We're Staying OFFSITE! An October '14 PTR!

[ZehnJahren]

Awww! I love the retro pics! A Disney addict from day one!

I so wish they still had a Leave A Legacy nowadays! Thats pretty awesome.

Sooo, whats your kitty's name?

Thats a tough call, extra days or save the money. Extra days are so tempting! I wish you all the luck in deciding!!

We went to WDW for the first time before Epcot was finished. I actually remember parts of that trip and I was only 2 1/2. I always laugh when people say not to take little kids to WDW because they won't remember it - I do!

I personally like the way Leave a Legacy looks, but I know I'm in the minority! I remember when it was all open in the front, and I didn't think it looked much better than it does now.

My kitty is Ikarus, named after the Greek myth. He only understands German.

I know, I can't decide yet. I have a lot to think about. I'll probably make a decision in mid August.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I had to share with people who would care, because pretty much no one but Mom and I are excited about this.

I got a dinner at 1900 Park Fare for us!

That's so awesome!!! We loved that dinner on our Disney trip (even Jake....who I thought might be too old and too "boy" to enjoy it). I hope you and your mom make some awesome memories there .

Finally, I don't think I've posted about this guy:



He's my 13 year old rescue kitty. I got him when he was about 6 months old and he was so little! Now he's a huge cat, but not fat - just long! I'm so glad that on this trip he will be watched over by someone the whole time instead of me leaving him to be checked on every few days.

He is so gorgeous!!! I totally hear you about the cat care....it makes for a much better vacation when you know that your fur baby is well attended to.

 

[ZehnJahren]

That's so awesome!!! We loved that dinner on our Disney trip (even Jake....who I thought might be too old and too "boy" to enjoy it). I hope you and your mom make some awesome memories there .

He is so gorgeous!!! I totally hear you about the cat care....it makes for a much better vacation when you know that your fur baby is well attended to.

I'm so glad to hear more good reviews. We don't expect exceptional food - just an exceptional time! I'm not a big fan of buffets but mom likes them so I'm happy. I have just always wanted to meet the stepsisters, plus Gaston. Maybe I'll meet them all this trip!

Thank you for the cat compliments. Here's my favorite picture of him:



He's a catdog - he acts just like a dog most of the time. He'll meow at you and follow you around and beg you to pet him. He's very sociable. I don't think I'll be able to have another cat after him - he's just too awesome.

 

[SarahDisney]

Hi!
I just finished reading through all of this and I love hearing about your plans. And I love that you go with your mother – mother-daughter trips are awesome!
I went to the older Harry Potter area (Hogsmeade at IOA) about 10 months after it opened and the lines were insane … single rider lines may make the wait a little shorter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re still waiting a while (especially if you want to look around inside stores – we didn’t even do that because the lines were so long). I can’t wait to hear about your experience there!

I love that you chose red for your MB because of the Cards. I’m a Yankees fan, and I kinda wish they had pinstripe MBs for me! Alas, when I chose the color for my first MB, I chose it based on my outfits, not my team (although it is green and I am a Jets fan … it’s the wrong green).

I also wanted to just go into BOG and look around (I probably can’t do the FP+ lunch), but it looks like unless I can get an ADR for dinner, I won’t be seeing BOG on my next trip.

Can’t wait to see more about the trip!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Hi!
I just finished reading through all of this and I love hearing about your plans. And I love that you go with your mother – mother-daughter trips are awesome!
I went to the older Harry Potter area (Hogsmeade at IOA) about 10 months after it opened and the lines were insane … single rider lines may make the wait a little shorter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re still waiting a while (especially if you want to look around inside stores – we didn’t even do that because the lines were so long). I can’t wait to hear about your experience there!

I love that you chose red for your MB because of the Cards. I’m a Yankees fan, and I kinda wish they had pinstripe MBs for me! Alas, when I chose the color for my first MB, I chose it based on my outfits, not my team (although it is green and I am a Jets fan … it’s the wrong green).

I also wanted to just go into BOG and look around (I probably can’t do the FP+ lunch), but it looks like unless I can get an ADR for dinner, I won’t be seeing BOG on my next trip.

Can’t wait to see more about the trip!

Thanks for commenting; it's nice to hear from people, since I'm so excited and just want to talk about the trip to anyone who will listen! Mostly that's my mom, but anyone else is great too!

That is good to know that lines were still insane 10 months into Hogsmeade having opened. I don't know if we'll get to ride the Gringott's ride but I know we'll get Hogwart's Express - I've heard the lines are only about 15-30 minutes for it. I hope we at least get our money's worth; I can't wait to try the Mummy....

I am going to set my MBs to ship on Sunday, so hopefully they take a week and come back around on my work from home day so I don't have to drive all over creation trying to pick them up! I may make a little baseball over the Mickey head... Love me some Cardinals baseball!

That's too bad that you can't get the ADR yet. Just keep looking if that's what you're doing. I just got a 1900 Park Fare at the most random date and time! It's really lovely in BOG; I hope we get in to eat this trip.

 

[stacy~**]

Nice job on the 1900PF ADR! We ate there in May and had a great time. That is the one spot my 10 year old really wants to return to this trip!! (I actually DO have an ADR booked that I should cancel because we have "decided" not to do it but I am hanging on to it for now just in case!).

Love all your retro pictures and memories! We didn't travel much when we were kids so I only experienced one day at MK when I was around 4....then I didn't return until I was 32! Doing my best the last 8 years to make up for lost time!

Wow a few extra days....tempting! The great thing about a longer trip is it offers you the chance to slow down and really take things in. Since you have an AP and the air wouldn't change I say do it!!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Nice job on the 1900PF ADR! We ate there in May and had a great time. That is the one spot my 10 year old really wants to return to this trip!! (I actually DO have an ADR booked that I should cancel because we have "decided" not to do it but I am hanging on to it for now just in case!).

Love all your retro pictures and memories! We didn't travel much when we were kids so I only experienced one day at MK when I was around 4....then I didn't return until I was 32! Doing my best the last 8 years to make up for lost time!

Wow a few extra days....tempting! The great thing about a longer trip is it offers you the chance to slow down and really take things in. Since you have an AP and the air wouldn't change I say do it!!!

Oooh so happy to hear more good reviews of 1900 Park Fare! Do you have any posts or anything about it? Reading all I can about it now! Doesn't hurt to hold on to the ADR at all - you could hold it up until the 24 hour mark if you wanted.

We did a lot when I was a kid; my dad worked hard and was gone a lot, so when he had time off he wanted to travel somewhere. We had a boat, so we spent a lot of days on the boat when I was younger - we'd take the boat and a tent (later, the pop up camper) and spend a lot of time camping, fishing, and swimming. Happy memories.

I was thinking about a short November trip before my AP expires, but if I'm not employed I wouldn't want to spend the money. So the extra time on this trip would be good because all the costs are already outlaid except for the hotel - I'd just stay at a value - but if I stayed a few extra days now, then even if I was employed I wouldn't go back in November. Does that make sense?

 

[stacy~**]

Oooh so happy to hear more good reviews of 1900 Park Fare! Do you have any posts or anything about it? Reading all I can about it now! Doesn't hurt to hold on to the ADR at all - you could hold it up until the 24 hour mark if you wanted.

We did a lot when I was a kid; my dad worked hard and was gone a lot, so when he had time off he wanted to travel somewhere. We had a boat, so we spent a lot of days on the boat when I was younger - we'd take the boat and a tent (later, the pop up camper) and spend a lot of time camping, fishing, and swimming. Happy memories.

I was thinking about a short November trip before my AP expires, but if I'm not employed I wouldn't want to spend the money. So the extra time on this trip would be good because all the costs are already outlaid except for the hotel - I'd just stay at a value - but if I stayed a few extra days now, then even if I was employed I wouldn't go back in November. Does that make sense?

I didn't write a TR for our May trip (hoping to for this one) so I don't have anything written up about Park Fare but the Tremaines are really sooo fun! Best character interaction at any character meal!

We had made autograph books out of a storybook and Drizella put a big black X over Cinderella's face. It was the best.



More days at Disney always make sense!!

 

[MidnightParade]

Hmmm...reading the comments between you and stacy made me think of this. What is more likely to happen? Regretting taking a few extra days at Disney and enjoying yourself more OR not taking the days and saving the money and knowing that staying a few extra days was an option you didn't take?

Maybe workout how much extra it will actually cost and then you can know 100%. Money is important and you need to be smart but its also only money.


lol, you already know this but sometimes it nice to have someone else mention it!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I didn't write a TR for our May trip (hoping to for this one) so I don't have anything written up about Park Fare but the Tremaines are really sooo fun! Best character interaction at any character meal!

We had made autograph books out of a storybook and Drizella put a big black X over Cinderella's face. It was the best.

More days at Disney always make sense!!

TRs can be overwhelming but they're so great to go back and read later. I go and read mine sometimes to reminisce. It is kind of sad if no one reads, though - so if you write one, I'll read it for sure!

That's funny that Drizella marked out Cinderella! Seems like something they would do! I guess we'll just get pictures with them; I may wear a Cinderella shirt or something.

Yeah, you are definitely right about more days making sense. I think I would turn in the rental car and just use Disney transportation after Mom leaves. I don't think I'd be up for driving back and forth to the airport. But who knows how I will be in a couple of months!

 

[stacy~**]

TRs can be overwhelming but they're so great to go back and read later. I go and read mine sometimes to reminisce. It is kind of sad if no one reads, though - so if you write one, I'll read it for sure!

That's funny that Drizella marked out Cinderella! Seems like something they would do! I guess we'll just get pictures with them; I may wear a Cinderella shirt or something.

Yeah, you are definitely right about more days making sense. I think I would turn in the rental car and just use Disney transportation after Mom leaves. I don't think I'd be up for driving back and forth to the airport. But who knows how I will be in a couple of months!

It is sad if no one reads!! I wrote one for our DL trip last summer and it was pretty lonely. I know the DL side of things here aren't as active so maybe I will have better luck with a WDW report. I do like to think my report might still be helpful to someone since we did several days in LA too. (shamefully hanging my head since I didn't finish it although I got through like 9 of 10 days). Since this is a short trip I am hoping I can make it through. Glad I will have at least one reader.

I think relying on Disney transportation would be fine and probably a nice break for you after a week + of driving around. I know sooo many people complain about it and while it can be a hassle its still nice to have someone else do the navigating!

I wanted to comment to Midnight parade that you CAN stay too many days with kids unless you plan some down time! Trust me on that one!

 

[MidnightParade]

I wanted to comment to Midnight parade that you CAN stay too many days with kids unless you plan some down time! Trust me on that one!

lol, I'm not sure I said you can't have too many days at Disney. 100% with kids long vacations can get difficult and even with adults under the right circumstances.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Hmmm...reading the comments between you and stacy made me think of this. What is more likely to happen? Regretting taking a few extra days at Disney and enjoying yourself more OR not taking the days and saving the money and knowing that staying a few extra days was an option you didn't take?

Maybe workout how much extra it will actually cost and then you can know 100%. Money is important and you need to be smart but its also only money.

lol, you already know this but sometimes it nice to have someone else mention it!

You are so very right. I ran the money scenario tonight, taking into account that I most likely will be jobless at the time, and I think that I could swing it without any big issue - it's really minimal money, and I'm more likely to stay longer than to turn around and return in November, it's true. I'm going to wait for the AP discount and then go ahead and book another three days. It will also save me 7000 points with Southwest if I stay longer!

It is sad if no one reads!! I wrote one for our DL trip last summer and it was pretty lonely. I know the DL side of things here aren't as active so maybe I will have better luck with a WDW report. I do like to think my report might still be helpful to someone since we did several days in LA too. (shamefully hanging my head since I didn't finish it although I got through like 9 of 10 days). Since this is a short trip I am hoping I can make it through. Glad I will have at least one reader.

I think relying on Disney transportation would be fine and probably a nice break for you after a week + of driving around. I know sooo many people complain about it and while it can be a hassle its still nice to have someone else do the navigating!

I wanted to comment to Midnight parade that you CAN stay too many days with kids unless you plan some down time! Trust me on that one!

Yes, I will read for sure.

I think it could be a nice break too. Last time I called MDE to discuss this scenario on a previous vacation, they said just to give them a flight number that arrived around the time I was going to be at the airport. That is easy; I really like Disney transportation - especially if I want to have a drink from time to time!

I think you really could easily stay too long. That's why I like my scenario; the differing stays would give me two different vacations in one. I think I'll end up booking it and taking it easy in the end of my trip!

 

[Angeejoe]

I'm glad to hear that your e way drive went well, that's awesome!

Congrats on the 1900 ADR, I've never been there, but would like to give it a try!

I love the old pcs & the Epoct engraving, that's very cool!

So if you stay for extra days, where are you thinking of staying?

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm glad to hear that your e way drive went well, that's awesome!

Congrats on the 1900 ADR, I've never been there, but would like to give it a try!

I love the old pcs & the Epoct engraving, that's very cool!

So if you stay for extra days, where are you thinking of staying?

Thanks; I haven't been able to do it again yet but I'm hopeful.

I haven't even been to the GF before, so I'm looking forward to at least seeing the hotel. I've never had the urge to stay there, so hopefully this little glimpse of the GF doesn't change my mind, since it's such an expensive place to stay!

I most likely will stay value. I may consider trying to rent points but I don't know if there will be anything available in October. Seems like AKL remains available, but if I'm using Disney transportation I don't know if I'd want to use AKL transportation - I've heard bad things about it! But I'd be fine at a value, especially after staying in a 2-bedroom for the week before.

 

[ZehnJahren]

*sigh* I bit the bullet today and booked three more nights onto my trip after my mom leaves.

I am now staying 10 nights/11 days, with my final three days booked at Pop in a POOL view!

Here's the thing though: I may not keep this reservation, so I'm not switching my airfare yet.

I wanted to go ahead and book to get the fall promotion (I will rebook if there's a good AP discount). But here's the thing:

1) There are a couple of things up in the air; if one of them fall, then I won't want to necessarily spend the money.
2) If I DO go, I may try to rent last minute points. However, I do really like Pop and wouldn't be hurt if I "had" to stay there!
3) If I DO switch airfare, I will save 7000 points on Southwest!! I would then have enough points for another flight when added to my other points.

So this part is up in the air but I am 80% sure I will keep it unless something drastic happens. So yay!

Here was my room from Pop in May:





It was a partial pool view and I loved how easy it was to go sit out at the pool every evening; this time, I'd like to have a REAL pool view SO I can go right on out!

Maybe since I'll be able to book FP+ 60 days out for that portion of my trip, I can get FP+ for this:



I really enjoy my solo time, so I'm looking forward to this!

So, now I need to figure out my days after mom leaves. I know one night would be devoted to Illuminations - even if I've seen it on this trip. I love that show.



I also need to find out - if she's a driver on the car, can she turn the car in? That would save some time that day; I wouldn't have to go to the airport and take the MDE in!

 

[SarahDisney]

Yay! I'm so excited for you that you decided to stay the extra days.

In terms of the car - call the rental company. Different companies may have different policies, but if you can get an official policy from them (in writing if at all possible), then it'll make it much easier to plan. I hope your mom can return the car and you get more time to spend at Disney!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Yay! I'm so excited for you that you decided to stay the extra days.

In terms of the car - call the rental company. Different companies may have different policies, but if you can get an official policy from them (in writing if at all possible), then it'll make it much easier to plan. I hope your mom can return the car and you get more time to spend at Disney!

That's such a great idea about getting it in writing. I think I will write Alamo via their website so I have something to print out and present to them if they say it's ok and then change their mind . I also need to get the rider for our car insurance that states rentals are covered; I hear some of the car rental places request that sometimes when they're trying their hard sell of the insurance.

 

[MidnightParade]

Yay for the extra days! Hope it works out and nothing "falls".

Are you signed up for David's Vacation Rental newsletters? Theres a "last minute" specials one he sends out sometimes. Mostly they are Saratoga Springs.

More days! So exciting!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Yay for the extra days! Hope it works out and nothing "falls".

Are you signed up for David's Vacation Rental newsletters? Theres a "last minute" specials one he sends out sometimes. Mostly they are Saratoga Springs.

More days! So exciting!!

I AM signed up with David's, but they have a minimum 44 point stay and I would only be staying for 42 points I think. But I would still try! Heck, maybe if it was only $9 a point I could stay an extra day and do four extra nights instead of three. That's what it usually is, right? $9 a point?

This trip is getting out of control.