Too exhausted to think. Help!

[jazz0007]

It's been a loooongg 2011. We had a trip planned for October...had to postpone until January. My dad, who lives in Orlando, died December 1st unexpectedly. And I am my alzheimer's ridden mother's only caregiver. As you can imagine I'm in a fog right now. Landing in Orlando in January will definately not be the same knowing I will not see my Dad during our annual trip to Disney. However, I am really really trying to get happy and make this trip as great as all the others for my kids sake...and because I truly do love Disney. I just can't seem to get my head straight to get the rest of the planning done! And I'm running out of time!!

So I just discovered....thought differently up until 5 minutes ago....that we land on Friday night (5:25pm) but I didn't actually book POR until Saturday. So I need to find us a hotel for Friday night. Thought maybe it would be fun to get near DTD and go have dinner and get in the spirit. Where should I go that's walkable?? We could drive too as we will have a car. But might be fun to stay close and walk?? Or should I just get another night at POR and take the chance of moving rooms. We always stay on site for the whole duration. This is NOT in my current Disney handbook! LOL Help??? I'm soooo tired I can't think straight through this! (silly I know)

 

[J&J]

having done this beforefound out there is nothing like staying on site. changing rooms is better tan changing hotels. some hotels are not as nice as disney and not worth it.

 

[kappyfamily]

My guess is if you booked POR they will try and keep you in the same room. Ask when you check in.....Good luck and have a great trip, I'm guessing your father would want that!

 

[KNJWDW]

It's been a loooongg 2011. We had a trip planned for October...had to postpone until January. My dad, who lives in Orlando, died December 1st unexpectedly. And I am my alzheimer's ridden mother's only caregiver. As you can imagine I'm in a fog right now. Landing in Orlando in January will definately not be the same knowing I will not see my Dad during our annual trip to Disney. However, I am really really trying to get happy and make this trip as great as all the others for my kids sake...and because I truly do love Disney. I just can't seem to get my head straight to get the rest of the planning done! And I'm running out of time!!

So I just discovered....thought differently up until 5 minutes ago....that we land on Friday night (5:25pm) but I didn't actually book POR until Saturday. So I need to find us a hotel for Friday night. Thought maybe it would be fun to get near DTD and go have dinner and get in the spirit. Where should I go that's walkable?? We could drive too as we will have a car. But might be fun to stay close and walk?? Or should I just get another night at POR and take the chance of moving rooms. We always stay on site for the whole duration. This is NOT in my current Disney handbook! LOL Help??? I'm soooo tired I can't think straight through this! (silly I know)

First of all, I am very sorry for your loss. I have been in your shoes and it is like being in a fog. It will lift eventually though!

We usually drive to WDW from (SE WI, by the way.) One time, we arrived later in the evening and stayed offsite that night before checking into our resort. While, it saved a few dollars, I wouldn't do it again unless I had no choice. It is more hassle than it is worth. I would rather get to my resort and settle in, even changing rooms would be easier than moving from offsite to onsite, especially if you want to make rope drop the first morning.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great time!

 

[nkereina]

So sorry for your loss!! Sending prayers

I'm not familiar with the DTD area good neighbor hotels, but I do know SSR is in walking distance. OKW has the boat to DTD as well. If I was in your shoes, I think it might be fun to do deluxe for the night, if the price isn't too exorbitant. However, if you decided just to do POR for the night, make sure you link your reservations and chances are they won't make you change rooms the next day.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Glad to see I am not the only one suffering from Brain Fog.. LOL I would try to book a room at POR for Friday night. If they do not have rooms available what about one of the value resorts? On one of our many trips, we stayed the first night at Pop Century and then moved over to the SSR. I did not think I would like the Pop but actually we had a very nice stay and it was $70 for the one night. I booked it through the AAA web site.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

Wow! While not the same situation I have been to DIsney many times when the trip is bittersweet, part hurt ,part happiness for being there. I have done the trip where I stayed elsewhere for a night and then checked into Disney Resort. In your situation I would only recommend this if you were going to sample a resort you want to stay in in the future, to try it out so to speak. Otherwise I would just add on to my existing reservation. And call Disney directly if you do this.It is much less stressful than checking in and checking out( I am the queen of split stays because I love multiple resorts). If you explain to Disney directly what is going on with you I think they will note on your reservation to make things smoother for you so to speak and keep you in the same room. A few years ago I had to cancel a trip because my husband was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and they bent over backwards trying to help me. Luckily he is in remission and we are great now. Back to Disney many times since. Hugs to you! I hope you have a meomorable time with your kids!

 

[fla4fun]

So sorry for your loss. I lost both my parents during the past year, and I'm still in the fog most of the time. My WDW trips are my bright spots! My December trip was bittersweet, since I had gone the previous December with my Dad (his last trip), but I still had a good time. Try to get some rest and take care of yourself, and when you get there, focus on what the kids want to do and maybe do some things you haven't done before, or haven't done for a long time.

I agree that I would try to book a room for Friday night at POR, so that you aren't changing resorts. If you can book the same room category, you probably won't have to change rooms either. Just let them know when you check in that you have a continuing reservation, and they may ask for the confirmation number of the second reservation, so have that handy. I would NOT do online check in because you need to communicate the information about the second reservation and there's no way to do that during the online check in process. I have had continuing reservations a few times, and I haven't had to change rooms for any of them yet. All I had to do was go to the front desk and sign a paper on the second check in day, and that was it.