What's closer than December 2009 ?

[marivaid]

Here's the deal. I've had to cancel not one, but two, WDW trips in the past month.
We had hoped to be able to go in late December 2008 - work wouldn't give me time off then.
So we opted for October instead, even though it was a bit too soon for us. That one would have worked out IF two girls hadn't quit their jobs, leaving us two cashiers short.

So October is now out too. Even if they do find people to replace them, it'll be too late. The flights that were cheap a month ago will probably have gone up to 800 or 900 euros a pop, and besides, I'm so dead tired that I can't even think about touring parks and such. I need a QUIET vacation. If they do give me time off I'll probably either stay home and relax or go to the beach if that's possible.

But I do NEED to plan some kind of trip, just to keep some sort of sanity in our lives.

Now, things will be a bit different next year. Grumpy (aka : mom, my traveling companion) will have retired from public education. Which means that for the first time in 35 years she'll actually be able to pick her vacation dates and not HAVE to go when school's out.

I've heard several times that the best time to go to WDW is the week after Thanksgiving. How does November 29 to December 6, 2009 sound ??

 

[lisalonglash]

Bonjour! Oh, I'm sooooo IN for this report too! They better give you the time off - you deserve it!

 

[marivaid]

Bonjour! Oh, I'm sooooo IN for this report too! They better give you the time off - you deserve it!

Frankly, they won't have a choice. Either they're giving it to me or I quit. I will put these dates down as soon as I'm given my vacation time for the year. I'm willing to negociate if they need me to go a few days before or after, but I'm getting my pre-Christmas week one way or another.

 

[marivaid]

My mom & I already know which resort we'll be going to...

Beach Club, Baby!!!

We were there in December 2007 and LOVED every minute of it. The best part of course is being able to walk to Epcot in five minutes... Epcot is our favorite park at Christmas time, especially World Showcase.

And you gotta love Stormalong Bay,too.

I'm hoping the refurb will be done by then, although I loved the rooms the way they were last year.

I priced it online and this is what I get :

$2638 room only
$3232 with tickets (7 days hoppers)
$3792 with basic dining plan
$4240 with deluxe dining plan

I don't know if we want to go the DDP route again. We only used it once and it was nice but we didn't like feeling like we HAD to use our credits or lose money. OTOH we want to do some Signature restaurants and financially it'd make sense to use the DxDDP for those (Narcoosee's,Cali Grill, maybe CRT).
Could be useful for the Candlelight Processional package too - hoping to get Le Cellier for that one.

We'll split the costs evenly and would have about a year to pay for the package, so it would come down to about $170 a month per person which I think we can swing, at least for now.

 

[skellingtonfreak]

I can't wait to read another trip report from you.

My friend (who is a cast member) ALWAYS goes the week after Thanksgiving and stays for the entire week afterwards. She says it is practically dead that week, and the weather is cool at night and comfortable in the daytime.

We are trying like crazy to go this year, but if we can't, then we are trying for next year, but with work and my big 4-0 birthday cruise, who knows when we will ever get to see WDW decorated for Christmas. I really want to. In the worst way.

Keep us posted on if you actually get time off to go!

 

[cheshireqt]

Yeah! We will get another TR! You had me scared with the title of your last one. I have read all of your TRs and enjoyed them very much and was really hoping that you would find a way to get back to WDW soon so we could have another one.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We had to cancel our trip for October as well, its not fun but hey it will be here before we know it..

 

[marivaid]

OK so I yelled at work... and they agreed to give me New Year's Eve off, plus the week that follows !!!!! Grumpy of course couldn't resist, she'll work something out, and so we are going to DISNEY December 31st to January 6th!!! What's awesome is that January 3rd is Grumpy's birthday, so she'll be able to "celebrate" Disney style!

Now we have little time to plan and need to make up our minds especially about the resort.

Beach Club is about $2400
WL (Woods views) $1900
AKL (Standard) $1700

We hope to have some kind of AP rate starting January 1st but the AP discounts, if there are any, won't be available until next month and I don't want to take a chance.

My choice of course is the BC. I love the idea of being so close to Epcot on NYE though and if we are staying anywhere else, I really really doubt we'll have the energy to take a bus to Epcot and walk all through Future World after a 15-hour journey.
It's a LOT of money though, $495 for the night of Dec 31st alone. We'd really need a good AP rate for this one.

Grumpy's leaning towards AKL because it's cheaper. BUT there's only a standard available and I can see us getting another nasty gutter view for $370 on NYE - not good. And I doubt we'd do anything more than eat at Boma on that night. Last but not least we'll most likely skip AK entirely this trip so I don't see the point of being close to that park.

We like WL too, except for the bus transportation. Then again the buses from BC are pretty awful as well, but we'd have the boats to MGM and walk to Epcot. I doubt we could ever enter MK on NYE after 8pm so that'd mean staying at the resort that night. Then again, if I could snag a ressie at WCC (long shot, I know) it could be fun. We could probably watch the MK fireworks from the beach.

Decisions, decisions!!!!

 

[lisalonglash]

OK so I yelled at work... and they agreed to give me New Year's Eve off, plus the week that follows !!!!! Grumpy of course couldn't resist, she'll work something out, and so we are going to DISNEY December 31st to January 6th!!! What's awesome is that January 3rd is Grumpy's birthday, so she'll be able to "celebrate" Disney style!

Wooohooooo! Awesome news! That's wonderful that your Grumpy will be able to celebrate her birthday there - how fun!

 

[marivaid]

Wooohooooo! Awesome news! That's wonderful that your Grumpy will be able to celebrate her birthday there - how fun!

We're soooooo excited ! It's her 60th so BIG ONE. I want to book her a treatment at the GF spa and hopefully get Narcoosee's that night.

 

[lisalonglash]

We're soooooo excited ! It's her 60th so BIG ONE. I want to book her a treatment at the GF spa and hopefully get Narcoosee's that night.

Oh, that sounds LOVELY! I have no doubt that you'll make it extra-special for her

 

[Becx N Gav]

Oh yey I'm so happy you'll be able to get there again this year (if only for a few hours )

And it's so cool your Mum will be there for her Birthday Does the new promtion start in time? - the free park ticket?

Woo hoo, hope you decide which resort to go for, I love the BC but WL was nice, depends what you want to do/where to go. Could you do a split stay? I agree if you can walk to/from Epcot it makes it so much easier

Looking forward to your plans, shame we'll miss you but reading about your trip will give me something to cheer me up in the New Year

 

[marivaid]

I got Whispering Canyon at 9pm on NYE !!!! They even had more times available but 9pm will give us time to shower & change which, trust me, will be needed So, WL it is. I'm pretty glad about it although it's not our #1 resort, it's easier on the wallet. Hopefully we can snag an AP rate after the new year, but even if we don't, now that I've paid the first night it's only $700 each which is no problem.

Now I need to figure out when they take Christmas decorations off, we really want to see the gingerbread house at the GF and buy some cookies this year.

Oh I forgot. Grumpy agreed to WL *only* if I guaranteed NO SLEIGH RIDE! She's still not over last year's.

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Sorry I'm so late.
Wow! Sounds so awesome! I'm glad you finally got to plan your next vacation within a reasonable (for us here Disney lovers) time period. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[dinah439]

Fantastic news! It looks like we'll be there around the same time (my dates are January 2-18).

I look forward to reading about the planning!

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Hey Marina!
I finally got my DM to sit down and read your sister TR (she LOVED it, by the way...agrees that you're an amazing writer). And now she's insistant on knowing just what kind of a camera you're using. So...umm...what kind of a camera do you have that takes such AMAZING pictures?

 

[janloz]

I have read all of your TR and loved them. Glad you get to go again and get to celebrate your mom's bday there. WL is the next resort we want to try so hope to see a lot of great pics.

 

[marivaid]

I just booked our flights!!!!!

We had a scare earlier this week when they'd gone up to over €850 a pop ($1200) and so when I saw them at €683 on Expedia tonight I just went ahead and booked.

At this point, whatever happens, WE ARE GOING. Still can't believe we'll make it back this year! AND we get to keep our American Airlines "Gold" status because we'll be flying on the last qualifying day. They were NOT happy to give me New Year's Eve off at work but I put my foot down, the sucker who's gonna be working both Christmas Eve and NYE ain't gonna be me.

Grumpy asked for her days off at work and got them easily. She never asks for days off and thought I was nuts when I told her she'd need THREE days. Geesh, she'd be retiring in less than 6 months by then. What can they do to her ? Nothing. Relax, Grum Grum.

 

[marivaid]

I just booked our flights!!!!!

We had a scare earlier this week when they'd gone up to over €850 a pop ($1200) and so when I saw them at €683 on Expedia tonight I just went ahead and booked.

At this point, whatever happens, WE ARE GOING. Still can't believe we'll make it back this year! AND we get to keep our American Airlines "Gold" status because we'll be flying on the last qualifying day. They were NOT happy to give me New Year's Eve off at work but I put my foot down, the sucker who's gonna be working both Christmas Eve and NYE ain't gonna be me.

Grumpy asked for her days off at work and got them easily. She never asks for days off and thought I was nuts when I told her she'd need THREE days. Geesh, she'd be retiring in less than 6 months by then. What can they do to her ? Nothing. Relax, Grum Grum.

 

[ILuvCrush]

Congrats on booking the new trip!!!! It will be great being there for Grumpy's Bday. I can't believe shes 60..... OMG I'm 35 and I WISH I looked so good