Mom/Daughter Christmas Disney Trip: A Procrastinator's Plans in Progress

[StephaniexMarie]

I'm in!! I've read all of your previous trip reports and I love them. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun picking apples. I could go for one of those apple cider slushies right now! Seems very peaceful there... Fright Fest on the othe hand... Haha!

 

[mousetravel]

Loved your weekend trip report!!

Thank you!!!

I'm in!! I've read all of your previous trip reports and I love them. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun picking apples. I could go for one of those apple cider slushies right now! Seems very peaceful there... Fright Fest on the othe hand... Haha!

Thanks for reading my TR's!!!!

We had a great time! The mountains were beautiful!! Yeah, Fright Fest was definately a little "scary"...

 

[jenseib]

YUM, that slushie looks so good. I ahven't had any in season cider yet this year. I better get out and get some

 

[Pinkocto]

What fun, I love apple picking. Have you guys done a corn maze? They're one of my favorite fall activities. Since you two love adventures that might be right up your alley. Some are even open in the evening so you have to navigate with flashlights. It's wonderful fun

Excellent that you got a deal on the hotel.

 

[anewmac]

Loved your mini trippy, how fun! That would make me enjoy fall more too.

 

[mousetravel]

YUM, that slushie looks so good. I ahven't had any in season cider yet this year. I better get out and get some

Yeah, I wish there was a local place that made those, they're so good!

What fun, I love apple picking. Have you guys done a corn maze? They're one of my favorite fall activities. Since you two love adventures that might be right up your alley. Some are even open in the evening so you have to navigate with flashlights. It's wonderful fun

Excellent that you got a deal on the hotel.

My DD has done a corn maze before, at a local farm that does a Fall festival every year. We haven't been there this year yet.

Loved your mini trippy, how fun! That would make me enjoy fall more too.

Thanks!





In my attempt to do a little more planning, I hit a major snag.
We were planning to take the Amtrak and get a rental car, just as we did this past June. I called the rental car place to get prices. The holiday prices are outrageous!!!

Our rental car for the week in June = $200 (approx)
Rental car price for Christmas week = $648.85

I don't think so..........

I don't really mind driving, but I just don't want to drive my own car .
So I may check on renting a car from here and just get it for the week.

So, hopefully over the weekend, I can make a little more progress!

 

[Pinkocto]

WOW! That price jump on the rental is outrageous!!!

 

[jenseib]

wow... that is not even realistic. Did you check mousesavers at all for any deals or codes?

 

[mousetravel]

WOW! That price jump on the rental is outrageous!!!

wow... that is not even realistic. Did you check mousesavers at all for any deals or codes?

I know. That's just ridiculous!



I have been checking online and making some calls to different rental car companies, and I can now breathe a sigh of relief!!!!

I found a different one with a price for $205 for that week OR even cheaper at $158, if I can change my dates around a little bit.

So here's what I have in mind, now. Since DD is making pretty good grades, I am going to email her teachers and see if there's any tests, etc going on during the last 2 days of school before the Christmas break. If they all agree to let her make up any work and miss those 2 days (without it being a hassle), I would like change my dates to arriving Dec 15 on Amtrak, changing my Best Western reservation to Dec 15-18, and keeping my AKL dates of Dec 18-21. Does this sound complicated enough, yet??

So keep your fingers crossed for me, that everything will work out!


Today, me & DD decided to have a little outing to dinner & a movie. After dinner, we had a few minutes till movie time, so we went browsing around in Target. I like to check out their $1 section! Well, today was my lucky day, I hit the "Mickey" jackpot! If anyone is as crazy as I am about finding this stuff, you need to get to target ASAP!

I had to take a pic for you all of what I bought: Mickey calendars and planners! And just picture my DD saying "Are you gonna actually use that many calendars????"

We went to see Footloose. I love the original, but thought this remake was just OK. They tried too hard to match everything up with the original. I don't understand why they try to remake such classics! (I feel the same about the Karate Kid remake, too. I liked it, but you just can't beat the originals!!)

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm so glad you were able to find a cheaper rental car! I hope the teachers are ok with DD missing a few days. I can't believe they are really doing that much homework wise that close to Christmas break, I remember school being quite light before holidays. Hopefully it won't be a problem That would be great if all the pieces fit into place!

I was on the fence about seeing Footloose. I'll wait now until it's $5 at BJ's or Walmart.

 

[mousetravel]

I'm so glad you were able to find a cheaper rental car! I hope the teachers are ok with DD missing a few days. I can't believe they are really doing that much homework wise that close to Christmas break, I remember school being quite light before holidays. Hopefully it won't be a problem That would be great if all the pieces fit into place!

I was on the fence about seeing Footloose. I'll wait now until it's $5 at BJ's or Walmart.

I didn't think they would be doing very much homework, tests, etc. that week either, but 2 teachers responded they were having tests those last 2 days! But out of all of her teachers, I am waiting on this one teacher to let me know something. DD said that if any of them have a problem, it would be this one. She did email me back though with a response "I'll have to talk to the principal about that." I thought it was each teacher's own judgement to decide whether to let the kids make up work or not. Well, DD was right, I have a feeling this teacher is going to be the only one to make this difficult. All of the other teachers emailed and said it was fine with them, and she could make up the work before or after Christmas break.

So hopefully everything will work out!

I'm ready to get my planning on!!

 

[Pinkocto]

2 tests that week! What a horrible way to start the holidays How bizarre she has to talk to the principal. Maybe she wants to be difficult and say it would be a problem, but wants the principal to back her up on it. I do so hope it all works out

 

[stitches of laughter]

hi! Just dropping by!

I hope all of your planning is going well. I love, love love the calendars! and I would have replied to your DD when she asked if you are going to use them all, and I would have said, duhhh! to plan our other trips!

I hope all is well on your side of the planning report!

 

[mousetravel]

2 tests that week! What a horrible way to start the holidays How bizarre she has to talk to the principal. Maybe she wants to be difficult and say it would be a problem, but wants the principal to back her up on it. I do so hope it all works out

I agree, I think she was looking for a reason to be difficult, but she finally emailed me back and said that it would be fine, and she got it "approved". Now all of her teachers have responded with positive notes of letting her make up everything!!

But now, since last night, DD has been having a stomach ache and not feeling well. One of the teachers told her that she probably is getting the stomach virus. I told her to try to tough it out and not miss any days till Christmas! But really, she's out of school for a long weekend. They're out Friday, Monday & Tuesday, so she can get plenty of rest over the weekend!

hi! Just dropping by!

I hope all of your planning is going well. I love, love love the calendars! and I would have replied to your DD when she asked if you are going to use them all, and I would have said, duhhh! to plan our other trips!

I hope all is well on your side of the planning report!

My planning is finally going well!! Hopefully I'll have more time over the weekend to try to finalize everything!

DD had to drag me out of there looking through the calendars! I was thinking "Wait, there might be more in here, if I dig a little deeper".

Yeah, I'm crazy when it comes to finding "Mickey treasures".

 

[Pinkocto]

What a bummer DD is not feeling well. I hope she feels better soon That works out though with the long weekend. I hope she feels better before all the days are gone, it's never fun to miss out on time off for being sick.

That's wonderful news about the teachers! Let the planning begin!

 

[mnrhannah07]

That stomach virus is awful, its going around up here in Wisconsin too!

 

[UGAFan0829]

Glad to hear you were able to find a rental car for a decent price!!

Love the calendars.

Glad everything's worked out with M's teachers!

 

[mousetravel]

What a bummer DD is not feeling well. I hope she feels better soon That works out though with the long weekend. I hope she feels better before all the days are gone, it's never fun to miss out on time off for being sick.

That's wonderful news about the teachers! Let the planning begin!

Thanks! She's feeling better and didn't miss any school days this week! She really did tough it out though, because the first day she wasn't feeling well, I thought she was going to have to stay out.

That stomach virus is awful, its going around up here in Wisconsin too!

She's feeling better now, and I'm glad it was just a "24-hour" type virus.

Glad to hear you were able to find a rental car for a decent price!!

Love the calendars.

Glad everything's worked out with M's teachers!

Thanks!!





Planning time is ON!!!


Here's a "tentative" schedule I have been working on. I still need to get a few ADR's scheduled, so depending on availabilty, the schedule might change, so ya'll can let me know what you think about what I have so far:


Dec 15 (Thurs): Arrive by Amtrak, get rental car, DTD, check in
Dec 16 (Fri): AK 9am-6pm
Dec 17 (Sat): HS 9am-8pm (EMH 8am-9am)
Dec 18 (Sun): Check in at AKL, shopping at Mall, outlet stores
Dec 19 (Mon): MK 9am-10pm (EMH 10pm-1am)
Dec 20 (Tue): Tour the resorts, DTD, etc.
Dec 21 (Wed): Epcot or MK before leaving (Need to be at Amtrak by 5pm)


I also may even change our first 3 nights stay!
They have a "room only" discount for WDW resorts during the time we're there. So I did some figuring, and found that for about $50 more, we can stay at a WDW value!! If we do, I am thinking All Star Movies!


I've got to work on this over the weekend, so ya'll let me know if you have any ideas or advice!!!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Glad your daughter is feeling better.

Stay on property. We find that we can not use a car. To save money we often split meals, ie buy one meal deal in the parks and an extra drink when we are not on a meal plan. We usually buy and split snacks and desserts.
I also pack snack stuff such as nabs and granola bars in my backpack and have never been asked to remove them when my bag is searched.

Have fun. Cant wait to hear more!!

 

[Pinkocto]

Absolutely stay on site! It's so wonderful to be totally immersed in the Disney Magic. And they could transfer your bags the day you move to AKL. Would you still need a rental car if you did that? You could save that money also. But just thought, I have no idea how far Amtrak is so you might still need one.

I'm so glad DD wasn't sick long. Being sick is just the pits.