Yay! Another convention in WDW! Pre-Trip 5/31-6/7

[mla1977]

So I've been very, VERY lucky of the past 2 years. DBF has had a conference in Anaheim, at the Dolphin, and in San Diego. He found another organization that is in the field that his company is trying to expand into, and the conference this year is at WDW! At the Contemporary no less.

I never thought that I would be able to stay in a deluxe resort, but just last week, DBF was given the approval to go to this conference!

Here is the current cast of Characters:

Me: (31) I LOVE Jack (or Johnny Depp, I may not love Jack as much if it wasn't Johnny Depp). I am a huge Disney fan. I think I was able to keep everything under control until I found the DIS and figured out how to use my iPod. Our trip to WDW last May just pushed me over the edge. Now I'm hoping to have many more trips there, buy DVC, and maybe (a really BIG maybe since no ring is yet involved) get married there some day. My favorite movie: modern- Beauty and the Beast, classic - Robin Hood (I call classic any 'old' movie that I couldn't see in the theaters), Princess: Belle, Charater: Stitch, Ride: Rock n' Roller Coaster.

DBF: (30) He is my big Pooh bear and he has a picture of himself and his BFF comparing their bellies to Pooh. Very cute. He is really an enabler. He enjoys himself at the parks and likes the rides, but really, he just humors me. He has also gone to WDW at least once without me and again with me last May, and to DLR in 2006 with me. I'll have to start quizzing him on his favorites. He liked Enchanted because it didn't follow the usual story line.

Plans:

May 30 - fly to MCO, take ME to Pop Century (hopefully see WDWPolyPrincess) and get to the parks.
May 31 - P&PP? Maybe, I need to check the schedule and see what we can work out.
June 1 - transfer to the Contemporary
---
June 5 - fly home

We may be brining his little brother (11) and/or my goddaughter (12). Since the trip is very close to the end of the school year, we aren't sure what the plans will be.

I'll update later. Need to start making ADRs!

 

[mla1977]

I talked with my goddaughter's mom yesterday. She is thinking about whether to allow her to come with me, but I may just decide to take he next February for her birthday (or in January for mine and we'll celebrate both). The logistics of her traveling with us are complicated since she lives in CT and we live in PA. Technically she is too old for an escort if she were to fly on her own. I've considered seeing if my cousin (her mom) would want to come along, then they could travel together.

Could anyone tell me why Disney charges extra for more than 2 adults in a room? What if grandparents are traveling with you?

 

[mla1977]

Yesterday was a little stressful. I got DBF on the phone to book the room for the conference. He needs to do it with his company card.

We called group reservations and asked for the nights of the conference. The lady said they only had the Grand Floridian or Port Orleans available. Um... but the conference is at the Contemporary.

Nope, no rooms available.

Told her we'd call back.

I then try to reason with DBF. The GF costs the same (conference rate) as the CR and it is a hop-skip-and-jump away. DBF was getting really stressed about not getting the Contemporary though and I get off the phone with him so he can cool down.

I check the days at is turns out that the resort is full.

I try to convince him that we need to book GF before that fills up because he does not want to commute from POR or POFQ.

He calls me back after lunch. Much more calm with food in his belly.

We try again with group reservations and this time the lady is much more helpful. She says that they have the first 3 nights, but the last night is booked.

Phew!

We take the first 3 nights and decide we'll try to get the last night later in case someone cancels. We can always book somewhere else for the remainder of the week!

I'm feeling a little more relaxed about it now. I need to call CRO to see if they have AP rate for the first week of June now.

DBF has considered staying - OFF SITE!!!!

We'll see about that!

 

[mla1977]

Rooms and flights are booked! Yippee!!!!

We are at the Contemporary May 31 - June 4 and at Pop June 4 - June 7.

The Contemporary was stressful trying to get all the nights we wanted. I got really lucky calling last Friday. I was going to ask if we could still book at the GF for the last night, but the CM checked CR one more time. Apparently someone cancelled because a room was availble for us! She added it onto on ressies for me. I was still a little nervous about the change, but DBF got the ressie email and everything is okay!

I just booked us for Pop today too. I requested a fridge, but I am going to head over to the Budget Boards and see if there is a swap going on. We don't want any extra charges!

We also booked our flights last night. Southwest had some great prices ($139 r/t!!!) and with their new boarding procedures, they are so much easier to deal with.

We bought a ticket for DBF's little brother. Thankfully SW has a very generous cancellation policy, so if we decide that he is not coming, we still have the credit (maybe for San Diego next year).

I have also booked ADRs for Crystal Palace and Le Cellier. I'm not sure if we will book anymore though. DBF wants to save money and not TS is the way to do it.

I probably will get a AP for myself. I'm not sure yet though.

Oh, and I'm still trying to convince DBF to go to the P&PP on June 4. That would work out perfectly so that we can get a 7-day PH. If I get the AP instead, then we can get a discount for the tickets instead.

I'll see about other ADRs too!

 

[mla1977]

Well, things keep changing with this trip.

Here is the current cast:

Me,
DBF,
DBF's little brother (11) (DB)
DBF's step father (late 40s)

Currently we are booked for me, DBF and DB to fly on May 31 and return on June 7.

His dad needs to work on June 7, so he will probably go back on June 5. DB may go back with him on the 5th and he would go back to school on Friday. DBF is thinking about going back on the 5th too!!! He says that I can stay and he will pick me up at the airport on Saturday.

I really want him to stay with me for the whole week! I have asked a cousin who lives in Ft. Lauderdale if she would like to stay with me for the rest of the week, but I haven't had a chance to talk to her, so I don't know what I'll do.

It makes me so sad to have him leave before me.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

subscribing!! If you love jack, wait until my pics on my day 3... hopefully I can get that up soon!

 

[mla1977]

Hi! thanks for joining me. I'll try to update when I get home tonight. I have made tons of reservations. I also may be getting an AP for myself....

 

[AGPrincess]

Sounds like fun! You're going to love the Contemporary...your trip is getting so close!

 

[podsnel]

Yippee!!! It's your first day!!! Are you having fun yet?

 

[mla1977]

We're back!!! I stil have to upload pictures and I will be changing the title to something more appropriate too. Hopefully I can do the pictures tonight!