Our 2nd Shot at the Dream Team -TONS OF PICS. 10/28 New PTR LINK

[dddisrunner]

We always fly tuesday to Tuesday...Tuesday and wed are cheapest to fly..Weekends are a good deal more money

Kind of like Cheers, where everybody knows your name

You know I knew that Tues. & Wed. were the cheapest but on Spirit the flight on that Sun. is $70 per person cheaper Although it is still $200 one way

The manager is probably thinking "Here comes the Disney Freak again"!
Diane

Just thinking about dropping the boys off at the Poly at 7:00 and making a dinner ressie in Canada at 7:40...

how are you getting to Canada? I suggest this route: take a cab from Poly to Beach Club... enter EPCOT from International Gateway.

I would just hate the thought of the trek from the bus stop all the way through EPCOT to Canada in 40 minutes... (including waiting for the bus - or 2 monorails - from the Poly)...

Thanks for the suggestion Bryan and I actually discussed taking a cab too, I think that is what we will do!
Diane

Hi there. I just found you. This will be our 10th anniversary as well. I want to go read your prior TR also - I'll get there soon. I'm subscribing and looking forward to hearing how the rest of the planning goes.

WELCOME Swwake! Glad you found us! Thanks for subbing!
Diane

 

[Trentmom]

You know I knew that Tues. & Wed. were the cheapest but on Spirit the flight on that Sun. is $70 per person cheaper Although it is still $200 one way

The manager is probably thinking "Here comes the Disney Freak again"!
Diane



Thanks for the suggestion Bryan and I actually discussed taking a cab too, I think that is what we will do!
Diane



WELCOME Swwake! Glad you found us! Thanks for subbing!
Diane

Oh man, that is so much..

I was just checking southwest for our october trip, they are up to August 3rd.

I checked jetblue, up to Sept 3rd...

So, I checked airtran and they are up til November..WOOHOO

They are 114 each way..so no thanks....

So, I will just wait, as really I have to as waiting for my income tax refund anyway

Southwest is like 99 each way on tues and wednesday for now. So, hoping when they release October dates, they willl still have 99 each way or less would be even better

Disney Freak, I love it

 

[dddisrunner]

Oh man, that is so much..

I was just checking southwest for our october trip, they are up to August 3rd.

I checked jetblue, up to Sept 3rd...

So, I checked airtran and they are up til November..WOOHOO

They are 114 each way..so no thanks....

So, I will just wait, as really I have to as waiting for my income tax refund anyway

Southwest is like 99 each way on tues and wednesday for now. So, hoping when they release October dates, they willl still have 99 each way or less would be even better

Disney Freak, I love it

I think waiting may end up paying off for us! Spirit , Southwest and Airtran dropped the prices for our return flight by $20 per person Gotta love those income tax refunds! Are you so excited about the Giants or are you an Eagles fan?

 

[NMAmy]

We actually believe it or not are thinking of adding a day. Diane

You have done well, grasshopper. Add the day, add the day! And be sure to tell your DH that you are doing it to SAVE MONEY. (DH always cringes a bit when I tell him I'd saving money on our WDW trips.)

 

[dddisrunner]

You have done well, grasshopper. Add the day, add the day! And be sure to tell your DH that you are doing it to SAVE MONEY. (DH always cringes a bit when I tell him I'd saving money on our WDW trips.)

It's true, adding a day really is no financial burden. It will cost about $262 for one extra day including DDP,tix,and room and the airfare is about $250 cheaper to fly out Sun. instaed of Mon.(go figure ) So, for $12 we get an entire extra day! I explained it to DH that way and he was intrigued Now if I could get the airfare gods to come down in price just a little bit...................

 

[dddisrunner]

Hey Everyone! So I wanted to go into a little more detail with all of you about our trip! I also would like to share some pictures from our last trip.

On a side note, tonight we went to Eric's school because they were having a special family night called "Movie Nightie". It was ADORABLE,the movie they were showing was Ratatouille. For a dollar donation at the door you got a soda and a bag of popcorn. The kids were all dressed in their pajama's and it was soooo cute. Eric was so excited to see his friends from school at night. Anyway, seeing the movie got me sooo excited for our trip( not that it takes much )

I also wanted to mention that we have not told the boys about the trip yet Bryan and I are going to have a Disney themed Easter and surprise the kids that morning What do you think? I though I would make a countdown calendar and put it with their baskets and buy some Disney dollars and maybe a few jibbitz for their crocs! I went to Home Depot to swipe some mickey head paint samples I was sooooo nervous that an employee was going to stop me and see 35 paint chips just laying in my purse I went outside and prayed for the lord to forgive my obsession with Disney and the theft that occured as a result!

Here are some of my favorite pics. from our trip last year........

I still can't believed he posed with a princess!

So excited to be going back for Flower and Garden festival!

Us being goofy at Mama Melrose's.

Coming soon I will post our must do's and itinerary and I also am going to need some expert DIS advice. I'm counting on all of you! Until then ....................

 

[Trentmom]

I think waiting may end up paying off for us! Spirit , Southwest and Airtran dropped the prices for our return flight by $20 per person Gotta love those income tax refunds! Are you so excited about the Giants or are you an Eagles fan?

Yes, love those refunds...savings acct you can not touch



Um not into sports too much. I do love watching the superbowl though, for the commercials and half time show


Who is in the super bowl?

 

[Trentmom]

Grat pics from last years trip!!

We were there for the Flower and Garden Festival too last year and the year before. It is gorgeous....

Cute pics of your boys and the one of all of you

 

[NMAmy]

I also wanted to mention that we have not told the boys about the trip yet Bryan and I are going to have a Disney themed Easter and surprise the kids that morning What do you think? I though I would make a countdown calendar and put it with their baskets and buy some Disney dollars and maybe a few jibbitz for their crocs! I went to Home Depot to swipe some mickey head paint samples I was sooooo nervous that an employee was going to stop me and see 35 paint chips just laying in my purse I went outside and prayed for the lord to forgive my obsession with Disney and the theft that occured as a result!

I can honestly say I have never taken the paint chips because, well, Home Depot is WAAYY over on the other side of town and I'm too lazy to go over there. If it were closer, then I'd be all over them.

I think the Disney Easter sounds like a great idea!

Coming soon I will post our must do's and itinerary and I also am going to need some expert DIS advice. I'm counting on all of you! Until then ....................

I just love that picture of you and your pirates. I am gathering all my Disney wisdom and will be ready to dispense info & advice when requested, pal!

 

[dddisrunner]

Yes, love those refunds...savings acct you can not touch



Um not into sports too much. I do love watching the superbowl though, for the commercials and half time show


Who is in the super bowl?

The superbowl commercials are the best! Normally, I don't care so much either but this year the NY Giants are in it and I grew up in a fanatical Giants household and then married a fanatic soooo, I guess that makes me a fanatic as well!

Grat pics from last years trip!!

We were there for the Flower and Garden Festival too last year and the year before. It is gorgeous....

Cute pics of your boys and the one of all of you

Thanks Kelly!

I can honestly say I have never taken the paint chips because, well, Home Depot is WAAYY over on the other side of town and I'm too lazy to go over there. If it were closer, then I'd be all over them.

I think the Disney Easter sounds like a great idea!



I just love that picture of you and your pirates. I am gathering all my Disney wisdom and will be ready to dispense info & advice when requested, pal!

Yeah I'm glad we decided to wait for Easter because the thought of going back for more paint chips is
Thanks so much for the compliment about me and the boys!

 

[dddisrunner]

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! So I'm driving in the car on Friday and the DJ comes on the air and asks the women where she is from and she says NYC (New York City) and the DJ says well you just won $500 what are you going to do with the money? So she replies "put it towards a Disney World trip" and the DJ say WHAT? So the woman says a Disney World trip, have you ever heard of it? The DJ says oh yeah of course. The women then says I love it there and I can't live without a trip every year! I thought this woman is definitely a DIS'er, has to be!! I laughed so hard!

Anyway so since we were last together I have changed a few things!

We traded our dinner at San Angel for the Coral Reef. I was so nervous about all the negative reviews so we changed to something we are familiar with. I think we will give the Mexico counter service a shot!

We also decided to upgrade to park hopper passes. We were going to do just the base tickets but with the DDP it is alot easier with the hopper! Besides the fact that it is only $180 total! I just keep wracking up the price tag don't I

OK, here is the newest challenge/dilemma... I WANT to see La Nouba! I expressed this to DH and he was OK with it! Here is the catch. Do you guys think the boys will like it? Also, how long is the show? I guess we will decide in the next few days based on some feedback I get!

I am also very nervous about staying at POFQ. I have been reading alot of negative reviews over on the resort boards. Supposedly, they are rehabing some of the rooms People are reporting holes in the bedspreads and lots of stains on the carpets and the old smoking rooms still wreaking of smoke The smoke issue is a huge one for me as Eric is severly allergic and asthmatic. I did my research and found that building 5 has always been a completely non-smoking building but I know a request is not a guarantee. Do you think I should consider switching to POR or CSR unfortunately deluxe is over our budget right now!(until I keep adding things like La Nouba tickets ) What do you guys think? I told you I needed some expert Dis advice

Breathe Diane breathe!

 

[carissanboys]

I would love to see La Nouba one day. Maybe on our next trip. I haven't seen it (except for clips on TV), but I would think the boys would love it! I wouldn't have an issue taking mine, but my boys are pretty good about being sucked into things and they have great practice with being couch potatoes

 

[swwake]

OK, here is the newest challenge/dilemma... I WANT to see La Nouba! I expressed this to DH and he was OK with it! Here is the catch. Do you guys think the boys will like it? Also, how long is the show? I guess we will decide in the next few days based on some feedback I get!

We are going to see La Nouba. I have seen 4 Cirque shows in Vegas and all but one (Zumanity) would be appropriate for kids. Plus I have read reviews about the clowns and the two little Chinese girls that make this one sound even more kid-friendly. As for gender, I think boys and girls will enjoy it equally. The show times are 6pm and 9pm and they are 90 minutes long. I have read that some people have 8pm ADRs in DTD and make it with no problem after the 6pm show.

Seats - I know they are expensive. At every Cirque venue, there has not been a bad seat in the house. But that doesn't mean they're all good! We are splurging a little for the best tickets. After going to the same show twice in Vegas last Fall, I realized that where you sit really does make a difference. I enjoyed it much more when we had better seats.

I am patiently waiting for the August calendar to open up for the La Nouba tickets! I think you should go. Your family will enjoy it!

 

[Mrs Banks]

Wow - I just found your pre-trip report. We are also going to be in Orlando 4/19 - 4/26 but will only be at Disney for 2 days. Long story maybe I'll start pre-trip report sounds like a good way to vent. I am driving DH crazy

Your plans sound amazing. I love the Easter idea. My kids will love getting baskets filled with Disney items, autograph books and Disney $$.

We stayed at the French Quarter along time ago and we loved it. I am sure you will get your request especially if your son has asthma and allergies.

Here is some pixie dust hope it helps

Diane aka Mrs Banks

 

[Trentmom]

As long as you put in a request for a building that has always been smoke free, due to your son's medical issues, you should get it.

That is what we did when we stayed at All Star Movies, as ds has severe asthma and allergies, too


Have no idea on LaNouba, other than it looks like a lot of fun

 

[NMAmy]

I've never seen La Nouba but I saw Saltimbanco this fall with DH and my mom and it was fabulous. We were right next to the stage--seriously about 6 feet from the stage) and a clown sat on my lap until I gave him a kiss. I told dd about this (totally forgetting her bizarre, irrational fear of clowns) and she said, "A CLOWN?? On your LAP??? They were just running around LOOSE??? That sounds AWFUL!!"

So while I highly recommend Cirque du Soleil, please check and make sure your kids aren't afraid of clowns. I'll never be able to take dd with me to La Nouba.

 

[dddisrunner]

I would love to see La Nouba one day. Maybe on our next trip. I haven't seen it (except for clips on TV), but I would think the boys would love it! I wouldn't have an issue taking mine, but my boys are pretty good about being sucked into things and they have great practice with being couch potatoes

My boys are pretty well behaved and have sat through High School Musical on Ice and baseball games. I guess I was just wondering if it was to girly(for lack of a better word) Thanks for your input
Diane

We are going to see La Nouba. I have seen 4 Cirque shows in Vegas and all but one (Zumanity) would be appropriate for kids. Plus I have read reviews about the clowns and the two little Chinese girls that make this one sound even more kid-friendly. As for gender, I think boys and girls will enjoy it equally. The show times are 6pm and 9pm and they are 90 minutes long. I have read that some people have 8pm ADRs in DTD and make it with no problem after the 6pm show.

Seats - I know they are expensive. At every Cirque venue, there has not been a bad seat in the house. But that doesn't mean they're all good! We are splurging a little for the best tickets. After going to the same show twice in Vegas last Fall, I realized that where you sit really does make a difference. I enjoyed it much more when we had better seats.

I am patiently waiting for the August calendar to open up for the La Nouba tickets! I think you should go. Your family will enjoy it!

Thanks for your advice! Note to self "go for good seats" Diane

Wow - I just found your pre-trip report. We are also going to be in Orlando 4/19 - 4/26 but will only be at Disney for 2 days. Long story maybe I'll start pre-trip report sounds like a good way to vent. I am driving DH crazy

Your plans sound amazing. I love the Easter idea. My kids will love getting baskets filled with Disney items, autograph books and Disney $$.

We stayed at the French Quarter along time ago and we loved it. I am sure you will get your request especially if your son has asthma and allergies.

Here is some pixie dust hope it helps

Diane aka Mrs Banks

WELCOME !!! Thanks so much for posting! Thanks for all your kind words and advice
Diane

As long as you put in a request for a building that has always been smoke free, due to your son's medical issues, you should get it.

That is what we did when we stayed at All Star Movies, as ds has severe asthma and allergies, too


Have no idea on LaNouba, other than it looks like a lot of fun

I hope we get our request, in the grand scheme of things that is what is most important to me! Thanks for your input. I think we will go for LaNouba
Diane

I've never seen La Nouba but I saw Saltimbanco this fall with DH and my mom and it was fabulous. We were right next to the stage--seriously about 6 feet from the stage) and a clown sat on my lap until I gave him a kiss. I told dd about this (totally forgetting her bizarre, irrational fear of clowns) and she said, "A CLOWN?? On your LAP??? They were just running around LOOSE??? That sounds AWFUL!!"

So while I highly recommend Cirque du Soleil, please check and make sure your kids aren't afraid of clowns. I'll never be able to take dd with me to La Nouba.

No fear of clowns here! Poor Cait that poor girl is just terrified of large costumed people isn't she! Thanks for your advice!
Diane

Thank you so much for responding to my "dilemma" about La Nouba(as if that is really a dilemma?), but what do you think about POFQ? Am I overreacting?
Diane

 

[NMAmy]

No fear of clowns here! Poor Cait that poor girl is just terrified of large costumed people isn't she! Thanks for your advice!
Diane

Thank you so much for responding to my "dilemma" about La Nouba(as if that is really a dilemma?), but what do you think about POFQ? Am I overreacting?
Diane

Cait really does seem to get the willies pretty easily from costumed folk.

I haven't stayed at PO or POFQ so I'm not much help there. I do tend to take bad reviews with a grain of salt. If you're really worried (which I can totally understand with the asthma issue), then make the switch. It will be worth it for your peace of mind.

 

[dddisrunner]

Cait really does seem to get the willies pretty easily from costumed folk.

I haven't stayed at PO or POFQ so I'm not much help there. I do tend to take bad reviews with a grain of salt. If you're really worried (which I can totally understand with the asthma issue), then make the switch. It will be worth it for your peace of mind.

Thanks Amy! I agree with you about the grain of salt thing. There is one very specific poster who is very negative about their trip from last year and has complained about everything So I decided that POFQ it is! Hey we'll be in Disney right I have very exciting news coming up!

 

[dddisrunner]

WE GOT OUR AIRFARE

Are you ready.......................

GRAND TOTAL $620 for all 4 of us!!

I could not be more relieved!! Now the crazy part. I booked our package through AAA and saved about $340 by doing so. Well in order to get this outstanding airfare we had to add a day (aww shucks) BUT POFQ is not available on the 20th with the AAA rate, so I could not add that day onto my package. So what do I do you ask I call Disney and ask for a room only ressie for one night. She says they don't have the AAA rate at POFQ(which I already knew) but they did have Riverside available So I asked for the rack rate at POFQ and the difference was about $25 dollars total so................ I booked it! I figure it would be way less stressful then dragging our luggage from one resort to the next!

Our revised travel dates look like this...

Arrive 4/20 @ 8:30pm (I know this is late but the next day we can just hit the ground running and won't be tired from getting up so early!) Plus we get an extra night!

4/21-4/30 POFQ Magic your way with park hopper and Basic Disney Dining Plan!

I feel so excited to have that airfare booked! Thanks for listening!