Mother/Daughter Christmas 2012 at the Grand Floridian PTR

[Lcaemom]

The details: My youngest DD(age 10) and I will be traveling to the GF 12/3-7, 2012...I may add on Friday at the end of the trip. This trip has already been a year in the making...with LOTS of changes and ideas thrown around. With a year to go, there is still time for more ideas and changes but, hopefully this is an almost final decision...everyone is happy. The trip that I have most wanted our 2012 trip to be was 8-9days at the GF...just my girls and I. Due to significant disparity in price, I have continued to compare the cost to POR...our other favorite. The GF is destination of choice but, it's just so hard to justify when you look at the price difference. Also, my two oldest daughters are now in high school and play sports...in three different season...making Thanksgiving week the ONLY week of the year we can get away with a vacation...which means no discounts and/or black out dates, higher airfare, etc. They also repeatedly tell me that they would rather use that money for other things, as they feel they have been Disneyworld enough times (who do these children belong to?!?) There are lots of other things to pay for...my oldest needs a car, car insurance this year, my middle DD is right behind her...I can't blame them for how they feel. BUT...that being said...I STILL WANT TO GO!!! So, one day last week my older girls mentioned that if I wanted to take just my youngest DD to Disney, they would be fine with that. Well.........that got the wheels in my head turning again!!! I talked to my 10yoDD about going to Disney for Christmas in 2012, in leui of presents...she was sooooooooo excited for a trip...just her and I!!!!!!!!! I have asked her a million different ways if not having much on Christmas morning would bother her...she says no...for now?!? She will be 11 by then, and probably will not believe in Santa anymore (yes, at 10yo...she still believes, which makes this all somewhat sticky this year.) So, we sat and priced...a Mon-Fri short stay at the GF for two,at the beginning of December trip, is so much more affordable. AND we get to be there at Christmas...our favorite!! We made lists and threw around ideas and she said "Mom, can this be my Christmas present every year?" She melted my heart...a trip to Disney every year...with just my "baby" girl! We'll see how trip#1 goes...but, if that's what she wants...I'm all for that!!! So, all that being said...I'm hoping this is the FINAL decision on the Christmas 2012 trip!!!

These are some of the original ideas that I wrote about when this PTR was started...
After traveling with some friends to CBR in 2010, I decided that we would not cut corners for our next trip to WDW. CBR was just ok...I found nothing special about it and the buses were HORRIBLE! After staying at the GF in 2008, I thought that with two years to save and plan, that the GF...no matter what the cost, would be attainable for 2012. Well, with a little over a year to go, this is what I have found:

For 11/16/2012-11/23/11, 8days, 7nights with 8day PH tickets:
GF Garden view outer building: $5552.73
WL GV: $4050.81 ($1501.92 less than the GF but, no monorail)
BC GV: $4613.35 ($939.38 less; no monorail but, can walk to Epcot and boat to DHS)
POR GV: $2947.17 ($2605.56 less buses to everywhere; boat to DTD...nice)

Now, my head is spinning...this should be a no brainer! Right?!? But, it's not. POR is almost half the price of the GF...we do REALLY love POR but, there is just nothing like the GF so, I'm having a really hard time deciding. The other two resorts I would love to try...and those are also significantly less $$$, as well...with their own advantages.

I'm tempted to book the WL now...just to have the ressie, because that one will be the first to sell out for that time of year.

My last thought (as I was in a true frenzy on WDW website and these boards on Monday) was Fort Wilderness. We have a love of camping and do a huge family camping every summer, Christmas in July! While on our 2010 trip we went to Mickey's Backyard BBQ...my first comment when we entered the campground was "I've died and gone to heaven...Disney, camping, and Christmas...all in one place!" So, while I will admit that I have champagne tastes when it comes to WDW...I also have a love of the great outdoors...and started thinking what if we combined the two?!?

Fort Wilderness 7days, 6nights:
site: $559.00
RV: $1830 (Can drive down...no airfare...can bring all the stuff we want but, lose a day and it's 2600 miles roundtrip)
8day PH tix: $1350
gas: approx $400

Once, that idea popped into my head...I had to invite my brother and his wife and kids...and they were really excited!
So, this trip has the potential to be tea and crumpets with just my daughters in the lap of luxury...OR Griswold Family Christmas?!? THOUGHTS??? Comments???

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hey! I'm here and can't wait to read more!!!!!!!!

 

[Lcaemom]

Hey! I'm here and can't wait to read more!!!!!!!!

So glad! NOW, it's official! Maybe you can book for the same time?!? Once you get back from your next trip...you'll still have 10 months to get ready! How fun???

 

[princess&her4princes]

So glad! NOW, it's official! Maybe you can book for the same time?!? Once you get back from your next trip...you'll still have 10 months to get ready! How fun???

Oooo...love the way you think, girl!!! Never say never!!!

 

[Lcaemom]

I have set a goal for myself...to finish scrapbooking our Disney trips from 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010...before I'll be allowed to go to Disney again?!? That may seem slightly unrealistic, seeing as it has taken me almost 4 years to finish my 2007 trip...on the last page...planning nothing else for the rest of the day....except lots of Disney-dreaming and making a mental checklist for 2012.

 

[Lcaemom]

With a year of planning down...and more than a year to go...this trip has evolved a number of times...I like to call it "fine tuning." I am determined to get to Disney...at Christmas...without my daughters missing TONS of school/sports...while making it affordable...and possibly staying at the GF...and I think I have found a way to do that...and everyone seems to be happy!!!!!!!!!

Here is the first post in this thread to explain all that (if you have already read this far from post #1, yes this is a repeat...)
The details: My youngest DD(age 10) and I will be traveling to the GF 12/3-7, 2012...I may add on Friday at the end of the trip. This trip has already been a year in the making...with LOTS of changes and ideas thrown around. With a year to go, there is still time for more ideas and changes but, hopefully this is an almost final decision...everyone is happy. The trip that I have most wanted our 2012 trip to be was 8-9days at the GF...just my girls and I. Due to significant disparity in price, I have continued to compare the cost to POR...our other favorite. The GF is destination of choice but, it's just so hard to justify when you look at the price difference. Also, my two oldest daughters are now in high school and play sports...in three different season...making Thanksgiving week the ONLY week of the year we can get away with a vacation...which means no discounts and/or black out dates, higher airfare, etc. They also repeatedly tell me that they would rather use that money for other things, as they feel they have been Disneyworld enough times (who do these children belong to?!?) There are lots of other things to pay for...my oldest needs a car, car insurance this year, my middle DD is right behind her...I can't blame them for how they feel. BUT...that being said...I STILL WANT TO GO!!! So, one day last week my older girls mentioned that if I wanted to take just my youngest DD to Disney, they would be fine with that. Well.........that got the wheels in my head turning again!!! I talked to my 10yoDD about going to Disney for Christmas in 2012, in leui of presents...she was sooooooooo excited for a trip...just her and I!!!!!!!!! I have asked her a million different ways if not having much on Christmas morning would bother her...she says no...for now?!? She will be 11 by then, and probably will not believe in Santa anymore (yes, at 10yo...she still believes, which makes this all somewhat sticky this year.) So, we sat and priced...a Mon-Fri short stay at the GF for two,at the beginning of December trip, is so much more affordable. AND we get to be there at Christmas...our favorite!! We made lists and threw around ideas and she said "Mom, can this be my Christmas present every year?" She melted my heart...a trip to Disney every year...with just my "baby" girl! We'll see how trip#1 goes...but, if that's what she wants...I'm all for that!!! So, all that being said...I'm hoping this is the FINAL decision on the Christmas 2012 trip!!!

These are some of the original ideas that I wrote about when this PTR was started...
After traveling with some friends to CBR in 2010, I decided that we would not cut corners for our next trip to WDW. CBR was just ok...I found nothing special about it and the buses were HORRIBLE! After staying at the GF in 2008, I thought that with two years to save and plan, that the GF...no matter what the cost, would be attainable for 2012. Well, with a little over a year to go, this is what I have found:

For 11/16/2012-11/23/11, 8days, 7nights with 8day PH tickets:
GF Garden view outer building: $5552.73
WL GV: $4050.81 ($1501.92 less than the GF but, no monorail)
BC GV: $4613.35 ($939.38 less; no monorail but, can walk to Epcot and boat to DHS)
POR GV: $2947.17 ($2605.56 less buses to everywhere; boat to DTD...nice)

Now, my head is spinning...this should be a no brainer! Right?!? But, it's not. POR is almost half the price of the GF...we do REALLY love POR but, there is just nothing like the GF so, I'm having a really hard time deciding. The other two resorts I would love to try...and those are also significantly less $$$, as well...with their own advantages.

I'm tempted to book the WL now...just to have the ressie, because that one will be the first to sell out for that time of year.

My last thought (as I was in a true frenzy on WDW website and these boards on Monday) was Fort Wilderness. We have a love of camping and do a huge family camping every summer, Christmas in July! While on our 2010 trip we went to Mickey's Backyard BBQ...my first comment when we entered the campground was "I've died and gone to heaven...Disney, camping, and Christmas...all in one place!" So, while I will admit that I have champagne tastes when it comes to WDW...I also have a love of the great outdoors...and started thinking what if we combined the two?!?

Fort Wilderness 7days, 6nights:
site: $559.00
RV: $1830 (Can drive down...no airfare...can bring all the stuff we want but, lose a day and it's 2600 miles roundtrip)
8day PH tix: $1350
gas: approx $400

Once, that idea popped into my head...I had to invite my brother and his wife and kids...and they were really excited!
So, this trip has the potential to be tea and crumpets with just my daughters in the lap of luxury...OR Griswold Family Christmas?!? THOUGHTS??? Comments???

 

[Lcaemom]

So, to introduce ourselves I am a single mom, to three amazing daughters: DD#1 is turning 16 this month and is on the varsity soccer team and lacrosse teams, a straight A student...she makes me a very proud Mom, DD#2 is a 14yo freshman in HS, she is also a straight A student and will be trying out for the HS basketball team, to get in shape she has been running 3 miles/day and is considering running cross-country track in the spring, also makes me so proud and last but, not least my DD#3 is a 10yo 4th grader, she is my cheerleader and piano player...very girly and nothing like the other two. She is 4 years younger than my middle daughter and many times is like an only child because she is so much younger and the older two are only 18months apart. When the four of us do things together...she and I are usually a pair, my buddy. So, I was not surprized when my older girls came up with the idea for this trip.
I am a visiting nurse...I love what I do...thank God, because as a single mom, it is not easy to pull off working full-time and my job allows so much flexibility to be accomplish all that I want to do as a mom.
This is my "baby" girl and I in one of my MOST favorite pics from any of our Disny pics. She talks about this moment, still...from 2008. I will never forget the look on her face when she was turned around to see herself, in the mirror. During that trip, she and I took off for the morning to MK...just "Mommy and me" time. Looking so forward to 5 whole days of that! She woke up this morning and our 2012 trip was the first thing she mentioned!

This pic is from our 2010 trip...another favorite...my girls and I!

 

[taaren]

Hi, came over from the Dec 2012 planning thread; we'll be there at the same time as you. I'm a fan of trips with lots of people ... but my DS4 is an only child (we wanted another but he's so high-energy that that's not a thought I'm entertaining until he's at least 10), so we love having others his age for him to hang out with and we like being able to do 'girl's night out' and 'boys night out' on vacation when we go with friends. In your shoes I'd go with Fort Wilderness with your brother, but I'd imagine that special one-on-one time with your youngest girl is pretty special too, and there's nothing like Deluxe resort to make you feel like you're getting away from it all.
Happy planning and I'll be seeing you around the boards!

 

[Lcaemom]

Hi, came over from the Dec 2012 planning thread; we'll be there at the same time as you. I'm a fan of trips with lots of people ... but my DS4 is an only child (we wanted another but he's so high-energy that that's not a thought I'm entertaining until he's at least 10), so we love having others his age for him to hang out with and we like being able to do 'girl's night out' and 'boys night out' on vacation when we go with friends. In your shoes I'd go with Fort Wilderness with your brother, but I'd imagine that special one-on-one time with your youngest girl is pretty special too, and there's nothing like Deluxe resort to make you feel like you're getting away from it all.
Happy planning and I'll be seeing you around the boards!

Hi taaren...that's funny that you mention high energy...if my youngest had been the first...she'd be the only child! She IS ten now...but, no more here! My older two have kept our whole family SO busy that having one on one time with just my youngest is a rare occurence. So, for many reasons this trip would be so great just the two of us. We usually do do everything in large groups, too...it is just so much fun. We do a camping trip for 25 in the summer, during Christmas in July week. That is actually one of the reasons we all reconsidered Fort Wilderness...we don't want to give up our trip to NH and would prefer to not do two camping trips in the same year. My brother's family has never been to Disney so, for them right now they don't share the excitement for WDW that I do...YET! In February we are all driving from MA to FL to stay with my parents on the West coast...we will need to drive through Orlando and I will then suggest that we make a "quick stop" on our way to see them. Hopefully they'll "feel the love" and want to make some future plans...and then we will have Grand Gathering!
Looking forward to sharing in the planning...always half of the fun. December 2012 will be here before we know it!

 

[Lcaemom]

375 days!!!!!!!!! I know that that is so far away...but, we are now pretty definate about this trip becoming just a mother/daughter trip, at the GF...for many reasons.
Our original 2012 trip was planned to be the Friday before Thanksgiving until the Friday after...that is now less than one year away. On this past Friday night...with two days notice!! My oldest daughter's HS soccer team won their state semi final soccer game, which sent them to the state final game on Friday night...AND THEY WON!!! Had I planned a Disney vaca, leaving that night...we would have had to cancel our flights! We could have left on Saturday...but, she would have then missed all the hoopla that the city has provided for them, and then her banquet. She can't miss those things...and the remaining team has a really good chance of repeating all of this next year...the team only lost two seniors. Reason #1 that a Thanksgiving trip won't work.
My brother has officially backed out...Reason #2 that a Thanksgiving trip isn't happening.
So, onto thinking about a December trip. My two older daughters are in HS...they can NOT miss a week of school. Also, my middle DD is very excited about basketball tryouts and if she makes the HS bball team...her season will start THIS Monday....so, we have now eliminated EVERY possible date to be WDW at Christmastime, as a family of four.
Also, I have been checking line wait times, all week on my iphone...100+ minutes for many rides, many times over the last few days! Reason #3 that we will not be going over Thanksgiving!
So it's unofficially official...JUST MY DD AND I WILL BE GOING TOGETHER!!! She is very excited about just "us" time...as am I!!! Our plan right now will be Mon, Dec 3-7th, 2012, at the GF!!!!

 

[Lcaemom]

NOW it's official...I added a ticker!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

NOW it's official...I added a ticker!

Hi! Just popping over from the Dec 2012 thread! We are booked for Dec 20-2at BW. GF is such a pretty resort. I know you and your DD will have a great trip. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip and planning over the year.

I dont have a Dec PTR...yet, but will get around to starting one soon. I have a current one for our Oct trip and its been so hard to write about stuff so far ahead of time, so that sort of made me put off my Dec one.

 

[princess&her4princes]

375 days!!!!!!!!! I know that that is so far away...but, we are now pretty definate about this trip becoming just a mother/daughter trip, at the GF...for many reasons.
Our original 2012 trip was planned to be the Friday before Thanksgiving until the Friday after...that is now less than one year away. On this past Friday night...with two days notice!! My oldest daughter's HS soccer team won their state semi final soccer game, which sent them to the state final game on Friday night...AND THEY WON!!! Had I planned a Disney vaca, leaving that night...we would have had to cancel our flights! We could have left on Saturday...but, she would have then missed all the hoopla that the city has provided for them, and then her banquet. She can't miss those things...and the remaining team has a really good chance of repeating all of this next year...the team only lost two seniors. Reason #1 that a Thanksgiving trip won't work.
My brother has officially backed out...Reason #2 that a Thanksgiving trip isn't happening.
So, onto thinking about a December trip. My two older daughters are in HS...they can NOT miss a week of school. Also, my middle DD is very excited about basketball tryouts and if she makes the HS bball team...her season will start THIS Monday....so, we have now eliminated EVERY possible date to be WDW at Christmastime, as a family of four.
Also, I have been checking line wait times, all week on my iphone...100+ minutes for many rides, many times over the last few days! Reason #3 that we will not be going over Thanksgiving!
So it's unofficially official...JUST MY DD AND I WILL BE GOING TOGETHER!!! She is very excited about just "us" time...as am I!!! Our plan right now will be Mon, Dec 3-7th, 2012, at the GF!!!!

SOOO excited for you girls!!!! It's going to be such a magical time for you both and how wonderful the older girls get that!!

I absolutely LOVE the pic of you and her from 2008, so cute! Do you think she'll go to BBB again? So cute!!

And you KNOW how much I love your pic from 2010 at the GF with the girls, best pic ever!!!

Will you girls do MVMCP while you're there? I can't wait to hear more!!!!!

 

[Lcaemom]

Hi! Just popping over from the Dec 2012 thread! We are booked for Dec 20-2at BW. GF is such a pretty resort. I know you and your DD will have a great trip. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip and planning over the year.

I dont have a Dec PTR...yet, but will get around to starting one soon. I have a current one for our Oct trip and its been so hard to write about stuff so far ahead of time, so that sort of made me put off my Dec one.

So happy to have you! So exciting that you will be there for Christmas! Have you ever been at Christmas? What a great place to be, too...the BW is such a fun place and so festive at Christmas...love that it's just over the bridge to Epcot, as well. Did you just get back from WDW? Yes, very hard to write a TR and PTR...staying caught up with both is not easy. I started mine this early because in all honesty, no one else can understand why I am SOOOOOOO excited for this trip that is still so far away; no one else wants to hear about all the Disney thoughts that constantly run through my head. So for now, I put them here and that is how it all turns into a PTR. In all seriousness, I have learned alot by doing just that...so many great ideas, thoughts, plans have come from these boards. So, I look forward to hearing about your plans and sharing mine.

 

[Lcaemom]

SOOO excited for you girls!!!! It's going to be such a magical time for you both and how wonderful the older girls get that!!

I absolutely LOVE the pic of you and her from 2008, so cute! Do you think she'll go to BBB again? So cute!!

And you KNOW how much I love your pic from 2010 at the GF with the girls, best pic ever!!!

Will you girls do MVMCP while you're there? I can't wait to hear more!!!!!

Every morning the first thing I do is check my ticker, on my phone...369 days today! It's killing me NOT to be there NOW!!! A year ago right now, we were getting ready to get on the bus to MK and breakfast at the bakery, for our first day in WDW.
That BBB pic is my most favorite...it's on my bureau and I just found the most beautiful frame to put it in...just yesterday, as a matter of fact, at Kohls...love Kohls. The pics from our 2010 photoshoot are all over the house...you can tell I REALLY loved those pics!
We will most definately do MVMCP while we're there! Keep checking posts about that for this year, hoping to see what night turns out to be least busy.
You'll be the first to know more details...esp when I officially book it!!! Hoping you can work your magic! Going to hop over to your PTR now...to see what is happening with your trip.

 

[Lcaemom]

In exactly one year from right now...I'LL BE ON A PLANE TO DISNEY!!!! I'm hoping to book the earliest flight of the day, to be able to start our vacation as early as possible...maybe even as early as Sunday!

 

[Lcaemom]

In hopes of getting a PIN I keep going to the Disney site and plugging in dates, resorts, etc and saving them. This is a great idea, right?!?!?
Well, here is where I start to torture myself....
I plug in the actual dates and resorts of the trip, as I actually see it happening. THEN...I upgrade us to The Royal Palm Club...and THEN I subtract 30-40% off the room price...as historically there have been deals to the public. This gets me all excited that I could make that type of vacation a reality.
BUT THEN...and here is where I REALLY start to torture myself! I plug in the same dates but, to POR...and the difference in price is CRAZY!!!! I need to stop doing this!

 

[Lcaemom]

This is why I come here and start PTRs early...because the plans change so many times...it makes me CRAZY!!! It's like having a support group. I took my oldest DD out last night...she was a little weepy over some things...her Dad and I are separated and some days are better than others. During our heart to heart talk she admitted that she is "kinda...just a little bit sad" that she and my middle DD are not going on this trip in 2012...then she burst into tears! She said that she thought me taking my youngest DD would be a good idea because she didn't want to miss school and she thought she'd really like being home with just her dad BUT...she knows how much I love WDW and knows she won't "be young forever...and wants to spend time together...just us...as a family." Then we both started to cry...but, at the same time I was ELATED!!! Because my 16yo TEENAGE daughter WANTS to be with her family...at a place that she admits she really misses...as we will not be going for 2010. We had a long talk about missing school...she said this year wouldn't have worked because she is taking two honors math classes AND chemistry at the same time...she couldn't have missed a week of school. But, next year she will have pre-calc...which I can absolutely help with that. My middle DD will taking geometry and chemistry next year...I can help her with those. I had already made the decision about youngest DD...sooooooo, we all talked to middle DD at dinner last night...and she said the SAME THING!!! "Mom...I didn't realize how much I'd miss WDW until now...because we won't be there this year!" So....guess what???? WE'RE ALL GOING BACK TO DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which...changes the plans...by a day or two on the dates...and if all four of us are going...it may be to POR and not the GF...but, we'll see how that plays out...crossing my fingers for that PIN/code so, I can work some magic!

 

[princess&her4princes]

This is why I come here and start PTRs early...because the plans change so many times...it makes me CRAZY!!! It's like having a support group. I took my oldest DD out last night...she was a little weepy over some things...her Dad and I are separated and some days are better than others. During our heart to heart talk she admitted that she is "kinda...just a little bit sad" that she and my middle DD are not going on this trip in 2012...then she burst into tears! She said that she thought me taking my youngest DD would be a good idea because she didn't want to miss school and she thought she'd really like being home with just her dad BUT...she knows how much I love WDW and knows she won't "be young forever...and wants to spend time together...just us...as a family." Then we both started to cry...but, at the same time I was ELATED!!! Because my 16yo TEENAGE daughter WANTS to be with her family...at a place that she admits she really misses...as we will not be going for 2010. We had a long talk about missing school...she said this year wouldn't have worked because she is taking two honors math classes AND chemistry at the same time...she couldn't have missed a week of school. But, next year she will have pre-calc...which I can absolutely help with that. My middle DD will taking geometry and chemistry next year...I can help her with those. I had already made the decision about youngest DD...sooooooo, we all talked to middle DD at dinner last night...and she said the SAME THING!!! "Mom...I didn't realize how much I'd miss WDW until now...because we won't be there this year!" So....guess what???? WE'RE ALL GOING BACK TO DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which...changes the plans...by a day or two on the dates...and if all four of us are going...it may be to POR and not the GF...but, we'll see how that plays out...crossing my fingers for that PIN/code so, I can work some magic!

Yay, SO excited that all the girls WANT to go with you and spend that family time! So important and it says something about you as a Mom!!

I'm sure that this will be a trip for you to remember, for sure! I can't wait to hear all the changes this year!!

 

[taaren]

This is why I come here and start PTRs early...because the plans change so many times...it makes me CRAZY!!! It's like having a support group. So....guess what???? WE'RE ALL GOING BACK TO DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which...changes the plans...by a day or two on the dates...and if all four of us are going...it may be to POR and not the GF...but, we'll see how that plays out...crossing my fingers for that PIN/code so, I can work some magic!

Yeah the support group part is nice. I know the feeling with changing plans! Have been planning next year for a year and already my graduation moved, not sure what's going on with our jobs/what state we'll be living in when we leave (trying to leave the airfare easy and connectable), the resorts we're staying in and stateroom sizes have changed, along with how we're paying for it ... found some good deals though (we're getting free airfare from signing up for the Southwest Visa). I usually like my plans a little more stable than this but life happens! Still waiting to see whether part of our group is coming for the second week or not, what happens with DBF's employment situation ... eesh. Hoping things will settle down by the time we make our ADRs in 6 months!
Its great that you're taking all your girls though. We have a singleton so all our time is his, but it seems like if you have more than one, leaving one or two behind would be really difficult!