(WE ARE BACK! TR LINK!) The-BFF-Birthday-bash PTR turned ANNIVERSARY trip

[-Hope-]

I know, I feel so baaaaad, but I'm positive that we'll have a great time even though we won't be in Disney.



Meh...I'm not even sure how I will keep up with my November updates here. It feels strange b/c my whole intro and lots of the updates are about our trip. It just feels wrong...so does the green! Wahhhh!

No, no, NO! You aren't allowed to feel badly or guilty! You are making a good decision here and I am really, REALLY okay with it! Start a new PTR if you want but do NOT feel badly about this! *I* would feel terrible if I thought that you were wasting any energy worrying about disappointing me when we are both on the same page about family time being the bigger priority right now! No guilt!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ok, ok!

I TOTALLY think you two should plan something alone! I'm glad that at least there's something good coming out of it...Oh but Hope, make sure you budget at least $100 for the vodka bar!

 

[JDailey]

Sad you guys are not going together right now but, I can completely understand spending time with your family. Disney will always be there and I am sure you and Hope will have a great time when you get there!! I can't wait to hear about the trip Rey though!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Sad you guys are not going together right now but, I can completely understand spending time with your family. Disney will always be there and I am sure you and Hope will have a great time when you get there!! I can't wait to hear about the trip Rey though!

Thanks! I should update about my call to try and get a pin code here in a bit! Hope is now going on a weekend getaway with her husband with the money she saves, so it's all good! We are planning a night in the city for my birthday still and going to a vodka bar that I have wanted to take Hope to for a while, so lots of fun to still be had!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I missed a lot being off of the boards for a while. I’m sorry that you guys won’t be going to Disney together but it sounds like a nice plan to go to St. Louis! Karen, I completely understand about wanting to make the most of family time while the kids are still young enough to want to participate! Those little day trips and weekend trips with your kids will be really fun and memorable! Hope, I think that doing something special with or for Robbie is really nice When you guys go to St. Louis, have a pickle flavored vodka for me!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oh my gosh!!! I'm not sure if anyone is still reading, but I had to share before I EXPLODE with excitement!!!!!!

So, I have no idea what made me think of it, but I brought up to Rey that we might be able to rent DVC points to stay at Boardwalk (and therefor have easy access to Epcot, even though it wouldn't be our first choice of Deluxe).

Anyway, long story short, I had no CLUE that you could rent points for about the same price as staying at a MOD!!! Now granted, if you want free dining or something, it might be cheaper for you to not rent points, but all the pins have our week (Jersey week) blacked out for FD, so we're thinking the general public discount would be the same. Regardless, I found a reputable person who sells DVC points here on the DIS and they checked to see if BW was available for us. It was not. BUT, huge surprise and something I just hadn't thought about...AKL had a Savanna view studio available!!! It was only 40$ more than we were paying for CSR and I am SO crazy excited!

Rey had said that he would love to stay at AKL when we went to dinner there, but when I had looked on the Disney site, it was WAY out of our pricerange and a Savanna view was even more (something like $200 on top of how expensive Deluxes are!) So...that's what we did! I have already paid for our points and have our reservation finalized!!!!!!!!! I called and canceled our reservation with CSR and I will use what money I had on that to go towards our tickets.

I am SO excited!!!!!!!!! Can you tell?!?!??!

It feels really strange posting in this thread though, the title doesn't even match anymore with the trip and I've gone so far off the original plans?? I was thinking of starting another, but honestly, for such a short trip, I'm thinking I don't have that much to share for a PTR. There will certainly be a TR though!

 

[KatMark]

Karen, you are going to LOVE the Animal Kingdom. We rented points there last September and we fell in love -- it is now our favorite, followed closely by Old Key West (where we will be again in three months) and then the Coronado (which I don't think I've told you, we are going back in December as a surprise 60th birthday trip for my hubby to see the Christmas decorations/lights which we've never seen). Renting points is great (we no longer do the dining plan as it doesn't work for us).

I'll keep watching here for a TR link.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Karen, you are going to LOVE the Animal Kingdom. We rented points there last September and we fell in love -- it is now our favorite, followed closely by Old Key West (where we will be again in three months) and then the Coronado (which I don't think I've told you, we are going back in December as a surprise 60th birthday trip for my hubby to see the Christmas decorations/lights which we've never seen). Renting points is great (we no longer do the dining plan as it doesn't work for us).

I'll keep watching here for a TR link.

Oh THANKS! I'm SO SO SO excited! I know you go to CSR a lot, so your opinion of AKL means a lot. I cannot believe I even considered for a moment not doing AKL when it was only a tiny bit more! Sometime I will stay at CSR, but this time for our Anniversary, I think AKL will be perfect!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

If anyone that is reading my PTR is going at the beginning of November and is interested in a Photopass share, PM me! I already have one and maybe two people from a DIS facebook page. You cannot share photopass plus, so it has to be regular and I don't think we can talk about it on the DIS, so PM me if you are interested!!

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm sorry you had to cancel your BFF trip but it sounds like you made a really good decision and I know you will enjoy whatever you do instead.
Awesome news on the DVC rental!

Amanda

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

AKL sounds awesome!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'm sorry you had to cancel your BFF trip but it sounds like you made a really good decision and I know you will enjoy whatever you do instead.
Awesome news on the DVC rental!

Amanda

Thanks Amanda! Hope was able to schedule a weekend getaway with her husband (to the lake) since she didn't have to save for Disney, so all is well! We're excited about going into St. Louis on my bday and hitting the vodka bar instead!

AKL sounds awesome!!!

I know, right?!?!? I am CRAZY excited, I would say, nearly obsessed! I did not feel this excited when it was CSR, and I'm in LOVE with AKL already and haven't even arrived! I have to be careful, I was already looking at some DVC stuff involving AKL...better get control of myself before I go totally off the deep end!

 

[Tinker326]

I'm back from my trip all ready to tell you about Coronado Springs. And you've changed resorts on me!

I say it was a good thing. (BTW). I didn't love, love Coronado. Not sure why. Maybe it was that the theming wasn't interesting to me. I don't know... it was pretty, don't get me wrong.. but I didn't love it. And everytime I've walked into Animal Kingdom- I'm wow'd... so I think you made a great choice AND got a great deal!!!!

Woo!

And I know that this isn't yours and Hope's trip report anymore, but I wanted to let her know if she's reading this..that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is AWESOME (a bit too small.. they could REALLY expand it out)... but still... awesome. Save lots of souviner $$ for Frozen Butterbeer because it's so, so good.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'm back from my trip all ready to tell you about Coronado Springs. And you've changed resorts on me!

This made me laugh!

I say it was a good thing. (BTW). I didn't love, love Coronado. Not sure why. Maybe it was that the theming wasn't interesting to me. I don't know... it was pretty, don't get me wrong.. but I didn't love it. And everytime I've walked into Animal Kingdom- I'm wow'd... so I think you made a great choice AND got a great deal!!!!

Would you have told me you didn't love, love it, if I were still going?!?!? Yep, I was really WOW'd by AKL as well, so I'm still super excited about it!

Woo!

And I know that this isn't yours and Hope's trip report anymore, but I wanted to let her know if she's reading this..that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is AWESOME (a bit too small.. they could REALLY expand it out)... but still... awesome. Save lots of souviner $$ for Frozen Butterbeer because it's so, so good.

She reads sometimes, but I talk to her nearly every single day, so I'll tell her! I'm sure she would like a full-on-review, so you should be prepared!

 

[-Hope-]

And I know that this isn't yours and Hope's trip report anymore, but I wanted to let her know if she's reading this..that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is AWESOME (a bit too small.. they could REALLY expand it out)... but still... awesome. Save lots of souviner $$ for Frozen Butterbeer because it's so, so good.

Oooh, are you doing a TR? If so you should post the link on the Universal Boards as well. I've read that WWoHP is small because JK Rowling wanted it to be like an authentic old English village. It adds to the appeal but makes it tough for crowds. I'm hoping that since we're going in the fall it will be less crowded but I'm prepared either way. And I can't wait to try the Butterbeer!! :drink:

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ooooh look! She does read it! (I didn't even get around to telling her yet that someone had posted to her!)

I need to revive this PTR somehow...but keep thinking I'm not sure how and here it sits!

Ooooh and I made a drinking-around-the-world Passport for Rey & I! I used cardstock though and it came out pretty thick. I'm not sure if I like it??? I mean, I need to be holding my DRINKS, not this big old book, right?

 

[-Hope-]

Of course I'm reading! I don't check the DIS often but kept the email updates for this trip because how else am I going to help you plan?!

A drinking passport is a great idea. If you want something thinner than cardstock but sturdier than regular paper I have some resume paper. I think it's grey. Let me know if you want to use a few pages.

 

[Tinker326]

Ooooh and I made a drinking-around-the-world Passport for Rey & I! I used cardstock though and it came out pretty thick. I'm not sure if I like it??? I mean, I need to be holding my DRINKS, not this big old book, right?

What if you made the passport on thicker cardstock, but smaller size (like index size cards).... and then punch a hold through the top and put a ring on it. Then you can hook it on your purse or backpack or belt loop... so that hand is free for the drink.. AND the passport is accessible when needed?

And P.S- Yes, I probably would have told you that I didn't love CS even if you were still going. I am not one to mince words!

Hope, I don't do trip reports- mostly because my husband is a cop so I don't like to put our pictures out there, just in case.... paranoid- I know... but that's what I am.

If you want, I can send you my shutterfly album via an e-mail (course you would 'forced' to wade through our Disney Dream Cruise Pics as well! ) I can write up my thoughts on Harry Potter along with it (and the rest of Universal).

If you want that, just PM me your e-mail and I'll send it over. (although the pics of I took of Harry Potter are probably worse than what you've seen online already!)

 

[giantstoindy]

So excited to hear about your trip! We almost rented DVC last trip, but we looked into it too late! Just wanted to let you know I started my dining review (some vegan): http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2950804 (think the link will work)

Thought you might like reading it!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

What if you made the passport on thicker cardstock, but smaller size (like index size cards).... and then punch a hold through the top and put a ring on it. Then you can hook it on your purse or backpack or belt loop... so that hand is free for the drink.. AND the passport is accessible when needed?

And P.S- Yes, I probably would have told you that I didn't love CS even if you were still going. I am not one to mince words!

Hope, I don't do trip reports- mostly because my husband is a cop so I don't like to put our pictures out there, just in case.... paranoid- I know... but that's what I am.

If you want, I can send you my shutterfly album via an e-mail (course you would 'forced' to wade through our Disney Dream Cruise Pics as well! ) I can write up my thoughts on Harry Potter along with it (and the rest of Universal).

If you want that, just PM me your e-mail and I'll send it over. (although the pics of I took of Harry Potter are probably worse than what you've seen online already!)

That's what I did, I put it on cardstock, but small (4x6) but the cardstock was just too thick when I put it together to make a hole and put a ring on it, so I think I will do it with regular paper and see how it comes out. I think it will still be thick b/c you paste the pieces back to back and that makes them thicker. Rey is REALLY excited about having a "contest", I will have to take pics of the scorecard and points I found for drinking around the world, it looks like fun!

So excited to hear about your trip! We almost rented DVC last trip, but we looked into it too late! Just wanted to let you know I started my dining review (some vegan): http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2950804 (think the link will work)

Thought you might like reading it!

Oooooh! I'm headed over there RIGHT NOW!