Quickie B-day trip for DS 7/ Update answers needed!

[dreamer423]

So, I'm a rabid Disboard reader/lurker who recently discovered the TR board. Because nothing makes me happier than being at my happy place than thinking about being at my happy place, i read often! If there were an AP to the DISboards, I'd definitely have to pony up for the PAP.

The cast:

Me: Dreamer-45, a kid at heart, Single Mommy to the best kid in the World
Ds: 6 1/2, redhaired, blue eyed charmer and WDW lover.
Baba: Sparkly eyed, funny, occasionally cranky due to arthritis and other nuisances of living, Mother and Gramma who adores DS
Papa: Best Dad, generous, a big kid, Ds is the apple of his eye

We used to be regular-4x/yr AP visitors b/c you can do that when you live 3 hrs away door to door. Budget and school don't allow it. but that's ok b/c we're Fl Residents and AAA holders.

So-We were just there using up our 1 day left on our 4 day passes from January and we couldn't resist a bounceback.

I wanted to book a few dates, but-that pesky budget... We already have a long weekend cruise with friends we've been planning and is almost paid for in early November. And we do a N. Georgia roadtrip in August so Dec it is.

And that's ok-b/c it's DS birthday! And this is his 7th birthday trip and now i don't have to plan a party!!!

WL was his first choice but it wasn't available so we're at AKL! One of my favorites.

We asked Baba and papa to join us and celebrate and of course 2 of the biggest mouselovers said..

So we have a long weekend-fit into a Sunday through Wednesday after Thanksgiving and i can't wait!

What I love about this trip is that we're all veterans and our love for the World supercedes our need to tick off rides...

Unless your talking TSM or Soarin.

So thanks for visiting and stay tuned for plans.

 

[dreamer423]

Ok... So where did the title come from??
I'll set the scene...

We just spent a day in Our happy place June 28th. We had 1 day left on a 4 day pass from January. It was part of the promotion, pay for 3, play for 4. So even if we couldn't use it, it was free! I loved having a day to look forward to all spring. We could never fit it in and then I just decided we couldn't let the day go to waste. SO we asked a couple friends who have AP's and let them know we'd only do 1 day in the parks. We got POR, which I like and that's how we got to MK that night. So that night we came back to MK at 6. it was drizzling so many people were leaving. LOVE THAT!

We had 8:15 @ LTT so we head to Buzz. The wait said 20 minutes but the line was outside and long. I asked the CM about the wait and he said it was more like 30. DS decided he didn't want to wait so we went to the people mover. I can't call it by any other name.

after that the Buzz ride was short. We had just enough time to ride be fore we went to LTT. it was drizzling but we didn't care. So at LT we had a great table in the room up the small stairs from the lobby. We were almost in front of the bay window, which turned out to be great thing. We had front row seats for SPECTRO! We had never seen it so it was a great surprise. I love all those lights and not having had to wait in line. The kids loved it too. And the food was pretty good. So good in fact that while the kids were eyes peeled on the parade at the window the mommies got eat all the apple pie and ice cream.

so after dinner and a night time ride on HM we emerged just in time for Wishes. We were walking up the pathway toward IASM with the fireworks popping and lighting up the whole sky.

Ds turns to me and says, " This is why I want to go here every day!"

who could resist that?

 

[dreamer423]

It's been awhile since my last post. School started, the dog's been sick,the alternator/radiator exploded during our summer road trip, the bottom dropped out of the economy, I'm looking for a job...

All the while so grateful for the life I have and my beautiful boy and our family and friends.

I have so much fun reading everyone's reports and planning ours. Where to begin...

We arrive the Sunday after Thanksgiving to AKL and are so excited. We booked standard rooms on a bounceback-although I think I saw the same rate available on the web all these months later...

We stayed before deluxe savannah and had a great time. I love the atmosphere, all the things to do at the resort. This time we're so happy for this time and know the view is great from all he common rooms. doesn't matter our room view.

Oh, and I can't wait to get me some zebra Domes.

What;s you're favorite sweet indulgence?

 

[dreamer423]

Woohoo! Over the summer, AAA had a special here you get additional water park entries with a 4 day park hopper.

We used to get AP's and do Mom and kid trips 3-4 times a year. i love our special time together and being able to go in our rhythm.

2 years ago, i wrote the AP's out of our budget and use the Fl. res or AAA rate. I love that we can take a long or short weekend to our happy place. I think when the budget improves, I'll go back to the AP's.

So our usual MO is to go from Thurs-Sun. We have a resort or DD dinner so we don't use a day of passes on our arrival day. In the past we've gone to Cape May for the clambake-kid friendly meal. Then we do parks from Fri-Sun.

ANyway-Well last year we went 1/2-1/5 with a 3 day hopper. right before we went AAA rates changed to play 4 days pass for the price of 3. Once we got to the WOrld, they added a day to our passes.

What did we do?

That meant we got to go over the summer for 1 day trip!!!! Was one day worth it?? Yo betcha!

We did 1 day in the park and then 1 day at the pool. It was great!

So what's my plan for this trip?

 

[dreamer423]

 

[dreamer423]

Here they are on the 50th anniversary on a....Disney Cruise!

 

[dreamer423]

Even though I'm not sure anybody's interested, I'm going to keep at it....It would feel sooo good, though, to know someone in reading and maybe enjoying this. I will get better @ this. I promise.


So, Do you think i can get everybody moving early on the Sunday after Thanksgiving?

Since we live about 3 hours away, no flights for us! The good news is-no airport, baggage fees, plane tickets.

The bad news is-it's hard to get a "departure time" to stick.

The plan is-to get moving by 10. That is if i can Baba moving and out the door. She was so much better before she gave up caffeine and became a little nocturnal.

11/30

Check in @ AKL around 1:00.
Enjoy the pool if its nice.
Alternate plan: DD for the afternoon.
Dinner: Tchoup Tchoup (emeril's @ RP)

12/1

Epcot am
Lunch Le Cellier
Dinner: Kona

12/2

Another park (AKA SW)
Dinner????
not using a park pass
Hope to visit a resort for evening fireworks viewing

12/3

DS_Pirate cruise-SHHHH! It's a surprise.
MK
Lunch-MK?
PM departure.


What do you think?
I had The Luau but cancelled it due to cost and mixed reviews. We've never been to SW and thought a one day visit hopefully on an uncrowded day would be just the thing.

We LOVE epcot and MK. I'd like to do TSM but don't think it's worth it to go v. early just for that 1 ride.

And I'm saving 2 days of our 4 day pass for another weekend in 2009.

How is Le Cellier for lunch? We never been and this was the only ressie I could get?

 

[dreamer423]

Please come out lurkdom, any readers who get this far and help me


SO, as I mentioned, DS is turning 7.

I'd love to have your suggestions on surprises or something to experience for this trip.

I'm on a very tight budget-more os than in the past.

I've ordered the special birthday cakes, and while i loved that i was doing something special-he was just as happy with the cupcake he was often offered. So, I'm sticking with what ever Pixie Dust falls our way in the dessert department.

I have ordered a basket as well as gotten little surprises, like glow sticks etc.

The pirate cruise is the main birthday surprise and I hope it goes over well. From reading other people's tr, I guess a sword would be part of it.

Please, oh Please, come out of lurkdom and -contribute your best ideas for little moments or surprises.

Thank you so much!

 

[dreamer423]

Really, I'm trying.

I would love your ideas....

Please...

 

[dreamer423]

On our SW day, we have no ressies. We thought we'd have a leisurely wake up and breakkie, maybe @ Boma, then mosey to SW about 10 ish. That makes Baba very happy.

I'm torn between making TS ressie @ resort-so as not to use park ticket, and having no ressie @ all.

What would be a good choice for a relaxed dinner @ a resort where we may also get view of fireworks/\?

Or should it just be a play it by ear situation?

 

[dreamer423]

Now I'm thinking T-Rex for Tuesday night. DS7 would probably love it, although Baba and Papa would probably not. They do, however, love to indulge DS.

They requested that we skip CM this trip as they had their fill. Think I can put this in instead?