PreeeeeeeeeeeePlanning Plansss 2010

[Cavners5]

Well, we are new here and live on the West Coast , so we are great DL fans, and this will be our first trip to WDW

Let me start, I am a stay at home mom (46), that provides PT childcare in my home . I am a "official" Disney Nut! My DH (33) works for Costco
We have two sons Kyle (11) Carl (7) and a darling daughter Emma (2) soon to me 3! My kids are my life.

We always celebrate our kids 5th Birthdays at DL. We try to make it really special. We invite friends and family and usually celebrate at Goofy's Kitchen. It is a really great time.

Well, my DH ask's me the other day "Why don't you look into a trip to WDW" for Emma's 5th birthday! I about fell over. You see, I have the DL thing down to a tee. We have NEVER been to WDW

I am soooooooooo grateful I found this board

I have been reading and reading and reading.........yes I know we are not planning on a trip until 2010, but I guess it cannot hurt to start looking...since this is our very first time and all.

So with that said let the planning begin............any experts out there that would love to help me.....pleeeeeeese feel free to join in! I can take all the advice I can get.

 

[stagemomx3]

Hurray someone else from the west coast. We are in Washington State, and we just returned from our first trip to the World, and I was scared when I started planning because I too had Disneyland down pat. One thing is for sure Disney World beats Disneyland in food hands down! It's never to early to start thinking about where you and your family want to eat while in the World.

We will be going back to Disney World in 2010 so I'll join you on that long wait. We do have a Disneyland trip in December to tide us over until then.

So why don't you start with some look backs at your Disneyland trips for us?

 

[Cavners5]

Thanks Stage Mom...Well where to start.....

We started going to DL in 1998 when Kyle was 2. After that my DH was hooked. I used to work for the State of Nevada, and when Kyle was young we did not have alot of money. When Kyle turned 5 we decided to take him back to DL for his 5th bday. We stayed at the DLH and it was wonderful. So after that we have been going every year, sometimes 2X. Carl was 6 months his first time (Kyles 5th). Emma was a month old her first time.

One of my most memborable times (well they all are) but it is when DL was doing there 50th promo. We were AP holders at that time
I received an email saying I was invited with one guest to join them on 5/5/05 for the 50th celebration I was doing the Happy dance! i could not believe it. But the catch was only one person could come. DH was not able to, so Kyle and I flew down the night before......stayed in a really cheap hotel...and got early in the AM and stood in line at the front gates to DL.
Now you have to understand......this was for INVITED guests only. They closed the park down to the GP. It was an event of a lifetime..... if I could post a pic I would...do not how...

 

[stagemomx3]

Now you have to understand......this was for INVITED guests only. They closed the park down to the GP. It was an event of a lifetime..... if I could post a pic I would...do not how...

That sounds wonderful. Details please.

 

[Cavners5]

Well it was great. We arrived Early in the Am and lined up at the gates. We we were about 20th in line. We waited for about 2 hours, and then they started a countdown until the gates were to open. There were only about
5000 invited guests. Along witht the film crews and photogs.

We then were led by the Mouse down main street and planted right before the Statue and hub. They were filming the parade for the 50th. It took forever,but the CM came out a got the crowd really pumped up for the filming. We watched the parade...then they cut us loose......
We were able to go on every ride in the park with no waits at all.

We had then leave the park at 5 pm for the celebs They really rolled out the GOLD carpet for them. We had such a great time, and it was such a bonding experiance for the two of us.

I would post some pics, but still trying to figure out how to do it!

 

[stagemomx3]

Wow what a great experience. Did you see any celebs?

 

[Cavners5]

NO, they ushered us out so fast that we were not able to see any. CA was open to the public, only DL was closed down. i guess they started letting the celebs in at 6-7 pm. But it was pretty cool watching them go "all out" for them. It truly was a great experiance.....and then we went a month later on a trip we had already planned......with our brand new baby daughter

And I fugured out that I have to have 10 posts before I can post pics So I will keep posting

 

[Cavners5]

I have been doing alot of research on these boards for our upcoming trip....

We wanted to stay at the Poly, but it would cost us almost $3500
Then when you add in base tickets, DDP, airline.....8K

Might as well cut off an arm AND leg!

 

[stagemomx3]

The theme of Poly doesn't really appeal to me. I would like to stay at GF just to be on the monorail, but I really, really want to stay at Beach Club or Boardwalk now.

 

[magicaldisney11]

Welcome! Your trip to DL sounds great! I am a New Yorker and have never been close to your side of the States,

We have been to WDW twice and we leave Monday for our third trip. Each one is different and has been great for my family (which consists of me and my four sons.) We have stayed in the CBR and Old Key West this time it is FQPO. My extended family goes every year and have stayed at every one of the resorts except for Shades of Green (the one for the the armed forces) and hands down they all love CBR the most. Yes, even over the high end resorts. What we did was "visit" the other resorts for meals so we got to see a bunch of them. The feel of CBR is so great and just walking around the paths and by the water was magical. Of course we live in a very COLD area of the States with lots of snow and pine trees so being with all the palm trees and the balmy weather was a treat in itself

 

[Cavners5]

I can't wait to here all about your trip....I will need to see if CBR can hold the 5 of us, cause I would like the atmosphere also. We live in pine tree's and snow also, and desert. We live just 15 min from Lake Tahoe. It really is beautiful.

 

[stagemomx3]

Cute!

Those pictures make me a little depressed this morning though. I wish the sun would come out here!

 

[Cavners5]

Well, the sun is out here, but it is still COLD! We are hopefully getting into the 60-70 next week.

 

[Cavners5]

Welcome! Your trip to DL sounds great! I am a New Yorker and have never been close to your side of the States,

We have been to WDW twice and we leave Monday for our third trip. Each one is different and has been great for my family (which consists of me and my four sons.) We have stayed in the CBR and Old Key West this time it is FQPO. My extended family goes every year and have stayed at every one of the resorts except for Shades of Green (the one for the the armed forces) and hands down they all love CBR the most. Yes, even over the high end resorts. What we did was "visit" the other resorts for meals so we got to see a bunch of them. The feel of CBR is so great and just walking around the paths and by the water was magical. Of course we live in a very COLD area of the States with lots of snow and pine trees so being with all the palm trees and the balmy weather was a treat in itself

We have 5 in our party also, how did you stay there? It says it will only old 4