Mrs D
I realize most people don't hear editing.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 4,125
We've been home 9 days, and I think I've finally accepted that the trip is over. I expected to write the trip report the day after we returned, but SURPRISE we had water coming into our basement like most of us in the Midwest. I am grateful it didn't happen while we where away, but shop-vaccing seepage was not what I planned to do the entire weekend after we returned!
I'll start with a little info on who was on the trip and the planning and preparation.
I'm Mrs D, 34 y.o. stay at home Mom, Mr. D 32 and DS "Lightning McQueen" (turned 3 just 2 weeks before the trip) and DD "Baby Tink" is 14 months.
I have been to WDW over 20 times. My parents took me at age 2 on my first trip (my brother was 12 and I believe they took him the year WDW opened). I know we went again when I was 4. I then have memories of going with my Dad (parents divorced when I was 4) several times between 5-12. When I was in 5th grade my Mom got a job working for an airline (we flew for FREE) and we would visit her sister in Tampa regularly with visits to WDW. I think most of time we'd spend the night outside the park and do a full day or two at the parks then return to Tampa. My last trip was 13 years ago, I was 21 and my Mom & I joined my Bro, SIL and their 2 sons (11 and 8 at the time) on there trip. So 13 yrs ago, AK wasn't even open. MGM (aka HS) was still very new.
So about a year ago, shortly after baby Tink, I got the bug that I really wanted to go back to WDW and to take the kids. I am pretty sure I saw some ads for Magical Beginnings and that's what set it all in motion. But I mostly thought ti was a pipe dream. Tink was only an infant and what kind of vacation would that really be?
To giggles I priced out some vacation staying on-site. I saw the option of the villas and knew that would be perfect for our family. That's when I came up with the idea that my Mom should come with to take care of the kids in the evenings (they are early to bed, early to rise kids) so DH and I could actually have a vacation too.
I know I mentioned my fantasy of a WDW vacation to DH more than a few times. Then our neighbors and close friends announced that they were planning a trip tot he world. That did it! I priced out a trip for dates in what I thought was to be LITTLE ONES TRAVEL TIME for the resort our neighbors where planning to stay. Then I asked my Mom to check into what kind of airline employee discounts she could get. We priced out 1 bdrms at different villas. It turned out we could get a 1bdrm for about $500 more than 1 room at a Moderate. SOLD!
Once I convinced DH that this was a terrific bargain and we REALLY deserved a vacation since we haven't had one since before I was pregnant with Tink I began to research in earnest where I wanted to stay.
I read the Unofficial Guide to WDW and Passporter's from cover to cover (seriously). I joined DIS and subscribed to allears. After some research I had narrowed it down to OKW, BWV and WVL. I liked that OKW had some extra space, but was afraid of it being farther from parks. I loved the theming of Boardwalk and liked that it is close to Epcot and HS. However with a 3y.o. and 1 y.o. I know we'd spend more time at MK. That being said, Wilderness Lodge quickly became the lead resort.
Ok, now we are definitely taking this trip and we've got the dates narrowed down to the first (full) week or second week of September. I understand it's really light on crowd-levels and the most reasonable priced.
As we are calling WDW reservations (their airline employee dept handles these bookings) and finding there is NO availability at VWL for a 1 bdrm for any of these dates. Sigh.
This is about the time that DH mentions "You know, we can't invite your Mom to come to WDW and not invite my parents". OK, Let ask them. Hmm, they aren't sure. FIL is overweight and has serious knee pain, in-laws are not sure if he can do it or not. Alright, well, I'm going to go ahead on plan my trip.
I must have called CRO over 100 times checking availability at VWL. Just when I have finally decided BWV would be a great place to stay, I call and there's an opening at VWL. I call DH at work and tell him we need to put the $200 deposit down NOW! He gives me the thumbs up and I book out 1bdrm for 5 nights at VWL! WOO HOO WE"RE GOING TO DISNEY!
I was so excited I must have told every person I met that we were going to Disney. I'm not just talking about that day or that week; I mean the entire 6 months from the day I booked until the day we left! LOL!
Of course I'm telling my Brother all about it. His wife's bro is a WDW fan and DISer so my Bro can understand my excitement.
Now the commando in me comes out! LOL! I didn't realize I had this in me. I start living on the DISboards, I am highlighting my UG and beginning to make a touring itinerary so I can make my ADR's at 180! I wrote a list of every restaurant/counter serve we might go to in each park/resort along with a short list of what menu items we might enjoy with their prices. I was actually using this to determine if getting the airline employee room rate was a better deal than Free Dining.
About this time, I think I began to officially start my training to be a DIS addict! That neighbor that was planning a trip to WDW. Well it was 5 weeks from when they were planning on going and he hadn't actually booked anything! In his defense He was accepting a new position at his company and had to make sure the dates worked in the new job. I was alarmed for him! I begin coaching him and working through his various options. I am pleased to report that I introduced him to the concept of renting DVC points and his family successfully completed a trip to WDW by renting points from a DVC rental service. His entire extended family was so pleased with their accommodations (2bdrm at OKW) and the savings they actually brought me back thank you gifts! How nice is that!
Back to Free Dining - boy I can't tell you how many times I checked and re-checked my math on this. I felt like I was taking a pass on Cinderellas Castle by not doing free dining! I haven't done the math since our return, but am pretty sure we came out on the better end with the room deal.
So, I'm still checking if there are better deals, checking out whether to buy my tickets directly or to go through a broker (choose undercover tourist in the end - was very happy and was able to add them to my room key). We're hit 180 and I've got all my ADR's when it happens DA DA DA DUM....my FIL has knee replacement surgery, is feeling good and they decided they DO want to come to Disney with us!!!
ACK! Will they be able to get a room at all anywhere (I was likely blowing that part of of proportion, but still, we were like 4 months out). Luckily we were able to get them a studio at VWL. I then set about the task of changing all my ADR'S to include 2 more people. The only one I couldn't accommodate was O'hana. Well, I suppose they'll have to fend for themselves one night.
OK, we're at about 3 months out. I've got a pretty decent touring plan, not it's time to start shopping for all the things we'll need for WDW in September. I decide to bring 2 lightweight strollers (based on many DIS and personal recommendations) versus my massive double tandem stroller. I buy clip on fans, mister fans, rayshades for extra sun protection. Oh, I have to buy another lightweight stroller off craigslist as I only had 1. I buy little dollar store items to occupy the kids on the planes, buses, and in line. I make packing lists. I become a DIS addict.
Remember my Mom's sister that lives in Tampa? She & her hubby think they'd like to meet up with us for a few days at the World. Would I just include them in our plans? Laughing, I call my Bro to share this funny turn of events. Guess what...(wait for it. wait....wait) "Hmmm, since everyone else will be there how about if we come too"!
This is how my fantasy trip to WDW turned into a Magical Gathering! WHO KNEW!
Here's the official cast of Characters:
ME
DH
Lightning DS3
Tink DD1
DMom
MIL
FIL
Bro
SIL
Aunt
Uncle
I'll start with a little info on who was on the trip and the planning and preparation.
I'm Mrs D, 34 y.o. stay at home Mom, Mr. D 32 and DS "Lightning McQueen" (turned 3 just 2 weeks before the trip) and DD "Baby Tink" is 14 months.
I have been to WDW over 20 times. My parents took me at age 2 on my first trip (my brother was 12 and I believe they took him the year WDW opened). I know we went again when I was 4. I then have memories of going with my Dad (parents divorced when I was 4) several times between 5-12. When I was in 5th grade my Mom got a job working for an airline (we flew for FREE) and we would visit her sister in Tampa regularly with visits to WDW. I think most of time we'd spend the night outside the park and do a full day or two at the parks then return to Tampa. My last trip was 13 years ago, I was 21 and my Mom & I joined my Bro, SIL and their 2 sons (11 and 8 at the time) on there trip. So 13 yrs ago, AK wasn't even open. MGM (aka HS) was still very new.
So about a year ago, shortly after baby Tink, I got the bug that I really wanted to go back to WDW and to take the kids. I am pretty sure I saw some ads for Magical Beginnings and that's what set it all in motion. But I mostly thought ti was a pipe dream. Tink was only an infant and what kind of vacation would that really be?
To giggles I priced out some vacation staying on-site. I saw the option of the villas and knew that would be perfect for our family. That's when I came up with the idea that my Mom should come with to take care of the kids in the evenings (they are early to bed, early to rise kids) so DH and I could actually have a vacation too.
I know I mentioned my fantasy of a WDW vacation to DH more than a few times. Then our neighbors and close friends announced that they were planning a trip tot he world. That did it! I priced out a trip for dates in what I thought was to be LITTLE ONES TRAVEL TIME for the resort our neighbors where planning to stay. Then I asked my Mom to check into what kind of airline employee discounts she could get. We priced out 1 bdrms at different villas. It turned out we could get a 1bdrm for about $500 more than 1 room at a Moderate. SOLD!
Once I convinced DH that this was a terrific bargain and we REALLY deserved a vacation since we haven't had one since before I was pregnant with Tink I began to research in earnest where I wanted to stay.
I read the Unofficial Guide to WDW and Passporter's from cover to cover (seriously). I joined DIS and subscribed to allears. After some research I had narrowed it down to OKW, BWV and WVL. I liked that OKW had some extra space, but was afraid of it being farther from parks. I loved the theming of Boardwalk and liked that it is close to Epcot and HS. However with a 3y.o. and 1 y.o. I know we'd spend more time at MK. That being said, Wilderness Lodge quickly became the lead resort.
Ok, now we are definitely taking this trip and we've got the dates narrowed down to the first (full) week or second week of September. I understand it's really light on crowd-levels and the most reasonable priced.
As we are calling WDW reservations (their airline employee dept handles these bookings) and finding there is NO availability at VWL for a 1 bdrm for any of these dates. Sigh.
This is about the time that DH mentions "You know, we can't invite your Mom to come to WDW and not invite my parents". OK, Let ask them. Hmm, they aren't sure. FIL is overweight and has serious knee pain, in-laws are not sure if he can do it or not. Alright, well, I'm going to go ahead on plan my trip.
I must have called CRO over 100 times checking availability at VWL. Just when I have finally decided BWV would be a great place to stay, I call and there's an opening at VWL. I call DH at work and tell him we need to put the $200 deposit down NOW! He gives me the thumbs up and I book out 1bdrm for 5 nights at VWL! WOO HOO WE"RE GOING TO DISNEY!
I was so excited I must have told every person I met that we were going to Disney. I'm not just talking about that day or that week; I mean the entire 6 months from the day I booked until the day we left! LOL!
Of course I'm telling my Brother all about it. His wife's bro is a WDW fan and DISer so my Bro can understand my excitement.
Now the commando in me comes out! LOL! I didn't realize I had this in me. I start living on the DISboards, I am highlighting my UG and beginning to make a touring itinerary so I can make my ADR's at 180! I wrote a list of every restaurant/counter serve we might go to in each park/resort along with a short list of what menu items we might enjoy with their prices. I was actually using this to determine if getting the airline employee room rate was a better deal than Free Dining.
About this time, I think I began to officially start my training to be a DIS addict! That neighbor that was planning a trip to WDW. Well it was 5 weeks from when they were planning on going and he hadn't actually booked anything! In his defense He was accepting a new position at his company and had to make sure the dates worked in the new job. I was alarmed for him! I begin coaching him and working through his various options. I am pleased to report that I introduced him to the concept of renting DVC points and his family successfully completed a trip to WDW by renting points from a DVC rental service. His entire extended family was so pleased with their accommodations (2bdrm at OKW) and the savings they actually brought me back thank you gifts! How nice is that!
Back to Free Dining - boy I can't tell you how many times I checked and re-checked my math on this. I felt like I was taking a pass on Cinderellas Castle by not doing free dining! I haven't done the math since our return, but am pretty sure we came out on the better end with the room deal.
So, I'm still checking if there are better deals, checking out whether to buy my tickets directly or to go through a broker (choose undercover tourist in the end - was very happy and was able to add them to my room key). We're hit 180 and I've got all my ADR's when it happens DA DA DA DUM....my FIL has knee replacement surgery, is feeling good and they decided they DO want to come to Disney with us!!!
ACK! Will they be able to get a room at all anywhere (I was likely blowing that part of of proportion, but still, we were like 4 months out). Luckily we were able to get them a studio at VWL. I then set about the task of changing all my ADR'S to include 2 more people. The only one I couldn't accommodate was O'hana. Well, I suppose they'll have to fend for themselves one night.
OK, we're at about 3 months out. I've got a pretty decent touring plan, not it's time to start shopping for all the things we'll need for WDW in September. I decide to bring 2 lightweight strollers (based on many DIS and personal recommendations) versus my massive double tandem stroller. I buy clip on fans, mister fans, rayshades for extra sun protection. Oh, I have to buy another lightweight stroller off craigslist as I only had 1. I buy little dollar store items to occupy the kids on the planes, buses, and in line. I make packing lists. I become a DIS addict.
Remember my Mom's sister that lives in Tampa? She & her hubby think they'd like to meet up with us for a few days at the World. Would I just include them in our plans? Laughing, I call my Bro to share this funny turn of events. Guess what...(wait for it. wait....wait) "Hmmm, since everyone else will be there how about if we come too"!
This is how my fantasy trip to WDW turned into a Magical Gathering! WHO KNEW!
Here's the official cast of Characters:
ME
DH
Lightning DS3
Tink DD1
DMom
MIL
FIL
Bro
SIL
Aunt
Uncle
