~*~The OFFICIAL 2014 Dates Thread - Come Join Us!~*~

[BearcatsFan]

I started planning at 9 months out last year and managed with changing resorts once (lucked out on getting free dining with AoA the week they opened!)
Although this time could be different too - still can't settle on an exact time yet - thought I had it set for Nov 2014 but DH talks about getting back sooner! (I have Disneyafied him as I say!)

When are you thinking if not November, Funfire?

 

[SAT887]

So THAT's how she got the carpal tunnel. I knew there was a reason. Watch out Bearcat. Make sure you keep an ergo regimen.

 

[joanzie72]

Hello, and to the group! First family vacation AND it's a surprise? How exciting! Where are you staying?

How do I plan? Well, I scribble lots of notes on binder paper and then type them out later when/if I can make sense of them. Lots and lots of lists.

How to start a new thread? Just click on the button that says "New Thread" in whatever board you're on.

I'll get you added to the list for now resortless, but make sure you post where you're staying so I can update it.

I was thinking POP but when I told hubby about the double beds he was absolutely not. So we decided POR.

 

[Funfire240]

When are you thinking if not November, Funfire?

DH mentioned the week before Easter.which includes Dd's birthday and Dd's is 2 weeks later with our anniversary in between there too but I worry about the crowds. He knows I'm nervous about pulling DD out of school even though she'll only be in kindergarten.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I was thinking POP but when I told hubby about the double beds he was absolutely not. So we decided POR.

POR is beautiful! We went over there several times when we were staying at POFQ. Love the mansions buildings.

DH mentioned the week before Easter.which includes Dd's birthday and Dd's is 2 weeks later with our anniversary in between there too but I worry about the crowds. He knows I'm nervous about pulling DD out of school even though she'll only be in kindergarten.

Are you talking the week before actual Easter Sunday or the week before the week of Easter? (and did that even make sense? )

 

[soonerlpn]

Yep thats what I was thinking. Although if we arrive around lunch, it will be hard to not hit a park. Maybe we could do AK for a couple hours that afternoon.

I can't help but hit the parks when we get there. We usually are at the hotel between noon and 1pm. It's HARD not too!!

 

[Funfire240]

POR is beautiful! We went over there several times when we were staying at POFQ. Love the mansions buildings.



Are you talking the week before actual Easter Sunday or the week before the week of Easter? (and did that even make sense? )

It would be the week prior to Easter - Easter next year is Apr. 20 and I was surprised to find out that the spring break is the week before (I've always seen it the week after around here). DD's b-day is the 17th so we thought we could do the 11th or 12th until the 18t h (Thursday before Easter)

We probably could go anytime since she'll only be in Kindergarten or the 1st half of 1st grade and our school system does allow for one family vacation a school year but I'm already stressing about pulling her out!

 

[mom2clr]

We probably could go anytime since she'll only be in Kindergarten or the 1st half of 1st grade and our school system does allow for one family vacation a school year but I'm already stressing about pulling her out!

Oldest DD will also be in Kindergarten next year but I just don't want to take her out. It's not a fear of her "missing" anything important, we always took vacations while I was growing up but we would simply wait til end of school year (missed a couple of days at end but nothing crazy). To each their own though.

On an aside, I am now contemplating doing a split stay...value and deluxe. I am planning on 9 nights and only 6 park days so we could easily make a switch day on a down day. One more thing to start researching.

 

[Funfire240]

Oldest DD will also be in Kindergarten next year but I just don't want to take her out. It's not a fear of her "missing" anything important, we always took vacations while I was growing up but we would simply wait til end of school year (missed a couple of days at end but nothing crazy). To each their own though.

On an aside, I am now contemplating doing a split stay...value and deluxe. I am planning on 9 nights and only 6 park days so we could easily make a switch day on a down day. One more thing to start researching.

I'm the same way in that growing up, we only went on vacation when school was on vacation - no questions asked. DH was opposite - his family has a home in the Florida Keys and none of them think twice about pulling kids out. BIL's girls are in HS and they pull them out for over a week each time.(that I won't pull them out for sure because they're too little to fish which is the main thing to do there and they can go to beaches here all summer) I admit it's hard for us to vacation in the summer due to that being DH's main work period for his business (he does building, rebuilding, powerwashing sealing decks, outdoor painting, etc.) so his high demand is end of April to September.
That's how I narrowed my choices to April - which would be spring break and she'd probably only miss the Friday before, if that or November when she'd be in first grade and they already have 2 scheduled days off that week so the most she would miss would be 3 days.

 

[NMDisneyMom]

So you all want cruise dets, huh?? Well let me tell you that my DD came back to NM very dark brown. The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL down in the Caribbean. The trip started off a little rough. We ended up skirted a storm cell, and the ship, she was a rocking. I'm talking about human pin ball - walking as a nightmare. I believe quite a bit of the ship was down for the count that evening. The rocking got progressively better over the next two days, and was gone by the time we got to St. Thomas. It was so bad, they actually closed the Mickey pool because the water was moving so bad from side to side it would leave parts of the pool without any water. Even with the rocking, the sun was shining and it was warm. Sunday was spent by the pool, Monday I had a Palo brunch (yummy!) and the DVC talk.

Tuesday - High 70s in St. Thomas and we spent the day on board the Fantasy just enjoying the ship, the sun, the free food and a somewhat empty pool. The next day was San Juan, and it is was low 80s all day. We started out by going zip lining (highly recommend this activity - so much fun!) DD wasn't too sure after the first line, but I said there was no other way off the mountain. Once we got back to town, we walked around a bit, and then I found the ultimate store - STARBUCKS! So, once my Chai need was met, we got back on ship and once again enjoyed the pool, sun, and food. We then had a beautiful sea day with a repeat of the last two afternoons (pool, sun, food). Then it was Castaway Cay. We had been warned that the weather probably would be chilly in the morning and only get to a high of low 70s. Well, they were WRONG!! A little breezy in the morning, but if you were sitting in the sun it was awesome. And the day only got better from there. Although I will say the water was a little too cold for this desert pirate; DD stayed the whole day in the water. It was a perfect day. Too bad we returned to the ship in time to start packing up to get off.

So you can see this trip was about relaxing and enjoying the ship. Almost a week home and I'm still relaxed but wishing someone else was cooking and cleaning for us. The weather in Albuquerque isn't quite as nice (upper 60s and low 70s) but we have the wind. Now I can start working towards our first trip to WDW, and with the DVC points, I might even get to sneak another trip in before then. We'll see.

Hope you enjoyed the details. If anyone has any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them.

 

[mom2clr]

I'm the same way in that growing up, we only went on vacation when school was on vacation - no questions asked. DH was opposite - his family has a home in the Florida Keys and none of them think twice about pulling kids out. BIL's girls are in HS and they pull them out for over a week each time.(that I won't pull them out for sure because they're too little to fish which is the main thing to do there and they can go to beaches here all summer) I admit it's hard for us to vacation in the summer due to that being DH's main work period for his business (he does building, rebuilding, powerwashing sealing decks, outdoor painting, etc.) so his high demand is end of April to September.
That's how I narrowed my choices to April - which would be spring break and she'd probably only miss the Friday before, if that or November when she'd be in first grade and they already have 2 scheduled days off that week so the most she would miss would be 3 days.

I can't imagine taking them out of school for a week! A day or 2 would be something to think about for sure. If we were limited as you are, we would work around their breaks too. Our school district has the same week off every year regardless of when Easter falls (first week in April) so that's something to keep in mind for future trips. I certainly wouldn't want to go during high peak spring break crowds/cost so end of August will have to be our go to month.

Of course, who knows how I will feel in the future.

 

[emilyindisney]

Woohoo! So glad I found this thread! I'm in the process of securing a DVC rental for the Princess Half weekend. We'll be down there 2/21-2/24 for a short but sweet trip for the 5k and the half. We're hoping to be at BWV or BC (though we've lined up a bunch of choices, hahah!)

 

[auprincess]

No way! So is this good news, sort of good news, or fantastic news? I know you wanted to do some of the other stuff, too.

I love when this thread gets active, also. I expect it will only get moreso after the 2014 rates are released.

It is good news...but I feel a little bad ~ I don't want him to think we won't have fun if we don't do WDW. I think if we go, it will just be for a day. We are used to hitting all the parks hard for a week, but I think with all the new Fantasyland stuff we will enjoy a full day at MK. Nothing is set in stone ~ I told him that there really aren't any deals to be found for a 1 day ticket, so even if we decide once down there to go, we can and not be losing any money. (If I'm correct, UT didn't seem to have a fantastic deal for a 1 day)

Bearscatfan--I will do NO cooking on vacation...haha!! I like the idea of a full size fridge for drinks. We stayed in a "studio" at the Beach Club on our last visit and my oldest son was almost 2. The mini fridge was fine so I'm thinking it would be okay for us. I do like the idea of a washer/dryer with 2 little ones though!!

I like the way you think! Even though we are staying in a condo this summer, I am not planning on cooking!!

Hi everyone! I'm so happy to have found this thread! I am a big fan of the DisUnplugged live podcast and because of their recent coverage I've pretty much made up my mind to attend the Flower and Garden festival next year !! I always visit WDW in November or December for the Christmas decorations, weather and festivities but I really would love to see WDW during springtime as well .

Regarding planning I will be visiting LA, CA for about a month this Oct. and because of their super dumb ticket options where you can only buy a 5 day hopper before you have to start over unless you buy an AP, and the new fact that I am dying to visit WDW for FG I am actually thinking of getting a Premier Pass!! Crazy right?

However if I figured correctly with needing a 10 day MMW hopper @399 USD for FG and at min. a 5 day hopper @290 plus tax USD for DL the difference in ticket prices is 160 dollars, plus I want to visit DL more than 5 days in a 2 week period if I'm there for a month and I think I can make back some of the 160 in discounts. Hopefully right? Not to mention I hope to squeeze in one last trip before it expires.

What I can see, the only problem is tickets are going up soon and I mean, can they raise the price of the Premier pass to more than it already is? Eegads i hope not because it looks like you can't buy it in advance, you have to buy it at the gate.
Oh well here's hoping and on with the planning !

DL and WDW in a year? I'm jealous! We were at WDW for the Flower and Garden Festival last year and had a great time. Everything was so pretty!

I've been away for what seems like forever, but we are now back from a wonderful Spring Break cruise on the Fantasy! We had a great time, but now I must get back into planning our first trip to WDW. When last I posted, we were planning on a split stay end of May/beginning of June for the Poly/AKL. Well, things have changed for the better I think. While on the cruise I took the plunge and joined DVC! So AKL is a definite, but now I'm not sure I still want Poly for the other half of our split stay. I'm actually starting to look at BLT for the first few days. Back and forth and back again .... decisions, decisions, decisions. Luckily these are the kinds of decisions I enjoy making! And I've got time. My DD is excited, even with it being more than a year away.

Hope you enjoyed the cruise ~ we hope to do one someday in the future!

Interesting...how old are your kids? Have you been to SW before?

I have been to SW, but not since I was a kid. THe girls, are (almost) 8, 4, and 2. My oldest doesn't like the sand at the beach (I don't either)! I know eventually we will enjoy it again, but right now it is too hard. Last year we packed up all our stuff, got the tent ready, and then an hour later they all wanted to go to the pool. What a pain!

 

[BearcatsFan]

So you all want cruise dets, huh?? Well let me tell you that my DD came back to NM very dark brown. The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL down in the Caribbean. The trip started off a little rough. We ended up skirted a storm cell, and the ship, she was a rocking. I'm talking about human pin ball - walking as a nightmare. I believe quite a bit of the ship was down for the count that evening. The rocking got progressively better over the next two days, and was gone by the time we got to St. Thomas. It was so bad, they actually closed the Mickey pool because the water was moving so bad from side to side it would leave parts of the pool without any water. Even with the rocking, the sun was shining and it was warm. Sunday was spent by the pool, Monday I had a Palo brunch (yummy!) and the DVC talk.

Tuesday - High 70s in St. Thomas and we spent the day on board the Fantasy just enjoying the ship, the sun, the free food and a somewhat empty pool. The next day was San Juan, and it is was low 80s all day. We started out by going zip lining (highly recommend this activity - so much fun!) DD wasn't too sure after the first line, but I said there was no other way off the mountain. Once we got back to town, we walked around a bit, and then I found the ultimate store - STARBUCKS! So, once my Chai need was met, we got back on ship and once again enjoyed the pool, sun, and food. We then had a beautiful sea day with a repeat of the last two afternoons (pool, sun, food). Then it was Castaway Cay. We had been warned that the weather probably would be chilly in the morning and only get to a high of low 70s. Well, they were WRONG!! A little breezy in the morning, but if you were sitting in the sun it was awesome. And the day only got better from there. Although I will say the water was a little too cold for this desert pirate; DD stayed the whole day in the water. It was a perfect day. Too bad we returned to the ship in time to start packing up to get off.

So you can see this trip was about relaxing and enjoying the ship. Almost a week home and I'm still relaxed but wishing someone else was cooking and cleaning for us. The weather in Albuquerque isn't quite as nice (upper 60s and low 70s) but we have the wind. Now I can start working towards our first trip to WDW, and with the DVC points, I might even get to sneak another trip in before then. We'll see.

Hope you enjoyed the details. If anyone has any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them.

Thank you for posting, NMDisneyMom! Sounds like you had a fantastic time, and I needed those details on this cold, snowy day. Glad you enjoyed your cruise!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Woohoo! So glad I found this thread! I'm in the process of securing a DVC rental for the Princess Half weekend. We'll be down there 2/21-2/24 for a short but sweet trip for the 5k and the half. We're hoping to be at BWV or BC (though we've lined up a bunch of choices, hahah!)

Hi Emily, and to the 2014 group! We're glad you found us, too!

Early good luck wishes to you for both events. I'll get you added to the list as resort TBD. Once you figure out for sure where you're staying, just post and I'll update. Meanwhile, join in the conversation!

 

[Babycarl3rd]

So as of right now we have definately decided to stay at AoA. Although not sure which area yet. Since we are celebrating my DS's birthday while we are there I'm leaning toward the Cars section since that's what he has chosen. My youngest DD, however, is obsessed with Nemo and wants to stay there. I'm hoping to talk her into staying at the Cars and visiting Nemo and his friends at the pool. We have set dates of December 1-10. Of course until we can actually book it, it won't be set in stone yet. I already have a countdown on my phone and the kids and I made change jars yesterday to start saving their change for the trip! Already have my trip planner started too!

 

[joanzie72]

Has anyone made their reservations yet for next year? Should I make them now? We are going in Feb.

 

[auprincess]

So as of right now we have definately decided to stay at AoA. Although not sure which area yet. Since we are celebrating my DS's birthday while we are there I'm leaning toward the Cars section since that's what he has chosen. My youngest DD, however, is obsessed with Nemo and wants to stay there. I'm hoping to talk her into staying at the Cars and visiting Nemo and his friends at the pool. We have set dates of December 1-10. Of course until we can actually book it, it won't be set in stone yet. I already have a countdown on my phone and the kids and I made change jars yesterday to start saving their change for the trip! Already have my trip planner started too!

I'm ready to have exact dates so I can make a countdown!! I have been saving change since out last trip (thisast April) - I counted it up the other day and we have saved a little over $300! I also saw this cool thing where you put a certain amount each week of the year (so $1 week one, $2 week 2 etc) and at the end of the year it will be somewhere between $1300-1400! I am actually alternating from week 1. Week 52, week 2, week 51 and so on so that all the expensive weeks wouldn't all be at the end near Christmas.

 

[joanzie72]

I'm ready to have exact dates so I can make a countdown!! I have been saving change since out last trip (thisast April) - I counted it up the other day and we have saved a little over $300! I also saw this cool thing where you put a certain amount each week of the year (so $1 week one, $2 week 2 etc) and at the end of the year it will be somewhere between $1300-1400! I am actually alternating from week 1. Week 52, week 2, week 51 and so on so that all the expensive weeks wouldn't all be at the end near Christmas.

I am doing that. But instead of doing the $1 and then $2...... I started with $2, $4, $8.... I am so going to switch it so that I can do it the otherway. Shoot if I started it in reverse I would already have $1,116 saved up. Well I guess it is time to clean house and make up some lost time. lol As of right now I have $156.

I too have a vacation fund jar on the counter. Our youngest has been a pill on going to the bathroom by himself. So everytime he goes by himself, we put a quarter in the jar. We are also dealing with bed time. He will stretch it out as far as he can. So if we have no telling him to get back into his room, in the morning we put $1 in the jar.

The fun part about putting money in the jar is that either boy has no clue what is up my sleeves. I think when it gets close to the time that we are going, I am just going to take the jar and bring it to the bank. Not say a thing and see if they even notice.

 

[Babycarl3rd]

I am doing that. But instead of doing the $1 and then $2...... I started with $2, $4, $8.... I am so going to switch it so that I can do it the otherway. Shoot if I started it in reverse I would already have $1,116 saved up. Well I guess it is time to clean house and make up some lost time. lol As of right now I have $156.

I too have a vacation fund jar on the counter. Our youngest has been a pill on going to the bathroom by himself. So everytime he goes by himself, we put a quarter in the jar. We are also dealing with bed time. He will stretch it out as far as he can. So if we have no telling him to get back into his room, in the morning we put $1 in the jar.

The fun part about putting money in the jar is that either boy has no clue what is up my sleeves. I think when it gets close to the time that we are going, I am just going to take the jar and bring it to the bank. Not say a thing and see if they even notice.

Maybe I should try that! I have been saving any one dollar bills I get from change from anything too. So I have total between those and change about $150 so far! Kids are planning a yard sale for the summer to make some money for the trip too. It's a great way to get them to let go of things they don't play with anymore since they know they will be getting something else out of it. Anyone else have ideas to share about how they save money for Disney?