renessa
<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/" targ
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2001
- Messages
- 997
Who: My new hubbie Brian (27), along for the ride
Me, Renessa (24), planner extraordinaire
Pre-trip/ Planning
I began trip planning over a year ago. It was our honeymoon ( and we wore Minnie and Mickey Bride and Groom pins to the parks), and I wanted it to be perfect, I wanted to see and do everything. I hadnt been to WDW since 98- and this was my first trip where I was in charge. Through self-discovery, I found all the wonderful sites- DIS, wdwinfo, mousesavers, mouseplanet, wdwig, intercot, etc. I bought the passporter (not a fan), the unofficial guide (good but needs updating), and the official guide for couples (sterile, but good romantic tips!). I spent hours reading about everyones good fortunes, cakes, cards, special seating, etc. After reading about all the wonderful things that have happened, you start to EXPECT those things to be the normal. On my honeymoon ( and my birthday which also fell on this trip) , I had dreamed that we would be lavished with gifts, led to the front of the line, given freebies at every meal, window seating at each restaurant, etc. I enjoyed the planning; it gave me a way to pass the time. NOTE: To all other over-planners (you know who you are!)~ The biggest disappointment was that everything I had read didnt happen to us. When we got to the room there was nothing for our honeymoon. With all the check-in mix-ups (read day 1)- they probably didnt have it in their system. But we got an awesome corner room with 2 windows and an inner courtyard view (no parking lots!!) My husband saw the disappointment, and I quickly learned not to expect anything- so that everything would be better than expected! Do you see what I mean? Had I not know all the things that I had learned about other trips on the DIS, I never would have known, and could not have been disappointed. (I may start a thread about this later).
I had reserved Pop Century over a year ago, and then got the up sell phone call offering me AKL for $170 or so (pre tax). Months later I received an email from WDW for moderates for $84(pre tax) a night, and changed my AKL reservations to CBR! It turned out to be a wonderful change! We stayed 6 nights at CBR, using priceline for an extra day before and after. Or first priceline hotel was the Sleep Inn, a great hotel with waist-hi fridge, freezer, coffee maker, huge safe, blow-dryer, free donuts and coffee/juice breakfast and a nice (but boring) pool. Total price paid was $28.11. Our night after CBR was at Travelodge, a clean but run-down hotel. This place was in need of major repairs. I would not recommend it, but for the $28.56 price tag it was a (sort of) hot shower and a clean (no mattress pad???) bed. There was a safe, and a pool, but we were not there long enough to check out other amenities. Oh, both hotels offered shuttles- kind of slim pickings, but would save over a rental car.
Thanks for reading, Renessa!
Days 1-7 on the way!
Me, Renessa (24), planner extraordinaire
Pre-trip/ Planning
I began trip planning over a year ago. It was our honeymoon ( and we wore Minnie and Mickey Bride and Groom pins to the parks), and I wanted it to be perfect, I wanted to see and do everything. I hadnt been to WDW since 98- and this was my first trip where I was in charge. Through self-discovery, I found all the wonderful sites- DIS, wdwinfo, mousesavers, mouseplanet, wdwig, intercot, etc. I bought the passporter (not a fan), the unofficial guide (good but needs updating), and the official guide for couples (sterile, but good romantic tips!). I spent hours reading about everyones good fortunes, cakes, cards, special seating, etc. After reading about all the wonderful things that have happened, you start to EXPECT those things to be the normal. On my honeymoon ( and my birthday which also fell on this trip) , I had dreamed that we would be lavished with gifts, led to the front of the line, given freebies at every meal, window seating at each restaurant, etc. I enjoyed the planning; it gave me a way to pass the time. NOTE: To all other over-planners (you know who you are!)~ The biggest disappointment was that everything I had read didnt happen to us. When we got to the room there was nothing for our honeymoon. With all the check-in mix-ups (read day 1)- they probably didnt have it in their system. But we got an awesome corner room with 2 windows and an inner courtyard view (no parking lots!!) My husband saw the disappointment, and I quickly learned not to expect anything- so that everything would be better than expected! Do you see what I mean? Had I not know all the things that I had learned about other trips on the DIS, I never would have known, and could not have been disappointed. (I may start a thread about this later).
I had reserved Pop Century over a year ago, and then got the up sell phone call offering me AKL for $170 or so (pre tax). Months later I received an email from WDW for moderates for $84(pre tax) a night, and changed my AKL reservations to CBR! It turned out to be a wonderful change! We stayed 6 nights at CBR, using priceline for an extra day before and after. Or first priceline hotel was the Sleep Inn, a great hotel with waist-hi fridge, freezer, coffee maker, huge safe, blow-dryer, free donuts and coffee/juice breakfast and a nice (but boring) pool. Total price paid was $28.11. Our night after CBR was at Travelodge, a clean but run-down hotel. This place was in need of major repairs. I would not recommend it, but for the $28.56 price tag it was a (sort of) hot shower and a clean (no mattress pad???) bed. There was a safe, and a pool, but we were not there long enough to check out other amenities. Oh, both hotels offered shuttles- kind of slim pickings, but would save over a rental car.
Thanks for reading, Renessa!
Days 1-7 on the way!
Congratulations on the wedding! I'm off to read day one. 
Looking forward to the report...
