sulleyfan
<font color=red>2319!! WE HAVE A 2319!!<br><font c
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,009
Inspired by some AWESOME trip reports that I've read since I first joined the DIS (I love to lurk on the trip reports board), I decided to give it a shot and start a pre-trip report. And since it's only 34 days til we arrive at Disney, what better time to start 
.
When:
March 11-16, 2007
Where:
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
The Cast of Characters:
Me - Jess - 22
Solo-traveler extraordinare, I love traveling, no-one else in my family shares my love of the journey or my addiction to all things Disney, so I often do things on my own. My motto is work hard, play hard.
DMom - Julie
The stars aligned on this trip, the doctor she works for was going to be out-of-town the precise week I had decided to go to Disney. This will be DM's first trip to Disney. DM loves all things Florida, especially the beach. We used to live in North Florida and she's excited about seeing old friends and some of the sights we never saw while living there.
DDad - Mike
As soon as DM got on board with this vacation, there was no question that DD was going too. DD went to DW once a long time ago when it was just MK. He's looking forward to taking a break from work and enjoying some hopefully warm weather.
Making Special Guest Appearances
DSis - Sara - 19
DS couldn't make this trip as she just moved out on her own and started a new job at the beginning of the year, but we're planning on a possible birthday trip in 2008 (we share the same b-day). She is our pet-sitter for the week, and is in on some of the surprises I have planned for DM&DD.
Trip Background:
This trip started in it's infancy back in October of 2006. It was initially supposed to be a Christmas-time trip including 4 days at the Contemporary and a 7-day Eastern cruise. Since then, it has morphed many times and in its current state is two separate vacations, this one and one in May.
To save money this trip, and to get a taste of one of the DVC resorts, I rented points for a studio at SSR. When I first contacted the DVC owner, this was going to be a solo trip. But once I had nailed down the dates for sure, and we saw that it was going to work, DM&DD decided to go with. Because there were now three instead of one and this has to be a budget trip for DM&DD, transportation has changed from flying to driving.
We're actually leaving home on March 9, stopping in Manchester, TN for the night, then on to Gainesville, FL where we'll spend the night and see some friends, then on to "The World".
Itineraries:
Mine:
Mar 11 - Arrive around noon, meet up with my DUncle John and get settled in our room.
Mar 12 - EPCOT
Mar 13 - Magic Kingdom
Mar 14 - Magic Kingdom / Mid-Afternoon trip to Bushnell to the Florida National Cemetery
Mar 15 - EPCOT
Mar 16 - Going Home
DM&DD (tentatively):
Mar 11 - Same as mine
Mar 12 - Day Trip to Starke, FL
Mar 13 - Day Trip to Deland and Daytona Speedway
Mar 14 - Going to MK (maybe) / Mid-Afternoon trip to Bushnell to the Florida National Cemetary
Mar 15 - Enjoying the Resort and DTD
Mar 16 - Going Home
ADRs:
Monday 3/12 - Solo - Dinner - Le Chefs de France - EPCOT
Tuesday 3/13 - Solo - Dinner - Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday 3/14 - Everyone - Dinner - 1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian
Thursday 3/15 - Solo - Dinner - Le Cellier - EPCOT
We've got our rental car booked, room paid for, ADRs made, hotels booked in Manchester and Gainesville. Now its time to begin packing. Who am I kidding, I've been packing since last February when I got back from Disney. I can't wait for this trip! It's been an extremely long year, and as anyone who deals with me on a daily basis will tell you, I've been pretty snappy lately and am in serious need of some play time. What better place than DW?
It seems silly to rent a car to travel, especially since we're trying to save $$, but between DM, DD, and me, none of us have a vehicle that can comfortably seat 3 for a 24 hour trip. Our collective sanity is more than worth the cost of a rental car. This will also be the longest straight that I have spent w/ DM&DD in probably eight months. Even though we share a house, I probably only see them a total of 12 hours in any given week. So sanity is pretty important at this point.
Lucky for me, since the rental agencies consider me underage, I won't be doing any of the driving. Since I can sleep in anything that remotely sounds like a car (NASCAR puts me to sleep...literally....I can't watch it and not take a nap), I plan on catching up on some ZZZs during the car ride.
DM&DD almost changed their minds last week and decided to stay home, but now that it's settled that they're still going, they're trying to finalize what their plans are and figure out what they want to do. DM has been reading through my Unofficial Guide/Passporter/Birnbaum's looking for things to do outside the parks.
. When:
March 11-16, 2007
Where:
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
The Cast of Characters:
Me - Jess - 22
Solo-traveler extraordinare, I love traveling, no-one else in my family shares my love of the journey or my addiction to all things Disney, so I often do things on my own. My motto is work hard, play hard.
DMom - Julie
The stars aligned on this trip, the doctor she works for was going to be out-of-town the precise week I had decided to go to Disney. This will be DM's first trip to Disney. DM loves all things Florida, especially the beach. We used to live in North Florida and she's excited about seeing old friends and some of the sights we never saw while living there.
DDad - Mike
As soon as DM got on board with this vacation, there was no question that DD was going too. DD went to DW once a long time ago when it was just MK. He's looking forward to taking a break from work and enjoying some hopefully warm weather.
Making Special Guest Appearances
DSis - Sara - 19
DS couldn't make this trip as she just moved out on her own and started a new job at the beginning of the year, but we're planning on a possible birthday trip in 2008 (we share the same b-day). She is our pet-sitter for the week, and is in on some of the surprises I have planned for DM&DD.
Trip Background:
This trip started in it's infancy back in October of 2006. It was initially supposed to be a Christmas-time trip including 4 days at the Contemporary and a 7-day Eastern cruise. Since then, it has morphed many times and in its current state is two separate vacations, this one and one in May.
To save money this trip, and to get a taste of one of the DVC resorts, I rented points for a studio at SSR. When I first contacted the DVC owner, this was going to be a solo trip. But once I had nailed down the dates for sure, and we saw that it was going to work, DM&DD decided to go with. Because there were now three instead of one and this has to be a budget trip for DM&DD, transportation has changed from flying to driving.
We're actually leaving home on March 9, stopping in Manchester, TN for the night, then on to Gainesville, FL where we'll spend the night and see some friends, then on to "The World".
Itineraries:
Mine:
Mar 11 - Arrive around noon, meet up with my DUncle John and get settled in our room.
Mar 12 - EPCOT
Mar 13 - Magic Kingdom
Mar 14 - Magic Kingdom / Mid-Afternoon trip to Bushnell to the Florida National Cemetery
Mar 15 - EPCOT
Mar 16 - Going Home
DM&DD (tentatively):
Mar 11 - Same as mine
Mar 12 - Day Trip to Starke, FL
Mar 13 - Day Trip to Deland and Daytona Speedway
Mar 14 - Going to MK (maybe) / Mid-Afternoon trip to Bushnell to the Florida National Cemetary
Mar 15 - Enjoying the Resort and DTD
Mar 16 - Going Home
ADRs:
Monday 3/12 - Solo - Dinner - Le Chefs de France - EPCOT
Tuesday 3/13 - Solo - Dinner - Crystal Palace - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday 3/14 - Everyone - Dinner - 1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian
Thursday 3/15 - Solo - Dinner - Le Cellier - EPCOT
We've got our rental car booked, room paid for, ADRs made, hotels booked in Manchester and Gainesville. Now its time to begin packing. Who am I kidding, I've been packing since last February when I got back from Disney. I can't wait for this trip! It's been an extremely long year, and as anyone who deals with me on a daily basis will tell you, I've been pretty snappy lately and am in serious need of some play time. What better place than DW?
It seems silly to rent a car to travel, especially since we're trying to save $$, but between DM, DD, and me, none of us have a vehicle that can comfortably seat 3 for a 24 hour trip. Our collective sanity is more than worth the cost of a rental car. This will also be the longest straight that I have spent w/ DM&DD in probably eight months. Even though we share a house, I probably only see them a total of 12 hours in any given week. So sanity is pretty important at this point
.Lucky for me, since the rental agencies consider me underage, I won't be doing any of the driving. Since I can sleep in anything that remotely sounds like a car (NASCAR puts me to sleep...literally....I can't watch it and not take a nap), I plan on catching up on some ZZZs during the car ride.
DM&DD almost changed their minds last week and decided to stay home, but now that it's settled that they're still going, they're trying to finalize what their plans are and figure out what they want to do. DM has been reading through my Unofficial Guide/Passporter/Birnbaum's looking for things to do outside the parks.
