Week 1 Is By Land, Week 2 Is By Sea! A PTR

[Trinity524]

Hello Everyone and welcome to my family pre-trip report! I am beginning this report in hopes that it will help the time go by faster and that I can share my love of all Disney.

The reason for this title is that we will be spending a week in Disney and then a week on the glorious new ship "Fantasy" on the Eastern Caribbean. We are so excited.

Up Next... Our cast of characters!

 

[Trinity524]

Here's my cast of characters:

Here is me and my DH, John, in October last year. We were married in 2006 and he's my best friend. He's 30, his favorite character is Goofy, his favorite ride is Tower of Terror, and his favorite Disney restaurant is Chef Mickey's. He goes to Disney because it's time away from work and time with his family. He puts up with my insanity, but pretends to hate the thought of Disney until we are there. Oh, he loves to eat and will only go to Disney with a Dining Plan.

I am Annie, Disney Planner, 34, (yes I robbed the cradle), my favorite character is Minnie Mouse, my favorite ride is Soarin', my favorite Disney restaurant is O'hanas. I love all things Disney and I shook my head when I had to buy Universal Studios tickets this year. I am getting out numbered and Due to the fact that the Marvel characters are in Islands of Adventure, I suppose I will have to venture off property.

Here is my hot dang mess of a son Jack.

He's 4, 41 inches, his favorite characters are Stitch and Buzz and his favorite Disney Restaurant is the O'hanas. His favorite Marvel character is Spiderman and he can't want to see him again.

Last but not least is my father, 66, who will not be joining us for the first week, but only the cruise.

My DF is 66, a veteran of the Vietnam war, the second best man I know (next to my husband) and legally blind. He could care less about Disney and wants to spend every waking moment with his grandson who he thinks walks on water. Believe me, he does not.

Next up: Where we are staying and how this trip came to be.

 

[Trinity524]

How did this trip come to be you ask?

Well, like everyone else, I was obsessed when I saw the commercials for DCL last year. Starting in February last year, it seemed that they had them on every other commercial! I sent an email out to my very large family stating everyone is invited as long as they pay for themselves. My brother, an NYC Police Department Lieutenant, stated he, his wife, and my niece would be coming with us. They had to go in August, on the 25th because, she's a teacher and would be doing summer school. Awesome! We normally go to Disney in the last week of September, during Free Dining, so August shouldn't be that different, for our week before! (Can you say naive?) We booked Pop as the cruise was going to be expensive enough

and then booked the cruise. Side note, by family LOVES Pop. We've stayed at Pop twice, the Poly once and CBR once. I always tell my husband that even if Pop cost more, he'd rather be there. SMH.

Then my family decided to lose their mind. My DH decided that he needed a window, which is fine, but then my Dad decided he needed a balcony, and a handicapped room as he has diabetes and with being blind he has to be careful not to kick things because he won't heal like everyone else. So, 5 thousand, that's right, five thousand dollars later for the cruise alone and we are booked!

Only my brother then calls and says he can't get that week off. He has to cancel and by the time he figures he can't get the week off, it's January of this year, and the cruise is 1.5 times more for the week before and after. So it's just us with my Dad!
Next Up... We will talk about park tickets, dining reservations, and WHAT, you HAVE to go to Universal???

 

[natebenma]

Great start!!! Can't wait to read about your trip. As I mentioned on my TR- as a native Bostonian, love the title of your TR.

Jack is too cute!!!

I love that your dad is coming on the cruise with you. My dad is super special to me, I would love to vacation with him.

Never stayed at Pop, but that is one of the resorts at Disney that I think I would enjoy. But I bleed Beach Club blue.

I'll be interested to hear about where the ship is sailing.

Dee

 

[KELLY]

I'm in. We are pop lovers also. After staying at the other levels Dh jokes that we are paying for a foot of extra space. We did stay at SSR in a 1 bedroom 2 year in a row. It was big but I don't cook on vacation so a lot of the space was wasted.

Looked like we may be there for a couple of the same days. Are dates are 8/25 to 9/3. My older DD went on the dream last year with my parents and had so much fun. The only problem was she didn't want to get off the boat.

 

[francis6306]

Love your title! Very cute!

My husband and I were married in 2006. Great year to get hitched!

I'd love to go on a cruise! But I want to wait until my girls are a little older.

We love Pop as well, but AoA is probably gonna steal us away, since we like the family suites over there!

 

[amandaw]

Joining in!

I also have a little boy who is 4. They are such balls of energy, right? Your little boy is adorable! We are heading to Islands of Adventure on our trip this fall because of superheroes as well. I told my DH, "You realize we're paying this much for tickets just to go ride Spiderman?". I love IoA but that's really the only reason why we're going this year. Oh well, the things we do for our kids!

I'm very excited to hear about the Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy. As of right now, we are booked on the Fantasy for an Eastern Caribbean cruise in May 2013. We did a 3 night on the Dream last year & loved it!

 

[Trinity524]

Great start!!! Can't wait to read about your trip. As I mentioned on my TR- as a native Bostonian, love the title of your TR.

Jack is too cute!!!

I love that your dad is coming on the cruise with you. My dad is super special to me, I would love to vacation with him.

Never stayed at Pop, but that is one of the resorts at Disney that I think I would enjoy. But I bleed Beach Club blue.

I'll be interested to hear about where the ship is sailing.

Dee

Welcome Dee!

Jack is a pretty good kid. He's really funny, and keeps us on our toes!

My Dad is absolutely the best. He tries to be a hard-butt but my son has him wrapped around his finger. Everything that I wanted to do as a child that was once a stern "no" is now okay.

The ship is going to St. Maartin, St. Thomas, and Cast Away Cay!

 

[Trinity524]

I'm in. We are pop lovers also. After staying at the other levels Dh jokes that we are paying for a foot of extra space. We did stay at SSR in a 1 bedroom 2 year in a row. It was big but I don't cook on vacation so a lot of the space was wasted.

Looked like we may be there for a couple of the same days. Are dates are 8/25 to 9/3. My older DD went on the dream last year with my parents and had so much fun. The only problem was she didn't want to get off the boat.

Welcome Kelly!

I just love the feel of Pop! I can tell you my biggest regret was paying for the Poly when the Pop was just as magical for us. I make it a rule to never cook on vacation, so the kitchen would be lost on me too!

We will be leaving for the boat the day you come in! We'll keep the place in good shape for you!

So glad you are coming on this journey with us.

 

[Trinity524]

Love your title! Very cute!

My husband and I were married in 2006. Great year to get hitched!

I'd love to go on a cruise! But I want to wait until my girls are a little older.

We love Pop as well, but AoA is probably gonna steal us away, since we like the family suites over there!

2006 was a wonderful year! Jack is now four, but I worry that I should have waited until he was five. It seems like all the excursions start at 5 and up.

I looked into AoA, but it seemed like a lot of money! I'd love to stay in the Lion King rooms!

Glad to have you "aboard"!

 

[Trinity524]

Joining in!

I also have a little boy who is 4. They are such balls of energy, right? Your little boy is adorable! We are heading to Islands of Adventure on our trip this fall because of superheroes as well. I told my DH, "You realize we're paying this much for tickets just to go ride Spiderman?". I love IoA but that's really the only reason why we're going this year. Oh well, the things we do for our kids!

I'm very excited to hear about the Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy. As of right now, we are booked on the Fantasy for an Eastern Caribbean cruise in May 2013. We did a 3 night on the Dream last year & loved it!

Balls of energy is definitely a nice way of putting it. Thank you for saying he's cute. We like to think so, but he looks just like his dad with my eyes. I know all about the IoA thing because I just had to buy tickets . It was important that I put 41 inches in our introduction because Jack has to be 42 inches to be able to ride a bunch of rides at Universal... I am thinking about putting him on the stretcher! LOL

thank you for joining!

 

[Trinity524]

I left off that my brother and his family could not go, but I was stuck going in August. That's right, the hottest, rainiest month of summer.

John and I met while we lived in Jacksonville, FL.

My job moved us out to San Antonio, TX right after we got married. We were not really into Disney (I know, seems insane) but that's because we would go for a day and did it all wrong. We went with a group from San Antonio in 2007 and it was . Anyway, we know how hot it is in August, but we were stuck if we wanted to go on that cruise. We decided to get a 7 day park hopper with water parks and more option. Jack is now old enough to love Disney Quest and we never did the water parks before! I am all about doing new things!

But then DH decides we absolutely have to go to IofA and Universal, so we should get tickets and take Mears transportation there and back. REALLY? I look online and it's like $300 for a 1 day 2 park pass for the three of us to go. I know I am pushing my luck even convincing DH to go to Disney and then a DCL so I know I have no bargaining power here. However, I went to Costco and I see a 3 day 2 park pass that can be used any three days until 12/2015 for 144 each! YES!!!!!!! That means I will have three years worth because I only want to go for the day each time!

So do I really need the 7 day park hopper? No I don't. So do I got back and change it? No, because I also have the dining plan so I am scared that I will want to go back into the parks to eat dinner... I truly have no life. Ever think that you're making this easier but the more you plan the harder it gets??

Next Up... Dining Reservations...

 

[amandaw]

That's a really great deal you got on the IoA/US tickets! We're only going to IoA for the one day & the price of the tickets just makes me !

 

[Trinity524]

That's a really great deal you got on the IoA/US tickets! We're only going to IoA for the one day & the price of the tickets just makes me !

Do you have a Costco by you? I would see if they sell them! I can't believe that we "have" to go there after paying all the money for the Disney tickets. However, if you're going to pay, you might as well pay for the three day at Costco!

 

[francis6306]

2006 was a wonderful year! Jack is now four, but I worry that I should have waited until he was five. It seems like all the excursions start at 5 and up.

I looked into AoA, but it seemed like a lot of money! I'd love to stay in the Lion King rooms!

Glad to have you "aboard"!

My youngest daughter is a light sleeper, so the room for her is really important for now.

That is really an awesome price! I have a friend that is looking to go in the fall, so I just told her to check that deal out!!! I think I will wait for IOA/US until my daughters are older, but if I could get that type of a deal, then it would be worth it to go for one day like you are doing! Hmmm…

 

[amandaw]

Do you have a Costco by you? I would see if they sell them! I can't believe that we "have" to go there after paying all the money for the Disney tickets. However, if you're going to pay, you might as well pay for the three day at Costco!

Unfortunately, we don't. I may have to do some research & see if Sam's Club sells them as well. If so, I may consider joining.

 

[Trinity524]

My youngest daughter is a light sleeper, so the room for her is really important for now.

That is really an awesome price! I have a friend that is looking to go in the fall, so I just told her to check that deal out!!! I think I will wait for IOA/US until my daughters are older, but if I could get that type of a deal, then it would be worth it to go for one day like you are doing! Hmmm…

My son sleeps hard as a rock, as long as we wear him out. I remembered staying at the Poly and thinking that even though it was a larger room, It really wasn't shaped with families in mind. I definitely see the value in having the segregated areas! With boys, IoA is almost better than Disney because of Marvel. I wonder if Disney will ever have the Marvel characters or if they will take ove IoA!

Unfortunately, we don't. I may have to do some research & see if Sam's Club sells them as well. If so, I may consider joining.

Sam Clubs here don't, but then again, I think they are more area specific. We've NEVER had the Disney gift card deal that others speak about. So maybe it's regional?

 

[natebenma]

That's a really great deal you got on the IoA/US tickets! We're only going to IoA for the one day & the price of the tickets just makes me !

We got our tickets (they were 4 day "hoppers") for US/IoA at AAA. They offered a slight discount, like a buck or two, from the Undercover Tourist price. I don't know what they offer for the 1 day ticket.

The Costco offer is about the best I have seen, but I am not a member and we needed more than 3 days of tickets.

 

[amandaw]

We got our tickets (they were 4 day "hoppers") for US/IoA at AAA. They offered a slight discount, like a buck or two, from the Undercover Tourist price. I don't know what they offer for the 1 day ticket.

The Costco offer is about the best I have seen, but I am not a member and we needed more than 3 days of tickets.

Thank you for this info! I'm going to check out AAA & UT to see if they have at least a little bit of a discount on 1 day tickets.

 

[Trinity524]

Chef Mickey's- Breakfast DH's favorite and a must do for us.
Disney's Contemporary Resort

Boma–Flavors of Africa- Dinner This will be our first time. Has anyone been here?
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

'Ohana- Breakfast LOVE this restaurant!
Disney's Polynesian Resort

Les Chefs de France Dinner- We love the food here

Le Cellier Steakhouse- I got this one for lunch, but I think I am going to find something else.

Cinderella's Royal Table- Dinner... Our last night before going on the cruise
Magic Kingdom® Park

What do you think?