Pre-TRs are silly- pics added- Can this be fun or will we kill each other Aug 09

[CherylA]

CHECK OUT MY TRIP REPORT AT:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33774805#post33774805
So I have been known to say a few times, Pre-Trip reports are silly. I know I know, ban me from the boards now! But you know what? In my excitement about our upcoming Aug trip I have been reading through some TRs of people who have also travelled in August and I have found that if one really catches me, I like to go back and read the corresponding Pre-Trip report. So they’re really not silly, I get it now. Plus its fun to put all your planning down in words, makes it more real or something… So anywho here we go.

Cast and crew:

Cheryl: (me) DIS board addict, lover of Disney world planning, writer of this Pre-TR. I like to eat at Disney. I like most of the rides. I can be cranky, especially in the heat, and if I get hungry, run for your life! (yeah an Aug trip is perfect right?)

Tony: my husband. The true Disney fan, not just a fan of the parks but of everything Disney; the man, the mouse and everything they created together. He can be a lot of fun, or he can be a big poop, usually Disney brings out his fun side!

Izzy: our oldest daughter, she will be 7 when we go on our trip in Aug. She’s been to Disney World lots of times. She’s starting to grow out of the Princess phase but finally isn’t afraid of any of the characters. She’s scared of most rides, still won’t do Barnstormer and 2 years ago I had to drag her kicking and screaming onto A Small World, nuff said…

Lily: been to Disney World lots of times too. She’s only 4 though and doesn’t remember too much other than our last trip in October 08. She asks me at least once a week if we can go back. She loves princesses, is still a little afraid of some of the characters but is quite a trooper when it comes to rides. She did ride the Barnstormer last trip and wants to do it again this time. Lily can get a bit unmanageable at times. But that’s my opinion; some people think she’s an angel!

Tony and the girls at Hoop dee Doo in Oct 08



So the above has been the cast for almost all of our Disney trips with the exception of two trips 5 and 7 years back that we took with our parents. And it was from those trips that I learned how challenging it can be traveling with anyone beyond your immediate family.
However….

We have a friend who has always said she wanted to go to Disney with us, prior circumstances never allowed it but this year, it does. So she’s coming along and so are her fiancé and her daughter.

So additional cast-

Shelli- my gal pal, my husband has known her since they were teenagers; I’ve known her the 13 years my husband and I have been together. We’re best buds. She’s been to Disney quite a few times with her ex and his family before she had her daughter and only once with her daughter a few years ago. Shelli gives the best hugs ever and somehow that sort of sums up her personality.

Rick- Shelli’s fiancé. A truly good natured and fun loving guy. Likes to eat, likes an occasional beer. Will be a great addition to this trip, I hope. Oh and he treats Shelli and her daughter Tori wonderfully.

Tori- last but certainly not least is Tori. My girls have known her since birth and they all really get along well together. I think my kids are more excited that Tori is coming on the trip with us than they are about the actual trip itself! She’s a really good girl and even though she’s 9 she is really wonderful about doing some “baby” things with my younger kids. I think she’s kind of over princesses and is most excited about the rides.

No pictures of them right now

Originally we talked about staying at POP, we booked bounceback there for free dining. Unfortunately when I got the 2009-2010 school calendar we could only take advantage of 3 nights of the bounceback free dining before my kids had to start school. Oh well, we’ll wait and see what happens with other discounts. ( I never dreamed Disney would release free dining for dates starting so early in August).

Then along comes the Last Minute travel promotion. If you all weren’t following that extravaganza, an internet company GAVE AWAY rooms for up to 7 nights at any hotel in their inventory for 15 minutes a day. You had to be online at the right time. You had to enter your info quickly like some crazed maniac and the stars had to be properly aligned. It was impossible, and then it wasn’t… I actually got a room, 5 nights at Coronado Springs in a water view. So I’d be doing a split stay but I’d have a free room at CSR for the first 5 nights and free dining at POP for the second half. I was thrilled, guess who wasn’t…

 

[shordiebecka]

let me guesss. DH? They always ruin the excitement! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[disneyaddicted]

I love a good cliff hanger, don't keep us hanging too long though.

 

[CherylA]

Was it my “sometimes poop” of a DH who was less than thrilled you ask. No it wasn’t. He had been up alternating with me so we could sit in front of the computer for 3 days to get this free room. He was excited too. He was a bit disappointed about not staying at POP since we really like it there, especially the food court, but this was our chance to try a new resort and we never spring for a moderate. No, it was Shelli who was less than thrilled.

Now, I mentioned earlier that I’ve done the whole Disney with extended family thing and while it brought with it some good times it also brought a lot of frustration so when Shelli asked to go with us I told her she could, but with the express understanding that it would be two separate vacations joined by occasional events that we plan together. I explained there would be no adjoining rooms and that we might not be in the same building, maybe not even the same resort.

Never the less, when I called to tell her of my good fortune and to tell her that on this last night of the FREE ROOM promotion I would stay up yet again to try to get her a free room I could tell from the tone that she wasn’t happy. It was a short conversation but it was long enough. I did try for a room for her but with no luck. Then I got the e-mail. ‘She knew we weren’t going to do everything together but she thought we’d have rooms near each other so the kids could go to the pool together… ‘ there was more of course, but you catch the drift. Uh oh, what happened to my separate vacations?

 

[TonyB]

Can't wait for the next installment... Definitely subscribing to this one!

 

[CherylA]

Tony and I talked about it but we weren’t giving up Coronado. Shelli started to get used to the idea that we weren’t going to be in the same resort. I let sleeping dogs lie.

Then free dining came out and it starts Aug 16th. Holy Moly, that’s early! So our dates are Aug 18-26th, I have Aug 18-23 free at Coronado but I couldn’t get dining with that. Tony and I also discussed and decided we didn’t want to split our stay between resorts this trip so we actually made 2 reservations for free dining, one at POP for the nights running concurrently with our free Coronado reservation and one at Coronado for 3 nights in a waterview. It stinks to have to buy tickets twice but when I ran the numbers this way and that it made the most sense. Even with a “free room” it’s costing is quite a bit more to stay at Coronado than at POP but we never stay in a moderate and I think it will be fun.
I put the pricing together for Shelli and Rick at POP or the alternate of paying more and staying at Coronado and you know what? They chose Coronado. Yay so everyone’s happy!

I'm so excited! Coronado is such a beautiful resort. I can't wait to see this...

(I didn't take that pic, it came from the CBR photos thread so I apoligize to whomever took it for not giving proper credit )

 

[CherylA]

I'm getting pretty excited about our August trip and I'm definitely more submersed in the ‘Disneyness’ this trip. I was so excited to find that Costco had changed the dinosaur Chicken nuggets to Mickey chicken nuggets and that Walmart has ‘Cars’ mac and cheese. I even asked Tony and the kids to watch one of the planning DVDs we have with me. I never do that! One day I was so dying for Disney that I took the prepackaged rice krispy treat I had and remolded it into the shape of a Mickey head! What is my problem?!

We had been thinking of doing Universal for two days on this trip but I just recently decided against it. There are going to be so many awesome rides and attractions to try and my kids won’t do any of them. Somehow Men in Black alone just doesn’t have the appeal it has if you go with a partner. I had hoped Shelli and Rick would join us in Universal but Shelli’s sister is down in FL so they are going to try and meet up with her and also they want to do Sea World one day. I don’t know about Sea World. I think we’ll be skipping that. The girls might like it but I think it will be hot and expensive. If we were there in November instead of August I might have gone along but not this time. So there is going to be some separate to this trip after all!

 

[CherylA]

We just purchased our airfare last week. We’re on Southwest out of Hartford, CT direct to Orlando. We paid $250pp r/t. Not great, but I can live with it. I’m actually hoping the prices go down and I can get some credit to use on our Febuary trip, yup that’s already in the works, in my head anyway!

I’m dying to be able to make my ADRs! Right now here is where I’m planning to make ADRs

Whispering Canyon dinner
Yak and Yeti dinner
Kona Café dinner
Akershus Breakfast with the Princesses
Le Cellier dinner
Crystal Palace Breakfast
50’s Prime time dinner
Chef Mickey’s dinner

 

[CherylA]

So this is what I’m thinking for an itinerary…

8/18Tuesday -flight arrives 11AM pick up rental car, drive to Coronado and check in then to POP and check in, have lunch at the POP food court, back to Coronado for swim time and get settled in rooms dinner at Whispering Canyon then maybe swim at resort again or mini golf.

8/19Wednesday- Animal Kingdom- breakfast in the room/ early CS lunch at AK rest at resort for a while in the afternoon dinner at Yak and Yeti not sure what time to make ADR for. EMH at AK

8/20 Thursday- I think Shelli and Rick may go to Sea World this day. My family will do Blizzard Beach, get there early to get a chair or two. CS at BB, back to resort to shower and rest. Dinner at Kona and walk around and explore Poly

8/21 Friday-Epcot- get there early for rope drop, fast passes for Soarin, ride test track, late breakfast in Norway with the Princesses. Rest at resort in afternoon. Early dinner at Le Cellier stay for EMHs

8/22 Saturday I think Shelli is meeting her sister today. We’re going to sleep late, hang out by the pool and eat lunch at the Pepper Market. In the evening we’ll go to Downtown Disney and/or play minigolf. We’ll most likely eat Counter Service at DTD. After midnight Tony can drive to POP and check us out. I think that will work

8/23 Magic Kingdom! Snacky breakfast in the room. Get to the MK at rope drop. Do some popular rides especially Fantasyland. Last breakfast seating at Crystal Palace. Back to room to rest. Counter Service at MK. EMH at MK.

8/24 Disney Studios- we get there when we get there, late night the day before. Fast passes for Toy Story mania. Rest at resort, dinner at 50’s Prime time. Fantasmic and EMHs at Disney Studios.

8/25 Typhoon Lagoon- get there early to get chairs, counter service lunch in TL. Shower and rest at resort. Dinner at Chef Mickey’s about 7:00. Back to room to pack.

8/26 flight departs at 10:50am

 

[shordiebecka]

Your itinerary looks good to me! I'm also from CT, southeastern area. I'm aiming to fly out of Providence though- I'm willing to pay the extra money because i despise BDL! I can't get a flight out earlier than 8:30 though. I can't help but to daydream about warm FL sun during these dreary days..

 

[CherylA]

Your itinerary looks good to me! I'm also from CT, southeastern area. I'm aiming to fly out of Providence though- I'm willing to pay the extra money because i despise BDL! I can't get a flight out earlier than 8:30 though. I can't help but to daydream about warm FL sun during these dreary days..

I know what you mean about the dreary days but not about BDL. What don't you like about it? We flew out of Westchester our last trip on Jet Blue. I liked JetBlue but not so much the Westchester airport. That thing is TINY. I've never flown out of Providence, whats parking like there? We're in the SE of CT too, Seymour, where are you?

 

[TonyB]

I know what you mean about the dreary days but not about BDL. What don't you like about it? We flew out of Westchester our last trip on Jet Blue. I liked JetBlue but not so much the Westchester airport. That thing is TINY. I've never flown out of Providence, whats parking like there? We're in the SE of CT too, Seymour, where are you?

Ahem.... My geographically challenged wife, we are actually more south western CT than south eastern.

Shordi appears to be from New London. Providence might just be easier to get to from there

 

[CherylA]

At our 90 day mark I called for my ADRs right at 7am. After a horrible time trying to get through to an agent who didn't have her computer lock up halfway through making my ADRs (over 5 hours on the phone on and off!)I got

Tues 8/18 dinner Whispering Canyon 7:45 pm (I had wanted more like 6:00 this could be rough with Lily)
Wed 8/19 breakfast Princess Storybook Epcot 10:45am (just what I wanted)
Thurs 8/20 dinner Kona Cafe 6:20 pm (perfect)
Fri 8/21 breakfast Crystal Palace 10:15 am (perfect)
Sat 8/22 dinner WAVE at Contemporary 7:05 (great)
Sun 8/23 dinner 50s Prime Time 5:30 (would have preferred 6 but can't complain)
Mon 8/24 dinner Chef Mickey's 5:25 (again would have preferred 6-7 but can't complain)
Tues 8/25 dinner Yak & Yeti 6:45 (wanted 7, pretty close)


Things are looking pretty concrete now that our dining reservations are made. Making dining reservations also means another thing. We have less than 90 days until our trip! Actually I think we're down to 78 days today.

 

[KatMark]

Just found your pre-trip report. I'm now along for the ride.

 

[CherylA]

Well my final payment day is getting closer and closer. Money seems tight lately in my family. Nothings really changed but I guess we overspent a little last month. I also want to book the autotrain for our Feb trip and I'm having a hard time swallowing the $750 I have to put up now for that.


For our Aug trip I have a reservation at POP for the first part of our trip that overlaps with the Coronado free room I won in the last minute travel promotion. Thats for 5 nights. I'm thinking of dropping a night off that POP reservation making it a 4 night package instead of 5 nights. It saves me about $90 I think. I would loose one night of dining because of it but we always have more CS and snack credits than we need and I have a dinner planned at Kona and one at the Wave either of which I wouldn't mind loosing to eat at Wolfgang Pucks Express instead on CS credits plus my check out day at POP would be on a nonpark day instead of my Disney Studios day which would be a lot more convenient. I think I'm going to do it...

 

[CherylA]

Still thinking about dropping a night off my overlapping reservation. We'd either not do The Wave or Kona Cafe. This shouldn't be such a hard decision. Our friends Shelli and Rick are all paid up with Disney. They sent their final payments next week. I was able to secure a better time for Whispering Canyon on our first night. 6:25 instead of 7:45. Much better. Much less cranky 4 year old!

 

[mla1977]

I'll be there at the same time. I'll come back to read more later!

 

[CherylA]

I'll be there at the same time. I'll come back to read more later!

Yay another reader. It's nice to know I'm not typing for my benefit alone! A fellow brave soul traveling to FL in Aug huh? I was feeling some dread regarding the heat I'm expecting while we're there but so far our Connecticut summer has been chilly and rainy so I'm singing a different tune now. I'm thinking August in FL might be the only time we get to swim all summer!

 

[CherylA]

I have finally made a decision about my meal only stay at POP. I am going to drop a night. I talked to Shelli and they are definately doing Sat evening with her sister so they wouldn't be able to join us for that dinner anyway. It makes it easy for me to make that a counter service night instead of a sit down dinner. That was supposed to be the night we did the Wave and I know my hubby wanted to try it. I think I make new reservations for the Wave on Thursday night and cancel Kona. I love Kona but we've done it 3 or 4 times before.

Tomorrow a 35% room only discount is supposed to be released so I want to check the Disney site and see if there is availability in a water view room at CSR for my 'Last Minute Travel' free room dates. If I can prove the value of the room is less then I will only have to pay taxes on that amount. Currently I will have to pay taxes on rack rate.

I've done a little shopping. My favorite purchase is my 2009 Passporter refill for my deluxe binder. Actually my DH got that for me for Mother's Day. I thought that was a very smart gift!

Someone on the DIS recommended these ice cube things that will fit into the little freezer at CSR.

I'm thinking this will be much better than having the ice melt and drip out of the ziplock bags like it usually does! Oh and I bought a soft sided cooler, or 3 I keep finding great prices on different ones. The one I am favoring for Disney is more of a tote bag style. I think it will be easier to stuff under the umbrella stroller!

 

[mla1977]

Ahem.... My geographically challenged wife, we are actually more south western CT than south eastern.

Shordi appears to be from New London. Providence might just be easier to get to from there

I know what you mean about the dreary days but not about BDL. What don't you like about it? We flew out of Westchester our last trip on Jet Blue. I liked JetBlue but not so much the Westchester airport. That thing is TINY. I've never flown out of Providence, whats parking like there? We're in the SE of CT too, Seymour, where are you?

I grew up in New Britain (central CT, hence the home of CCSU) and Colchester (SE CT)