October Pretrip Planning - Stacy storms the World!

[Stacybaeasm]

Ok, I probably need to start this with a little backstory. For the last 3 years, I was lucky enough to live in Sarasota, FL - a mere 2 hour drive to Disney. Planning a trip to Disney consisted of telling everyone to be at my house at 6:30am, making sure there was gas in the car, $ in the wallet, and deciding whether to see Wishes or Fantasmic. In January, I got a call from a new theatre offering me a job (I happen to have been in DHS at the time). It was a great job so I took it. However, when I began telling people about it, this is the response I got. "Stacy, that's great but you now St. Louis is REALLY far from Disney, right?" Even my parents got in the act. Mom - "Honey, we are so happy for you and this theatre sounds great, but it IS really far from Disney. Will you be ok?" Dad (frantically looking something up on his computer) "Oh, you should be ok. There's a 6 Flags in St. Louis." *poor dad doesn't get that Disney can't be compared to anything.* Anyway, off I moved to St. Louis and within a week, I was in desperate need of a Disney fix. What to do?

Then my boss mentions that I get a week of vacation time in October. Woo hoo, Disney here I come! But then, I started thinking, how does one plan a trip to Disney? This might become slightly more complicated than "get in the car, show up at the gates." So, I started surfing the Disboards. Oh my goodness, you guys are amazing, funny, informative, amazingly organzied, and did I mention funny? But my head starts to spin - where to stay? Dining plan or not? How many ADR's do I want/need? Magical Express, rent a car, take a towncar, take a taxi? My head explodes!!!!

So, it's time to start answering those questions. And I hope to get lots of feedback from the great folks here. I know, I'm not nearly as amusing as UtahMama, CampbellScot, Daruss, et al, but unfunny people need help too. So here we go. I'm excited beyond belief because this planning needs to take the place of my monthly trips. So let's take a journey! Oh, and to all of you who plan these trips for yourself, husbands, wives, SO's, kids, grandparents, and the billions of others you take with you - you rock the catbox! I can't even conceive of such a thing.

 

[holly7347]

It just really is too much to conceive of isn't it? Our trip is also in October during DD's fall break from kindergarten. I've been working on our meals for months just waiting for the 180 mark to arrive. I second guessed myself a thousand times trying to decide where everyone would like to eat, when, which characters we wanted to dine with etc. I finally decided on the restaurants then tried to figure out the times. So this morning I finally book the ADR's at 179 days out. And after I got off the phone I started second guessing myself that I made our breakfast ADR's too early. The cast member I spoke with told me to allow 45 minutes travel time from the hotel to the park and extra time at MK to get to the castle. I started thinking OMG I'm going to have to wake my very unhappy family up at 6am to get to these 8am ADR's. I think I'm going to call back tomorrow and see if I can change them to 9am. But I'm sure I'll second guess that too.

And before I spent so much time working on the meals I was spending loads of time trying to decide which resort to stay at.

There are just too many decisions to make for a worrier and second guesser like me. I guess the good side is if I made bad decisions this time I can look forward to another trip to do it "right".

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I finally decided on the restaurants then tried to figure out the times. So this morning I finally book the ADR's at 179 days out. And after I got off the phone I started second guessing myself that I made our breakfast ADR's too early. The cast member I spoke with told me to allow 45 minutes travel time from the hotel to the park and extra time at MK to get to the castle. I started thinking OMG I'm going to have to wake my very unhappy family up at 6am to get to these 8am ADR's. I think I'm going to call back tomorrow and see if I can change them to 9am. But I'm sure I'll second guess that too.

And before I spent so much time working on the meals I was spending loads of time trying to decide which resort to stay at.

Ok, so what did you decide? I don't mind "borrowing" from other people's ideas. I've been looking through everyone's food pictures and I keep changing my mind on EVERYTHING! I had no idea how good I had it. We never concerned ourselves with TS meals. I mean, when you visit the parks with interns who are making $75/week, it's WAAAAYYYY more important to save money for beer at Fantasmic than eat a good meal. That's what CS meals are for. Where did you get reservations?

 

[Sacha_L]

I'm in! We will be at Disney in Oct as well! I however am pretty much a newbie so I can't wait to see how you plan it out having been there so many times!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I'm in! We will be at Disney in Oct as well! I however am pretty much a newbie so I can't wait to see how you plan it out having been there so many times!

Let me know if you need help with rides/parks. I am a complete newbie when it comes to restaurants and I've only done a resort 1 time for like 3 days. However, I know the parks like the back of my hand. In fact, the company manager at my last theatre would just send the actors to me if they needed advice on Disney. When in October are you going?

 

[Sacha_L]

we will be there Oct 2-Oct 8th

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I guess I should introduce the cast on this great adventure.

Me - My interns call me Mama Stacy (37). I have always been a princess (or as one contract once titled me "Queen of the Universe") but I didn't develop an addiction for Disney until I lived in Florida. Then, if I didn't visit the World at least once a month, I got cranky. Not my usual "I haven't had a Diet coke and it's the third morning of tech" cranky but "I wil rip your head off your body if you even THINK of looking at me wrong" cranky. It was usually about that time that a brave individual would say "Maybe it's time for a Disney trip??"

And - wait. That's it. That's the entire cast of this little adventure. Nobody wants to go with me. My best friend was going, but work got in the way (stupid gala fundraiser). My parents were going, but work and health issues got in the way. So, it's a solo trip. Well, more pixie dust for me I've done the world solo a few times and I LOVE IT! I do my own thing and can get a seat for the parade 2 hours early if I want.

Now, on to the fun parts. Deciding what I want to do. I have been planning all along to stay at Carribean Beach but when I obsessively "quoted my vacation" for like the 1 billionth time, I noticed that there don't seem to be any standard rooms left. Hmmm...what do you guys think? What do you think of the Coranado or POFQ? I'm open for suggestions.

My other question concerns character meals. Is it really worth it for one person? If I did one, it would have to be either CRT or Akershaus for the princesses. I just wonder if it's better to save my money and stalk some characters in the park. Let me know what you think.

OK, I should get back to work. I have a tech rehearsal in a few hours with my teen performing group and I should be as prepared as possible.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

oooohhhhh, I love getting in on these early! Looks like you'll be arriving the day I leave. I love your attitude about going solo I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

oooohhhhh, I love getting in on these early! Looks like you'll be arriving the day I leave. I love your attitude about going solo I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Thanks! I think I will have a great time solo. Now, if I can just decide what order to do things in, I can start really planning. The only things on my must do list: 50's prime time cafe and MNSSHP.

 

[JKMJ441724]

I guess I should introduce the cast on this great adventure.

Me

And - wait. That's it. That's the entire cast of this little adventure. Nobody wants to go with me.

I'll go. I'm staying at OKW.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I'll go. I'm staying at OKW.

Come on along. It should be a great trip.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I just booked my resort for the trip. I changed my mind about Carribean Beach and decided to try a new resort. Sooo..... *drum roll please* I am booked Oct. 12-19 at POFQ. Woo Hoo!

This kills 2 birds with one stone actually. I love Disney (who doesn't) and can never bring myself to vacation anywhere else now that I moved out of Florida. However, I've always wanted to visit New Orleans (darn those Anne Rice and Sherilyn Kennyon novels anyway.) People have scared me away from visiting New Orleans on my own, apparently it's not super safe for a single female. So, I'll stay in the pretend French Quarter that, besides having a great atmosphere, will also have hidden Mickeys, pixie dust, and buses to my favorite parks in the world.

I passed on the dining plan. I don't do that many table services on my own. I think I will get a couple of ressies but I haven't figured out my agenda yet. I'm pretty sure I'm doing MNSSHP on oct. 16 but tickets aren't on sale yet.

Ok, I need to just calm down. Given the level of excitement and celebration going on right now, you'd think I was leaving in the next week, not 5 months from now. What do you think? Is it too soon to start a countdown calendar?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I was completely unaware of the AAA discount at Disney. THe only other time I stayed in a resort (instead of driving in for the day) I was a FL resident and used that discount. I booked the trip earlier tonight and then came on the Dis to read some stuff. I saw someone else mentioning the AAA discount and called Disney right back. Love the CM's!!!! The very nice man took care of it right away. More money for souveniers. My little princess niece will be very happy to get more presents now that Auntie Stacy can't get her something from Disney every month. So, again, thanks Disney.

Oh, and I decided I needed to get my flight booked too. I know, I still have 5 months. But folks, airfare is going to skyrocket soon. Gas prices are going up and so will flight prices. Get those tix now before that happens!