vickxo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2007
- Messages
- 552
"ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!"
Hello all and welcome to our PTR. This is my first official DIS PTR, usually I put all our trip planning information on a blog for the entire family to access whenever they get bored or are in need of a Disney pick me up. This time I’ve decided (after stalking the boards since 2007) that it was about time to post one up, make it “official” I guess. So, how about we get started.
First off, the story. It’s been about 3 years since our last family trip to Disney World. Since I was three my grandparents have been taking my older brother and myself to Disney World every other year so technically we should have gone last year but our lives got in the way and the trip just never got off the ground. This year I put my foot down and decided we’re going this year, so last year (in August) we booked our “home away from home” resort, the Disney Boardwalk Villas. We have been DVC members for the past 10 years (on a side note, personally we don’t know how we feel about DVC anymore, we wouldn’t give up the Boardwalk for anything, but we just feel there aren’t many perks anymore for owning the DVC the way there used to be, for example, we aren’t entitled to the free dining plan offer, but that’s another story) so we get to enjoy the benefit of booking a full year in advance. Our original trip dates were August 27 – September 4. BUT, we booked those dates after the “confirmation” of MNSSHP by a cast member who should not have been “confirming” any such dates for September 3rd, being well versed in Disney date & time changing tactics we should have known better than to “take her word for it”. The dates for MNSSHP were announced and what do you know, that date was NOT included, so we cancelled our plans and called the Boardwalk to change our dates (to which, honestly, are MUCH MORE accommodating to all of our schedules) to August 25 – September 2. The new dates didn’t include MNSSHP but they did allow my boyfriend more time on the trip (he resumes college classes on September 1, so he is flying home on August 31st, the new plans gave him more time to enjoy the trip). These changes however set off a serious of events that have made this without a doubt the most stressful experience with Disney we have ever had.
Strike 1. When we called the Boardwalk Villas to change our dates we were informed that the Boardwalk Villas no longer had open rooms on the first night of our trip so we would have to look into staying somewhere else, honestly, not the real problem, yes it was inconvenient but not the worst thing in the world to experience another hotel. We asked the woman “how about the Beach Club Villas?” (even though we stayed there for a total of 15 minutes the first year it opened and were moved to a GORGEOUS suite in the Yacht Club because of a leak in the plumbing underneath the sink, we figured give it another chance, plus it was right around the corner from Boardwalk) Sadly, that resort was also booked, hmm that left us with Saratoga (no thank you, sure it’s lovely but not my style), the Bay Lake Towers @ the Contemporary (again, lovely, but not for me), Old Key West (another no), or the Animal Kingdom Villas (we’re not really fans of the Animal Kingdom park so we weren’t too sure about staying here, but the new Kidani Village looked rather interesting and we had enough points to upgrade to 2 savannah view rooms, so heck, why not). We asked about the Animal Kingdom Villas and what do you know, AVAILABLE, so we booked that for our first night. A month or two went by and we received a phone call saying a room opened up @ the Boardwalk Villas and we were moved there for the first night, a little disappointing after getting so into the idea of the Animal Kingdom Villas but we knew it would be easier this way & that’s the way we originally wanted it so no problem. WRONG. ONE ROOM opened up @ the Boardwalk, we need and booked TWO, and if we all couldn’t stay at Boardwalk the one night we didn’t want the room. We told the woman to cancel the Boardwalk room & leave it the way it was, she says to us “Oh, well we already cancelled the one room @ the Animal Kingdom Villa, and all our savannah view rooms are booked, we can offer you a parking lot view.”
We gave the woman at the Boardwalk Villas when we were put on the waiting list strict instructions of needing the two rooms, never in a million years did we think someone wouldn’t realize that ONE RESERVATION with TWO rooms would be OK with being in two separate resorts. The woman seemed confused why we were angry, and there is no reason to get made at a poor cast member who can’t do anything for us anyway so we asked for “the big cheese’s” phone number and contacted the man in charge of the DVC, well someone who works for him anyway. We called and explained to him the situation and he seemed confused why they would do that, but he told us he can’t exactly kick other people out to make room but he would try his best. A few days went by and he called to say we got both savannah view rooms again, but he is still trying to make a way for us to be @ the Boardwalk for our entire stay. Another few days went by and we received another phone call, “we found you two rooms @ the Boardwalk, however, it is a bigger (more points) room than you originally booked, but don’t worry we won’t “charge” you more points, and it’s a different room than the rest of your stay”. We were more than OK with switching rooms within the same resort, we were just relieved all the room drama would be done with. In the end we are going to be spending one night in “deluxe garden view studios” and the rest in “preferred view studios”.
Strike 2. Now that the two-legged guests are taken care of we needed to direct our focus on to our four-legged travelers. We have 6 dogs, yes, 6 dogs. We started with a humble 2 dogs and then, well –insert the birds & the bees talk here-. Now we are one BIG happy family. We’ve never taken the dogs to Disney World before so that in itself would be an adventure. Harley, our DDD (Disney doggy daddy) has traveled long distance before, NY to SC so we weren't worried about traveling with him, he’s a good little car passenger, the only thing we are worried about with him is his “shakes”. Harley is a “special needs” dog (he has seizures and recently has had a back/hip injury, which he is on medication for, and his seizures have been non-existent since his injury) and we don’t want him to get too “excited” or “nervous” in the cages of the kennel and begin to seizure or act up. We’re hoping by bringing along Aurora DDM (Disney doggy mommy) he would be calmer, but Aurora has never traveled that far a distance before (NY to PA is about as far as she has gone). Just incase you’re wondering about the other 4 puppies, my father isn’t a Disney person so he is staying home and watching the girls. The girls are not really high maintenance, feed them @ 7am and again @ 7pm, leave on the Disney channel and they are set until bedtime, which consist of tucking them under their eeyore blanket, not really much to worry about there. Except, add to those a very old cat that has become high maintenance you get a little bit of a problem. This is why we have decided to take Harley (a real momma’s boy, doesn’t do too well when she goes away for long periods of time) and Aurora. There is NOTHING easy about getting these dogs a reservation. We started with reservations back in May @ the Animal Kingdom Kennel for the one night (back when we were staying @ the Animal Kingdom Villas) and the rest at the Epcot Kennels. We read on the Disney Parks Blog that the new Best Friends Pet Suites would be opening the 27th and made reservations for them there in a nice sized puppy suite, we were all set, one night @ Epcot Kennels the rest @ the suites they should both be fine there. Boy! Were we wrong, 2 days ago we received an e-mail saying that the suites would not be ready until September 1st, meaning we needed to hope that Epcot had openings the entire week (except the 1st -2nd when the dogs WOULD be @ the new pet suites). We called over to Epcot and got a rather rude woman who didn’t seem interesting in helping us. She said there were no large kennels left and it was too bad, we should have booked sooner, well gee lady we did! TWICE. We requested 2 medium kennels just incase the two dogs wouldn’t be able to fit in the one together comfortably (the dogs are 9 & 12lbs, not big). Now we just have to hope that dogs don’t go crazy in the kennels. We plan on feeding them and walking them ourselves and checking on them frequently, our dogs are our family, it’s not fair to keep them locked up almost 24 hours a day. The worst case scenario with the dogs is that they do get worked up and my mother will then get a room @ the Sheraton by Downtown Disney, a pet friendly hotel, and stay with them @ night at least (I will probably join her @ the Sheraton if that does happen), we’re hoping that doesn’t need to happen. I have come up with a schedule for the dog’s maintenance so my mother doesn’t have the responsibility all to herself, that wouldn’t be fair, it’s her trip to. My boyfriend and I are going with my mother in the mornings to feed, walk, and play with the dogs and my brother and his girlfriend are going to go with her at night to feed, walk, play, and tuck in for bed, I’m pretty sure my mother might go back and forth to check on them more frequently (to get away from my grandmother haha).
We haven’t quite made it to Strike 3 yet and I hope in the next 6 days we don’t have another issue (fingers crossed).
Now that all the “business” is out of the way we can get to the fun stuff, the celebrations. And we sure are celebrating A LOT, 3 college graduations and a 21st birthday to be exact. My older brother, my brother’s girlfriend and I have all recently graduated from college (brother graduated May 2009 while his girlfriend and I graduated this past May, although, I am planning on going back for another degree this September), and my boyfriend is celebrating his 21st birthday on August 27th. During all our planning problems we got a phone number to a woman “in charge” of the Disney parks who sent us another number (telephone tag) that resulted into the confirmation of birthday and graduation celebration paraphernalia that will be delivered to the room free of charge! Thank you “lady in charge,” see not everything in this PTR is a complaint, sometimes you do encounter one cast member that actually does go out of their way to accommodate the guest.
Speaking of guest, I should probably introduce the cast of characters going on this trip. In age order (youngest to oldest), we have myself, “V”(20), my boyfriend, “P” (21), my brothers girlfriend, “K” (22), my brother, “L” (23), my mother “Mom” (40ish), and my grandmother “GMa” (let’s just say she gets the senior citizens discount). This is me and my boyfriend’s first vacation together after almost 2 years of dating and his first time to Disney World in over 10 years. I think it makes it more exciting sometimes when you go with someone who hasn’t been in awhile or ever. In 2007 it was my brothers girlfriend’s first time to Disney World in a few years, it just kind of adds to the experience (maybe it’s just me who thinks that, who knows).
It’s best to be aware that I am a PLANNER, a real OCD type personality. I have scheduled our trip down to the minute, of course we all know just because you plan doesn’t mean it always turns out that way but, as it stands right now our schedule of events is as follows (the non-detailed version):
Tuesday, August 24th – Pick up boyfriend from train station @ 10:30am, last minute errands, pack up the car, & keep busy to make time go faster!
Wednesday, August 25th- Depart NY @ 3-4am, drive until we get to at least Georgia.
Thursday, August 26th- Depart GA (or wherever we make it to) @ 6am, Disney outlet shopping, check in dogs @ Epcot kennel, check ourselves in @ Boardwalk Villas, miniature golf @ winter-summerland, shopping @ Downtown Disney (one of our busiest days).
Friday, August 27th (“P’s” 21st Birthday) – Magic Kingdom* extra magic hour 11pm-1am.
Saturday, August 28th – Surprise/Secret Character Breakfast @ Cape May Café for my boyfriend and I (he doesn’t know about this post or the site, so it will stay a secret, SHHHHH!), Animal Kingdom, miniature golf @ Fantasia Gardens.
Sunday, August 29th – Hollywood Studios (the only night that FANTASMIC! is showing during our entire stay).
Monday, August 30th – Epcot (drinking around the world for “P’s” Birthday)
Tuesday, August 31st – Hang around the Boardwalk in the morning, miniature golf @ winter summer-land (in case we don’t fit it in the first day), ME for “P” @ 3ish (flight is @ 6:10pm), Park Hopping.
Wednesday, September 1st – Transfer the dogs over to the new luxury pet suites, Park Hopping.
Thursday, September 2nd – Check-out two-legged guest, check-out four-legged guest, drive until “?”.
Friday, September 3rd – Home, work @ 7pm (me and my mom must be nuts to go to work that night but we need to make back the money this trip just cost).
All of these days are subject to change, and they already have, this morning. Last night we were going to Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, in that order. But, I was informed that the date for FANTASMIC! was not the day we were going there, of course we have park hoppers but we like to do the 4 parks on their own days then spend a few days after bouncing back and forth. It’s just something we’ve always done.
Let’s see, we’ve done back story, introductions, complaints, compliments, itinerary, what’s left? Oh that’s right all the extras that make the Disney trip extra special.
Shopping is probably the group’s favorite thing and my boyfriend and I have a shopping list already. “What’s on that list?” I’m glad you asked first off is the build a Mr. Potato Head in the World of Disney store, we both already have potato heads (I have one from a previous trip, the first year the Mr. Potato Head was available, and my boyfriend has the Buzz Lightyear one* well he will when he opens his birthday present) so we’re just going to get one box and fill it with pieces we want. Next, we have the Days of Christmas store, we are really into finally have a REAL Christmas together without traveling with our college teams so this year we’re getting our tree and all our ornaments so of course it’s going to be Disney themed. I already bought stockings last year after Christmas from the Disney store for $5 each, they are Mickey and Minnie musical stockings, really cute if you ask me.
Also on the list are to finally trade some pins that I have more than one of, I have 12 pins that I have doubles or triples of so instead of spending the money on new ones I’m just going to trade my doubles for new ones. I’m not a diehard pin trader I just like the pins that can capture a memory from our trip, like a favorite ride, or favorite character, resort, restaurant, stuff like that. Same goes for the pressed coins, I have put aside a few shiny pennies and quarters, if I see a nice one I have the change handy (learned from the past, always have change on hand, don’t want to have to come back).
Another major focus on this trip is going to be photography, considering I just graduated with a degree in fine art with a focus on photography (next year I’m going for a higher level fine art degree with a focus on graphic design) I should probably test my skills in Disney World, would you believe I’ve never really PHOTOGRAPHED Disney before. I’ve been studying the work by other members of the DIS and have some serious inspiration, I just hope I can compare to some of their images.
We’re about 7 pages in now and I feel like I’m missing so much but I have the next 5 days to add as I remember.
Thanks for reading so far, hope it’s not too boring for you all
, the Contemporary Steak House thats not there anymore, and the Whispering Canyon. There was so much left over food and with so many picky eaters it seemed too wasteful to go that route again. With the quick service dining plan we get 2 quick service meals a day, plus 2 snacks a day & a re-fillable resort mug. Personally, i'm excited about the snacks, last time we almost always forgot we even had them and ended up using all our left over credits at the store on the Boardwalk, not this time. This time I did the research and found an awesome article that has all the snacks you can get and where you can get them and one word YUM!
). We had a little trouble figuring out how we'd cake the cake and where'd we get it from and what kind it would be. Who would have thought cake would be so much work 
But it's all done & ordered. 10 inches of vanilla cake with strawberry filling and vanilla frosting with a Buzz Lightyear theme. I'm not sure what "Buzz Lightyear theme" means but it sounds good & it's his favorite. We ordered it from the Boardwalk Bakery and it's supposed to be delivered to the room on his actual birthday that night, but i'm afraid we're not going to be in the room, the Boardwalk Bakery is the only place where you can order a cake and pick it up (according the cake thread) so I think I might just call and have it be ready for pick up that morning instead of getting it delivered (saves us a delivery charge). I can't wait to dig in, especially after reading the cake thread here yummy!
). One character that is a major must have this trip is the big cheese himself MICKEY MOUSE, in 2007 the wait was 3 hours in Toon Town 
Along with Mickey Mouse I really want to see Pluto, Goofy, and Minnie Mouse, hopefully my desire to see Minnie Mouse & Goofy will be fulfilled @ the Cape May Cafe Character Breakfast. A few other characters on our hunt list are Snow White, Princess Tiana, Naveen, Belle, the Beast, Donald Duck, Ariel & Eric, Woody, Jessie, Buzz, Green Army Men, Lotso, Stitch, Lilo, Peter Pan, Wendy, Lady Tremaine & the Step Sisters, the White Rabbit, Mulan, Pooh Bear, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Handy Manny, Sorcerer Mickey, Mike & Sully, Mater & Lightning McQueen, Flik, Jiminy Cricket, Meg (I know shes been out recently and I hope she will be again while we're there), and pretty much any other characters we see along the way 
).
, The Backlot Express, & The Studio Catering Company.
I pre-ordered Beauty and the Beast Blu Ray/DVD Combo Pack! 
