We're not going back 5 years but this is our 5th trip in4years!WERE BACK,NEW tr link

[ampc3]

love the bathroom too! we need to add finish a bathroom in our basement, but don't see it happening anytime soon lol...

well I soo get where you are coming from with the stroller to hold everything lol... however I guess I am in the minority here I vote to leave it... Eric is your youngest right.. He'll do fine without it, and it really isn't that bad carrying a back pack you and your hubby can trade off or make the kids have there own fanny packs... I was just done with the whole stroller thing, and now I have to start over ughh...

although it will stink during your drive, you'll be glad to have your car and packing will be soo much easier! also vote for breakfast , snacks for the room and downgrade your dinning plan and just oop for a few other meals.
Hey if you are driving through ATL you can stay here!

 

[Sooze]

We are also considering the pirate cruise, the boys have done the one from the Yacht Club and they loved it but I would like to try the one from the Grand Floridian. Does anyone know anything about it? Thanks for any help!!!

I'm slowly getting caught up on your PTR! Just thought I'd comment on this one, since Tyson did it a few years back.

Here are some pictures, then I'll share my thoughts:

Here's the 'ship'. I've heard it's different from the one they use at the Yacht Club:

I rented a water mouse and 'spied' on the ship! I took this of the kids reboarding from the Ft. Wilderness beach:

This is Ty before boarding, sporting the Mickey pirate ears they gave them. I'm sure your boys got these on the other cruise. Personally, I thought they were not of the best quality!

The boat went all around Bay Lake. The kids would find pieces of a puzzle. When they found all the pieces, it showed them a map. They used the map to find a 'treasure' which was a box filled with trinkets and junk that they got to keep. They also fed them a small lunch with PBandJ sandwich, crackers, juice. Tyson thought it was ok... but I think that's because he was by himself. If he had a brother on board with him, I think he would've LOVED it!

Hope that helps!! Matt and I enjoyed lounging on the hammocks on the beach while Ty was out sailing, by the way!

 

[Sooze]

Last reply!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE the bathroom! You guys did GREAT picking out the colors and textures.

So.. how many snow days did you end up getting? Is MORE snow coming?! Surely, the governor will pardon some school days after it gets up to a certain point, no?! You guys have just been pounded this year... pretty unfair!

 

[dddisrunner]

Hi, Diane! The bathroom looks fabulous! I love the black vanity with the granite counter! Very snazzy!

Eric is too cute with no front teeth!

How long a drive will it be for you?

I know what you mean about the dining plan/no dining plan. It does save a ton of money to not do it, but I will say that from our standpoint, part of our fun at Disney is eating at all those fun places. It would be hard for us to forego that.

Thanks Jackie! Our drive is about 17 hours! I agree about dining being a big part of the trip!

Hey Diane

Your bathroom looks great


Lot of great buys...skull crocs are cool


That is so cute he missing his front teeth. Trent has not lost any yet


I think driving will be fun, think of it as an adventure. Dont't forget to stop at South of Border and say Hi to Pedro..

Just make sure if you stop, only stop when it is still daylight out

You probably will be able to save a ton if you eat breakfast in the hotel and maybe dinner and just eat a big lunch at the parks

Sorry not help there

Thanks Kelly! LOL about Pedro! We are going to save alot..more on the dining coming!

The bathroom looks great!

I'm sure the drive will be lots of fun. Are you going to stop overnight somewhere? Or are you driving straight through?

I would bring the stroller anyway. In the heat, that stroller may be a necessity. Plus, you can store your stuff We are planning on bringing two Mac Volos for my nephews in August. They'll be 2 and 6. We LOVE the storage too. I hate carrying things in the heat.

Thanks so much! I think I am going tobring the stroller. How great to be traveling with your nephew's!

Hey there! Well I hear you about the booking nightmare for planes AND trains, and you are right it can be expensive to book closer in -- but I will say the autotrain allows you to cancel pretty close to the departure... not sure if you knew that or not, but regardless, the drive wont be so bad I am sure you can make it fun! We were going to autotrain again this summer, but we ended up adding a few days at Vero to our vacation so because of that, we are going to drive again. At anyrate, with the stroller, I am only bringing a single for my DS4 who will be 5 this summer and we too are going to skip the stroller for our DS7 who will have just turned 8... he is small and can still fit in it, ironically, but I think he will be okay. If it is small, you got a volo right? I would bring it -- you never know -- and with the car, they don't take up much space!

We brought food these past trips because we were staying in a villa with a kitchen. That said, we only brought breakfast -- cereal, milk, juice... and snacks, and fruit. I think we tried to bring adult snacks but frankly we hardly touched them... lunch in the summer for us was pretty laid back anyhow, and since we were on the basic meal plan it was covered... had we NOT done the plan I could have thought about lunch some days in the room, and that could have been simple -- sandwiches and chips, etc. We DID bring freezer pops with us and they were a great big hit! -- but we had a full fridge with freezer -- do the studio fridges have freezers? Maybe the week you are off site, when you are going to be doing other things too, that would be the week to eat more in the villa -- you have one with a kitchen there, right? And besides, with a car, you can hop to the store, no problem, if you decide to go this route... vs. hauling it down and potentially hauling it back.. we always brink park snacks for the boys and fruit, because then I can control the kind of junk they are eating!!! And I am not buying popcorn every five minutes..... a box of Annie's Cheese bunnies goes a long way in our house!

Anyway, GORGEOUS bathroom colors! LOVE it!

Thanks for the great response! Yes, the studios have refrigerators although they are not full size. We definitely hit the grocery before we check in too! Thanks about the bathroom!

LOVE the bathroom!

If I may offer my opinion:

1. I'd bring the stroller just in case. It does come in handy for holding things.
2. For selfish reasons I want you to choose the DXDDP -- for pictures! However, how about the ddp and your own food for breakfast? Would that be a good compromise?

Are you thinking of going for Jersey week again this year? I am thinking about going at the same time you did last year -- Halloween and the week after. How were crowds that week? I read your trip report and it looks like they were pretty manageable. Do you recommend going at that time? Thanks

Thanks! I think I am going to bring the stroller! No, we aren't going back for Jersey Week this year although if I could,I would in a heartbeat! the weather was great and the crowds were VERY manageable. The only thing you need to be mindful of is that the parks are not open very late at that time of year so taking a midday break wouldn't be recommended because your evenings would be VERY short. The other is Food and Wine, sometimes the World Showcase can not be very family friendly later at night..particularly on the weekends! Overall, it was great!

I am another one who says bring the stroller. Just in case. Perhaps you could try out a day in the Parks without it, and if you decide that you need it, you will have it. Either way, you could probably donate it to someone on your last day so you don't have to lug it home as I bet this will be the last year for sure that you use it.

As for the DDP - I say go for it. You can still eat breakfast in your room some days, even with the plan, and then splurge on some of the great 2 credit meals. While my wallet and waistline would be better off if I didn't love dining at Disney so much, I know my trip just wouldn't be the same without it.

Great deals on the shoes for the trip BTW! There! You are already finding other ways to save so you can splurge on dining!

Thanks so much! I think we are definitely bringing the stroller! Dining update coming soon! Thanks about the shoe deals, I was very happy to get them!

Hi Diane -

First of all, your bathroom looks great!!

If it were me, I would probably do a combination of the DP and bringing your own food. How about the "regular" dining plan, and then bring your own breakfast items and snacks? Then you would still have the dining credits to do "sit-down" meals.

Have fun driving!!! We drove once when I was in college and it was actually some of the most fun of the trip, but I like road trips.

Can't wait to hear about your plans!

Thanks so much! We are going to do a combo of Disney Dining and our own food! I am a littel excited about the drive, with the hustle and bustle of everyday life it will be nice to be forced to spend some time together!

 

[dddisrunner]

The bathroom looks amazing...so nice to have it done I'm sure.

When we stayed at SSR and AKL in August, we ate breakfast in the room everyday and had some snacks, but we did the DDP, and I have to say I loved it! There is something about not cooking lunch or dinner that is quite appealing to me when I'm on vacation

I don't know if that helps, but I hope so!

Eric is too cute with the teeth!!

Thanks so much! I have a dining update forthcoming! Thanks about Eric and the teeth, he is quite a sight!

Bathroom looks GREAT Diane! Bet you are THRILLED there is no toilet in your living room anymore You poor thing, but the final results were SO worth it!!!
Great minds think alike on the dining, we are going the route to save money.
We are struggling with the stroller thing too, this will be our first year without it. I think I'm going to make each kid carry one of those AWESOME bags you got them and have them each carry their pins/water bottle and autograph book in there then I will be less of a pack mule ; ) i sure hope Lauren doesn't poop out on us : )
Lesley

Hi there! Thanks about the bathroom. Too funny about the toilet but that was just ridiculous! I have decided to bring the stroller be damned what Bryan says...I am the pack mule not him! YAY that your kids will get to use those bags! Lauren will be a trooper I am sure and I bet she won't even complain!

Hi Diane - your bathroom turned out beautiful ! A nice place to escape for a soak in the tub. Eric is too cute with his toothless smile and Mickey ears. Don't beat yourself up about the tooth fairy thing it happens to all of us. Great bargains ! I think the driving thing definitely makes sense with the school calendar up in the air. Our school system has a board mtg March 3rd to decide what to do with the make up days. How about your schools ? I think I would stick the stroller in the back of the van just in case. Maybe plan not to use it but it's there just in case.

Thanks so much! That toothfairy thing is just crazy because Eric keeps talking about it and telling us that his friends keep saying the toothfairy ALWAYS takes their teeth! Are you getting hit with this new snowstorm?

Love the bathroom Diane, the color, floor and especially the dark vanity... I have hopes of a new one in our half bath sometime soon.

Yeah for Eric's lost tooth and smile.. that darn tooth fairy- it must be a tough job-

I think driving will ease your mind, and allow for you to get what you need, and travel when you can.

Since I am a million years away from no stroller.. I have no advice. I totally would hate not to have the storage, so I understand. Luke will probably be stroller bound till he is 18... he is a wild man.

I am interested in your final dining decisions. I like to eat in the room breakfast. That works well for us as everyone gets ready to just eat then. Also my kids are cereal girls, so I would hate to buy that. Good luck deciding... I am sure shaving the dining plan back would save you lots of $$$ and you could just keep your favorite reservations.

Thanks Laura! Update about the dining coming up! Too funny about Luke and the stroller! I am actually really happy about driving, it will be nice not to stress about packing!

I love the dark cabinets in your bathroom.

Very excited about you guys driving down - probably more so than you are!

Thanks Carissa! You are too funny! We'll pick you up so you can entertain us in the car!

 

[dddisrunner]

Well, after some debate here in this house, we have decided to do the regular dining plan and just bring some stuff with us! When I figured out how much we would save it was INSANE! Matthew is considered an adult this year because he will be 10. Downgrading from Deluxe to regular dining is going to save us................................................................................................................................................................A WHOPPING $850 DOLLARS!!!! That is HUGE! So there you have it. I have been tweaking our ADR'S and I was sad to see some go like Narcoosees and our Tusker House breakfast but we will get over it! We still have some great dinners and some fun group meals planned with Lesley, Tim and the kids as well as a date night out for the 4 adults. We will put the kids in the childcare all together!

The stroller has become a mute point. I am bringing it...we have plenty of roomin our van, there is NO reason not too!(Are you reading this Bryan?) Better safe then sorry as one of my very intelligent DIS friends posted!

Hey, Guess what? We're getting ready to get HAMMERED with snow again! Shocking isn't it? As of right now, our Board of Ed has taken 1 day away from our Spring Break, making it 5 days we need to make up; putting our last day of school at June 23rd!

Well that's all for now! Stay warm and pray for rain!

 

[Trentmom]

WOW...that is a huge savings.


I can not believe we are getting more snow.

That is getting out of control.

I am glad they took one day out of your spring break.

The newcasters stink. ACCU was like for our area...we could get 1-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10.......

Fingers crossed for rain

 

[cdotla]

Totally agree with your decision on the Dining Plan. (And I was one of the ones who initially said go for it!)

Forgot you had a "child" who was turning "adult" on this trip. That makes a huge difference. Plus, if you are going with Timandlesley who have made the same call too, this makes the decision a lot easier!

Plus....let's be honest, $850 is a LOT of $$$$$!!!!

Breakfast in the room won't be bad at all. In some ways it will make your mornings so much easier!

I do have one suggestion for you though. Not sure if you guys or Timandlesley have an AP, but you may want to look into the cost of paying to upgrade one person's park ticket to an AP so that you can buy the Tables in Wonderland card. That would give you 20% off all meals and drinks. (Yes, unlike the dining plan, TIW allows you to save on booze!!!)

Me thinks when you deduct 20% off your food and drink totals, an upgrade to AP would be more than paid for in your savings.

Plus, it would give you another way to convince Bryan that you have to return to WDW if someone already has an AP. Or on second thought, maybe it is time you and Lesley did a girls' trip!

 

[Native NYer]

That's a huge savings!

I'm praying for rain as well. We've had enough snow

 

[swwake]

Big savings! And I hope you get rain instead of snow.

I agree with cdolta's brilliant idea of checking for an AP upgrade. I see you're going back for F&W, so do you already have APs?

 

[PittypatBR]

Hi, Diane. Just found your pre-trippie so I am tickled to be reading along. We are going the first week in June, right after school is out here. We get a little jump on all you yankees that way! Seriously I hope you don't have ANY MORE snow days and get out when you expect.

We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista in DD's timeshare, and driving in also. (Although our trip is about 50% shorter than yours.) I think she wanted Harbour Lake, but couldn't get it.

LOVE the bathroom makeover, and I KNOW you are glad to get the fixtures out of the living room!

 

[Charleston Princess]

That is HUGE savings!

Stay warm and inside today!

 

[NMAmy]

Sigh. I am such a slacker. How did I not know you'd started another pre-trip report? Okay, now I have to catch up!

 

[morgtroy]

I haven't got to be on the Dis lately. Got some catching up to do. Great plans!
Get some movies the kids haven't seen and save them for the car trip, it always helped mine. Our drive is 10.5 hrs. Not terrible and we usually do it in one day and still hit the parks that first night. Like you said, if it takes the stress off you, not knowing the school schedule yet.
One word of warning, if your 2 are like mine. The first time the older one went to adult meal plan at Disney, not only kills the wallet, but you get the whinning from the younger one. "Why does she get to eat that and I only get to choose from Chicken nuggets or pizza?" We let the younger one share from the adult plate since it's usually so much food.

Bathroom looks great, so fun to get the end product. The in between, not so fun.
Sorry about the snow. We were upper 50s and sunny all weekend. Now it's freezing and they're talking more snow this week. What up??

Can't wait to follow along.

 

[NMAmy]

Eric looks like he's thinking, "Okay, Mom, hurry up and take the picture and then get out of here so I can use this new bathroom!"

I'm sorry about all the snow angst. I'm also sorry because I believe you're getting more snow again today. I'm a bit frustrated because the same storm you're getting today was here in Michigan on Wednesday and dumped about 5" of snow and has now circled around and come BACK to give us 2-4 more inches today! I'm sorry but once a storm has made it's way through, it is definitely NOT welcome to come visiting again.

Keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well!

 

[mylag1rl]

Thanks so much! That toothfairy thing is just crazy because Eric keeps talking about it and telling us that his friends keep saying the toothfairy ALWAYS takes their teeth! Are you getting hit with this new snowstorm?

So far we don't have any snow here, it is just really windy. How are things in NJ?

 

[dddisrunner]

WOW...that is a huge savings.


I can not believe we are getting more snow.

That is getting out of control.

I am glad they took one day out of your spring break.

The newcasters stink. ACCU was like for our area...we could get 1-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10.......

Fingers crossed for rain

Thanks Kelly! Yes, downgrading was definitely the right thing to do! We had ANOTHER snow day today!

Totally agree with your decision on the Dining Plan. (And I was one of the ones who initially said go for it!)

Forgot you had a "child" who was turning "adult" on this trip. That makes a huge difference. Plus, if you are going with Timandlesley who have made the same call too, this makes the decision a lot easier!

Plus....let's be honest, $850 is a LOT of $$$$$!!!!

Breakfast in the room won't be bad at all. In some ways it will make your mornings so much easier!

I do have one suggestion for you though. Not sure if you guys or Timandlesley have an AP, but you may want to look into the cost of paying to upgrade one person's park ticket to an AP so that you can buy the Tables in Wonderland card. That would give you 20% off all meals and drinks. (Yes, unlike the dining plan, TIW allows you to save on booze!!!)

Me thinks when you deduct 20% off your food and drink totals, an upgrade to AP would be more than paid for in your savings.

Plus, it would give you another way to convince Bryan that you have to return to WDW if someone already has an AP. Or on second thought, maybe it is time you and Lesley did a girls' trip!

We actually do have annual passes, makes life MUCH easier! I will have to look into all the discounts you mentioned, thanks! Yes, I think you are right, Lesley and I should take a girls trip!

That's a huge savings!

I'm praying for rain as well. We've had enough snow

Thanks! Yes, ENOUGH snow! We are laughing because the sun is out right now here!!!

Big savings! And I hope you get rain instead of snow.

I agree with cdolta's brilliant idea of checking for an AP upgrade. I see you're going back for F&W, so do you already have APs?

Thanks Susan! Yes, we do already have AP's we need to renew them in the middle of our June trip!

Hi, Diane. Just found your pre-trippie so I am tickled to be reading along. We are going the first week in June, right after school is out here. We get a little jump on all you yankees that way! Seriously I hope you don't have ANY MORE snow days and get out when you expect.

We are staying at the Marriott Grande Vista in DD's timeshare, and driving in also. (Although our trip is about 50% shorter than yours.) I think she wanted Harbour Lake, but couldn't get it.

LOVE the bathroom makeover, and I KNOW you are glad to get the fixtures out of the living room!

Hi Pittypat!!! So glad you made it over here! That is great that you are going back to Disney! You will LOVE the Grand Vista, my BIL and SIL stay there all the time and rave about it! Thanks about the bathroom!

That is HUGE savings!

Stay warm and inside today!

Thanks Jackie!

Sigh. I am such a slacker. How did I not know you'd started another pre-trip report? Okay, now I have to catch up!

Welcome back Amy!!! I hope all is well!

I haven't got to be on the Dis lately. Got some catching up to do. Great plans!
Get some movies the kids haven't seen and save them for the car trip, it always helped mine. Our drive is 10.5 hrs. Not terrible and we usually do it in one day and still hit the parks that first night. Like you said, if it takes the stress off you, not knowing the school schedule yet.
One word of warning, if your 2 are like mine. The first time the older one went to adult meal plan at Disney, not only kills the wallet, but you get the whinning from the younger one. "Why does she get to eat that and I only get to choose from Chicken nuggets or pizza?" We let the younger one share from the adult plate since it's usually so much food.

Bathroom looks great, so fun to get the end product. The in between, not so fun.
Sorry about the snow. We were upper 50s and sunny all weekend. Now it's freezing and they're talking more snow this week. What up??

Can't wait to follow along.

Thanks for catching up Julie! Eric shouldn't be too much of a problem with the dining, he is VERY picky and does really well with kid type fare! Thanks about the bathroom!

Eric looks like he's thinking, "Okay, Mom, hurry up and take the picture and then get out of here so I can use this new bathroom!"

I'm sorry about all the snow angst. I'm also sorry because I believe you're getting more snow again today. I'm a bit frustrated because the same storm you're getting today was here in Michigan on Wednesday and dumped about 5" of snow and has now circled around and come BACK to give us 2-4 more inches today! I'm sorry but once a storm has made it's way through, it is definitely NOT welcome to come visiting again.

Keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well!

Too funny Amy, but that IS what his expression looks like! YUCK about the storm!

So far we don't have any snow here, it is just really windy. How are things in NJ?

LUCKY! We don't have much but the timing was really bad and we have no school today #7 of the year! UGH!

 

[Trentmom]

Hey Diane.

We had no school either. I think it was closed because of how windy it was, as the snow was not bad here.

That wind was killer

 

[Queenofallthings]

WowWow.....$850...that's huge!!! That is fabulous...I can't help but think of all the other things you could buy with the money you're saving....grey goose slushies anyone

 

[IluvXU]

Diane,
I read you posting that DVC stays who get the dining plan do not have to pay for the holiday surcharge... how did you find that out? That is a great thing... thanks for sharing!