wrldpossibility
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Messages
- 646
I hope it's ok to post a planning report instead of a travel report. Alas, we don't travel for 16 months! I'll remove the thread if it's in the wrong place, though. We're set to travel Dec. 06 to POR, and I thought I'd celebrate the booking and paying of the deposit by writing a little something about our planning experience thus far (I'm afraid it's long):
THE PLANNING
The cast:
HBIC (Head Boss in Charge)*: me, age 30
Mission:RelaxationDad**: age 31
DisneyKid7: son, age 7
DisneyKid5: son, age 5
FREE!DisneyKid: son, age 2
Joined by:
DisneyGrandma: age 55
DisneyGrandpa: age 56
WHEN TO GO
One hot August day in 2005, bored and ready for the school year to start, I decided we all needed to go to Disneyworld. None of us, not even the grandparents, have been. Thats right, an inaugural trip. Weve been to Disneyland many a trip, weve all (or I should say the HBIC has) planned many non-Disney trips with small children in tow, but are now aiming for the motherland the World. My mother (DisneyGrandma) and I believe we have been training for this our whole vacation-planning lives.
Anyway, back to that August day that I inform Mission:RelaxationDad that theres a situation he needs to be aware of: the day I tell him I want to go to Disneyworld. First, poor Mission:RelaxationDad blanches. See, because he is not a planner, he thinks I mean right then, that summer. Silly, silly Mission:RelaxationDad. Hes thinking about the camping trip we just returned from, the one where FREE!Kid (at that time 8 months old) crawled all over the campsite, ate, and therefore pooped, copious amounts of dirt and sand, and generally caused mayhem everywhere he went. No, no, I reassure him. After studying the Unoffical Guide to Disneyworld, the DIS, and Allearsnet, I certainly know better than to A. take an 8-month-old, and B. go in summer for our first and last-for-a-long-while trip to the World. I promise him well wait 16 months, and go when FREE!Kid is 2. Still, Mission:RelaxationDad is balking at taking a 2-year-old. Hes under the impression that said 2-year-old will throw tantrums in restaurants, cry about waiting in line, and be too short to ride anything. I promise that none of the above will occur, since we only raise well mannered, controlled, mature children, beg and plead about Magic and young children, and how theyre growing up and then play my best card: FREE!Kid will be FREE! Mission:RelaxationDad mumbles something to the effect of, Unless the FREE!Kids caretakers tickets are free, too, whats the point? but he knows a lost cause when he sees one, and when I leave for the bookstore to get the 06 version of all Disney travel books, hes already busy applying for a 0%-interest-until-Oct.-06 Disney Visa.
Next I tell the grandparents of our plan. Theyre 100% in agreement, because they are in agreement for any trip, large or small. These guys have energy like you wouldnt believe. However, we run into a snag when I tell DisneyGrandpa that were going before Christmas break in Dec. 06. Hes a teacher, and says hell only go during school breaks. I think Im going to have a panic attack, because one of my most important planning decisions is to go during a less crowded time, to off-set the fact that we have a 2-year-old going and to assume ourselves optimal Magic with a capital M. However, I patiently show him the OG crowd chart and assure myself that a bar graph, in its black and white glory, will show him the light. No. He quite happily and patronizingly explains to me, his lowly daughter, that their Christmas break wont be at exactly the same time as ours.
Ok, I say, biting my tongue, who is they, Dad?
Florida. And off he walks.
It takes me several more days to enlighten DisneyGrandpa on the world half of Disneyworld. Once he realizes he has more to contend with than the sunshine state, we compromise, and he misses 5 days of work. That puts our trip from Dec. 10-20th for my family, to be joined by the DisneyGrands from the 13th-20th. We leave right before the crowds (and the holiday rates). Whew. Houston, we have our dates!
PACKAGE, OR ROOM-ONLY?
By now Ive become addicted to the DIS. And what board do I love most? The Resorts boards Code thread. Every frugal, money-saving bone in my body loves this thread. But I decide to forego room-only and its illusive dreams of codes, AAA, and AP rates for a package. WHY, you ask? Because of the dining plan. We must have it. You see, we love to eat out. We plan to eat out. People who can make peanut butter sandwiches in bulk and eat them for days on end at Disney have my eternal admiration, but my family doesnt have a strong-willed bone in our bodies when it comes to food on vacation. So well eat out a lot, and I will be looking at the menu price, A LOT. Not at good combination. Ive been known to make my children share kid meals in expensive theme parks against their will (try making little kids share one shamu meal toy, and you know what Im talking about). But I dont think Im allowed to reference whales here, just mice. Anyway, Im too frugal to watch the $$ go bit by bit all 10 days, and too selfish and hungry to eat sandwiches. So we have the dining plan. Plus, thatll justify all the character meals I plan to get (you know, for the kids). Now, on to
WHERE TO STAY
Ive already decided I want Magic with the capital M, remember, so I am determined to stay on-property. I dont even let myself look at the off-site prices, or the frugal side of me (which is very powerful) will take over. Unfortunately for me, DisneyKid7 and 5 keep finding me on the computer, comparing resorts, and have their 2 cents to put in: they are 100% gung-ho for All Star Sports. They love everything about it. Mission:RelaxationDad sees the price of the All Stars, and adds his vote to theirs. Silly, silly boys. This is not a democracy! Our first trip to DW, were staying in at least a moderate. DisneyGrandpa looks through the resorts, and immediately picks a suite at Wilderness Lodge. DisneyGrandma agrees that it would be relaxing and close to MK. Convenient, since Mission:RelaxationDad and I are paying. I remind them that its not a democracy too. I do love WL though, so I look into it carefully. The DisneyKids see the photos, and true American kids they are, they realize immediately this this is better than AS Sports, demand an upgrade, and chant LODGE LODGE LODGE until I send them outside.
So that brings us to my first email to our wonderfully patient TA at Dreams Unlimited. I send her the dates, and ask for a quote on WL. I want standard rooms (sorry, DisneyGrandpa), connecting if possible. We thought about a deluxe room that houses 6, but heard it was cramped, and didnt want to pay the extra $$ during the nights the grands werent there. Then I considered renting DVC points, but I really needed Mission:RelaxationDads imput on that, and his eyes glazed over in boredom after five minutes of explaining how it works. Not for us.
The very next day, my quote for a WL reservation is in my inbox, and holy cow is that expensive! I show it to Mission:RelaxationDad, who faints. I figure I can count that as the relaxation part of his Disney experience. Ok, he didnt really faint, but came close enough.
So 10 days at WL is not in the cards for us. We are such rookies to think it was. But just after I reply to the dear TA, DisneyGrandma changes the dates she wants, then changes them back again to the exact same thing. I email the TA again. But now we need a new resort. I ask TA to price half at WL and half at the boys beloved Sports. Only $500 less, and a no go. We want packages, and if we split it its not worth it. So I research the socks off the moderates, and fall in love with POR. Mission:RelaxationDad is happy. After going through the slide show photos at allearsnet, Disneygrandpa and Grandma are happy. The DisneyKids only need to see the pool, think Tom Sawyers Island, and theyre happy. I go back to the computer to email TA to a boyish chorus of I, Huckleberry, Me from Big River (DisneyKid7 plays violin, and learned a song from that musical). She emails the quote, we all hold our breaths, and Mission:RelaxationDad and I look at the number and sigh in relief we can afford it. Or, at least we can almost afford it, and I promised to save all kinds of money for the next year. Good enough! We book it!
So thats our plan. Thats as far as weve gotten. Maybe in the coming months Ill ask opinions on our detailed itinerary. So for the next 16 months, Im afraid youll see a lot of me!
*HBIC is a title (usually substituted with another B-word that the DIS would edit) that is lovingly passed on through the obsessive-planning female line in our family. It is important for the reader to know that HBIC is a new promotion for me (bestoyed upon me by DisneyGrandma). Well see later if she can truly relinquish the power with grace
**God bless him, DH thinks hes going to relax this trip. He may be under that impression because I promised him, fingers crossed of course, that he would get ample relaxation time. I dont know how an involved father of three, yup, three small boys can still be so naïve, but somehow through 7 years of babyhood, toddler hood, and boyhood hes maintained his innocence. Its inspiring, really.
Amy
THE PLANNING
The cast:
HBIC (Head Boss in Charge)*: me, age 30
Mission:RelaxationDad**: age 31
DisneyKid7: son, age 7
DisneyKid5: son, age 5
FREE!DisneyKid: son, age 2
Joined by:
DisneyGrandma: age 55
DisneyGrandpa: age 56
WHEN TO GO
One hot August day in 2005, bored and ready for the school year to start, I decided we all needed to go to Disneyworld. None of us, not even the grandparents, have been. Thats right, an inaugural trip. Weve been to Disneyland many a trip, weve all (or I should say the HBIC has) planned many non-Disney trips with small children in tow, but are now aiming for the motherland the World. My mother (DisneyGrandma) and I believe we have been training for this our whole vacation-planning lives.
Anyway, back to that August day that I inform Mission:RelaxationDad that theres a situation he needs to be aware of: the day I tell him I want to go to Disneyworld. First, poor Mission:RelaxationDad blanches. See, because he is not a planner, he thinks I mean right then, that summer. Silly, silly Mission:RelaxationDad. Hes thinking about the camping trip we just returned from, the one where FREE!Kid (at that time 8 months old) crawled all over the campsite, ate, and therefore pooped, copious amounts of dirt and sand, and generally caused mayhem everywhere he went. No, no, I reassure him. After studying the Unoffical Guide to Disneyworld, the DIS, and Allearsnet, I certainly know better than to A. take an 8-month-old, and B. go in summer for our first and last-for-a-long-while trip to the World. I promise him well wait 16 months, and go when FREE!Kid is 2. Still, Mission:RelaxationDad is balking at taking a 2-year-old. Hes under the impression that said 2-year-old will throw tantrums in restaurants, cry about waiting in line, and be too short to ride anything. I promise that none of the above will occur, since we only raise well mannered, controlled, mature children, beg and plead about Magic and young children, and how theyre growing up and then play my best card: FREE!Kid will be FREE! Mission:RelaxationDad mumbles something to the effect of, Unless the FREE!Kids caretakers tickets are free, too, whats the point? but he knows a lost cause when he sees one, and when I leave for the bookstore to get the 06 version of all Disney travel books, hes already busy applying for a 0%-interest-until-Oct.-06 Disney Visa.
Next I tell the grandparents of our plan. Theyre 100% in agreement, because they are in agreement for any trip, large or small. These guys have energy like you wouldnt believe. However, we run into a snag when I tell DisneyGrandpa that were going before Christmas break in Dec. 06. Hes a teacher, and says hell only go during school breaks. I think Im going to have a panic attack, because one of my most important planning decisions is to go during a less crowded time, to off-set the fact that we have a 2-year-old going and to assume ourselves optimal Magic with a capital M. However, I patiently show him the OG crowd chart and assure myself that a bar graph, in its black and white glory, will show him the light. No. He quite happily and patronizingly explains to me, his lowly daughter, that their Christmas break wont be at exactly the same time as ours.
Ok, I say, biting my tongue, who is they, Dad?
Florida. And off he walks.
It takes me several more days to enlighten DisneyGrandpa on the world half of Disneyworld. Once he realizes he has more to contend with than the sunshine state, we compromise, and he misses 5 days of work. That puts our trip from Dec. 10-20th for my family, to be joined by the DisneyGrands from the 13th-20th. We leave right before the crowds (and the holiday rates). Whew. Houston, we have our dates!
PACKAGE, OR ROOM-ONLY?
By now Ive become addicted to the DIS. And what board do I love most? The Resorts boards Code thread. Every frugal, money-saving bone in my body loves this thread. But I decide to forego room-only and its illusive dreams of codes, AAA, and AP rates for a package. WHY, you ask? Because of the dining plan. We must have it. You see, we love to eat out. We plan to eat out. People who can make peanut butter sandwiches in bulk and eat them for days on end at Disney have my eternal admiration, but my family doesnt have a strong-willed bone in our bodies when it comes to food on vacation. So well eat out a lot, and I will be looking at the menu price, A LOT. Not at good combination. Ive been known to make my children share kid meals in expensive theme parks against their will (try making little kids share one shamu meal toy, and you know what Im talking about). But I dont think Im allowed to reference whales here, just mice. Anyway, Im too frugal to watch the $$ go bit by bit all 10 days, and too selfish and hungry to eat sandwiches. So we have the dining plan. Plus, thatll justify all the character meals I plan to get (you know, for the kids). Now, on to
WHERE TO STAY
Ive already decided I want Magic with the capital M, remember, so I am determined to stay on-property. I dont even let myself look at the off-site prices, or the frugal side of me (which is very powerful) will take over. Unfortunately for me, DisneyKid7 and 5 keep finding me on the computer, comparing resorts, and have their 2 cents to put in: they are 100% gung-ho for All Star Sports. They love everything about it. Mission:RelaxationDad sees the price of the All Stars, and adds his vote to theirs. Silly, silly boys. This is not a democracy! Our first trip to DW, were staying in at least a moderate. DisneyGrandpa looks through the resorts, and immediately picks a suite at Wilderness Lodge. DisneyGrandma agrees that it would be relaxing and close to MK. Convenient, since Mission:RelaxationDad and I are paying. I remind them that its not a democracy too. I do love WL though, so I look into it carefully. The DisneyKids see the photos, and true American kids they are, they realize immediately this this is better than AS Sports, demand an upgrade, and chant LODGE LODGE LODGE until I send them outside.
So that brings us to my first email to our wonderfully patient TA at Dreams Unlimited. I send her the dates, and ask for a quote on WL. I want standard rooms (sorry, DisneyGrandpa), connecting if possible. We thought about a deluxe room that houses 6, but heard it was cramped, and didnt want to pay the extra $$ during the nights the grands werent there. Then I considered renting DVC points, but I really needed Mission:RelaxationDads imput on that, and his eyes glazed over in boredom after five minutes of explaining how it works. Not for us.
The very next day, my quote for a WL reservation is in my inbox, and holy cow is that expensive! I show it to Mission:RelaxationDad, who faints. I figure I can count that as the relaxation part of his Disney experience. Ok, he didnt really faint, but came close enough.
So 10 days at WL is not in the cards for us. We are such rookies to think it was. But just after I reply to the dear TA, DisneyGrandma changes the dates she wants, then changes them back again to the exact same thing. I email the TA again. But now we need a new resort. I ask TA to price half at WL and half at the boys beloved Sports. Only $500 less, and a no go. We want packages, and if we split it its not worth it. So I research the socks off the moderates, and fall in love with POR. Mission:RelaxationDad is happy. After going through the slide show photos at allearsnet, Disneygrandpa and Grandma are happy. The DisneyKids only need to see the pool, think Tom Sawyers Island, and theyre happy. I go back to the computer to email TA to a boyish chorus of I, Huckleberry, Me from Big River (DisneyKid7 plays violin, and learned a song from that musical). She emails the quote, we all hold our breaths, and Mission:RelaxationDad and I look at the number and sigh in relief we can afford it. Or, at least we can almost afford it, and I promised to save all kinds of money for the next year. Good enough! We book it!
So thats our plan. Thats as far as weve gotten. Maybe in the coming months Ill ask opinions on our detailed itinerary. So for the next 16 months, Im afraid youll see a lot of me!
*HBIC is a title (usually substituted with another B-word that the DIS would edit) that is lovingly passed on through the obsessive-planning female line in our family. It is important for the reader to know that HBIC is a new promotion for me (bestoyed upon me by DisneyGrandma). Well see later if she can truly relinquish the power with grace
**God bless him, DH thinks hes going to relax this trip. He may be under that impression because I promised him, fingers crossed of course, that he would get ample relaxation time. I dont know how an involved father of three, yup, three small boys can still be so naïve, but somehow through 7 years of babyhood, toddler hood, and boyhood hes maintained his innocence. Its inspiring, really.
Amy
it didn't take long. (Isn't funny how Grandpa's are wrapped around the pinkies of their grandkids.)
, but I love to read everything. 
We've been to POR and I think your plan is good. You have the shared pools, the serpent at french quarter and the one at port orleans riverside-both with slides, yeah! Also you have the boat to downtown disney for something different to do at night. You will love it POR-also the food court is very convenient. Also you can always go over to wilderness lodge for dinner or to just check it out one day-you can take the boat from Magic Kingdom I think or drive or take the bus there.This is what is so great about Disney, you can stay at one resort but enjoy all of them. Make a reservation for the LUAU or Ohana at the polynesian and then watch the fireworks from the beach there one night if you want. Capemay cafe at beach club is also great and the atmosphere there(beach club-boardwalk area) after dinner is wonderful.THere is so much to do at Disney and the fact that you are planning early and you found these boards is great, sounds like you will plan the perfect trip.Don't forget at least one day at a waterpark-typhoon lagoon is our favorite.
