Our 11 day Honeymoon split-stay DxDP Extravaganza first ever PTR

[fallen_angel727]

Hi and to my first ever PTR...hopefull some of you will find this exciting enough to follow

Anywho...as the title says this is my 10 night 11 day split stay deluxe dining honeymoon extravaganza...and longest Disney trip (or actually any trip) to date.

So for now I will bring you up to speed as to how we got to where we are in the planning process (for the trip anyway...maybe a bit of wedding tid-bits thrown in for good measure).


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Let's introduce us *insert sappy Bon Jovi love song here*

Me - I'm Ashley: 24, student, lover of all things Disney, Canadian
Favourite movie: Dumbo
Favourite pass time: searching for Mary Poppins' Penguins...because I absolutely them

DFi - He's Aaron: 27, architect/part time student, tolerates all things Disney (to put it nicely , Canadian (Works in Detroit though)
Favourite Movie: Star Wars (and Toy Story...but don't tell him I told you )
Favourite pass time: video games, making fun of me for being a lover of all things Disney

Our Story:
We met on an insanely cold day back in 2005...at my cousin's wedding to be exact. To be fair it was his brother's wedding too (did ya catch that my cousin and his brother are married? Odd I know) So said wedding was supposed to take place in Mexico but alas hurricanes don't really care what is planned and Wilma was no exception. So Aaron and I bonded over our missed trip to Mexico (we did get there 5 years later though...if you were interested).
Fast forward to 2009, after years of camping trips and small weekend trips to Cedar Point (We're in Canada but only about 45 minutes from Ohio, Toledo anyway) I decided it was time for a real vacation. And where do you suppose I picked...that's right Disney. So long story short we stayed off site with no dining plan because I couldn't convince Aaron it was worth the money We had wonderful trip. On day 2 he asked me to marry him on main street during Wishes . I must admit before I realized what was going on I was a little annoyed that he would dare interrupt Wishes...then I figured it out and was overjoyed. Of course I said yes!
So the wedding is planned for July 16th, 2011. We leave the next day to make the 20+ hour drive from our home in Windsor, Ontario to Walt Disney World where we will remain until July 29th when we begin our journey home

 

[fallen_angel727]

So now that you know who we are and how we came to be...I can start leading you on the insane journey that is trip planning.

I am the primary trip planner. Aaron's response to every question is either "I don't care you're planning the trip" or "just do what those board people suggest" So here we go...

We decided to return to our place of engagement just this past summer (mid July). After a lot of convincing, and some flow charts, excel graphs and crying out of frustration...I talked Aaron into staying at a moderate resort for 9 nights and 10 days. We chose CBR as Aaron had originally wanted to return to Mexico (side note: I quickly vetoed Mexico because we would be traveling in the summer due to my schooling) and I figured it would be the closest he would get. We called, we booked, put down the deposit, it was settled...

...until I ended up searching the boards, for god knows what reason actually

Well, I searched, did some more pricing...and a month or so later decided that maybe we should stay value...at POP to be exact and add on another day plus the dining plan. Aaron agrees...I'm still not sure what miracle made him decide to stay on side in the first place, but there was another one just now when he agreed to the dining plan So here we are in August now, already changing our reservation. Again I am satisfied and we are through planning for now...or so I thought anyway.

So again I search the boards (I really, really need to stop doing this ) and decide maybe POP isn't for us after all, but what to do??? SO we discuss, or rather I make more charts and graphs and Aaron pretends to listen Should we maybe do a split say? Yes that would be a wonderful idea CR and POP maybe? After much debate (with myself) I decide that I don't like the idea of going from a deluxe to a value, so I choose moderate again. More conversing, charts and graphs and I find us booked and ready to head to POR 10 nights 11 days on the DDP. This is amazing...better than I could have ever hoped from Aaron (who is in charge of all the finances and budgeting for the trip and everything else...if I were to do this it would be cause for alarm, and probable bankruptcy )

So...this brings us to late September/Early October 2010...

The itch to stay Deluxe has returned...

let me stop here and say that I have been to WDW a number of times, never on site and I have always dreamed of staying at the CR or Poly, yet it has always been out of the price range for my family and myself, and I felt this was my chance to FINALLY stay deluxe...so now, back to the plan

...I did some searching, trying to find a way to make a deluxe say work for us. All I could manage was a stay at Wilderness Lodge. Now this is fine with me since I have heard so many wonderful things about it, now if only I can convince Aaron (the thought of which made me feel a little as I knew that after 3 changes already I was definitely pushing my luck). Well I showed him some pictures (and graphs and charts) and to my surprise he said alright...but we would have to cut 2 nights off the trip to make up for the difference in cost, especially if we were to keep the DDP. I was a bit upset but thought it was a small price to pay for FINALLY being able to stay Deluxe...If only I could see what you can probably see coming right about now

 

[fallen_angel727]

Well...you guessed it folks another change. This is the LAST hotel change at least

So it's official as of mid-October we are staying at POR July 19-25, 2011 and Wilderness Lodge July 15-29, 2011. We currently have a 9 day park hopper pass and Deluxe Dining for our stay at POR. WL however, is a room only reservation, which may change .

I decided today that for an extra $300 we can take one of our park days from the POR package and put onto our WL reservation so we can add the QSDP for the remainder of the trip...that is if we can using the dining plan with only one park day?

So until this gets sorted out I'll fill you all in on our plans so far basically our schedule looks like this...this will change at least twice, once when I get the park hours/parade and firework days, then again once I make my final ADR's July 20th

Travel: Leave home July 17 around 6pm, take our time traveling and arrive in WDW mid afternoon July 19

Arrival/Day 1 - Epcot (Beginning of DxDP)
Dinner @ Garden Grill
Illumination

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast @ Crystal Palace (as early as possible)
Lunch @ Plaza Restaurant
Dinner as late as possible before Wishes @ California Grill (or Narcoossee's if we can't get CG)

Day 3 - Animal Kingdom
Donald's Safari Breakfast - again as early as possible
followed by an early dinner @ Tusker House (or a late dinner @ Boma)

Day 4 - Disney Hollywood Studios
Breakfast @ Grand Floridian Cafe
F! Package at Momma Melrose

Day 5 - Epcot
later Breakfast @ Chef Mickey (or Cape May if we can't get CM)
Lunch OOP @ Teppan Edo (All Aaron wants is sushi)
Dinner @ Biergarten - then probably Illuminations again

Day 6 - Disney Hollywood Studios (may change with previous DHS day depending on F!)
Breakfast @ Boma
Dinner @ Yachtsman Steakhouse

Day 7 - MOVING DAY - Epcot
Breakfast @ Kona
Lunch at Cantina San Angel (Aaron's choice - it's his favourite)
skip Illuminations and have dinner at Artist Point and hang out at WL for the evening

Day 8 - Free Day
Island of Adventure and Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Lunch or Dinner OOP at 3 broomsticks

Day 9 - Free Day
No idea what to do today, either Typhoon Lagoon or doing absolutely nothing by the pool all day with DTD in the evening

Day 10 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast OOP @ Olivia's (only if I can't talk Aaron into the QSDP)
Wishes

Departure/Day 11 - Animal Kingdom
Breakfast @ WCC (whether I talk Aaron into the QSDP or not this is a must do)
Lunch in AK then home

new tentative plans will come in January, then Official plans will come January 20th when I make the ADR's...stay tuned

 

[fallen_angel727]

SO we officially have quick service for our Wilderness Lodge stay...Aaron figured it would equal out to the same price as us paying out of pocket for our meals...


oh and on a side note I asked about when the dining plans would switch and the CM told me I would be done deluxe at midnight the day we check out of POR and we would start the QS at the time of check in (on the same day as check out from POR)...so I asked if that meant we essentially had the 3 meal credits and snacks from the deluxe AND the 2 QS and snacks from the QSDP at the same time and he said that we would have whatever was left from the DXDP at time of check in PLUS the new plan day at the same time

SO...that means, since we're checking in at WL after breakfast we SHOULD have 2 QS per person AND 2 TS from the Deluxe plus all our snacks for the day at the same time!

I'm really hoping this is one of those times where the CM is correct

 

[fallen_angel727]

So change in plans....we are now at Coranado Springs rather than POR. I have been hearing about remodeling possibly happening at POR in spring/summer 2011 and mentioned it to DFi. Well he didn't like that idea and he started doing some Disney research of his own. I said before it didn't matter where we stayed as long as it was moderate or better (given it's our honeymoon...and I may be returning in 2012 on a girls trip to a value)...so he decided we should switch.

His original plan was for us to go to Mexico for our honeymoon but since the wedding is in July, we nixed that idea in favour of Disney. So when he saw CSR he fell in love with it and booked it today while I was at work I was a bit annoyed that he did it without saying anything to me but it saved us $100...and got us a water view room.

Anyway that's all that's new, not that anyone is reading this anyway it seems, but I figured I'd keep you informed anyway. And anyone with some good CSR links they would be greatly appriciated

 

[fallen_angel727]

So last night after finally finding some July park hours I have made up our schedule...which is subject to change at any moment. However unless Fantasmic! dates change, chances are only our meals will (if I can't get the reservations I want that is)

so after much debate, and absolutely no input what so ever from DFi, here is my plan for our honeymoon extravaganza

July 19 - Arrival/Epcot
Check into CSR
Dinner: Coral Reef
Illuminations

July 20 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast: Crystal Palace (early as possible)
Lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern - if no CG
Dinner: California Grill, Plaza Restaurant - is no CG
late dinner at California Grill + Wishes
OR
early dinner at Plaza then pool time at CSR

July 21 - Hollywood Studios
Breakfast: Grand Floridian Cafe
Lunch: Sci-Fi Dine In
Dinner: Momma Melrose
Fantasmic!

July 22 - Epcot
Epcot EMH @ 8am for test track and sorin'
Breakfast: Captain's Grille after EMH
Lunch: Teppan Edo (OOP) for sushi
Dinner: Biergarten
Illuminations round 2

July 23 - Free Day
Breakfast: Kona
Lunch
Dinner: Narcoossee's (late for Wishes) OR Yachtsman (earlier)
Maybe Typhoon Lagoon
Explore resort/pool

July 24 - Animal Kingdom
Breakfast: Donald's Safari Breakfast (early as possible)
Lunch
Dinner: Boma (early-ish say around 6ish)
back to MK for 8:30ish for EMH until 2am

July 25 - Epcot
Breakfast: Chef Mickey's (late breakfast) or Olivia's (also late)
Lunch: San Angel Inn
Dinner: late dinner at Artist Point
Moving for CSR to WL today
check into WL before dinner


From here on we only have a QSDP for the remained of the trip so meals will be much less structured, and we might try hit some extra magic hours with our hopper passes
July 26 - Hollywood Studios

July 27 - Free Day
WL pool
DTD this eveing

July 28 - Magic Kingdom

July 29 Departure/Animal Kingdom

 

[Disneychix]

Hi! Congrat's on your wedding!!

Dh and I actually spent Hurricane Wilma in WDW for our wedding so I can share that 'missed' experience with you. It was downgraded to a Tropical Storm by the time it got to Orlando but it was crazy nontheless!

You mentioned about your dining credits for when you check out/check in your split stay. When you do the Dining Plan you actually get your whole lot of credits when you check in. You can use any combination of those credits until 12am the day you check out. So, you could go a whole day of not using any credits or you could do a day where you eat at 3 Signature meals and use 6 credits.
So yes, you will have any left over credits from your DxDP until midnight when you check in WL and then you will have your QSDP credits when you check in WL. Make sure you use the DxDP credits if you have any left BEFORE you use the WL credits or you will lose them!

Oh, and BTW, We LOVED WL!!!

 

[fallen_angel727]

Welcome!

I'm going to go slightly off topic a bit, and stop talking about the trip. However I'll do a quick run down of what had been done for the wedding so far. The wedding is in July...just 7 months away, it's coming quick.

So we have the minister, park, DJ, hall, girls dresses, (mine included ), guys tuxes and as of today, the limo...

that sounds like so much, why do I feel like I've done absolutely nothing?