annaaidan99
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2006
- Messages
- 386
The cast of characters for this trip:
Me-(32) I love Disney, planning trips, going on trips- you name it. Doesn't matter if it is value, mod, or deluxe...I'm down.
DH-(38, turning 39 on the trip) grew up in Orlando, so is a bit Disney jaded. Scratch that completely Disney jaded. Has not been in over 20 years and has only seen MK. Has never stayed in any Disney resort. Still believes there is nothing for him to see here.
DS- (9) All around good kid- not a thrill junkie, but more of the type that gets into being onstage. Loves interacting with Disney cast members.
DD- (1) A complete ham. Loves chattering and flirting with total strangers. Will totally freak over Disney.
So, here's the deal. I've sort of had my work cut out for me, folks. I haven't been to Disney since 2006. I love my DH, but we just don't see eye to eye on this sort of trip. But, he grudgingly- and I do mean grudgingly agreed to go on a trip. With this green light, I went into planning mode.
The planning mode is where DH and I are different. Everyone on this board understands the planning mode. There is a lot to plan, of course. A weeklong trip will undoubtedly require at least six months of research. I truly enjoy the plan time, and would do so on all vacations, but have found that most do not require this level of commitment. But, I digress. In my planning, I decided that while I am an easy pleaser as far as Disney- to convert DH, the plan must be impossible NOT to enjoy. Also, with DD this time, I needed to rethink DS and I's commando park attack plan. I had special considerations for this trip....
Plan Checklist #1- The Resort
Well, the winning resort is in the title of the thread, so no surprises here!! Yes, with almost no deliberation, I chose the Poly for the theme, location, and monorail access (DD). How could DH NOT like the Poly. Actually, he may never want to leave, which we will discuss later.
Plan Checklist #2- The Food
Did I mention DH and I are big foodies? Well, we are. I knew I wanted a dining plan, but I deliberated between regular and deluxe for two weeks before deciding deluxe. Did I make ten zillion ADR's? Nope. I made three signature ADR's, (Cali Grill, Flying Fish and Narcoosee's), a lunch and dinner ADR for our two Epcot Days, and a 'Ohana reservation for the night we arrive and the morning we leave. I have a whole day with no ADR's - we can eat CS or room service for all I care. There are quite a few unspoken for credits- but that will be great. If DH wants to eat an impromptu breakfast at Kona before taking off- we've got the credits. No worries about money while we are there, or if something is or isn't a CS, TS or whatever. In other words- no stress.
Plan Checklist #3- The time to go
This was a kicker for me. I tend to only want to go in slow times, like January or September. But DS is getting too old to take out of school all willy nilly like that. And, see, the 4/3 deal is what I was working with. So I'm staring at all these weeks. Definitely had to wait till DS was out of school, but definitely not SUMMER I'm thinking to myself. Not so much for crowds, because really, even in the dead times it can be crowded. I live in Louisiana, but even I don't like hanging outside in the summer. Ick. So DS gets out of school May 21. DH's b-day is May 26th. I know, Memorial Day week is crowded, but remember- we're doing it different this time. I decided on that week May 24-31.
Plan Checklist #4 The schedule
I have two days allocated at Epcot, one for MK, and one for AK. DHS has nothing any of us really care for. That leaves three days open. DH likes golf, boating, fishing, etc. These are all viable options for these days. My park touring plans are not terribly taxing. We do not have to be there for rope drop, although it would help. We can go back to the resort after lunch and chill, (except on AK day) and then go back in the afternoon. Most days have us doing nothing post dinner except going back to the Poly to sit by the pool, have a nice adult beverage, and watch Wishes from there.
So, I'm looking forward to taking this trip. I'll keep you posted on further developments.
Me-(32) I love Disney, planning trips, going on trips- you name it. Doesn't matter if it is value, mod, or deluxe...I'm down.
DH-(38, turning 39 on the trip) grew up in Orlando, so is a bit Disney jaded. Scratch that completely Disney jaded. Has not been in over 20 years and has only seen MK. Has never stayed in any Disney resort. Still believes there is nothing for him to see here.
DS- (9) All around good kid- not a thrill junkie, but more of the type that gets into being onstage. Loves interacting with Disney cast members.
DD- (1) A complete ham. Loves chattering and flirting with total strangers. Will totally freak over Disney.
So, here's the deal. I've sort of had my work cut out for me, folks. I haven't been to Disney since 2006. I love my DH, but we just don't see eye to eye on this sort of trip. But, he grudgingly- and I do mean grudgingly agreed to go on a trip. With this green light, I went into planning mode.
The planning mode is where DH and I are different. Everyone on this board understands the planning mode. There is a lot to plan, of course. A weeklong trip will undoubtedly require at least six months of research. I truly enjoy the plan time, and would do so on all vacations, but have found that most do not require this level of commitment. But, I digress. In my planning, I decided that while I am an easy pleaser as far as Disney- to convert DH, the plan must be impossible NOT to enjoy. Also, with DD this time, I needed to rethink DS and I's commando park attack plan. I had special considerations for this trip....
Plan Checklist #1- The Resort
Well, the winning resort is in the title of the thread, so no surprises here!! Yes, with almost no deliberation, I chose the Poly for the theme, location, and monorail access (DD). How could DH NOT like the Poly. Actually, he may never want to leave, which we will discuss later.
Plan Checklist #2- The Food
Did I mention DH and I are big foodies? Well, we are. I knew I wanted a dining plan, but I deliberated between regular and deluxe for two weeks before deciding deluxe. Did I make ten zillion ADR's? Nope. I made three signature ADR's, (Cali Grill, Flying Fish and Narcoosee's), a lunch and dinner ADR for our two Epcot Days, and a 'Ohana reservation for the night we arrive and the morning we leave. I have a whole day with no ADR's - we can eat CS or room service for all I care. There are quite a few unspoken for credits- but that will be great. If DH wants to eat an impromptu breakfast at Kona before taking off- we've got the credits. No worries about money while we are there, or if something is or isn't a CS, TS or whatever. In other words- no stress.
Plan Checklist #3- The time to go
This was a kicker for me. I tend to only want to go in slow times, like January or September. But DS is getting too old to take out of school all willy nilly like that. And, see, the 4/3 deal is what I was working with. So I'm staring at all these weeks. Definitely had to wait till DS was out of school, but definitely not SUMMER I'm thinking to myself. Not so much for crowds, because really, even in the dead times it can be crowded. I live in Louisiana, but even I don't like hanging outside in the summer. Ick. So DS gets out of school May 21. DH's b-day is May 26th. I know, Memorial Day week is crowded, but remember- we're doing it different this time. I decided on that week May 24-31.
Plan Checklist #4 The schedule
I have two days allocated at Epcot, one for MK, and one for AK. DHS has nothing any of us really care for. That leaves three days open. DH likes golf, boating, fishing, etc. These are all viable options for these days. My park touring plans are not terribly taxing. We do not have to be there for rope drop, although it would help. We can go back to the resort after lunch and chill, (except on AK day) and then go back in the afternoon. Most days have us doing nothing post dinner except going back to the Poly to sit by the pool, have a nice adult beverage, and watch Wishes from there.
So, I'm looking forward to taking this trip. I'll keep you posted on further developments.
I'm hoping this is done with soon- and that is the last of the bugs to visit before departure.
