Newbie needs assistance

[Komplex]

I have been lurking on these boards for months trying not to be overwhelmed by my looming task of:
A: Convincing my vegetarian, control-freak wife to spend a lot of money to visit a place she has no desire to visit. EVER!!!! I know I can't believe it either but I love her anyway. Did I mention she doesn't like the heat or crowds.

B. Planning our very first trip to the world for 8 days and 7 Nights for a family of four with no prior planning experience. Did I mention I am a huge procrastinator. It is okay though because we are about 8-9 months so I should be good. Right?????

So here is what I know for sure:
We are going during the peak season. Can't be helped because perfect attendence in school is important to our family.. Read wife said we can't go any other time and summer is out of the question.

We will be on the dining plan. I am the only one in my family that is not a vegetarian, picky eater or both. I have a rough idea of where we will be eating but as normal it will revolve around the weed eater(wife, for those not keeping track). I will solicit more help in this area as the debate ensues.

We plan to stay at POR (picked up alittle jargon from my lurking days). We will be park hopping and I am on the fence about a water park.

Hinted to the family about the Crocs but they are very fashion sensitive and don't want to be seen around the world wearing lime green anything. As for me, the former GI, I just want to be able to survive being on my feet all day without being carted back to the resort.

I know this has been asked a million times but could I please get on the distro list for those handy little planning spreadsheets that you DIS Veterans have floating around. That will get me started. The wife likes details so I am going to be grilled regularly.

I look forward to learning the ins and outs of planning and survivng my first trip to the world

 

[katied]

I have a schedule I've typed up to take with - day to day plans, ADR confirm #'s & times, etc. I have a budget, packing list, a dining planner, etc., all curtosy of others from the boards.

If you'd like these things, send me a PM with your email and I can send them as email attachments.

 

[Komplex]

Katied,
As soon as I figure out what this error is I will PM you. Thanks

Your Private Message contains one or more URLs, The DIS requires a minimum number of posts before allowing the posting of URL's

 

[katied]

About the Crocs - see if they like the Athens (those are the flip flops) I bought my first pair about 2 months ago and wear them all the time. It helps overcome the "ugly" factor. I like them so much that I broke down and bought the Caymen, and the Beach for my sister. Also, my DNiece (age 10) decided the Payless version with is sort-of pink and purple was good enough for her. DNephew will (age 8) will still wear whatever we tell him to. DH is on his own. I just have told him not to even start complaining about his feet.

Weedeaters - I'm one too, which is why I even plan out the CS resturants ever day to make sure there is food I'm happy eating (sick of hamburgers without the meat, etc).

We skip the water parks. My DNiece and DNephew go to the Wisconsin Dells ever year, so maybe I'm wrong, but way waste Disney time at a water park (probably also because I'm so pale, water parks are my enemy).

Good luck - but remember, you want to set the plans so at the 180 day mark for check-in you can make your ADRs, esp. if you're going during peak season and have picky eaters.

 

[raspberrysharpei]

Two useful tools I have found are: The "Unoffical Guide to WDW 2006"-I had the book less than a week & was able to pull everything together. The second is the "WDW Passporter". This book allows you to plan & schedule each day (if you choose) keep all your travel documents, reservations, it has maps for each park, etc. These books should answer all the detailed questions you might be looking for as well as provide you with lots of options. FYI-This will also by my first trip with family (sis, her DD11 & DS4.5).

We desided not to visit the waterparks based on the information about how crowded, lack of shade, & how much they were like the larger Disney theme parks. We chose to spend a bit more for a ticket at Discovery Cove, which in turn gave us a seven day pass to SeaWorld or Bush Gardens (Great fix for our two half days of travel) & provided us with a "slow pace day". Check out the website for a alternative that might appeal to your family. Plan breaks mid-day, don't plan too much & have you looked at the Shades of Green? Unbelievable military discounts with about a seven month wait list-and close to the MK.


These discussion boards are a life saver. Remember that the planning & anticipation is half the fun. Try to include your family in some planning, it will give them some ownership in the upcoming vacation. Good luck.

 

[bobcat]

Katied,
As soon as I figure out what this error is I will PM you. Thanks

Your Private Message contains one or more URLs, The DIS requires a minimum number of posts before allowing the posting of URL's

Your email address shows up as a link and until you have a cretain number of posts on this board you can't send those or add them to your posts. Just leave spaces in between to breakup your email address.

You are on the right track planning now. Are you going during spring break? If so then make sure to get your reservations as soon as possible. Same with your dinning ADRs. WDW is fine for vegetarians and there are lots of posts about this if you look.

I don't like crowds and heat either yet I love WDW in the summer. Go figure!

 

[RenFromPenn]

If your wife doesn't like crowds then she is really going to hate Disney during the peak season. You might want to try to convince her to go during the off-season because otherwise it is going to be VERY crowded.