The Disney Nuts Are Going Again!!!

[snoopywoodstockus]

As many trips as I have made to Disney, I have never written any trip reports or pretrip reports. Not sure why, I always intend to but what if it is boring...what if no one cares....what if no one reads it....

At this point, I think I am doing it for me. A place to put my thoughts, my ideas, my plans and share them with the cosmos. I hope I don't put you to sleep and I hope you enjoy reading about our trip even though you have no idea who we are.

Cast of Characters:

Me - 41 and thoroughly love Disney. Work for a large company as an ERP Support Lead. As of October I will be married to the most wonderful man in the world for 5 years!!!

DH - 39 - First time at Disney was our honeymoon and he starts planning the next Disney trip the week we get home from one. He is my one true love!

DN - 8 - We took my Niece on her first Disney trip when she turned 4 (family tradition to go before you start Kindergarten), Took her again when she was 5 and promised to take her back when she turned 8. The little booger remembered that and is holding us to it!

DD - 66 - My Dad is up for anything but his favorite vacation includes people watching, sleeping, and sunning. He has had a heart attack and seems to have bounced back to normal

DM - 61 - My Mom loves to travel, believes you should always have a vacation, even if it is in the same town. Will try anything. She has had both knees replaced and is doing great with it. She has three daughters and 3 grandchildren.

DM and DD think this will probably be their last Disney vacation due to heading into retirement and not having the funds for it. Isn't that sad to think that this would be your last trip to Disney!?! They are like that sometimes though.

History - I have been to Disney so many times I can't remember, but during my childhood, one trip stands out IN DETAIL in my mind. When I was about 8years old, DM and DF took our family to Disney. We stayed at Ft. Wilderness in one of the big campers you could rent (pre-cedar cabin days). I can remember all the activities, the food, clothes I wore, etc. and I LOVED that trip. As I got older, I asked DM about staying there because it is considered a deluxe resort now. My parents never had money and were regular workers making less than they were worth. DM said that they saved up for 2 years for that trip and it cost them $1000 in 1975. A FORTUNE for our family.


We booked our resies for AS Movies with two rooms. DN could switch rooms depending on where she wanted to sleep but we booked her in ours. I was telling DH about how I would love to give my parents a great trip like they gave my familty but couldn't figure out how to make it more magical for them. AS Movies is great for us but think my parents would enjoy another one more. One with inside rooms, nice lobby, ammenities since they like the parks but don't spend their whole time in them, and so on. Well, we decided to surprise my parents and we upgraded the two rooms to the Wilderness Lodge We are in a bit of sticker shock but think it is the right thing to do.

Now we are at the Wilderness Lodge and on the dining plan but how do we get there you might ask?!?! I hate the drive since it takes so much time away from the actual vacation in hours. I checked my frequent flyer statement and had enough to fly all 5 of us there for only the ressie fee. The only drawback is that we have to use a saver fare which means a layover each way. We still get there 5 hours faster than if we drive. Magical Express picks us up and then delivers us back to the airport. Think we are all set....Will update later about plans, dining, packing, etc.

Thanks for letting me post and have a great Disney Day!!

 

[PrincessEeyore]

Aww, that is so sweet that you updated your accomodations for your parents! (But I'm sure you didn't mind the move huh? ) But can you imagine, knowing its your last time to the World?

Great start, looking foward to more!
And I feel a special connection to your niece! Lol, I've been to Disney 13 times (I'm 15) and only 2 was with my own mom and dad. The other 11 times were with my aunt and uncle! Make sure you tell her how lucky she is to have such a wonderful aunt and uncle!

Keep updating, I'm addicted to TRs!!!

 

[TCKK]

Everything sounds great so far. Looking forward to hearing more of the plans. Hope you have a great trip!!!

Cathy

 

[O_Jr71]

sounds good so far!! can't wait to hear more

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

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Thank you all for your nice comments. On with planning....
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So we have scheduled our dining reservations. We have more breakfast ressies than I would prefer but three of the five think breakfast is the best meal of the day!!

Chefs de France - Dinner group
Chef Mickey - Breakfast group
Trails End - Breakfast group
Rose and Crown (2 night out) and Whispering Canyon (3) - Dinner
Hoop Dee Doo - Dinner group
Le Cellier - Dinner group
Crystal Palace - Breakfast group
Beirgarten - Dinner group
California Grill (2 night out)

We are on the dining plan so that is good. We need to book some extras but still looking at days

Ft. Wilderness Segway tours for the adults (have done both tours but love love love this one) We will have to split up on this so 2 will go on the first tour while the others watch DN, then trade. She wants to do this so bad but she is way too young.

Afternoon Tea Grand Floridian for DM, DN and Me. For some reason DH and DD weren't interested in this : ) We will find something else for them to do.

Rent a boat for everyone or rent the little water mice so we can have some fun.

Flag family - This is luck of the draw but I SOOO hope I can do this for my family. What an experience this must be.

I think this trip will probably different for us than normal. DH and I usually run to the parks as soon as they open and stay until they close. This year we are going to try to R E L A X a little bit. Take it easy...

DH found a discount code on the Disboards and called about it. The Mouservations team said that the code would work for us if we moved to the Villas at Wilderness Lodge and would cost us $125 less per room. I haven't been in one of the Villas but I was worried about the distance and the heat. If we stay in the Lodge, everything is inside.

I am going to TRY (and I use that word loosely) to write a little kids story for my niece about her trip. I will use her as the character and all the adventures she had while on this trip. I can use some of my scrapbooking stuff to actually make the book. I have to come up with some catchy title...

The last time we took DN..we maxed out all the table service meals with character meals and each day she received a letter from one of those characters inviting her to whatever meal it was. We kept those for her scrapbook but not sure if DM included them in it or not. She was so excited that the Disney characters were sending her messages. Ah...the magic of it all.

I hope the magic is still there for you too.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

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Birthday Ideas
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My DN's birthday is on our trip. I found the Disney Cake Thread link so I think it would be nice to have a small cake delivered for her. She isn't really a cake eater have no idea what that is like. I saw one that was like a 6" cake and it had a white chocolate character on it or the castle. I think I need to order it soon so I know it is ready.

DH saw today that there was a 25% off the Disney Store website and was thinking of buying the group a matching shirt for our first day or the travel day. I have seen some families do it every day. One time when we did the MNSSHP, one family of about 9 or 10 were all dalmations; including an infant and grandparents. They were so cute and every time they walked by a group of people they would all bark at them!! It was so cute.

According to the hotels and all the websites, the week we are going is value season meaning least visited times. However, every hotel looks booked, including deluxe resorts. I am concerned it may be 100 and humid while we are there but it could be snowing lava boulders and I would still love my trip.

Our trip information came and it shows both rooms are paid off so that is a relief. We have only 41 days until we go and I am so excited. Due to the airlines restrictions and additional charges, we are concerned about our luggage and using the Disney luggage service going home. DH checked and since we purchased our tickets before a certain date, the charges and penalties don't affect us. You just never know once you get started if it will go smooth. It isn't Disney's fault if the airlines screws it up so I won't blame them.

I hope you have had an opportunity to experience Magical Express!!! It is such a nice service and the buses are wonderful. I love the seats with the stars all over them, the Disney propoganda movie that plays, and not having to drive myself. We will need to leave my house by 4:30am in order to get to the airport in time so we will need that little 30 minute nap : )

ok, nothing more today except I can't get this song out of my head!!

It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all, it's a small world after all, it's a small small world.... you know the words, join in any time!

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

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Disney Shopping and Prep
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This weekend DH and I went to a cool Disney Store Outlet in the Concord Mills Mall. We found great deals to help us prepare for our trip. I think we got 5 or so shirts for $3 each and they are nice. I got one of the neon Pooh shirts, a vintage mickey shirt, DH got a Jack Skellington shirt and a cotton button up shirt. I got a pair of the cottom pajamas that they came out with. A big car bag with "Disney Family Vacation" on the front. This will be great for my carry on bag. We bought lots more but that is what we need for our vacation

DH went home for lunch today and he said we got an envelope from Disney with our "travel documents" written on it!!! Once you get that... it makes it so real and so close. I feel like I am 5 again!!!

My fear is that DH and I will be disappointed if my DM and DD aren't happy about the surprise in hotel change. I honestly wanted to do it because I wanted them to have the opportunity to stay in a deluxe resort at least once. My DM is a bit different though and you never know how she might take this change. Again...I did what I did so I need to just move on. We are trying to decide if we tell them ahead of time or at the airport or when we pull into the Wilderness Lodge : )

We need to book our tours so I will work on that tonight. I hope everyone have a magical day!!

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

Only 32 days left and we are rarin' to go.

This week we got our ME packets and our packet with luggage tags and vouchers. That makes for an exciting day when you know you have a disney envelope waiting at home for you.

We are so looking forward to this vacation.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

Update @ 25 days left.

We have our Segway Tours booked for us and parents. Also added a last minute ADR for Tony's Town Square.

Got the bags out and started packing things that we won't use before the trip. Might seem crazy but, that is how we like to do it.

DW has been sending our neice weekly clues about the Upgrade to WL. It is driving her crazy trying to figure out the "Surprise".

More to come soon. Still counting the days.

 

[tmkinney]

Hi!
We are also in NC and planning a trip to Concord Mills this weekend. Did the Disney outlet have any matching shirts for family (like the logo tees that are on their website?) Sounds like you got some good buys!!

 

[Native NYer]

We'll be there the same week.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

Hi!
We are also in NC and planning a trip to Concord Mills this weekend. Did the Disney outlet have any matching shirts for family (like the logo tees that are on their website?) Sounds like you got some good buys!!

All I can say is they didn't when we went around the end of June. We like the ones on disneyshopping and I want to get them. I am just hoping for a 25% off code soon.

You should like the Disney Store there. If you go in through neighborhood 1 and take a left it isn't far. It is right across the hall from the childrens place.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

We'll be there the same week.

Great, we are getting more and more excited by the day. I know it will be ultra hot there, but that is what pools are for.

 

[tmkinney]

All I can say is they didn't when we went around the end of June. We like the ones on disneyshopping and I want to get them. I am just hoping for a 25% off code soon.

You should like the Disney Store there. If you go in through neighborhood 1 and take a left it isn't far. It is right across the hall from the childrens place.

Yeah, I keep looking for a 25% off code with disneyshopping too but none yet (and they are already out of 2 colors in one size I need! ) There is a 15% off code (1699) so I may go ahead and use that. Thanks for your help!

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

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Coming down to the wire
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I took the day off from work yesterday to spend with DN and DM. While we were in the dentist office, I almost told DM about the surprise upgrade but decided to try and keep it a secret for as long as we can. Heck it is only 18 more days...

I did tell here I wasn't going to book the tea party. If we feel like it one day, we can see if they have availability. I wouldn't mind going but think everyone wants a relaxing vacation. It is hard to be spontaneous when you have to make ADR's and extras reservations 180 days in advance. However, at least you know that you can eat at the places you enjoy by booking them early. I remember when I was much younger it was kind of like completly booked unless you were in line at the Crystal Palace as soon as it opened.

We have all our paperwork and luggage tags. We have started pre-packing the items we won't use until we leave (rain ponchos, swimsuits, Pal Mickey, etc.) I am so looking forward to sharing the Wilderness Lodge with my family : )

I also started a clue a week for my DN to see if she can figure out what the surprise is. Here are the clues so far:

1. It is made out of Wood
2. You are sure to have a "Wild" time
3. You can have your picture taken with a bear or a buffalo

Two more clues before we leave : )

Hope you have a magical day