Single Mom, Three Kids....and its a year away. Is it too early for pre trip?

[annaaidan99]

I am going to Disney next May. I tell myself that now every time I get stressed. And I am always stressed out, it seems. I am a single mom. I am almost 37 years old, and I have three kids. My oldest, Aidan, will be 14 this year. I also have two daughters, Lily ( almost 5) and Lucy ( almost 3).

I am in school now, for ultrasound. It's been a lot of work, and combined with the kids....I'm frazzled a lot. It seems planning these trips has a calming effect on me

So, I've been mulling a trip for a while now. I decided to wait until the youngest was older, because she has been a tough toddler. I would love to go during the school year, but I'm scared to take Aidan out of high school. It was not a big deal in elementary school, but now I don't know.

I graduate in May next year, so I decided the best idea was to plan for end of May/first of June ( after Memorial Day). It's probably going to be busy. But I am planning for a ten day trip, so we should be able to manage. My kids want AoA. This is great...because I need to keep costs down. I will look at the LM rooms, knowing they are excluded from specials. If a great special pops up (saving more than say, $100) I would consider switching to Pop.

For the first time ever, I don't think I'm getting a dining plan. For starters, I'm going with three kids. I don't have a burning ambition to eat sit down every day with them. I was so stressed out on my last trip trying to manage getting kids to ADRs. I think focusing on counter service will be a sanity saver. However, maybe I'm not planning right, but I can't make the cost of the QSDDP work out to be a good deal. I plan on a few sit downs, though. I think 'Ohana would be fun. I also think my girls would like one of the princess meals. Actually, Aidan might too.

I hope it isn't too early to get started. Since I'm doing this alone, I don't have anyone to discuss it with. Hopefully I can get some good advice and have a great plan by the time I finally get to go!

 

[hodgesda1]

I’m not sure it is ever too early to start getting excited about going to WDW. We are heading there next week and I am already getting excited about our trip at the end of the year that we haven’t even decided on.

I am with you on the QSDDP when it comes to cost comparison, but I am a huge fan of the convenience of it. We don’t do a lot of sit down meals when we are there because we are too spontaneous and can’t/won’t plan for reservations. We like the counter service because it’s always there and ready when we’re hungry. I put the numbers on paper last October when we spent 9 days there and realized that a family of 4 could eat for about half of what the plan cost if eating off property. The bad thing is that you have to leave the park and drive off property. This takes a lot of time since it can take about 45 minutes to get from the front gate or the MK to your car and then off property. We had more than enough food with 2 quick service meals and a snack each day. Sometimes we would only order 2 meals and share between 4 people. This works at some of the places that have larger servings. So, that is my take on QSDDP. It came down to money or convenience for us.

Next week we will be staying off property and eating most meals off property. I believe I am going to regret this decision, but money came before convenience this time.

I am looking forward to following you on you journey through the planning phase to the execution phase.

Dave

My PTR: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=48375256

 

[annaaidan99]

I hear ya. I can't believe how much it's gone up. I know i had a great discount back in 2009...but believe it or not I had a 8 day/7 night trip at the Poly with DELUXE DDP for not much more than LM for ten days with tickets cost. With no DDP. As far as QSDDP, I did a calculation for the price of the plan for us. I also did a worksheet where I did some assumptions about what I'd spend based on menus...including some table service meals I think we'd do. I'm coming out close to the same number. Now, I'm not counting desserts, because we don't do them really. If it wound up being free for our dates, I'd happily switch to Pop. But I'm thinking the gift card route would work best...since I could use any possible overage on souvenirs at the end. I don't like to leave property, but I can see myself packing a lot of snacks for the room and what not. I have never done that before, but I think it will be a good deal with my younger ones, who are inclined to graze.

 

[happybelle]

Joining in.

 

[annaaidan99]

Glad to know I'm not crazy for starting now. It will take me this long to save for it, so it will be nice to talk about it during the process. I'm looking forward to the booking date for packages. I considered the YES program for tickets, but I'm not sure the ticket savings will offset the cost of booking summer prices. I guess I'll know better when more info is released.

 

[annaaidan99]

Ok, the project this week has been resorts. I've been reading and reading about the Little Mermaid rooms. That's where the kids are wanting to go, and I like it too...except for the lack of discounts. I like using the discounts. So this week has been about deciding if this is where we want, and where we would go otherwise. My alternatives so far are Pop and All Star Music. I am in the process of reading as much about all as I can, so any opinions are welcome.

 

[happybelle]

All Star Music always seems cheaper. I can't really answer though, not sure. Just wanted you to know someone was reading still.

 

[annaaidan99]

Lol, thanks for reading. It's going to be more interesting when I can do more. My last trip was beginning of 2011, so I've been reading about the new Fantasyland and am curious how that changes touring of MK. With my crew, I tend to not do full park days, and I spend 3 or 4 at MK. I want to get a new Unofficial Guide and see what's new. I also am curious about new fast pass system.

 

[annaaidan99]

Well I feel like I've made a milestone...I've officially saved $500 for this trip so far. I've been buying Disney gift cards to save...for some reason that's easier for me. I've got a ways to go but it feels like it can really happen now

 

[mom2clr]

Hi there! I am not a single mom but am planning a girls only trip next August. My girls will then be 6.5 and 3.5. Youngest DD is a handful so I can relate to wanting to wait until your youngest is older. I'm hoping my DD2 will be fully potty trained and have better "listening ears".

We are moving so we will be losing our sitter but there's a part of me that's excited for her to enter daycare. I know a schedule and routine will do her good.

Looking forward to hearing about your plans. I'm not expert, but I like bouncing ideas and see what others have to say.

 

[annaaidan99]

Hi there! I've never been with the kids alone but I think it will work out at their ages... and I also have my teen son with me for help. I've stressed some in thinking about whether he will have to ride a lot alone, but I'm thinking maybe not. Lily my 5 year old) is already over 40" tall and is very excited about rides like Thunder Mountain and Soarin. The 3 year old is 38" now and should be tall enough to do those I think by next year. I have a tentative plan to stick with three parks... MK, Epcot, and AK, but my son thinks we should maybe do a DH day too. The bigger rides would probably be just him riding but he is independent enough to do single rider now.

I'm planning on lots of 3/4 days. I think they will be happier if they can be back at resort swimming in the afternoon without park plans. Or on nights I want to be in parks late I can let them sleep late/ explore resort some.

The only ADRs I have in mind as of yet are CRT...not sure which meal, and maybe one of the Epcot restaurants. We will not be doing a dining plan.

 

[wiigirl]

Joining in!

 

[Maus]

Hi ! We will go next year May too and I am in complete planning mode Not travelling alone and my kids will be 6 and almost 3. I prefer sit down lunch/ dinner, I find it too stressful to do QS , I need air condition, a menu and someone that brings my food , lol
Have you considered renting points, that gives you more space and a better location and you could have breakfast for cheap in your room.

 

[annaaidan99]

I have looked into renting points. Especially after the kids started eyeing "other" resorts and saw AKL.... in the end it will depend on $... I think it may be tough to swing renting because I won't have the ability to pay incrementally over time like I can through Disney. I think renting points gets tricky when you do a trip with two weekends.

When the rates are released on the 10th, I will price out an AOA trip. I've done Pop before and was okay with the space...might seem better with just kids. My three year old wants AKL though, and it is cracking me up. I think I will wind up having dinner there one night instead of Ohana since they are so fascinated by it.

 

[annaaidan99]

If it was me and DS, I would do sit downs too. But I think I would be frazzled trying to do more than a couple of ADRs with the girls.

 

[momminnie]

I am joining in on your fun. Looking forward to the journey thru your PTR. Planning is so much fun. When I start planning I kind of get a little obsessed and think about it all the time. Have fun don't stress.

 

[annaaidan99]

I'm with you on planning...it's as fun as the trip. It's going to be a different kind of trip than I'm used to planning! Usually I'm planning ADRs and focusing on what DS would want to try...since I've done most trips with him. I've never done a "girl" trip. We've never done any princess things...but I've got two that are in love with them. So I'm reading a lot about CRT, and trying to decide if I'd rather eat in the morning or evening. I also routinely have skipped HS, since my DS was always a ride weenie and there wasn't much there outside of the movie ride and star tours... Plus some shows. Last time we went was 2006. Now I think it may be worthwhile. Do they do Fantasmic nightly again?

 

[annaaidan99]

Since its soooooo close to booking time...I'm in figuring mode. I'm thinking it MAY be worthwhile to get the QSDP on this trip, I've only got one must do ADR. I have a teenager, who will probably eat the snacks, and it might be a nice just in case.

 

[spiritsim]

Just joined in, we are also doing 2014 but not until oct .....lol This is our first time in the world, but I grew up in Disneyland We are going to do the DP because I can pay for it ahead of time and not have to bring as much cash, easyer for me that way. And I am used to doing a sit down dinner ever night where we can go over our day together. My way to relax I guess. DH is a big eater so don't think qs would work for us. Looking forward to how your trip works out you will go right before I have to make my ADRs I want to do a girls trip with just my DD who will be on this trip so thinking of getting APs

 

[annaaidan99]

This will be our first trip without the regular DP. I also love the TS, and it's gonna be weird without it. But... I can't make it make sense for just me and kids. My son would like it, for sure, but my two girls are not the biggest fans of restaurants. But the main reason I say no this time is to keep things as unscheduled as possible. That and being at a value makes the QS valuable...since that's what at the hotel. I had originally thought to opt out of the plans altogether, but when I do pricing tomorrow I will look at the cost with QSDP since we will probably benefit. I'll update with numbers tomorrow when I book. I'm up to $750 in my Disney bank and I'm excited about it.