StephanieCG
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2009
- Messages
- 193
Hi everyone! I'm been lurking on the boards frequently. I never thought reading about other peoples would be so much fun but it is! I am excited to announce that we will be going to WDW on Sept 20-25. Let me give you a little bit of background about myself and my family first:
Me - Stephanie - I'm 29 and a full time mommy. Before that I was a high school chemistry teacher, and I'm a science nerd. I've been WDW twice as a kid (7 and 13) and then chaperoning a MKgrad night in 2005, and then to AK for a day trip last May. I've always loved animation and I love drawing little cartoons. My goal is to one day pen a kid's book, make a ton of money and buy a DVC membership straight up. Hey a girl can dream right?
DH - Chris - He's 29 and Navy helicopter pilot. We were in Jacksonville, FL for a while, and now we are on the western side of the panhandle near Pensacola. He's been to MK, chaperoning the trip with me. And AK, I think he enjoyed himself but it was hard to tell. Not a Disney fanatic like me.
Hates crowds and heat. But he does like food though, I'm hoping to sell him on that. 
DD - Emily - Turns 2 in July. She's a little pixie princess, and a troublemaker. Loves Cinderella, Tinker Bell, Ariel, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Little Einsteins (JUNE!) I'm hoping she has fun with the characters, that is my favorite part and I'm praying she won't be terrified of them. She's been to AK when she was 10 months old, and did fairly well considering that she was so small. She loved the safari ride, and we still look at the pictures almost every day.
It all started in January when I heard about the 5-day Military Salute pass, the one where he gets in free and family members are $99 or something like that? I was psyched over this and started planning right away. First we had to pick a date. I wanted it to be during an uncrowded value season time. September stuck in my head. It's hotter than heck, but we are used to it being FL and that's what the water parks and pools are for right?
Chris reluctantly agreed to let me "look into it." Hehehe.
Then I was able to find out about a 40% off for the hotels for military thing. I was initially planning Shades of Green, which I've heard great things about, but I was lukewarm on it because I wanted something with the "Disney Feel" and theme. I wanted to stay somewhere in the MK area, with Emily I'm sure we'll be going there often. When I was 7, my family stayed at the Poly, and I have great memories of it. And the monorail! (MONO - D'OH! haha) With the 40%, maybe the garden room just might be in our price range? And after a phone call with the CM, vacillating between the Poly, WL, and CBR pirate room, I decided on the Poly.
I reasoned it this way - we are getting the room for 40% off, and we've never taken a real vacation that didn't include visiting relatives since our honeymoon 5 years ago. I thought the extra space in the room would be necessary too, when we go to hotels with Emmy we usually set up a little fort for her to sleep in, and that requires space. If she sees us, she doesn't want to go to sleep. Maybe she'll grow out of this, maybe not, but extra space is a priority.
Chris rolled his eyes. I justified it even further. I told him "Honey I really want this. I really, really want this. This can be my valentine's, b-day, mother's day, anniversary, and Christmas rolled into one. And since we're there for 5 days, it kind of works out like that. Each night in the hotel is a present." He acquiesced to my request.
I also got tickets for the MNSSHP on the 22nd. Debated about this for a long time, but the character greetings sounded like too much fun to pass up.
Tentative plan - subject to change, eagerly awaiting park hours
Day 0 - arrive at resort, 1900 Park Fare dinner (hopefully early) and play in resort pool
Day 1 - Epcot
Day 2 - HS then MNSSHP
Day 3 - AK and Typhoon Lagoon
Day 4 - MK
Day 5 - Epcot (hopefully catch a bit of F&W, might not bother though)
For dining, we might not do the dining plan. We'll be down there during FD but the 40% is a better deal for us. I want to see what ressies I can get first. I want 1900 PF dinner, CRT (B or L), and Ohana BF and D. Possibly Coral Reef or Sci-Fi, not sure yet. I make The Call on june 22nd.
Thanks for reading and feedback is appreciated!
Me - Stephanie - I'm 29 and a full time mommy. Before that I was a high school chemistry teacher, and I'm a science nerd. I've been WDW twice as a kid (7 and 13) and then chaperoning a MKgrad night in 2005, and then to AK for a day trip last May. I've always loved animation and I love drawing little cartoons. My goal is to one day pen a kid's book, make a ton of money and buy a DVC membership straight up. Hey a girl can dream right?
DH - Chris - He's 29 and Navy helicopter pilot. We were in Jacksonville, FL for a while, and now we are on the western side of the panhandle near Pensacola. He's been to MK, chaperoning the trip with me. And AK, I think he enjoyed himself but it was hard to tell. Not a Disney fanatic like me.
Hates crowds and heat. But he does like food though, I'm hoping to sell him on that. DD - Emily - Turns 2 in July. She's a little pixie princess, and a troublemaker. Loves Cinderella, Tinker Bell, Ariel, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Little Einsteins (JUNE!) I'm hoping she has fun with the characters, that is my favorite part and I'm praying she won't be terrified of them. She's been to AK when she was 10 months old, and did fairly well considering that she was so small. She loved the safari ride, and we still look at the pictures almost every day.
It all started in January when I heard about the 5-day Military Salute pass, the one where he gets in free and family members are $99 or something like that? I was psyched over this and started planning right away. First we had to pick a date. I wanted it to be during an uncrowded value season time. September stuck in my head. It's hotter than heck, but we are used to it being FL and that's what the water parks and pools are for right?
Chris reluctantly agreed to let me "look into it." Hehehe.
Then I was able to find out about a 40% off for the hotels for military thing. I was initially planning Shades of Green, which I've heard great things about, but I was lukewarm on it because I wanted something with the "Disney Feel" and theme. I wanted to stay somewhere in the MK area, with Emily I'm sure we'll be going there often. When I was 7, my family stayed at the Poly, and I have great memories of it. And the monorail! (MONO - D'OH! haha) With the 40%, maybe the garden room just might be in our price range? And after a phone call with the CM, vacillating between the Poly, WL, and CBR pirate room, I decided on the Poly.
I reasoned it this way - we are getting the room for 40% off, and we've never taken a real vacation that didn't include visiting relatives since our honeymoon 5 years ago. I thought the extra space in the room would be necessary too, when we go to hotels with Emmy we usually set up a little fort for her to sleep in, and that requires space. If she sees us, she doesn't want to go to sleep. Maybe she'll grow out of this, maybe not, but extra space is a priority.
Chris rolled his eyes. I justified it even further. I told him "Honey I really want this. I really, really want this. This can be my valentine's, b-day, mother's day, anniversary, and Christmas rolled into one. And since we're there for 5 days, it kind of works out like that. Each night in the hotel is a present." He acquiesced to my request.
I also got tickets for the MNSSHP on the 22nd. Debated about this for a long time, but the character greetings sounded like too much fun to pass up.
Tentative plan - subject to change, eagerly awaiting park hours
Day 0 - arrive at resort, 1900 Park Fare dinner (hopefully early) and play in resort pool
Day 1 - Epcot
Day 2 - HS then MNSSHP
Day 3 - AK and Typhoon Lagoon
Day 4 - MK
Day 5 - Epcot (hopefully catch a bit of F&W, might not bother though)
For dining, we might not do the dining plan. We'll be down there during FD but the 40% is a better deal for us. I want to see what ressies I can get first. I want 1900 PF dinner, CRT (B or L), and Ohana BF and D. Possibly Coral Reef or Sci-Fi, not sure yet.
I make The Call on june 22nd. Thanks for reading and feedback is appreciated!
I"m in... I can't wait to read more.
