Two and a half hours on hold.... and worth every minute!

[annmarieda]

I think 10 hours is doable. Especially if you are saving money. I wonder though... maybe still watch fares. You might be surprised at what the cost could be. Just the three of you might be less than what you mentioned... but I would doubt you would be under that $450 cost of driving.

 

[annmarieda]

Yeah.. just for fun I priced it out with SW on your dates of 11/13 to 11/18.. for the three of you $808.20 That is with the fare being $124 each way. I have been watching their site and they have been having 99 each way flights. That would shave $150 off the cost.. but still would be well above the $450 you are looking at for driving. Now... if they have a $59 each way sale then you would be cheaper.

I tried to call and change my flight last week and I couldn't get the fare I wanted for both of us. The customer service person told me I might want to wait until Tuesday... cause that is when they have sales. I don't know if she knew something... but I will definitely be looking tomorrow. (who am I kidding I look everyday regardless of what a cs agent might say ).

So... I would plan on driving.. but still keep your eye out for a good deal on fares.

 

[lfwhipp]

we drive because we have to. With 5 in our family and adding on the 2 grandparents... flying, even out of NOLA... it would be what we are paying for the trip almost. so we suck it up, pull up the big girl panties and drive it.

Maybe as ann said, they could do the 59 fair sale and you might get lucky

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Yeah.. just for fun I priced it out with SW on your dates of 11/13 to 11/18.. for the three of you $808.20 That is with the fare being $124 each way. I have been watching their site and they have been having 99 each way flights. That would shave $150 off the cost.. but still would be well above the $450 you are looking at for driving. Now... if they have a $59 each way sale then you would be cheaper.

I tried to call and change my flight last week and I couldn't get the fare I wanted for both of us. The customer service person told me I might want to wait until Tuesday... cause that is when they have sales. I don't know if she knew something... but I will definitely be looking tomorrow. (who am I kidding I look everyday regardless of what a cs agent might say ).

So... I would plan on driving.. but still keep your eye out for a good deal on fares.

Chris would be estatic if we COULD fly.. So I will be keeping my eye out!

we drive because we have to. With 5 in our family and adding on the 2 grandparents... flying, even out of NOLA... it would be what we are paying for the trip almost. so we suck it up, pull up the big girl panties and drive it.

Maybe as ann said, they could do the 59 fair sale and you might get lucky

I just downloaded the southwest app, where they send you a push when there's a sale.. so I'll be watching... How long does it take y'all?

 

[lfwhipp]

Angela,

with the three kids ranging from 9-5 in age... it depends. last time it was around 11.5-12hours hours there and back. we have to stop frequently for potty breaks and such. we leave around 3am and usually stop about breakfst time, lunch time, another potty break and then arrival about check in time. we did one year leave right after leaving a park. NEVER AGAIn i tell ya. although the kids slept the whole way and it was 9.5 hours, ive never seen DH that cranky or felt so tired coming home to wide awake kids and having had no sleep

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Angela,

with the three kids ranging from 9-5 in age... it depends. last time it was around 11.5-12hours hours there and back. we have to stop frequently for potty breaks and such. we leave around 3am and usually stop about breakfst time, lunch time, another potty break and then arrival about check in time. we did one year leave right after leaving a park. NEVER AGAIn i tell ya. although the kids slept the whole way and it was 9.5 hours, ive never seen DH that cranky or felt so tired coming home to wide awake kids and having had no sleep

WOW! That has to be difficult! Last time coming home, Chris made us all go before we left, and the ONE time he stopped for gas, we all had to go, bc that was the ONLY time we stopped! It was also 9.5 for us that time.

 

[annmarieda]

I am not sure if I feel jealous or sad for you both with the driving. On one hand.. you are much closer to WDW. There is no way that we could drive it. The flight I currently have leaves here at approx 6 am and arrives mco at approx 5pm. Granted there is the time difference...but still a long day. It would be nice if we didn't HAVE to drive. On the other hand... being stuck in the car for that long really sucks! Especially with children and a cranky dh.. I guess we are still stuck on a plane.. but dh can "check out" and go to sleep or read... so he is far less cranky.

 

[Oliquig]

Driving is not an option for me, it is a full 24 hour drive, so that's too many days of vacation wasted in the car. I do 10 hour drives once or twice a year up to the "top" of Maine.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I am not sure if I feel jealous or sad for you both with the driving. On one hand.. you are much closer to WDW. There is no way that we could drive it. The flight I currently have leaves here at approx 6 am and arrives mco at approx 5pm. Granted there is the time difference...but still a long day. It would be nice if we didn't HAVE to drive. On the other hand... being stuck in the car for that long really sucks! Especially with children and a cranky dh.. I guess we are still stuck on a plane.. but dh can "check out" and go to sleep or read... so he is far less cranky.

Ann, I have to admit, I'm a die hard Twilight fan, and ever since the movies, I've wanted to move up there.
Anywho, I do like that we can make the drive in one day, but I still don't LIKE the drive, if that makes sense.. I'd much rather fly and be there in under 2 hours..

Driving is not an option for me, it is a full 24 hour drive, so that's too many days of vacation wasted in the car. I do 10 hour drives once or twice a year up to the "top" of Maine.

Yeah but I bet your heat index isn't going to be 115 today! My DH was just saying yesterday how he'd love to move to a northern state.. Maine sounds good!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Things I learned last trip that I’m going to put to use this trip:

Disney bacon sucks. Get sausage whenever possible. Seriously, Disneyworld may be the most wonderful place in the world and they serve plastic bacon? I don't get it.

Most of my ADR’s last trip were lunches. I didn't care for having to be at a certain park, at a certain time, in the middle of the day. I’d much rather have all my ADR’s for dinners, and do counter service lunches wherever we happen to be.

We made Cast Member Appreciation Cards at home, and handed them out during our trip, and they made it all the more magical. I will definitely be doing that again! We gave one to the popcorn guy at MK, and he was seriously estatic..

Do rope drop, then a break in the middle of the day, then back to the parks mid afternoon, and stay for dinner.

Change shoes mid day. THIS is probably my most important lesson learned last trip. It made ALL the difference…

We can't do EVERYTHING. There's just not enough time in 5 days. That's all the more reason to come back next year.

Look up! Look Down! Look around corners, etc. There are so many details that people don't notice.. This trip, I'm taking time to smell the proverbial flowers..

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I totally forgot to do the "insert pics of us here", at the beginning.. :confused

So here goes:

Here's me and my DH, Chris..

And my DS10, Jarrott..

And our puppy, Bella... (she's not going on the trip, but she's so cute, I had to add her pic...)

These are all iphone pics, so sorry for the quality..

 

[jenseib]

I would keep watching flight. Last Aug, when I had planned to go in Dec. I could've gotten SW flights for the 3 of us for just over $300 round trip.

I agree Disney bacon is undercooked plastic. Try for ADRs for parks you think you will be at that day, and I agree I like dinner ones better

 

[annmarieda]

Ann, I have to admit, I'm a die hard Twilight fan, and ever since the movies, I've wanted to move up there.
Anywho, I do like that we can make the drive in one day, but I still don't LIKE the drive, if that makes sense.. I'd much rather fly and be there in under 2 hours..



Yeah but I bet your heat index isn't going to be 115 today! My DH was just saying yesterday how he'd love to move to a northern state.. Maine sounds good!

Ya know.. I have never been to Forks. There are two mountain ranges here in WA. Cascade and Olympic. I live in the Cascade. (well, in the foothills of) Forks, I believe, is in the foothills of the Olympics. While both have some temperate rain forested areas... I think (and again, I could be wrong here) I think Forks sits closer to one than I do so I think their weather is even wetter and cloudier than ours. (if that is possible) I don't think we have got up over 70 in a few days. If you do ever get up to visit Forks... let me know. I could venture that way too. Especially since I think you would still have to fly into the Seattle airport to get there.

Disney bacon sucks. Get sausage whenever possible. Seriously, Disneyworld may be the most wonderful place in the world and they serve plastic bacon? I don't get it.

right??? I mean seriously?? such good food abounds..and yet coffee and bacon!!! What is up with it?

Most of my ADR’s last trip were lunches. I didn't care for having to be at a certain park, at a certain time, in the middle of the day. I’d much rather have all my ADR’s for dinners, and do counter service lunches wherever we happen to be.

I always try to do dinner just to make better use of dp credits. Plus, it seems to be a nice break... so if we go to a resort instead and leave a park, it isn't such a bad thing.

We made Cast Member Appreciation Cards at home, and handed them out during our trip, and they made it all the more magical. I will definitely be doing that again! We gave one to the popcorn guy at MK, and he was seriously estatic..

How cool is that!!! I might have to snag this idea. I have heard of people doing it, but have never done it myself. So you hand them out for "extra nice" cms?

Do rope drop, then a break in the middle of the day, then back to the parks mid afternoon, and stay for dinner.

yes, and if you are doing MK head straight for the castle first. Get in behind the gates before they rope it off for the first morning show. You can get all of Fantasyland done in well under an hour that way.

Change shoes mid day. THIS is probably my most important lesson learned last trip. It made ALL the difference…

I have never thought to do that! What an awesome tip

We can't do EVERYTHING. There's just not enough time in 5 days. That's all the more reason to come back next year.

Even with more days, I think there is just too much. We have always used ridemax in the past and we have managed to get most things done... but there is always something or some aspect we missed. I think it kinda makes me love WDW all the more... almost like we can have a completely different experience each time we go. (not that we do cause we get into a pattern of what we want to see )

Look up! Look Down! Look around corners, etc. There are so many details that people don't notice.. This trip, I'm taking time to smell the proverbial flowers..

I totally forgot to do the "insert pics of us here", at the beginning.. :confused

So here goes:

Here's me and my DH, Chris..

And my DS10, Jarrott..

And our puppy, Bella... (she's not going on the trip, but she's so cute, I had to add her pic...)

These are all iphone pics, so sorry for the quality..

Bella is worth adding...she is super cute.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

How cool is that!!! I might have to snag this idea. I have heard of people doing it, but have never done it myself. So you hand them out for "extra nice" cms?


I have never thought to do that! What an awesome tip



Even with more days, I think there is just too much. We have always used ridemax in the past and we have managed to get most things done... but there is always something or some aspect we missed. I think it kinda makes me love WDW all the more... almost like we can have a completely different experience each time we go. (not that we do cause we get into a pattern of what we want to see )








Bella is worth adding...she is super cute.

I'm determined to get to Wash State one day.. It just looks so beautiful..

yeah the COFFEE too, I don't drink regular coffee, but Chris drinks thick, black New Orleans coffee, and when we went to Disney the first time together in 08, he saw the coffee, and we had to go to Walmart to get our own coffeepot and some real coffee.

I did give the CM Appreciation cards to all the extra nice CMs, and put one in with the tip at every meal. The only person who really DIDNT get one was the girl who checked us in the first morning. She was SO unfriendly. She said, this is this, and your rooms here, do you need anything else? I was like.. um, you have a magical day too. Which sucked, bc we had just drove 10 hours, I was stoked to be there, and she was the first person I interacted with. Bummer. No appreciation card for her cranky-butt.

And thanks, Bella is my sweet girl and sidekick.

 

[lfwhipp]

I'm determined to get to Wash State one day.. It just looks so beautiful..

yeah the COFFEE too, I don't drink regular coffee, but Chris drinks thick, black New Orleans coffee, and when we went to Disney the first time together in 08, he saw the coffee, and we had to go to Walmart to get our own coffeepot and some real coffee.
.

Yes mam!! we pack the community New Orleans blend in the car and if there isnt a pot, we go get one, i HAVE to have my NOLA coffee. Heck, i was raised drinking coffee milk...

now, if you head to forks... TAKE ME WITH YOU!!! i LOVE twilight!!! and id like to see ann too

 

[annmarieda]

No appreciation card for her cranky-butt.

Sorry that your first encounter was like that... but on calling her a crankybutt

now, if you head to forks... TAKE ME WITH YOU!!! i LOVE twilight!!! and id like to see ann too

yep... you 2 make it to WA and i will meet you at the airport and take the drive to Forks with you.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Yes mam!! we pack the community New Orleans blend in the car and if there isnt a pot, we go get one, i HAVE to have my NOLA coffee. Heck, i was raised drinking coffee milk...

now, if you head to forks... TAKE ME WITH YOU!!! i LOVE twilight!!! and id like to see ann too

Community rules in our house too! Dark roast!

I never had a taste for coffee milk, but my son? He LOVES it.

I'm trying to figure out how to fix my mouth to tell Chris, "Well, see, I'm going to fly to seattle, with a Disney friend I've never met, to go see another Disney friend I've never met, and the three of us are going to Forks, to see some vampires." Wonder how that'll go over.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Sorry that your first encounter was like that... but on calling her a crankybutt



yep... you 2 make it to WA and i will meet you at the airport and take the drive to Forks with you.

She really was a downer. When Disney called me when I got home to ask how my trip was, I told them about her. What her name was, my check in date, etc. I know everyone has a bad day, but jeez, this is DISNEY and she works CHECK IN!

Look at my post to Laurie up above!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

In late March, we had a heck of a storm down here. We had golf ball sized hail that ruined my already not shipshape roof. My deductible (falls under hurricane coverage) was crazy high. More than the cost of our whole Disney trip. I was crushed. I thought I was going to have to tell my DS that Disney was NOT happening this year. While I was gathering estimates for that, our central AC went out. Things were not looking good for the home team.

However, after many sleepless nights, and many calls to MANY contractors and the insurance company, we were able to get our roof repaired for a reasonable price. The a/c was patched up, hopefully to last another year. We discussed it, sat down with a calculator and figured where we could trim our budget to save a little more each month, and decided to go ahead and plan!

WHEW! That was a close one!

 

[Abby's Dad]

"Well, see, I'm going to fly to seattle, with a Disney friend I've never met, to go see another Disney friend I've never met, and the three of us are going to Forks, to see some vampires." Wonder how that'll go over.

Meeting up with DIS (or just Disney) friends is a great experience, as we found out in 2007. The three of you would be quite the group, and would have a blast.

Fred