Remember this is just a short trip...try not to plan.

[simba20]

The title of this thread is supposed to be a reminder to me that our "on a whim" trip for an extended Feburary weekend (okay, President's Day) is supposed to be about just enjoying Disney. Our June trip will allow me to plan to my heart's content.

I'm not really a go overboard Disney planner. We've done the Dining Plan that includes table service meals. I selected a few places we love and other places we wanted to try, and that's about the extent of my planning. I do have a general idea of what parks on what day, but we are total park hoppers and have learned to go with the Disney flow so even that gets turned around from time to time.

We joined the DVC in September of 2008 and took our first DVC trip in March '09. That trip was a short weekend trip to see the Braves at Spring Training. Our true vacation was in April of '09 for 6 days, during Spring Break. Then in June we planned our first "well since we have these annual passes"/"on a whim" trip while sitting in a traffic jam outside of Atlanta on I-20, travelling to my in-laws. In the 30 minutes it took us to travel from "West End" to "Fulton Industral" exits (Atlanta drivers will know what I am talking about), I was on the phone with DVC Member Services booking our thrid stay for 2009.

We debated about when to go next year. Did we want to go for Spring Break again or after school let out (hubster is a teacher)? We opted for after school and so we are booked for a trip starting in May and ending in June of '10. But could that settle us? I guess not.

Just before Thanksgiving, I was telling the hubster about my ADRs I wanted to make for our June trip. My ADR day was November 30. So we were chatting away, and the hubster says "Oh I have a winter break this year?" And we look at each other and BAM! We're going to Disney!!!!!

Of course this convo took place at 9 p.m., so I had to wait until the next day to call MS and try to book a trip for Winter Break. The next day I called and nothing was available (I needed a studio -- ANYWHERE). So I waitlisted. I checked the DVC member site everyday and finally after staying off the next for two days, I checked last night and found...........
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MY WAITLIST CAME THROUGH!

We will be staying at SSR Feb 13-Feb 16. Our three trips this year were stays at SSR and so we are happy. We like SSR. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but we like it none the less. We know the SSR "system" and have no complaints.

Anyway, this PTR is for our Feb '10 trip.

Here's your cast:
Me: Main family DISBoarder and DVC CEO in our family. My name is Jennifer. I am 33, and a SAHM to an almost 2.5 year old daughter -- Cuddlebug. I do work, however, I am in grad school, earning my Master's degree in Insturctional Technology hoping to become a school media specialist. Prior to this life I worked at a nationally known bookstore chain. I went to Disney many times as a child, an while I am not a Disney nut, I like the familiarity that I find at Disney.

First visit to our friend's corn maze/pumpkin patch. Cuddlebug was 3 months old and dressed her first Halloween as candy corn.

The Hubster: 35. Middle school science teacher and coach. His life is sports, and if it requires a ball of some sort then he is easily distracted. He does love roller coasters, wishes Disney had more, but cannot wait until Cuddlebug GROWS (hopefully she won't be short like her mama) and becomes his "Coaster Buddy"

Daddy and Cuddlebug.

Cuddlebug: Cuddlebug is almost 2.5 and loves and remembers lots about the trips she has taken to Disney so far. To those who say "Why are you taking your kid, aren't they too young?" or 'They won't remember it" Cuddlebug proves this point wrong. She already knows all the words to "It's a Small World" and her favorite ride is the Disney busses. LOL! The highlight of her Disney visits so far, has been metting the Princesses (although she's afraid of the costume characters) and she'll tell you "I met Princess. I sat on lap. I take picture." The best souvineer I have is a a three frame picture with her on each Princess' lap. Already she is planning her next trip where she will ride the tea cups ("I go fast") and hopefully be tall enough to take on the Barnstomer (her first coaster) with Daddy (and Mommy), and hopefully meet Mickey ("I not cry").

Cuddlebug sitting on the rocks in the "big drop" viewing area of EE. April '09. She loves it, and laughs to her heart's content.

Anyway, I'm using this space to jot down ideas/notes that come to me that will make me realize this will be better for our June trip and not February. Since I am in grad school, I'll be bringing my handy dandy laptop as well, so them this can turn into a LIVE TR......although the hubster never understands why I get on the DISBoards when we are at Disney. But trust me -- a lot of "last minute" info has been handy.

P.S. My ticker down there is for our June trip. I need to add one for Feb.

 

[simba20]

Our Disney history comes from the fact that we spent our honeymoon at Disney in May of 2002 -- POR. We loved it, loved being on property......wait let me back up.

As a kid, I can rmember at least 4 trips to Disney World with my family. The first occuring when I was 3 and we moved to the mainland (Dad was Army in Hawaii). On that trip, I got a "Lady" stuffie (Lady form Lady and the Tramp) and I still have it to this day. Currrently, it sits on Cuddlebug's bed. We also went when I was 8 (during a hurricane), and again at 10. We did a family trip with my Grandpa and his new bride and her grandchildren when I was 14, right after DHS opened up. That was my last trip........for awhile.

Christmas 1996, my father and I were watching the Disney Christmas Parade on TV when I mentioned, how I would love to go back to Disney and stay ON PROPERTY. I knew that since I had last been, Disney had built more hotels on the property and it would be a nice change from the whole stay off-site and travel in every day kind of rush. I did not know that my dad would take me seriously. A few days later my Dad returned home from AAA with the Disney book. And started asking me more questions. It was around this time that the Disney Insititute had just opened up, so I found a way to convince my parents that they could do things besides the parks. One final step, was also to ask my dad if my boyfriend (now the hubster) could come along. I was young, in love, and couldn't bear to be away from him. My dad said he would think about it. I return back to college as Christmas vacay was over, and within a few weeks my dad calls me to ask when Fall quater began. I check the dates, let him know, and he tells me we are booked for a stay ON PROPERTY at the Disney Institue, well, umm, Disney Villas.

Getting a villa was crucial, as my Dad had left his job due to disability. He was on dialysis, so travelling often meant and extra step for him to find a clinic that could take him on while we were there. He had cleared that out of the way, but we also needed something more than an average hotel room, because my dad needed a fridge for medications. He had done his homework, and found that the Villas, fit what we needed. We were booked in a 1 bedroom "Bungalow" not a far walk from Downtown Disney. This trip was so special to me. Not only did my dad meet my requests (not that I was demanding) but it would be the last vacation I ever took with BOTH of my parents. My father passed away, shortly after Christmas 1997. Our trip was in September of 1997. So now whenever I set foot on the SSR property, I feel a connection to what was there and is now.

Anyway, as young college kids, the feeling of staying on property hit us and we knew we could never go back. While in college, we tried to book a trip to go back a few years later and stay at the, then, Dixie Landings Resort, but the demands of our financial aid never left us enough to save. Finally we went on our honeymoon and spent $1500 for a 5 night stay at POR in 2002. That ought to tell how the prices have gone up.

A few years ago, some friends of ours bought into the DVC and took us for a Spring Break vacation to Disney's Hilton Head Island resort in 2006. We loved it, but never felt that we could afford purchasing the DVC. It was nice, but planned on saving our pennies and take trips here and there. In fact, our next Disney stay was planned for Spring 2007.

April 2007, we were supposed to go for our 5th anniversay. But scheduling this trip was iffy. I worked in a town that is known for hosting a quite pretigious golf tournement every year, so asking off for that week in the world of reatil in my area is a big no-no. In September of 2006, we made our plans, and in Novemeber went to AAA and booked our trip. I immediately went to my job THAT DAY and told my manager that I'd be needing that time off -- 5 months ahead. LOL. However, our 5th anniversary trip was put on hold, because two weeks later I found out we were pregnant with CUDDLEBUG (a better 5th year present I think). So we cancelled our trip. It was a good thing we did though. I suppose I could have waddled around the parks 6/7 months pregnant, but by that point my hips were seperating sooo bad, that I could barely walk. I toughed out the remainder of my pregnancy, but knowing how much walking is dne at Disney....no way. Plus, I didn;t want to take any chances on rides. So we decided that at some point, maybe when Cuddlebug was 2 or 3 we'd take her. We debated heavily over "what's the right age," but as you see from my background sooner would come earlier than later.