Looking forward to a crowd-free Disney Trip! **Update 9/4**

[photographymom517]

Hi everyone! I hope that alot of people follow my PTR over from my TR (that is still in progress...lol) and that I get alot of new followers as well!!!

First of all, forgive me for the horrible title! I know "Looking forward to a crowd-free Disney Trip" isn't the most creative title! I promise to think up a new, better one and am open to suggestions if anyone has them(Please...help )

Even though the title isn't interesting or creative, it really is the "theme" of our next Disney trip. Our first Disney trip as a family was in Spring 2009 (yes, spring break/Easter/busy season = CRAAAZY!) and our second family trip was mid-June 2010 (again, crazy...huge, ginormous crowds, humidity, hot weather in 90's) While I love the hot Florida temps & don't even mind humidity every now & then...with the crowds, it just felt hotter & more humid that what it really was. We loved both trips but we are really looking forward to enjoying this trip even more! I think we will be able to experience more rides/shows in less time because we won't have 240 minute waits!

I unfortunately don't have exact trip dates either...those of you who followed my last PTR will understand. Those who haven't read my last PTR, let me explain briefly...we can't plan exact dates up until a few weeks before we go because of my husband's job. At times it can be frustrating, but we make it work. We were very lucky last trip & I was able to get every single ADR we wanted 14 days out!!! I think that was possible because we usually eat an early dinner.

Even though we don't have exact dates, we do know we will be going sometime in September or early October. We're hoping for mid-September. I'm going to list our tentative trip dates as September 14th-23rd...and those are extremely tentative because I literally just made them up! I got out my calendar, looked at the middle of September & picked dates! We always fly mid-week because we saved about $450 last trip just by doing that so we will probably leave Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. We also want to stay 10 days but we have been throwing around the idea of 2 weeks, so we will see once it gets closer to our trip!

I guess I just started rambling about the trip & completely forgot to introduct anyone! Here is the cast of my Trip Report...my husband, myself, and our son Luke (who will be 3 years old on our next trip!)

Here's a picture of all 3 of us from our photo session last June at the Beach Club Resort!

I am also thrilled to report that we will be leaving someone home that we have brought with us the past 2 trips. I will not miss this at all & am very excited to say it is gone for good...and has been for quite a few months...and that would be....BINKY!!!!

I hated to see it in all of my pictures & I hated that Luke had to have it so much in June. Before our trip, binky was gone...and I didn't think binky would ever come back, but it did! Prior to our trip, Luke would use a binky only for extremely long car rides or for naps/bedtime. And normally at bedtime, he would use the binky to fall asleep, spit it out after he fell asleep, and I would take it & put it back in the kitchen. I bought 1 pack of binkys to take on our trip...but somehow 6 binkys managed to come along! How it went from 2 to 6 is beyond me but I swear Luke was putting them into my carry-on bag when I wasn't looking! I was a little upset with him having binky so much on the trip (I guess I was more upset than I realized because I'm typing more about binky than I am about Disney!) but it made me feel better to know that Luke was comforted by it on the rides & during shows. His behavior was alot better on the rides especially because he was afraid of mostly everything at first. I had originally thought we'd only use binky for naps/bedtime but because Luke was afraid of an unfamiliar place and millions of people running around everywhere (LOL) we ended up using it more. Soooo...after all of that, I bet you can tell how thrilled I am that binky is gone!!!!

Here's my little dance because I'm so excited not to have to see binky in any of this year's trip pictures!!!



I will also add to my introduction that we are planning to stay at either Port Orleans French Quarter or Port Orleans Riverside. In my little dream-world, we are planning to stay at either the Poly or Beach Club...but I know thats stretching it for this trip. Maybe someday in the future, but not this trip. I have considered Coronado Springs but am not sure since its a Convention Center as well. I've heard there are lots of business people as well as younger kids for prom/homecoming. September/October is perfect timing for homecoming events so we're probably ruling out CS.

Last trip we stayed at Carribean Beach and our first trip we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We want to stay at a bunch of different resorts before we stay at one that we've already stayed at...so it eliminates AKL and CBR for this trip as well. I've looked into POP as well as All Star Sports. If it were up to me, my Value resort choice would be (favorite to least favorite) Pop, All Star Movies, All Star Music, All Star Sports. But I know that Luke would prefer the sports resort over the others. (I definitely am planning to stay at the new Animation resort in a few years!)

Any advice on resort choice is appreciated! I would also love if people could share a few photos of POFQ or POR here! Being as Disney-obsessed as I am, I've seen tons of pictures of the resorts from different websites but would love to see ones that you've taken personally!

We also are booking the regular dining plan...this is a definite plan! Its probably the only part of our plan that is 100% definite! We are going to try to get 1 table service ADR each day for dinner and will use our CS or snack credit for breakfast & lunch (with the exception of Crystal Palace for breakfast & we might do Play & Dine again this trip). We are also going to consider going to DTD for a few dinners since we can take the boat over from PO.

I will post again within the next few days. I want to list our possible restaurant choices, our resort pro's/con's, and a list of things we skipped last trip but MUST do this trip! Thanks for following along! (and for those of you following my TR, I'm going to work on finishing it up by the end of this week!)

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Im joinin in and I see I am first! YEAH!!!!!

We are going in December and are planning on Port Orleans as well. We stayed at Old Key West in 2009, but we didnt really enjoy it because we were oly there for 4 days, so we went commando on our plans.

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[PopArtGal]

Here I am!!

 

[Mindy5767]

subbing!! My TR link is in my siggie. I don't do one every time. I was going to do one for my Thanksgiving trip, but I got so busy and it fell behind.

 

[Mindy5767]

Since Facebook changed the way they present the photos.. I'm gonna have to see if this is the correct source data... because the whole right-click box is different now.

Testing:
NO.... It no longer works. It used to be SO easy... you opened the picture in facebook, right clicked... a box would appear and you'd click source or something like that... and copy and paste that address into the add photo window. But it doesn't work anymore. I clicked on every option and it didn't work. No picture showed up. I wonder if that means that none of my pictures are visible on the DIS anymore. I'd better check.

They're there. It was VIEW image info. Now when you right click, there is no image info box... its page info... and its not the same. If you right click on the image in my DIS thread, the box comes up and looks the same as it used to on Facebook. And that's where the address came from for the photo. But not anyway... Now as you see, all I get is the facebook icon.

 

[Mindy5767]

testing

 

[Mindy5767]

I GOT IT!!! There's another step involved now. Ok... When you click on an album.... stay in the thumbnails view of the whole album. Right click... select "open link in new tab". THEN the picture will open in a new tab...and look like it used to look when you had a single picture open. THEN... right click on the photo.. and select view image info.. on the bottom of the list. When the window pops up.. copy and paste the address after the word location: It will be in the middle of the right the box. use the insert pic icon as you normally would so that the link appears with

as bookends. That'll do it. whew!!! ITs an extra step but at least it works, and comparing it to uploading to two locations... its less work.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Joining in! It's been a long day so I'm off to bed but I wanted to make sure I subscribed before I forgot! I'll be back tomorrow to read what you've got so far!!

 

[photographymom517]

Im joinin in and I see I am first! YEAH!!!!!

We are going in December and are planning on Port Orleans as well. We stayed at Old Key West in 2009, but we didnt really enjoy it because we were oly there for 4 days, so we went commando on our plans.

Can't wait to hear more!

Hi & welcome!!! Congrats on being first! Its great to have a new reader as well! Hope that you will stick around even with my crazy planning!!! Since we don't have exact trip dates until a few weeks before our trip, my planning can get out of control sometimes!

Great to hear you have a December trip planned! Its a beautiful time to be at Disney! Although I have never been, I've read tons & tons of reports & have lots of friends who have gone for the holidays! I actually was planning a trip last year that was changed at the last minute to June (from December) so please feel free to ask me questions along the way! I definitely have TONS of December/holiday info that I'd love to share with you!

Here I am!!

Of course you are!!! I knew you'd be here!

Make sure to stick by me with this report...I have a feeling its going to be a roller coaster ride!

subbing!! My TR link is in my siggie. I don't do one every time. I was going to do one for my Thanksgiving trip, but I got so busy and it fell behind.

Thanks Mindy!!! I will definitely subscribe to your TR!!!

I cannot thank you enough for sharing all the info & even doing the test to make sure the picture posting works!!! It will save me an extra step & lots of time!

By the way, thats a great picture of your daughter!

Right now, I'm finishing up my TR from June (yes, I know I am sloooow at updating...lol) but hopefully I will post on my PTR again this weekend!

Joining in! It's been a long day so I'm off to bed but I wanted to make sure I subscribed before I forgot! I'll be back tomorrow to read what you've got so far!!

Hi Nikki! I'm glad you came over to my PTR. It will be great to hear your opinion of Port Orleans!!!

 

[Disneylove1228]

Subbing!! Looking forward to more!!

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

I'm here!

 

[Megablocks]

I'm here too! Like I said in your TR, I promise I will be better at keeping up here! Even though you don't have definite dates, I'm glad you're going to be there during an "off" time. We've only ever gone during peak crowd times since my mom works in the same school system as my sister goes to, but my sister is graduating this year, so hopefully we have a chance to go at some time that isn't crazy crowded. I'd love to go in the fall to see MNSSHP and all the fall decorations.

I've never stayed at POFQ, just Riverside, and the past few trips we've always stayed at Pop. Pop is kind of our Disney home now. We did stay at Riverside several times (even back when it was still Dixie Landings!), and we all loved it. I know that there were two kind of "themes" to the resort, the mansions and something else (I'm sorry, I can't remember what it's actually called ), and we really liked both. I do remember it being large and spread out, but it's such a beautiful resort. My dad liked renting the boats -- not sure if Luke would be super interested in that, but it was always a lot of fun!

 

[Mindy5767]

I know that there were two kind of "themes" to the resort, the mansions and something else (I'm sorry, I can't remember what it's actually called ), and we really liked both. I do remember it being large and spread out, but it's such a beautiful resort. My dad liked renting the boats -- not sure if Luke would be super interested in that, but it was always a lot of fun!

In think the other sections is Bayou. I know the rooms that have the patchwork quilt style bedspreads have a name something like Alligator Bayou? I never stayed there but I spoke to a CM there several times during planning of our last Spring Break trip when we were looking for rooms to sleep 5. The Alligator Bayou area has pull-out trundle beds that can sleep a child. We ended up going with a 2 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs, which worked at very well for us.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I must be losing it but I could swear that a few days ago, I made a looooong post in this thread, all about my recent POR experiences and lots of pictures! I must not have hit "submit reply" or something! Sucks!! I'll post again another time....

 

[stephielela]

Subbing!!!!! I'm glad you have another trip in the works. I have considered POR and POFQ myself, but when it's just me and Jack, I like to go as cheap as possible, so we will be sticking with Pop. I know you want to go mid September, but maybe you should look at the end of the month instead... after all Nikki and I are both going then!! I need to get my Dec TR finished so I can start my PTR!! I am aiming for March 1!

 

[Megablocks]

In think the other sections is Bayou. I know the rooms that have the patchwork quilt style bedspreads have a name something like Alligator Bayou? I never stayed there but I spoke to a CM there several times during planning of our last Spring Break trip when we were looking for rooms to sleep 5. The Alligator Bayou area has pull-out trundle beds that can sleep a child. We ended up going with a 2 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs, which worked at very well for us.

Yes it is Alligator Bayou! I remember the trundle beds. I actually had the name in my head, then I thought I was thinking of something completely different. Thanks!

 

[photographymom517]

Subbing!! Looking forward to more!!

Welcome!!! Its always great to have new readers!!! Please stick with me, I'm trying to get another update together for sometime this week...as soon as I finally finish up my June Trip Report!!!

I'm here!

Glad you found my PTR!!! I really need to catch up on your report...I don't think I ever finished reading it. I've been behind on my subs & have no excuses!

I'm here too! Like I said in your TR, I promise I will be better at keeping up here! Even though you don't have definite dates, I'm glad you're going to be there during an "off" time. We've only ever gone during peak crowd times since my mom works in the same school system as my sister goes to, but my sister is graduating this year, so hopefully we have a chance to go at some time that isn't crazy crowded. I'd love to go in the fall to see MNSSHP and all the fall decorations.

I've never stayed at POFQ, just Riverside, and the past few trips we've always stayed at Pop. Pop is kind of our Disney home now. We did stay at Riverside several times (even back when it was still Dixie Landings!), and we all loved it. I know that there were two kind of "themes" to the resort, the mansions and something else (I'm sorry, I can't remember what it's actually called ), and we really liked both. I do remember it being large and spread out, but it's such a beautiful resort. My dad liked renting the boats -- not sure if Luke would be super interested in that, but it was always a lot of fun!

Hey Megan! Glad you are here too!!! I was just thinking about you & Katie the other day! I haven't read your report since the Ohio update......please don't apologize for not keeping up...I haven't done a very good job myself!!! I completely understand that life events get in the way of DIS-ing sometimes!

Anyway, glad you are here now!!!

Thanks for the info on Port Orleans, it is helpful! I did know about the 2 separate areas, but thats just because I have waaaay too big of a Disney obsession!!! My mom & I watch the Disney planning DVD's all the time...I think we're starting to annoy everyone (I have her half-transformed into a Disney obsessed mom! lol) She mentioned something the other day about MY obsession costing her lots of $$$ because I keep giving her lots of ideas for their trips!

Yes, we are definitely thrilled to be going during an off-peak season! The past two trips were just crazy & we don't feel like we got to ride alot or see many shows because of the wait times. It's just too hard to wait in a 180 minute line with a toddler...actually I think I'd have a hard time waiting myself. Thank goodness for Fast Pass but that didn't always help us out in June...it was just craaazy! We are definitely looking forward to the fall decor, MNSSHP, and the low crowds! I really hope you get to experience it someday. My parents go in September every year & when I look at their pictures, I am super jealous so it will be nice to experience it for myself!

Thanks for the info about the boat rentals! I definitely think that Luke would love that! We rode the Friendship boat from DHS to the Beach Club resort & he sat in the seat the entire time looking out the window. I think that PO has the surrey bikes as well which I think would be neat. I'm hoping to convince my husband to spend an entire day or afternoon just at the resort. I don't feel like we enjoyed CBR as much as we could've and we didn't rent a boat like I had planned...so I definitely will do that this trip! Glad to hear that your dad enjoys the boats, I really think my husband & Luke will enjoy it as well!!!

And please, don't worry if you get behind again...I do it ALL the time!!!

In think the other sections is Bayou. I know the rooms that have the patchwork quilt style bedspreads have a name something like Alligator Bayou? I never stayed there but I spoke to a CM there several times during planning of our last Spring Break trip when we were looking for rooms to sleep 5. The Alligator Bayou area has pull-out trundle beds that can sleep a child. We ended up going with a 2 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs, which worked at very well for us.

Thanks for responding Mindy! Yes I have done a little research on Alligator Bayou...its funny that you mention the bedspreads because I was looking at general Port Orleans pictures. The pictures didn't specify which resort (POR or POFQ) or which section & I saw those quilts & wondered where they were! Now I know!!! Thanks!

I will definitely check into those pull-out beds. I think that would work better for us if we end up with Queen beds. I'm really hoping for a King bed because that's what we got the past 2 trips. Since Luke is still relatively small (yet still growing...lol) we just put him in the middle of us. It was funny because the Bell Services & Mousekeeping asked us repeatedly if we wanted them to bring us a cot or playpen but we said no. I'll have to check into getting a King bed & if thats not a possibility I guess that I could try to get a cot. We could always put that right beside the bed to keep an eye on Luke.

Thanks so much for the info!!!

I must be losing it but I could swear that a few days ago, I made a looooong post in this thread, all about my recent POR experiences and lots of pictures! I must not have hit "submit reply" or something! Sucks!! I'll post again another time....

Ooooh, I hate it when that happens!!! I did that just the other day on my TR! I had an entire update completed & accidentally hit a button & it erased it all!

I was so mad & couldn't get the update back no matter what I tried to do! Its happened before to me too & its so frustrating! Don't worry though, just post whenever you have time!

Subbing!!!!! I'm glad you have another trip in the works. I have considered POR and POFQ myself, but when it's just me and Jack, I like to go as cheap as possible, so we will be sticking with Pop. I know you want to go mid September, but maybe you should look at the end of the month instead... after all Nikki and I are both going then!! I need to get my Dec TR finished so I can start my PTR!! I am aiming for March 1!

Whoa! Slow down girl! March 1st??? Don't finish your TR by then...I'll never catch up!

Just joking of course! But seriously, I do need to head back over to your TR & read more! I read an update the other day but didn't reply because it was almost 2am and I was completely exhausted! lol

I might get some pointers on Pop from you...my parents are staying there in October 2011 (can you still fax or call to request a particular section? They want the 50's & I told them I'm not sure about requests???)

That would be awesome if I could meet you & Nikki! I will keep that in mind if our trip dates change...and trust me, we never know if they will or not!

Yes it is Alligator Bayou! I remember the trundle beds. I actually had the name in my head, then I thought I was thinking of something completely different. Thanks!

Thanks Mindy for responding to Meg!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hi stranger! Long time no talk! How are you... Looks like we will be missing each other by a few days! We're heading back down Aug 31st!

Can't wait to hear all about your plans! Reese

 

[stephielela]

I want to get my TR finished, but I had written a whole update here at work, saved it, and now it's nowhere to be found! I will try again today!

As far as requests go, I faxed my requests last fall and got literally the exact room I wanted, and out of a couple thousand rooms, that's pretty awesome. I have heard thought that with the new system they are using, they aren't taking requests at all... but I am going to try again this year anyways!

 

[photographymom517]

Hi stranger! Long time no talk! How are you... Looks like we will be missing each other by a few days! We're heading back down Aug 31st!

Can't wait to hear all about your plans! Reese

Hi Reese!!!

You probably saw it already, but I asked Tony & Terry about you the other day! I was worried because I haven't seen your trip report yet!

Glad you found my new TR! I'm planning to post an update soon...hopefully!

That stinks that we will miss each other by a few days! But who knows about our trip dates, they are definitely subject to change!

I want to get my TR finished, but I had written a whole update here at work, saved it, and now it's nowhere to be found! I will try again today!

As far as requests go, I faxed my requests last fall and got literally the exact room I wanted, and out of a couple thousand rooms, that's pretty awesome. I have heard thought that with the new system they are using, they aren't taking requests at all... but I am going to try again this year anyways!

I hate it when I write an update & it disappears. I'm not sure which key it is on the keyboard (and its not delete...lol) but everytime I hit it accidentally, the update disappears! You know what? I'm pretty sure its the backspace key!

Thanks for telling me about the room requests! I will definitely at least attempt to fax it & put it in the "other comments" section when I book! Last year I just called after I booked and asked them to add it & the CM I spoke to was extremely helpful! We ended up with exactly what we wanted at CBR so I'm the CM definitely updated the info for me! Even with the new system in place, it never hurts to try, right?