DDP very often, so meals are always OOP. That is okay though, we finally bought AP's and have the TIW. Could not believe how much money that saves!!!:

Will try to update more as we get closer in. Final payment is due in 3 weeks!!!!

 

[zendisney]

Hello Disney Mama...I too am a huge Disney Fan. I just posted a pre trip report for the first time yesterday. I need to learn how to add pictures too. I have tried before and met it with great frustration. Not sure what to do. Maybe we can learn together...
Anyway... we are going in July.
When is your trip.
I think half the fun is planning.
Peace,
Carla Rae

 

[Disneymama5816]

Hi Carla - thanks for being my VERY FIRST REPLY. You made me smile today
I love the planning also. Think that is why I became a TA in the first place. I can live vicariously through my clients and hear their great stories.
Regarding the pictures...after a little more research, I am thinking that opening a photobucket acct might be the easiest way. When I get a little more time, I am going to do that and see if it works a little bit better. I will let you know. If you find out before me, let me in on it!!!

 

[Disneymama5816]

Hi All - Well, here I thought I had it all planned and was just in a holding pattern until final payment. Then Disney offered TA's a great deal. I decided to look into it and was able to move our two rooms at the CR gardenwing to a Bay Lake Tower Two Bedroom and I can add dining as well. This is soooo exciting for us!!!! Just when you think you cannot be even more excited, something even more wonderful happens!!!!! Dates are still Aug 23-29.