The Trip Planning Game! A MARCH 2017 Pre-Trip Report Update 2-10 Day 5

[musicalgirl2010]

Hello Dis Friends!!!

Yes this pre-trip report is starting early but I've been told that my parents are tired of me talking about Disney and that I need to stop. So I thought I would just come here where people won't mind me talking about Disney!

So like any good pre-trip report or any story for that matter we should start with the characters.

First up is me! I'm 23 years old and working as a substitute teacher right now while I look for a full time teaching job. (That will be important latter). I love Disney and also theatre. My last trip to WDW was in 2013 for my 21st birthday. I had gone to Disney when I was ittle and remember only so much. Although once I went back to Disney with my High School I remembered a lot more once I was there. Then I asked my parents if my 21st Birthday present could be a trip back to Disney World and they reluctantly agreed if I planned everything. Of course I did and while I was on the tragical express... I decided I would never stay away for more the 5 years.

Then there's my Dad. He was the most reluctant for our first trip but I think he actually really enjoyed it and is the second most interested in this trip.

Then there's my mom. She really doesn't want to go on this trip but she'll never say she doesn't want to go because she knows I want to go. And there is a very very tiny part of her that wants to go.


So this leads to the interesting part of the pre-trip report. Knowing that my mom doesn't really want to go and my dad has some health issues that may prevent him from going so when I started thinking about this trip I was planning on going solo. I offered to a friend of mine to go but she wasn't quite ready for that financially which I get because this trip is going to be a stretch for me. But the plan was to go solo but then it came out that my parents maybe wanted to come so I said fine you guys can come if you want so I changed my trip planning strategy while now it seams they're starting to not want to come again so instated of changing my trip planning strategy again I just added to it. I'm now essentially planning 23 trips for 2017 actually a little more then that because of looking at different weeks and things like that. So I hope you'll join me for what is sure to be a quite a ride.

 

[jmccoy18]

Joining!!! I am also planning a 2017 trip, but mine is in early March. I had to start a PTR because my family was tired of me talking about it, too! lol

23 trips is crazy, so hopefully you can maybe narrow down the playing field soon! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[Kiersten]

I'm the same way. I figured I'd better make a report up here rather than annoy my boyfriend and his family (the people I'm going to WDW with). We aren't going until January 2017 so most of my plans are just what I'd ideally like to do. Of course, six of the eight of us going are adults so I have to take into account what they would like to do at WDW. I look forward to hearing more about your plans and your trip! By the way, I'm also 23!

 

[brb1006]

Your avatar is cute by the way

 

[musicalgirl2010]

I'm the same way. I figured I'd better make a report up here rather than annoy my boyfriend and his family (the people I'm going to WDW with). We aren't going until January 2017 so most of my plans are just what I'd ideally like to do. Of course, six of the eight of us going are adults so I have to take into account what they would like to do at WDW. I look forward to hearing more about your plans and your trip! By the way, I'm also 23!

Hi Nice to meet you! I'm glad to have you here!

Joining!!! I am also planning a 2017 trip, but mine is in early March. I had to start a PTR because my family was tired of me talking about it, too! lol

23 trips is crazy, so hopefully you can maybe narrow down the playing field soon! Looking forward to hearing more!

Yea it's a little crazy.... and it's actually more then 23 trips if I look at in terms of actual "days" to spend on the trip 23 is roughly devided into seasons! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one driving my family crazy!

Your avatar is cute by the way

Thank You!

 

[musicalgirl2010]

Alright I'm already falling behind a little and I'm determined to keep this PTR going!

So this time I wanted to give you a summery of all the trips I'm planning! The question is which one will win! Here's also a list of the factors that will determine the future winner!

1. If my parents are comeing
2. My employment status. If I have a full time teaching job come September that will majorly rule out many of the trips. If I'm still subbing or working at a full time job that has some more flexibility for time off I'll have more options for when I go.

So I'm going to try and keep this short for everyone and break it down by varible.

So first Variable is whose coming!
My parents and me, VS just me.

So that leaves us with 2 trips.

Then the Time of Year for this we have.

My dream trip at the end of October-November to be able to hit MNSSHP, Food and Wine, and MVMCP

Then a trip in the "Spring" which I have labeled as Jaunuary-March

And finally a trip in May or June that is a lot closer to my birthday (Which is in June)

So that's 3 Trips but it you multiply it by the fact I have to do all that twice it totals 6 trips.

Then the hotels.

I have a list of hotels I want to say at and I've devided them into groups of three to keep an eye on for each trip I go on. And the three for this trip are...

Pop
Yacht Club Club Level
Wilderness lodge

Now that's 3 trips, So You multiply that by the 3 different time frames and that's 9 and then multiply that by the fact that everything has to be done twice and that's 18 trips.

But you said there were 23 trips?

Well... In the event I go by myself I'm sort of considering staying AOA so that's another trip bring us up to 19.

Still Not 23.... Well... were not going to get to 23 exactly because I simplified how I did my math and it's messing with my numbers a little bit but we are going to get close...

The last variable is the dining plan. I've always wanted to do one trip on the deluxe plan. I'm sure I'll do it once eat so much that I'll never want to do it again. So I'm also planning both a regular Disney Dining Plan and and a Deluxe Plan for the POP Trip so that's 2 more trips.

Bringing the total to... 21

And if your still curious how I had 23 original it was because I had separated some things but didn't account for others so were going to go with a general number of 21 trips...

 

[musicalgirl2010]

HI Everyone! I Thought it was time for another update!

So I still don't have a full-time teaching job and I'm still subbing but I did pick up another part-time job which I absolutely love working at a paper crafting store. (Another of my hobbies) So I have money to feed my Disney addiction! So given some of these new developments it looks like the February trip is most likely but let's not count out June just yet. Some other trip developments include I've decided that I am for sure going to Disney in 2021 for the 50th celebrations! Which means this trip has to happen or I won't be going back to WDW until the 2021 trip . I'm also thinking of doing things a little more simply this trip and having a bigger trip in 2021 with all the extra 50th stuff going on! But here's a break down of some other trip related thoughts.

I'm still having the great resort debate... But who doesn't have that debate constantly but currently this is where I'm at. I'm thinking it's going to be WL... Like I said the February trip is seaming the most likely right now which means prices should be a little lower and I'm in the mood for different this trip and we stayed Yacht Club (Not club level) last trip. POP is more in the running if I ever go solo or with my friend. Sometime when I won't spend quite so much time in the room.

The next big planing stage is going to be dining... I think...
HI Everyone! I Thought it was time for another update!

So I still don't have a full-time teaching job and I'm still subbing but I did pick up another part-time job which I absolutely love working at a paper crafting store. (Another of my hobbies) So I have money to feed my Disney addiction! So given some of these new developments it looks like the February trip is most likely but let's not count out June just yet. Some other trip developments include I've decided that I am for sure going to Disney in 2021 for the 50th celebrations! Which means this trip has to happen or I won't be going back to WDW un till the 2021 trip . I'm also thinking of doing things a little more simply this trip and having a bigger trip in 2021 with all the extra 50th stuff going on! But here's a break down of some other trip related thoughts.

I'm still having the great resort debate... But who doesn't have that debate constantly but currently this is where I'm at. I'm thinking it's going to be WL... Like I said the February trip is seaming the most likely right now which means prices should be a little lower and I'm in the mood for different this trip and we stayed Yacht Club (Not club level) last trip. POP is more in the running if I ever go solo or with my friend. Sometime when I won't spend quite so much time in the room.

The next big planing stage is going to be dining... I think...

 

[brb1006]

Hi Nice to meet you! I'm glad to have you here!


Yea it's a little crazy.... and it's actually more then 23 trips if I look at in terms of actual "days" to spend on the trip 23 is roughly devided into seasons! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one driving my family crazy!



Thank You!

And now your avatar made me sad after remembering that Marie no longer meets at WDW.

 

[musicalgirl2010]

Ok so 2017 prices are out! woohoo! Now let the real planning begin!

Remember last post when I felt like I had everything planned out.... Welll I don't....

So sometime in the next week traveling party should be finalized. Which is good one less uncertainity to think about!

Prices went up for 2017 Ok I knew they would but still yuck!

I really wanted to stay at WL... But I don't think it will happen without a nice shiny discount OK so that rules out Yacht Club CL too.. So POP it is!

But I think I picked Dates and if I'm being honsent I don't really want to stay at POP. I mean if it was the only way I could go. Duh I'd stay at pop but I saved up for this trip and could afford to stay in a beter resort and the dates I think I picked there's a Cheer Compition... And I think I remember reading that these Value resorts get crazy durning those... Ugh! Why so hard!!!

Then I was thinking AOA Little Mermaid Room! I've always wanted to stay there! But that might not be a good choice because it's so far away from everything at AOA... and some of my potential traveling party has knee trouble and can sometimes have trouble wallking... So AOA family suite if it's the 3 of us? Maybe.... I don't know...

What do you think guys what's your favorite resort any advice for me?

 

[jmccoy18]

Any way you could wait for a discount and book a moderate?

 

[musicalgirl2010]

Any way you could wait for a discount and book a moderate?

That's in the running too. I think we would book POR if we went moderate. I think we're already going to wait for discounts to book and to be honest I haven't run prices by anyone else in my potential travel party yet... So it's quite possible that what I think they won't pay they will.

 

[mdsouth]

That's in the running too. I think we would book POR if we went moderate. I think we're already going to wait for discounts to book and to be honest I haven't run prices by anyone else in my potential travel party yet... So it's quite possible that what I think they won't pay they will.

It is so hard to wait for discounts to be posted. I remember doing the long waiting game for a discount when I was planning my last trip. I am tentatively planning a trip for 2017 but have not made any real plans yet.

 

[musicalgirl2010]

I have dates!!!!!!

Yay! Another milestone reached!

Well... I guess dates haven't been 100% approved yet but I'm a lot closer than I was! We'll be going in March!

Currently I've selected March 1st- 10th But that last date could change.

Tomorrow I start looking at flights and working on budgets.

Still don't know who's all comeing on this trip though... and still haven't selected a resort... I keep changing my mind!

 

[jmccoy18]

Yay for dates! We will be there March 4-11

 

[musicalgirl2010]

Yay for dates! We will be there March 4-11

How exciting! I just noticed your PTR link in your signature! I'll have to go check it out!

It is so hard to wait for discounts to be posted. I remember doing the long waiting game for a discount when I was planning my last trip. I am tentatively planning a trip for 2017 but have not made any real plans yet.

It really is! My ADR dates are coming up and I know once that happens it's going to go really fast!

 

[cbeeindisney]

Just joined in! Happy to be following along! I'm glad you started a PTR- my DH is the same as your parents and the same reason I started my own. He likes talking about Disney, but not nearly as much as I do! So an outlet was needed! March will be a really nice time to go! I have to say, I LOVE POP, so it may not have been your first choice, but it's a great stay none the less! I'm hoping refurbishments won't get in the way of a good time at the resort. Good luck with trying to get a teaching job! I know what it feels like to put your time in as a sub and go out for those dreaded teacher interviews- best of luck!! I'm glad to find another Disney loving teacher!

Looking forward to reading more of your plans!

 

[musicalgirl2010]

Just joined in! Happy to be following along! I'm glad you started a PTR- my DH is the same as your parents and the same reason I started my own. He likes talking about Disney, but not nearly as much as I do! So an outlet was needed! March will be a really nice time to go! I have to say, I LOVE POP, so it may not have been your first choice, but it's a great stay none the less! I'm hoping refurbishments won't get in the way of a good time at the resort. Good luck with trying to get a teaching job! I know what it feels like to put your time in as a sub and go out for those dreaded teacher interviews- best of luck!! I'm glad to find another Disney loving teacher!

Looking forward to reading more of your plans!

Thanks so much for joining in and welcome! Thanks for the tips on POP! I still haven't ruled it out yet.... I seriously keep changing my mind on what resort I want. Hopefully, I'll know my complete travel party soon. That should help! I didn't even factor in resort refurbishments! Not that it really makes or breaks anything but maybe it will help me make a decision As of now the teaching job search is on hold indefinitely. I've gotten a job that I love and recently gotten a promotion. I haven't decided if I want to keep subbing in the fall... Part of me really wants to but I'm working full time at my current job and getting paid the same as I do to sub. No benefits yet but my bosses are looking into it.... and my bosses don't care they would let me take a few days off a week to sub but I'd have to know about the jobs in advance and it would have to be days they aren't out of town and it just might be too complicated. I still have a few weeks to make a decision and haven't heard anything back from the district I sub for to know if they even want me back this year. I also have the opportunity to teach at my current job. It's just not a primary responsibility and a different setting.

 

[cbeeindisney]

Thanks so much for joining in and welcome! Thanks for the tips on POP! I still haven't ruled it out yet.... I seriously keep changing my mind on what resort I want. Hopefully, I'll know my complete travel party soon. That should help! I didn't even factor in resort refurbishments! Not that it really makes or breaks anything but maybe it will help me make a decision As of now the teaching job search is on hold indefinitely. I've gotten a job that I love and recently gotten a promotion. I haven't decided if I want to keep subbing in the fall... Part of me really wants to but I'm working full time at my current job and getting paid the same as I do to sub. No benefits yet but my bosses are looking into it.... and my bosses don't care they would let me take a few days off a week to sub but I'd have to know about the jobs in advance and it would have to be days they aren't out of town and it just might be too complicated. I still have a few weeks to make a decision and haven't heard anything back from the district I sub for to know if they even want me back this year. I also have the opportunity to teach at my current job. It's just not a primary responsibility and a different setting.

Yes, knowing your party will definitely help may a final decision! It seems like you are happy where you are at and that's great that you are getting a good pay, like you would with subbing. It's great that you have the opportunity to teach where you are at, too! Congrats on your promotion!!

 

[musicalgirl2010]

Hello, Everyone! This is my first PTR so I'm still feeling out how this all works but I've seen other people do this and I think it's a good idea so I'm going to steal it if you don't mind....

Days to ADR's: 16

That's my only big milestone coming up and is the inspiration for most of this update. But first things first.

The dates have changed but in the events of the dates changing, I think I have a travel party!

New dates are March 4-13. Just shifted a little bit to accommodate the days my mom can get off of work. That's right! I'm about 99.5% certain this is going to be a whole family trip. Enough so that I feel confident making decisions based on that fact. As such I'm still working on the resort situation. With it being a total family trip I have a feeling we'll end up staying Deluxe. And for reason's that I'll elaborate on later we're playing around with the idea of Club Level.... Right now as far a top 3 resorts to look at now I'm thinking 1. Wilderness Lodge 2. Animal Kingdom Lodge 3. Yacht Club or maybe Beach Club if I'm feeling like mixing it up a little. All 3 resorts have no standard rooms available at this time. So I'm kind of thinking in terms of I have to pay the upgraded price for the better room views why not just pay for club level anyway...

Anyway, that's the factual update but not actually why I came to write this update.

The trip planning panic has officially set in... I like planning trips... This is the second one I've planned for my family and countless fake trips in between but I just figured out just how close my ADR date was and realized I had no plans! So I did some research and managed to find a recommended parks calendar from Kenny The Pirate! Made my park plan and placed in the ADR's I knew I wanted and passed along the list so others could make decisions of what they wanted. But while I was looking at the park calendar I noticed something that caught my eye... Fantasmic was at 7:00 my DHS night... That's weird I thought... awfully early... then I thought wait the park closes at 7! Before realizing that I was now in a completely unfamiliar place... I plan summer trips... I've never done a trip in the spring where I wasn't on a bus and had a super strict schedule and curfew.... What do you mean I can't stay at MK to 2 AM.... I kind of started to freak out... I realized even though I knew I was planning a trip in March. In my head I was still planning a summer trip... Late nights in the parks all kinds of summer fun... But no I'm going in March time for a completely different plan! So now that this is feeling a lot more real... It's time to get this party started!

 

[ariane37]

Joining! I'm caught up and glad it looks like your whole family is going I love the 3 resort choices you're thinking of and can't wait to see where you end up. DH and I stayed at AKL in January on an adults only trip and LOVED it; we're trying the Beach Club with our 2 DS's in November and we check in to the WL for the first time on Sat!!