NigelSTW
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2013
- Messages
- 98
So here we go again plotting and laying plans for a dazzling vacation to WDW. Although this ought to be interesting in some respects as while we have the resorts book a whole lot else is still up in the air. Part of this is because we're still 273 long, long days from our vacation and part of it is because this next trip is the start of our (cue trumpets) ONE YEAR OF WALT DISNEY WORLD. Li Li and I are planning to get APs, and once one decides to through down for APs it means we better make them worth it which means many trips. Right now we are thinking nearly a week in November. A short three nighter in January. Perhaps a four or five nighter in May to be finished by a week in September, 2016. (I know. Why not another one in October. Perhaps a food and wine weekend dash? Even I think that might be taking it bit far, I think.) Some of our goals as always are to try stay at some new places during this year, try some new restaurants, while doing some things that we try to do on each trip.)
Before, I go any further some background. Li Li, my wife and I, are big fans of Walt Disney World. I am more a fan of WDW itself, while Li Li pretty much love everything Mouse and Walt. I went to WDW on four family trips as a kid from '78 to '90, while Li Li went on two family trips one in the late 80s and one in the mid 90s. I also did a day at MK in '92 during Spring break, a day at EPCOT in ;97 during law school spring break, a day at AK shortly after 9/11. From '08 to '11 once a year we'd visit my snow birding parents in Orlando, Florida and spent two or three days on property at parks and whatnot each year. Then in '12 we spent a week the Dolphin, in '13 we did two three nights trips that year one at AKL and one at POR. In '14 we did a last minute trip in May to attend the 24 hours at MK and then we spent a long week in September, '14 with one night at Movies and the rest of the time POFQ. This September trip came with free DD, so we really lived it up food wise. We attended FOUR character breakfasts, Li Li is mad about meeting characters, the Hoopdeedoo which I wanted to do, among other gluttonous activities. Our most recent trip was a two night stay at CS before we traveled down to see my parents at their new snow birding city of Sarasota.
This sets up our upcoming trip. While at CS we booked a bounce back to stay at WL. We had four nights booked at WL for 35% off, so the WL pretty much is priced at the rack rate of POR or POFQ. (As we consider ourselves moderate resort types, this is pretty darn cool.) We then decided to add two nights at AOA Little Mermaid rooms at the start of the trip. So right now we have six lovely nights booked with a split stay. We've always wanted to stay at WL, and this is a pretty good deal. We've stayed at Pop and thought it was nice, but across the Generations Bridge AoA called us. We are hoping to spend some time enjoying the underwater music at AoAs pool.
Li Li went ahead and purchased from Undercover Tourist three day park hoppers so that she can do her ticket voodoo and use them to lock in the current rate for our APs when we purchase them on our trip. She is in charge of tickets. I have every faith that she'll make it work.
We are still debating how we are going to get from South Central Pennsylvania to Orlando. We have always flown. I drove down to Florida in college but that was many years ago. We've flown from Philly, BWI, direct from Harrisburg, and even Trenton. We might fly this year, or we are seriously considering driving down and back. We looked into the auto train, but it crazy expensive. For the price I'd rather fly down and rent a car and then enjoy the leftover funds.
One reason we want to drive is just because we have not done so in the past. Another reason is we are pondering coming down with our beloved dog at some point during our ONE YEAR OF WALT DISNEY WORLD, but before we'd put him through auto hell, I'd want to do a test run first. Finally, Li Li can bring nearly unlimited shoes with her if we drive down. Suddenly, we can pack like caravan traders of old. Suit case weight 90 lbs? Who care it's not going on a plane.
Also, since we will be paying for all of our food out of pocket we are definitely not doing four character breakfast and three or four signature restaurants in six nights. We're big on quick service and the occasional signature meal. (Table service meals we're pretty meh over.) We have to plot which signature meal we'll do on this trip and which ones plan to do during the rest of ONE YEAR OF WALT DISNEY WORLD.
Now I am sure Li Li will read this and correct my errors.
Before, I go any further some background. Li Li, my wife and I, are big fans of Walt Disney World. I am more a fan of WDW itself, while Li Li pretty much love everything Mouse and Walt. I went to WDW on four family trips as a kid from '78 to '90, while Li Li went on two family trips one in the late 80s and one in the mid 90s. I also did a day at MK in '92 during Spring break, a day at EPCOT in ;97 during law school spring break, a day at AK shortly after 9/11. From '08 to '11 once a year we'd visit my snow birding parents in Orlando, Florida and spent two or three days on property at parks and whatnot each year. Then in '12 we spent a week the Dolphin, in '13 we did two three nights trips that year one at AKL and one at POR. In '14 we did a last minute trip in May to attend the 24 hours at MK and then we spent a long week in September, '14 with one night at Movies and the rest of the time POFQ. This September trip came with free DD, so we really lived it up food wise. We attended FOUR character breakfasts, Li Li is mad about meeting characters, the Hoopdeedoo which I wanted to do, among other gluttonous activities. Our most recent trip was a two night stay at CS before we traveled down to see my parents at their new snow birding city of Sarasota.
This sets up our upcoming trip. While at CS we booked a bounce back to stay at WL. We had four nights booked at WL for 35% off, so the WL pretty much is priced at the rack rate of POR or POFQ. (As we consider ourselves moderate resort types, this is pretty darn cool.) We then decided to add two nights at AOA Little Mermaid rooms at the start of the trip. So right now we have six lovely nights booked with a split stay. We've always wanted to stay at WL, and this is a pretty good deal. We've stayed at Pop and thought it was nice, but across the Generations Bridge AoA called us. We are hoping to spend some time enjoying the underwater music at AoAs pool.
Li Li went ahead and purchased from Undercover Tourist three day park hoppers so that she can do her ticket voodoo and use them to lock in the current rate for our APs when we purchase them on our trip. She is in charge of tickets. I have every faith that she'll make it work.
We are still debating how we are going to get from South Central Pennsylvania to Orlando. We have always flown. I drove down to Florida in college but that was many years ago. We've flown from Philly, BWI, direct from Harrisburg, and even Trenton. We might fly this year, or we are seriously considering driving down and back. We looked into the auto train, but it crazy expensive. For the price I'd rather fly down and rent a car and then enjoy the leftover funds.
One reason we want to drive is just because we have not done so in the past. Another reason is we are pondering coming down with our beloved dog at some point during our ONE YEAR OF WALT DISNEY WORLD, but before we'd put him through auto hell, I'd want to do a test run first. Finally, Li Li can bring nearly unlimited shoes with her if we drive down. Suddenly, we can pack like caravan traders of old. Suit case weight 90 lbs? Who care it's not going on a plane.
Also, since we will be paying for all of our food out of pocket we are definitely not doing four character breakfast and three or four signature restaurants in six nights. We're big on quick service and the occasional signature meal. (Table service meals we're pretty meh over.) We have to plot which signature meal we'll do on this trip and which ones plan to do during the rest of ONE YEAR OF WALT DISNEY WORLD.
Now I am sure Li Li will read this and correct my errors.
, we are definitely going light on the planning.
We've also been checking out RV rentals for future use to introduce Ike, our dog, to the smells of WDW, or at least Fort Wilderness. Plus, we really have liked walking around FW.
but I have my doubts given the holiday. 
