The Pursuit of Disney Magic (June 7-14, 2008) ~ UPDATED 9/30 pg. 191

[Charleston Princess]

I think we are made from the same cloth. Money is the only thing that is stopping me from going in October. I think I could talk my friend, Kay, into going, because she really does like it. Unfortunately, between her work and college course and a husband who would rather spend money on boats and such, she has a hard time getting away and getting the money. It's probably best, though, because if she said she could go, I'd go in a New York minute, and then I'd be indebted to my credit card for a while.

It would only take a nudge and the right price to send me scurrying back to the Mouse.

Right now, I'm tossing around the idea of a very mini trip during spring break, just taking Brooklynn and going for two nights. I would love to spend the time with her one on one before the new baby comes, and it would give Jill and John a chance to tie up loose ends around the homefront before things get crazy. I'll have an AP and she still won't need a ticket, and the food would be no big deal. It's just the doggone plane tickets that are the killer, and with just the two of us, I'd want to fly rather than drive, of course.

A short spring break trip with Brooklyn sounds great! Really, you would be looking at airfare and your room. That's not too bad.

Jill says if I have to wait all the way from November to July that I will spontaneously combust!

She might be right.
What if I do?
Then I wouldn't be able to go on next summer's trip!
Soooo, the spring break trip might be a need rather than a want, huh?

It sounds to me that you need the spring break for health reasons -- we can't have you spontaneously combusting! I may explode if I have to go from June to June! Looking at that typed out, I don't think I can go that long in between trips!!!

If we do go, we'll fly out on Wednesday and fly back either Friday evening or Saturday. Jill could both take us to and pick us up at the airport. I think it would be fun, but I do worry a bit about what I would do if Brooklynn started missing Mommy too badly. She's a Mommy's girl, and if that little lip started quivering and she started wanting Mommy too much, my heart would just shatter. Also, that's a lot of plane ticket money to spend for that short of a time.

Has she ever stayed with you for a long weekend without Jill? How did she do?

Logically, I know it is stupid for me to even think of going, but when it comes to Disney, my logic escapes me too often.

But then there's that whole idea of spontaneously combusting and all, and that doesn't sound too fun, either!

It's not that you have lost all logic -- it's that it has converted over to Disney Logic -- entirely different entity -- kind of like the Mad Hatter's logic in Alice in Wonderland!

Who knows? I'm going to check Southwest flight prices when they release them for our March dates, which should be really soon, They're up to the 6th right now. The prices of those will be my determining factor, I'm sure.

If I were you, living in GA and being so much closer, I'd just be a mess about going. I don't think much could stop me. Spur of the moment trips are awesome, so I'm going to send good wishes your way for a MNSSHP trip!

Have they come out yet?

It is a bit of a catch-22 being so close -- we have been four times since June of 2007 -- so now we are spoiled -- not to mention that gas prices keep dropping and in my mind, I keep readjusting what it would cost to drive down there. Originally I had told myself that if gas dropped to $3.60 we would go -- well, it's dropped way below that now, so I guess I better get serious about deciding.

I take it you're in Nashville because of Southwest. Airtran is having a sale from here to Memphis but there might be a good price from Memphis to here too depending where you are.

Does Southwest fly out of Atlanta?

I WISH Airtran flew out of Nashville. I'm watching Southwest flights like a hawk though too.

How long of a drive is it from Nashville?

 

[DisKate]

Ok...I've been lurking for a few days, and have finally gotten caught up for the entire PRT and TR...so i'm dying to know...what are your final thoughts???

 

[brookelizabeth]

Final thoughts.... but Pre-TR! I'm IN!

(btw, AKL is ahhhhh-mazinggggggggggg! We stayed there for our honeymoon and I just love the lodge! But, it is a tough debate-longer+a possible extra trip over AKL... )

 

[IshallcallhimSquishy]

We leave in 18 days and can't wait. Thanks for both reports they are fun to read.

 

[julezdisney]

I miss your TR.

I know you are busy with school though. Rach & Eb just started back. Rach is LOVING kindergarten. It's def. her new favorite thing. I def. loved my morning without her as well! Quiet. Oh so very quiet. lol. I've volunteered to help her class every Thurs. morning though w/computer lab (it's my day off) so I do have to change from my jammies though- which is a good thing!

Looking forward to both your final thoughts and your decision on the Oct. long weekend. There's a MNSSHP on the 10th if that's the one you're thinking of going to.

Question- for P&P - did you go into the parks after 4, as they say here on the boards you can do, or did you go at the party 'start time'?

Have a great day!

 

[MegansMom]

Jackie---Happy Friday!!! I hope your school year is going well!! I was having some Jackie-withdrawal, so I had to say "Hey!" I finally put the Photopass pics up on my TR, but other than that, not much is new around here!! Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend!! Hope to "talk" soon!! Jen

 

[DisKate]

Hello....I have a quick question...do you need a hotel/package reservation to make ADR's? We are thinking of going in March but we haven't finalized our plans yet and our 180 is coming up on Sept. 8 and we really want Le Cellier if we get to go

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ok...I've been lurking for a few days, and have finally gotten caught up for the entire PRT and TR...so i'm dying to know...what are your final thoughts???

Welcome! I am so glad that you enjoyed reading all of my nonsense . Final thoughts sometime soon.

Final thoughts.... but Pre-TR! I'm IN!

(btw, AKL is ahhhhh-mazinggggggggggg! We stayed there for our honeymoon and I just love the lodge! But, it is a tough debate-longer+a possible extra trip over AKL... )

It is so hard to decide -- I really, really, really want to stay at AKL, but I also really, really, really want to go in October. Such a dilemma!

We leave in 18 days and can't wait. Thanks for both reports they are fun to read.

You are so lucky to be leaving so soon! I hope you plan on doing a TR!

I miss your TR.

I know you are busy with school though. Rach & Eb just started back. Rach is LOVING kindergarten. It's def. her new favorite thing. I def. loved my morning without her as well! Quiet. Oh so very quiet. lol. I've volunteered to help her class every Thurs. morning though w/computer lab (it's my day off) so I do have to change from my jammies though- which is a good thing!

Looking forward to both your final thoughts and your decision on the Oct. long weekend. There's a MNSSHP on the 10th if that's the one you're thinking of going to.

Question- for P&P - did you go into the parks after 4, as they say here on the boards you can do, or did you go at the party 'start time'?

Have a great day!

Julia, I am so glad that Rachel is loving kindergarten!!! Are you planning on doing the MNSSHP on the 10th?

We did a MNSSHP and a P&PP in the past year -- both times we arrived at four which was so nice. We had an early dinner and rode a few rides before all the festivities started.

Jackie---Happy Friday!!! I hope your school year is going well!! I was having some Jackie-withdrawal, so I had to say "Hey!" I finally put the Photopass pics up on my TR, but other than that, not much is new around here!! Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend!! Hope to "talk" soon!! Jen

Jen, I hope you have a great weekend, too! I loved seeing the PP pics! Enjoy your quiet before your crazy September starts!

Hello....I have a quick question...do you need a hotel/package reservation to make ADR's? We are thinking of going in March but we haven't finalized our plans yet and our 180 is coming up on Sept. 8 and we really want Le Cellier if we get to go

You can make your ADRs without a resort reservation -- I already have an ADR for my "not-really-at-all-definite" October weekend.

 

[DisneyJo]

Loved the photos of your WDW buys, the silouette is so sweet!

Those home made cookie sandwiches look delicious, we never did get one at MK, we were always too full

 

[Charleston Princess]

Loved the photos of your WDW buys, the silouette is so sweet!

Those home made cookie sandwiches look delicious, we never did get one at MK, we were always too full

Thank you!

We have never actually had them at MK either -- but looking at pics others had posted really made me crave one!

How was your trip???

 

[MeMom]

It is so hard to decide -- I really, really, really want to stay at AKL, but I also really, really, really want to go in October. Such a dilemma!


-- I already have an ADR for my "not-really-at-all-definite" October weekend.

What a hard decision! How about a short budget October trip and a split stay when you go for AKL? Part time at a value and end out with 2-3 nights at AKL. Maybe you'd be able to do both if you did it that way. It's just a thought, because if there was any possibility at all, I'd sure want to go for a Halloween party!

Who wouldn't be tempted by this?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for us for the short spring trip, but that decision will be based on airline prices, and I know that's looking pretty bleak.

 

[Charleston Princess]

MeMom, those are fabulous pictures from MNSSHP -- we had such a good time at it last year so seeing those brought back fond memories! I even showed Charles! What a lovely way to start our Monday off!

We are still debating -- well, I am still debating the October trip, Charles has made it quite clear that he wants to go. In fact, everyday he asks me if I have booked it yet.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

We are still debating -- well, I am still debating the October trip, Charles has made it quite clear that he wants to go. In fact, everyday he asks me if I have booked it yet.

Wow, Charles is really out of the closet with his Disney obsession, isn't he?! I hope it works out!

 

[julezdisney]

Julia, I am so glad that Rachel is loving kindergarten!!! Are you planning on doing the MNSSHP on the 10th?

We did a MNSSHP and a P&PP in the past year -- both times we arrived at four which was so nice. We had an early dinner and rode a few rides before all the festivities started.

Yup, that's the one! We'll be arriving late afternoon, early evening on the 9th, and doing the party on the 10th. Thanks for the tip on arriving at 4. It
really helps w/planning. That's what we'll do then!

What a hard decision! How about a short budget October trip and a split stay when you go for AKL? Part time at a value and end out with 2-3 nights at AKL. Maybe you'd be able to do both if you did it that way. It's just a thought, because if there was any possibility at all, I'd sure want to go for a Halloween party!

Who wouldn't be tempted by this?

I like this idea! And are you still considering renting points? Renting for less days will be so much more cost effective as well, and might make that possible! If there's a Doorway to Dreams anywhere near you, you should really check it out. I was given a point book that I look at all the time in my "Dream Traveling Plans" & I'm constantly figuring out what the points would be to travel when/where I want. The cool thing about those charts is that with DVC- the points NEVER change, ever.

We are still debating -- well, I am still debating the October trip, Charles has made it quite clear that he wants to go. In fact, everyday he asks me if I have booked it yet.

I hope I can convince DH like this over the coming years!

 

[willwriteforears]

We are still debating -- well, I am still debating the October trip, Charles has made it quite clear that he wants to go. In fact, everyday he asks me if I have booked it yet.

I'm glad Charles has finally accepted that he loves Disney.

 

[javamom]

I really, really need to take the kids to MNSSHP one of these days.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

We are still debating -- well, I am still debating the October trip, Charles has made it quite clear that he wants to go. In fact, everyday he asks me if I have booked it yet.

Wish my family was easy enough to sway like that. Seem like I'm the only one who has the Disney-lovin' gene.
Hope you get to do AKL AND an October trip.

 

[MeMom]

I really, really need to take the kids to MNSSHP one of these days.

Yes, you do. It is awesome!

Wish my family was easy enough to sway like that. Seem like I'm the only one who has the Disney-lovin' gene.
Hope you get to do AKL AND an October trip.:wizard:

That's what I'm sayin'!!!

 

[DWGal210]

Hi Princess!

I didn't fall off a cliff or drop off the face of the earth...how are you? I'll have to read your report and get caught up.

I am going to try and get the stamina up to write my trip report since I have been home now for almost 3 months since we left I'm not a slacker, I promise!

And as an update, I've decided not to move to Orlando at the present time. I am keeping that window open, but for the position I was interviewing for, it was hard to justify moving across the country and relocating. It was a hard decision but I feel good about it...and am planning my next trip! I was thinking that my sister and I would go next summer or spring break, since she graduates from high school this year.

Keep in touch! I have some GREAT cruise things I need to tell you about if you and family are still thinking about the cruise!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Wow, Charles is really out of the closet with his Disney obsession, isn't he?! I hope it works out!

He has become quite funny about it -- I have a whole lot of stories that I am saving up for the next PTR whether it be one for October or the one for June.

Yup, that's the one! We'll be arriving late afternoon, early evening on the 9th, and doing the party on the 10th. Thanks for the tip on arriving at 4. It
really helps w/planning. That's what we'll do then!

I like this idea! And are you still considering renting points? Renting for less days will be so much more cost effective as well, and might make that possible! If there's a Doorway to Dreams anywhere near you, you should really check it out. I was given a point book that I look at all the time in my "Dream Traveling Plans" & I'm constantly figuring out what the points would be to travel when/where I want. The cool thing about those charts is that with DVC- the points NEVER change, ever.

I hope I can convince DH like this over the coming years!

If we were to do a MNSSHP it would be the one on the 10th -- not sure if we would want to do that or have two days at Food and Wine though.

I think I have the points chart for AKV memorized at this point.

It has taken me 15 years with Charles and I am still not convinced that he is as addicted as I am to WDW.

I'm glad Charles has finally accepted that he loves Disney.

Either that or it's the prospect of an adults-only trip with a lot of food...

I really, really need to take the kids to MNSSHP one of these days.

It is one of the neatest things we have ever done at Disney!

Wish my family was easy enough to sway like that. Seem like I'm the only one who has the Disney-lovin' gene.
Hope you get to do AKL AND an October trip.

It used to be that way at our house, so there's hope for you!

Yes, you do. It is awesome!

That's what I'm sayin'!!!

That would be the ideal situation -- October and AKL -- sigh, it would be just perfect.