Sunshine Makes Me Happy [04/30/11 - 05/08/11]: We're BLOOMING with Excitement!!!

[MARsMama]

We've never tried the DDP before. Is it worth it?

Well this time it's definately worth it for us as we booked with free dining. No calculations needed for us to figure that out!
I think when paying for the DDP though it depends on each family and their eating habits and where they choose to eat. For us it was definately worth it. We picked a few character meals for the kids and really enjoyed having a TS everyday. Had we been paying OOP we would likely have stuck with counter service and not taken time to sit and relax once a day to have a 'big meal'. For us we always watch what we get when eating out, not so much the food items, but the prices. With the DDP it was nice not to have to do that. It made it feel more like a vacation to be able to just order what we wanted, including drinks (we usually get water when eating out to cut down the cost).
So although our first trip we could have eaten for a simiar price to what we paid for the DDP, the extras comforts to having it made it worthwhile for us.

It takes a bit to figure out, but if you can figure out where you want to eat while away, and check the approximate price of what you would likely order (including drinks and desserts), then find the cost of the DDP for your trip it will give you a good idea of if it's worth it or not. It's harder for some than others to figure out, but for us it wasn't too bad as I have so many picky eaters it isn't hard to find what they will eat off of a menu once the restaurant is chosen!LOL

 

[DizneyDreams]

Welcome back to my PTR! We're moving right along and the trip is quickly approaching! I cannot believe it, we're going to be in the teen's soon enough. How exciting this is, how exciting indeed. So this update for the PTR is going to be about WHY we always go to WDW in May. It is a valid question, and although we have been to WDW in December a couple of times before we really do prefer to go in May. So here is a list of the reasons why May is our favorite time to go to WDW!!!

1. The Weather.
Of course this list would not be complete without me mentioning the weather as a reason why we love WDW in May. Of course we liked WDW in December but its just that the weather was such a hassle. I remember in 2008 we were stuck at MCO for a few hours due to a terrible storm back in Toronto. When we go in May, the only reason for a flight delay would be because one of the crew members is sick and they had to call someone else. Another component of the weather that we really like is the fact that it is always warm in May in Florida. It's nice to go from cold weather in Canada to nice and comfy, warm weather in Florida. Ahh yes, that is what is needed right now. It's quite chilly these days in Canada.

2. The Flowers.
Spring is in the air! We love going to WDW in May to see the different trees and flowers that are blooming. They are different than what we see in Canada, and they are always so beautiful! Plus you also have the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, which I will be showing you some pictures of in a little bit!

3. The Trip Timing.
It's also just an easier time for us all to go. I mean with school and then with my parents' work - it can be difficult to find a time that works well with everyone. The end of April and beginning of May is a nice time for that. Although we were originally supposed to go in February, we decided to go in May because the timing is better.

4. The Crowds.
I cannot believe I almost forgot to mention this. The crowds in May are also quite manageable. The wait times are minimal and we are always able to get what we want done.

So those are the simple reasons why we love to go to WDW in May. Which brings me to my next point, in less than a month it will be May!!

My question for you all today is: What is your favorite time to go to WDW?

 

[DizneyDreams]

It's time for the Daily Disney Countdown and the Picture of the Day!

This picture was taken from the Adventureland/Liberty Square side of Cinderella's Castle. I wonder what it is going to look like this time with the Castle partly under construction. ​

There are 22 days until the trip!

 

[MARsMama]

Another great photo!!

We're in Canada, too. Which province are you in? We're in NS and it's still too chilly here for my liking, I'm ready for some warmer weather! lol

I love the palm trees, they are so beautiful!! When we drove down in '09 I couldn't wait until we seen the first palm trees!!

I've only ever been to Disney the end of March first part of April. Towards the end of our trip it was getting a bit to warm for my liking.....isn't it hot in May?! We'll be there the end of September first part of October this time and I'm already nervous that it'll be too hot when we're there!! lol

 

[PixieMama]

I've been to WDW a total of 4 times.

Twice as a kid... one trip was in March and the other in May. Unfortunately, I don't really remember much about these trips.

DH and I have taken our girls twice... first family trip was in 2007 and then again in 2010. Both of these trips were in October (during the girls' Fall Break from school). So only having been in October, I don't have any other months to compare (yet, anyway... my upcoming trip will be my 1st time going in early September) BUT...

October has been great for us. I don't have to worry about pulling my kids out of school and the weather isn't too unbearable. Yes, it's still hot, but maybe since we're Southerners we're just used to it! On our 2 trips in October, it didn't rain one single time. And the crowd levels during October aren't too bad, either.

That being said, I would really like to visit WDW during November or December, so I can see the holiday decorations! I love seeing all the ones for Halloween, I can only imagine how beautiful everything is decorated for Christmas!

 

[DizneyDreams]

Another great photo!!

We're in Canada, too. Which province are you in? We're in NS and it's still too chilly here for my liking, I'm ready for some warmer weather! lol

I love the palm trees, they are so beautiful!! When we drove down in '09 I couldn't wait until we seen the first palm trees!!

I've only ever been to Disney the end of March first part of April. Towards the end of our trip it was getting a bit to warm for my liking.....isn't it hot in May?! We'll be there the end of September first part of October this time and I'm already nervous that it'll be too hot when we're there!! lol

I'm from Ontario (yay )! It's nice to meet a fellow Canadian! I know what you mean about the palm trees! When we drove down we had a little competition to see who could spot a palm tree first. Needless to say, I never won.

It can get a little hot in May - but its manageable I find. I mean of course every morning when we would walk out of the longhouse that we were staying in at the Polynesian we would be met with a whooosh of hot air. But still after a cold winter, its nice. Whats not really nice is when your sunburn gets sunburnt. Ha.

I've always wanted to go in October. If only it was nice and warm in October here. But no...of course not, right?

I've been to WDW a total of 4 times.

Twice as a kid... one trip was in March and the other in May. Unfortunately, I don't really remember much about these trips.

DH and I have taken our girls twice... first family trip was in 2007 and then again in 2010. Both of these trips were in October (during the girls' Fall Break from school). So only having been in October, I don't have any other months to compare (yet, anyway... my upcoming trip will be my 1st time going in early September) BUT...

October has been great for us. I don't have to worry about pulling my kids out of school and the weather isn't too unbearable. Yes, it's still hot, but maybe since we're Southerners we're just used to it! On our 2 trips in October, it didn't rain one single time. And the crowd levels during October aren't too bad, either.

That being said, I would really like to visit WDW during November or December, so I can see the holiday decorations! I love seeing all the ones for Halloween, I can only imagine how beautiful everything is decorated for Christmas!

October seems like a nice month to go to WDW. I mean when the weather at home is starting to deteriorate, it might be nice to take a nice relaxing vacation away from it all. December is nice, and the decorations are beautiful as well, but there is something about May that draws me in. I guess its the familiarity. Just like you would be more familiar with the weather patterns for October in a way. Comparing the time you travel to the different years. Did you ever go the second week of October? We were thinking about doing that one year during the Canadian thanksgiving, but we weren't sure about the crowds.

 

[DizneyDreams]

Now it's time for me to tell a story. I have to admit, it seems a bit strange to me, and what was even stranger is what happened a few months later. So without further ado, and without a long introduction...let's get started!

Booking a flight is quite tricky. It almost seems like a game. It's a game where the main goal is to find the best price possible at a convenient time. We've almost always, if not always, taken a flight that left Toronto at 10:30am and got to Florida at 1:00pm or so. Right, well the flight time for this trip is not the problem. There really is no "problem" it's just rather a strange occurrence. So after watching the flights for Westjet for about a couple of months or so, my mom told me it was time to book the flight. The prices didn't seem like they were going to be decreasing any time soon, so we took our chances and booked the flight. Wooohoo! In 2010 we booked our flight in December and for this trip we also booked our flight in December, just a few weeks prior to the year before.

So I check the next day just to see if we made the right decision. The page begins to load and under the departure tab I only see one flight. This flight left at 8:00pm.

THAT IS NOT OUR FLIGHT. See when we booked our flight the day before the plane was empty, we were able to get row 2 (due to my mom's claustrophobia - we like to be closer to the front to get off and feel like we can move around). Our flight was for 10:30am. So where did our flight go?

That was the question I asked myself for months after we booked the plane. Until one day I checked and there it was. But of course, the next day it disappeared again. Odd. Regardless, we got a good price for the plane, and although the flight disappeared, and least we booked it at a good time and got some good seats. The price currently coming home is around $509.00 CDN. Which is extremely expensive. But we didn't pay that price.

 

[PixieMama]

Both of our October trips were during the middle of the month... around the 15th to 21st, or so. Typically the 3rd full week, I guess.

Like you said, it's the familiarity of knowing what you're getting yourself into! I'm a little nervous about going in September... I know it will be H-O-T!

 

[DizneyDreams]

Both of our October trips were during the middle of the month... around the 15th to 21st, or so. Typically the 3rd full week, I guess.

Like you said, it's the familiarity of knowing what you're getting yourself into! I'm a little nervous about going in September... I know it will be H-O-T!

Don't be nervous! I'm sure it will be fantastic weather. I always find that although it may be HOT it still seems to be manageable in some way or another.

 

[DizneyDreams]

It's time for the Daily Disney Countdown and the Picture of the Day!

This picture was taken on our way to the Tower of Terror. We didn't go on RnR the last trip, but maybe this trip. It always seems like we have to choose between TOT or RnR because one line will be longer than the other. ​

There are 21 days until the trip!

 

[MARsMama]

Ontario is somewhere I am really hoping to take the kids someday. I was thinking maybe in a couple of years, but we'll have to see how things go.
One thing I think about with going to October as opposed to March is that we're just going to be starting into colder weather, so it will seem like a huge change when we get home and have to face winter. Whereas in March once we got home we were pretty much done with winter and moved right into spring!
RnR and ToT are rides I won't have to worry about as I won't be going on either of those. Great photo though!

 

[PixieMama]

Love seeing the pics.

ToT is one of my favorite rides! I only got to ride it once on our first trip... DH won't do any free fall rides like that, so I convinced my then-6-year-old DD to go with me. She refused to do it again on that trip... but I was able to get her to go on it again last year!

I like coasters, and I think RnRC is one of the better ones at WDW. It's a bit loud but a lot of fun!

Although, if I had to choose between the two, I'd pick ToT!

 

[MARsMama]

Love seeing the pics.

ToT is one of my favorite rides! I only got to ride it once on our first trip... DH won't do any free fall rides like that, so I convinced my then-6-year-old DD to go with me. She refused to do it again on that trip... but I was able to get her to go on it again last year!

I like coasters, and I think RnRC is one of the better ones at WDW. It's a bit loud but a lot of fun!

Although, if I had to choose between the two, I'd pick ToT!

Oh how I wish you were going to WDW when we are!! Dd LOVES ToT and I just can't do that ride again. Dh is a big chicken and won't even try it. I just can't do rides with sudden drops....give me the teacups and I can spin to your heart's content, but don't drop me!

 

[DizneyDreams]

Ontario is somewhere I am really hoping to take the kids someday. I was thinking maybe in a couple of years, but we'll have to see how things go.
One thing I think about with going to October as opposed to March is that we're just going to be starting into colder weather, so it will seem like a huge change when we get home and have to face winter. Whereas in March once we got home we were pretty much done with winter and moved right into spring!
RnR and ToT are rides I won't have to worry about as I won't be going on either of those. Great photo though!

That is true! That's why we like to go after winter - as a little "Congratulations - you made it through" type of thing. Nice to go from the freezing cold to the blazing heat.

Funny story - I actually tried RNR the first time in 2006 - it took me like 5 trips to work up the courage. I like it, but it sometimes hurts my back. The music is nice and it takes away from the scariness of the ride in a way.

Love seeing the pics.

ToT is one of my favorite rides! I only got to ride it once on our first trip... DH won't do any free fall rides like that, so I convinced my then-6-year-old DD to go with me. She refused to do it again on that trip... but I was able to get her to go on it again last year!

I like coasters, and I think RnRC is one of the better ones at WDW. It's a bit loud but a lot of fun!

Although, if I had to choose between the two, I'd pick ToT!

The ToT is absolutely my most favorite ride ever. Honestly, I didn't like the dark part of it at first, but the free falling is so much fun. Especially when the elevator goes up to the window and goes back down without stopping.

 

[MARsMama]

The ToT is absolutely my most favorite ride ever. Honestly, I didn't like the dark part of it at first, but the free falling is so much fun. Especially when the elevator goes up to the window and goes back down without stopping. [/QUOTE]

I kept telling myself while we were walking through the line that since my 4 y/o was tall enough to ride it, it couldn't be that bad! Oh but it was!
The first drop was awful , and when we were going back up after that drop I seriously wanted to cry! (see, I can laugh now about it!). The best part was when it stopped and we could get off I was totally shocked that Dd loved it and wanted to go again!! That was not about to happen!

 

[DizneyDreams]

I kept telling myself while we were walking through the line that since my 4 y/o was tall enough to ride it, it couldn't be that bad! Oh but it was!
The first drop was awful , and when we were going back up after that drop I seriously wanted to cry! (see, I can laugh now about it!). The best part was when it stopped and we could get off I was totally shocked that Dd loved it and wanted to go again!! That was not about to happen!

Aww!
I will never go on Space Mountain - it scares me too much. I just like the randomness of the ToT drops. My mom is the same way though. She didn't like the feeling that the drops gave her.

 

[DizneyDreams]

So today's update will be about Booking the Rental Car and an Extra Story! The story is more of a memory - but its a memory that I feel is funny enough to share!

I guess I should begin by saying that we are using Alamo for the rental car, like every other year.

So we decided to book the rental car during the beginning of January. The prices for the rental car had gone down, and with the discount that our airlines gave us, we just couldn't refuse the deal we found. We booked a full size car since it was the same price as the car size below. Why not book that car size plus get a day free rather than booking the car size down and getting a free upgrade to the full size car. We really wouldn't be saving anymore...pointless deal there.

The airline that we use, West Jet, offers a discount on rental cars. They negotiate a rate with Alamo and thats the rate that is available to guests who fly on West Jet. It's a great deal, saved about $200.00 or so after taxes. Now, we are not fans of Alamo, but I have heard that the other rental car companies are not any better. So we go with what we know...Alamo!

Okies, so that's all settled, now is the time for the story. So, we were heading over to the rental car place located across from the airport terminal and we noticed that the only car color available in the category that we paid for was white. Now I don't really care about car color, but when all the cars have scratches or other unknown marks on them, the car turns from white to a mixture of black and brown with some white. Oh well, the car was nice - it was a Impala - and in 2008 we rented a navy blue color.

Hopefully this year there will be more of a color choice - if not i'm sure what we will get will be good!

 

[DizneyDreams]

It's Time for the Daily Disney Countdown and Picture!!!

I was trying to think of a good photo to show for today. I take a lot of pictures on our trips, but I never know which one to use. Will it be Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios? Or will it be a resort, or a restaurant. Who knows!

This is of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from Liberty Square. I think we were about to get in line for the Haunted Mansion!!​

There are 20 days until the trip!

 

[DizneyDreams]

I cannot believe that tomorrow we will be in the teens for the number of days left. I know I keep saying this, but it's really true - the time that one has to wait for their trip often seems to go by really fast. Sometimes, a little too fast! I'm excited to do the online check-in for the airplane - that is 24 hours in advance of our flight. I'll talk more about this later on in the PTR.

Today's update is going to be regarding our park plans! So I'll just post the list of days and possible parks that we will be going to. So without further ado...here we go with the park plans!!!

Saturday, April 30 2011 - No Park [ Arrival Day ]
Sunday, May 1 2011 - Disney's Hollywood Studios
Monday, May 2 2011 - Epcot
Tuesday, May 3 2011 - Magic Kingdom
Wednesday, May 4 2011 - Disney's Hollywood Studios
Thursday, May 5 2011 - Animal Kingdom
Friday, May 6 2011 - Magic Kingdom
Saturday, May 7 2011 - Epcot
Sunday, May 8 2011 - No Park [ Departure Day ]

We usually have even days for parks, but not this time. Who knows - we may sneak over to the Animal Kingdom sometime during one of our other park days. We shall see.

 

[MARsMama]

Love the daily photos, another good one today
The days and going by fast, you'll soon be on your way. I actually enjoy the time leading up and all the planning and anticipation. That time goes by fast enough, but once you're there is goes even faster and before you know it you're back home.....so I like to make the best of the day leading up