Our Second Disneymoon - 1 1/2 years after the first (8/31-9/6/08)

[dkdaisy]

DH and I are getting ready to go! We booked our trip last night, so I guess its time to really get the planning going!

Cast
DH - Dan: WDW honeymoon and repeat trip totally his idea, but he doesn't want to do planning and doesn't get into all the magical moments we could have (fun rides, pics with characters, romantic evenings, Wishes and Illuminations Its very sad sometimes). He stayed on-site several times with his family as a kid, and they saw "everything" then.

Me - Katie: I love WDW! I love shows and FIREWORKS!! We didn't see any fireworks on our honeymoon because we were so tired out from the parks. I want to see Wishes and Illuminations and the shows.... I've been to WDW with my family three times, but never stayed on site.

Our first trip together was our honeymoon in March 2007. We stayed at POR and had a blast! We were so beat by our hectic schedule that our bedtimes were increasingly earlier each night. By night 5, I swear, we were asleep at 8 pm!

 

[dkdaisy]

For our honeymoon, we stayed at the Port Orleans - Riverside. We ended up with a room with two double beds (a big no-no for DH and I). DH is 6'3" and 350 lbs. Trying to share a double bed with him - no way.

This year, we're sticking with the moderates but trying something new. We're booked at the Coronado Springs Resort (with a KING bed!).

I think the Dig Site looks like so much fun and I can't wait to check out the whole place.

Last year, we didn't get any wake-up calls, so this trip I'm going to plan better and make sure we get some Disney magic that way!

No itinerary yet - but I'll get to it. I really have to wait for the September calendar to appear! We're doing the DDP, so I'll have ADRs going on.

We're thinking of the Backstage Magic Tour (expensive, but DH loves those educational moments - he's watched every show they've had about Disney on the Discovery Channel). We'll be booking that as well.

I know, I know - way early to start a pre-trip report, but we're so excited about Disney!

 

[dkdaisy]

So I went to the bookstore today and bought Birnbaum's Guide for Adults and the Mini version of the Unofficial Guide. I haven't had a lot of time to look at them so far - but they look great! I was so torn. I wanted to buy the Passporter as well - it looked so informative and fun - but it was more expensive than the others and DH doesn't like to plan that obsessively (I might though).

I'm thinking we'll use the UG this year and see how it goes. Then when we go back next year, I can decide if I want a Passporter (I thought that would be great for going with kids though).

I'll be spending some time reading and in 18 days I can make my ADRs!

 

[BeeBopp]

Just found your PTR, I've started me own too so I am reading everyone else's to get fun Disney ideas! Can't wait to hear more planning!

 

[dkdaisy]

I'm really excited about our trip this year. I know, its more than six months away, but I can't wait. I've been coming up with new ideas that I want to do (thanks in large part to the DIS boards) and I keep mentioning them to DH. This weekend he said "Can't we PLEASE go one day without talking about Disney?" WHAT?!?! Too much Disney? No such thing, right?

So I tried to go one day, I really did. But he brought it up.

Anyway...

I called today to ask a questions about our reservation - no codes yet? Still hoping for free dining (I am so impatient). I really like planning ahead and I want to cover all the bases!

Only 12 more days until the September calendar comes out. Only 15 more days until I can make my ADRs and book our tour.

So excited.

 

[stagemomx3]

So you are coming up on your one year anniversary? Looking forward to reading about your planning.

 

[BeeBopp]

Don't worry, six months will go by quick! The more planning the better

 

[dkdaisy]

So you are coming up on your one year anniversary? QUOTE]

Yeah, our anniversary is March 10 - only 20 more days! We talked about going back to WDW for our anniversary, but since we got married on Spring Break, it was really busy when we were there. We decided on September because its slower and both of our birthdays are in September, so we're doing a 1 1/2 year anniversary, plus 2 birthdays (its closer for his than mine, but what can you do?).

I'm thinking about applying for the Disney Visa. I've heard bad things about the rates and such, but we don't carry a balance on our cards. The Disney Visa has rewards that can be used at Disney, plus we'd get 20% off the tour we want to take (@ $200 each, I could use 20% off the Backstage Magic Tour!)

Any advice on Disney Visa? Maybe I should post this somewhere else....

Have a great day everyone!

 

[dkdaisy]

I can't wait!! I want to see those September hours and start planning! We are both so excited about Disney.

We've started picking out our restaurants for ADRS and so far are looking at:

Tutto Ittalia
Le Cellier
Cap'n Jacks (My DH LOVES this restaurant)
Akershus (?)
Teppen Edo
Chefs de France (?)

We've still got to pick two to three more (we've got 7 nights of TS).

We'll be hitting Mamma Melrose for lunch during the Backstage Magic Tour.

We did Liberty Tree Tavern, Biergarten, Nine Dragons, Coral Reef, Cap'n Jacks, San Angel Inn, and ... I can't remember the last one... when we went last March. Of all the ones we visited, Cap'n Jacks was the only one that DH wants to do again.

Any great restaurant suggestions? (Keep in mind that DH likes to get the most "bang for his buck").

7 More days until I can make ADRs!

 

[BrittBritt]

I'm thinking about applying for the Disney Visa. I've heard bad things about the rates and such, but we don't carry a balance on our cards. The Disney Visa has rewards that can be used at Disney, plus we'd get 20% off the tour we want to take (@ $200 each, I could use 20% off the Backstage Magic Tour!)

Any advice on Disney Visa? Maybe I should post this somewhere else....

I love my Disney Visa for a purely ridiculous reason---it has Tink right on the front. It is also good for embarrassing DH when he goes to pay for things w/o me!

 

[dkdaisy]

So our anniversary was yesterday. I can't believe how fast this year has gone! One year ago today, I was newly married and flying into orlando for my Disneymoon!

now I have to wait almost six months until we can go back to Disney World!

But, I have made some progress...

We are booked for the Backstage Magic tour on Tuesday, September 2. It now goes through the Hollywood Hotel (yay!) and has lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe instead of Mama Melrose. It should still be great though! We got the 20% off Disney Visa discount - so the card has already saved me $80, plus given me a $50 gift card for signing up.

We also bought tickets to Cirque du Soleil. I'm so excited!!! I've never seen a Cirque show and I can't wait. We are going to the 6 pm show on Thursday, September 4. We got Category 1 seats that are practically front and center seats for $30 less. (More savings.... Now if only we can get free dining, I will be a happy camper!)

So, now that our extra curriculars are done, I have to do our ADRs. I know, its already past my 180 day mark, but we've been trying to figure out where to eat.

The only one we have scheduled for sure right now is Cap'n Jacks at 3:45 on Thursday. This will get us an early dinner at DH's favorite before La Nouba. We'll just have a counterservice "brunch" that day around 10:30-11 am and a late-night snack after the show.

We're still narrowing down our other options - any suggestions?

We're almost eating around the world: Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Teppen Edo, San Angel Inn, Tutto Italia - need one more.... I'm thinking maybe we do a breakfast meal before our flight out on Saturday, September 6. Since we get the "extra" TS meal with our tour, we'd still have one TS meal each day (including arrival day). Any ideas for breakfast for the two of us?

I'm thinking I'll make my ADRs next week and I'll keep checking for codes or free dining. Maybe I can save another $500.

Oh, almost forgot - rumor has it that there may be a MNSSHP on Friday the 5th. If there is, I think we might go to that. That would be soooo fun!! If there's not, I may try to do Night of Joy. DH won't do it, but he could have a relax in the room night. We'll see....

More later. TTFN

 

[dkdaisy]

Well, I finally made them (only about 15 days after I could have - not bad).

The only one I had issues with was Le Cellier for dinner on Labor Day. First available was 8:45!! So, I switched to lunch.

Here's what our schedule is:

8/30 (arrival) - Maya Grill at 6:30 pm
8/31 - Chefs de France at 5 pm
9/1 - Le Cellier at 1:05 pm
9/2 - Whispering Canyon Cafe with Backstage Magic Tour for lunch
San Angel Inn at 6:30
9/3 - Yak and Yeti at 1 pm
9/4 - Cap' Jacks for 4 pm (have to eat quick for La Nouba at 6!)
9/5 - Tutto Italia at 4:30

The only thing I'm worried about is Cap'n Jacks. DH loves it there and I'm afraid that we won't have enough time to eat. You're supposed to arrive for La Nouba 1/2 hour in advance, plus travel time across DTD, so we'd only really have an hour to eat. I may change Cap'n Jacks to another night, or see if DH wants to do lunch there.... We'll see.

So, too much spending this month, I need to get DH on a budget. Once we've got this months CC paid off, I can finally buy plane tickets. I've got to get them now cause the prices just keep going up (holiday weekend and all).

 

[dkdaisy]

Woo hoo!

So I called Monday and got free dining for our trip. We also added a day ($5 more, its worth it).

So, we're doing:
CSR - King bed August 30 - Sept 6
MYW with Free Dining
8-day park hoppers

All our ADRS are staying the same.

The package came to $1675
Our plane tickets were $598 (I know it sucks!)
Cirque tickets were $218
Backstage magic Tour is $318
We're anticipating about $150 for tips (ME, dining, luggage, etc)
Plus $300 for misc spending (and DH may spend more, but we'll see)
Total trip cost: $3259

Its expensive for a week, but its our vacation. I'm so excited!!