PTR July 2011 CBR - I think it's time for Annual Passes!

[cadek]

Hi! We are a family of 4 headed to WDW in July 2011, back for our second trip this year.

This is my first attempt at a pre-trip report. I’m shy, but love WDW, obsess about it in fact, so where better to come and be understood? A place where if all I want to talk about is Disney, I fit right in? Well, here we go.

There’s me, April - 30 yrs old, DH Chris - 33 yrs old, DS1 Dylan - 7 yrs old, DS2 Evan - 4 yrs old. Dylan will be turning 8 while we are on vacation.

I was at WDW once as a kid, stayed off-site, and don’t remember much! DH and I were there in 1998 with his family and stayed at All Star Sports. I was disappointed it wasn’t more magical, we seemed so far from Magic Kingdom, and there wasn’t enough Disney theme there for me. We did do the Luau at Poly, and that resort felt like Disney to me. We got to see the Electrical Water Parade from the beach…

Fast forward to marriage and 2 kids later. We planned a trip for February, 2008. We got the 4 nights get 3 free deal so we ended up at Poly! We returned a year later in January 2009, and again in January 2010, and again January 2011. Each time at the Poly and we lucked out with 4/3 deal or 40% off, which is how we could justify staying at the Poly.

It was so nice this past January because DS2 was finally tall enough to go on most of the rides! No more child swap passes for Soarin, Test Track, BTMR, etc., and having to entertain DS2 while we each took turns riding.
Guess I should finally get to the plans for this trip, huh? Well, we were going to go back in December 2011, and were hoping for a bounce back offer, but that didn’t happen. I kept asking DH when we were there in January if I should upgrade our tickets to annual passes, like we planned. Now here we are, going back in July. I’m still kicking myself for not upgrading to AP’s!

The pattern is that we usually do Disney in January, and Myrtle Beach in June. This year plans have changed, and it’s a lot of firsts for us.
We usually fly, but this time, we are driving from PA to Disney, staying in Disney for 6 nights, and then driving to Myrtle Beach for 3 nights. We figure the drive won’t be as bad breaking it up like that on the way home. I look forward to having our own car this time.

Another first, no double stroller, or stroller at all, according to dh, but I say we’ll have to get a single as DS2 will be whining for me to carry him before we even get in the park. We’ll see how much training I can do until then!

We kicked around staying off site, since we’d have a car, and I was all set on Wyndham Bonnet Creek. A 2BR suite, lazy river, play ground, and pools! I could give up the Poly for that. Then I started looking at park hours. I saw EMH, which I usually avoid anyway, but now I felt like an outsider because they didn’t apply to me now. Crazy! Then just to mess me up, DH says what about staying at a value, but only because we have our car. He hates the buses! The monorail spoiled us too.

Begin the crazy obsessing all over again. I look at all the values, and I just don’t feel very good about them. I call to Disney, see if there are any pins attached to our name that might change my mind, but I think we were otherwise planning on ASMovies, or POP, how sad that I don’t remember. Well there was a special the CM offered me on SSR, but I knew nothing about the resort. I booked it anyway, figure I can change it later (which I did). Well, I’m not to sure about it after looking at it, but I do like the looks of Caribbean Beach Resort, and the pools… I call March 1st, hoping for the rumored free dining pin, and I actually had it! So our plans are now for Caribbean Beach Resort with free QSDP, and we are going to upgrade to DDP.

Whew! Sorry about that. I may be shy, but get me started on something I love…

 

[PrincessAlways]

To put your mind at ease about values.....I've stayed at POP (love it), ASMu..just for 1 night, but it was fine!!

SSR is a nice resort. Are you in a studio or 1 br? The only thing I didn't like about SSR was the bus transportation. It seemed V E R Y slow!!! Now, that might have changed. Oh, you'll have a car!!

OKW might be a good choice for you. The rooms are HUGE!!! I like OKW more than SSR.......my opinion.

 

[cadek]

To put your mind at ease about values.....I've stayed at POP (love it), ASMu..just for 1 night, but it was fine!!

SSR is a nice resort. Are you in a studio or 1 br? The only thing I didn't like about SSR was the bus transportation. It seemed V E R Y slow!!! Now, that might have changed. Oh, you'll have a car!!

OKW might be a good choice for you. The rooms are HUGE!!! I like OKW more than SSR.......my opinion.

Welcome! We're from Berks County too! Thanks for the tips. We are actually staying at Caribbean Beach Resort now, in a preferred room. I've read that the bus transportation is bad there too, but that doesn't worry me since we'll have a car. I love the looks of the pools there.

I kept telling myself the kids wouldn't care where we stayed, but yes, I'm a bit spoiled from the Poly and the beautiful views.

Someday I'd like to stay at an Epcot resort, as we find ourselves at that park a lot.

 

[aspiringprincess1]

Hello!

Followed over from my thread and the July 2011 thread!

Your trip looks fantastic, and its so fun that you got to include a trip to the beach too!

I have never stayed at Carribbean Beach, but friends of mine have and LOVED it! They bragged about the pool all trip, so you will have that to look forward too!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[cadek]

Hello!

Followed over from my thread and the July 2011 thread!

Your trip looks fantastic, and its so fun that you got to include a trip to the beach too!

I have never stayed at Carribbean Beach, but friends of mine have and LOVED it! They bragged about the pool all trip, so you will have that to look forward too!

Can't wait to hear more!

Hi again, and thanks for joining in!

We are looking forward to the pool! Since we usually go in January we don't get to use the pool much, but I'm sure we will in July!

 

[cadek]

So here we are in January

This is Dylan who is 7. He doesn’t care much for the characters, but he loves the rides and Disneyworld in general, probably because he knows how much I do. I love when he brings home school papers about Disney World. It just makes it that much better to know they enjoy it too.

This is Evan who is 4. Maybe he has a lot of girl influence at daycare, I don’t know, but his favorite colors are pink and purple, and he loves princesses. Well, what guy doesn’t, but I mean he likes everything girly! People ask if I want to have a girl, but it seems I don’t need to! (I’m done anyway, if you were wondering)

And this is just the two of us, while the kids spent the evening at the Neverland Club. I feel at least 60 lbs lighter here without kids holding me down! I'd love a WDW trip for just the two of us, but I don't know if I could get over the guilt of not taking the kids. Well, I'm sure I'd manage.

I get 3 weeks vacation. I already used 1 week for Disney in January. I'd still like to go in December as well, so I'm trying to be conservative with my vacation! I think about Disney & vacation every day, but now I am trying to describe our plans, I realize I haven’t planned much! Maybe that's a good thing! Really, we are trying to take it as it goes this trip. We know it will be much more hot and crowded than we are used to, and since we were just there, we shouldn’t feel as much pressure to do and see everything.

The plans:

We will be driving from PA, leaving late afternoon, or evening, Friday, July 8th. Shame on me for not knowing yet! Most likely stop overnight somewhere, and then reach CBR sometime Saturday. We might just go to Downtown Disney that night, no parks.

We are planning on taking advantage of rope drop and morning extra magic hours to get in what we can before it gets too hot. The afternoons and evenings will be up to whatever we feel like. We will most likely leave the parks in the afternoon for a pool break. Since we have park hoppers, we’ll return to whatever park we feel like that evening.

Sunday – Epcot rope drop, Soarin and Test Track are always first for us, gotta grab those fast passes!

Monday – Animal Kingdom AM EMH, usually head straight to Safari, ride it and get fast passes. The kids love the boneyard, seems to be all they care about here!
Yak & Yeti for lunch, Le Cellier for dinner!

Tuesday – Magic Kingdom AM EMH, usually head to Fantasyland first. Space Mountain and BTMR are Dylan’s favorites here. I didn’t feel like waiting to see Rapunzel last time, so one morning I am going to have to spend some time in line for that while DH takes the kids on rides. Evan was a little disappointed last time that he didn’t get to see her.

Wednesday – Hollywood Studios rope drop, where I always walk, not run, to get fast passes for Toy Story Mania. This park is the toughest for me to plan. Shows are all different times… We usually try to do Indiana Jones, and Lights Motors Action, Backlot Tour, Great Movie Ride… Evan will have to go see the new Disney Junior show. I’ve never seen the Beauty and the Beast show, or The Little Mermaid, but hope to someday.
Sci-Fi Dine In Theater for lunch (Evan loved it hear last time, he was quiet and eyes glued to the screen the whole time!) LeCellier for dinner. Yes, I have two ADR’s for there. I guess it’s selfish of me, but I like to have the option, in case the first one doesn’t work out. I mean how do you decide 180 days in advance when and where you will feel like eating!

Thursday – Magic Kingdom EMH, Ohana dinner (home, sweet home, Poly)

Friday – leave for Myrtle Beach to relax for 3 days! I’m sure we’ll have to take Dylan to Magic Quest at Broadway at the Beach every day. I probably sound like I’m talking a foreign language now, don’t I?
Monday – drive home.

My problem at Disney, which drives DH nuts, is I feel the need to go, go, go, because there is so much to do, in what seems like so little time. So I'm going to try and enjoy each moment this time, and take it at a slow enough pace to appreciate the little details. When I'm not on my fast pass rope drop mission that is!

 

[PrincessAlways]

Well it looks like you have plans well under control!!
I'd definitely get to see Little Mermaid & Beauty & the Beast shows! They are wonderful!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

We are actually staying at Caribbean Beach Resort now, in a preferred room. I've read that the bus transportation is bad there too, but that doesn't worry me since we'll have a car.

Actually the bus service isn't really that bad. Your about 10 minutes by bus from both DHS and Epcot. Also if your staying on property it can actually save you some time taking the bus to the MK as it drops you off right beside the main entrance, where as if you drive you have to take either the monorail or the boat to the MK. Also sometimes for EMH mornings at DAK they don't always open the parking lot early, in that case it can be beater to take the bus as they have there own entrance at the back of the parking lot.

 

[cadek]

Actually the bus service isn't really that bad. Your about 10 minutes by bus from both DHS and Epcot. Also if your staying on property it can actually save you some time taking the bus to the MK as it drops you off right beside the main entrance, where as if you drive you have to take either the monorail or the boat to the MK. Also sometimes for EMH mornings at DAK they don't always open the parking lot early, in that case it can be beater to take the bus as they have there own entrance at the back of the parking lot.

Thanks for tips. I'll have to look into it more as far as the parking lots possibly not being open. DH hates taking the bus. I think he'd opt not to even if it was faster. We like taking the monorail. It's one of my son's favorite things in Disney, since we used it so much at the Poly.

 

[cadek]

I needed one more ADR, so I added Via Napoli. We wanted to try it in January and ended up cancelling while there. That's the part I hate about ADR's, never know where or what you'll be in the mood for!

I love Disney. I don't know what it is, but it really is magical while there, as I'm sure it is for most of us. I want my kids to feel the same. I do try my best to influence them in that department. They like to watch their same old shows (Spongebob, ugh), but really like to protest anything new I suggest watching. I ignore the protests and as we get closer to vacation, I make it my mission to watch at least one Disney movie per week, as a family. They don't complain as much anymore! This week it was Dumbo, and Tangled. We saw Tangled in the theaters. We all actually love this movie! It is so cute, and hilarious! We watched it twice last week. Now Tron came out today. I had pre-ordered the combo pack with the original Tron, and it will be delivered today. So this week it will be a Tronathon! I also plan on sneaking in Mary Poppins if I can. I feel that to enhance the magic, they should know all the characters! Call me crazy...

I also have the Four Parks cd, Disney Greatest volumes 1, 2, and 3, Tron soundtrack, Phineas and Ferb, Lion King, Cars soundtrack, and now Tangled soundtrack. All conveniently loaded onto ipods and iphone to also brainwash them with in the car and at sometimes bathtime. I think I'm successful! Soarin music has been known to bring a tear to my eye.

Sometimes we'll watch the Disney Park DVD as well, that we've already seen many times.

I love looking at my past Disney vacation photos on my digital photo frame at work.

So, that is what I tend to do as we count down the months, weeks, and days to our next Disney vacation!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Thanks for tips. I'll have to look into it more as far as the parking lots possibly not being open. DH hates taking the bus. I think he'd opt not to even if it was faster. We like taking the monorail. It's one of my son's favorite things in Disney, since we used it so much at the Poly.

Your welcome. I like taking the monorail too. On one of my trips to get to a breakfast at the poly I took the bus to EPCOT as it arrived first then took the monorail to the TTC before walking to the Poly from there.

 

[cadek]

Your welcome. I like taking the monorail too. On one of my trips to get to a breakfast at the poly I took the bus to EPCOT as it arrived first then took the monorail to the TTC before walking to the Poly from there.

We've considering doing that too, parking at Epcot and taking the monorail from there. What a beautiful walk from TTC to the Poly! One of the things I love about the Poly!

 

[disneywatcher]

Joining in from the July planner's board!

I've noticed the more I try NOT to plan the more I plan. We dont have a set ride schedule per say but we do have lists of rides we MUST do on a certian day and breaks scheduled to go play at the WL pool..

Don't forget that Le Cellier is now 2 TS credits at dinner time I REALLY wish they hadn't done that or it would have been in our running.

Where did you get the 4 parks CD and does it have the music from Splash Mountian on it? I sometimes get parts of that song just buzzing around in my brain

 

[cadek]

Where did you get the 4 parks CD and does it have the music from Splash Mountian on it? I sometimes get parts of that song just buzzing around in my brain

Hi!

I got the Four Parks CD in Walt Disney World. I got it at the Poly, but have seen it in most gift shops. Yes, it does have Splash Mountain music on it!

Disc 1
All Aboard! - Main Street Station
Welcome Medley - Main Street
Friend Like Me - The Enchanted Tiki Room
Swisskapolka
Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) - The Pirates of the Caribbean
All Aboard the Mine Train
Bear Band Serenade - Country Bear Jamboree
Splash Mountain Medley
Grim, Grinning Ghosts
It's a Small World
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Solo Pilot Blue - Mickey's Toontown Fair Area Music
There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow - Carousel of Progress
Galactic Anthem - Stitch's Great Escape
Legacy - Epcot Entrance Area Music
Spaceship Earth
Energy Adventure Medley - Ellen's Energy Adventure
Destiny - Mission Space (Louise Warren)
Test Track Medley

Disc 2
The Seas With Nemo And Friends Medley
Soarin'
One Little Spark - Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Theme
Canada (Your're a Lifetime Journey) - O Canada
Impressions de France
Golden Dream - The American Adventure
Reflections of China Suite
Three Caballeros - Grand Fiesta Tour
Hooray For Hollywood - Hollywood Blvd Area Music
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Theme
Star Tours
Playhouse Disney Theme
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
Lights, Motor, Action
Beauty and the Bees (Beauty and the Beast) - It's Tough To Be A Bug
It's Tough To Be A Bug
CTX Theme - Dinosaur

Le Cellier is always a must do for us. We don't normally do the Dining Plan because I don't feel it is worth it, for us personally. Since we got the QSDP free, and we only pay for the upgrade, I don't mind it as much that it's 2 table service credits.

 

[PirateKate]

Hi! So jealous of all of those Poly stays. The Poly is our dream resort. We talk about staying there and eating Tonga Toast every morning. Someday. Well, someday, we'll stay there. Probably Tonga Toast every morning is excessive.

I've been kicking myself for not getting APs after our December trip. I'm almost to the point of just keeping APs, since we always end up going back sooner than we planned.

All your ADRs sound great! I've never been to Via Napoli, but it sounds fabulous for an additional meal.

Oh, by the way, I'm actually fluent in Myrtle Beach. I like Broadway on the Beach. It sort of has a Downtown Disney-ish feel to it.

 

[MelMel11]

Count me in!! We are going to be there at the same time in July!!

 

[cadek]

Hi! So jealous of all of those Poly stays. The Poly is our dream resort. We talk about staying there and eating Tonga Toast every morning. Someday. Well, someday, we'll stay there. Probably Tonga Toast every morning is excessive.

I've been kicking myself for not getting APs after our December trip. I'm almost to the point of just keeping APs, since we always end up going back sooner than we planned.

All your ADRs sound great! I've never been to Via Napoli, but it sounds fabulous for an additional meal.

Oh, by the way, I'm actually fluent in Myrtle Beach. I like Broadway on the Beach. It sort of has a Downtown Disney-ish feel to it.

Hi, nice to see you! I love reading about your boys! The Poly has always been a dream of ours too, after our trip in 98 at All Star Sports, and visiting the Poly for the Luau. We've been lucky going in value season and getting some great discounts. After staying at the Poly once, it was hard to even imagine staying anywhere else. Love the monorail, love walking to TTC for the Epcot monorail... It will be fun to try somewhere new though. I hope your Poly dream comes true soon, maybe while the boys are still under 3 and free admission! Mmm, Tonga Toast!

I think I have to upgrade to AP's this trip. I'm still hoping to fit in a trip in December. If not, it will be January again, but it's only a month later anyway! I really want to see Christmas decorations, we've never been there for that. I think I'll try fitting more short trips in if we have AP's. I'm already watching airfare for Labor Day weekend, but that's just wishful thinking. Next year, I'd love to go for a long weekend to the Flower and Garden Festival, maybe child free (because of school), though what a guilt trip I'd put myself through! After the initial price of the AP, I think it makes future trips easier, because now you don't have that ticket cost with each one! For us, for two trips, one week each, we would have saved over $300 with the AP, compared to buying tickets each time.

I think this is our 5th year in a row going to Myrtle Beach. We love Broadway at the Beach, and have found our "home" at the Caribbean Resort, which is on the beach, with only those few blocks between us and Broadway. We end up at Broadway almost every night, so we find it very convenient. Barefoot Landing is nice too. We always wondered what MagiQuest was, and finally tried it last year. Well that is where we will spend most of our non-beach time, for the few days we are there this year. Dylan loves it. We aren't all day beach people. By the afternoon we are back at the pools and then soon back in the room. Maybe as the kids get older it will change? Another thing I love about Myrtle Beach are the pools and lazy river! Yet while there, I still dream of Disney!

Count me in!! We are going to be there at the same time in July!!

Yay, someone that will be there at the same time as us! Where are you staying?

 

[MelMel11]

We are staying at Pop Century.

 

[teachermommy78]

Joining in!!! We will miss each other by just a few days!!! Your family is so cute! I have always wanted to try the poly as well. We will probably never get to WDW during non peak times while the kids are in school, so our poly dream will have to wait. I doubt there will be a pin code or a good offer on the times we'll be able to travel. The kids' school is so strict on taking days off. Scott and I have talked about an adult only trip as well. We probably won't do that until the kids are grown, though. Scott won't fly, and in order to make the 2 day drive worth it, we like to stay for at least 5 full days. So that's 9 days with the drive and I just wouldn't want to leave the kids with anyone for that long. At least when they are younger. We were just talking last night about how when we go alone, we will do deluxe dining. With the kids, it's not worth it. All three can easily split 1-2 kids meals at this point! While at WDW, we plan on getting 3 counter service meals daily and splitting them so we can still have some leftover from the days we are short on table service. Last time on regular dining, we had quite a few meals and snacks leftover and Finn wasn't even on the plan! I'm jealous of your no stroller plan. We are bringing 2. We have a maclaren quest (lightweight, umbrella fold, basket, easy steering) and we'll borrow a friend's umbrella fold peg Perego. Ethan gets a bit low energy at times and I know he'll need it! I'm sure Sophie will even take advantage!

 

[cadek]

Joining in!!! We will miss each other by just a few days!!! Your family is so cute! I have always wanted to try the poly as well. We will probably never get to WDW during non peak times while the kids are in school, so our poly dream will have to wait. I doubt there will be a pin code or a good offer on the times we'll be able to travel. The kids' school is so strict on taking days off. Scott and I have talked about an adult only trip as well. We probably won't do that until the kids are grown, though. Scott won't fly, and in order to make the 2 day drive worth it, we like to stay for at least 5 full days. So that's 9 days with the drive and I just wouldn't want to leave the kids with anyone for that long. At least when they are younger. We were just talking last night about how when we go alone, we will do deluxe dining. With the kids, it's not worth it. All three can easily split 1-2 kids meals at this point! While at WDW, we plan on getting 3 counter service meals daily and splitting them so we can still have some leftover from the days we are short on table service. Last time on regular dining, we had quite a few meals and snacks leftover and Finn wasn't even on the plan! I'm jealous of your no stroller plan. We are bringing 2. We have a maclaren quest (lightweight, umbrella fold, basket, easy steering) and we'll borrow a friend's umbrella fold peg Perego. Ethan gets a bit low energy at times and I know he'll need it! I'm sure Sophie will even take advantage!

It's a shame he won't fly. That certainly does make traveling far harder when you have limited time! I don't think I could leave the kids for a week either. We did do a long weekend to Vegas and they were fine.

The no stroller plan is my husbands! I already told him we'll need a stroller. In fact tonight at at Dylan's soccer practice I was hearing those words from Evan "hold me, carry me" We will most likely buy one of the Disney strollers there. We saw they were around $50. We don't have a stroller anymore. Ours died about 2 years ago in Myrtle Beach! Don't have any other use for one. The thought of no stroller sure does seem to be so freeing, but then I think, hey I have to carry all the bags now! I'll have to downsize. I see the great stroller debates come up and the people that say their 2 year olds walk just fine without a stroller. No way, not my kids! Another down side to no stroller - kids that won't walk as fast as we might want to. Well, at least we'll be down to a single stroller, instead of a double this time.