Ellester
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2003
- Messages
- 1,671
Cast of Characters:
Ellen (34) Me!, Disney Veteran, 20+trips since 1973
John (37) Devoted husband, father, and son-in-law. 6th time to WDW
Anabelle (5 ½ ) Our daughter, Princess, first class. 4th time to WDW
Rebecca (2) Our daughter, Princess-in-Training, 2nd time to WDW
Dad (62) My dad, Disney Veteran, has lived in Florida 30 years
Mom (60) My stepmother, Disney Veteran, the rare Florida native
Laura (33) My stepsister, Disney Veteran, mom to Cassie and Marcus
Ted (47) Lauras husband, Disney Veteran, dad to Cassie and Marcus
Cassie (5) niece, 4th time to WDW
Marcus (3) nephew, 1st time to WDW
Lee (30) My stepbrother, Disney Veteran, another rare Florida native
Planning, October 2003: In 2000, my dad and stepmom treated the family to a few days at Disney. We were able to stay at Shades of Green thanks to my brother-in-law being retired Air Force. We stayed three nights and had a great time. Since then, two more grandkids have joined the family and a third is on the way! My dad had commented a year or so ago that we should do it again once all the kids are up and walking. Since my youngest (not counting the one due in March) is now 2 and my stepsisters youngest just turned three, it was time! We were already planning on visiting my folks in Florida the week after Christmas. My girls and I spent a quick weekend visiting in September and it was decided that we should try to plan the trip for New Year's week and it would be our Christmas gift from my dad and stepmom. Since Shades of Green (SoG) is closed for rehab until Spring of 2004, we werent sure what was available. At first, the SoG reservations clerk put us in the Hotel Royal Plaza near Downtown Disney. Not the Contemporary, but not too bad. After asking though, we did get three rooms at the Contemporary for the nights of January 1, 2, &3. The rooms will average $95 per night, including taxes. Much better than the $225 before tax rack rate! I was given the go ahead to make some PSs, although we probably wont do them all. The cost for 7 adults and 4 kids for a Character meal is a little outrageous. We dont want dad to have to declare bankruptcy after this trip! Ive made PSs for dinner at Chef Mickeys on Jan. 1st, breakfast at Crystal Palace on Jan 2nd (at 8:15am on a non-early entry day! Main Street all to ourselves!), and dinner at Boma on Jan 3rd. Well decide which to keep later on. My girls are thrilled and the countdown begins ..
December 2003:
Well, after several bumps in the road, we appeared ready to go. My Stepsis and her dh have been having some serious issues and it was on again/off again as to whether he was actually going to go with us. She called and found out her military spouse ID would work, so we could still have our Shades of Green rate at the Contemporary even if her dh didnt come. All seemed fine, but on New Years Eve there was another fight and we didnt know if he would be coming with us the next day or not.
Ellen (34) Me!, Disney Veteran, 20+trips since 1973
John (37) Devoted husband, father, and son-in-law. 6th time to WDW
Anabelle (5 ½ ) Our daughter, Princess, first class. 4th time to WDW
Rebecca (2) Our daughter, Princess-in-Training, 2nd time to WDW
Dad (62) My dad, Disney Veteran, has lived in Florida 30 years
Mom (60) My stepmother, Disney Veteran, the rare Florida native
Laura (33) My stepsister, Disney Veteran, mom to Cassie and Marcus
Ted (47) Lauras husband, Disney Veteran, dad to Cassie and Marcus
Cassie (5) niece, 4th time to WDW
Marcus (3) nephew, 1st time to WDW
Lee (30) My stepbrother, Disney Veteran, another rare Florida native
Planning, October 2003: In 2000, my dad and stepmom treated the family to a few days at Disney. We were able to stay at Shades of Green thanks to my brother-in-law being retired Air Force. We stayed three nights and had a great time. Since then, two more grandkids have joined the family and a third is on the way! My dad had commented a year or so ago that we should do it again once all the kids are up and walking. Since my youngest (not counting the one due in March) is now 2 and my stepsisters youngest just turned three, it was time! We were already planning on visiting my folks in Florida the week after Christmas. My girls and I spent a quick weekend visiting in September and it was decided that we should try to plan the trip for New Year's week and it would be our Christmas gift from my dad and stepmom. Since Shades of Green (SoG) is closed for rehab until Spring of 2004, we werent sure what was available. At first, the SoG reservations clerk put us in the Hotel Royal Plaza near Downtown Disney. Not the Contemporary, but not too bad. After asking though, we did get three rooms at the Contemporary for the nights of January 1, 2, &3. The rooms will average $95 per night, including taxes. Much better than the $225 before tax rack rate! I was given the go ahead to make some PSs, although we probably wont do them all. The cost for 7 adults and 4 kids for a Character meal is a little outrageous. We dont want dad to have to declare bankruptcy after this trip! Ive made PSs for dinner at Chef Mickeys on Jan. 1st, breakfast at Crystal Palace on Jan 2nd (at 8:15am on a non-early entry day! Main Street all to ourselves!), and dinner at Boma on Jan 3rd. Well decide which to keep later on. My girls are thrilled and the countdown begins ..
December 2003:
Well, after several bumps in the road, we appeared ready to go. My Stepsis and her dh have been having some serious issues and it was on again/off again as to whether he was actually going to go with us. She called and found out her military spouse ID would work, so we could still have our Shades of Green rate at the Contemporary even if her dh didnt come. All seemed fine, but on New Years Eve there was another fight and we didnt know if he would be coming with us the next day or not.
