"Thanks, Aunt Marian": Trip of a Lifetime in February 2016 PTR

[MataHari22]

February discounts are out so that's all I've been thinking about for the last couple days. Doing a lot of price comparisons and decision making. Under the room discount, I could upgrade to a moderate for cheaper than my original reservation. I thought about that for a long time, and even though the resorts are so beautiful, the extra space at All-Star Music (suite) won over. Then I called Disney this morning and they were easily able to add SPD to my reservation, saving me $400. I was very happy with that.

Then I continued looking online and realized I could get a Cars or Lion King Suite at AOA with SPD for the same price I was originally going to pay at ASMu before the discount came out. After lots of waiting on hold, and some confusion on whether the original reservation needs to be canceled or the resort can just be changed (as well as the possibility I could lose my ADRs--please no!), the cast member was finally able to get everything properly arranged.

Long story short, for $9 more than my original booking price, I'm in a Lion King suite with SPD. I am pumped. My kids will love it. They would have been happy with ASMu too, but the AOA suites look so much more magical!

Yay! That's awesome. Glad you were able to get the SPD with the suite. Bigger accommodations and the dining plan for $9 more, sounds good to me!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

So I just asked you for your disboards name, so I could check out your PTR and when I found it I realized I had read the first few posts before and loved it! Your family is adorable, and I'm so excited for your trip! Our first trip was the first week of Feb. in 2014. We stayed in a Lion King suite at AoA and LOVED it!! I know you guys are going to have a great time! That was such a good idea to do a zoo trip and a trip to the fair as a test for Disney. Our kids are a bit older (at the time of travel they will be 10,7, and almost 5), but I am still on the fence about the stroller! I want to get as much out of our time as possible and just don't see my 4 year old keeping up.

 

[skier_pete]

Our kids are a bit older (at the time of travel they will be 10,7, and almost 5), but I am still on the fence about the stroller! I want to get as much out of our time as possible and just don't see my 4 year old keeping up.

Off-topic from the OP - but @disneydaydreamer33 - we were still taking a stroller until our daughter was about 6, long after we had abandoned the stroller at home. Unlike the early days, we would just use a more strip-down model that wasn't as bulky to move around, and while she wasn't in it all the time it gave her a nice break when she got tired. And while tooling around a stroller isn't always fun, it IS sometimes nice to have the storage space.

 

[sara1215]

So I just asked you for your disboards name, so I could check out your PTR and when I found it I realized I had read the first few posts before and loved it! Your family is adorable, and I'm so excited for your trip! Our first trip was the first week of Feb. in 2014. We stayed in a Lion King suite at AoA and LOVED it!! I know you guys are going to have a great time! That was such a good idea to do a zoo trip and a trip to the fair as a test for Disney. Our kids are a bit older (at the time of travel they will be 10,7, and almost 5), but I am still on the fence about the stroller! I want to get as much out of our time as possible and just don't see my 4 year old keeping up.

Aw, thanks for the compliments! I'm super excited about the resort switch and can't wait to get to February so we will be at DISNEY!

 

[sara1215]

I don't have much trip-related to post. I daydream about Disney but don't have much concrete to write about. However, in the last month, we have done a couple fun Disney-related things as a family.

First up, we took a trip to our local pumpkin patch to go in the corn maze and get pumpkins for fall decorations. We also had delicious cider and donuts. This pumpkin farm makes a lot of cute sculptures out of hay, so of course we had to take pictures with some of them. Here's a few relevant ones.








Last month we went to a community theater production of Mary Poppins. It was like a family date night, we got all dressed up, went out to dinner, and had a relaly great time. The production was fantastic! The music was great. It was magical. I loved it, and the kids did too (although it got a little long and was a late night). After the show was over, some of the actors came out in the lobby to talk to people. I guess we got some pixie dust when talking to the "Feed the Birds" lady because she pointed to the hall where Bert and Mary Poppins would be coming out. We walked around the corner and there they were with no one around! My daughters were star struck (I kind of was too, and I knew they were just regular community people). It was so cool how they stayed in character, talking to the kids about school and other things. My littlest didn't want to be in the picture but here's a great one of my oldest.

 

[MataHari22]

Looks like fun!

 

[sara1215]

Haven't posted in a long time. Have been occupied with other things. But tomorrow is my 60 days, so I'll be staying up late to book fastpasses! Super excited and a little nervous.

 

[NPRinLA]

Haven't posted in a long time. Have been occupied with other things. But tomorrow is my 60 days, so I'll be staying up late to book fastpasses! Super excited and a little nervous.

Mine opened this morning. BUT, my AP expires in the middle of Jan, and it won't let me pick mine until I renew. I'm hoping to get my renewal notice soon so that I can make them ASAP.

What FP are you hoping to get?

 

[sara1215]

I got everything I wanted, including Anna and Elsa! I'm really hoping the rumors are true about Baymax coming back because that would be the icing on the cake.

 

[skier_pete]

I got everything I wanted, including Anna and Elsa! I'm really hoping the rumors are true about Baymax coming back because that would be the icing on the cake.

YAY for you!!!! I think Ana and Elsa aren't the near impossible gets they were a year ago. The Frozen Fever has definitely faded a bit.

 

[sara1215]

Haven't been keeping up much here. It's getting so close! Monday we are doing the big reveal scavenger hunt for the kids. I hope they are excited. I'm nervous they won't be, just simply because this is all I've slept and breathed for several months and they really have no idea what to expect. I know they'll love the trip. I'm just hoping for a really excited reaction.

I'm also planning Mickey meals for the entire week leading up--not every meal and nothing extravagant. Just little touches. Mickey pizza, Hot dog Hot dog Hot diggity dogs, stuff like that.

I've started packing and also have all my tinkerbell gifts ready to go. I feel like there's still so much to do. And I really hope I'm not forgetting anything.

 

[rdkeim]

Really enjoyed reading your PTR. You've really done your homework! I agree with the advice you got from skier pete regarding meals and trying to go with the flow. Our first trip was way back in 1988 (boys 5 and 7). I read guide books and planned, planned, planned but once we got there it was still pretty overwhelming. At that time, the only parks were MK and Epcot I hope you all have a wonderful time and look forward to reading your TR!

 

[sara1215]

Here's the link to the video we took yesterday of the reveal. It's about 20 minutes so quite long but we had a good time with it.

 

[skier_pete]

Can't see the link but it might be locked out. How did it go? I assume they aren't nearly as excited as you are. Without the experience of going there it's hard for them to get too excited. Hope you guys have a wonderful trip. Try not to stress. Disney can be overwhelming that first time. Make sure you get to the important things, and don't sweat that you didn't do EVERYTHING, because that's simply impossible.

 

[sara1215]

Can't see the link but it might be locked out. How did it go? I assume they aren't nearly as excited as you are. Without the experience of going there it's hard for them to get too excited. Hope you guys have a wonderful trip. Try not to stress. Disney can be overwhelming that first time. Make sure you get to the important things, and don't sweat that you didn't do EVERYTHING, because that's simply impossible.

I'm really going to try hard to go with the flow and simply enjoy BEING there and do whatever the kids want to do.

 

[sara1215]

Maybe this link will work

 

[MataHari22]

I watched it earlier, the first embedded video worked for me.

 

[skier_pete]

Aren't you back @sara1215 ? How'd it go?

 

[sara1215]

Yes, we're back and had a wonderful time! I'm trying to organize photos and then I plan to try and write a trip report.