October 2007 - it's going to be BIG!

[Chloe'sMom]

October 2007 - it's going to be BIG!​

Welcome to my pre-trip report.

Our last trip to the WDW Property was May 2005 when we went to DTD for an afternoon before heading to Port Canaveral for a WDW Cruise on the Magic. I technically haven't been to a WDW park since January 2005 when I did the half-marathon with my WISH buddies!

In October 2005 we found out we were pregnant with our little girl Chloe. All future trips were cancelled as DH was nervous about traveling while I was pregnant. I ended up having to fly to California twice while pregnant anyway

Once Baby was born there was the money issue....... while on maternity leave for 13 weeks I discovered DVC resales! We've been wanting to purchase DVC for awhile but kept putting it off. Then one magical day I found it - a BWV resale for $80.00 a point. I made some calls - got a 0% interest credit card for 18 months for 3/4 of the balance we would owe, we had some money in savings from the 2005 tax return to put down for the rest. Suddenly we were in contract to purchase! "WELCOME HOME!"

That was when I started planning - when are we going! The last couple of trips our neighbors have joined us. They also became parents in the last year. We picked our dates . Smack in the middle of the food and wine festival! Our friends Doreen and Todd came for a visit in September (also DVC members) and they agreed to meet us as well in October!

to be continued.....

 

[hollybearsmom]

You can't stop there...more please!

 

[BriarRosie]

When I saw your trip report title, my first response was:

"HOW BIG IS IT?" (Ok, so I'm having Match Game flashbacks. LOL)

Then I noticed that you'll be overlapping my trip to WDW, too. It'll be
interesting seeing a different perspective of a trip during the same dates!
I guess we'll be neighbors if you're staying at BWV. I'll be at BCV.

I don't feel so bad that my last trip to WDW was October 2005 after reading
how long it's been since you've been there. Congrats on the "trip spoiler",
aka your DD Chloe.

I called my pre-trippie the "Larded and Loaded Tour" just because of the
Food and Wine Festival connection. I am looking forward to your report, too!

 

[rentayenta]

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Thanks Everyone!

How this trip earned it's name is that while I was pregnant my DH kept promising me we'll go after the baby is born and my response was, "it better be big!" As in a long trip, lots of resturants, deluxe accomodations. Plus since at the start of planning the trip we were going to go with:

Us - family of 3
Neighbors - family of 3
Neighbors parents - family of 2
Disney Friends - family of 2

Thats a lot of people!

But moving on from where I left off.

The dates were set, everyone was in on it. But I was the only one gearing to plan. The neighbors were at the start of their second adoption so they were pre-occupied with that. And our Disney friends are "wing-it" disney folks. So it was just me - brushing up on my Disney Knowledge and making to do list.

Finally one day MONTHS in advance I made a mock itinerary:


But I was dying inside. Only 4 ADR's..... but I was nervous to make more.

What if Chloe didn't nap? What if she didn't like AK? What if she threw a fit at dinner?

These questions plaqued me.

To be continued............

 

[rentayenta]

I am the proud mom of a Chloe too!


Your plan looks great and not commando!

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Being new to DVC we had never worked with points before. All of our previous trips we took advantages of codes, and other offers. But being DVC we didn't have to deal with that anymore.

DH wanted to do a one bedroom villa - his thoughts being SPACE. My husband likes his space, he hates being in a one room situation. Plus the idea of a DVD player and an 16 month old wasn't a bad one. I liked the idea of having a full kitchen in order to keep some snacks and beverages cold. We are a Mountain Dew family - after 2 days w/o we have serious withdrawl.

So I called the DVC hotline (we felt so special) the contract we bought only came with 106 pts for 2006 and our use month is in December. It is really weird having this use months because then I tend to think of them as 2007. ANYWAY so I called the number it would take all of our 2006 and borrowed 2007 pts to stay all 9 nights in a one bedroom. Meaning no future trip in 2008. Hmmm.... So I spend WAY to much time online trying to figure out the best way to manipulate the situation I then realize we could stay Saturday through Friday morning in a one bedroom and switch to a studio for Friday and Saturday night. It would save us a ton of points as the weekends are higher. So I call back the hotline and switch up the reservations. DH approves the plans and we saved about 40 pts. Which means....a possible trip in April 2008 for my DH's 30th bday BTW, this is all with a standard view.

I had a few weeks with no planning to do and I couldn't get my neighbor and her crew to start thinking about the trip

Then suddenly their adoption agency told them they would be getting their baby in August! Which means she would just be coming off of maternity leave when our trip is getting started. So they weren't going to be able to make it We felt sad that they couldn't make it but it did free me up to start making plans for my own family. The only problem is............I'm trying not to plan!

 

[DreaGirl]

I'm on board! We will be there the week before you with our DD, who will be 17 months at the time. I know what you mean about the ADRs. I am really nervous that DD is going to have a breakdown at every meal and it is going to be torture. But, the planner in me wouldn't let me NOT make the ADRs so I did.

Sorry about your friends not being able to make it, but it is wonderful that they will have a new addition!! That is very exciting.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Avivasmom]

Great you were able to save some points!!

First tme I took Aviva she was 2 years old and did excellent. We were at the parks all day and she slept (thankfully) in the stroller. ANd did well at dinner at TS restaurants.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Just read that Aerosmith will possibly be closed while we are down there. It says till early October.....this pretty much means the only things we will really want to do is Tower of Terror and Playhouse Disney.

My daughter won't hold still for shows like Indiana and Beauty and the Beast. Maybe Muppets...



Might cancel the ADR.
~Amanda

 

[vettechick99]

Amanda, I am sooo jealous you bought into BWV for $80/pt! I've really been thinking about DVC, but seeing as DH isn't quite the WDW freak that I am, it's not likely to happen. But I can live vicariously through you. Can't wait to read your report!

 

[jazzgirl]

We're going in October as well. We'll just be missing you, we're there the 26th through Nov. 3rd.

Looking forward to reading more.....Oh, and I'm marking this trip for us as the one where I convince DH that DVC is the way to go!!!

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

I hope the Rockin Roller Coaster opens back up for October! I will be so sad if it's closed.

Great TR, I'm excited to read more.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Amanda, I am sooo jealous you bought into BWV for $80/pt! I've really been thinking about DVC, but seeing as DH isn't quite the WDW freak that I am, it's not likely to happen. But I can live vicariously through you. Can't wait to read your report!

You should totally do it! Nothing like peer pressure!

Seriously though just show your DH how much money you spend on the rooms each time you go and then show him the cost of the DVC. I figure that we'll break even in 4 to 5 years with as many trips as we take. If your husband is like mine emphasis SPACE - once your little one starts walking you'll want that 1 bedroom suite! Plus emphasis - alone time, if you get my drift

~Amanda

 

[Chloe'sMom]

It's been awhile since I did an entry. We are doing the double digit dance

Okay - so I've redone the intinerary - again. Instead of doing a schedule like the one above, I just did the planned ADR's which I'm still questioning and which park is the best to go to on which days thanks to www.*****************. LOVE this site. How I ever lived without it for this long I have no idea.

I've actually been helping 2 friends plan their disney vacations and since they are type A people like myself they love the attention to detail. I actually did specialized touring plans just for them and have been rather happy to help God I need help!

"Hi my name is Amanda and I'm an overplanner."

We've always been table service people. But with Chloe and the not having a plan (haha) I've been skimming the menus for some of the counter service resturants. That way I can get some variety besides hotdogs and hamburgers.

I've got to find a good folder so I can print of the menus that way I remember which resturants I can get a chicken sandwich at.

Also I'm still rethinking our 50's primetime ADR. This is one of our favorite resturants but I'm thinking we won't be in MGM long enough to make it worthwhile. I've been doing some lurking on the themepark boards and it seems that with youngins this report comes in deadlast. So it might be more beneficial to go to the park in the morning - get out of there by 11 and head over to the world showcase and grab something at food and wine OR go back to the room and make something there.

I've also started a shopping list of things to take with us. And I bought new shoes so I could start breaking them in.

Should I get Chloe a princess/minnie dress? I would like to sew one myself but don't see that happening.....

I'm not doing very good at this non-planning thing.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

The latest and greatest itinerary:

October Disney Trip Itinerary – It’s Going to be BIG!
But not quite as big as expected.

Next step is putting together a list of possible resturants both Counter Service and table service that sound good. We are just going to have the list together so that if we find we have time for a meal we can just head in that direction. Of course not having ADR's may present a problem but if we can't do one resturant we'll just go to another.

 

[emilyclaire]

Hi! Just jumped on board your pre-trippie today. We will be in WDW at the same time, Oct. 14-20th. I definitely want to stay tuned to all the TR's from that time period for help in planning, as well as reading what your experiences were like during the same time period. So far it looks like the only park we have in common is Epcot on the 15th!

I can't wait to hear how your first DVC experience turns out. DH and I definitely want to explore that in the future.

Head on over to my pre-trippie if you have time. Happy planning!

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Been going back and forth between renting a car and not renting a car. Plus I've been super busy at work.

I'm still working on my list of counter service resturants that sound good to try.

In baby news - we are slowly but surely breaking Chloe of her morning nap. She has been staying awake from 6a.m. to 11a.m most days. Somedays she does need a 20 minute power nap. I am also trying to reset her internal clock and getting her to sleep in a little later. but I figure one day of being in parks and she'll probably start sleeping in on the trip

Our babysitter is headed to WDW tomorrow - I plan on calling her cell phone several times a day and asking her "what do you see?" I love playing this game with people in Disney - as you get to experience the trip with them.

I am going to purchase our annual passes this weekend at the Disney store. All hail the DVC membership with the $100.00 discount!

~Amanda

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Working on room request

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19950454#post19950454

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Our to Do list:

1. Chloe’s First Haircut
2. Toddler Mornings
3. Food and Wine Festival
4. Wishes
5. Expedition Everest
6. Caseys
7. Soarin


Resturant List:

Artist Point
Kona Cafe
Mara at AKL
Earl of Sandwich
Citricos

the resturant list is really more of a - if we get the hankering to eat somewhere sit down where do I think we could get in at. Also a list of places I would like to try - Artist Point being a big one.

We've never eaten at Artist Point or Citricos. I haven't been to Kona since 2002 and it was for lunch - wouldn't mind doing a late breakfast there one morning.

Also been working on our grocery list. From Sunday till Friday morning we have a 1 bedroom.

breakfast items:
*crossants
*eggs
*sliced ham
*American Cheese
*Juice

lunch items:
*lunch meat
*bread
*fruit cups
*bag of frozen mixed veggies

dinner items:
hamburger meat
spaghetti sauce
spaghetti noodles

Misc items:
*microwave popcorn
*case of Mt dew
*case of diet cola
*Diapers


Chloe will more then likely eat a lunch/snack everyday in the room. Hence the fruit cups and frozen veggies. 9 nights is a long time for my toddler to go on fast food. Also figured we could make croissant sandwiches in the morning before heading to the parks. Our friends and I discussed doing a spaghetti dinner one night before heading down to the pool for the evening.

~Amanda