Thanks for link
I am a firm believer in booking to lock in a deal since you can always change later. Most of our trips I book FD then switch when a room discount comes out as it s better for us as there is just 2 of us and we stay Deluxe
I do the same.
Actually, I'll book anyway, running the risk of not being there during a deal window. It hasn't failed me yet, but you never know. For us, the resort discount is always better, and that's easier to work around if you pay for the dining package. Anyway, I use
AAA and the agent there is always on top of things for me so I get the best discount during the time I'm going. Last year I had a 40% off room discount and it was during free dining as well. She figured out the room discount would save us about $200 more than free dining (there are only 3 of us and DD was 3 at the time). I emailed her already to give her a heads up on our next trip! I'm sure she's thrilled I"m touching base so soon!
Well, the grand gathering defects are already taking place, but with those I expected. My BIL informed me yesterday he and his gf will not be going. No surprise. He's very anti-Disney, and DH and I were on the verge of divorce last year until my diagnosis. We decided going through all that wouldn't be in ours, and specifically DD's, best interest if we didn't know what was happening with me. DH and I remain friends, even though the husband/wife love isn't there anymore (at least on my part), so it's not hard to live together. It presents its challenges, but we're definitely friendly toward one another, so it works for now. DH's family doesn't understand it. They understand helping me through all of this, but the don't understand why we would still go on a family vacation together. Even before my diagnosis, we said we would try to take at least one family trip a year, especially if the trip was to Disney. We knew realistically this wouldn't last forever, but while DD is young, we thought it was important to let her know mommy and daddy are still on the same page, still love her, and will always put her first. DH's family is having a really hard time with this, especially his mom. I understand always sticking up for your child, but we're talking extenuating circumstances here. They need to get over it. My MIL wouldn't speak to me at DD's birthday in August. I had to sit next to her and force her to talk, acting like nothing was different. After that she finally got over it, but I was considering not going to their house for xmas eve because of how uncomfortable they were making it. We've since had another gathering and I spent the entire dinner talking to MIL and some to FIL and I think I'm going to go now. I'm much more tolerant of them now. Cancer changes everything. I think that may brush off on them. And to be perfectly honest, in the end, DH and I may work everything out. Do they really want to burn bridges before they even know what's happening?
My family, of course, has been supportive of both of us all along. My dad has issues now and then, but he doesn't show it in public, and he's been taking me to chemo and my appointments, so we've talked a lot about it. He's more understanding now. Makes the in-law situation even harder to take.
Wow, that was a lot of personal information. Sometimes I don't realize how often I am alone, and when I get an avenue like this to relay info, I jump on it!
Sorry for the rant.
So DH and I are torn between WL and BW. Has anyone been to either and have suggestions? Here are the reasons we're torn:
1) WL is one of the most beautifully decorated (I've heard) resorts at xmas, but the transportation is mostly by bus, except, of course, for the boat to MK. With a 5yo, I'm not sure I want to be dependent on the bus so often.
2) BW doesn't have any restaurants, specifically QS, within the resort. Everything is on the boardwalk and I am gluten free. I can't really eat at the Boardwalk Bakery or things like that, and I don't want to have a granola bar every morning for breakfast or have to do TS every morning either. I like eggs.
3) The one kink in all of this is the convenience. DH and I have been talking about staying in a monorail resort as we did last time (Poly) since it was soooooooooooooooooooooooo
hourglass ) ooooooooooooooooooo convenient. However, I liked the Poly, but it wasn't my fave resort. Not enough to jump on it again right away. I'd love to stay in the Contemporary just for a change of pace, but DH doesn't want to stay in BLT (I don't know why, apparently the walk over the concourse is just too much for him
). I'm all for upgrades, but I usually book standard. At the Contemporary, that would mean BLT.
Any suggestions from experience?
ETA: The Grand Floridian is waaaay out of our league, so that's why it wasn't mentioned at all. Plus at Christmas time, with the gbread house, I would think the traffic there would get a bit annoying.
We are going in May and nothing for then either!! Oh well...we will wait and see!
You are amazing. As you know from last year when I said it, the gods didn't grant me a whole lot in the patience department. You are just so wonderful to have actually dealt with DHs family the way you have the past couple of months. And I think, based on what you've said, that xmas eve will be just fine. You're too strong for it not to be. And, besides, I'll mail you a Disney-based present so you'll have something to smile about all night long. 
