TinkTatoo
Has a Tink tattoo on her shoulder
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,936
Tinks Twinkle and Tinsel Tour The Waffle Before
Cast
Me 44 Loves all things Disney and Christmas
DH 50 Joining us a week later also loves Christmas
DS 9 Wants to see the Holiday Fireworks (and collect more Yu-Gi-Oh cards)
DD 8 Cant wait to see Minnie in her Holiday finery
Wednesday 6th December
So here we are a week before we set off on our first (and probably only) Christmas trip. If youve read my previous trippies youll know that we always go in the summer and were lucky enough to have already been this August. So how come we are venturing back so soon .. .well, I blame the internet. About this time last year I began reading all the excited posts of people who were spending Christmas with the Mouse and in the weeks that followed, lots more posts describing the holiday decorations, the Osbourne Lights, the fantastic atmosphere .. you get the picture.
I got to thinking about how different WDW would be at Christmas and how special it would be for the kids (especially while they still believed) so I started looking at a few flights which as any one knows is a very dangerous thing to do
It wasnt long until I spotted some very cheap flights with Delta they were only £1,250 for the 4 of us which is half the price we usually pay in the summer so from there my planning skills went into overdrive.
Firstly exactly when to go. DH is a school bus driver so it would be impossible for him to get much time off before the schools he goes to finishes on 22nd December but that would mean that we would only be there for 12 nights. DD is such a bad traveller that she would hardly be over the journey when she would start worrying about coming home, a short trip just wouldnt work for us. I spoke to the principle at DS & DDs school and she told me that they would be closed on 14th and 15th December for in service days and the last day of term would be a half day on 21st December. She also said as both of them have excellent attendance and have never been taken out before she would have no problem with them being off. If we travelled on 14th December they would miss 3½ days of school. From previous years I know that there is no real work done during last few days so they wouldnt miss any school work but would miss the wind down and Christmas activities that the school usually do. I gave them the option and guess what they chose Well that was us sorted but what about DH. I phoned his boss and explained that it was a special family trip to celebrate DHs 50th birthday and would it be OK if he missed the last 2 days of work, she wasnt too keen but said as a one off it would be alright.
It was looking like the kids and I would travel on our own on 14th December and DH would fly out to join us a week later on 21st .. I wasnt sure how I felt about this. I had no worries about being at WDW with them on my own as I feel very safe in Disney and know that we can get around OK. It was the journey that worried me. DD is such a bad flyer and DS has also started to get anxious about the flights, I could well be sitting there with a sick bag in each hand trying to comfort both of them :erm: Also we would be going via Atlanta which I have never been through before, so would I have hassle finding our next flight etc., The indecision lasted about 24 hours by which time the lure of our first Disney Christmas won out. Its only a journey after all and well survive.
So credit card in hand I nervously booked the flights, I kept checking and re-checking before I hit the point of no return button convinced Id put the wrong dates / flights etc., Phew - we were booked, the kids and I on 14th Dublin / Atlanta / MCO and DH on 21st , Dublin / JFK / MCO and all of us back on 3rd January MCO / JFK / Dublin. Next came the fun part where to stay.
We love the Contemporary and knowing how busy WDW will be over Christmas this seemed like an ideal location to spend most of our time. If we checked in on 19th December, it is still classed as value season so our entire stay would be at the cheapest rate (rather than the most expensive rate, which starts on 20th.) A tower room was a must and when comparing prices it was only a few $$ more for 12th floor concierge. Id been reading that the previously lite concierge service on 12th floor was going to be a full service from January 2006 so this made up my mind. We could use the concierge lounge for our breakfast and it would be somewhere to chill if the crowds got too much for DS. I also knew that getting ADRs etc was going to be difficult over Christmas so being able to e-mail concierge with our requests was much easier. I booked the CR for 9 days and got a great AAA rate. I havent told DH we are staying concierge so he will have a nice surprise when he arrives.
Next up was where to spend the first 5 nights, I really couldnt decide and in the end I gave the kids the choice and they decided on ALK. Im still not sure about this one as I wasnt keen on it when we went to look at one of the rooms on a previous trip it felt very dark but we are only there for 5 nights and its what they wanted. I booked a standard room with a AAA rate and then changed to an AP one when the rates came out. We decided to use our DVC points for the final 6 nights and I booked a 1 bed at OKW 11 months out and by phoning day by day was able to swap this to a 1 bed at VWL 7 months out. Christmas week is the most expensive points wise and the 6 nights cost us more than a years worth of points but its worth it to stay somewhere so nice.
So we have the flights and accommodation that just leaves the ADRs. DSs autism means that its not easy to plan but we know that you need to have a few ADRs in place over Christmas. Wed done the dining plan over the summer so had a good idea of which restaurants would suit his needs. These are mainly buffets and so we are eating at 1900PF on Christmas Eve, Chef Mickeys on Christmas Day and the Yacht Club Galley on NYE. We have a couple of other meals booked including Concourse Steakhouse and Crystal Palace and the kids are going back to the Neverland Club, which they loved while DH and I eat at Kona.
The kids and I are also going to MVMCP on 19th and Ive booked a sleigh ride at WL, BBB for DD on Christmas Eve and Ice at the Gaylord Palms. We are hiring a car for the last week (picking it up at the car care centre and dropping it off at MCO) so we will visit Universal and Seaworld that week and plan to hit the sales on 1st January
So thats our trip I am Very excited and more than a little bit nervous. It seems weird seeing all the Christmas stuff in the shops and knowing I dont have to get involved in ordering a turkey or that last minute rush for the things you forgot. Im hoping for great weather but I know it could be f-f-f-f-freezing but what ever happens it will be one to remember.
Ill be picking the kids up just after lunch this time next week and DH will drop us off at the station where well get the train up to Dublin. We are staying overnight at a hotel near the airport ready for our big adventure the next day.
Happy Christmas one and all
Cast
Me 44 Loves all things Disney and Christmas
DH 50 Joining us a week later also loves Christmas
DS 9 Wants to see the Holiday Fireworks (and collect more Yu-Gi-Oh cards)
DD 8 Cant wait to see Minnie in her Holiday finery
Wednesday 6th December
So here we are a week before we set off on our first (and probably only) Christmas trip. If youve read my previous trippies youll know that we always go in the summer and were lucky enough to have already been this August. So how come we are venturing back so soon .. .well, I blame the internet. About this time last year I began reading all the excited posts of people who were spending Christmas with the Mouse and in the weeks that followed, lots more posts describing the holiday decorations, the Osbourne Lights, the fantastic atmosphere .. you get the picture.
I got to thinking about how different WDW would be at Christmas and how special it would be for the kids (especially while they still believed) so I started looking at a few flights which as any one knows is a very dangerous thing to do
It wasnt long until I spotted some very cheap flights with Delta they were only £1,250 for the 4 of us which is half the price we usually pay in the summer so from there my planning skills went into overdrive. Firstly exactly when to go. DH is a school bus driver so it would be impossible for him to get much time off before the schools he goes to finishes on 22nd December but that would mean that we would only be there for 12 nights. DD is such a bad traveller that she would hardly be over the journey when she would start worrying about coming home, a short trip just wouldnt work for us. I spoke to the principle at DS & DDs school and she told me that they would be closed on 14th and 15th December for in service days and the last day of term would be a half day on 21st December. She also said as both of them have excellent attendance and have never been taken out before she would have no problem with them being off. If we travelled on 14th December they would miss 3½ days of school. From previous years I know that there is no real work done during last few days so they wouldnt miss any school work but would miss the wind down and Christmas activities that the school usually do. I gave them the option and guess what they chose
Well that was us sorted but what about DH. I phoned his boss and explained that it was a special family trip to celebrate DHs 50th birthday and would it be OK if he missed the last 2 days of work, she wasnt too keen but said as a one off it would be alright.It was looking like the kids and I would travel on our own on 14th December and DH would fly out to join us a week later on 21st .. I wasnt sure how I felt about this. I had no worries about being at WDW with them on my own as I feel very safe in Disney and know that we can get around OK. It was the journey that worried me. DD is such a bad flyer and DS has also started to get anxious about the flights, I could well be sitting there with a sick bag in each hand trying to comfort both of them :erm: Also we would be going via Atlanta which I have never been through before, so would I have hassle finding our next flight etc., The indecision lasted about 24 hours by which time the lure of our first Disney Christmas won out. Its only a journey after all and well survive.
So credit card in hand I nervously booked the flights, I kept checking and re-checking before I hit the point of no return button convinced Id put the wrong dates / flights etc., Phew - we were booked, the kids and I on 14th Dublin / Atlanta / MCO and DH on 21st , Dublin / JFK / MCO and all of us back on 3rd January MCO / JFK / Dublin. Next came the fun part where to stay.
We love the Contemporary and knowing how busy WDW will be over Christmas this seemed like an ideal location to spend most of our time. If we checked in on 19th December, it is still classed as value season so our entire stay would be at the cheapest rate (rather than the most expensive rate, which starts on 20th.) A tower room was a must and when comparing prices it was only a few $$ more for 12th floor concierge. Id been reading that the previously lite concierge service on 12th floor was going to be a full service from January 2006 so this made up my mind. We could use the concierge lounge for our breakfast and it would be somewhere to chill if the crowds got too much for DS. I also knew that getting ADRs etc was going to be difficult over Christmas so being able to e-mail concierge with our requests was much easier. I booked the CR for 9 days and got a great AAA rate. I havent told DH we are staying concierge so he will have a nice surprise when he arrives.
Next up was where to spend the first 5 nights, I really couldnt decide and in the end I gave the kids the choice and they decided on ALK. Im still not sure about this one as I wasnt keen on it when we went to look at one of the rooms on a previous trip it felt very dark but we are only there for 5 nights and its what they wanted. I booked a standard room with a AAA rate and then changed to an AP one when the rates came out. We decided to use our DVC points for the final 6 nights and I booked a 1 bed at OKW 11 months out and by phoning day by day was able to swap this to a 1 bed at VWL 7 months out. Christmas week is the most expensive points wise and the 6 nights cost us more than a years worth of points but its worth it to stay somewhere so nice.
So we have the flights and accommodation that just leaves the ADRs. DSs autism means that its not easy to plan but we know that you need to have a few ADRs in place over Christmas. Wed done the dining plan over the summer so had a good idea of which restaurants would suit his needs. These are mainly buffets and so we are eating at 1900PF on Christmas Eve, Chef Mickeys on Christmas Day and the Yacht Club Galley on NYE. We have a couple of other meals booked including Concourse Steakhouse and Crystal Palace and the kids are going back to the Neverland Club, which they loved while DH and I eat at Kona.
The kids and I are also going to MVMCP on 19th and Ive booked a sleigh ride at WL, BBB for DD on Christmas Eve and Ice at the Gaylord Palms. We are hiring a car for the last week (picking it up at the car care centre and dropping it off at MCO) so we will visit Universal and Seaworld that week and plan to hit the sales on 1st January
So thats our trip I am Very excited and more than a little bit nervous. It seems weird seeing all the Christmas stuff in the shops and knowing I dont have to get involved in ordering a turkey or that last minute rush for the things you forgot. Im hoping for great weather but I know it could be f-f-f-f-freezing but what ever happens it will be one to remember.
Ill be picking the kids up just after lunch this time next week and DH will drop us off at the station where well get the train up to Dublin. We are staying overnight at a hotel near the airport ready for our big adventure the next day.
Happy Christmas one and all
You have certainly planned alot! 
on bring too much back. No christmas cheer from No. 10 
that you feel better.
I've had a bad head cold for the past 8 days which got so bad over the weekend that I couldn't even get out of bed on Saturday (the last time that happened was 10 years ago when I was pregnant with DS ) I went to the Dr today and she has given me some penicillin so hopefully I am sorted.
