WHAT A DIFFERENCE 6 MOS. MAKES (or how I learned to love MK) COMPLETE-WRAP-UP 12/29

[amandaw]

Joining in! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[tinacaplan]

subbing - Welcome back!

Thanks and

I'm here! Late but still made it to page 2...cannot wait to hear all about your trip

Say hi to Mark and Max for us!

Hey, page two isn't really late! I'm just glad you're here.

Joining in! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Thanks!

 

[tinacaplan]

This July trip should not have happened. How could we afford it? How could we justify it? We had just gone in February, for goodness sakes. Long story short, we figured out that we could afford it , who cares about justifying it to anyone but each other, and I got a sweet deal on plane tickets. Throw in Disney’s deluxe-only discount and we were Beach Club bound, baby!

Quick side note on our resort selection... As I already mentioned, we stayed at Coronado Springs twice and loved pretty much everything about in on both visits. In fact, I had kind of assumed that for the foreseeable future, anyway, moderates would be the level we could comfortably afford and I just loved CSR’s landscaping, as well as its soothing, modern decor, amazing pool, and efficient bus service.

As a point of reference for all of this, you should know that I most want to stay at the Contemporary. I love, love, love mid- twentieth century modern architecture (yes, I covet the Brady Bunch house), of which the Contemporary is a stunning example. Also...the idea that the monorail goes right through the building? Does it get any cooler? I thought only celebrities and the super wealthy stayed there when I was a kid...I fear the same thing now whenever I try and price out a room there. YIKES!

Another important note...I know that some of us out there are reticent to stay at a resort whose theme is modeled on the place we actually live. For example, I could see how someone from say, the actual American southwest, might not love CSR’s theming. I always felt that way about the Beach Club and Yacht Club. I live within short driving distance of the charming seaside resorts the BC/YC are supposedly modeled after. So they never really appealed to me.

That was until I went there for the bestest Dismeet thus far, (to meet Mickeynicki and Diznneat) at Cape May Cafe. I took a look around and though, hey, I could stay here. Its so Disney and over the top, I can stop snickering each and every time I hear the phrase, “quaint seaside resorts of the Eastern seaboard...” Plus, have you heard about the pool there? Yeah, Storm Along Bay is that amazing. But I don’t want to give it all way up front...

When I realized that a deluxe stay was within our reach for this trip, I tried the Contemporary, but all that was left were tower, MK view rooms, which are lovely, but not necessarry for me to stay there and were too pricey, even with the discount. I am that person who would actually not mind staying in a garden wing room (sure I’d secretly hope for a crazy upgrade, but...seriously, I’d love to stay in the garden wing). My next thought was Animal Kingdom Lodge. My husband and I love it there and I think there is something awe-inspiring about that place. We’ve had two great meals at Jiko and have had nothing but wonderful experiences each time we have visited. Even my sometimes obtuse husband looked around there the last time we went and said, “Hey, this place is really cool...we should stay here sometime.” Yes, darling, we should! Enter my exasperating boy...who, despite loving all manner of dogs, is not a huge wild animal fan. Zoos? Not his thing, man. So I got worried about how much he’d get out of staying there at this point in his young life and thought that at four, he’d probably rather play in Storm Along Bay. As you will see later on, I knew, again and again, that I had made the right decision.

Sorry to yammer on about resort choices and such, but I think the resorts are a huge part of what makes Disney trips so magical.

 

[JolllyHoliday]

usually just a lurker, but joining in to say hi and looking forward to hearing about your trip. I agree with you that the resort is part of the magic of the trip.

 

[KatMark]

Great intros, Tina, and thanks for the explanation on the resort choice (we are secretly hoping to do two or three nights at the BC in 2013 when we take our big 30th anniversary trip).

 

[MEK]

Awesome that you were able to get a great BC discount! With your choices of resorts I have one comment - DVC! Then you can stay at all of them!

I love AKL too. It's a wonderful choice. And when I stayed at BLT I thought the garden view rooms at the Contemp looked very cool - especially the ones facing the lake.

Cute picture of your DH and son!

 

[janabananas]

I usually lurk, but this time I am joining in!!

 

[annmarieda]

oh you are giving me hope!! You know I am one of those people you talked about....not feeling terribly excited to stay at a resort that is themed after a place similar to where we live...yet we are booked to stay in such a place. Course... similar or not... who couldn't fall in love with that pool!!! I cant wait to read more. I so wish we were staying at BC or YC or even BW!! My favorite area.. but the pool pushes BC and YC to the front of the line.

 

[bigal'sdaughter]

sounds great so far... I really really want to stay at BC/YC in the future... For some reason it just seems like it never works out to stay at Epcot area for me (exception - Dolphin). I can't wait to read more!!

 

[tinacaplan]

usually just a lurker, but joining in to say hi and looking forward to hearing about your trip. I agree with you that the resort is part of the magic of the trip.

Yay! I love it when people come out of lurker-dom, even if just here and there to say hello.

Great intros, Tina, and thanks for the explanation on the resort choice (we are secretly hoping to do two or three nights at the BC in 2013 when we take our big 30th anniversary trip).

Thank you, Kathy. The Beach Club is beautiful and the Yacht Club was, too.
That whole area, really, is just a fantastic place to stay.

Awesome that you were able to get a great BC discount! With your choices of resorts I have one comment - DVC! Then you can stay at all of them!

I love AKL too. It's a wonderful choice. And when I stayed at BLT I thought the garden view rooms at the Contemp looked very cool - especially the ones facing the lake.

Cute picture of your DH and son!

Yeah, I certainly thought the discount was awesome. Loved the fact that it was only for the deluxes; the only way I could rationalize that kind of money. And I'd love to buy DVC...someday.

I usually lurk, but this time I am joining in!!

I love new readers!

oh you are giving me hope!! You know I am one of those people you talked about....not feeling terribly excited to stay at a resort that is themed after a place similar to where we live...yet we are booked to stay in such a place. Course... similar or not... who couldn't fall in love with that pool!!! I cant wait to read more. I so wish we were staying at BC or YC or even BW!! My favorite area.. but the pool pushes BC and YC to the front of the line.

Storm along Bay was incredible and the Boardwalk area is beautiful, but I would have loved to have been closer to the Magic Kingdom, for reasons which should be pretty clear by the end of this TR! I think you'll like WL; you have boat access to MK and it will be gorgeous all done up for Christmas.

sounds great so far... I really really want to stay at BC/YC in the future... For some reason it just seems like it never works out to stay at Epcot area for me (exception - Dolphin). I can't wait to read more!!

Staying so close to EPCOT was fantastic. We went a lot in the evenings. I think it would be particularly cool for people with older kids and/or adult-only trips. Its a bit tough right now because Max is still too short for Soarin' and Test Track and there isn't a ton at EPCOT for the pre-school set, although we certainly had some wonderful times there on this trip. Still my personal favorite park. I could definitely see staying at the Dolphin or the Swan at some point; my husband and I are both teachers and their teacher rates (and their AAA rates, for that matter) can be excellent. It would be a great way to stay in that area again, for sure.

 

[tinacaplan]

I thought it would be fun to compare what we actually ended up doing on this trip with what I had planned on us doing on this trip, as I know we were pretty far afield from what I had originally intended.

Our Itininerary Called for the Following:

Thursday -- July 14 -- Arrival Day
Check - in
Storm Along Bay
Dinner at Via Napoli
Illuminations

Friday -- July 15
8:20 ADR at CP
Conquer Fantasyland
Storm Along Bay
Naptime
Dinner at Cape May

Saturday -- July 16
8:00 ADR at Tusker House
Tour AK -- Safari, Rafiki, Kali River Rapids, FOLK, the Boneyard
Storm Along Bay
Naptime
Wishes! Dessert Party

Sunday -- July 17
Rope drop at DHS
Writer’s Stop for breakfast
Back at SAB for lunch
Dinner at Nine Dragons
Solo EMHs for me at MK

Monday -- July 18
Rope Drop at EPCOT
SAB
Naps
Dinner at 50’s PTC
Mark solo EMHs at DHS


Tuesday - July 19
Resort Day -- nothing scheduled

Wednesday July 20
DHS

Thursday -- July 21 -- Departure Day
MK
Lunch at the Plaza


And a note about the TR title...

So, obviously going to Disney in July as opposed to February is different for a lot of reasons. It was something I thought about quite often when we were there. But what amazed me, time and again, were all the differences in Max. I don’t want to give it all away, as all will be revealed in good time, but when we went in February, Max was just starting to be toilet trained (and ended up in pull-ups almost the whole trip), was still struggling to drink of out of a regular cup, was still sleeping in a pack and play. This trip he had conquered all of those things and travelling with him was infinitely easier because of it. He’s also getting close to outgrowing his stroller and I can see the day when we will be going to Disney sans stroller. Ah...yes...my baby is growing up!

 

[tinacaplan]

First of all, we took Max to see Winnie the Pooh today. It was great. We loved it and Max laughed so hard, particularly anytime Tigger was on the screen. And while its brevity might annoy some people (after all, you're paying full price for a movie that's sixty three minutes long), it was perfect for a four year old.

Second...I actually go back to school (I hardly ever refer to it as work, which I suppose is a good thing). YIKES! Where'd the time go? Back at the end of June, five weeks felt like it was going to be long time and, as it turns out, it's not. I wouldn't mind not going back for another week or two. Oh, well. We have the next three weeks for meetings and planning time and then the kiddos are back mid-August and it will all start up again. I teach at a charter school and its nothing like working at a traditional public school (which I did for eight years prior and that was tough for many reasons, too). Its rewarding and amazing in so many ways, but we have a significantly longer school day (by almost three hours!), a longer school year, and I've taken on leadership responsibilities, as well. Its the type of job that can quickly become all-consuming and I'm still trying to figure out how to balance a job that demands so much time and energy with my life outside, my family, first and foremost. I'm also one of the oldest members of the staff (at 35 crazy!) and only a few of us are parents, or even married, so there aren't a lot of people to look to for guidance on this.

Thankfully, the Dis provides me with a wonderful diversion/escape when I need it!

 

[Moira222]

Sorry I missed your send off...can't wait to read how your trip went, from the title sounds like it was good!!

 

[KatMark]

That is great about Max and the stroller, the pull-ups and the pack and play. It sure makes life a lot easier.

 

[tinacaplan]

Sorry I missed your send off...can't wait to read how your trip went, from the title sounds like it was good!!

Don't worry! I have quite a bit of catching up to do around here myself! And it did go well, but like everything, it had its ups and downs.

That is great about Max and the stroller, the pull-ups and the pack and play. It sure makes life a lot easier.

Yes, it does. Its great to be leaving all of the baby stuff behind and watching him become a little kid.

 

[natebenma]

I wormed my way into your PP pictures. I figure I might as well join you on your trip, too!

Subscribing!



Dee

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I was just reading your notes on choosing resorts. It's funny, I thought the same thing. Being from the Pacific NW, I didn't think I'd want to stay at VWL, until we went over to eat at WCC and walked around a little. Now it's on our "must stay" list. What I loved - it felt like a quiet piece of "home" in the middle of the chaos!

 

[eandesmom]

Oh, and I also think its fair to mention, that unlike some of my Disboard peers, I don’t take a trillion pictures

Hey! I resemble that remark!



I can't wait to read more And to see Winnie the Pooh (hoping it's on the cruise)

 

[kansasdisneygal]

Very excited to read your trip report. I lurked on your CSR trip mostly because I saw that you went during february, which is when I will be going this February of 2012! I've just started doing the DIS thing and quickly becoming addicted!! I am an avid planner like you seem to be--Yes, I make spreadsheets --thus, I am enjoying reading your more experienced details as this Feb. 2012 will be only my second time. I always go with my best friend, since I'm not married, don't have kids, and recently graduated college--but, we have a blast!!!

 

[annmarieda]

I was just reading your notes on choosing resorts. It's funny, I thought the same thing. Being from the Pacific NW, I didn't think I'd want to stay at VWL, until we went over to eat at WCC and walked around a little. Now it's on our "must stay" list. What I loved - it felt like a quiet piece of "home" in the middle of the chaos!

I for one am happy to read this!


See Tina... your TR is putting my mind at ease more an more.