The ever expanding Disney trip. Pre-trip

[Wadeandbasia]

Long about January, my brother calls from his home in Israel and says that they are coming to the states for their first family vacation over here in a long time. It has been over six years... and they want to go to Disneyland with us for two days, and then to SeaWorld for a day.

My first response. Oooh, so much money for Disney. And, heck, I work for a little startup company called FedEx (have you heard of it?). I'll never get the time off in the summer with my seniority.

Time passed without too much thought. In February, we found out that I was awarded the needed time off. Cool. That month, we also rode the Amtrak Empire Builder in the Sleeper Car from Portland Oregon back to Milwaukee Wisconsin. We had a great time (although my one year old kept hearing the train's whistle and asking where the train was--he would dart his glance out the window until the second day when he figured out that WE were ON the train).

So the plan was modified to include a train ride to California on the Coast Starlight. But, oh my gosh, the fare for the four of us was $1000 one way. And it would take 36 hours. Well, maybe I could get some more time off... I put in for a second week (the one before the real vacation).

Hmmm... My wife has frequent flyer miles. Wouldn't it be better to take the train money and time, and use it for resort lodging rather than staying with family.

Well, now we were thinking of 3 days 3 nights in DLH, and staying at an old family hangout in La Jolla California after SeaWorld for a couple of days. Ahh... all done... until I started doing the math.

 

[Wadeandbasia]

Continuing now with substitution theory, a fine method of Disney trip expansion.

Well, we now had 16 days off to play with and I was now planning a quick car trip swing through Tucson Arizona to visit my dispatchers and have a look around (visit my DISPATCHERS! what am I crazy). That idea only lasted long enough to get me used to the idea of spending quite a bit of money on hotels and gas to get there and back-- oh, and we were going to stop in Eloy Arizona to do some indoor skydiving.

About this time, I started doing some earnest research into the Disney website. We discovered that by joining AAA we could save money on the rooms, and have a AAA membership. Cool. And now, Mom and the kids will fly down and I'll drive our convertible. It is cheaper to drive a cool car 2000 miles than to rent one for over two weeks (we always rent convertibles in California--I think it is a rainy Oregon thing).

I also discovered that if you get a really big park hopper pass, the extra days are nearly free. I pressed the "big hopper" issue with my wife. She said more than three days seemed OK.

Umm...

Then...

I bought eight day park hoppers. Think how much money I'm saving. We also reserved seven nights at DLH. Standard view, of course. We didn't want to go overboard.

I told Basia (my wife) about the trip expansion in short, finely crafted, informational bursts. It almost worked.

Anyway, we were set up to head to SeaWorld from DLH on the last morning. That offset had us arriving at the resort and going in the parks for a day before we checked into our rooms, and gave us an extra day in the parks, if we wished, as a day trip. We weren't really thinking we could use the 8th day, but it was almost free, and you never know when you need more Disney.

But that seemed wasteful. Doesn't that seem wasteful? (Come on. Play along.)

 

[Wadeandbasia]

Right then.

With about three weeks to go, I mentioned to my wife that the eighth day would be nice to use, since it was almost free, but I didn't really want to go as a day trip.

We finally agreed. So, I started the massive process of trying to add a day at DLH. What? No rooms for that day under $890 a night. Well, forget that.

But then I clicked on the PPH option. Hmmm.... much cheaper, and rooms left. But, you know, it would be rough to just stay one night and then move over to DLH the next, and it was so much less expensive than the new DLH rate. Two nights sounds better. And lets get a view.

A VIEW? Well, its not like we are getting a view room for all NINE nights, only two. Yeah.

This will also let us compare two of the three on property hotels. Good idea.

Yeah, good idea.

So, here we are, nine days away. I can't sleep (not only because I work nights) with all the pre-pixie dust flying around my blood like crack (not that know what that would feel like).

Now lets see if we can get a night in the dream suite. uhuh.

More later, I'm sure.

 

[reyasmommy]

You crack me up!

Enjoying your TR so far. Hope you all have a magical time.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

lol...this is great

 

[Wadeandbasia]

And again.

I've stated that we decided to have me drive the convertible down while the rest of the family will fly? I think so, anyway. If not, this is true. But not the whole story, and not for certain.

So, several months ago, we replaced our old Saab convertible (looked just like the one from "As Good As It Gets", with Nicholson, only it had our stuff in it). For most of the planning, we had to decide on my driving either the new VW Eos (in which, I've been able to get as high as 38mpg) or the world's largest diesel pickup, which we used to pull our travel trailer while simultaneously supporting one very tiny MidEast nation (Dubai, I think?).

That changed two weeks ago.

Has anyone heard that gas prices are causing people to alter their behavior? It's true. Also, our behavior is altering our behavior (we used the trailer twice a year or so, it just sat there). Did I mention what happens when things seem like a waste? In this case... We sold the trailer.

Hmmm...

So, we sold the truck. Oh... and the Saab (which we still had, the offered trade in value was a joke).

Attention all real men! Yes, for two months, I actually owned two convertibles at the same time-- and for no good reason, save love of cars and money. Actually, even though I had both, I still needed to forego shaving during this time to qualify for MAN status-- they were both EUROPEAN cars.

Well... what then... what else are we driving? (get ready to poke fun at us again)(no, not a SmartCar or Prius) We bought a really nice new Subaru Forester.

I heard that (you in the back row).

Well, now a small fun car versus a small fun SUV. This changed the driving scenario... a bit.

Think. Think. (Got. To. Pass. More. Time. Till. Disney...Trip.) So I spent several trips to work and back in each, measuring the economy of both in as controlled a situation as possible. Verdict? At $5 a gallon (premium, worst case), the Subaru will cost $145 more to drive.

I have my answer then?

Not remotely.

 

[Wadeandbasia]

Take the Forester.

No problem. Umm... Honey. Oh, nevermind.

How do you tell your wife that you already helped justified the extra extra nights (the PPH ones) with the fuel money savings. You don't...

You make it fit.

I hope to provide pictures tomorrow, today I finished the proof of concept packing of the car, I'll do it again tomorrow with modified packing loads to make sure it wasn't just some kind of miracle.

For the record, the EOS is a small car with only for seats and two doors. The hardtop can fold into the trunk. When it is up, it leaves a substantially larger trunk space.

10 changes of clothes for a Mom, Dad, DD6, DS2. All that other personal hygeine stuff. Swimsuits. Lots of shoes. Hundreds of diapers of several varieties (our son is an expert). Two camera bags. The clothes are in two giant duffel bag wheelies and a wheelie backpack. A soft cooler. A snack filled carryon. A jogging stroller and our other really nice reclining super-umbrella stroller. I got the trunk shut, and there was room in the car for several of our feet.

All we have to do is get from the San Fernando Valley over to the DLR like that. Oh, and then the DLR to SeaWorld... and then to La Jolla... and then back to the Valley.

No Sweat.

Pictures to follow.

 

[LynneDurham]

This is hysterical! I can't wait to read the rest!

 

[travelmel]

I see you're doing your part!

Enjoying your PTR!

 

[Wadeandbasia]

Still working on pictures. I'll get it. Sooooory.

So the family flew down last Wednesday, July 30. I was wearing my FedEx uniform, and we were able to get me behind the security gates on a faux standby pass so I could help the kids. That was nice, but people looked at me like I had three heads while I'm standing at the gate waving goodbye. The puzzled looks were numerous.

Well, a few days later, I made the drive down to Glendale (our base camp before we attempt the DLR Summit) (Grandma's house). Since then, we've touched base with relatives that are within striking distance. They're summary of our plans is almost universally, "8 days? You guys are nuts!"

I've been trying to figure out why a long time at DL makes sense to me...

To me, this crazy trip makes sense, because:

I don't want the kids to pout when it's time to go home.
I want our youngest (DS2) to get used to the idea of characters and rides.
I want to take naps in the hotel and swim as well.
It is a perfect excuse to spend every moment with my family.
When, after six days, we finally see my brother/his family, I don't want to need to run and see everything.
I've never had time to do all the extra things, like ride on the Main Street vehicles.

If you all would like, please add some reasons that I hadn't thought of yet.