Well, this is my first pre-trip reporting here so I thought I'd share a bit about us and then get into the plans so far.
I'm 42, DH is 47 and DS is 4. Last year, like this year, DH can't take time off work for a trip to Disney (solo physician, so our big vacation together is always at Christmas-New Years, a mini for a conference in Vail in February and then ASRM in October/November - both conferences aren't really "vacations" for DH, but it's time away together). Anyway, last year my mom (70) & dad (74) wanted to start a tradition of making memories for DS rather than get him more stuff....so we decided to celebrate his birthday at Disney World, stayed at the Contemporary for nine nights and had a BLAST.
Fast forward to this year and with DS begging to go again for his birthday, asking to trick-or-treat at MK (we didn't do the Halloween Party last year even though we were there when it was happening) and the free dining popping up at just the right time of the year - we're booked to go September 19 to October 3 this year!
The biggest *problem* with our stay last year was that we were all in one room at the Contemporary, so my parents had the king bed and DS and I slept on the day-bed sofa thing....it was very uncomfortable, so this year I was determined we'd all have our own beds - which meant either getting two rooms at a resort or a 2-bedroom at a villa resort.
I was pretty shocked at how expensive the trip was going to be if we tried to do either option....so I started to price out two rooms or a 2-bedroom. For two rooms at Port Orleans we were looking at over $6000.....2 rooms at GF (hey a girl can dream, can't she?) or Contemporary we were looking at more than $12,000 and a 2-bedroom at Saratoga was going to set us back more than $8000. Two rooms at Pop was still about $6000....and using the WDW transportation options with my dad would be much harder than when we were at the Contemporary.
OUCH!
Last year for our stay for three adults and one child at Contemporary with deluxe dining and 10-day park hoppers we spent less than $5000. I really was hoping to be able to stay within that by going to a moderate resort instead of a deluxe....but I couldn't even do it at a value with two rooms!
So then I got to thinking and looked at off-site options and found a 2-bedroom for two weeks at Bonnet Creek for a great price (cost of points + guest certificate from an owner) and when I added one room at Pop with the upgrade to deluxe dining and our 10-day park hoppers - VIOLA! - less than $5000....actually less than $4500!
Can you see me doing the happy dance?
So my mom and I were talking and started to think about what the heck we can do with the room at Pop ... and we decided (conspired really) to use it to have my sister and my neice and nephew join us for a long weekend for their birthday too! (DS and my neice and nephew are three years apart, but same month for birthday) The cost of their airfare and 3-day park tickets is doable since we're paying less this year than last year! They're turning 8, so I think they'll have a blast, even though my sister, I'm pretty sure, is going to be reluctant to come - but how can she say no to Disney for their birthday???
I'll get to the plans in posts later - I'm loving this forum -- so much information, tips and sharing!!!!
I'm 42, DH is 47 and DS is 4. Last year, like this year, DH can't take time off work for a trip to Disney (solo physician, so our big vacation together is always at Christmas-New Years, a mini for a conference in Vail in February and then ASRM in October/November - both conferences aren't really "vacations" for DH, but it's time away together). Anyway, last year my mom (70) & dad (74) wanted to start a tradition of making memories for DS rather than get him more stuff....so we decided to celebrate his birthday at Disney World, stayed at the Contemporary for nine nights and had a BLAST.
Fast forward to this year and with DS begging to go again for his birthday, asking to trick-or-treat at MK (we didn't do the Halloween Party last year even though we were there when it was happening) and the free dining popping up at just the right time of the year - we're booked to go September 19 to October 3 this year!
The biggest *problem* with our stay last year was that we were all in one room at the Contemporary, so my parents had the king bed and DS and I slept on the day-bed sofa thing....it was very uncomfortable, so this year I was determined we'd all have our own beds - which meant either getting two rooms at a resort or a 2-bedroom at a villa resort.
I was pretty shocked at how expensive the trip was going to be if we tried to do either option....so I started to price out two rooms or a 2-bedroom. For two rooms at Port Orleans we were looking at over $6000.....2 rooms at GF (hey a girl can dream, can't she?) or Contemporary we were looking at more than $12,000 and a 2-bedroom at Saratoga was going to set us back more than $8000. Two rooms at Pop was still about $6000....and using the WDW transportation options with my dad would be much harder than when we were at the Contemporary.
OUCH!
Last year for our stay for three adults and one child at Contemporary with deluxe dining and 10-day park hoppers we spent less than $5000. I really was hoping to be able to stay within that by going to a moderate resort instead of a deluxe....but I couldn't even do it at a value with two rooms!
So then I got to thinking and looked at off-site options and found a 2-bedroom for two weeks at Bonnet Creek for a great price (cost of points + guest certificate from an owner) and when I added one room at Pop with the upgrade to deluxe dining and our 10-day park hoppers - VIOLA! - less than $5000....actually less than $4500!
Can you see me doing the happy dance?
So my mom and I were talking and started to think about what the heck we can do with the room at Pop ... and we decided (conspired really) to use it to have my sister and my neice and nephew join us for a long weekend for their birthday too! (DS and my neice and nephew are three years apart, but same month for birthday) The cost of their airfare and 3-day park tickets is doable since we're paying less this year than last year! They're turning 8, so I think they'll have a blast, even though my sister, I'm pretty sure, is going to be reluctant to come - but how can she say no to Disney for their birthday???
I'll get to the plans in posts later - I'm loving this forum -- so much information, tips and sharing!!!!
