Pre-Trip background and planning
Original planning for this trip started back in July 2003. Yes that was 18 months in advance! I happened to see the ad for the 10 night Christmas special Disney cruise itinerary, and DH and I decided to check it out. We actually thought it was Dec 2003, but once our Dreams agent squared us away, we put deposits down for the original players for a 10 night Christmas cruise, Dec 18-28, 2004. Our original plans were for myself (40 at cruise time), DH (47 at cruise time), DD (almost 13 at cruise time), DS (11 ½ at cruise time) and my in-laws (late 70s at cruise time). My in-laws had never done any traveling. They had raised 6 children and their idea of a vacation was a trip to a state park in their pop up camper. This trip was in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, and to celebrate that MIL had survived another cancer scare (she had already defeated ovarian and breast cancer about 10 years ago). We convinced them that we would pay for everything, they just had to show up at the Indianapolis airport and wed meet them in Orlando.
About 6 months into the planning, I decided that the in-laws would really enjoy Epcot and MGM, since they had never seen them. After some research, it seemed that pre-cruise would be the best time, and checking the school calendars, it looked like we could miss 2 days of school and enjoy 2 uncrowded days at WDW. I rented points at Boardwalk Villa on the DVC board and booked the 15th and 16th at the BWVs for 2 studios. I figured the easy boat ride or walk to the two main parks we would visit would work out well, and wed priceline a cheap hotel for the night before the cruise.
Moving forward another 6 months or so, my mom came to visit us in July (she lives in Florida and works part time), and mentioned how long it had been since she had seen my in-laws. She said that she might want to join us at WDW. I said that we had two rooms, which each slept 4 so maybe it would work out. Later that summer, my father in law developed severe problems with his heart, and we waited to see if his doctor thought he could still make the trip. He had surgery in August to replace his pacemaker, and at his check up 62 days before the cruise, his doctor recommended against the trip. My in-laws strongly encouraged us to still take the trip without them. After lots of discussion, we cancelled the in-laws cruise stateroom, and contacted the DVC member who converted the 2nd studio reservation into a third night so that we didnt have to move hotels before the cruise. I told my mom we had to cancel the in-laws, and mentioned that meant we only had one hotel room now. One other twist was that when the school year started, they had changed the calendar, so the kids would now be missing 6 days of school. We spoke with each of their teachers who all agreed that they could send the kids work and encouraged us to keep our plan.
About 3 weeks before we left for WDW, my mom mentioned Oh, I got those days off that I wanted. Turns out she decided to join us at WDW, and just assumed wed have room for her. Much scrambling later, I paid for her room at Pop Century (which became our Christmas gift for her), and booked PSs for Prime Time Café on the 17th (her birthday).
So our final pre-trip plans ended up:
Cast: Me (40), DH (47), DD (12 ½), DS (11 ½) staying at BWVs from 12/15-12/18, then Disney Magic for 12/18-12/28
DM (late 70s) staying at Pop Century for the same time, then heading home.
Wednesday, arrive MCO about 12, drive to BWVs and checkin. Lunch at Beaches and Cream, pick up passes at Shades of Green, grocery stop, dinner at Rainforest Café, DTD. Meet up with DM sometime in the afternoon.
Thursday, early entry at MK through mid-day. Move to Epcot (lunch at counter service in one of the parks), hit Mission Space, Test Track and World Showcase, counterservice dinner followed by Illuminations.
Friday, early entry at Animal Kingdom. See Lion King & Tarzan before moving to MGM (lunch at counter service in one of the parks). MGM split into two groups (DS doesnt do thrill rides, so DM will take him to some shows), meet at Prime Time Café for PS, followed by Fantasmic.
Saturday morning, laundry before leaving for the cruise.
It mostly followed that plan!
Original planning for this trip started back in July 2003. Yes that was 18 months in advance! I happened to see the ad for the 10 night Christmas special Disney cruise itinerary, and DH and I decided to check it out. We actually thought it was Dec 2003, but once our Dreams agent squared us away, we put deposits down for the original players for a 10 night Christmas cruise, Dec 18-28, 2004. Our original plans were for myself (40 at cruise time), DH (47 at cruise time), DD (almost 13 at cruise time), DS (11 ½ at cruise time) and my in-laws (late 70s at cruise time). My in-laws had never done any traveling. They had raised 6 children and their idea of a vacation was a trip to a state park in their pop up camper. This trip was in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, and to celebrate that MIL had survived another cancer scare (she had already defeated ovarian and breast cancer about 10 years ago). We convinced them that we would pay for everything, they just had to show up at the Indianapolis airport and wed meet them in Orlando.
About 6 months into the planning, I decided that the in-laws would really enjoy Epcot and MGM, since they had never seen them. After some research, it seemed that pre-cruise would be the best time, and checking the school calendars, it looked like we could miss 2 days of school and enjoy 2 uncrowded days at WDW. I rented points at Boardwalk Villa on the DVC board and booked the 15th and 16th at the BWVs for 2 studios. I figured the easy boat ride or walk to the two main parks we would visit would work out well, and wed priceline a cheap hotel for the night before the cruise.
Moving forward another 6 months or so, my mom came to visit us in July (she lives in Florida and works part time), and mentioned how long it had been since she had seen my in-laws. She said that she might want to join us at WDW. I said that we had two rooms, which each slept 4 so maybe it would work out. Later that summer, my father in law developed severe problems with his heart, and we waited to see if his doctor thought he could still make the trip. He had surgery in August to replace his pacemaker, and at his check up 62 days before the cruise, his doctor recommended against the trip. My in-laws strongly encouraged us to still take the trip without them. After lots of discussion, we cancelled the in-laws cruise stateroom, and contacted the DVC member who converted the 2nd studio reservation into a third night so that we didnt have to move hotels before the cruise. I told my mom we had to cancel the in-laws, and mentioned that meant we only had one hotel room now. One other twist was that when the school year started, they had changed the calendar, so the kids would now be missing 6 days of school. We spoke with each of their teachers who all agreed that they could send the kids work and encouraged us to keep our plan.
About 3 weeks before we left for WDW, my mom mentioned Oh, I got those days off that I wanted. Turns out she decided to join us at WDW, and just assumed wed have room for her. Much scrambling later, I paid for her room at Pop Century (which became our Christmas gift for her), and booked PSs for Prime Time Café on the 17th (her birthday).
So our final pre-trip plans ended up:
Cast: Me (40), DH (47), DD (12 ½), DS (11 ½) staying at BWVs from 12/15-12/18, then Disney Magic for 12/18-12/28
DM (late 70s) staying at Pop Century for the same time, then heading home.
Wednesday, arrive MCO about 12, drive to BWVs and checkin. Lunch at Beaches and Cream, pick up passes at Shades of Green, grocery stop, dinner at Rainforest Café, DTD. Meet up with DM sometime in the afternoon.
Thursday, early entry at MK through mid-day. Move to Epcot (lunch at counter service in one of the parks), hit Mission Space, Test Track and World Showcase, counterservice dinner followed by Illuminations.
Friday, early entry at Animal Kingdom. See Lion King & Tarzan before moving to MGM (lunch at counter service in one of the parks). MGM split into two groups (DS doesnt do thrill rides, so DM will take him to some shows), meet at Prime Time Café for PS, followed by Fantasmic.
Saturday morning, laundry before leaving for the cruise.
It mostly followed that plan!
