Our 3rd Trip to WDW, Sept' 09, *TOC on Pg 1* *TR STARTED - CLICK ON THE LINK*

[joelp]

France? ... Italy? ... Mexico? ...

The DW and I went to London/England on our Honeymoon - we booked a Trafalgar Tour package through AAA. It included air, hotel, and a bunch of escorted tours (day trips to Stonehenge, Stratford-on-Avon, etc) - with about half the time "free/unescorted" ... I wouldn't be surprised if they had a London-Paris-Venice combo tour (or something similar ... at least London-Paris).

Unless they speak the language, a tour may be the way to go (and it will probably be cheaper than booking each of trip components separately ...)

And don't forget they will need passports, so they'll need a few months "warning" for the trip if they don't have them already ...

 

[disneygirlinnj]

In regards to needing to know the language, they'll be fine in both Paris and Venice without a tour. If they can learn the basic words in French/Italian, it'll go a long way (hello, goodbye, thank you, how much, do you speak english?)

We went on our own to Germany (Munich and then smaller towns in the German Alps) and even in the small towns, most people spoke enough English to help us tremendously. They really appreciated it when we did speak 'basic' German.. the hellos, excuse me, please, thank you, etc. Same as when I go visit my family in Greece. I don't speak the language very well AT ALL so I always asked if they spoke English (asked them in Greek though) and never had anyone be rude to me. I believe it's the same all over Europe...although the rude Parisian stereotype might be true Most people are very proud of their country and want tourists to see it, so they'll help as much as they can.

 

[lizet313]

WOW that is a great anniv. present but sorry I have no real ideas Never traveled.

 

[lisalonglash]

My vote is Paris, absolutely Paris. It's a beautiful city! We've been twice and loved it each time. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles (an easy Metro ride) - there's a neverending variety of gourmet restaurants/cafes, historic sites, open air markets, quaint little neighbourhoods, etc.

Paris is "the city of light" for a reason It's beautiful.

Your parents could easily take a quick flight to the South of France from Paris as well - Nice is absolutely fabulous, as is Monte Carlo (Monaco), St Tropez, etc.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop now

Oh, to add:
Most people spoke at least a bit of English everywhere we went in France, but in Monaco, darn near everyone spoke pretty darned good English! Money speaks English, evidently LOL

 

[winkers]

Hey! I live in that wasteland! Where do you head East at?

ontario to boisie

 

[winkers]

I love the cruise idea!
and if disney did a european one, how much better could it get!

I think it's great that you're doing something special for them..there's nothing like having greatfull kids!
Maybe I'm just saying that now because I have 2 teenagers.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Alright folks... After working 83 hours in the past 6 days, I decided to take today off (even thought hey called me twice this morning wanting me to come in again today!)... I figured I would post our countdown calendar like I told you I was going to last week... The kids take turns and put stickers when they wake up in the morning and so they can see how close we are getting...

The Whole Calendar

June Upclose

Our Vacation Month is almost here!!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Good morning and welcome back Terry. Nice calendar.

 

[lizet313]

Oh wow great idea. I would look foward in putting a sticker every morning too.


Check this website it has disney cruises

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/d...e=10NightMediterraneanCruiseDetailPage&bhcp=1

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage&bhcp=1

I don't know it might help haven't looked at it much so I didn't pay attention to the dates. Sorry I have to go to work.

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Thanks for all the replies!!! The only thing about the cruise, is my Mom is scared of feeling confined on the ship and refuses to take one... If I could get her on one of the Seattle to Vancouver ones, maybe she would like it, but I don't see that happening before next September... They are not big Disney nuts like me either... I wonder how "Disney" and Adventures by Disney trip is...

Hmmm... So many choices...

 

[jordanyosh]

Isn't that funny about feeling confined on a ship. I know so many people who are the same way.

That's too bad because cruises are awesome.

 

[crocko]

Just found your PTR and got caught up.

My family will be down there from Sep 17-26th (so, in the middle of your long trip)

If you end up doing the DHS rope drop on the 23rd, you may see us there...that's our plan for that day as well.

Yay for double digits!!!

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Does anyone else find that as it gets closer to the day you can make ADR's that you change them more and more... I am second guessing all of the choices, and driving myself crazy...

We re-worked our which days for which parks again last night, well, actually, it was not me, but I am not naming any names... **cough**BigDaddy**Cough**

Today is Alec's last day of school so time will really start to fly... I can make ADR's in 5 days... It's been about a week since I have unpacked and repacked the suitcases so I think that will be on the list of things to do this weekend...

I told Terry that I was getting a little nervous about ADR's since people who are arriving before us can make their ADR's for the 10 days and that goes into our dates... He said something about everything will be fine... I proceeded to tell him my list of things to worry about and the order in which I will worry about them... Here is the list...

1. Getting ADR's wanted (until Wednesday the 17th)
2. Him "officially" getting the time off (until about the 1st of July)
3. Hurricanes... Must learn everything about them and review history since the beginning of time... I did this last year also... (this will be ongoing until August...)
4. Planning and having Alec's birthday party... (He is turning 10, thinking we may get him a digital camera... What do you all think?) Party will probably be 15th of August...
5. Spend 2 weeks worrying if the dogs will be alright and remember me when I get home...
6. Start REALLY worrying about hurricanes... This begins the beginning of September and lasts until our flight leaves PDX... I have the National Weather Service website programmed into my blackberry...
7. Did I forget to pack something??? This will haunt me the entire flight...
8. How to push Terry off the plane when he has annoyed me too much...
9. Once we land... I will stop worrying... Then have fun, I swear... BUT, then as we are on the flight home, I will start to worry about when we can return...

So there you have it, I admit I have issues, and some shrink is going to make a lot of money off me... I am stimulating the economy...

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Just found your PTR and got caught up.

My family will be down there from Sep 17-26th (so, in the middle of your long trip)

If you end up doing the DHS rope drop on the 23rd, you may see us there...that's our plan for that day as well.

Yay for double digits!!!

Welcome! We are still planning on rope drop on the 23rd at DHS... We will be the crazy people in the rush for TSM who are throwing elbows and tripping small children and the elderly... Just kidding... Kinda...

 

[crocko]

LOL -- Toy Story Mania reminds me of Black Friday.

They should start doing what some of the electronics companies do.....bring the CM's out a few minutes before rope drop and start handing out FastPasses to people. Then, when the rope drops, those with Fastpasses could avoid the crazies (ahem) and move on towards Tower of Terrorville.

 

[lisalonglash]

1. Getting ADR's wanted (until Wednesday the 17th)
2. Him "officially" getting the time off (until about the 1st of July)
3. Hurricanes... Must learn everything about them and review history since the beginning of time... I did this last year also... (this will be ongoing until August...)
4. Planning and having Alec's birthday party... (He is turning 10, thinking we may get him a digital camera... What do you all think?) Party will probably be 15th of August...
5. Spend 2 weeks worrying if the dogs will be alright and remember me when I get home...

1. Fingers crossed for us all!
2. Fingers crossed some more!
3. I refuse to worry about hurricanes. Nothing I can do about them, so not going to bother with them
4. If he loves photography and is more careful with his things than both of my boys are headache, then a digital camera sounds like a wonderful gift!
5. Dogs are very forgiving, I'm sure they'll be fine. Be glad you don't have cats - my old fart kitty bites my ankles when we come back from vacation (he holds a grudge LOL)

6. Start REALLY worrying about hurricanes... This begins the beginning of September and lasts until our flight leaves PDX... I have the National Weather Service website programmed into my blackberry...
7. Did I forget to pack something??? This will haunt me the entire flight...
8. How to push Terry off the plane when he has annoyed me too much...
9. Once we land... I will stop worrying... Then have fun, I swear... BUT, then as we are on the flight home, I will start to worry about when we can return...

6. Nope, don't do it. Totally out of your control, so no point worrying
7. LOL, I'm with you there!
8. Been there too LMAO
9. But that's a GOOD worry

So there you have it, I admit I have issues, and some shrink is going to make a lot of money off me... I am stimulating the economy...

 

[oregonmommyof2]

I am so excited... We snagged a Le Cellier ADR for the 17th off the September ADR thread... AN awesome Diser gave it to us.... We have never eaten there, never been able to get a ressie... I was starting to think the place was an urban legend... Maybe everyone on the DIS was in on a huge prank to drive me crazy...

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday so we went to the casino last night with my parents, put the kids in the play world... We had a lot of fun but our money decided it wanted to stay behind... The kids were in the play world for 2 hours and 15 minutes and it cost us 36 dollars to get them back! I told the lady for that price she can keep them!

So we make ADR's on Wednesday morning... As as some of you are also on West Coast, you know that means waking up at 4 AM to call Disney dining...

My Mom has had foot issues for a while she torn something in there that was not suppose to be torn... The Docs did surgery and she was healing but then she got hit by a semi truck and it drug her suv around and she applied the brake really hard and used that foot, so it is reinjured... She is back in a cast for a few weeks to see if that will let it heal and if not she is having more surgery... She may even need a donor for some tendon and muscle for her foot... I was very happy when I saw the color of the new cast... LIME GREEN!!!! Go MOM!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Sorry to hear about your mom' health issues. a lime green cast..are you just pulling our legs..

Le Cellier is good, you'll enjoy it. Congrats on the ADR there for sure.

 

[oregonmommyof2]

We got a PIN code yesterday... I laughed, I cried, and then i got a headache... It is for 42 percent off at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge... 40 percent off at a moderate... and like 28 percent off at a value...

We have free dining... and with staying for 13 nights it saves us 1700 bucks...
So the only part of this pin code I am interested in is the deluxe resorts... I have been number crunching and then their website went down last night... So I call this morning and they don't even have the rooms available for my 2 weeks anymore...

I still think it would be save me more to get AKL with free dining if we really wanted to stay there...

It was funny cause we had spent a good portion of yesterday looking into upgrading to a moderate before the almighty pin code was received... Terry really likes Caribbean Beach... I just wish it had queen sized beds...

I would also really like a cabin at Fort Wilderness...

Do you all feel sorry for Terry for having to deal with me everyday yet??? I am so indecisive... Not just about this either... Picking out laundry soap can take me 20 minutes...

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I'm the same exact way you are.. I number crunch until I'm blue in the face. AND I'm just as indecisive!!

That's an amazing pin! Staying at a deluxe with the 42% off will most likely save you more than the dining plan...but I don't know for sure. Is the 42% off only for those 2 deluxe resorts and no discount for the others?