Sarilas' O-fficial Pre-Trip Report (a.k.a. Vacation, Take TWO!) - Jan. 30-Feb. 8, '09

[BellaSoleil]

They are adorable! Can't wait to hear about your changes!

 

[Sarilas]

Alright folks... here it is! The BIG change to our January trip is....























...that it's no longer IN JANUARY!

We are now O-fficially staying at Port Orleans Riverside from FEBRUARY 20 - March 1, 2009. That's 10 spectacular days in Disney! AND... wait for it...








...it's costing us almost exactly the same as it would have been for our shorter trip in January! PLUS the $200 gift card! Oh, and did I mention that we'll be there during TWO Pirate and Princess parties?! I mean, come ON...


My biggest decision now is do I buy tickets to BOTH parties?!


I'm working on completely revamping all our ADR's and scheduling, but here's everything as it stands now, broken down Barney style for those of us (ahem: ME) who are visual learners:

Three days at Epcot, three at Magic Kingdom and one each at Animal Kingdom and DHS (subject to change). We decided against park hoppers for now BUT we can upgrade our tickets at any time, so if we change our minds we won't have to pay for park hoppers on days we won't use them!

Who's excited... I'M EXCITED!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am absolutely thrilled for you! That is truly so very awesome!!!

Personal opinion on the parties: just buy for one night for now; if you want to do a second one, chances are pretty good that there will still be tickets available since that is not a busy time of year.

I am happy dancing for you!!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Very Cool!

I wouldn't pre-buy tickets to the PPP party on your arrival day....you never how that day is going to work out....I speak from recent personal experience!

 

[BellaSoleil]

That is so exciting, although I'm a little sad you are a Snowbird-No-More. Please continue to visit us.

Girl-How did you make that calendar? It is adorable! I want one!!!!

 

[Sarilas]

Very Cool!

I wouldn't pre-buy tickets to the PPP party on your arrival day....you never how that day is going to work out....I speak from recent personal experience!

You're KILLING ME here!

I am absolutely thrilled for you! That is truly so very awesome!!!

Personal opinion on the parties: just buy for one night for now; if you want to do a second one, chances are pretty good that there will still be tickets available since that is not a busy time of year.

I am happy dancing for you!!!

I'm so STOKED! This is going to be a LONG trip but it's going to be so much fun to have no real agenda other than dinner reservations for ten solid days!

That is so exciting, although I'm a little sad you are a Snowbird-No-More. Please continue to visit us.

Girl-How did you make that calendar? It is adorable! I want one!!!!

I KNOW! I don't know what to do with myself anymore... I've been planning on January for so long I'm LOST!

 

[Sarilas]

That is so exciting, although I'm a little sad you are a Snowbird-No-More. Please continue to visit us.

Girl-How did you make that calendar? It is adorable! I want one!!!!

I'm such a dork- I just realized I spaced the calendar question!

I made it in Photoshop! I really do need visual tools to get my head straight about plans, and that does the trick for me.

 

[trixiequilts]

I'm so happy for you! Now I'll have to leave you a note on the shrine that matches up with Everest!

 

[MegansMom]

Will there be any issues with Tatiana's school with the new days out?? How do they handle it when students are on trips?? Just wondering!!!

SO EXCITED for you and your new trip!!!

 

[Sarilas]

I'm so happy for you! Now I'll have to leave you a note on the shrine that matches up with Everest!

OH NO! That's right! I'll keep my eyes open for that sticky note for sure!

Will there be any issues with Tatiana's school with the new days out?? How do they handle it when students are on trips?? Just wondering!!!

SO EXCITED for you and your new trip!!!

Nah, no issues. Her teacher is great about letting her either catch up or do work ahead of time... and since she's ahead of the rest of her class in everything, she's a pretty safe bet.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Congrats!!

I echo what Heidi said, don't go on your arrival night unless you buy the tickets last minute. You never know how the kiddos are going to travel.

 

[jake&samsmom]

Oh Lara, you did it!!!!! Awesome!!!! 10 days in Disney!!!!

Btw, after I picked the boys up from school today, we decided to go see High School Musical 3 (we watch the first two over and over, and know all of the songs' lyrics by heart - you get the idea ) I felt like such a geek and was tearing up at the end when I thought about how this was the very last HSM movie. Kinda like when the Star Wars prequels came to the end (geek alert!)

Btw, how did you (and DH) finally decide on the dates and resort and # of days? Were all days noted in the "promo" available? Was it good for all the resorts? Details please

I am very, very happy that you got such a sweet deal!

 

[TarzansKat]

Does this mean we'll be meeting Jack Sparrow?



I'm so excited for you guys! A longer trip, and the gift card, AND the pirate and princess party?

Dude.

Seriously.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I love your new ticker!

 

[GeminiAngel]

WAY TO SCORE!!!!!!
How awesome!!!

 

[Sarilas]

WAY TO SCORE!!!!!!
How awesome!!!

It's a great deal! I'd have kicked myself repeatedly for passing it up!

I love your new ticker!

Thank YOU!

Does this mean we'll be meeting Jack Sparrow?



I'm so excited for you guys! A longer trip, and the gift card, AND the pirate and princess party?

Dude.

Seriously.

Oh yes... we WILL be accosting... I mean 'meeting' Jack Sparrow!

Oh Lara, you did it!!!!! Awesome!!!! 10 days in Disney!!!!

Btw, after I picked the boys up from school today, we decided to go see High School Musical 3 (we watch the first two over and over, and know all of the songs' lyrics by heart - you get the idea ) I felt like such a geek and was tearing up at the end when I thought about how this was the very last HSM movie. Kinda like when the Star Wars prequels came to the end (geek alert!)

Btw, how did you (and DH) finally decide on the dates and resort and # of days? Were all days noted in the "promo" available? Was it good for all the resorts? Details please

I am very, very happy that you got such a sweet deal!

Awe... Tatiana has been BEGGING me to take her to that movie!

As for dates and such, we'd already decided on upgrading from ASMusic to PORiverside, and because of the length of the stay we didn't want to go Deluxe- TOO much money this time around. So we knew we'd stick with POR. As for days- well the deal is essentially best for at least 7 days, and we'd already planned on being there for about 9 in January (with 7 in the parks); after cost analyzing and talking with DH we determined that he could take one extra day off of work (a Friday) which we would use as travel and Downtown Disney day, thus leaving us with a SOLID week+ in the parks. And the cost was LESS than the original plan so it was a no brainer!

I moved the dates purely because the P&PP dates were also released and I would have just missed the first ones... I couldn't let that happen! (It was also beneficial because DH works at a medical school and they were just coming back the week we left... February will be right after board week so it's perfect.) It appeared that all resorts were partaking, but some had blackout dates (moderates had a range around MLK day that were blacked out, etc.). I had a ton of options though, and essentially chose the one that would work best for such an extended vacation.

Seriously a deal I couldn't pass up!

Congrats!!

I echo what Heidi said, don't go on your arrival night unless you buy the tickets last minute. You never know how the kiddos are going to travel.

I know you're right; we'll go with the original plan of Downtown Disney on day one and go to P&PP the following Friday!

 

[MegansMom]

I think your new arrangement will be GREAT!!!! Are the kiddos excited?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Malificient Tater]

I am so excited for you!!!!!!

 

[Sarilas]

I think your new arrangement will be GREAT!!!! Are the kiddos excited?!?!?!?!?!

Excited for sure- they get to celebrate the 100 day mark all over again this week!

I am so excited for you!!!!!!

Oh Tater, My Tater! You have a LOT of catching up to do, young lady...

 

[MegansMom]

Excited for sure- they get to celebrate the 100 day mark all over again this week!

What.....What's That?????? Does that mean another 100 day PARTY?!?!?!?!?!? I might just have to show up for this one!!!!