The Laundry Will Be Folded When I Finish Booking ADRs updtd 11/6Never Dones!

[creativeamanda]

My name is Amanda, and I'm obsessed.

(*insert a friendly "Hi, Amanda" here*)

I'm obsessed with many different things. With finding the perfect picture for a scrapbook page. With cleaning my desk both before I leave work and when I return the next day. With teaching a skill to my students over and over and over again.

Yes. I have an Obssessive-Compulsive Disorder. I plan and replan and replan again just for good measure. And beginning in October 2008, I found a new obsession to take up my time: making ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations, for Disney-speak). But that ADR planning and replanning obsession pales in comparison to my real obsession: Disney World.

No matter which way I slice it, I look forward to my next trip. Last December, I took my first solo Disney trip. That was followed by an awesome family trip in June. For some reason, though, it's not enough. I'm beginning to wonder since I'm looking more forward to this last minute decision to take a solo trip if it's Disney I'm looking forward to, or me time.

See, I am the laundry lady of the house. I sort it, wash it, soften it, dry it, fold it (but not iron it). And when you have three kids, that equals at least 12 loads a week. I am not exaggerating.

So that leads me to the title. It's time for me time. Time for my wings to spread again. Who knows? This may become a December tradition. It's time for the laundry to wait, time for the homework to be at standstill, time for time. Many ask why I would want to go to Disney by myself again. Don't I get lonely eating by myself? Don't I feel odd when I see families together? My answer is simply this: it's because I take this alone time I am able to focus on my family properly. So, the laundry lady is on hold right now. I'll get around to it. After I schedule some "me" time.

The trip specifics updated:
Dates: December 18-23, 2010
Location: POP Century
Tickets: 6 day park hoppers which I will upgrade to annual passes
Dining Plan: Disney Dining Plan (regular)
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party: December 19

Come along with me as I plan my me time. And yes, maybe it is selfish. But sometimes the only person who's going to look after you is, well, you (and in my case, a wonderful husband who decided this Amanda time is the perfect Christmas present this year again).


TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The Laundry Will Be Folded When I Finish Booking ADRs
POP Century?
Resort Commital or Something Like it and Why is the Bank Calling?
Procrastinators Unite
What's For Supper?
POP! Goes the Weasel!
Won't I ever get sick of Changes?
Who Are You? Who, who, who who?
Very Merry?
Feeling Melancholy
70 Days!
A Facebook Status Change. . .
Tea For One
Oops I Did It Again
Half a Century. . .
Totally Unrelated. . .
No ADR is safe. . .
What Haven't I Done in Disney?

 

[LegoMom3]

I'm in and I'm FIRST!!


Honey there is just NOTHIN' like a little alone time. You go get you some and have yourself a time! And at Christmas......could it BE any better?!


So I'm comin' along for the ride!......Can't wait!

.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Many ask why I would want to go to Disney by myself again. Don't I get lonely eating by myself? Don't I feel odd when I see families together?

If I had a dollar for every time I'm asked this question.

I'm so excited for you! And I'm excited to see how our solo trips measure up. It'll be interesting to see how alike or different they are.

I'm all tuned in and can't wait for the details.

 

[PaMom001]

I'm here.

 

[scdvcwannabe]

Amanda,
Have you considered an annual pass? Just sayin...

We'll be there at the same time again.! Same resort!

 

[creativeamanda]

I'm in and I'm FIRST!!


Honey there is just NOTHIN' like a little alone time. You go get you some and have yourself a time! And at Christmas......could it BE any better?!


So I'm comin' along for the ride!......Can't wait!

.

I knew you'd be on board with me on this one!

If I had a dollar for every time I'm asked this question.

I'm so excited for you! And I'm excited to see how our solo trips measure up. It'll be interesting to see how alike or different they are.

I'm all tuned in and can't wait for the details.

I'm excited for you with your trip! And now I have a greater motivation to take off some weight!

I'm here.

My babnanas are here!

Amanda,
Have you considered an annual pass? Just sayin...

We'll be there at the same time again.! Same resort!

Actually I will be getting an annual pass this year. I'm going to be at POP for 6 days, then in April with the senior class for grad night, and then in June for 10 days, so when I'm there in December, I'm going to upgrade to annual passes. Our June trip tickets have to be at least 2 day tickets, so I'm going to drop everyone down to 2 day PH, then upgrade the kids and dh when we get there. For dh, I'm going to do some tricky stuff. . .only upgrade his to 5 day, then give him my 3day YES park hoppers (from the Senior trip) and my 2day park hoppers from the June trip. All the while, I'll keep my AP. In total, I'll be in Disney World about 20 days between June and December, so the annual pass this year is the best choice. Last year, it didn't work out cost wise. This year it does.

We are going to have to plan a meet now--I know which family you are because I can pick you out in the photopass pictures.

 

[Princess116]

Joining in!!

 

[WDWsweetie]

i'm in!

 

[creativeamanda]

Joining in!!

Glad to have you!

i'm in!

So happy you are in!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Okay so I was asking about this and now it's up! I'm 2 days late but I'm here!!!!

..and I'm HOPING there will be a full dining review again!!!

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

I can't wait for this ptr

 

[creativeamanda]

Okay so I was asking about this and now it's up! I'm 2 days late but I'm here!!!!

..and I'm HOPING there will be a full dining review again!!!

I am planning on a full dining review. Also planning for one next June.

I can't wait for this ptr

Hey, Hallie! Glad you can join in!

 

[creativeamanda]

I'll go ahead and admit it. . . I'm a resort snob. I crunched the numbers over and over and over again to try to get into Port Orleans-French Quarter for this trip. No matter which way I skinned it, POFQ was a little out of reach. It wasn't that I couldn't afford it, it was that I wanted to alot X amount of dollars for the trip to pay for three things:

1. Pick a pearl + the setting
2. Upgrade my park tickets to APs
3. Various and sundry adult beverages in the World Shocase
4. A shopping trip to Basin.

Basically, I had to decide--was I really going to spend so much time in the room?

In the end, I sprung for a preferred room. I need to visit the POP FAQ thread to see which area I should request at POP. I'm thinking 60's are, top floor (I don't like people to be walking on my head).

I want a room as close to the bus stop as possible. The major pro to POP Century is the one bus stop deal. I know that will change when the Animation Studios is completed, but for now. . .I'd also like a refurbished room.

Either way--where is the best place at POP Century? It's been almost 4 years since I've stayed there. I'm hoping to have it feel kind of like going back to where the magic started.

And to be less of a resort snob. . .

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

In the end, I sprung for a preferred room. I need to visit the POP FAQ thread to see which area I should request at POP. I'm thinking 60's are, top floor (I don't like people to be walking on my head).

I want a room as close to the bus stop as possible. The major pro to POP Century is the one bus stop deal. I know that will change when the Animation Studios is completed, but for now. . .I'd also like a refurbished room.

Either way--where is the best place at POP Century?

The last time I stayed there I was in the 70's section, building 10, on the side of the arm facing the 80's area. It was as close to being preferred as you could get without paying for the upgrade! I was literally a 2 minute walk to the bus stop, without having to go into Classic Hall, and it was unbelievably quiet. I was also on the 4th floor. I'm crossing my fingers for a similar location next week.

Right now two of the 50's buildings haven't been refurbbed and they're just finishing up the last of the 60's buildings (all where the remaining preferred rooms are). From what I understand, though, they're moving through the refurbs really quickly, so you might luck out.

When I get back from my trip I'll be sure to give you a more current update.

 

[creativeamanda]

The last time I stayed there I was in the 70's section, building 10, on the side of the arm facing the 80's area. It was as close to being preferred as you could get without paying for the upgrade! I was literally a 2 minute walk to the bus stop, without having to go into Classic Hall, and it was unbelievably quiet. I was also on the 4th floor. I'm crossing my fingers for a similar location next week.

Right now two of the 50's buildings haven't been refurbbed and they're just finishing up the last of the 60's buildings (all where the remaining preferred rooms are). From what I understand, though, they're moving through the refurbs really quickly, so you might luck out.

When I get back from my trip I'll be sure to give you a more current update.

Thanks, Tink! I'll wait until then to call and make my request!

I really need to pull up the map and print it out and figure out where I want to be. I also really want to be as close as possible. I didn't even think though--does POP Century have elevators? I would hate to carry my bags up all by myself! I also want to be close to a parking lot somehow--so I would have the best of both worlds.

Gosh, I really need to print out that map and highlight the preferred rooms.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I've only ever stayed in buildings 10 and 6 both in the 70s section. If you are looking at the front of the POP main building 10 is directly to the left. In March, my brother and I stayed in building 6 70s section which is right across from 10. We enjoyed building 6 so I'm debating if I want to request 6 or 10 for in Oct.

6 was a refurbed room on the top floor. I think I read recently that 10 was done as well. I had a preferred room in building 6. I'm pretty sure you read the TR and saw all the pics but when you walked out of the room we looked right at building 10 and saw the POP main building and some of the pool features from the 60s section.

When I stayed in building 10 3 times, they were all standard rooms looking into a courtyard of sorts/parking lot. The walk was about the same but the view was nicer coming out of the preferred room. If I could pay for standard and know I could always get in 10 or 6, I'd never pay preferred bc I don't want to be by the noisy main pool!

If you want to be close to parking/bus/main building, I'd go for building 10! We took our bags to our room in building 6 but we had a big suitcase each and 1 backpack carry-on so it wasn't a ton of stuff to carry across the way and take up the elevator!

*Edit..they do have elevators! We would use the stairs going down and the elevators going up!

 

[creativeamanda]

Edited--Double post!

 

[creativeamanda]

I've only ever stayed in buildings 10 and 6 both in the 70s section. If you are looking at the front of the POP main building 10 is directly to the left. In March, my brother and I stayed in building 6 70s section which is right across from 10. We enjoyed building 6 so I'm debating if I want to request 6 or 10 for in Oct.

6 was a refurbed room on the top floor. I think I read recently that 10 was done as well. I had a preferred room in building 6. I'm pretty sure you read the TR and saw all the pics but when you walked out of the room we looked right at building 10 and saw the POP main building and some of the pool features from the 60s section.

When I stayed in building 10 3 times, they were all standard rooms looking into a courtyard of sorts/parking lot. The walk was about the same but the view was nicer coming out of the preferred room. If I could pay for standard and know I could always get in 10 or 6, I'd never pay preferred bc I don't want to be by the noisy main pool!

If you want to be close to parking/bus/main building, I'd go for building 10! We took our bags to our room in building 6 but we had a big suitcase each and 1 backpack carry-on so it wasn't a ton of stuff to carry across the way and take up the elevator!

*Edit..they do have elevators! We would use the stairs going down and the elevators going up!

Megan, that was so very helpful! Really! I think what I'm hoping for is either the 60s section or the 70s section, but with a courtyard view. So maybe building 5, 6, or 10 top floor? If I park in the 70's parking lot, then that gives me a straight shot. I actually plan on having only 2 suitcases total, with my sundries and camera and laptop being in one and the clothes in another.

I'll probably have to use space bags for the clothes bag, but that will limit my trips to and from to maybe 2 trips instead of my typical four. I'm happy to read about the elevators. When we stayed in 2007, we were in the 90s section. Now that I look in the map, we were probably in building 9 on the bottom floor closest to the parking lot. All I remember is getting lost, lol, and needing to look at the maps.

I'm hoping I wouldn't be dealing with a lot of pool noise in December, but you never know. It almost would be worth it to be near the pool bar, though, KWIM?

 

[rsogal]

Love your title! For me it's "I'll clean up the kitchen when I'm done reading trip reports!"

I think a solo trip sounds awesome. We're taking our first family trip to POP in Nov, but I've already mentally started planning an anniversary trip and another family trip. Now I've got a third type to dream about!

Michal

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

You're welcome!!!!

I wouldn't think of the pool either in Dec but when we were there last year it was sooo hot! It was in the low 80s I think!? The year before that, we were there the same weekend and it was freezing..in the low 60s so I guess you never know!? I guess the fact that there isn't a hot tub would keep the crowds down a bit..which to me still is sucky