Whaddya Want Me To Do? Dress in Drag and Do the Hula?

[schlepsnort]

See now THAT got your attention!

This is my first pre-trip report. Back in the old days (um 2 years ago) when we last went to WDW there was no such thing as a PRE-trip report!!! So now it is 2 years later and we are going back to WDW and I find out that I can let out my pre-trip anxiety, excitement in a pre-trip report. and for that I am giddy....

The Nut Gallery for this trip is:

DH (34) Learned his lesson during last trip about listening to Mommy (me)
ME!! (33) Master planner and architect of our daily lives
DS (6) further known as Grumpy
DS (4) further known as Happy
DS (2) further known as Pooh Bear

Now during our last trip DS who is now Pooh Bear was known as Sleepy...he was 6 months old during our last trip. He has built up quite a bit of stamina now so I doubt he'll be sleeping as much as he did back then...and he never goes ANYWHERE, without his very well loved and mangled Pooh Bear.

This trip has gone through many many many changes...The original plan was to go to WDW at the beginning of March in '08 for Pooh Bear's birthday...But DH's father took a sudden turn for the worse (he had mesothelioma) during January and we decided to put off the trip. Sadly in February we lost Papa. He fought a long and hard battle with his cancer. He is sorely missed.

At this point we thought that we would go in November immediately after Thanskgiving. We had placed our room only ressie and even had started planning what parks, where to eat, etc. But once we added on the dining plan we kinda balked at the total price...

But we figured that's ok, we could do it...but gee, it sure would give us some extra spending money if Disney would do free dining again....hmmmm...

So, after hemming and hawing, we changed our trip date to September!! Taking advantage of the free dining!

But this isn't the end of the changes! Oh no, it is not.

At first the trip was going to be Sept. 20 - 26...and I honestly can't remember what made us then extend our trip to the 27th....But yeah, we ended up with staying thru until Saturday.

Up Next: Oh What Fun It Is To FLY
And check out our FIRST trip to WDW!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1243563

 

[schlepsnort]

Now for the transportation part of our report.

ORIGINALLY we had planned on driving, at the time of this decision gas was still well under $3 a gallon and I was completely convinced that it would NEVER go over $3...that would just be CRAZY

I hate being wrong

When we heard that we would be getting a stimulus check we decided to get plane tickets instead of driving. Plus WHAT WERE WE THINKING??? Over 24 hours of driving in a car with 3 small children????? WERE WE NUTS??

In March we booked our airfare on Airtran. I think we spent over 2 weeks comparing prices and schedules before settling on Airtran...that and they had offered a coupon that saved us $250 altogether. Woohoo!!

Now the first go round on the flight schedule was that we would depart midday on the 20th from Midway and fly directly to MCO. And we would return midday on the 27th flying directly to Midway.

About a month later we get an email from Airtran that they had changed our return flight. They made it earlier in the day and it had a stop with connecting flight in Atlanta.

We are not a family that flies often...I can count on one hand how many times we've flown as a family. So I knew that we could not handle a connecting flight...plus I was kinda irked, I had paid extra for a direct flight so dang it, I want direct.

I went online and checked out their available flights and called Airtran.

May I say, they have the most obnoxious hold music...it's not even music, it's this annoyingly exuberant man pitching to me how I could do most of my transaction online to avoid waiting on the phone...Vit ever...

Finally get connected to a very nice lady who changes our flights with no problems, no charge. We are back to a direct flight leaving around the same time we had originally booked.
Yay!

A week later I check on our flight after reading on the dis about there being a rash of flight changes with Airtran and other carriers... Lo and behold, they had changed our return flight AGAIN to a stop in Atlanta AGAIN with a VERY LONG stop (I think it was like 5 hours). How irritating!!

So I go online, again, and find that the only other listed direct flight was for the following day, sunday, the 28th. Hmmmm....so if I were to have them put us on that flight we will gain an extra day at WDW!!! DH doesn't have to be to work until late that night...or he could use a sick day...hmmmm

DH and I do a quick convo, and with a little arm twisting...oh who am I kidding, NO arm twisting just a "are you crazy woman, just book it!!" look from DH and I was on the phone with Airtran having our tickets booked for departure Sunday early afternoon to Midway. Woohoo! A whole extra day at DISNEY

I thought well, they've got to be done messing with our flights right???

WRONG

Now they messed with our flight on the 20th...Again changing us to stop overs and totally screwed up times. We are finally set (fingers crossed) to leave at 8am (oy what an early wake up time THAT is going to be!)

We also will be renting a car. DH is very proud of his achievement in 2006 when he got us a full size SUV for under $100. So his mission was to get us the car rental for about $200 for the whole week.
In the beginning...
Alamo was at $250
Then he got it to $225
Then it was $213
And now it is $192

Way to go hubby!!

So that concludes the Transportation segment...see next the SURPRISE!!

 

[schlepsnort]

Now throughout all of this planning our kids are aware that we are going back to WDW. But the last time they paid attention we were planning on going after Thanksgiving. As far as they were concerned, the trip would be happening then...So who are we to tell them otherwise?

DH and I decided that we would let them keep thinking we weren't going until November so that we could surprise them in September!

This way we can keep planning for it in front of them and ask them for their input but still be able to have it be a surprise!

So far I've had to be a little more careful though....Grumpy has learned to read over the summer....I had a countdown on our dry erase board in the kitchen and one day he said to DH, "look only 94 more days til Disney!!" Now I'm measuring the time in weeks and I just drew mickey heads on the board and erase one at the end of each week.

With school starting I'm also drafting our letters to the kids teachers and principal to let them know about their absences and that the trip is a surprise so if they can please not mention it to them. I'm kinda stumped on a 'polite' way of saying don't spill the beans. This is what I have for Grumpy's teacher (he'll be in 1st grade)

Dear Mrs. XXX,

This is to let you know that Grumpy will not be in school the week of Sept 22 - Sept 26. We will be out of town for a family vacation. Due to DH's work this was the only time we could take. At your convenience Grumpy will make up any school work missed during that week. Grumpy is not aware of this vacation, we are trying to surprise the kids so please don't mention it to him! Any questions or concerns please call us or grab one of us during morning drop off.

Sincerely,

Grumpy's Parents!


Hopefully this will be ok for the teacher!

I also plan on packing for the kids at night after they are in bed.

It's been fun though, planning and getting the kids input. It is amazing to me how our now 4 yr old remembers so many things from our trip in 2006 when he was only 2 yrs old!!! He remembers all those little details but yet cannot remember to wash his hands after going potty....

Up Next: ADR's!!! A story of evolution, mutation, elation

 

[momof2dizkids]

I would love to see you do the hula . Bring on the ADR's

 

[schlepsnort]

Our ADR's have changed multiple times, just as our plans have. I was really worried we wouldn't get any 'good' times since we moved our travel dates up and it was already at least over a week into the ADR window that we could book in...But luck was on our side and this is our glutinous plan:

Saturday (Arrival Day):
Breakfast: snack bags that I am making for the airplane ride: mini muffins, bananas, juice we will buy after passing security...

Lunch: McDonald's that's right outside the All Stars Resorts compound

Dinner: Earl of Sandwich (YUMM-O!!!) and dessert at Ghiradellis

Sunday: Spending Day at Magic Kingdom

Breakfast with Pooh Bear at Crystal Palace 9a...last time we did this our baby literally vibrated when he saw Pooh Bear. He now has a Pooh Bear that goes EVERYWHERE with him...I do mean literally, he has attempted to take Pooh Bear into the bath tub with him.

Lunch: snacks in resort room

Dinner: Pinnochiohaus

Mondayisney Hollywood Studios

Breakfast: Hollywood and Vine at 8a
Lunch: Snack at Park
Dinner: Pizza Planet (specially requested by boys)

Tuesday: Water Park Day!
Breakfast: Kona Cafe 8a.m. can't wait to try the Tonga Toast!! and coffee bar! mmmm coffee
Lunch: at Blizzard Beach
Dinner: All Star Music Resort Cafeteria--going to the MNSSHP that night!

Wednesday: Epcot!
Breakfast: Akerush at 8:30--yes, I have 3 boys but they want to see the princesses!!
Lunch: we plan on snacking our way through the World Showcase, but I am specifically looking forward to the Grand Marinier Slush...it may not be solid food but it works for me!!!
Dinner: again, just snacking our way through the Showcase! Also planning on finding ourselves a Goldschlager shot from Germany!!

Thursday: Animal Kingdom Day!
Breakfast with Donald at the Tusker House! Happy's absolute favorite character! 8a.
Lunch: snack at park
Dinner: at Resort

Friday: Magic Kingdom
Breakfast at resort
Lunch: Pecos Bill's--DH keeps mentioning the 'fixin's bar'..
Dinner: off site...not sure where.

Saturday: Magic Kingdom
Breakfast: Chef Mickey's 7am...ugh that is going to be so EARLY
Lunch: snack at park
Dinner: Whispering Canyon Cafe at 5:30

Sunday: Departure day
Breakfast: O'hana's 7:30a
Lunch at airport
Dinner maybe at home? we may be too depressed or exhausted to eat at this point!