OK, I've got the ticker....Poly in August!!!

[solana131]

you guys are going to have a BLAST!!!!

Thanks Mo. I can't wait!

 

[KatMark]

Nope...you are right. The prices are too high right now. I am waiting a little. Plus...still waiting on Sara to tell me if she wants to go. I cant get flights until then.

Prices are insane. I just paid $385 for our trip in April for Mark's business trip and it killed me. Luckily, I was able to get $213 for my trip in June with the girls and $224 for our trip in August.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Suzi,

Glad to hear your plans are moving forward and now to August...

(Those second two weeks in August (-yes are hot... but Florida feels hot to me 75% of the time) but when we went to celebrate David's bday in August several years ago... the crowds were really low... I think so many schools go back early... it was great...

You have some really nice ADRs... love Kona & Boma. Via Napoli is really yummy and Chefs is just such a lovely restaurant...

YOU're going to have a blast...

I am so with you on this Winter... it is time for it to LEAVE...

 

[solana131]

Prices are insane. I just paid $385 for our trip in April for Mark's business trip and it killed me. Luckily, I was able to get $213 for my trip in June with the girls and $224 for our trip in August.

Yeah, at least you have more options in Chicago...the ONLY nonstop (and I won't fly anything else to Disney) option we have is in Manchester, NH or Boston and since I can't drive myself to Boston, the only choice is MHT. Well, the only nonstop in MHT is Southwest. They have one early and one late flight each day. So needless to say, our pickings are pretty slim around here. The flight I have my eye on is $203 down and $173 back....that's $1128 for the 3 of us! Crazy

Hey Suzi,

Glad to hear your plans are moving forward and now to August...

(Those second two weeks in August (-yes are hot... but Florida feels hot to me 75% of the time) but when we went to celebrate David's bday in August several years ago... the crowds were really low... I think so many schools go back early... it was great...

You have some really nice ADRs... love Kona & Boma. Via Napoli is really yummy and Chefs is just such a lovely restaurant...

YOU're going to have a blast...

I am so with you on this Winter... it is time for it to LEAVE...

Thanks Patricia. I am hoping it won't be that much different than our July trip...only with less tour groups! So I'm pretty sure we can handle it. And the crowd levels are okay. 6's the first couple of days then down to 4s. We were at 9 & 10 last July, so I'm sure we will be fine.

********************************************

Okay, so I promised you all a mini TR from my trip in Jan to visit my parents in Florida. No, it is not Disney, but we still have a long way to go before August....so here goes.

January 26th we left home after work and drove the 2 hours to Manchester, NH where our flight would (supposedly) take off in the morning. I like to book the early flights, and you have to be there 2 hours before your departure time, and with a 2 hour flight before that, we would've been up at 2:30 that morning. So I usually rent a hotel room the night before. Dani and I stayed at a Sleep Inn just down the road from the airport in July and it was wonderful. But this time for some odd reason the Marriot by the mall was cheaper.

Now if you all had the choice of a Marriot vs a SleepInn, what would you choose?? Yeah, that's what I thought too. Wrong decision. It was ok I guess, but the room just smelled....old. Their pool was closed, which they told us about upon arrival instead of warning us before. I had planned on Bradey being able to swim a little that night. Oh well.

This was our room. Plain and simple.

We dropped off our overnight bags...after I checked for bugs...and headed out for dinner.

The Marriot is right next door to the Mall of NH, which happens to have our closest Disney store. So we had to take a look. Of course there were a ton of things I wanted, but we were leaving on vacation the next day and I knew I would find stuff down there I wanted to buy too. So I held off.

We had dinner at the Ruby Tuesday at the mall because it was freezing out and we just didn't want to go anywhere else.

Bill and I had their Ruby Minis and salad bar.

And Bradey had the fried shrimp on the kids menu

We all enjoyed our meals. I couldn't believe how good Bradey's shrimp were. And they gave him a ton for a kids meal. Yum.

So back we went to the hotel to try to get some sleep. Try....and try....and try. It was soooooo noisy there! The cheap little Sleep Inn that Dani and I stayed at was right next to the highway plus we had a mini hurricane going on that night and we never heard a thing! This place was on a back road behind a mall and the weather was fine and the noise outside was so horrible. Bill and I didn't sleep a wink. Bradey sleeps very deep, so he was fine and I guess that was the important part with a long day of flying ahead of us. Little did we know it would be a lot longer than we thought!

So at about 5am, we got up. I showered while Bill got Bradey ready. I only wore flip flops because we were just going from the car to the airport...right??

So we get some breakfast and waters for the flight. We get to the gate and we can see our plane...that means it won't be delayed...right??

Waiting to board. Flight crew has arrived and we are ready....an hour goes by and they announce that the battery is dead and they are having trouble warming the plane up. Okay, so we wait. We had a 2 hour layover in Charlotte, so we would be okay with a little delay.

Another hour goes by...it is now almost 9am and we were supposed to take off at 7:30. We are now told the plane will not take off until 11:30 while they wait for a new battery to be flown in from NJ.

I am seriously jinxed when it comes to connections....I don't think I have EVER, EVER made a connection without problems. This is why I will not fly to Disney unless it is nonstop. If I am just going to visit my parents, it is fine to be a little late. But not when I only have 7 days in the most wonderfulest place in the world!

So off we go back through security and down to the check in desk to be re-assigned. Well, Manchester has nothing else that day that will work for us. So we get sent to Boston in a cab. A cold cab with my flip flops! It is 9am and our flight leaves BOS at 11....45 mins with good traffic to drive there....more security (note we had to throw away our drinks and re-buy them in BOS) and to the gate.

But we made it. We were transferred from US Air to Delta and I had to pay baggage fees! Yep...they not only wasted our whole first day, but I had to throw away $30 in drinks and $25 in bag fees....not happy. I wrote an email to US Air, but I've gotten nothing back.

Anyway....


We get to Cape Coral about 4 hours later than planned, but we were there and our luggage arrived fine. So all in all it was okay. As soon as I got there my Mom poured me a huge glass of wine

We just had dinner at home because we were all exhausted. Continued in next post.

 

[KatMark]

Well that certainly is NOT the way you want to start a trip (and if I remember correctly from FB the return isn't going to be much better).

I can't believe the amount of food with Bradey's kids' meal (love me some good fried shrimp).

How sweet of mom to have a nice glass of wine for you when you got there.

 

[solana131]

Well that certainly is NOT the way you want to start a trip (and if I remember correctly from FB the return isn't going to be much better).

I can't believe the amount of food with Bradey's kids' meal (love me some good fried shrimp).

How sweet of mom to have a nice glass of wine for you when you got there.

Yeah...the trip home was delayed a little also. I told you I am jinxed with layovers.

My mom is the best...plus, she's traveled with me before and knows how it goes. She still says the only time she ever missed her connection was when she was with me. Yep....jinxed...

 

[Pixiedust530]

That's awful about the delays and issues getting to your destination. Luckily you all arrived safely (if a little tired) and your mom was waiting with a glass of wine for you! Sounds like a good mom to me!

Looking forward to reading more about your mini trip.

 

[DMGeurts]

Yikes - what an awful way to start a trip... The wine looks good though - Moms know how to take care of us.

D~

 

[solana131]

That's awful about the delays and issues getting to your destination. Luckily you all arrived safely (if a little tired) and your mom was waiting with a glass of wine for you! Sounds like a good mom to me!

Looking forward to reading more about your mini trip.

Yes, you are right...at least we arrived safely. All of my travel troubles have always been safe...just annoying. I am very thankful for that. It could be worse (knock on wood).

Yikes - what an awful way to start a trip... The wine looks good though - Moms know how to take care of us.

D~

Thanks D...you're right....Mom knows how to take care of us. I am very close to my parents, so it is really hard to have them down south all winter But we make up for it in the spring. They do a lot with Bradey and we go camping just about every other weekend with them, so we get our time in. And we use Skype a lot to communicate through the winter.

 

[solana131]

So we left off with our very long travel day. We were supposed to be there by 11:30, but it was about 5:30 when we pulled in the driveway. We ate something for dinner...I think it was burgers on the grill. Then Bill and Bradey hopped in the pool while I took care of the unpacking.

This was HUGE, because Bill doesn't usually go in the pool. I guess he was happy to be there!

Now a little tour of the house. My parents bought this little house about 10 years ago. It was a plain ugly little thing when they bought it. But Mom has done a really good job with making it cute. They have planted palm trees and fruit trees to make it look nice outside and she has become the yard sale queen down there. I would say probably 98% of her house is made up of yard sale finds. She has an eye for deals.

The entry way when you walk in the front door

A fun lamp in the living room

The kitchen (the room she has done the least in)

Our bedroom...the shell room

I just love the brown and blue in here. It feels like the beach. I was afraid Bill and I would have a hard time sleeping in the little bed after getting used to a king at home, but we had no troubles.

Bradey has the yellow "Flip Flop" room.

This room is a work in progress. She used to have this as her office, but she has recently (like the week before we came) moved her office out by the kitchen/garage. It looks amazing, but I didn't get any pictures of it for some reason. But anyway...she still has to buy matching twin beds for this room. Right now there is a bunk taken apart (futon on bottom and twin up top). Bradey slept on the futon part because he moves around a lot at night and I thought the higher twin with rails all around would be a little sketchy for him. The room is a bright yellow and really goes well with all her flip flop stuff.

See...that is me and Bradey in the picture on the left in the above shot. And my brother and his two boys in the right pic. In our bedroom, Mom has put together a binder album of all her guests each year. It is so neat and really makes you feel welcome.

More in next post...

 

[solana131]

So that's most of the inside. Here's the pool area...

It's a small pool, compared to her neighbors. But we love it. Just enough to get wet and cool off on a hot day. And I didn't get too many pictures out here, but they have done a great job decorating outside too. The pool and hot tub are enclosed in a big lanai that keeps the bugs out, like most Florida homes. I wish we could do something like this up home...but I don't think the screens would hold up well to the 89 inches of snow we have gotten his year!

Anyway...a little of the seating area out back.

And the pretty sunset before we go to bed...

You can kind of see in that shot...they are on a fresh water canal system. We went for a short sunset boat ride before we all turned in for the night.

Mom had to work the first two days, but just until noon time. But she had to get up at 4 to sign in on the computer, so she went to bed first. I got us all unpacked and enjoyed a couple glasses of wine while the boys played in the pool and did a little fishing in the canal.


************************************************

A little on the Disney front...

I have definitely decided on Port Orleans Riverside. We will pay extra for the preferred room so we will be guaranteed an Alligator Bayou room for the 3rd bed. I am just waiting now for the deals to come out. Although...if I book now I can still apply a discount later. So I just need to talk to my cousin Sara and make sure she wants to come. I think I am actually going to do a package this year. No dining...that still doesn't appeal to me, but I want to get our tickets included because I'm not sure how those wrist bands will work if we buy the tickets separate like I usually do.

Do any of you know if you can transfer paper tickets to the wristband??

 

[DMGeurts]

I love your parents house - it is so cozy... And what a great idea about the little photo album to make everyone feel welcome.

Thanks for giving us the "grand tour!"

As for tickets, I am not sure - but super excited that your are for sure on POR... We will either be POR (currently) or FQ - either way - we'll be close.

D~

 

[solana131]

I love your parents house - it is so cozy... And what a great idea about the little photo album to make everyone feel welcome.

Thanks for giving us the "grand tour!"

As for tickets, I am not sure - but super excited that your are for sure on POR... We will either be POR (currently) or FQ - either way - we'll be close.

D~

I would do FQ if it was just Bradey and I, but I think I have decided to let Sara go even if she can't pay her share. We just really want her there. She doesn't have a job right now, but as soon as she gets one she will start saving money. So I am pretty sure she will at least be able to take care of meals once we get there. She just can't commit right now. But I'm fine with that.

So I'm saying POR right now. I have been looking at pictures and getting myself all excited. I really like the renovated AB rooms. And their food court is much better than FQ's. So I think it is a good choice.

Hey, you might know...how much is just a 1 day pass to a waterpark? I definitely don't want to do the add-on because I doubt we will go, but just wanted to factor the option in the planning.

 

[DMGeurts]

I think it's $52? Or maybe $58??? Can't remember for sure - but it's under $60. We are doing the add on, because it's cheaper since we are doing 2 waterparks... even though we will waste 6 water park days... Oh well.

D~

 

[solana131]

I think it's $52? Or maybe $58??? Can't remember for sure - but it's under $60. We are doing the add on, because it's cheaper since we are doing 2 waterparks... even though we will waste 6 water park days... Oh well.

D~

Ok. Thanks. I'll think about that. I've never really cared about the water parks because we have some great ones around here, but I saw Blizzard Beach in a TR recently and it looked awesome. We'll see how much free time we have

 

[KatMark]

Your parents house is adorable...I love it. And it looks just the size Mark and I want when we move (unless we get a condo).

 

[solana131]

Your parents house is adorable...I love it. And it looks just the size Mark and I want when we move (unless we get a condo).

Thanks Kathy. They love it in Cape Coral. And so do I...would move there in a heartbeat if I could convince Bill to go. But I married a good ol' Maine hick and he will never leave.

**************************************************



Quick little update....


I talked everything over with my cousin, Sara and she is definitely coming with us this August. I took her sister, Dani last July and now the whole family wants to go. Well, I can't afford to take them all...at least not together. There is one more girl and a boy...they might get their turns just so I have an excuse to keep going

So now that I know she is going for sure....

I BOOKED OUR AIRFARE!

That's right boys and girls...there's no turning back now. I'm going to Disney World!

We fly Southwest out of Manchester, NH on August 17th. Our flight leaves at 7:05 am And gets into MCO at 10:15. This means I will either have to shell out more $$ to stay in Manchester the night before, or get up at 3am and drive the 2 hours that morning. We'll see...

This is Sara...playing with Bradey.

Sara is 20 years old (will turn 21 just before our trip ) and is working her way through college to become an early childhood education major. She loves children and my little guy has a special place in her heart. She and Dani have always played with him and loved him. She is shy and quiet...not at all into sports like her sisters, but she is a sweetheart. I am very excited to share this experience with her. And I know I will greatly appreciate having an extra set of hands to help with Bradey down there.

I still haven't booked our room package yet. I am holding out for a couple more weeks in the hopes that a PIN code will come my way. I got 3 of them last year for summer booking....hoping for a repeat. But I probably will book as soon as the summer offers come out. I am checking daily.

I have to decide if I want to book a room-only again or a package. I usually do the room-only because I like the flexibility of just a one night deposit until I get there. With a package you have to put more down and pay it off well in advance. Plus, I feel that I get a better deal with the room-only offers.

However, this year with the new MyMagic bracelets...I'm just not sure how it would work if I purchased separate paper tickets. Would they be able to add them to my bracelet?? Would I still be able to take advantage of the FastPass+ system?? So many unanswered questions until they actually start using this new system. Can I wait that long?? I guess I could always make the reservations as a room-only then change it to a package at a later date when I know more about the MyMagic bands.

What do you all think?

 

[KatMark]

for air being booked. I have yet, in over 25 visits to Disney World, EVER gotten a pin! I hope you get a good one.

 

[solana131]

for air being booked. I have yet, in over 25 visits to Disney World, EVER gotten a pin! I hope you get a good one.

See, my theory last year was that I got one because I had placed a reservation in my cart to "save for later". I got 3 pins within a week from one another starting with an email offer the next day after I saved my reservation. They don't allow you to "save for later" on this new system. You can add a package to your cart, but it isn't there when you go back in, so I don't think the system saves it anymore.

I sign up for everything and anything that has to do with Disney because they say that helps. And you know what....I have been picking up my parent's mail and going through it for them while they are in FL for the winter. My mom got a PIN! Not fair! The only reason Disney even has her address is because she came with me in Feb. That should've been my PIN

Well, the reason I picked POR vs POFQ (besides the extra bed) is because POR gets the better discounts. POFQ is so small that they fill up quickly, so they don't need to offer incentives there. But POR usually has a much better % off when they release discounts. At the very least, I have my AAA discount as always. But that is a measly 15%. I am holding out for a 35% PIN like last year.

Where is the crossing fingers smiley guy?? Guess he'll have to do.

 

[DMGeurts]

Super duper happy for you Suzi! I am sooo looking forward to meeing Bradey and Sara when we are down there! I hope we can plan a really awesome Dismeet!

To make you feel a little better... Josh - yes MY Josh - was looking at airfare for the girls and I last night... Gulp... You know what that means... I think he is going to buy our airfare for us... xxxxxFXxxxxx That would really help out a lot... but to be honest - I think we may need to kick in a little dough from the budget as well - seeing as there are still no codes... I don't think I can let him buy airfare though until some sort of better code is released.

D~