The Mother/Daughter Polynesian Surprise **NEW 5/1 I'm back!

[jenbear123]

Split stays are brilliant!! On our first trip to disney we stayed at 4 (yes 4!) different hotels and loooooved it!! The second trip we did 3 hotels. This trip we are just doing WL because we love it there, but we're a bit worried about being in the one place for the whole trip

Four! I thought I was crazy doing three! Talk about resort roulette. Where did you stay? Did you rent a car to make the transition easier? How long were you in Disney for to make it possible to stay at so many resorts? I'm sure you'll love spending your whole trip at WL. It's a beautiful resort. But I guess it would be hard to get used to the same scenery for the entire stay after rotating resorts every time on your past trips.

See, I've never had any desire to do a split stay. The extra time spent packing, checking into another resort, then unpacking and getting settled back in... It just seems like such a chore to me, and wasting time that I'd rather be sippin' margaritas by the Lagoon in Epcot. I know alot of people love split stays, but for me the process would be a real pain in the butt. Once I get myself in hotel room, I tend sort to "nest" until time to go home. I totally dread the packing up process, and certainly don't want to do it more than once in a trip, unless I don't have any other choice!

I can see where you are coming from too. The only reason we're doing a split stay this trip is because we'll be there for 9 nights. I figure the longer period of time will let us switch between resorts while still leaving enough opportunity to do what we want in Disney. Plus, we've been fortunate enough to have been to the World more than once this year. That has given us enough opportunity to get the "Must Do's" done on each trip. What ever we don't get done is put on the "Must Do" list for the next trip

I figure that we'll just live out of our carry on for the first night at Poly. Then, they'll be less things to forget when we move onto Pop. Then when we're finally at CBR, we'll be able to settle in for the remaining days. I'm pretty organized when it comes to unpacking/packing and keeping my stuff together. Of course I'll want to stay put once we're at the Poly but sadly the bank account just won't allow it. I suppose split stays let you stay at resorts that you can't normally afford to for a full week - even if it's for just one night. Only downside, like you say, is having to pack up and move on to another "nest"

That is interesting. Maybe that is new. I always assumed that TA discounts were treated the same manner as the airline employee discount. (Assuming they still offer that, I haven't used it since 2006.) With it, you booked your room-only package, the discount was 50% off, and at the time of booking all that was due as a deposit was the cost of the first night. You had until 45days prior to arrival to pay off the balance.

Good thing it was a relatively small balance they made you pay today, and even better that you had it available! I am on such a super-tight budget right now in order to make everything come together that I would have spazzed.

Yeah, the whole thing was a bit strange but I'm satisfied that it was all taken care of. I guess Disney thinks that since you're getting a discount, you should be bound by stricter rules? Who knows. I completely understand the strict budget. I'm 100% like that currently. Every pay check is carefully devised amongst paying off bills, going into savings (for Disney ) and spending money. Let me remind you that not much is left over for spending money - just enough for the essentials. I can handle that though. I'm not a huge shopaholic anyways - except when it comes to Disney stuff!

 

[JoJo1980]

Four! I thought I was crazy doing three! Talk about resort roulette. Where did you stay? Did you rent a car to make the transition easier? How long were you in Disney for to make it possible to stay at so many resorts? I'm sure you'll love spending your whole trip at WL. It's a beautiful resort. But I guess it would be hard to get used to the same scenery for the entire stay after rotating resorts every time on your past trips.

My DH loves resort hopping and seeing different scenery, he's the one the persuaded me to do it and now we love doing it. Yeah, its kinda annoying having to pack up again and do the checking in and out - but its worth it to us. We love eating at each resort without having to worry about transport, plus the closeness to the parks and just being able to get a boat to them - we planned our days based on the hotels we'd be at and just did what was closest. Saved us lots of 'transport' time in the long run

On our first trip we stayed at Hard Rock Hotel, then disneys AK, then BC and then WL - 3 nights, 3 nights, 4 nights, 4 nights = 14 nights in total.

Second trip we did Hard Rock for 3, VWL for 5 and the BWI for 4 nights = 12 nights.

Resort Roulette - I'm loving that phrase

Yep, we did have a rental car, we always do because we like to go adventuring off site aswell and its just easier with a car. I tended not to unpack everything - just the essentials, and then kinda lived out of my case so it meant that there wasnt loads of time taken up by packing stuff. Mind you, the second trip was our wedding & honeymoon so everything got unpacked - you can imagine how much stuff we had on that trip and it didnt bother us. You'll be fine, dont worry about it - because once you are there you'll just get everything done automatically and will ask yourself why you spent so much time worrying about it. I'm speaking from experience there because I am the biggest worry wart / planner ever

 

[Elevationist]

Let me remind you that not much is left over for spending money - just enough for the essentials. I can handle that though. I'm not a huge shopaholic anyways - except when it comes to Disney stuff!

Believe it or not, DBF is more of a shopaholic than I am. He loves STUFF. When we went to Myrtle Beach in May, he bought... I am not lying to you.. FOURTEEN shot glasses. And a few t-shirts, and lord only knows what else, I can't remember. You know what I bought? A photo of us holding a baby tiger. LOL. That was the only souvenir I wanted. And I'm sure after Disney, I'll wind up buying our PhotoPass CD, too.

I'm more of a snackaholic than anything else. Most of my spending money tends to go into munch-munch-munchin' my way around the world. (And I have the Pooh-like figure to support this claim, )

 

[disneyaddicted]

I agree with Elavationist about split stays. I always said it was because I was lazy, but I like her wording better, "nesting"
But I do think it's cool that others do it, I like reading about it. And I'm sure it just adds to the whole Disney experience. I will go out on a limb and say, someday in the future, don't know how far into the future though, but I will do at least one night at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[jenbear123]

I've been so busy reading other PTRs that I've started neglecting my own The horror!

The whole spreadsheet thing is just not working for me. Not that I don't love the concept.... it's just that I've already organized our itinerary, day by day, in table format. It would be nice to have the whole schedule on one page but I can't seem to work with Numbers (Excel equivalent on a Mac for all you Windows users out there) I looked at Billie's and was completely stumped as to how she got the rows and columns to do what she wanted! I tried merging rows, moving the rows up and down, making things bigger and smaller. It was an itinerary fiasco, let me tell you. A well wasted 30 minutes just destroying my already perfected itinerary. Sigh One of these days I'll have to sit down and learn how to use the darn program. Right now, though, it just does not want to do what I want it to! HELP!

Instead, I will share what I DO have. I've used this format in all my past Disney trips and it seems to have suited me and the rest of the family. Easy to read, easy to follow (despite it being on multiple pages)

Since I haven't posted Day 4 yet, here's how it looks the way I see it:

Have I mentioned we're doing Donald's Safari Breakfast?! Well, if I haven't, that's what we're doing instead of Cape May Cafe!!! I was just playing around on the online dining reservation system one day and Tusker House popped out for an awesome time. I guess someone had just cancelled. Being the person I am, I snagged it. Later on I told Bubba that I had gotten Donald's Safari Breakfast and wondered if she wanted to do that instead of Cape May Cafe. She nearly died. Donald's Safari Breakfast is apparently another hard ADR to get (Le Cellier, anyone?). She LIVES in Disney and can't even get one!!! Even though we've eaten there before, twice to make her happy we shall eat there again. She loves Donald so how can we NOT go. Cape May will just have to wait until April.

A few updates to tell you all about:

1. Bubba told me this morning that she is 95% sure she'll be getting a 3 month extension on her current contract That definitely calls for some banana dancing. This means that my mom and I will have a much smoother time transferring between resorts in April Speaking of April, I've already come up with a pending title for my TR: "Resort Roulette, Where We Headed Next?!" What do you think? Too corny? Too silly? Too original? Getting back to Bubba's extension, she won't know for sure until about the time I go in November. Then, once I know, I'll be able to start hardcore planning for April. If it's not one trip, it's the next....

2. The Poly has been booked and paid for! Our one night stay is locked in, secured, ready to go! Now I must decide on room requests. Must add this to my To-Do list.

3. Speaking of To-Do lists.....

To-Do

• Confirm ME Transfers
• Get later time for Le Cellier ADR (It's hopeless but one can only try)
• Create packing list
• Make sure one suitcase will fit inside the other
• Take inventory on travel size stuff
• Stay healthy (not sure if I want to get the swine flu shot before I go or not )
• Order calendar for Bubba's x-mas present

That's right. I made (to order) my sister a nice calendar for her x-mas present. Since she'll be in Disney for another 8 months or something, she won't get to see the family much. She specifically requested that I make a calendar consisting of family photos for the first half of the year (while she's still in Disney) and pictures of Disney World for the second half of the year (when she's home from Disney). That's all she wanted from me. Easy enough I guess It's pretty much ready to order. I've just been procrastinating and not willing to forklift out the money yet.

This weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada so I'll be even busier tending to family gatherings and the like. Well, at least one dinner tomorrow night I must go to. Parents are divorced so it makes splitting yourself amongst the family a bit hard. When both sides decide to have dinner on the SAME night, it makes choosing kinda difficult. The way I see it, it's whoever asks me first , gets me first!

Oh, and my DBF is sick Thankfully not the flu *phew* but still concerned nonetheless. Just a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. No fever thank goodness (I forced him to take his temperature) Let's hope it doesn't get any worse Can't afford to get sick and miss out on work!

I leave you this evening with another Random Past Disney Picture of the Day

 

[TiggerAllie]

Wow your daily itinerary seems so... calm! I was writing mine out in my PTR and I just felt like there weren't enough hours in the trip to get everything in!

I don't know how specific you want to be in your Poly request, but I would suggest 3rd floor, balcony (2nd floor on older buildings don't have full balconies) and maybe near the quiet pool... I loved our Tokelau room! But with 1 night... maybe you'll be upgraded!

 

[TiggerAllie]

For your benefit, I fixed the pictures in my WL/Poly TR:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1307145&page=1
I think I may get out my trip journal and try to write some more in it--turns out, I already had pictures started for the next post!

 

[Elevationist]

Girl, my "spreadsheet" is just a glorified table built in a different program! Same basic concept, just arranged different. Don't sweat it! Your itinerary, JUST the way you have it, looks perfect. I like that you get a new sheet at the beginning of every day! There's something exciting about that!

Ooooh! Grats on Tusker House breakfast! According to the original plans I made months ago, I wanted that ADR, but as things changed and developed in our itinerary, I decided to save it for another trip. But I did chase after if for a couple weeks, and never even came close to getting it. So glad you managed to nab a ressie there! Time for nanner dancin':

I'll take lots of picture of Cape May's breakfast and be sure to come home and tell you how deeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious it is.

I like the TR title! Keep it, it's great!!

Oy, I need to make a To-Do list here soon. I think I'm waiting until the trip is paid off to start getting into all of that. That's only a week away now, though... So I better get crack-a-lackin!

Tell your DBF that he got sick because he hates on the DIS. Karma, yo.

 

[jenbear123]

To-Do for November

• Confirm ME Transfers DONE
• Get later time for Le Cellier ADR (It's hopeless but one can only try)
• Create packing list
• Make sure one suitcase will fit inside the other DONE
• Take inventory on travel size stuff
• Stay healthy (not sure if I want to get the swine flu shot before I go or not )
• Order calendar for Bubba's x-mas present DONE
• Grocery list for Bubba for when we'll be in VWL
• Decide on a nice outfit to bring
• Print out resort confirmation with addresses for customs

Just adding a few things before I forget! I'm off to eat turkey, gobble gobble

 

[disneyaddicted]

I like your itinerary, it looks just fine in table format. Don't even sweat it, I print out a blank guide and just fill it in by hand, we all have our own ways that work.

I think your title for your TR sounds exciting, who wouldn't be caught up with that title. The readers will at least know that you had a busy resort stay vacation.

That is a gorgeous Disney picture you posted.

 

[jenbear123]

Wow your daily itinerary seems so... calm! I was writing mine out in my PTR and I just felt like there weren't enough hours in the trip to get everything in!

I don't know how specific you want to be in your Poly request, but I would suggest 3rd floor, balcony (2nd floor on older buildings don't have full balconies) and maybe near the quiet pool... I loved our Tokelau room! But with 1 night... maybe you'll be upgraded!

Trust me. Not all my itineraries have been like this. Especially in July, we had something going on every second! It was to the point that we felt rushed and really weren't able to enjoy ourselves. This time, I made a promise to myself (and Bubba!) that I would take it easy. I've been to the World, as you've noticed, FOUR times already this year. I think we can afford to step back and take things in stride a bit more this trip.

Thanks for the room request suggestions. I'm still on the fence about even worrying about requesting a room. We'll only be there one night. Is it worth it? I guess it wouldn't hurt. That would be pretty sweet if we were upgraded, just as long as we STAY at the Poly and not be moved to BLT again!

Girl, my "spreadsheet" is just a glorified table built in a different program! Same basic concept, just arranged different. Don't sweat it! Your itinerary, JUST the way you have it, looks perfect. I like that you get a new sheet at the beginning of every day! There's something exciting about that!

It must be a self conscious thing. Everyone's spreadsheet or itinerary always looks better than your own. There is an excitement to moving through the pages. Something new to conquer and experience every day!

I'll take lots of picture of Cape May's breakfast and be sure to come home and tell you how deeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious it is.

You better! I expect complete detail, full on food porn so I can fully grasp what I missed

I like the TR title! Keep it, it's great!!

I think your title for your TR sounds exciting, who wouldn't be caught up with that title. The readers will at least know that you had a busy resort stay vacation.

Thanks guys! I think I will keep it.

Tell your DBF that he got sick because he hates on the DIS. Karma, yo.

That'll teach him!

I like your itinerary, it looks just fine in table format. Don't even sweat it, I print out a blank guide and just fill it in by hand, we all have our own ways that work.

That is a gorgeous Disney picture you posted.

Thanks! Florida can really show off some amazing sunsets. And yes, I agree about the format of itineraries. The spreadsheet just won't work for me. I can accept that

 

[Elevationist]

You better! I expect complete detail, full on food porn so I can fully grasp what I missed

Oh, there will be. Especially after reading last night that apparently they've now officially and permanently added Alaskan snow crab legs to the spread at the Cape May Cafe dinner.

 

[jenbear123]

Look what finally showed up in the mail:

One more thing to knock off my To-Do list! Of course they messed it up... again. We specifically told them that my sister will not be needing ME since she's kinda already IN Orlando. And yet, they still send a luggage tag for her and reserve a spot for her on the bus When will they listen? Sigh. Ah well. This gives me an extra luggage tag just in case.

And I have to share this too as it's just so darn cute. It was only $8 (regular $16)

No, I'm not a crazy collector of Webkinz but I just liked the look of this guy. I'm such a sucker for stuffed animals...

 

[TiggerAllie]

Hooray!!!

And maybe a trip to AKL is in your future with that giraffe....

 

[Elevationist]

YAAAAY!

I won't be getting any DME stuff in the mail since we are driving down, but I sure am looking forward to getting my Mickey Mail once our package is paid off this Friday!

 

[jenbear123]

Yes, I realize my poor PTR has been in a bit of a limbo for the last little while. The last week has been quite the emotional and physical roller coaster. I had a big wake up call from the parental units ... you know... the one where they ask where your life is going and you answer that you don't know and the conversation keeps going in circles until you end up bawling your eyes out? Yeah, that one. Yet, I didn't end up bawling my eyes out at the fact that I'm almost 24 years old and am no where NEAR being able to move out and live on my own. I was so drugged up on Neocitran (cough & cold medicine drink... yes I was also sick with a head cold for 3 days and then got Aunt Flo - joy.) that everything coming out of the parents mouth wasn't hitting me in ways it normally would. My head was in the clouds. I was still able to respond, just without the emotion and anxiety behind it. I must admit it was nice being able to speak my mind so easily.

After the whole "talk", I felt horribly guilty for not saving my money up for my future. So I immediately decided to cancel our trip in April. I couldn't keep spending more money than I have on travel (aka Disney trips). I had to start putting my money towards my future. It tore me apart inside as I wrote the e-mail to my mom (she wasn't part of this whole "talk" - it's complicated with whole divorced parents thing) saying that we should cancel the trip in April. Not only was I sad but I knew I was letting my mom down as well. Unlike myself, who is going in November, my mom had no other plans to go and visit my sister in Disney World. She doesn't like going by herself either, which I don't blame her. I mean, what's Disney World when you can't share your experiences with someone else? I told her that she should still go but I would have to sit this one out. After a couple nights of no sleep, I just couldn't accept that we were not going to Disney World together. That sentence just doesn't happen in our family! My mom probably would figure something out for herself but I knew, deep down, that she really wanted me to come along. I also couldn't accept how I had spent all that money on an annual pass and having it now go to waste.

When I finally went back to work yesterday, after recovering from my sickness, I started crunching the numbers. How could I make this trip affordable but not feel guilty about going and spending money on Disney again? That's it! Who cares where we stay? Who cares how we get there?! Just as long as we can go, right?! I priced out the cost of 6 nights at Pop Century with my TA discount. Perfect. Then, I priced out the cost of a roundtrip flight from Buffalo to Orlando with Southwest Airlines. It, too, met the budget. Awesome! All in all, for me, it came to about $600 (including food and airport parking costs). The total cost is a little higher for my mom because she still has to buy her theme park tickets. So her total cost came to just under $1,000. No sooner did I come to this revelation, that I was on the phone with my mom. She was all for it! WE'RE STILL GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

People, you have no idea what kind of scare this was for me. I even avoided the DIS for a few days because it made me sad to read anything related to Disney I wasn't only sad that I wouldn't be going back to Disney World in April, but the fact that November would be the last time I'd see my sister until the middle of next year. I just couldn't handle that! Her and I are like two peas in a pod. We can't stand being away from eachother for long periods of time!

So it may not be the original 9 night, 3 resort split-stay like originally planned. But, at this point, we're just happy to still be GOING! I also wrote an e-mail to my sister about not being able to afford what was originally planned. Then she offered to pay for the whole thing which, of course, I kindly declined. The only thing I asked her to possibly help with was the one night stay at the Poly. I still want to surprise my mom but can't afford to do it myself. I have yet to hear back from her on this but you'll be sure to hear about it when I do know. Either way, I'll be happy.

To recap, here is what April looks like:

6 nights at Pop Century
April 22nd to April 28th
Flights with Southwest Airlines out of Buffalo

Pop Century has been booked but I still need to buy our plane tickets. Hopefully we can do that this week to avoid the cost going up.

Boy, life sure does like to play hardball sometimes.

Oh, and last night my throat started getting scratchy and has been for most of today. It's early to bed for me tonight. I better not be coming down with something else!

 

[Elevationist]

Oh, Jen! Honey, I'm so glad you were able to work it out! And you're absolutely right... It really doesn't matter where you stay or how you get there, just BEING THERE is the most important thing! I'm so glad that you were able to bring down the costs and save your trip, that's really wonderful, sweetie.

Although trust me, I know exactly how you feel in regards to the parental units. I had to move home last year (and haven't gotten back out yet) and we are driving each other nuts. They are VERY unhappy about my upcoming Disney trip, they seem to think that I am just having tons of fun traveling and having a great time and being irresponsible, while living rent-free with them. Keeping in mind that this is the same set of parents who have never taken a vacation, they didn't even go on a honeymoon. They will travel occasionally to see family, but have no interest in getting on a plane and seeing new places, and they didn't expose me to it growing up either, To them vacations are nothing but a colossal waste of money.

They also don't understand that I am in this long-distance relationship with Ron, and when he comes here, we have to get a hotel because they won't let him stay here with me (Nevermind that I'm almost 29 years old, or that they've met him and like him, and know what we're serious and talking marriage someday.) So since we're having to spend the money on hotels and airfare and food anyhow, it's stupid to just sit in my tiny little town when we could be out spending the same money and having fun! This concept is totally lost on them, and they chew me out at least once a week about the way I "blow money." Parents just don't "get it" alot of the time, I'm afraid.

And girl, you don't need to avoid the DIS! I'm sure your PTR family here would have immediately talked you out of canceling and into downgrading everything and saved you days of agony. We're here to support each other!

 

[jenbear123]

Thanks Billie I probably should've spoke up sooner but I felt so miserable over the weekend with my cold that I could barely sit at my computer for 5 minutes.

Sorry to hear about your situation. Although, I must admit it's nice to know I'm not the only one going through this parents thing. It's too bad that your parents can't understand your relationship. Not only that, but they won't even let him stay at the house! You're right. You might as well go to Disney if you're going to have to be put up in a hotel anyway. It's too bad they find travel a waste of money. I live to travel. I hope to see the world in my lifetime. Everyone is different I guess. Perhaps that's why they disapprove of your travel. But I say, you're an adult, quite capable of making adult choices. If you can afford to travel, why not? Have a little bit of fun and then start setting aside money to move out

To be honest, these parents that I said spoke to me? They're not even my own parents. They're my DBF's. Since I've been living in their house, in the basement, with DBF for the last 2 years, rent-free, they felt it necessary to talk to us both. They're becoming impatient with us being here. It's like they expect us to go out and get a solid career right out of school and start supporting ourselves. It's been VERY hard since the economic downturn. I'm lucky I got my TA job when I did. Not only that, but DBF has suffered through months of social anxiety and counselling. Only now is he coming out of it and finding purpose in life. There was a while there when I thought I'd lose him. But, I won't get into too much detail about that.

I'll admit that I have debts to pay off (but who doesn't after coming out of school?) and have spent at times I shouldn't have. But what's the point of life when you can't have some time to ENJOY yourself? I don't know. Life is very short. You could die tomorrow and never got the chance to do something you always wanted to. I understand it's important to be able to support yourself but it's not easy. At this point, no matter how much money I put away ($100 here and there) it still wouldn't make a dent on the first month of rent or a down payment on a mortgage. It'd be gone on the first payment! Unfortunately, I need another income, whether it be with my DBF or with my sister when she comes back from Disney World. I don't like my current living situation but I don't have much choice right now. And I'm not about to switch jobs (again) to something that pays better only to be miserable everyday I go to work (been there, done that.) I figure, if I have the money to spare for a trip, I'm going to do it since my life is kinda stuck in limbo right now. I'm glad I made the changes to April though. It's not breaking the bank, I'll have everything paid for by the time I go, and still might be able to save up a little bit to buy a few souvenirs

Sorry for the rant. I'm just glad to have the DIS, to have people to talk to who understand what it's like to have the "Disney Bug". It also helps to know that I'm not the only one in my kind of situation! Okay, more on this later. I must sleep now! Good night! ZZZZZzzzzzzz

 

[jenbear123]

Guess who's staying at the Polynesian?!?!!?



Yup! Bubba agreed to pay for our one night stay. She's the bestest big sister ever I'm so happy this is still happening!!!! It's going to be even better now though since we'll be there on our last night. My mom will have NO idea! That brings me to an idea I had today I was thinking of perhaps telling my mom at x-mas that we'll be staying at the Polynesian for one night. I could say it's my sister's x-mas present to her (since I'm not footing the bill). I'll print out the resort confirmation page, fold it up, and put it in a big BIG box. Then, wrap it up in several layers of wrapping paper. Hey, I have to make her work for this just a little I don't know though. A part of me wants to tell her at x-mas but in another way, I'd love to keep everything a total secret until we're there. If I do keep it a secret, I'm not sure how I will break the big news. Do I tell her when we arrive at Pop Century? Do I wait and tell her the day of our resort switch? Hmmmmm. Maybe I could keep the present idea but make her open it at some point during our trip? I'll have to think this one through a bit more.

And you know what else? As of tomorrow I only have.......





4 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



until I see Bubba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Elevationist]

If I do keep it a secret, I'm not sure how I will break the big news. Do I tell her when we arrive at Pop Century? Do I wait and tell her the day of our resort switch? Hmmmmm. Maybe I could keep the present idea but make her open it at some point during our trip? I'll have to think this one through a bit more.

My vote is for waiting and telling her the day of the resort switch. I am seriously contemplating adding a night on to our trip, and right now I'll have no choice but to switch to WL. (Oh, poor me! ) I haven't made up my mind yet, as that will be another $300. But if I decide to go for it, I'm not telling Ron until our last day at CSR, which he will think is our last day in WDW. I know he'll be sad and depressed about it being our last day, and that's when I'll tell him that actually we have one more night in WDW, just at a different resort. I have it all planned out in my head, it will be awesome, he won't be expecting it at all. You could pull something similar on your Mom!