PrincessTrisha
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2004
- Messages
- 4,037
I have never done a trip report before (only dining reports) so I certainly have never done a pre trip report before. But lately, on Sunday mornings, I have been getting up at the ungodly hour of 6 – 7am and so I find myself reading through other people’s reports and thinking, “I should do that”. I think this about a lot of things, most pointedly, doing a solo trip to WDW. I have always wanted to, and have actually planned one but it just never happens.
My Disney History:
When I was young, my parents took my brother and I to Florida every year, usually sometime between January and March. We would camp most of the time and spend 2 – 3 weeks in and around the state. Every other year, we would do Disney (which back then meant the Magic Kingdom) and the other years we would go to one of the other theme parks. Then, when I was in my early teens we headed to California instead a couple of years where we visited Disneyland for a day. Back then I loved Disney, but again, what kid doesn’t.
When I turned 16, my parents decided on a trip to Walt Disney World to check out everything new. This included Epcot (we were in Florida the year after Epcot opened but the line to get into the parking lot went so far back, my parents decided it wasn’t worth the wait, a decision I don’t think my brother ever forgave them for). My brother being the “cool” 18 year old decided he had enough of family vacations and would rather stay home and party with his friends. So my parents and I headed down to Florida at the end of August and stayed at a Days Inn about 90 minutes away from the parks for the amazing rate of $100 a week (this was 1990). We had 4 day park hoppers and travelled back and forth for 4 days in a row. We saw all three parks (MK, Epcot, and MGM) and had a blast. Yes it was super duper hot and it poured half the time, but the three of us all remember this as a really great trip. It was the last “big” family trip we took for a while since shortly after the recession hit up here in Canada and my parents bakery faced some very tough times.
Two years later, I met a friend who was just as interested in heading back to Disney as I was. The value resorts weren’t quite open yet (we went in February and they opened later in the year). We couldn’t rent a car since we were both under 25. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Kissimmee and took their shuttle bus back and forth each day. We had 5 day park hoppers with water parks (and I’m guessing Pleasure Island since we went there as well). Despite not eating or staying on property, we had a fabulous time. We ate each night at the Denny’s across from the hotel and munched a little popcorn or ice cream during the day to keep expenses to a minimum. Armed only with the Unofficial Guide to help us out, we got to see everything that appealed to us in all 3 of the parks. I, being paler than pale, came home red as a beet but that was about the only down side to that entire trip.
The next year, during reading week at University, my other friend invited me down to Florida to stay at her grandmother’s house. We did one day at the Magic Kingdom, one day at Universal and one day at Busch Gardens. Along for the ride was my friend’s Dad and her little sister. Our off days were fun but I didn’t really enjoy much at the parks. Even though I was 19 (as was my friend) her dad demanded that the whole group stay together at all times – which in different circumstances would have been fine – except that I don’t do roller coasters. I spent all three park days waiting for them to get off the “big rides” and only got to do 1 or 2 things that I enjoyed. This kind of left me let down with Florida (though certainly not Disney’s fault) and looking for other vacations.
Then I turned 21, Atlantic City (being about 11 hours away by car) became my family’s favourite destination. As I was finishing University, my parents and I started taking family trips again. Business had picked up some and I was working. My mom and I are both slot junkies and of course, comped food and rooms helped us to return again and again.
Now, you might be asking, “Why is she mentioning Atlantic City, and *gasp* gambling, on a Disney Board?” That’s because my love of slots led me away from Disney for many years – it wasn’t until 2004 that my previous favourite vacation desitination returned to my radar and that was only by a strange day dream.
I had been home sick one day and my mom and I were talking about “What would we do if we won the lottery?” I said, “I’d take everyone to Disney World”. My mom came up with a few answers as well (but honestly, I don’t remember a single one). By day 3 or 4 of being home with the flu I was bored out of my mind and surfing the net when I decided to look up the Disney site and figure out what this dream trip would cost. So I calculated the Contemporary, concierge level with the Gold plan, figured out the number of rooms I’d need to bring, not only my family but also my close friends, and tried to figure out the logisitics of getting everyone down there and would we need rental cars (when I am bored, things get very detailed). So, my final costs for the trip were somewhere around the $22,000 level. Hey, if I won $10 million, not a problem.
A funny thing happened though while pricing out this dream trip. I started to realize that a trip to Disney for my parents and I could actually be affordable – honestly, I had always looked at Disney as something too expensive to really afford. I found the value resorts, tickets, special offers, etc and thought, “I could do this!” (Boy, doesn’t that sound like the current Disney commercials – Honey, come here, a trip to WDW would cost under $1600……) And then the Canadian at Par package deal was offered and then clinched the deal. It was 2 nights at the beach, 8 nights at POFQ, the old all inclusive tickets, no dining plan, drive down from Toronto and on the way home, a stop in Atlantic City for 4 nights (hey, I couldn’t give up on the slots altogether!).
Trip #1 – February 2005. It was great – my mom got Bronchitis a few days before we left and I sprained my ankle the day before Disney at our beach hotel. But it was a great trip and sparked a renewed love for Disney in all three of us (mom, dad and me).
Trip #2 – December 2005 I wanted to take my God daughter Jenna.
I had gotten a promotion at work (on a contract so there was the potential that it wouldn’t be permanent). Stayed at the AKL with the dining plan (discounted package) park hopping tickets and we went to MVMCP. Fantastic!
Trip #3 – May 2006. That promotion was made permanent in February 2006 and decided the best way to celebrate was another Disney trip. This was supposed to be solo but when my mom found out she wasn’t invited, it kind of blew the wind out of her sails. Never one to disappoint, I made this a mother / daughter trip (since Dad couldn’t take time off of work – they had closed the bakery and he now worked for a bakery supplier wholesale company). BWI & OKW – it was hot but a nice, relaxing trip. My first Star Wars Week-end and for my mom, the Teddy Bear and Doll Show.
Trip #4 – October 2006. I took my cousin for her high school graduation present (she had scoliosis when she was younger and missed a couple of years due to surgery and recovery – they lived in a rural part of Ontario and didn’t get much support from the schools so she graduated just after her 20th birthday – but hey, she graduated!).
My mom and dad came along as well (by this point, it was expected – I have pretty much taken over the role of vacation provider – they did it when I was young, I’m doing it now that they are older). Beach Club Baby! Our first (and second) Halloween parties, great weather and we got to be on TV (our local station was down there so we signed up on line and appeared two mornings).
Trip #5 – May 2007. Split between the Polynesian and the Contemporary. This was supposed to be my “cheap trip” (because I just couldn’t wait until December). But Disney sent me the 40% off pin code so what else could I do? This was one of the best – very relaxing. My parents and I split up to do our own thing a few times on this trip (pretty much a first) so it made for a good change and let me explore a little on my own.
Trip #6 – October 2007 – this was supposed to be December 2007 (booked with the pin code as well). My Dad tried to get the time off, but the bakery business is too busy at the beginning of December so in the summer I changed it to another fall trip. Stayed at the Grand Floridian (and with the discount it seemed ridiculously cheap!) and really enjoyed our time. The weather wasn’t the greatest (tropical storm blew through) but still, it was great.
Trip #7 – Disneyland November 2008. This was for my Dad’s 60th birthday. It was again for the three of us but my mom had a stroke earlier in the year and then the meds they put her on made her very ill. She lost all of her strength and is still in recovery. It’s going to be a long road but she is moving forward (and that’s what’s important – it’s not how fast you get there, it’s just that you get there). She was insistent that we still go so my Dad and I set off across the US for 16 days and hit San Diego, Disneyland and Vegas. It was a good trip but all I could think of when I was at DL was “this is not WDW” (sad I know but I miss the world).
Wow, that's enough for now - I'll continue in the next post.
My Disney History:
When I was young, my parents took my brother and I to Florida every year, usually sometime between January and March. We would camp most of the time and spend 2 – 3 weeks in and around the state. Every other year, we would do Disney (which back then meant the Magic Kingdom) and the other years we would go to one of the other theme parks. Then, when I was in my early teens we headed to California instead a couple of years where we visited Disneyland for a day. Back then I loved Disney, but again, what kid doesn’t.
When I turned 16, my parents decided on a trip to Walt Disney World to check out everything new. This included Epcot (we were in Florida the year after Epcot opened but the line to get into the parking lot went so far back, my parents decided it wasn’t worth the wait, a decision I don’t think my brother ever forgave them for). My brother being the “cool” 18 year old decided he had enough of family vacations and would rather stay home and party with his friends. So my parents and I headed down to Florida at the end of August and stayed at a Days Inn about 90 minutes away from the parks for the amazing rate of $100 a week (this was 1990). We had 4 day park hoppers and travelled back and forth for 4 days in a row. We saw all three parks (MK, Epcot, and MGM) and had a blast. Yes it was super duper hot and it poured half the time, but the three of us all remember this as a really great trip. It was the last “big” family trip we took for a while since shortly after the recession hit up here in Canada and my parents bakery faced some very tough times.
Two years later, I met a friend who was just as interested in heading back to Disney as I was. The value resorts weren’t quite open yet (we went in February and they opened later in the year). We couldn’t rent a car since we were both under 25. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Kissimmee and took their shuttle bus back and forth each day. We had 5 day park hoppers with water parks (and I’m guessing Pleasure Island since we went there as well). Despite not eating or staying on property, we had a fabulous time. We ate each night at the Denny’s across from the hotel and munched a little popcorn or ice cream during the day to keep expenses to a minimum. Armed only with the Unofficial Guide to help us out, we got to see everything that appealed to us in all 3 of the parks. I, being paler than pale, came home red as a beet but that was about the only down side to that entire trip.
The next year, during reading week at University, my other friend invited me down to Florida to stay at her grandmother’s house. We did one day at the Magic Kingdom, one day at Universal and one day at Busch Gardens. Along for the ride was my friend’s Dad and her little sister. Our off days were fun but I didn’t really enjoy much at the parks. Even though I was 19 (as was my friend) her dad demanded that the whole group stay together at all times – which in different circumstances would have been fine – except that I don’t do roller coasters. I spent all three park days waiting for them to get off the “big rides” and only got to do 1 or 2 things that I enjoyed. This kind of left me let down with Florida (though certainly not Disney’s fault) and looking for other vacations.
Then I turned 21, Atlantic City (being about 11 hours away by car) became my family’s favourite destination. As I was finishing University, my parents and I started taking family trips again. Business had picked up some and I was working. My mom and I are both slot junkies and of course, comped food and rooms helped us to return again and again.
Now, you might be asking, “Why is she mentioning Atlantic City, and *gasp* gambling, on a Disney Board?” That’s because my love of slots led me away from Disney for many years – it wasn’t until 2004 that my previous favourite vacation desitination returned to my radar and that was only by a strange day dream.
I had been home sick one day and my mom and I were talking about “What would we do if we won the lottery?” I said, “I’d take everyone to Disney World”. My mom came up with a few answers as well (but honestly, I don’t remember a single one). By day 3 or 4 of being home with the flu I was bored out of my mind and surfing the net when I decided to look up the Disney site and figure out what this dream trip would cost. So I calculated the Contemporary, concierge level with the Gold plan, figured out the number of rooms I’d need to bring, not only my family but also my close friends, and tried to figure out the logisitics of getting everyone down there and would we need rental cars (when I am bored, things get very detailed). So, my final costs for the trip were somewhere around the $22,000 level. Hey, if I won $10 million, not a problem.
A funny thing happened though while pricing out this dream trip. I started to realize that a trip to Disney for my parents and I could actually be affordable – honestly, I had always looked at Disney as something too expensive to really afford. I found the value resorts, tickets, special offers, etc and thought, “I could do this!” (Boy, doesn’t that sound like the current Disney commercials – Honey, come here, a trip to WDW would cost under $1600……) And then the Canadian at Par package deal was offered and then clinched the deal. It was 2 nights at the beach, 8 nights at POFQ, the old all inclusive tickets, no dining plan, drive down from Toronto and on the way home, a stop in Atlantic City for 4 nights (hey, I couldn’t give up on the slots altogether!).
Trip #1 – February 2005. It was great – my mom got Bronchitis a few days before we left and I sprained my ankle the day before Disney at our beach hotel. But it was a great trip and sparked a renewed love for Disney in all three of us (mom, dad and me).
Trip #2 – December 2005 I wanted to take my God daughter Jenna.
I had gotten a promotion at work (on a contract so there was the potential that it wouldn’t be permanent). Stayed at the AKL with the dining plan (discounted package) park hopping tickets and we went to MVMCP. Fantastic!
Trip #3 – May 2006. That promotion was made permanent in February 2006 and decided the best way to celebrate was another Disney trip. This was supposed to be solo but when my mom found out she wasn’t invited, it kind of blew the wind out of her sails. Never one to disappoint, I made this a mother / daughter trip (since Dad couldn’t take time off of work – they had closed the bakery and he now worked for a bakery supplier wholesale company). BWI & OKW – it was hot but a nice, relaxing trip. My first Star Wars Week-end and for my mom, the Teddy Bear and Doll Show.
Trip #4 – October 2006. I took my cousin for her high school graduation present (she had scoliosis when she was younger and missed a couple of years due to surgery and recovery – they lived in a rural part of Ontario and didn’t get much support from the schools so she graduated just after her 20th birthday – but hey, she graduated!).
My mom and dad came along as well (by this point, it was expected – I have pretty much taken over the role of vacation provider – they did it when I was young, I’m doing it now that they are older). Beach Club Baby! Our first (and second) Halloween parties, great weather and we got to be on TV (our local station was down there so we signed up on line and appeared two mornings).
Trip #5 – May 2007. Split between the Polynesian and the Contemporary. This was supposed to be my “cheap trip” (because I just couldn’t wait until December). But Disney sent me the 40% off pin code so what else could I do? This was one of the best – very relaxing. My parents and I split up to do our own thing a few times on this trip (pretty much a first) so it made for a good change and let me explore a little on my own.
Trip #6 – October 2007 – this was supposed to be December 2007 (booked with the pin code as well). My Dad tried to get the time off, but the bakery business is too busy at the beginning of December so in the summer I changed it to another fall trip. Stayed at the Grand Floridian (and with the discount it seemed ridiculously cheap!) and really enjoyed our time. The weather wasn’t the greatest (tropical storm blew through) but still, it was great.
Trip #7 – Disneyland November 2008. This was for my Dad’s 60th birthday. It was again for the three of us but my mom had a stroke earlier in the year and then the meds they put her on made her very ill. She lost all of her strength and is still in recovery. It’s going to be a long road but she is moving forward (and that’s what’s important – it’s not how fast you get there, it’s just that you get there). She was insistent that we still go so my Dad and I set off across the US for 16 days and hit San Diego, Disneyland and Vegas. It was a good trip but all I could think of when I was at DL was “this is not WDW” (sad I know but I miss the world).
Wow, that's enough for now - I'll continue in the next post.
This trip is getting so far from solo. 
I dont spend that much on average in restaurants for dinner, let alone breakfast!). On the other hand, the Tables in Wonderland card is looking like a good option as well. Wed probably spend less, not have to worry about making every single ADR I plan to make, order only what were in the mood for, and save money on alcohol as well. There is this small (and getting bigger) part of me that says, Just book the darn plan and go with it. 
Not to mention, this just gives you another reason to have to come back 
