She's STILL too young to go! Christmas w/a 17mo w/lots of tips! PTR!

[harleyquinn]

Hello and welcome to my Christmas PTR!

If you are taking or thinking about taking a young child to WDW, this is the place to be!

First, introductions!

Me: Sarah 30 year old Children's Librarian. Disney-a-holic. This will be my 8th trip to WDW since 2003. I had never been as a child.
DH: Justin (The_Horned_King) Also 30, middle school Art teacher. Responsible for my Disney-a-holicness. This is his 9th trip to WDW; went twice as a child.
And the star of the show DD: Lilliana. She will turn 17 months on the trip. This is her second adventure at WDW.

DD and I at Ohana in August:

DD and DH in Toontown in August:

If you're here for tips and haven't read the August adventure, you should definitely check it out. The PTR and the report are full of the tips and tricks that allowed us to not only survive the August heat, but to have a magical trip. Both links are in my signature.

In the past we've stayed at POR 3 times, POFQ 1, POP 1, ASSports 2. DH stayed offsite and camped as a kid.

For this adventure we are renting vacation club points and staying deluxe (plus) for the very first time. I'm crazy excited just about that. We're staying at a studio in the Boardwalk Villas.

This is my second trip at Christmas time. My mom and I went the second week of December in 2008 when I was 8 weeks pregnant with DD. It was a nightmare. I was super sick and super hormonal and missed DH like crazy.

We're staying December 18-24 and driving from Cleveland.

So them's the basics!

 

[loritemp]

Yipee!!! Love how on top of these reports you are

We just closed on a DVC membership, BWV is our home resort. So can't wait to hear all the details since you will be heading there before I will!! Let the planning begin!!!!

 

[aksunshine]

Wooo Hooo for BWV!!!!! This is a fabulous age! Levi was nearly 17 mo old when we took him. He loved every in!

 

[harleyquinn]

Yipee!!! Love how on top of these reports you are

We just closed on a DVC membership, BWV is our home resort. So can't wait to hear all the details since you will be heading there before I will!! Let the planning begin!!!!

Thanks! I really wanted to get the tips out there. I'm really writing it to save for Lily too.

Lucky duck! Congrats on the purchase! We'd LOVE to buy in, but right now it doesn't make sense for us since we haven't stayed above the moderate category and have been happy.

I am SOOO looking forward to being within walking distance of 2 parks!

Wooo Hooo for BWV!!!!! This is a fabulous age! Levi was nearly 17 mo old when we took him. He loved every in!

Yay! These next few months seem to be a crazy cool developmental time for kiddos. So much happens!

 

[loritemp]

Last time we went we stayed at the Swan and the location can't be beat!!! My DS was 18months old and it was just such a perfect trip. Reports like yours are really great for people debating how old is old enough, ya know? Oh and I just love that you can one day show these all to Lily, how special!!

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I'm in!! I just found your August TR and am about to dive in...hoping DD takes a long nap today! We have a lot in common...I too am 30, Disney-a-holic, and just took our 15 month old on her first trip in August/Sept. Difference is I can only hope we can go once every 1-2 years. With fours kids and me not working we just can't afford to do more...but I'm thankful for the Magic we do get to embark on when we can!!

 

[harleyquinn]

Last time we went we stayed at the Swan and the location can't be beat!!! My DS was 18months old and it was just such a perfect trip. Reports like yours are really great for people debating how old is old enough, ya know? Oh and I just love that you can one day show these all to Lily, how special!!

Thank you! I can't wait to write about the differences in her from the first trip to this one.

I'm in!! I just found your August TR and am about to dive in...hoping DD takes a long nap today! We have a lot in common...I too am 30, Disney-a-holic, and just took our 15 month old on her first trip in August/Sept. Difference is I can only hope we can go once every 1-2 years. With fours kids and me not working we just can't afford to do more...but I'm thankful for the Magic we do get to embark on when we can!!

DH and I usually do one budget minded trip a year. If we had 4 kids, we would be lucky to go every other year!

2 (possibly 3 trips) in one year is totally new and totally crazy to us! So I might as well get on with how that happened...

 

[harleyquinn]

The title of this thread is a wink to all the wet blankets that told us we were crazy for taking DD in August. Well we had an awesome time.

Now we have those same wet blankets, plus a few new ones asking if we are ready to be checked into the mental hospital for going again only 4 months later.

We think we're a little crazy this time too. Trust me. Not because we don't believe in the magic, but we just aren't the kind of couple that goes twice in one year (okay, so that's not totally true. I did go twice in 2008...lol).

So this is how Disney math got the best of us.

I have been telling DH for a couple of years that if his Christmas break ever fell so that he had a week off before Christmas, we'd be going to WDW. Well, guess what happened this year?

Yes I am crazy enough to go twice in 4 months. I am crazy enough to brave the summer heat. I am crazy enough to drive with a 1 yo for 17 hours.

But I'm not crazy enough to deal with the crowds the week between Christmas and New Years.

Now, I know it's still going to be busier than I've ever dealt with before, but it also won't be 93 with 100% humidity!

As soon as the week off before Christmas was a rumor around DH's school, I started doing some Disney math. Luckily about the same time I did our taxes and discovered the child tax credit is a wonderous thing.

Do you know what I mean about Disney math? My personal Disney math has a tendency to ignore some insignificant expenses so that I can convince myself that I'm really not spending that much. Things like tips and the hotel stays on the drive down and home. Little things!

I took a look at the hotel rates for the week and realized that there was no way we were going. We usually stay during value season. Holiday season was a kick in the teeth.

So I gave up for a day or two, until something on the dis made me think, I should rent points! OMG this week is value season for the DVC resorts?! What?!

I figured we could just upgrade our August package passes to our very first APs and they would end up costing less than another package. Plus we could probably get a third trip in before they expire next August!

So I did some more DM (Disney Math ) and figured out that we could stay at the lower priced DVC resorts (pointwise) for only $90 a night except the Saturday we arrived. $90 a night for a studio at AKV vs $185 (ish) at POR was a no brainer!

Now this depended on a couple of things. I needed to find someone to rent the points at $10 per and we needed to get the lowest priced studio.

So what happened???

 

[TinkOhio]

Woohoo! Another one of Sarah's famous trip reports! Can't wait to read along and count down with you.

 

[harleyquinn]

Woohoo! Another one of Sarah's famous trip reports! Can't wait to read along and count down with you.

Aww! I don't know how famous I am. The first one only made it to 8 pages. I know that was a little bit because I posted it really fast, but I wanted to move on to this!

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

what?! I had NO idea you could rent points and get a studio so cheap??!! I need to learn all the tricks from you! This would especially come in handy with 4 kids! We just got back from ASMU family suite...nice size but haven't dreamed we'd ever be able to stay anywhere else

 

[loritemp]

what?! I had NO idea you could rent points and get a studio so cheap??!! I need to learn all the tricks from you! This would especially come in handy with 4 kids! We just got back from ASMU family suite...nice size but haven't dreamed we'd ever be able to stay anywhere else

Head over to the DVC section. There is a whole section of threads about renting points. And the people over there are so very nice and helpful

I just got a thumbs up from my DH to plan a March trip. And confirmed my dad and his GF want to come. My DS2 will only be 3 months old. I know I will get an earful about it but who cares! Its my money and my trip. DOn't like the idea of travelling with a little one? Don't do it and don't bother me about my trip

 

[DannysMom]

I'm here too Sarah!

 

[moparop]

Sweet!! Glad you are getitng started on this one! I didn't realize you guys were renting points. What a value!! I keep thinking we need to look into doing it since our options for 5 people are so limited. Maybe on the next trip...

We'll be there a few weeks before you with a 15 month old, so hopefully I'll have time to try some of the ideas out and post how they went. Are you a librarian in a public library or a school system? Question: My 6 year old (mid 3rd grade reading level) is an animal encyclopedia-aholic (yes I just invented that word!). Any suggestions for good novels to bridge him into? I'd really like him to get back to some fiction again! We have done some Junie B and Magic Tree House but they do not hold his interest for long periods.

 

[DannysMom]

Question: My 6 year old (mid 3rd grade reading level) is an animal encyclopedia-aholic (yes I just invented that word!). Any suggestions for good novels to bridge him into? I'd really like him to get back to some fiction again! We have done some Junie B and Magic Tree House but they do not hold his interest for long periods.

Not Sarah, I'm sure she'll come along w/ more suggestions tho! What about animal centered fiction. I know when I was a child & a reading fiend I really loved the Black Stallion series as well as Misty. I think even then I was liking animals more than people, more often than not. lol

 

[WDWsweetie]

i'm in, can't wait to hear all your plans!

 

[arubio0801]

Woo Hoo I'm in!! I don't think your crazy for taking him we took Logan in the end of april beinging of may he was only 3monthes!!! And we just took him again for labor day. I think it's easier to travel when their younger then older. Can't wait to read!!

 

[harleyquinn]

what?! I had NO idea you could rent points and get a studio so cheap??!! I need to learn all the tricks from you! This would especially come in handy with 4 kids! We just got back from ASMU family suite...nice size but haven't dreamed we'd ever be able to stay anywhere else

You'll see that my plans didn't work out exactly as I wanted them, but I'll be sure to include all the details!

Head over to the DVC section. There is a whole section of threads about renting points. And the people over there are so very nice and helpful

I just got a thumbs up from my DH to plan a March trip. And confirmed my dad and his GF want to come. My DS2 will only be 3 months old. I know I will get an earful about it but who cares! Its my money and my trip. DOn't like the idea of travelling with a little one? Don't do it and don't bother me about my trip

Yay!!!

I'm here too Sarah!

Sweet!! Glad you are getitng started on this one! I didn't realize you guys were renting points. What a value!! I keep thinking we need to look into doing it since our options for 5 people are so limited. Maybe on the next trip...

We'll be there a few weeks before you with a 15 month old, so hopefully I'll have time to try some of the ideas out and post how they went. Are you a librarian in a public library or a school system? Question: My 6 year old (mid 3rd grade reading level) is an animal encyclopedia-aholic (yes I just invented that word!). Any suggestions for good novels to bridge him into? I'd really like him to get back to some fiction again! We have done some Junie B and Magic Tree House but they do not hold his interest for long periods.

There are a bunch of little series's (lol) similar to the length of Junie B and MTH that focus on animals, but 6 is young to be reading those. What grade is he in? Are you reading together? I would try some books on CD. The narration can be good enough to keep them interested.

Many, many boys find nonfiction to be much more interesting than fiction, especially at that age. I would be encouraging ANY reading.

With that said, I would suggest:
Bunnicula
Animal Ark
Puppy Place
Magic Puppy/Kitten
Dinosaur Cove

I don't think anything except Bunnicula is all that great, but they should all be pretty good bridges. Especially Dinosaur Cove.

i'm in, can't wait to hear all your plans!

Woo Hoo I'm in!! I don't think your crazy for taking him we took Logan in the end of april beinging of may he was only 3monthes!!! And we just took him again for labor day. I think it's easier to travel when their younger then older. Can't wait to read!!

I agree! When they are that young, they are more likely to sleep a lot!

 

[leshunlenese]

coming over for your august TR. i love how you said that your are crazy enough to go twice within four months.. i must be crazy too because we are going in a few weeks for my sons first birthday and again in december

 

[moparop]

There are a bunch of little series's (lol) similar to the length of Junie B and MTH that focus on animals, but 6 is young to be reading those. What grade is he in? Are you reading together? I would try some books on CD. The narration can be good enough to keep them interested.

Many, many boys find nonfiction to be much more interesting than fiction, especially at that age. I would be encouraging ANY reading.

With that said, I would suggest:
Bunnicula
Animal Ark
Puppy Place
Magic Puppy/Kitten
Dinosaur Cove

I don't think anything except Bunnicula is all that great, but they should all be pretty good bridges. Especially Dinosaur Cove.

He's a first grader and a young one at that (just turned 6 last month.) We do read some together, but his teacher is really pushing independent reading and frankly, I am growing bored of animal facts! Last year, we were reading the Little Animal Ark or Junie B/MTH books and he would read me two pages and I would read one. His comprehension seemed consistent regardless. We'll look into some of other ones. I am hoping we can do one fiction to two nonfictions for a while this year just for some variety!