March 2012: The Year I Almost Survived Spring Break

[Lidian]

OK... Fine... Be that way... I'll just have to plan 2 trips. What year can we plan a fall trip???

D~

The earliest? 2015 I would assume. I graduate Fall 2013 (December), and will hopefully be employed immediately after graduation (but let's say it takes a month or two and it would be early 2014). Then plan on working for a year before being allowed vacation ... so odds are high, it would be 2015 before I could safely plan a Fall trip.

 

[Lidian]

On a side note ... I have been given a budget to plan for a 2013 trip! I'm waiting for school calendars to be released so I can start considering dates and watching for deals.

We'll do two days at USO and four days at WDW (or a cruise).

 

[sjs314]

The earliest? 2015 I would assume. I graduate Fall 2013 (December), and will hopefully be employed immediately after graduation (but let's say it takes a month or two and it would be early 2014). Then plan on working for a year before being allowed vacation ... so odds are high, it would be 2015 before I could safely plan a Fall trip.

On a side note ... I have been given a budget to plan for a 2013 trip! I'm waiting for school calendars to be released so I can start considering dates and watching for deals.

We'll do two days at USO and four days at WDW (or a cruise).

It sure sounds like you have a great plan for school and beyond.....good for you!

Glad to hear you will be going back in 2013. I am so waiting for the room rates to come out so I can book and start planning too

 

[Lidian]

It sure sounds like you have a great plan for school and beyond.....good for you!

Glad to hear you will be going back in 2013. I am so waiting for the room rates to come out so I can book and start planning too

Thank you! It feels good to persue one of my dreams. (My other one is to work in Disney's Accounting department. ).

Once I really analyzed the budget ... it looks like we'll be staying offsite this year. It's possible we may do a Value ... but a good discount would have to come out to get everything I want to do in the budget. I could do a Mod if we skipped USO and IoA, but that's not going to happen. I think we'd give up a WDW park over USO and IoA.

When do the rates usually come out? Summer right? Hopefully they don't jump too much.

 

[johnsonginad]

I hope they don't jump much either. I'm ready to start planning another trip! (and we haven't even left for this one yet!)

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Yay!!! Congrats on being given the go ahead for your 2013 trip!!! Since we won't go until October, I am sure my "budget" will be given to me when we get out 2012 tax return. Just glad our DH's have finally drank the koolaid and are forming nice, healthy WDW addictions now.

 

[sjs314]

Thank you! It feels good to persue one of my dreams. (My other one is to work in Disney's Accounting department. ).

Once I really analyzed the budget ... it looks like we'll be staying offsite this year. It's possible we may do a Value ... but a good discount would have to come out to get everything I want to do in the budget. I could do a Mod if we skipped USO and IoA, but that's not going to happen. I think we'd give up a WDW park over USO and IoA.

When do the rates usually come out? Summer right? Hopefully they don't jump too much.

I think the next years rates normally come out in August, but last year came out in June so keepinging fingers crossed it is June again.

I think offsite makes sense if you are going to US too. I want to go back to US but thing is I have my heart set on staying at Portafino Bay, maybe a split between US & Disney would work for us. Just might have to do some research

Our first two trips to WDW we drove and stayed at Travellodge in Hotel Plaza, it is now a Best Western but the bus service to TTC was good, you could walk to DTD and the is an excellent buffet restaurant there named Traders. We have talked about maybe staying there again.

 

[Corrine 1973]

WooHoo, another person on the 2013 band wagon. I can't wait until August when I can do some real planning. I am looking at the last week of May myself right now. That might change between now and than. It also depends if I go alone (with my DD) or with my friend and her DD. I can only go during off school times though.

 

[KatMark]

On a side note ... I have been given a budget to plan for a 2013 trip! I'm waiting for school calendars to be released so I can start considering dates and watching for deals.

We'll do two days at USO and four days at WDW (or a cruise).

What month are you looking at? We are going in May 2013 for our 30th wedding anniversary.

 

[Corrine 1973]

What month are you looking at? We are going in May 2013 for our 30th wedding anniversary.

When are you going in May? I am looking to go at the end of the month after school is over for the year.

Oh by the way, I went to HS at Glenbard North in Carol Stream. Small world huh.

 

[KatMark]

When are you going in May? I am looking to go at the end of the month after school is over for the year.

Oh by the way, I went to HS at Glenbard North in Carol Stream. Small world huh.

We would go the second or third week of May so our best friends from Naples can join us.

Both of my boys graduated from and played sports at Glenbard North. It truly is a small world.

 

[Lidian]

I hope they don't jump much either. I'm ready to start planning another trip! (and we haven't even left for this one yet!)

Your trip is literally right around the corner! I'm so excited for you! I'm anxious to hear all about it. Are you doing any live updates or anything? I'd love to follow along if you do!

Yay!!! Congrats on being given the go ahead for your 2013 trip!!! Since we won't go until October, I am sure my "budget" will be given to me when we get out 2012 tax return. Just glad our DH's have finally drank the koolaid and are forming nice, healthy WDW addictions now.

Well, later is better than never, right? Fingers are crossed DH will at least give you a budget to work with, even if you don't get the funds until tax return!

I think the next years rates normally come out in August, but last year came out in June so keepinging fingers crossed it is June again.

I think offsite makes sense if you are going to US too. I want to go back to US but thing is I have my heart set on staying at Portafino Bay, maybe a split between US & Disney would work for us. Just might have to do some research

Our first two trips to WDW we drove and stayed at Travellodge in Hotel Plaza, it is now a Best Western but the bus service to TTC was good, you could walk to DTD and the is an excellent buffet restaurant there named Traders. We have talked about maybe staying there again.

It's possible that we may just do a value. I guess it really depends on rates for hotels and DDP. I'll crunch numbers and determine what our best option is.

I really wanted to stay onsite for USO, but their hotels START at like $254+ (for this years rates) for any dates we'd be able to consider. And it doesn't have perks that really make it a value. I'd much rather stretch the budget and stay somewhere cheaper and eat nice.

Looking forward to what you decide.

WooHoo, another person on the 2013 band wagon. I can't wait until August when I can do some real planning. I am looking at the last week of May myself right now. That might change between now and than. It also depends if I go alone (with my DD) or with my friend and her DD. I can only go during off school times though.

Anxious to hear what you decide Corrine!

What month are you looking at? We are going in May 2013 for our 30th wedding anniversary.

Well, it will depend on offers. We may do March again (ugh) for my Spring Break, or mid-late May up through early August when school starts back. It will just depend on school calendars and prices (and special offers).

If we end up at the same time in May, I'd love to meet you!

When are you going in May? I am looking to go at the end of the month after school is over for the year.

Oh by the way, I went to HS at Glenbard North in Carol Stream. Small world huh.

We would go the second or third week of May so our best friends from Naples can join us.

Both of my boys graduated from and played sports at Glenbard North. It truly is a small world.

That would be around the time we'd consider for May. It would be when the kids got out. I'm waiting for school calendars to be released so I can really start narrowing down possible weeks. Then it will be watching for deals.

 

[Corrine 1973]

That would be around the time we'd consider for May. It would be when the kids got out. I'm waiting for school calendars to be released so I can really start narrowing down possible weeks. Then it will be watching for deals.

I would love it if our trip over lapped for a couple of days again. I think my DD would love your DD. But then she loves it anytime she can spend with some girls. Being the only girl with three brothers I can understand.

 

[kdevoe]

I'm enjoying your trip!! When I read about your DH getting in on the Disney Magic it brought tears to MY eyes. LOL Can't wait to read more!!

 

[Lidian]

I would love it if our trip over lapped for a couple of days again. I think my DD would love your DD. But then she loves it anytime she can spend with some girls. Being the only girl with three brothers I can understand.

Who knows what will happen between now and then.

I'm enjoying your trip!! When I read about your DH getting in on the Disney Magic it brought tears to MY eyes. LOL Can't wait to read more!!

Thanks! I was very much in shock ... there's nothing more amazing than seeing a Disney-despising DH with a Goofy grin and twirling his napkin around, laughing.

 

[DMGeurts]

Thanks! I was very much in shock ... there's nothing more amazing than seeing a Disney-despising DH with a Goofy grin and twirling his napkin around, laughing.

Maybe your dh can talk to my dh???

Actually - the other day - my DH told me that when the girls go to college, he will rent the room over POTC for me. I told him there wasn't one... He insisted he saw it on a TV show while we were gone. I still haven't researched it - but I am pretty sure I am right.

I am thinking there is a bit of confusion... I think he is mixing the Pirate rooms at CBR with the Castle suite???

I'd just be happy if he would take me to Disney someday, with out my begging and pleading. And enjoy it when he gets there too.

D~

 

[Lidian]

I'm going to start off by saying that I received my Photopass CD today.

I'm also going to state that DH is making fun of me for already trying to plan a trip that could very well be over a year away. Men.

Now ... on to the memories!

We arrived back at CBR around 6:30ish. What did the kids want to do? Swim. What did I want to do? Get our refillable mugs. So the kids and DH changed into swim suits and we all walked down to OPR. The walk to OPR wasn't too bad. I told DH to keep walking as I took pictures ... but I ended up running to catch up with him because the things that went bump in the night started to creep me out!

Here's some pictures from my walk.

It was, roughly, a 10 minute walk with lots of stops. The other pictures I took were pretty blurry (worse than these).

We went in to OPR and grabbed our mugs. DS and I got blue, DH got black, and DD got pink. I filled my mug (I don't recall if anyone else did) and went out to the pool. While it had been a super nice day, it was too cool out for me to get into water. That's when I noticed the hot tub. Ugh, I could have gotten in that ... granted, it looked a little ... crowded. I'm not sure where I could have sat in it. So I was kind of thankful I didn't waste my time dressing for water.

The kids enjoyed the pool, and DH said that while in the water, it was great. However, getting out was not going to be fun he said. Here's some pics of the pool area and the kids swimming. They both loved the slides (not as much as the CSR slide though). They went down both slides multiple times though.

DD coming up for air:

DS wearing one of the CBR lifejackets:

Pics of the pool:

(You can barely see my kiddos in the far right side of the picture)

The kiddos:

DH with DS in the bottom left corner:

The pirate play area:

After about an hour swimming, we forced the kids out of the pool. They were sad, and afraid that they wouldn't get to swim again all week (do they get to go back?).

We packed up our items and walked back to the room... this time I stayed close to DH. He laughed at me, but honestly, I wasn't too thrilled with how poorly lit the island was. It was pretty creepy. I wasn't worried about safety ... but I think I would have had a heart attack of something came out of the bushes to say "hi".

Once back to the room, it was shower time. With everyone clean and in 'jammies we turned in early ... I think we were asleep before 9pm. DH and I always chat for a few minutes before we say "goodnight" and fall asleep, and he said that only at WDW does he have to go to bed so early. lol

We HAD to get a good night's rest? Why? Well.... it was going to be the most awesome day of our trip (outside of our awesome WoW and DISmeets).

Wait, you said "was going to ..."

Did I?

 

[Corrine 1973]

Maybe your dh can talk to my dh???

Actually - the other day - my DH told me that when the girls go to college, he will rent the room over POTC for me. I told him there wasn't one... He insisted he saw it on a TV show while we were gone. I still haven't researched it - but I am pretty sure I am right.

I am thinking there is a bit of confusion... I think he is mixing the Pirate rooms at CBR with the Castle suite???

I'd just be happy if he would take me to Disney someday, with out my begging and pleading. And enjoy it when he gets there too.

D~

Yea, you are right. There isn't a room to rent at POTC. How cool would that be though. I would save up for years to be in that room. (Are you reading this Disney??)

I totally think he saw something about the Pirate rooms at CBR. How cute of him to think of you though.

 

[Lidian]

Maybe your dh can talk to my dh???

Actually - the other day - my DH told me that when the girls go to college, he will rent the room over POTC for me. I told him there wasn't one... He insisted he saw it on a TV show while we were gone. I still haven't researched it - but I am pretty sure I am right.

I am thinking there is a bit of confusion... I think he is mixing the Pirate rooms at CBR with the Castle suite???

I'd just be happy if he would take me to Disney someday, with out my begging and pleading. And enjoy it when he gets there too.

D~

I dunno what kind of drugs your DH did while you were away. He really should be nice and share ... because I'd stay in a room over PotC.

And I dunno how much help my DH would be ... because everytime people have asked about our trip, he's complained about the cost, about it being too "fluffy" and "magical", and it's too long of a drive ... and on and on and on. He'd probably talk your DH out of it. Granted, while we were there, he had a great time. He hardly complained at all. Granted, I think he spent a lot of time worrying about me too, and maybe that worrying got in the way of his complaining time.

 

[KatMark]

Fun update. I'd be with you with not well lit walkways and critters (especially snakes!).

Looks like the kids were having fun at the pool.