vllygrrl
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2001
- Messages
- 390
The Russos Disney Odyssey, 2001
Cast: Pam, 29, Narrator
Tom, 31, DH
Pre-Planning:
March, 2001 We are going to Walt Disney World in November, 2001!!! This is to be the first vacation weve taken since our Honeymoon in November 2000. Tom was originally set on taking another cruise, since we had enjoyed that trip so much, but I convinced him that we should take a trip to Disney World together before we start a family. I must admit that I was shocked when Tom agreed without batting an eye; and I almost fell off my chair when he told me that the only one of the parks he had seen was MK. Not even EPCOT??? How has he survived this long???
Obsessive planner that I am, I immediately started my research, and found that in November, the best way I could figure to save money on a room was to join the Disney Club. At that point, I got a quote on the resort magic package including airfare and the Port Orleans Riverside from 11/10-11/17. All together, our total for everything came to about $2100, which I was thrilled with. Unfortunately, in a moment of non-brilliance, I mentioned to my DH that in a moment of insanity, I had briefly considered driving from our NJ home to Disney. His eyes lit up and he decided that with the money we saved on airfare, we could upgrade our hotel to the Contemporary, a childhood dream of his (conveniently ignoring the fact that with soaring gas prices, the reality is that we arent saving that much!). I must confess that I have no desire to stay in the Contemporary, however it is still early in the game and the fact that were going at all is a miracle in and of itself. So, we contacted Dreams Unlimited Travel, after reading wonderful things about them, and have booked our package from 11/11-11/18, resort magic at the Contemporary without airfare, with a DC discount, and the total is $2350.00!!! More expensive than our original package with airfare was! Oh well, if this helps Tom get into the Disney spirit, so be it. Heres hoping that they come out with some better rates between now and then!
We have obtained copies of the Deluxe Passporter WDW 2001, and Rita Aeros 2002 WDW book, both of which should prove very valuable in planning when to do which park, and more importantly, where to eat! In addition, I have received a Triptik from AAA mapping out our route, maps, and the all-important WDW cd-rom. I am enjoying doing the research and figuring out the things we should try to see and do. I hope Tom gets involved in the planning at some point he doesnt want to think about trips until we are actually there. Problem is, Im having enough trouble deciding where I want to eat without worrying about whether or not hell enjoy it. I plan to immerse him in theming as much as possible, hoping hell absorb some of Disneys magic by osmosis. To that end, Im sure Ill make reservations at the Prime Time 50s Café, as well as possibly Whispering Canyon Lodge, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and the Garden Grill. He would like to eat at Biergarten in Germany, which I have never done, and I would like to eat at Morocco again. Ive also heard very good things about Boma, and I must admit that Id really like to see the new AK Lodge! My big goal for the week is to celebrate our anniversary at Victoria and Alberts. Maybe Dreams Unlimited will be able to offer us some assistance.
May, 2001 - Im finding the internet a wonderful source of information, and Im drawn to it daily. Because of sites like Deb Wils WDWIG, Brian Bennetts Disney Trip Planner, Disney Dollarle$$, and The DIS, I now know that we will be in Florida for the Epcot Food and Wine festival, something Ive always wanted to attend but have never managed to. Theres also a possibility that the Osborne Lights will be up the weekend we leave, depending on which website you visit. Ill just keep my fingers crossed and be surprised. I really hope that the park hours go up soon, so that I can get a better handle on how to plan our evenings. I fully intend to see the closing show at each part once Illuminations, Fantasmic, and the MK fireworks (if they even have them that week!) I also want to go to Pleasure Island, and Jellyrolls at least once during the trip. If possible, I would love to spend an evening at Universals City Walk, because they have a Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville there, and Im definitely a parrothead wannabe.
(If you pay attention to what is happening, youll notice that this is quickly turning into my trip and mine alone. If my DH doesnt start giving me some input soon, he will be steamrolled into doing exactly what I want for the entire time were there. Fun trip for me, lousy for him, which is why Im still trying to figure out a good way to spark his interest. If he has a lousy trip, well never go again!)
Tom is a Police Officer, with a rotating shift schedule. Our plan is to leave when Tom gets off work at 11:45PM on Friday, November 9. We will drive through the night and next day. Tom seems to think that I will be the one to take the first shift driving. I think hes nuts hes the one that is used to staying up all night, as he does it two weeks every single month one week of midnight to 8AM, and another week of 8PM through 4AM. Logically he is the better first choice, since I find it easier to get up very early in the morning. We will check into a cheap motel on November 10 to get some rest before our big day on Sunday. Sunday morning, my intent is to pre-check into the Contemporary bright and early in order to get full use out of our tickets. Its only May, but Im already racking my brain as to which park to go to first. Maybe Ill leave it up to Tom letting him guide our trip as much as possible.
If Tom holds true to form, were going to get there and he will have no concept of what each of the parks holds. This will make it difficult for me to relinquish control. Of course, one of the services our travel agency provides is an itinerary. That could be a boon. Tom would have some direction and I wont be as frustrated. Why oh why cant he be more like me and actually gain some enjoyment out of anticipating a trip? I think the planning is almost as good as the vacation itself. It offers an escape from home, without ever leaving. To him, research takes something away from the trip itself. What, I dont know, because hes never been able to explain his freakish rationale to me!
I, on the other hand, am relishing the fact that for the next 6 months I will be anticipating my next Disney adventure. I cant explain the joy it gives me to know that I will be able to experience the parks through the eyes of my DH as he sees most things for the first time.
June, 2001 - My WDW CD-ROM arrived via USPS the other day and I was content to sit down and watch for a while. I just wish they didnt simply convert the video to CD. I would much rather they did some in depth tours of the resorts how else would people possibly choose without some prior knowledge? Ive also started to notice all the Disney commercials on the television lately. My favorites are the Magic Happens series. They make me cry.
Im very glad that weve decided to go to Victoria & Alberts. From what Ive read, you can get as dressed up as you want there, so Im planning to go fancy. For the 2nd year in a row, we are missing the Policemans Ball (last year it was the same day as our wedding). Im kinda disappointed this year, because theyve decided to make it a black tie affair. Tom is outraged, but I dont think he really understands the pleasure that women get seeing the men in their lives dressed to the nines. He gets a little ridiculous about things sometimes hes upset that men actually have to spend money on their outfit for the evening! Honestly, he wouldnt last one week as a woman. Back to my point, though, V&As. I will be having one of the finest dining experiences of my life, rather than eating bad food at a banquet hall in NJ. I think Im going to go for it and get the wine pairings with my dinner. It is a 7-course meal cold appetizer, hot appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, cheese course, and dessert. It really is obscene the amount of money we will be spending - $85 per person for dinner, and then $25 for the wine pairings! With tax and tip, dinner will be over $250. Yikes! I just have to keep remembering that it is for our anniversary, and we deserve to celebrate with something extravagant and out of the ordinary. If we were not on vacation for our anniversary, we would definitely be going out of town for the weekend. Instead, we are spending the money we would have spent on that mini-trip on dinner! There, I justified it! Linda, our travel agent, was able to secure reservations for us at 9pm on November 11 our first anniversary.
Tom is considering more and more spending the money and doing the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Its a program at the Disney Speedway that trains you to drive an actual stock car and then do some laps on the track. The program is very expensive hundreds of dollars but if Tom continues with the road jobs the way hes been going lately, well have no trouble paying for it. I think its important that he be able to spend some of his overtime money on frivolous things for himself. Im not sure if Ill be able to watch him though while I understand why he wants to do it, it terrifies me so shortly after the death of Dale Earnhardt.
Tom is getting a little better in regards to planning. We have to start making reservations in approximately 45 days. He has now said that he will read some stuff and give me input as to where to make priority seating arrangements. Yippee I just want the trip to be his too. I will plan everything out, because last time I didnt and DS and I hardly saw anything other than the major attractions, and not even all of those. We saw only one show, part of a parade. Missed Illuminations, missed Fantasmic. We didnt even go on the Haunted Mansion! This time well do a better job. There are things that I want to see, and things that he needs to see.
8/1/01 Well, it looks like my research is paying off. Our package was $2350, staying in a wing room at the Contemporary, with the resort magic package at the Disney Club rate. It turns out, that an annual passport isnt much more than the tickets were getting now, and the annual passport gets us some phenomenal room deals. To make a long story short, after driving everyone crazy we now have a reservation for a tower room at the Contemporary from 11/11-11/15, as well as a garden room at the POLYNESIAN from 11/15-11/18. Tom is completely dead-set against the Poly, but hes not doing the work and its cheaper than the hotel he wants to stay at, so he just has to compromise. Im so excited to have both of the rooms that we have!!!
We are driving down, and since that will give us some extra flexibility, we keep adding days onto the vacation. We are now leaving on Wednesday, Nov. 7 either after I get home from work at 6pm, or after midnight if Tom doesnt take that day off from patrol. Either way, we will arrive in Florida at some point on Thursday. Wish Id known that a couple weeks ago, when I booked our room by Universal through Priceline for Friday and Saturday nights. Originally, Tom thought that hed like to do Islands of Adventure on Saturday, and I thought wed be taking a leisurely drive down to FL. Now, he wants to do both US parks, on Friday and Saturday, so well need a room to sleep in in Orlando to maximize our enjoyment of the parks. Oh well, I got such a great rate at the Radisson Universal, ($82.22 total for 2 nights!!!) that Im hoping to do well on my bid for Thursday night as well. Friday well go to Islands of Adventure, and Saturday the Studios. Sunday morning well drive over to the Contemporary first thing and begin the best part of our adventure - Disney!
Our travel agent has booked us priority seatings at Boma, Prime Time 50s café, Sci-Fi Dine-In theater, Biergarten, Marakkesh, Kona Café, Rose & Crown for Illuminations, and Ohanas. With all those meals, and the Food & Wine festival, plus Victoria & Alberts, it seems that a majority of our spending money will be going to food (and buying new clothing in larger sizes ).
*******************************************************************
10/4/01 - Its amazing how rapidly things change in the course of time. Two weeks ago, I was patting myself on the back over successfully planning a trip to Disney and actually paying off the hotel reservations early and then tragedy struck. On September 11, 2001, there were terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon. Along with the nation, I watched in horror as the WTC fell I saw the first building go from the window of my NJ office and the second as I was on the bridge home to support my husband, who at that time had no idea where his father was.
The terrorist attacks have completely changed they way our society functions and travels. Our airline industry is in danger after being shut down for 4 days and subject to massive security checks. To make a long story short, we decided that it was important to support the industry and go ahead and book airfare. We are now flying out of JFK on the morning of 11/8 and home on the morning of 11/19 total price for two non-stop, roundtrip tickets with all taxes and fees? $239.00. Absolutely incredible deal. Of course, that now means we need a hotel for 11/19, as well as a rental car for 11 days ..Ill write more as we continue to finalize our plans.
Okay, our fantastic deal on airfare is costing us tons of extra money. Ah, well, we are certainly going in style. We are flying out of JFK Airport in NYC at 11am on a Thursday morning. Meaning that we have to be there at 9am because of the new security regulations. Thus meaning that we would have to put our lives in our hands at 6am in order to ensure that we made it through the crazy morning rush hour traffic between our house in NJ and the airport. After debating for about 10 minutes, my husband decided to try Priceline for an airport hotel. He ended up getting the Ramada Crowne Plaza, ON airport property, for $45. An excellent deal the best I could get was $99 plus tax. This way well be nice and rested when we arrive in Orlando and wont have to waste time sleeping away our arrival day, which brings me to our next new expense we now need a car. We used a discount website to secure a free membership into National Car Rentals Emerald Club. We then used discount codes to secure an Emerald Aisle rate of $240 for 11 days not too terrible, and the convenience of not having to wait at the counter is worth something. It just makes it that much sooner that well be meeting the mouse. The plan is to get our car and then head over to Disney to purchase and activate our Annual Passes. I just have to figure out which park to take my husband to .
I believe I can finally say Im satisfied with the way this is all turning out. We fly to Orlando 5 weeks from today, and I can barely contain my excitement. Cant wait to write that trip report!!!
Cast: Pam, 29, Narrator
Tom, 31, DH
Pre-Planning:
March, 2001 We are going to Walt Disney World in November, 2001!!! This is to be the first vacation weve taken since our Honeymoon in November 2000. Tom was originally set on taking another cruise, since we had enjoyed that trip so much, but I convinced him that we should take a trip to Disney World together before we start a family. I must admit that I was shocked when Tom agreed without batting an eye; and I almost fell off my chair when he told me that the only one of the parks he had seen was MK. Not even EPCOT??? How has he survived this long???
Obsessive planner that I am, I immediately started my research, and found that in November, the best way I could figure to save money on a room was to join the Disney Club. At that point, I got a quote on the resort magic package including airfare and the Port Orleans Riverside from 11/10-11/17. All together, our total for everything came to about $2100, which I was thrilled with. Unfortunately, in a moment of non-brilliance, I mentioned to my DH that in a moment of insanity, I had briefly considered driving from our NJ home to Disney. His eyes lit up and he decided that with the money we saved on airfare, we could upgrade our hotel to the Contemporary, a childhood dream of his (conveniently ignoring the fact that with soaring gas prices, the reality is that we arent saving that much!). I must confess that I have no desire to stay in the Contemporary, however it is still early in the game and the fact that were going at all is a miracle in and of itself. So, we contacted Dreams Unlimited Travel, after reading wonderful things about them, and have booked our package from 11/11-11/18, resort magic at the Contemporary without airfare, with a DC discount, and the total is $2350.00!!! More expensive than our original package with airfare was! Oh well, if this helps Tom get into the Disney spirit, so be it. Heres hoping that they come out with some better rates between now and then!
We have obtained copies of the Deluxe Passporter WDW 2001, and Rita Aeros 2002 WDW book, both of which should prove very valuable in planning when to do which park, and more importantly, where to eat! In addition, I have received a Triptik from AAA mapping out our route, maps, and the all-important WDW cd-rom. I am enjoying doing the research and figuring out the things we should try to see and do. I hope Tom gets involved in the planning at some point he doesnt want to think about trips until we are actually there. Problem is, Im having enough trouble deciding where I want to eat without worrying about whether or not hell enjoy it. I plan to immerse him in theming as much as possible, hoping hell absorb some of Disneys magic by osmosis. To that end, Im sure Ill make reservations at the Prime Time 50s Café, as well as possibly Whispering Canyon Lodge, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and the Garden Grill. He would like to eat at Biergarten in Germany, which I have never done, and I would like to eat at Morocco again. Ive also heard very good things about Boma, and I must admit that Id really like to see the new AK Lodge! My big goal for the week is to celebrate our anniversary at Victoria and Alberts. Maybe Dreams Unlimited will be able to offer us some assistance.
May, 2001 - Im finding the internet a wonderful source of information, and Im drawn to it daily. Because of sites like Deb Wils WDWIG, Brian Bennetts Disney Trip Planner, Disney Dollarle$$, and The DIS, I now know that we will be in Florida for the Epcot Food and Wine festival, something Ive always wanted to attend but have never managed to. Theres also a possibility that the Osborne Lights will be up the weekend we leave, depending on which website you visit. Ill just keep my fingers crossed and be surprised. I really hope that the park hours go up soon, so that I can get a better handle on how to plan our evenings. I fully intend to see the closing show at each part once Illuminations, Fantasmic, and the MK fireworks (if they even have them that week!) I also want to go to Pleasure Island, and Jellyrolls at least once during the trip. If possible, I would love to spend an evening at Universals City Walk, because they have a Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville there, and Im definitely a parrothead wannabe.
(If you pay attention to what is happening, youll notice that this is quickly turning into my trip and mine alone. If my DH doesnt start giving me some input soon, he will be steamrolled into doing exactly what I want for the entire time were there. Fun trip for me, lousy for him, which is why Im still trying to figure out a good way to spark his interest. If he has a lousy trip, well never go again!)
Tom is a Police Officer, with a rotating shift schedule. Our plan is to leave when Tom gets off work at 11:45PM on Friday, November 9. We will drive through the night and next day. Tom seems to think that I will be the one to take the first shift driving. I think hes nuts hes the one that is used to staying up all night, as he does it two weeks every single month one week of midnight to 8AM, and another week of 8PM through 4AM. Logically he is the better first choice, since I find it easier to get up very early in the morning. We will check into a cheap motel on November 10 to get some rest before our big day on Sunday. Sunday morning, my intent is to pre-check into the Contemporary bright and early in order to get full use out of our tickets. Its only May, but Im already racking my brain as to which park to go to first. Maybe Ill leave it up to Tom letting him guide our trip as much as possible.
If Tom holds true to form, were going to get there and he will have no concept of what each of the parks holds. This will make it difficult for me to relinquish control. Of course, one of the services our travel agency provides is an itinerary. That could be a boon. Tom would have some direction and I wont be as frustrated. Why oh why cant he be more like me and actually gain some enjoyment out of anticipating a trip? I think the planning is almost as good as the vacation itself. It offers an escape from home, without ever leaving. To him, research takes something away from the trip itself. What, I dont know, because hes never been able to explain his freakish rationale to me!
I, on the other hand, am relishing the fact that for the next 6 months I will be anticipating my next Disney adventure. I cant explain the joy it gives me to know that I will be able to experience the parks through the eyes of my DH as he sees most things for the first time.
June, 2001 - My WDW CD-ROM arrived via USPS the other day and I was content to sit down and watch for a while. I just wish they didnt simply convert the video to CD. I would much rather they did some in depth tours of the resorts how else would people possibly choose without some prior knowledge? Ive also started to notice all the Disney commercials on the television lately. My favorites are the Magic Happens series. They make me cry.
Im very glad that weve decided to go to Victoria & Alberts. From what Ive read, you can get as dressed up as you want there, so Im planning to go fancy. For the 2nd year in a row, we are missing the Policemans Ball (last year it was the same day as our wedding). Im kinda disappointed this year, because theyve decided to make it a black tie affair. Tom is outraged, but I dont think he really understands the pleasure that women get seeing the men in their lives dressed to the nines. He gets a little ridiculous about things sometimes hes upset that men actually have to spend money on their outfit for the evening! Honestly, he wouldnt last one week as a woman. Back to my point, though, V&As. I will be having one of the finest dining experiences of my life, rather than eating bad food at a banquet hall in NJ. I think Im going to go for it and get the wine pairings with my dinner. It is a 7-course meal cold appetizer, hot appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, cheese course, and dessert. It really is obscene the amount of money we will be spending - $85 per person for dinner, and then $25 for the wine pairings! With tax and tip, dinner will be over $250. Yikes! I just have to keep remembering that it is for our anniversary, and we deserve to celebrate with something extravagant and out of the ordinary. If we were not on vacation for our anniversary, we would definitely be going out of town for the weekend. Instead, we are spending the money we would have spent on that mini-trip on dinner! There, I justified it! Linda, our travel agent, was able to secure reservations for us at 9pm on November 11 our first anniversary.
Tom is considering more and more spending the money and doing the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Its a program at the Disney Speedway that trains you to drive an actual stock car and then do some laps on the track. The program is very expensive hundreds of dollars but if Tom continues with the road jobs the way hes been going lately, well have no trouble paying for it. I think its important that he be able to spend some of his overtime money on frivolous things for himself. Im not sure if Ill be able to watch him though while I understand why he wants to do it, it terrifies me so shortly after the death of Dale Earnhardt.
Tom is getting a little better in regards to planning. We have to start making reservations in approximately 45 days. He has now said that he will read some stuff and give me input as to where to make priority seating arrangements. Yippee I just want the trip to be his too. I will plan everything out, because last time I didnt and DS and I hardly saw anything other than the major attractions, and not even all of those. We saw only one show, part of a parade. Missed Illuminations, missed Fantasmic. We didnt even go on the Haunted Mansion! This time well do a better job. There are things that I want to see, and things that he needs to see.
8/1/01 Well, it looks like my research is paying off. Our package was $2350, staying in a wing room at the Contemporary, with the resort magic package at the Disney Club rate. It turns out, that an annual passport isnt much more than the tickets were getting now, and the annual passport gets us some phenomenal room deals. To make a long story short, after driving everyone crazy we now have a reservation for a tower room at the Contemporary from 11/11-11/15, as well as a garden room at the POLYNESIAN from 11/15-11/18. Tom is completely dead-set against the Poly, but hes not doing the work and its cheaper than the hotel he wants to stay at, so he just has to compromise. Im so excited to have both of the rooms that we have!!!
We are driving down, and since that will give us some extra flexibility, we keep adding days onto the vacation. We are now leaving on Wednesday, Nov. 7 either after I get home from work at 6pm, or after midnight if Tom doesnt take that day off from patrol. Either way, we will arrive in Florida at some point on Thursday. Wish Id known that a couple weeks ago, when I booked our room by Universal through Priceline for Friday and Saturday nights. Originally, Tom thought that hed like to do Islands of Adventure on Saturday, and I thought wed be taking a leisurely drive down to FL. Now, he wants to do both US parks, on Friday and Saturday, so well need a room to sleep in in Orlando to maximize our enjoyment of the parks. Oh well, I got such a great rate at the Radisson Universal, ($82.22 total for 2 nights!!!) that Im hoping to do well on my bid for Thursday night as well. Friday well go to Islands of Adventure, and Saturday the Studios. Sunday morning well drive over to the Contemporary first thing and begin the best part of our adventure - Disney!
Our travel agent has booked us priority seatings at Boma, Prime Time 50s café, Sci-Fi Dine-In theater, Biergarten, Marakkesh, Kona Café, Rose & Crown for Illuminations, and Ohanas. With all those meals, and the Food & Wine festival, plus Victoria & Alberts, it seems that a majority of our spending money will be going to food (and buying new clothing in larger sizes ).
*******************************************************************
10/4/01 - Its amazing how rapidly things change in the course of time. Two weeks ago, I was patting myself on the back over successfully planning a trip to Disney and actually paying off the hotel reservations early and then tragedy struck. On September 11, 2001, there were terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon. Along with the nation, I watched in horror as the WTC fell I saw the first building go from the window of my NJ office and the second as I was on the bridge home to support my husband, who at that time had no idea where his father was.
The terrorist attacks have completely changed they way our society functions and travels. Our airline industry is in danger after being shut down for 4 days and subject to massive security checks. To make a long story short, we decided that it was important to support the industry and go ahead and book airfare. We are now flying out of JFK on the morning of 11/8 and home on the morning of 11/19 total price for two non-stop, roundtrip tickets with all taxes and fees? $239.00. Absolutely incredible deal. Of course, that now means we need a hotel for 11/19, as well as a rental car for 11 days ..Ill write more as we continue to finalize our plans.
Okay, our fantastic deal on airfare is costing us tons of extra money. Ah, well, we are certainly going in style. We are flying out of JFK Airport in NYC at 11am on a Thursday morning. Meaning that we have to be there at 9am because of the new security regulations. Thus meaning that we would have to put our lives in our hands at 6am in order to ensure that we made it through the crazy morning rush hour traffic between our house in NJ and the airport. After debating for about 10 minutes, my husband decided to try Priceline for an airport hotel. He ended up getting the Ramada Crowne Plaza, ON airport property, for $45. An excellent deal the best I could get was $99 plus tax. This way well be nice and rested when we arrive in Orlando and wont have to waste time sleeping away our arrival day, which brings me to our next new expense we now need a car. We used a discount website to secure a free membership into National Car Rentals Emerald Club. We then used discount codes to secure an Emerald Aisle rate of $240 for 11 days not too terrible, and the convenience of not having to wait at the counter is worth something. It just makes it that much sooner that well be meeting the mouse. The plan is to get our car and then head over to Disney to purchase and activate our Annual Passes. I just have to figure out which park to take my husband to .
I believe I can finally say Im satisfied with the way this is all turning out. We fly to Orlando 5 weeks from today, and I can barely contain my excitement. Cant wait to write that trip report!!!
I really want to make this trip fabulous for my husband - I'm still looking for more things that I can do to wow him. Right now I'm considering contacting the WDW Florist to have a basket sent to our room on our anniversary...
