I am posting what I have basically done to plan for our trip-I am hoping it might be useful for somebody (who like me) is planning their first trip.
Our trip begins in May, 2000, when we finally decide we will take a trip to the World. I am have explained to my husband it wonâÂÂt be that expensive, as we can exchange our timeshare. He is grudgingly tolerant, and I start planning. Our kids get of the Thursday before Easter at noon, so we could leave Wednesday or Thursday and return 10 days later on a Saturday, and they would only miss a bit of school. Two thoughts begin to haunt me: First, it will be crowded, crowded, CROWDED! We hate crowds! The next thing is, I begin to feel uncomfortable being at WDW during Holy Week-it just isnâÂÂt right for me. So, I change our trip to leaving the Tuesday after Easter, and staying for a week after. This means we will pull the kids from school for a couple of days. Now, I begin thinking even moreâ¦.will 7 days enough? After all, from CA, 2 days will be for travel. So I add extra days, until we are traveling 2 days, and at the World 10 days. (DH doesnâÂÂt know what hit him!)
I book a car from National, calling from the number in our Entertainment book. ItâÂÂs $287 for 10 days-I think I have done very well (all the other companies I called were LOTS more expensive)
Then I go on line, looking for info, and discover DIS. This will significantly impact our trip, as I discover lots of things I didnâÂÂt know.
I rebook the car about 4 times and end up with a ressie for $199 for a full sized car for 11 days, including all taxes!! I also have learned to âÂÂcopy and pasteâ and have started a file on the computer of advice and hints.
I should add that I have been calling WDW ressies about once a week since May, and cannot get into DxL-itâÂÂs totally booked. So, I have ressies at Holiday In Maingate East, the Howard Johnson and the HIFS. Now, just to be insane, I have booked the Marriott at DD, because it offers EE.
I also buy five 7 day park hopper plus passes, assuming that prices will probably go up before we go, and also because we have a MKC that will expire in December, 2000. (I would have NEVER know that the program was ending without DIS) The cost is $1307 for all five (2 adults, 3 kids) and we ended up saving about $130, since we were able to use a MKC discount, and prices DID go up.
I have hit a couple of sales at the Disney Store, buying some clothes for the kids to wear. I am able to justify this, as they are kind of souvenirs (in advance) and they will need new clothes next spring. I get Emily an adorable âÂÂPrincessâ baseball cap, and matching t-shirt and Thomas a cute shorts set with Woody. (Okay, I actually buy about 10 shirts, but they were no more than $5.99 each-I would pay that at Target for a plain t-shirt!)
Now, at this point, anyone sane would assume that since this is a major trip, we should be saving everything we have for it, right? Well, dh Brian sees the advertisement for the Xmas parade at Disneyland, and the next thing you know, I have made ressies for 3 nights at DL at Xmas. I did manage to find a cheapie hotel-$49 a night on Harbor-a very short walk to the front gate.
November arrives and a miracle happens-I make my usual weekly call to WDW reservations, and DxL is available. I book three nights, and I am so happy!! Dh doesnâÂÂt understand why we are paying $189 a night, when the Maingate East would be $89, but I point out we can always cancel, this is just so we have the option (yeah, right, like IâÂÂll cancel, after waiting since May-over my dead body will I cancel!!)
Now itâÂÂs December and I am really worried about or DL trip. Our last trip was October 1999, and it wasnâÂÂt too fun. Michael and Emily argued/bickered/squabbled the ENTIRE time, to the point I said we wouldnâÂÂt return for years. This trip was wonderful. The kids were good the entire time, and Emily hardly whined at all about not riding in a stroller. I consider the trip well worth it, in order to help see how the kids will do at WDW. After Xmas DH Brian tells me about a SWA sale he heard about at work. We can get tickets from San Jose, with only one stop each way, for $200 each. After much discussion, we buy them-the stress of waiting and worrying about ticket cost will be over, thank goodness. I also make ressies for the Rose and Crown, to see Illuminations, as well as the Family Magic Tour and the Pirate Cruise for the kids.
January arrives, and I attempt to change my car ressies, to align with airline time. The best price I can now get is $208. ItâÂÂs only about $10 difference from before, but IâÂÂm bummed-I loved seeing the cost keep going down-it was like a game!
I book an Illuminations Cruise-I canâÂÂt believe I got it, since I overslept that morning-I didnâÂÂt call until 7:30 CA time (10:30 FL time) Am I lucky, or what? Then our luck continues to grow-my brother (who wasnâÂÂt sure if he could go) is able to go and wants to spend the day with ds Michael on Friday, the 20th. Then Mom and Dad say they will take dd Emily and ds Thomas for the day, so dh Brian and I can spend the whole day without kids-wow! DH is a major Disney fan-this is especially great for him. I decide to try to book the Wonderland Tea Party, so my parents can wander at the Grand Floridian and have a bit of non-small child time.
I am able to book the Wonderland Tea Party for Emily and Thomas, and then I also book Le Cellier for Brian and I, when we have our day together. Now, the only PSâÂÂs I have left to make are for the castle at breakfast, with the princesses and at the Liberty Tree Tavern.
I am also trying to get the money issues sorted out. I am the kind of person who HATES to charge anything on vacation, and I really want to have enough money that I donâÂÂt feel âÂÂpoorâ the entire trip. We will generally âÂÂdoâ breakfast in our room-I donâÂÂt like to waste time in the a.m. with eating in a restaurant. I figure weâÂÂll eat one counter service and 1 sit down meal most days. The HDDR and Family Magic Tour have already been paid for, and my mom says sheâÂÂll pay for the Illuminations Cruise.
Another task I am working on is how to keep the kids entertained for 2 flights (San Jose to Kansas City, and KC to Orlando). Michael will play his gameboy (it will then be put away until the trip home!), have a couple of books and a new small LEGO set, but Emily and Thomas will need lots of things to do. I have taken a bunch of American Girl, Disney Catalog and other catalogs, and cut out pictures, to make âÂÂnewâ flannel board pieces. I am making a portable flannel board for each (8 ý x 11 cardboard with felt) and then putting the âÂÂroughâ side of velcro on the back of the cutouts that have been put on cardstock and laminated. I am also buying some of those cute âÂÂLittle Booksâ made by Dover Press that sell for $1-they have little activity books, coloring books, dress ups, etc. I am on the lookout for garage sales for some new, small âÂÂstuffâÂÂ.
In February, my first big mistake happens-I think that the dining reservations open at 8a.m (on Saturday) and I am too late to book a CindyâÂÂs reservation. I am SO mad at myself. I book at Crystal Palace, but I am still frustrated. I call for the next day and get a reservation, but was so focused on getting CindyâÂÂs, I forgot-that is the day we are going to 1900 Park Faire and the kids are going on the Pirate Cruise. Not an especially smart move on my part!! I post on DIS and am able to give our reservation away to a couple going on their honeymoon. So, I set the alarm a third time (for 3:50, since we are in CA) and finally get a reservation that will work for us! ItâÂÂs the day we have planned for EPCOT-weâÂÂll go to MK for breakfast at 8:20, then head over to EPCOT. Brian and I will have been there the day before without kids, and I am not sure how âÂÂintoâ EPCOT my kids will be, so I figure a shorter day wonâÂÂt matter. WeâÂÂll still have one more day there. I tell the kids we get to eat breakfast with Pooh and Tigger and at the castle with the Princesses-they are more excited about Pooh and Tigger (âÂÂKids-listen to me! I was up at 4am three mornings in a row! WeâÂÂre having breakfast with the princesses!! Show some enthusiasm!!)
I am also able to book Liberty Tavern, so my PSâÂÂs are done. We have made quite a few, I hope we havenâÂÂt overdone it. We have three for breakfast, one for a late lunch and three for dinner. We also have 4 âÂÂspecialâ PSâÂÂs (Wonderland Tea Party, Pirates Cruise, Family Magic Tour and Illuminations Cruise). My kids really want autograph books this year, and I hate the waiting and commotion that happens in the parks. I am hoping that the character meals will help a lot (yes, I will pay A LOT to avoid how much stress the waiting causes me!) I am buying small memory books at MichaelâÂÂs, and will have the kids get a signature on one page and weâÂÂll put their picture with the character on the other page. I think theyâÂÂll enjoy their books (long term) a lot more with the pictures.
Two weeks before we leave, I am organizing stuff in the living room, and am totally stressed out-I am paranoid I will forget something important. Brian is packing for himself. I am packing for myself, three kids, the food we need for the plane ride (Southwest serves no meals) and everything to keep the kids amused for two traveling days. Fortunately, he is usually wise enough not to comment.
I also learn how to download stuff to my Palm, and have menus, our itinerary and lots more on it (a last minute addition)
The night I have downloaded the info into the Palm, dh Brian starts reading the itinerary and menus in it (yes, I have been obsessively planning this trip since May, 2000, and he decides to start paying attention 1 week before we leave!) He is wondering why the restaurants where we have reservations have 3 dollar ($) signs next to them. What I think: âÂÂYou think Disneyland is expensive? We are now in the Big Leagues!â What I say: âÂÂI think itâÂÂs more expensive at dinner-breakfast is cheaperâ Luckily, all of the travelerâÂÂs checks are in my name, as I was the one who purchased them, so I am hoping he wonâÂÂt pay attention to how much we are spending.
We visit the orthodontist for ds Michael-we could pay for his entire orthodontia series and then some, if we werenâÂÂt going on this trip. (I am trying not to think too much about that-itâÂÂs kind of depressing. Why couldnâÂÂt the kids have inherited my husbandâÂÂs straight teeth, instead of my crooked ones?)
The countdown has begun for us...we leave Tuesday, April 17. IâÂÂll also be posting our pre-trip itinerary. Check back in when we return, for our daily trip reports!
First trip: July, 1983
Second trip: April 17-20, Dixie Landings
April 20-28: Orange Lake COuntry Club
Our trip begins in May, 2000, when we finally decide we will take a trip to the World. I am have explained to my husband it wonâÂÂt be that expensive, as we can exchange our timeshare. He is grudgingly tolerant, and I start planning. Our kids get of the Thursday before Easter at noon, so we could leave Wednesday or Thursday and return 10 days later on a Saturday, and they would only miss a bit of school. Two thoughts begin to haunt me: First, it will be crowded, crowded, CROWDED! We hate crowds! The next thing is, I begin to feel uncomfortable being at WDW during Holy Week-it just isnâÂÂt right for me. So, I change our trip to leaving the Tuesday after Easter, and staying for a week after. This means we will pull the kids from school for a couple of days. Now, I begin thinking even moreâ¦.will 7 days enough? After all, from CA, 2 days will be for travel. So I add extra days, until we are traveling 2 days, and at the World 10 days. (DH doesnâÂÂt know what hit him!)
I book a car from National, calling from the number in our Entertainment book. ItâÂÂs $287 for 10 days-I think I have done very well (all the other companies I called were LOTS more expensive)
Then I go on line, looking for info, and discover DIS. This will significantly impact our trip, as I discover lots of things I didnâÂÂt know.
I rebook the car about 4 times and end up with a ressie for $199 for a full sized car for 11 days, including all taxes!! I also have learned to âÂÂcopy and pasteâ and have started a file on the computer of advice and hints.
I should add that I have been calling WDW ressies about once a week since May, and cannot get into DxL-itâÂÂs totally booked. So, I have ressies at Holiday In Maingate East, the Howard Johnson and the HIFS. Now, just to be insane, I have booked the Marriott at DD, because it offers EE.
I also buy five 7 day park hopper plus passes, assuming that prices will probably go up before we go, and also because we have a MKC that will expire in December, 2000. (I would have NEVER know that the program was ending without DIS) The cost is $1307 for all five (2 adults, 3 kids) and we ended up saving about $130, since we were able to use a MKC discount, and prices DID go up.
I have hit a couple of sales at the Disney Store, buying some clothes for the kids to wear. I am able to justify this, as they are kind of souvenirs (in advance) and they will need new clothes next spring. I get Emily an adorable âÂÂPrincessâ baseball cap, and matching t-shirt and Thomas a cute shorts set with Woody. (Okay, I actually buy about 10 shirts, but they were no more than $5.99 each-I would pay that at Target for a plain t-shirt!)
Now, at this point, anyone sane would assume that since this is a major trip, we should be saving everything we have for it, right? Well, dh Brian sees the advertisement for the Xmas parade at Disneyland, and the next thing you know, I have made ressies for 3 nights at DL at Xmas. I did manage to find a cheapie hotel-$49 a night on Harbor-a very short walk to the front gate.
November arrives and a miracle happens-I make my usual weekly call to WDW reservations, and DxL is available. I book three nights, and I am so happy!! Dh doesnâÂÂt understand why we are paying $189 a night, when the Maingate East would be $89, but I point out we can always cancel, this is just so we have the option (yeah, right, like IâÂÂll cancel, after waiting since May-over my dead body will I cancel!!)
Now itâÂÂs December and I am really worried about or DL trip. Our last trip was October 1999, and it wasnâÂÂt too fun. Michael and Emily argued/bickered/squabbled the ENTIRE time, to the point I said we wouldnâÂÂt return for years. This trip was wonderful. The kids were good the entire time, and Emily hardly whined at all about not riding in a stroller. I consider the trip well worth it, in order to help see how the kids will do at WDW. After Xmas DH Brian tells me about a SWA sale he heard about at work. We can get tickets from San Jose, with only one stop each way, for $200 each. After much discussion, we buy them-the stress of waiting and worrying about ticket cost will be over, thank goodness. I also make ressies for the Rose and Crown, to see Illuminations, as well as the Family Magic Tour and the Pirate Cruise for the kids.
January arrives, and I attempt to change my car ressies, to align with airline time. The best price I can now get is $208. ItâÂÂs only about $10 difference from before, but IâÂÂm bummed-I loved seeing the cost keep going down-it was like a game!
I book an Illuminations Cruise-I canâÂÂt believe I got it, since I overslept that morning-I didnâÂÂt call until 7:30 CA time (10:30 FL time) Am I lucky, or what? Then our luck continues to grow-my brother (who wasnâÂÂt sure if he could go) is able to go and wants to spend the day with ds Michael on Friday, the 20th. Then Mom and Dad say they will take dd Emily and ds Thomas for the day, so dh Brian and I can spend the whole day without kids-wow! DH is a major Disney fan-this is especially great for him. I decide to try to book the Wonderland Tea Party, so my parents can wander at the Grand Floridian and have a bit of non-small child time.
I am able to book the Wonderland Tea Party for Emily and Thomas, and then I also book Le Cellier for Brian and I, when we have our day together. Now, the only PSâÂÂs I have left to make are for the castle at breakfast, with the princesses and at the Liberty Tree Tavern.
I am also trying to get the money issues sorted out. I am the kind of person who HATES to charge anything on vacation, and I really want to have enough money that I donâÂÂt feel âÂÂpoorâ the entire trip. We will generally âÂÂdoâ breakfast in our room-I donâÂÂt like to waste time in the a.m. with eating in a restaurant. I figure weâÂÂll eat one counter service and 1 sit down meal most days. The HDDR and Family Magic Tour have already been paid for, and my mom says sheâÂÂll pay for the Illuminations Cruise.
Another task I am working on is how to keep the kids entertained for 2 flights (San Jose to Kansas City, and KC to Orlando). Michael will play his gameboy (it will then be put away until the trip home!), have a couple of books and a new small LEGO set, but Emily and Thomas will need lots of things to do. I have taken a bunch of American Girl, Disney Catalog and other catalogs, and cut out pictures, to make âÂÂnewâ flannel board pieces. I am making a portable flannel board for each (8 ý x 11 cardboard with felt) and then putting the âÂÂroughâ side of velcro on the back of the cutouts that have been put on cardstock and laminated. I am also buying some of those cute âÂÂLittle Booksâ made by Dover Press that sell for $1-they have little activity books, coloring books, dress ups, etc. I am on the lookout for garage sales for some new, small âÂÂstuffâÂÂ.
In February, my first big mistake happens-I think that the dining reservations open at 8a.m (on Saturday) and I am too late to book a CindyâÂÂs reservation. I am SO mad at myself. I book at Crystal Palace, but I am still frustrated. I call for the next day and get a reservation, but was so focused on getting CindyâÂÂs, I forgot-that is the day we are going to 1900 Park Faire and the kids are going on the Pirate Cruise. Not an especially smart move on my part!! I post on DIS and am able to give our reservation away to a couple going on their honeymoon. So, I set the alarm a third time (for 3:50, since we are in CA) and finally get a reservation that will work for us! ItâÂÂs the day we have planned for EPCOT-weâÂÂll go to MK for breakfast at 8:20, then head over to EPCOT. Brian and I will have been there the day before without kids, and I am not sure how âÂÂintoâ EPCOT my kids will be, so I figure a shorter day wonâÂÂt matter. WeâÂÂll still have one more day there. I tell the kids we get to eat breakfast with Pooh and Tigger and at the castle with the Princesses-they are more excited about Pooh and Tigger (âÂÂKids-listen to me! I was up at 4am three mornings in a row! WeâÂÂre having breakfast with the princesses!! Show some enthusiasm!!)
I am also able to book Liberty Tavern, so my PSâÂÂs are done. We have made quite a few, I hope we havenâÂÂt overdone it. We have three for breakfast, one for a late lunch and three for dinner. We also have 4 âÂÂspecialâ PSâÂÂs (Wonderland Tea Party, Pirates Cruise, Family Magic Tour and Illuminations Cruise). My kids really want autograph books this year, and I hate the waiting and commotion that happens in the parks. I am hoping that the character meals will help a lot (yes, I will pay A LOT to avoid how much stress the waiting causes me!) I am buying small memory books at MichaelâÂÂs, and will have the kids get a signature on one page and weâÂÂll put their picture with the character on the other page. I think theyâÂÂll enjoy their books (long term) a lot more with the pictures.
Two weeks before we leave, I am organizing stuff in the living room, and am totally stressed out-I am paranoid I will forget something important. Brian is packing for himself. I am packing for myself, three kids, the food we need for the plane ride (Southwest serves no meals) and everything to keep the kids amused for two traveling days. Fortunately, he is usually wise enough not to comment.
I also learn how to download stuff to my Palm, and have menus, our itinerary and lots more on it (a last minute addition)
The night I have downloaded the info into the Palm, dh Brian starts reading the itinerary and menus in it (yes, I have been obsessively planning this trip since May, 2000, and he decides to start paying attention 1 week before we leave!) He is wondering why the restaurants where we have reservations have 3 dollar ($) signs next to them. What I think: âÂÂYou think Disneyland is expensive? We are now in the Big Leagues!â What I say: âÂÂI think itâÂÂs more expensive at dinner-breakfast is cheaperâ Luckily, all of the travelerâÂÂs checks are in my name, as I was the one who purchased them, so I am hoping he wonâÂÂt pay attention to how much we are spending.
We visit the orthodontist for ds Michael-we could pay for his entire orthodontia series and then some, if we werenâÂÂt going on this trip. (I am trying not to think too much about that-itâÂÂs kind of depressing. Why couldnâÂÂt the kids have inherited my husbandâÂÂs straight teeth, instead of my crooked ones?)
The countdown has begun for us...we leave Tuesday, April 17. IâÂÂll also be posting our pre-trip itinerary. Check back in when we return, for our daily trip reports!
First trip: July, 1983
Second trip: April 17-20, Dixie Landings
April 20-28: Orange Lake COuntry Club
