cj9200
DIS Dad #412
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 5,448
New Years at Disney World
A three person odyssey of fun and excitement (we hope)
In the beginning
Michael Eisner (back when he was good Michael), declared the 90s as the Disney Decade. Along the same lines, I decided that 2007 will be our Year of Disney. Even though I am a DVC member, it has been a while since I made more than one trip to Disney World during a year, and decided, why not. The first trip (and the reason for this pre trip report) begins January 1st at our home resort, Boardwalk Villas. Currently under construction are a Spring Break trip at the Wilderness Lodge Villas (our first stay there) and a June trip to Beach Club Villas (another first). The final (?) one of the year will be at an undetermined location for Christmas. It has been years since I have done a Disney World Christmas. Daughter is grumbling about being away from home for Christmas but I will trick her if need be. Dad, this isnt the way home. Yes it is. Then why are we going north on I-95?
The Cast of Characters
Me, aka The Dad A long time Disney fan and a DVC member since 1996. Handsome, charming with an engaging personality, gracefully sliding through middle age. Some would say that it is more like I am an out of control skier speeding down the icy slope of a mountain, but I dont talk to those people much anymore. I raise money for a non-profit organization and over the summer I moved back to South Florida after living in New York for five years. When I moved to the Big Apple, trips to WDW became a once a year occurrence. That forced me to bank a lot of points which I will use in 2007.
DD, aka The Princess Never in the history of the human race has a more intelligent and beautiful child walked the Earth. OK, I admit, a bit much. A 12 year-old who will become a teen in January. Pass me the aspirin and the Maalox NOW! Overall, a really good kid. She makes friends easily and does well in school. A bit of a stubborn streak she gets from her mother and both sets of grandparents. Of course, I am not to blame as I epitomize someone who is even tempered and easy to get along with. She has grown up at Disney World and I have the pictures to prove it. There is the one standing in front of the pink castle that was a centerpiece of the 25th Anniversary celebration and the one of a smiling but soaked little girl after riding Splash Mountain for the first time, the one of her , OK you get the drift. Of course, Dumbo and Its a Small World have evolved into Rock n Roller Coaster and Mission Space. A real coaster junkie like her dad.
The Ex, aka The Mom My former spouse. You heard it right; this disjointed family will be going to the World together. Not groundbreaking because we have done Disney together a number of times and we get along reasonably well. Over the past year, Mom has developed a neuromuscular disease that affects her mobility. It was tough for her to raise DD alone so I was faced with a choice, move DD to a new school in New York or come back to South Florida. Princess is in a really good school and it would be unfair to make her move away from her friends so I decided to return to sunny South Florida instead. Before I moved back, we did a Spring WDW trip using a wheelchair and found it relatively easy to get around. We will try to again get a chair from the resort but if not, I am armed with phone numbers of suppliers.
The Plan
I decided late in the game that I wanted to go sometime over the holidays. Christmas was out because of the difficulty in getting a room and before Christmas was out because of my work schedule. Why dont we go on the First? I suggested. Start the year right! DD echoed. The reality was that I didnt even bother to ask.
I called Member Services to reserve a 1BR at BWV for January 1st to the 4th (checking out the 5th).
I do not know if it is just me but the dates of my stay always cause confusion between me and Member Services. I starts our fine, I would like reserve a 1BR at the Boardwalk from January 1st to the 4th. Things rapidly deteriorate from there. So you will be checking out on the 4th. No, I want to stay on the 4th. OK, you want a 1BR from the 1st to the 5th. No, I want to stay the 4th, not the 5th. I can only imagine what the Member Services Lady is thinking, Doofus, I am the professional here. Step away from the phone before you hurt yourself. In her best Member Services voice, she slowly walks me through the reservation as if I was a five-year-old, OK, I got it sir. You want to have a sleepover in a 1 BR at the Boardwalk on the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd, and the 4th. Then you want to wake up on the morning of the 5th, wipe the sleepies out of your eyes and check out of the room by 11 a.m. A light bulb goes off above my head, Yes that is what I have been saying the whole time!
After that is finally settled, all that was available were two days standard view, one day Boardwalk view and one day Preferred view. Great, I will spend more time waiting to get into a room than actually having one. Undeterred, I took the two days standard view and waitlisted for the other two (the final day became available a couple of weeks ago). When I got off the phone, I announced to DD and Mom, Were Going to Disney World! The masses cheered their benevolent leader.
We are never interested in the dining plan because it is too much food and I dont want to have my itinerary dictated by dining reservations. We do have the Disney Dining Experience which is worth a 20% discount at most restaurants. The discount covers alcohol, a very important perk in my opinion. For this trip we started with two ADRs, Yachtsman Steakhouse on the 2nd and Chef Mickeys Breakfast for the 3rd. As an aside, I already have Breakfast with Cindy and Hoop-Dee-Doo for the Spring trip. Thinking about what Christmas gifts to give, I decided for one of their presents, the girls will have tea at the Grand Floridian on the 4th. I also scheduled Mom for an aroma therapy massage at the spa before the tea.
Plunked down $1,200 (that is with the DVC discount, OUCH) for annual passes, 2 premium for Princess and myself and a regular one for Mom. I got the two Premiums because Princess and I will be spending a lot of time at the water parks when it gets warmer and I want to take her to the Comedy Warehouse. Before I get the, How dare you speeches, she is a drama student (and occasional Drama Queen) who is very into Improv. I am not worried that a visit to CW will turn her to a life of crime and degradation. It is Disney for crying out loud. Besides, we will be going to the early shows, not closing the place down. We may even brave the Adventurers Club.
The last change was that we decided to try to get a room on New Years Eve at Vero Beach. Called last Saturday and they had a 1BR for 33 points. More than I wanted to use but what the heck.
I have started many trip reports and even almost finished one. My first New Years resolution is to do one for this trip, but we shall see. I may even bring my laptop to take notes but nine will get you ten that it will stay in the bag in the closet.
The excitement is building. Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays.
CJ
A three person odyssey of fun and excitement (we hope)
In the beginning
Michael Eisner (back when he was good Michael), declared the 90s as the Disney Decade. Along the same lines, I decided that 2007 will be our Year of Disney. Even though I am a DVC member, it has been a while since I made more than one trip to Disney World during a year, and decided, why not. The first trip (and the reason for this pre trip report) begins January 1st at our home resort, Boardwalk Villas. Currently under construction are a Spring Break trip at the Wilderness Lodge Villas (our first stay there) and a June trip to Beach Club Villas (another first). The final (?) one of the year will be at an undetermined location for Christmas. It has been years since I have done a Disney World Christmas. Daughter is grumbling about being away from home for Christmas but I will trick her if need be. Dad, this isnt the way home. Yes it is. Then why are we going north on I-95?
The Cast of Characters
Me, aka The Dad A long time Disney fan and a DVC member since 1996. Handsome, charming with an engaging personality, gracefully sliding through middle age. Some would say that it is more like I am an out of control skier speeding down the icy slope of a mountain, but I dont talk to those people much anymore. I raise money for a non-profit organization and over the summer I moved back to South Florida after living in New York for five years. When I moved to the Big Apple, trips to WDW became a once a year occurrence. That forced me to bank a lot of points which I will use in 2007.
DD, aka The Princess Never in the history of the human race has a more intelligent and beautiful child walked the Earth. OK, I admit, a bit much. A 12 year-old who will become a teen in January. Pass me the aspirin and the Maalox NOW! Overall, a really good kid. She makes friends easily and does well in school. A bit of a stubborn streak she gets from her mother and both sets of grandparents. Of course, I am not to blame as I epitomize someone who is even tempered and easy to get along with. She has grown up at Disney World and I have the pictures to prove it. There is the one standing in front of the pink castle that was a centerpiece of the 25th Anniversary celebration and the one of a smiling but soaked little girl after riding Splash Mountain for the first time, the one of her , OK you get the drift. Of course, Dumbo and Its a Small World have evolved into Rock n Roller Coaster and Mission Space. A real coaster junkie like her dad.
The Ex, aka The Mom My former spouse. You heard it right; this disjointed family will be going to the World together. Not groundbreaking because we have done Disney together a number of times and we get along reasonably well. Over the past year, Mom has developed a neuromuscular disease that affects her mobility. It was tough for her to raise DD alone so I was faced with a choice, move DD to a new school in New York or come back to South Florida. Princess is in a really good school and it would be unfair to make her move away from her friends so I decided to return to sunny South Florida instead. Before I moved back, we did a Spring WDW trip using a wheelchair and found it relatively easy to get around. We will try to again get a chair from the resort but if not, I am armed with phone numbers of suppliers.
The Plan
I decided late in the game that I wanted to go sometime over the holidays. Christmas was out because of the difficulty in getting a room and before Christmas was out because of my work schedule. Why dont we go on the First? I suggested. Start the year right! DD echoed. The reality was that I didnt even bother to ask.
I called Member Services to reserve a 1BR at BWV for January 1st to the 4th (checking out the 5th).
I do not know if it is just me but the dates of my stay always cause confusion between me and Member Services. I starts our fine, I would like reserve a 1BR at the Boardwalk from January 1st to the 4th. Things rapidly deteriorate from there. So you will be checking out on the 4th. No, I want to stay on the 4th. OK, you want a 1BR from the 1st to the 5th. No, I want to stay the 4th, not the 5th. I can only imagine what the Member Services Lady is thinking, Doofus, I am the professional here. Step away from the phone before you hurt yourself. In her best Member Services voice, she slowly walks me through the reservation as if I was a five-year-old, OK, I got it sir. You want to have a sleepover in a 1 BR at the Boardwalk on the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd, and the 4th. Then you want to wake up on the morning of the 5th, wipe the sleepies out of your eyes and check out of the room by 11 a.m. A light bulb goes off above my head, Yes that is what I have been saying the whole time!
After that is finally settled, all that was available were two days standard view, one day Boardwalk view and one day Preferred view. Great, I will spend more time waiting to get into a room than actually having one. Undeterred, I took the two days standard view and waitlisted for the other two (the final day became available a couple of weeks ago). When I got off the phone, I announced to DD and Mom, Were Going to Disney World! The masses cheered their benevolent leader.
We are never interested in the dining plan because it is too much food and I dont want to have my itinerary dictated by dining reservations. We do have the Disney Dining Experience which is worth a 20% discount at most restaurants. The discount covers alcohol, a very important perk in my opinion. For this trip we started with two ADRs, Yachtsman Steakhouse on the 2nd and Chef Mickeys Breakfast for the 3rd. As an aside, I already have Breakfast with Cindy and Hoop-Dee-Doo for the Spring trip. Thinking about what Christmas gifts to give, I decided for one of their presents, the girls will have tea at the Grand Floridian on the 4th. I also scheduled Mom for an aroma therapy massage at the spa before the tea.
Plunked down $1,200 (that is with the DVC discount, OUCH) for annual passes, 2 premium for Princess and myself and a regular one for Mom. I got the two Premiums because Princess and I will be spending a lot of time at the water parks when it gets warmer and I want to take her to the Comedy Warehouse. Before I get the, How dare you speeches, she is a drama student (and occasional Drama Queen) who is very into Improv. I am not worried that a visit to CW will turn her to a life of crime and degradation. It is Disney for crying out loud. Besides, we will be going to the early shows, not closing the place down. We may even brave the Adventurers Club.
The last change was that we decided to try to get a room on New Years Eve at Vero Beach. Called last Saturday and they had a 1BR for 33 points. More than I wanted to use but what the heck.
I have started many trip reports and even almost finished one. My first New Years resolution is to do one for this trip, but we shall see. I may even bring my laptop to take notes but nine will get you ten that it will stay in the bag in the closet.
The excitement is building. Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays.
CJ
