My sister's going to be a CM-I gotta go visit her! TR LINK UP! p. 21

[fraggle551]

I'm in !! Cant wait to hear all about it!

 

[wdwgirl03]

OK, so are you ready for the big reveal?

If you haven't read my current TR, I did offer a couple clues for this trip:
1.) It will NOT be in December (sadly, after talking to Dad, aka manager of the DVC points, we ended up cancelling that reservation ).

2.) I will (most likely) NOT be staying at a DVC resort.

3. This will (most likely) be my first solo adventure

So how did this all play out then? Here we go...

WHEN AM I GOING?
Before I go into the details of this trip, let me go back to last year. As you might already know, one of my favorite times to visit WDW is during the holidays. Yes, it is busy but all of the decorations around the parks/resorts more than make up for that. The last time we took a trip around Christmas was Dec. 2008. I kept saying how I wanted to go back to see the decorations so we made a reservation for last December. Then the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened. One of my sisters (umm...it might be the one who is doing the CP...) decided she HAD to go see it shortly after it opened. We ended up cancelling the December reservation and went in August instead, which was our first sisters-only trip! So I told myself (and my dad) that this was the year I would go back for winter break. As soon as we could, Dad made a reservation for this December but then plans changed again! Now that we knew Emma was going to be doing the CP, my parents started thinking about going to visit her. Currently, they're going in Oct. and mid-Dec. (along with taking her down and picking her up-that's a lot of DVC reservations!). But, because I'm sort of stuck to the school calendar, I wouldn't be able to go with them. I still wanted to go after Christmas but since it's a busy travel time, flights are expensive and it uses up a lot of DVC points. Not to mention our winter break is ridiculously short. At some point I thought it might be fun to go in October for fall break, formerly known as teacher's convention here in WI. That way, I could try to go to another MNSSHP. I told Dad my idea and we started checking DVC availability and flights. It turns out that Saratoga Springs had some rooms and the flights for the end of October were pretty reasonable. So...instead of going after Christmas, I will now be going October 28-31!

I know those couple days are going to go WAY too fast but I'm pretty excited. Like I said, I wanted to go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (already bought my ticket!) and then there's the Food and Wine Festival. In all honesty I didn't care too much about the F&WF at first but the more I see about it the more I'm interested.


WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
When Dad first called DVC, he was told that the only resort with any availability was Saratoga Springs. However, when he called back just a few days later after I made my final decision to go ahead with these dates, there was nothing for Friday the 28th. BOO! At that point I had a few different options:

1. I could use the DVC points for Sat. and Sun. and pay for Friday night out of pocket. It would've cost something like $250 for one night. Hmm...I love SSR but I really didn't want to pay that.

2. Book a room at one of the value resorts.

3. Put my name on the waiting list for SSR.

I ended up getting on the waiting list for a studio at SSR and booked a room at Pop Century instead. I was a little disappointed that I might not be able to stay at a DVC resort. We have stayed at All Star Movies and Sports before so I know what the value resorts are like but being in DVC definitely spoils you! I'm sure Pop Century would've been fun considering it has many loyal fans but I was really hoping something would open up at SSR. Well, I must've been on the shortest waiting list ever because a couple days later Dad received a confirmation email saying I got a studio at SSR! So I'm happy to say that I get to go "home" again and atleast now I don't have to pay for the room. So happy in fact, that when I called to cancel my Pop Century reservation I felt it was necessary to explain that to the CM (to which she replied, "so it's not a sad cancellation." haha, nope!).

So here's the quick version of this trip:

The dates: October 28-October 31, 2011

The resort: studio at Saratoga Springs

Only 72 days to go and now I can add that ticker to my signature.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

I think you practically gave it away on the other TR, Sarah Well, I'm so jealous now that you'll be going to Disney for MNSSHP and the F&WF! Then, to top it all off, you got a studio at SSR as well, you lucky DVC Members Can't wait to hear about the other cool details of your trip!

 

[PirateKate]

I'm glad you got the studio at Saratoga Springs. I'd rather stay there than at Pop Century, too.

Short trips can still be a lot of fun and getting to go to MNSSHP is awesome. We're going for the first time in October and I'm really excited. Are you going to the party on Halloween night? I think that would be fun.

 

[Oliquig]

That sonds like a great time to go, now the question is: Are you going to dress up?

I would love to go to a MNSSHP, but that is a really busy time of year for me.
Yea for the good luck with DVC.

 

[onelilspark]

Our wedding day is October 29. If you ever need to know how far away you are from your trip, let me know

 

[jenbear123]

That's great news you got in at SSR! I definitely want to stay there one day. Hey, we just might cross paths for when Bubba starts her program! She's due to start Nov 1st so we're driving down for arrival on Oct 30 or 31. I'm not sure if I'm going yet because of stupid work but maybe we'll bump into each other!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Yay for some details! Have you considered booking a room with your sister's CM discount? You could save some money off your rooms and if she stays with you, you can get 50% off! I couldn't wait till my family came to escape my apt of 6 lol. I'm sure she will feel the same way at some point!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Great news about getting the room at SSR!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Yay for MNSSHP AND F&W!

You know I'm all about the short trips! Plus it will be so fun to meet up with your sister while she's down there.

Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

 

[Caretames1]

Nice Plans! Which MNSSHP are you going to? Are you going to dress up?
Well, if you need any info about MNSSHP I can tell you after I get back at the end of Sept!

 

[kathleen27]

An October trip sounds fun! I would love to go back at that time.
I loved MNSSHP! and F&W was fun to try things without committing to a big meal. Most of what we tried we really liked.

Glad you were able to get a room at SSR.

 

[Merida]

Congrats on both Saratoga Spring and Food and Wine! Disney has all these awesome more adult-y events at Epcot that I can't go to because of grad school. Finally old enough to enjoy the wine half and yet still so far away!

I saw in your sig that you've been in Disney around Flower and Garden. Which do you think will be your favorite?

 

[cbg1027]

I'm here, subbing!

I cannot wait to hear about Emma being a CM! Sooo cool!

Maybe we can have a DISmeet since our dates overlap a little and I will most likely be solo too! I'm there 10/26-30 and planning to do a lot of F & W events. I just booked 4 things this morning and got everything I wanted.

 

[Jazzabelle508]

Can't wait to hear about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! I have always wanted to go to that! I went to the christmas party 5 years ago which was so much fun! I loved how empty the park was during the party! I also can't wait to hear about the food and wine festival. I have never been there for that but since you can try all these great foods in one place i would love to check it out. I am a avid reader of the Disney Food Blog and they have a lot of cool and useful information about the food and wine festival. If you aren't a Disney Food Blog reader already then i highly reccomend it! I love hearing about the food they have there.

 

[meeko_33785]

Hey Sarah! Sounds like a fun trip. Looking forward to hearing about it.

 

[wisblue]

Yay for some details! Have you considered booking a room with your sister's CM discount? You could save some money off your rooms and if she stays with you, you can get 50% off! I couldn't wait till my family came to escape my apt of 6 lol. I'm sure she will feel the same way at some point!

Even at 50% off, paying for the room out of pocket would cost more than using DVC points, not to mention that using DVC points requires no new cash outlay.

I do want Sarah's sister to look into that once she gets settled, but I understand that new cast members don't get access to the reservation system for at least a few weeks and that availability of the discounted rooms is limited.

 

[TanzUnited99]

at being able to experience MNSSHP and the F&W festival during your trip!! I miss the F&W festival by a few days so look forward to reading reviews in all these October trips that are taking place.

 

[jwwi]

Sounds like you have been lucky with your trip planning already. I know how much you love SSR, so I'm sure it is nice to know you are going back. Good luck to your sister, two more days till she leaves, how exciting!

Sarah, you will love MNSSHP, make sure to pick a costume that allows you to move freely and enjoy the non existent lines for the rides. The parade and fireworks are so good, and trick or treating is fun too. I am sure that you already know that you can enter the party at 4:00 with your party ticket, so make sure you take advantage of the extra hours. Wait, do you have an annual pass?

 

[wdwgirl03]

I think you practically gave it away on the other TR, Sarah Well, I'm so jealous now that you'll be going to Disney for MNSSHP and the F&WF! Then, to top it all off, you got a studio at SSR as well, you lucky DVC Members Can't wait to hear about the other cool details of your trip!

haha, I know. I am bad at keeping secrets when it comes to Disney. I was so glad to get the studio at SSR and can't wait to go to MNSSHP again!

I'm glad you got the studio at Saratoga Springs. I'd rather stay there than at Pop Century, too.

Short trips can still be a lot of fun and getting to go to MNSSHP is awesome. We're going for the first time in October and I'm really excited. Are you going to the party on Halloween night? I think that would be fun.

Yeah, and especially since it's so short I'm not familiar with Pop at all.

I'm actually doing the party on the 30th but I figure that's close enough! I bought my ticket already because I'm sure that's going to be a popular date. I didn't want to wait and then end up not getting a ticket.

That sonds like a great time to go, now the question is: Are you going to dress up?

I would love to go to a MNSSHP, but that is a really busy time of year for me.
Yea for the good luck with DVC.

I don't know if I'm going to dress up. Maybe if I can come up with a good, basic costume idea. We'll see!

Our wedding day is October 29. If you ever need to know how far away you are from your trip, let me know

I saw your ticker and thought your wedding must be around the time I go!

That's great news you got in at SSR! I definitely want to stay there one day. Hey, we just might cross paths for when Bubba starts her program! She's due to start Nov 1st so we're driving down for arrival on Oct 30 or 31. I'm not sure if I'm going yet because of stupid work but maybe we'll bump into each other!

If you get the chance you should definitely stay at SSR. I just love it. Let me know if you get things sorted out at work. It'd be fun to have a DIS meet!

Yay for some details! Have you considered booking a room with your sister's CM discount? You could save some money off your rooms and if she stays with you, you can get 50% off! I couldn't wait till my family came to escape my apt of 6 lol. I'm sure she will feel the same way at some point!

I thought about the CM discount but like my dad said in another comment, even with 50% we'd be paying more than with the DVC points. It'll be interesting though to see if she could get anything with her discount.

Great news about getting the room at SSR!

It was very great news!

Yay for MNSSHP AND F&W!

You know I'm all about the short trips! Plus it will be so fun to meet up with your sister while she's down there.

Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

The only downside to going for a long weekend is I don't know how I'm going to be able to do everything. I know I don't have to but there's no way I'm skipping any of the parks! I'll probably just have to go for the headliners/favorites. Atleast I'll most likely have spring break then and we'll have a few more days.