Polar Dweller seeking Safari....with the mouse

[Northern_Julie]

Well I have made many of the plans but at the four month mark I am giggling with excitment of how it is unfolding.

You see when you live in the North you expect snow and ice but this winter was a little more than I bargained for. The first snowstorm hit the end of september and it felt like there was no looking back unti mid may.

In December I started dreaming of Disney. So much so on my trip to see family at Christmas I was green with envy with everyone on my plane heading to Disney. You see I live in a small city....15 hour drive (1hr 30 minutes flight) to Edmonton. It is a friendly place where you can't go to the grocery store, or Walmart (yes we have Walmart) without bumping into someone. The airport is the same and 3 people fying out the same day where heading to see the mouse.

I started researching when I got back. You must understand I was coming to terms with my first solo trip. that was not to visit family. I didn't feel embaressed because I am an independant person and go out to eat to festivals and the movies alone without a care but this was a big step. Originally I was going to go somewhere exotic but Disney felt right...It afterall had been 10 years and I had started trips with friends but they always fell through.

So mid January I got my aeroplan point statment. It was like a little pixie tapping me on the shoulder. I had enough points from Christmas to get my fare to Orlando. I put together flight plans and then realiezed that I could do a few days stopover and visit my sis and the kids - Bonus (and spoiling). Then firmed up the plans with her (she insisted I visit on the way back) but still I wanted to sleep on it.

The next morning I got up. It was saturday and I was going to get my hair highlighted. I didn't look at the temperature but bundled up to trek to the hair salon a 5 minute (maybe) walk away. Well I did it in two minutes. with the windchill it was in the -50's that morning and one could fly. I was so happy to get that tea when I arrived to the appointment. I flew back home and the tickets were booked within an hour.

 

[Northern_Julie]

With the flight squared away I then set of to decide on a resort. I don't own a car so I don't drive so Disney was the only option in my mind.

Ten years ago my DF,DM,DS,DBIL, and DN all went to Fort Wilderness and stayed in the cabins. That was fun. Three years before that minus DBIL we all stayed at Dixie Landing (PO now). I even remeber it was Acadian House.
I didn't want to repeat because I wanted a new adventure. So I set out to research. There were many many off site visits before this....

Grand Floridian - to prissy....I am a Northern girl...the frilly stuff is a little over powereing.
Poly - A contender - can I afford it?? hmmm...
Contemporary - Theming had no appeal
Wilderness Lodge - To much like home....I wanted an escape
CBR - Was a maybe
CSR - Maybe - big contneder with more research
Animal Kingdom - Love.....i want....yes this was a contender
Swan and Dolphin - High on list becasue of Sis's review and my love of EPCOT

It was narrowed down.... Poly, CSR, AKL, and SW/DOL

More research knocked it to the CSR and AKL - Poly was to expensive to be realistic and SW/DOL lost out on not being totaly disney.


I ended up booking CSR (SPOILER : this will change hense the title). My big reason it appeared to have less kids....my hesitation that it spread out and my flight will make me arrive after midnight.