Planning the Unplanned Trip

[HHMcG]

Background:
Our last trip was Nov 2013. (More on who we are in a minute.) It was not ideal. The kids were cranky (they had been sick), I was cranky, it was expensive, extended family was an added stress. Once we got home, we said no more Disney for a while. We had been going every other year or so. Here is the quote from my trip report “

Overall this was our roughest trip to Disney. The kids just didn’t seem to love it as much; they almost took it for granted. We feel we will be waiting longer until the next trip. Maybe I need a solo trip or a Mommy-Daddy get away.
I’ve already changed my mind a few times but right now I am thinking our next trip will be Spring 2017. That is a 3 ½ year wait between trips.
I would consider a spontaneous trip if some great deal pops up. I just can’t do a year worth of planning and have no one appreciate it.

Fast forward six months and I was starting to miss Disney. I started occasionally searching deals. I set little goals for myself; if I can find a deal under a certain price point we should do it. I had my eyes set on late Jan/early Feb where I had the best chance of meeting my price.
Fast forward to last week when a ridiculously cheap airfare popped up. DH was on board. But Disney discounts aren’t out yet. But if discounts are what they usually are I should be able to make my Price point. In the end I couldn’t pull the trigger on the airfare. But I have faith that Disney discounts will be what I need them to be and I will find that airfare again.


So this trip may not happen. But I am currently obsessed with it. I had to start this Pre-Trip Report or I would drive DH completely crazy. When I passed on that airfare I know Disney completely went out of his mind. And here I spend my days checking for airfare and waiting for the next deal to be announced.

 

[vleeth]

I'm in the same boat in some ways.

Our last trip was October last year. It wasn't like all the other trips and I wasn't pleased with how things went. I started to rethink going back any time soon.

But I decided recently that I want to go, we will just spend less time in the parks and more time relaxing.

This is a redo trip for me.

Here's some for you.

 

[HHMcG]

So here we go…..

We Are:
Me - Heather - 41!!! Disney lover, organizing guru & a bit of a control freak. Part time engineer / part time stay-at-home mom who’s life revolves around her kids. - previous visits ‘81, ‘86, Feb ‘97, May ‘99, Jan ‘04, Jan '10, Jan '12 & Nov ‘13
DH - Bill - 46 – Penn State loving, laid back, happily lets me do all the planning and may prefer to go skiing then to Disney(shock) . Dedicated, hard-working dad, husband and also an engineer. - previous visits ‘79, Feb ‘97, May ‘99, Jan ‘04, Jan '10, Jan '12 & Nov ‘13
DD - Lucy - 8 (9 by the time this trip comes around) - Thoughtful, organized, sometimes bossy especially to her brothers but also anxious. - previous visits Jan '10, Jan '12 & Nov ‘13
DS1 - Jack - 7 - Rough, cuddly and does not listen to a word I say. He loves soccer, art and super heroes. - previous visits Jan '10, Jan '12 & Nov ‘13
DS2 - Quinn - 3 – Flirt, smiley, sweet heart or absolute terror, can change in the flip of a switch. - previous visits Jan '12 & Nov ‘13

Dates: TBD, tentatively Jan 28 – Feb 3 We would leave on Wednesday night so the kids would have school. Therefore they would only miss four school days for 5 park days, not too bad.

Location: The goal is to do this trip inexpensively. The cheapest place for 5 to stay is Port Orleans – Riverside. (Or possibly in the newly renovated rooms in CBR if they are offered by then. This would be my first choice if available, really prefer the room theming and a bit more space.) We have always stayed Family Suites/Values before so this will be a different experience. More amenities at the resort but all of us sleeping in one room. I know this will be a big stress point for me.

Tickets: If our dates stick, I plan to get us 5 day passes, non-hoppers. I think I’ll get the tickets from UCT. I considered using Orbitz but I don’t think you can make fp+ then (you just get a voucher) so it might be worth a bit more to get the actual ticket from UCT.
We have never not had park hoppers, so this will affect our touring strategy. I’m hoping it might make things more relaxed. (More relaxed is the goal for this trip so just that mindset may help.) With five days we’ll do one day at each park and two at MK.

Dining: Unlike most of our trips, we will not do the dining plan. TS meals will be limited. We love breakfast and getting into the parks early so we may try for two of those. I know this is where I can blow a budget – adding more TS because we have so many favorites or new restaurants to try.

 

[vleeth]

Wonderful pic!

What sort of offer are you waiting on? The only big one I'm familiar with is free dining.

 

[HHMcG]

Wonderful pic!

What sort of offer are you waiting on? The only big one I'm familiar with is free dining.

I would like to see a room only discount. Deals for Jan-March should be out in the next couple of weeks. I would be happy with 20% off the room for a moderate. Last year for this time of year I think it was 25%, plus if I could stack an Orbitz promo code with it, I would go that way. My only fear would be that POR will be excluded. For five of us the next price choice isn't great.
Free dining is great but it is still more money out of pocket than I want this trip.



I thought I found another great deal on flights today but the promo code didn't work out. Had my heart beating fast for awhile. I feel like I have time, so I'm not stressed YET.

 

[vleeth]

We always drive, so this trip we will stay off-site...it's so much cheaper.

 

[HHMcG]

This weekend I was starting to lose hope on this trip happening. Airfare had crept up. We usually fly Spirit out of ACY. Even if I got a promo code it wouldn’t get the price down to what I need. And then something magical happened. I randomly tried a Travelocity search and Frontier popped up, they were having a one day sale on new routes, including PHL-MCO. $118 round trip. Talked it out with DH last night and BOOKED! This thing is real now!

After booking the flight I called Disney and got the room only discount they have right now (thank you Disney Visa). The price was higher than I hoped since they didn’t have Standard Rooms. But I am holding out hope that I will be able to stack discounts on Orbitz and save a few more dollars. Or maybe, just maybe a Free Dining Pin could come my way. I just read about them coming out last year at this time, so a girl can dream.

In the end this trip is really happening. I’m a little shocked. Going to let it sink in for a few days and then start hunting for ADRs. We won’t do much Table Service but we need a few character meals.

 

[HHMcG]

So annoyed. Late last night I noticed that a promo code was released yesterday for the airline we booked. I could have saved an additional 14% - $65. I know it's not alot but part of the 'fun' of this trip is saving as much as I can. I had 24hrs to cancel my tickets and reschedule with the code. But I missed the window by an hour and it was too late to try to talk to someone about it. If only I would have seen the code earlier in the day. I just need to forget about this. As DH said why am I even looking at airfare anymore.

 

[HHMcG]

Last Thursday (when the current deal went public) I happen to wake up at 3am, so I just had to check to see if anything different was available. Disney still didn’t have the deal up. So I jumped over to Orbitz and they did and I had a 15% off code to stack. So I saved $120. Makes me forget that flight deal I missed out on.

I’ve been good and haven’t mentioned the trip to anyone. I even saw my BFF yesterday, she is just a minor Disney freak, and I didn’t even mention it to her. I haven’t even “pestered” DH about planning details. We host a big Halloween party this weekend so I figure I’ll wait until after that to ask for a few of his opinions. So far I have been trying to work out which park days when and I’ve been stalking one ADR that has eluded me so far.

 

[HHMcG]

Dining Thoughts:

We like to hit Chef Mickey’s every trip to see the ‘Big 5’. This trip I was thinking we may try Tusker House instead, just because it’s something different. I want our Animal Kingdom day to be relaxed so I think I’m going to skip trying to find a pre-park opening ADR. I’ve seen recommendations to go around 10:30 then you can get breakfast and lunch. Those ADRs seem not too hard to get. So hopefully we can get a headliner or two in and then a visit with some characters!

I do want a pre-MK opening ADR. So I have been stalking Crystal Palace. I think I know which days I want to be in MK and nothing has shown up. I did manage to get an 8:10 ressie on another day. I’ll hold onto that until we really plan our days.

The only other TS I’m thinking about is a late lunch at Hollywood Studios. HS is always a long day for us – have to do RD for Jedi Training/TSMM and we really like Fantasmic. I thought a relaxing sit down meal will get us some rest and fill up a usually slow part of the day. But we may just want to go back to the resort for a couple hours at that time. Not sure what to do. I’m not sure which restaurant we would even pick. I was thinking Hollywood & Vine so my youngest could enjoy the characters. But another buffet may not be relaxing. We’ve never done Sci-Fi or 50’s Prime Time? Just not sure.
Once I know which day is HS I’ll probably make an ADR and then we can always cancel. I’m thinking even if I wait until the day of to cancel, if I go to the restaurant and explain that my kids are too exhausted to handle a sit down meal they won’t charge me the ‘no show’ fee, maybe.

 

[HHMcG]

Moments after I posted I was able to snag a 8:15 ADR at Crystal Palace for one of our expected MK days!!

Of course, I also had an email announcing an airfare sale on the original flights I was considering. $160 less then what we paid. Ugg.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Joining in. Congrats on Nabbing Crystal Palace! Thats one that will be on my radar to grab when my ADR day hits.

 

[HHMcG]

Joining in. Congrats on Nabbing Crystal Palace! Thats one that will be on my radar to grab when my ADR day hits.

Welcome!

 

[HHMcG]

Our big Halloween Party has passed (so much fun!) so I was finally able to harass DH with some Disney questions. Sometimes he is hard to deal with, he wants input and I want to include him but he doesn’t bother to ‘think’ about things or do any research. So I sent him an e-mail ahead of time with three points for discussion and my thoughts. Here is what I sent:

In case we have time tonight or tomorrow night, I'd love to have a Disney conversation.
Some potential topics:
- When should we tell the kids?
(I was thinking we would tell them when we pick them up from school the day of the trip. But I know those things can back fire.)
- How many/which Table Services to do?
(I was hoping for 2 breakfasts - Crystal Palace & Tusker House and may want to add a lunch.)
- Which parks on which days?
(I have some 'crowd calendars printed out to consult. I have a few thoughts on this.)

Pretty basic since I have pages of spreadsheets of planning, but I don’t want to overwhelm the poor guy. Here is how things went.

When should we tell the kids?
He says before the day of the trip but he doesn’t know when.

How many/which Table Services to do?
He’s good with my dining ideas. I may want to do a lunch in HS and he said he’s wanted to try ‘that one with the cars’ (Sci-Fi Drive In). OK!

Which parks on which days?
This needs to be a whole post on its own.

 

[HHMcG]

Which parks on which days?
We will not have park hoppers for the first time, so this takes a bit more planning. He’s ‘mostly’ fine with my plan. So here is the plan:

Wednesday, Jan 28 – Arrive late. Get to resort and go to sleep.

Thursday, Jan 29 – First park day
Normally on our first day we do Magic Kingdom but not this trip. It will be EPCOT. That morning will be the kids’ first chance to explore POR - a new resort to us. Since I’m trying to make this a more relaxed trip, I don’t want to rush them. I don’t mind showing up at EPCOT well after rope drop, it is probably our least fav park.
Once we arrive at EPCOT we will do Test Track stand by and later FP+ Soarin’. I don’t love either of these rides but our youngest is finally 40”, so it will be his first time! Nothing in EPCOT is a must do. Yeah, we like The Seas and Spaceship Earth and I’d like to try to lunch in Sunshine Seasons but we’ll just go with the flow. If we are having fun we can stay as late as we want. If we’ve had enough we’ll head back to the resort.

Friday, Jan 30 – Magic Kingdom
I got an 8:15 Crystal Palace ADR! I just love Magic Kingdom; there is so much we love to do. Thinking Pinocchio’s House for lunch, we enjoyed it so much last trip. One of my ‘must-dos’ is SDMT so I’ll be hoping for a FP+. I also ‘must do’ MSEP, it isn’t scheduled every night we are here (though the schedule seems to be changing) and you never know how the weather can impact it. So if it is happening I want to see it. I’m guessing we’ll need a break in this very long day.

Saturday, Jan 31 & Sunday, Feb 1 – Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios
These are the days DH and I don’t agree.
I have AK then HS based on crowd calendar and avoiding EMH. DH wants to do AK (with its shorter hours) on Sunday since it is Super Bowl Sunday. I understand his thinking. It means HS on Saturday which means we will face more crowds/longer lines and I’ll want us to wake up earlier to make EMH if we do it his way. We ended the conversation by saying we’d think about it and talk again. That hasn’t happened yet.
Animal Kingdom Day – In my quest to make this a more relaxed trip we can skip rope drop. There just aren’t that many headliners that we love. So we can FP+ those and not have to be there at roper drop. Once we arrive I’d like to do the safari and trails. I already have a 10:30 ADR at Tusker House. This will be new to us. We always love meeting Mickey and the gang (I mean Donald and the gang) and the 10:30 time gets us breakfast and lunch. Much like EPCOT I hope we can just go with the flow.
We always finish up AK early. I’d like to explore POR more, POFQ and the boat to Downtown Disney. Or watch the Super Bowl somewhere.
Hollywood Studios –
Must do rope drop. I assume the kids will want to do Jedi Training again. Unfortunately, youngest still isn’t old enough.  If not we will head straight to TSMM – A family favorite! We like so many rides, shows and activities here. I’m thinking a late lunch at Sci Fi Drive-In to give us a little rest. Fantasmic! was one of our great family moments last trip so I would like to hit it again. If it is Super Bowl Sunday I’m sure there will be no lines. Would love to get a couple more TSMM rides in. There are two Fantasmics! on the other night we are considering, so maybe we would skip Sci Fi, go back to the room to rest and then do the later Fantasmic!

Monday, Feb 2 – Magic Kingdom – Last park day
Need to end any DW trip at the Magic Kingdom. I’m a little concerned because usually the Super Bowl MVP makes a brief appearance this day. I hope it doesn’t increase crowds or cause more chaos than usual.
I am hoping for a BOG FP lunch. We had dinner here last trip and loved it. I am hoping that the refurb to Splash Mountain is done. Youngest DS was so disappointed to not be able to do it last trip and he is tall enough now. Looks like a MESP has been added for this date (2 actually ?) so that sounds like the perfect way to end the trip.

Tuesday, Feb 3 – early flight home

 

[vleeth]

When should we tell the kids?
He says before the day of the trip but he doesn’t know when.

So very helpful!

He sounds about as helpful as my husband.

Do you have any events a week or two before that you can use to reveal your surprise?

 

[HHMcG]

So very helpful!

He sounds about as helpful as my husband.

Do you have any events a week or two before that you can use to reveal your surprise?

Well, it's Christmas a month before and DD's bday about 2 weeks before. We have revealed two previous Disney trips on Christmas. First time they were too young to fully get it. They loved the scavenger hunt they got the second time. I know we could do a good reveal.
I just don't want to tell them because I don't really want anyone to find out about the trip ahead of time. Some family will think we are crazy for going again. Other family will be pissed that we did not ask them to join us. (I already am imagining the text I'm going to send to SIL.) I really don't want the kids talking about it at school or with friends ahead of time. I just like us being in our own little Disney bubble. If that makes any sense.

 

[vleeth]

Well, it's Christmas a month before and DD's bday about 2 weeks before. We have revealed two previous Disney trips on Christmas. First time they were too young to fully get it. They loved the scavenger hunt they got the second time. I know we could do a good reveal.
I just don't want to tell them because I don't really want anyone to find out about the trip ahead of time. Some family will think we are crazy for going again. Other family will be pissed that we did not ask them to join us. (I already am imagining the text I'm going to send to SIL.) I really don't want the kids talking about it at school or with friends ahead of time. I just like us being in our own little Disney bubble. If that makes any sense.

So you want to wait to tell them when you pick them up from school, but your husband wants to tell them sooner? Did he say why?

What day of the week are you leaving? Could you tell them on the weekend a have them keep it a secret until you go?

 

[Gracefulskinny]

My dh likes to give input (And I like to get it from him) but can get quiet overwhelmed with things. What I have found that brings better success to our discussions is to give two options that I can work with and then list the pros and cons for each option. I then tell him the direction I am leaning and why I am leaning that way. If after listening to the options he doesn't have an opinion then I just deal with the issue myself. Not a fool proof method but since adopting it we've seemed to have a bit better success.

As for when to tell them, If you know they will react well to the surprise and you worry that telling them before hand might cause tension in other places I vote for as you pick them up from school day of. Did you make sure that your DH understood your reasoning behind wanting to hold off? It could be that your DH has not thought of the potential stress ramifications to you should other family members found out before the trip. While I am normally in the let them have time to build excitement camp, if I were in your shoes I would feel that the potential stress and tension from external sources out ways the desire to see their excitement build. Your DH may not be thinking of these ramifications. If not the day of then maybe the night before.

If he insists on telling them sooner then that then I would come to a compromise that he then has to deal with the external Family Tension and help deflect it so that you don't have to deal with it.


As far as your park days go, other then a warning that I've read a tr or 2 where the Magic Kingdom did get really crowded on the day after the super bowl. At the very least I would consider a mid day break and get out of there before the parade.

Also my aunt was on a trip back in june '13 and recently informed me that when they ate at Tusker house for a late breakfast they closed the lunch buffet area to the breakfast goers and they were not allowed to sample the lunch offerings. Just wanted to give you that FYI.

 

[HHMcG]

So you want to wait to tell them when you pick them up from school, but your husband wants to tell them sooner? Did he say why?

What day of the week are you leaving? Could you tell them on the weekend a have them keep it a secret until you go?

No, he didn't have any reasoning behind his opionion. In the past we both were always for telling them ahead of time to let the anticipation build. So I'm guessing he is just going with past experience. Part of my reasoning to wait to tell them is that I don't want to build up their anticipation - sometimes it get's TOO high.
We leave on a Wed night. The weekend before would be my second choice of when to tell them.

My dh likes to give input (And I like to get it from him) but can get quiet overwhelmed with things. What I have found that brings better success to our discussions is to give two options that I can work with and then list the pros and cons for each option. I then tell him the direction I am leaning and why I am leaning that way. If after listening to the options he doesn't have an opinion then I just deal with the issue myself. Not a fool proof method but since adopting it we've seemed to have a bit better success.

As for when to tell them, If you know they will react well to the surprise and you worry that telling them before hand might cause tension in other places I vote for as you pick them up from school day of. Did you make sure that your DH understood your reasoning behind wanting to hold off? It could be that your DH has not thought of the potential stress ramifications to you should other family members found out before the trip. While I am normally in the let them have time to build excitement camp, if I were in your shoes I would feel that the potential stress and tension from external sources out ways the desire to see their excitement build. Your DH may not be thinking of these ramifications. If not the day of then maybe the night before.

If he insists on telling them sooner then that then I would come to a compromise that he then has to deal with the external Family Tension and help deflect it so that you don't have to deal with it.


As far as your park days go, other then a warning that I've read a tr or 2 where the Magic Kingdom did get really crowded on the day after the super bowl. At the very least I would consider a mid day break and get out of there before the parade.

Also my aunt was on a trip back in june '13 and recently informed me that when they ate at Tusker house for a late breakfast they closed the lunch buffet area to the breakfast goers and they were not allowed to sample the lunch offerings. Just wanted to give you that FYI.

I've gotten better at conversations with DH. That is why I sent him the email ahead of time. To get him thinking about the topics and give him a little glimpse of what I'm thinking.
I'm 99% sure the kids will react well to a surprise. I'm framing this whole thing as Mommy's trip. They know I have been saving money for "some special family time'. I plan to 'surprise' them by telling them we are going on a family bonding trip and I only want good attitudes, then mention that the trip is to Disney.

Ugg, I'm concerned about the crowds in MK on Super Bowl Monday. I keep hearing conflicting reports but I think it will be bad. But I won't give up MK on our last day, so we'll have to deal with it.
And I'm very sad to hear about Tusker House cutting lunch off. The kids wouldn't touch lunch. I just thought it would be nice for DH and I to get to try something new. Oh well. I'm more worried about them pulling a character from the meal because I know they tried it already.