Who wants to go to Disney World? I DO!!! Pop Century in June 2015!

[stitchfan75]

Welcome to my 1st ever Pre-Trip report!
First some introductions! Our family includes me, dh, Bebe (12, dd), and Stitch (10, dd). I work as a night shift RN for a large pediatric hospital in Texas Dh has the luxury of working at home since he owns his own business live streaming events for bands and companies. The only one of us that has actually been to WDW is dh and his family only went to Epcot! So this will be our first trip to the magic kingdom! Not to say we are Disney newbies...previously to living in Texas we lived in Arizona and visited DLR at least 2-3 times a year. It's been 7 years since we have stepped foot on a Disney property
Our idea for this trip actually started in June of 2013. Our friend's grandmother is a DVC member and offered up her points for us to take a magical jamboree vacation with both families (8 people in total). Excitement ensued as we began the planning process! The excitement quickly ended when we realized our schedules could not sync up allowing a date that would be good for everyone. Stitch is a springboard/plat diver and Feb/March is right before our USA Diving Regionals, there was no way we could leave town for a week. On top of that add BeBe's all star cheer schedule (Nationals season) and it was a no go.

Step #1: When do we go?
Option #1: 8/10/15-8/19/15 (FW Campsites)
Pros: Hurricane discount! No missing school, plenty of time to plan (I'm a nurse I'm CDO like that!)
Cons: Heat and humidity (though living in AZ this shouldn't be to much of an issue for us...96? Lightweights..)
Option #2: 11/30/14-12/07/14 (POP)
Pros: Cooler weather, possible free disney dining, and Christmas decorations
Cons: Have to make quicker decisions and if Free DD isn't offered will have to change dates since dh only wants to go those days if dining is free.

So stayed tuned and any feedback would be appreciated...I'm off to make my Disney binder...no really I'm serious. As soon as I figure it out I'll post some intro to us pics!

 

[THiiNKTiiNKx0]

Joining in! Total bummer they couldnt work around your DD's schedules. Going around Christmas time is a WONDERFUL time to go. We went the 2nd week of Dec 2012 and will be going 1st into 2nd week of Dec this year!!

 

[mom2cgj]

I'll join in, too! I'm just starting our planning for our next trip in Jan 2015, and will be starting a PTR soon! (Once I actually finish my TR from last year's trip!:roll eyes

I always choose to go whenever the crowds are lowest. But that's just me! Why the difference in location between the two choices? Is that just because of cost? I'm not a camper, so I'd pick POP over FW any time of year, but if you like to camp it might be fun! We love the values for the fun theming. AoA is our resort of choice, but also because we have 5 people and need the suite.

Looking forward to hearing more about your planning!

 

[stitchfan75]

We love camping so really want to try FW but they don't do the free dining promotion so if we want to take advantage of that we have to change our lodging.

 

[stitchfan75]

Well that escalated quickly....

Tonight we went out with my in laws and the topic of Disney World came up. My FIL mentions that they want to take the girls to WDW. What a coincidence! So I tell them that we are planning on a trip. Now they want in on the vacation.
So now AoA Family Suites are being thrown in.
Or two campsites at FW (MIL not thrilled with that choice)
Or two separate rooms...hopefully adjoining or close to each other.

This is why I need 18 months!

 

[stitchfan75]

So here's how the conversation with the kids went...
Me: Guess what? We are going to Disney World!
Kids: YAY!!! When? This summer?!
Me: No...next August!
Kids: That's like forever!

Dh was like "why did you even say anything? Why? Because in (checking my countdown clock) 48 days I can actually book this bad boy...that's why. That's a little over a month! Last night after getting home and finding out we were adding the grandparents to the vacation I looked up pictures of AoA. I tried to show dh and he kept laughing that I was obsessed and we had plenty of time to plan.

48 days Mister!!!

The whole reason I talked myself out of the November option was because I didn't think 10 months was enough time to plan. There is costumes and t-shirts to make, itineraries to plan, menus to peruse...For me the planning part is the most fun. I also don't think he's taking it very seriously, but we are 18 months out so for now the fun may just be mine.

 

[mom2cgj]

My DH calls me obsessed, too! That's why we have each other on the DIS to talk to about this stuff right?

So which section of AoA do you want to stay at? We stayed LK last time and loved it, but the kids want to do Cars next time.

 

[stitchfan75]

Ladies and Gents a decision has been made!

I'm enjoying the colored font to much...
So we finally made a concrete decision on dates after looking at the kid's schedules for next year. Bebe can have 4 unexcused absences May-July but only 1 during the season (Aug-April), this means we can't take advantage of the hurricane savings So after much deliberation we decided on June 7th-15th, 2015. Staying at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds if it's just us and if it's the 6 of us then we will be staying at AoA in the Finding Nemo Suites!
This means technically I can book now (especially since the campgrounds never have discounts) but agreed to wait until the in laws have decided what they want to do.
Guess I need to update my tracker!

 

[Jackiemarie21]

I followed you over from familyabgar's PTR. I am excited you have a plan! We are strongly considering the FW cabins for our next trip after this one. We LOVED the atmosphere in FW and think it would be the perfect place to stay for a longer trip! Its kind of like a vacation within a vacation.

I don't think 12 and 10 is too old for fun custom outfits. Or princess dresses! I hope you can talk them into it. I say just make them and when they get there and feel the magic they will want to wear them!

 

[familyabgar]

Joining in!

I have a friend who enjoys the FW campground so much! We aren't campers, but I can imagine that it'd be really neat/fun if it is something you already enjoy!

 

[stitchfan75]

Just got done working my 3 in a row and the computers at work are not fans of the Dis! After talking to some seasoned Disney coworkers I think we may skip the DDP. Both of the girls are considered "Disney adults" but they don't eat like adults. They still order from kid's menus and when I read some of the adult choices from BOG they made faces. I think it will be cheaper to put money on a prepaid visa (or even better use my Disney Visa).
So far we have been on target for our budget! I talked to another nurse at my prn job and she is going to give me one of her shifts per month (she usually takes off 5-7 so I can have more if I want). That money is strictly for the WDW savings.
The 12 year old said she will wear Mickey cheer bows (she thinks she gets to wear her Nike Pros all week...not) and mouse ear hats but no costumes :-( It's okay though because the 10 year old wants multiple costumes and outfits!
Dh is excited because he found out we will be there during Star Wars fan days!

 

[stitchfan75]

Decisions...decisions! So DDP is back in after looking at menus. But now accommodations are up in the air. I was just getting ready to book and broke down the costs of FW with the trailer rental versus AoA or Pop. Even rack rate it would be cheaper per day to stay in a room than to do the campgrounds. I don't know if I can sell dh on a room considering he is hyped about the trailer and golf cart. The girls would prefer a room, especially the 12 year old who is not a camping fan. She has been begging for AoA Little Mermaid room. I wanted to book March 1st but need to make a decision!!
Oh and a room would be eligible for any specials that may be offered where as FW hardly ever has discounts.

 

[stitchfan75]

So we were all ready to book. I was just about to call Disney when my dh got a phone call about a video shoot that will be a long term contract. It involved shortening what had turned into a 12 day stay into more of a 7 day. When that happened we started thinking of just staying at the resorts, saving ourselves over $500 in trailer rental and golf carts.
We also decided to dump the DDP due to our kids being "disney adults" but eating like birds. I mean the 10 year old can pack it away but some of the portions and offerings were not her speed. She is more interested in sand pail kids meals. We are also not big table service people. We plan on LTT, TREX, Ohana BF breakfast, and a Star Wars character dining (fingers crossed they have it next year). All the rest will be counter service.
So then we looked at resorts...or should I say I looked at resorts. A friend of mine is at Pop right now and loves it. It seems to be the perfect balance between value and theming. DD12 wants me to at least consider Port Orleans because she likes the French Quarter theming. I think I will book Pop and then change it to POFQ if a good deal comes up.
Shortening our trip, no DDP, and going into the resorts will actually give us more money for things we want to do. DD10 wants to do the "Jedi Training" and we are hitting the IOA HP park one day.
Another change is the adding of yet another person. We went to Austin for DD10 dive meet and my sister in law came into town for it. Once she found out we are doing Disney she wanted in. She will stay in the room my in laws get. So now we have 5 adults and 2 kids!
Booking this Friday...so excited!

 

[reelmom]

We are going back June 2015 also. Look forward to reading all your planning details. And if you are anything like me , all the plan changing details.

 

[peekkaboo]

So we were all ready to book. I was just about to call Disney when my dh got a phone call about a video shoot that will be a long term contract. It involved shortening what had turned into a 12 day stay into more of a 7 day. When that happened we started thinking of just staying at the resorts, saving ourselves over $500 in trailer rental and golf carts.
We also decided to dump the DDP due to our kids being "disney adults" but eating like birds. I mean the 10 year old can pack it away but some of the portions and offerings were not her speed. She is more interested in sand pail kids meals. We are also not big table service people. We plan on LTT, TREX, Ohana BF breakfast, and a Star Wars character dining (fingers crossed they have it next year). All the rest will be counter service.
So then we looked at resorts...or should I say I looked at resorts. A friend of mine is at Pop right now and loves it. It seems to be the perfect balance between value and theming. DD12 wants me to at least consider Port Orleans because she likes the French Quarter theming. I think I will book Pop and then change it to POFQ if a good deal comes up.
Shortening our trip, no DDP, and going into the resorts will actually give us more money for things we want to do. DD10 wants to do the "Jedi Training" and we are hitting the IOA HP park one day.
Another change is the adding of yet another person. We went to Austin for DD10 dive meet and my sister in law came into town for it. Once she found out we are doing Disney she wanted in. She will stay in the room my in laws get. So now we have 5 adults and 2 kids!
Booking this Friday...so excited!

I love reading your posts. It kinda reminds me of me. Lol i made the decision of taking our 2 boys (they will be 9 & 6) to disney back in Feb for a Nov trip. It is our first family vacation and the boys and I's first time to disney. We are also taking my brother along so i have been having a hard time deciding on the resort. Kinda wanna stay onsite for the disney magic. Looked at cars suite at AOA but its so expensive lol 2 rooms at POP would save us around $350. But i know my oldest would love the cars suite as hes a big mcqueen fan. But man its $350 more! Last i checked, juat airfare is gonna cost us at least $3000 for 5 ppl! And we also going to universal for 3 days.and im also stressing rather or not to go with the disney dining plan, its like are we able to eat enough to break even or are we better off paying out of pocket. Then im stressing about travel insurance. Do we get it? Hubbys work seems to.have a good out of province (im in canada) travel/medical insurance so i probably only need trip cancellation, bagagge insurance but it seems to just that cost more than the whole package disney is offering? Ya ok im going crazy! Sorry!

 

[stitchfan75]

I love reading your posts. It kinda reminds me of me. Lol i made the decision of taking our 2 boys (they will be 9 & 6) to disney back in Feb for a Nov trip. It is our first family vacation and the boys and I's first time to disney. We are also taking my brother along so i have been having a hard time deciding on the resort. Kinda wanna stay onsite for the disney magic. Looked at cars suite at AOA but its so expensive lol 2 rooms at POP would save us around $350. But i know my oldest would love the cars suite as hes a big mcqueen fan. But man its $350 more! Last i checked, juat airfare is gonna cost us at least $3000 for 5 ppl! And we also going to universal for 3 days.and im also stressing rather or not to go with the disney dining plan, its like are we able to eat enough to break even or are we better off paying out of pocket. Then im stressing about travel insurance. Do we get it? Hubbys work seems to.have a good out of province (im in canada) travel/medical insurance so i probably only need trip cancellation, bagagge insurance but it seems to just that cost more than the whole package disney is offering? Ya ok im going crazy! Sorry!

I know I keep going back and forth! We went from the campgrounds to POP and now we are settling on POR instead of POFQ. We plan on leaving the parks during the hottest part of the day and going to the pool, so the fact that POR has a slide was a plus. We looked at AoA also but getting two suites was way expensive and getting two Little Mermaid rooms meant no discounts and walking forever.
Our decision on DDP came from researching menus and calculating what the kids would actually eat. Being older we wouldn't be doing a whole bunch of character dining so it was hard to justify the cost.
Luckily we don't have to worry about airfare because its within driving distance but I hadn't even thought of travel insurance!

 

[stitchfan75]

Here we go again!
So plans have changed in a big way...like huge. About a week ago my in laws decided not to go with us to WDW. So then we decided not to go because we wanted to wait for them. For a whole week we were not going to Disney World. It was a sad week.
Saturday night we are over at our friend's home for a birthday party (the one with DVC) and the next thing I know we are going in October 2015 and staying at OKW! We will be there for the Food and Wine Festival! The plan is to get DDP (which one is being negotiated) and PH&M tickets for the water parks.
So this Pretrip report will go on hiatus...I may even just start a new one. According to the husbands we are not allowed to start planning until January. We were already looking at menus and planning ADR's last night.