Our First Disney Vacation! A journal on the journey to September 7, 2011!

[Sydnerella]

In other news, we've obviously have been looking at flight prices. This has always been what we had intended to do, especially since we're from Michigan. Well, flight prices = Our youngest will be 25 months so we have to get a seat for him, too. I'm kicking myself that we didn't book flights before, but I didn't think they would go up as much as they have. We also haven't flown since 2006 so I had no idea about all of these fees for checking bags and just the government fees and taxes for us would be over $250. After a lot of talking last night we are strongly considering just driving. I shouldn't say "just" though. Straight drive time is 20 hours. Again, ! With 2 very little ones we, of course, wouldn't be able to drive straight through.

If we drive, our plan would be something like this:

-leave home around 3:00am on Tuesday the 6th
-drive as long as we possibly could until the boys woke up and were starving
-stop for breakfast for an hour and a half to two hours so the boys could also run around and stretch
-drive as long as we possibly could until lunch
-again, stop for a break at a place like McDonald's so we could eat and the boys could run around and play
-again, drive as long as we possibly could until dinner
-eat dinner
-drive again until we're all too restless to continue (we'd have AT LEAST 13 hours of drive time behind us... I'm hoping for closer to 15+)
-get a hotel and try to get a good night's sleep lmao
-eat breakfast before we head out {hopefully we'd be back on the road before 8:00}
-stop somewhere for a short break and quick snack
-get to Disney before 3:00 {fingers crossed}

Flights are expensive due to increased oil prices and middle east unrest. Same is true for gas prices. You may want to check the cost of driving with the forecast prices (or even current ones) for gas. Yes, driving always tends to be somewhat cheaper but as you compare do add in the cost of the hotels to sleep, two oil changes (one before and one after the trip) and extra meals as costs you will incur (there and back). I am a flier and have a DS6 and DD4 who we fly with on average 1.5x per year. I also find my limited vacation time from work precious and would prefer to spend it on a vacation, not in my minivan going to and from vacation - especially the number of days of travel you are considering. Just things I thought of to consider as you contemplate.

If you were doing the ME I think flights might be a better option but if you were also going to rent a car then perhaps taking your wheels will be better suited for you. I just am not a driver and think it can be pretty costly the more drawn out it is - not to mention listening to "are we there yet" for 20 hours!

BTW on another topic - LOVE your pre-trip report! Your plans sound wonderful and I think the boys will be on . I have been with my kids 4 times so far and each stage has been magical - but I would say at the ages your boys are it is SO very magical because it is all real to them. The 2-yr old may be freaked by the characters in masks (mine were) because it is so real to him but after a few of your ADRs he will become more and more comfy as long as you are patient with him - and it sounds like you absolutely will be!

Another suggestion - make a touring plan for each park and hit the long wait rides for little ones early. Dumbo, Tomorrowland Speedway, Astro Oribiter, etc... Get FPs for the others the kids can ride that have them and be at RD as much as poss - but you already know that

It's fun to live vicariously through others who are going after being bummed about recently returning...

ENJOY!
Sydnerella's Mama

 

[L-Harper]

Thank you so much, Sydnerella, for your kind words and advice. At this point I honestly have no idea what decision we'll make on getting to Disney. I'm very glad we have 5 months to figure it out.

 

[Sydnerella]

I got my ADR's made!!!!!! I even got everything I wanted! Here is what I got:

September 7 - Chef Mickey's at 5:30p
September 8 - Tusker House at 8:00a
September 10 - Crystal Palace at 8:05a & Cape May Cafe at 5:45p
September 11 - Raglan Road at 6:00p
September 12 - The Garden Grill at 6:30p
September 13 - Boma at 6:15p
September 14 - 'Ohana at 5:15p
September 15 - Le Cellier at 11:45a

Oooh, forgot to mention that Hollywood and Vine looks like it came off your list. That character meal was SUPER fun for my kids as little ones... but now that I think about it they may be replacing some of the pre-school characters with Phineas and Ferb... if the meal has someone fun from shows the boys watch (it was little einsteins when we went for breakfast) it can be really a fun character meal. But as you have mentioned - costs can add up quickly. And the kids will already have many character meals to enjoy plus 10 amazing days at the world.

shut me up now

 

[annmarieda]

Air fare prices are starting to worry me a tad too. Right now, the airline we fly.. if I were to book with our current dates... over $700 pp We usually fly Alaska since it is a straight flight and we have companion fares with them.. but I am watching other carriers cause that is a hefty amount...even with the companion.

As far as driving.... I live on the west coast. I have friends who have drove to DL... and I have never had the courage to do so. I think it is about 20 hours from here. If you can do it and it would save you money...AND you have the time... then maybe it would work. I would have to admire you though...cause I am not that brave.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Definitely joining along on this pre-trippie!

 

[bless7ings]

Subscribing to your pre-trip. We are hoping to go again, but not till 2013 or 2014. We have to get some projects done around the house first.

We have driven to Florida and down the East Coast many times. Our kids travel very well. We usually will tend to take two days to go down. It usually takes about 24 hours of traveling. On the way back sometimes we just do the whole trip. We leave at around 4 am from Maine and arrive around the Richmond, VA area in 12 to 14 hours. Depending on how long we stopped. I have cousins we can stop at there. We pack a cooler so we don't have to stop to eat. We eat supper when we get there. We only stop for gas, so we train the kids to plan accordingly.(no drinking) I guess the way we look at it is if we go directly with very little stopping, we get there faster and it doesn't seem so long. We bring Adventures in Odyssey cd's (stories) to listen to on the way. We also bring portable dvd players for the kids to watch movies. It passes the time for them much quicker. We have flown down once. That was fun, but it has it's draw backs too. Make the decision which is best for your family.

Tammy from Maine

 

[L-Harper]

Definitely joining along on this pre-trippie!

Subscribing to your pre-trip. We are hoping to go again, but not till 2013 or 2014. We have to get some projects done around the house first.

We have driven to Florida and down the East Coast many times. Our kids travel very well. We usually will tend to take two days to go down. It usually takes about 24 hours of traveling. On the way back sometimes we just do the whole trip. We leave at around 4 am from Maine and arrive around the Richmond, VA area in 12 to 14 hours. Depending on how long we stopped. I have cousins we can stop at there. We pack a cooler so we don't have to stop to eat. We eat supper when we get there. We only stop for gas, so we train the kids to plan accordingly.(no drinking) I guess the way we look at it is if we go directly with very little stopping, we get there faster and it doesn't seem so long. We bring Adventures in Odyssey cd's (stories) to listen to on the way. We also bring portable dvd players for the kids to watch movies. It passes the time for them much quicker. We have flown down once. That was fun, but it has it's draw backs too. Make the decision which is best for your family.

Tammy from Maine

to both of you! I'm so glad to have some new friends joining my PTR! Now that I have less than 6 months, I'm sure I will be posting a lot more. We are down to 178 days!!!!!!!

 

[Smile4Me]

Before you commit to anything for travel, definitely check with Disney. I was surprised with how cheap they were able to get our flights for. Honestly, it was about $150 cheaper than anything I had found online myself-and the flight times and airlines were exactly the same as I had been looking up!!
I would have to agree with Snyderella, driving may seem cheaper but when you account for the hidden extras like hotels and your time it becomes less attractive. Though instead of eating out the entire way down you could pack a cooler to save some money.

 

[L-Harper]

Before you commit to anything for travel, definitely check with Disney. I was surprised with how cheap they were able to get our flights for. Honestly, it was about $150 cheaper than anything I had found online myself-and the flight times and airlines were exactly the same as I had been looking up!!
I would have to agree with Snyderella, driving may seem cheaper but when you account for the hidden extras like hotels and your time it becomes less attractive. Though instead of eating out the entire way down you could pack a cooler to save some money.

I agree, we certainly aren't going to make any definite decisions as of yet. I did check Disney's site on airfare, while it was cheaper for the exact same flights, it was only $40 cheaper total. I'm going to keep checking flight prices just to see. Driving doesn't appeal to me very much, but I like the idea of having our own vehicle, snacks, water and more of our stuff. For example, I sleep with a body pillow every night because it makes my back feel better, I won't be able to take it with me if we fly. Decisions! Decisions!

 

[Tinkermom76]

Hey just found your PTR and I am joining in. All the changes in yours reminds me of my trip last year

You must be so excited planning your first trip!!!

 

[L-Harper]

Hey just found your PTR and I am joining in. All the changes in yours reminds me of my trip last year

You must be so excited planning your first trip!!!

I'm so glad to have you here! Yes, I'm SOOOOO very excited and it is funny how many times I have changed my mind.

 

[Branan5]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I am going in September also. I have been before but it will be DD1 1st trip!

 

[L-Harper]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I am going in September also. I have been before but it will be DD1 1st trip!

Welcome Brandy! I'm so glad to have you over here. I haven't been doing too much planning since I booked my ADR's. I've been super busy, too. Soon I need to really learn the layouts of the parks and get a list of rides that we aren't going to do and ones that we must do. This planning is SO fun!

 

[Smile4Me]

L-Harper, how's the transportation planning going? After I finish posting here, I'm hopping on to your weightloss support thread! Thanks for keeping us all goal oriented and focused!

 

[L-Harper]

L-Harper, how's the transportation planning going? After I finish posting here, I'm hopping on to your weightloss support thread! Thanks for keeping us all goal oriented and focused!

Ehhh... It is sort of a non-subject right now. We randomly check flight prices to see if there is anything better. I'm just really glad we have so long to figure it out. In the end I think we're going to end up flying, but I'm just bummed that we won't get to take very much stuff with us.

 

[Branan5]

Welcome Brandy! I'm so glad to have you over here. I haven't been doing too much planning since I booked my ADR's. I've been super busy, too. Soon I need to really learn the layouts of the parks and get a list of rides that we aren't going to do and ones that we must do. This planning is SO fun!

Planning is fun; especially with kids. Which is a first for me.

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Just checking in to see how things are going with the planning?

 

[WDWfanatic2]

Hi Harper! How are the plans going?

 

[TagsMissy]

I know I am late to the game but I'm joining in now! It was great chatting with you the other night.

 

[DisneyLifer87]

Joining the game, too. Totally late, but better late than never! I love the table you made on your intro post. How did you make that?!