Thankful, wishful CHANGING plans! NOV '12 PTR, Packing, shopping & last minute plans

[francis6306]

If you are just now joining us… well, just keep reading! Things might start off a little confusing for you, but you will see how it all plays out in the end!

Am I REALLY about to start my second Pre Trip Report???? WHOA! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

Okay, but lets be honest. This trip isn't set in stone. I'm not calling a Cast Member and booking anything just yet. Nope. Gotta wait for my husband's employer to say "Hey, you have done an AMAZING job- let's have you come back next year!" We think he has done a great job, and we have adjusted to life in the midwest fairly well. Considering that THIS Georgia Peach does NOT do cold weather. At all. Thank GOD that the weather has been pretty fair so far.

Oh… wait, you don't care about all that stuff! You wanna know my details, don't cha? Well… let's get down to it!

When: Nov 18- 24.
Where: Well, now, that's the Million Dollar Question!
Who: Awe! Thanks for asking!!!!

My DH, Corey; ODD, Cortlyn; YDD, Catie and ME!


My DH had never been to Disney before I dragged him with me (if you are interesting, there are links in my Siggy to my PRT and TR from Dec 2010!). And he totally drank the koolaid! Watching him and my daughter see the Castle for the very first time was AMAZING.


Now, this would be Catie's first trip to Disney… outside of the womb! See… she tagged along on that first trip, I mean, from the start, she has to be a part of EVERYTHING!

[francis6306]

Sigh… let's see. This time we will be traveling with a 4 year old and a 19 month old. YIKES! What am I thinking??!!?! Taking a 19 month old?! I'm thinking, I wanna get back down to the World, so I can ride all those rides I missed out on when I was carrying that extra passenger the last time! Don't worry. Things aren't gonna surprise me like that again.

The thrifty side of me, of course says "Um, Pop was wonderful. No reason to change what ain't broke!" Buuuuuut… then I remember, it's not like we're gonna luck out with a Rack Room Discount or Free Dining promo- right? Plus, this time we have a wee one. While Cortlyn did much better than expected, you just don't know how things will go. So… I am researching villas and one bedroom suites. WOW. Can't say that I expected that… and chances are, we may not book them. BUT it's just nice to have a quiet space for the baby if we can swing it. I'm looking at ALL my options this time.

Your Saved Offers

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, 11/18/2012, $3097.45
Disney's All-Star Music Resort, 11/18/2012, $3713.93
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, 11/18/2012, $6850.61
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani , 11/18/2012, $4830.01

WHOA! Those are some hefty prices! Of course, we went in 2010 for CHEAP, because we went on a low rate weekend PLUS scored free dining. Not gonna happen this go round…

So, what do you think? Stay safe and familiar with our beloved Pop or go all out with a 1 bedroom suite??? Suggestions? I'm totally open to hear what you have to say!

[francis6306]

Okay! We have news people!!!!

I really want to go this year. But with the graduation stuff throwing a monkey wrench in my planning, I had to start rethinking out plan. Nov is out, because I don't want to travel back to back so much again!

June was the only option I could see. BUT Corey was applying for jobs- so how could I spend money on the trip to Disney when I might need that money (or the time!) to pack and move??

So, today, it came to me while on another Disney message board from a friend. She pointed out that I could book a "room only" ressie and add the "package" stuff later, thus giving me freedom to cancel if I need to because of a job situation!!

With that happening, I'm afraid that as much as I want to stay at AoA, I could save money staying in a standard room. We won't have the time I thought I would to save for spending money. Now, to decide if we want to do Pop or POR. POR is my Moderate Dream Resort!!! I am leaning towards that, because we'll need the PNP for Catie to sleep. We haven't made a final decision yet… so we'll see what happens. Any opinions are ALWAYS welcome!!

[readytogotodisney]

Originally Posted by francis6306

Okay! We have news people!!!!

I really want to go this year. But with the graduation stuff throwing a monkey wrench in my planning, I had to start rethinking out plan. Nov is out, because I don't want to travel back to back so much again!

June was the only option I could see. BUT Corey was applying for jobs- so how could I spend money on the trip to Disney when I might need that money (or the time!) to pack and move??

So, today, it came to me while on another Disney message board from a friend. She pointed out that I could book a "room only" ressie and add the "package" stuff later, thus giving me freedom to cancel if I need to because of a job situation!!

With that happening, I'm afraid that as much as I want to stay at AoA, I could save money staying in a standard room. We won't have the time I thought I would to save for spending money. Now, to decide if we want to do Pop or POR. POR is my Moderate Dream Resort!!! I am leaning towards that, because we'll need the PNP for Catie to sleep. We haven't made a final decision yet… so we'll see what happens. Any opinions are ALWAYS welcome!!

Woo Hoo!
A plan is back in action! I love it! I would say go with POR! Go with a Royal Room, you know you want to!

[jenseib]

hmmmm! What a dilema!!!

[francis6306]

Originally Posted by readytogotodisney

Woo Hoo!
A plan is back in action! I love it! I would say go with POR! Go with a Royal Room, you know you want to!

heehee… You know me well!!

Originally Posted by jenseib

hmmmm! What a dilema!!!

Says the travel agent that sent me the confirmation this evening…

We decided to go with POR! We just booked a garden view/standard room. I think we will be happier to have the little bit of space. Plus, we will have the fridge for sure (I know they are adding them in the value rooms, but are they all in place yet?) and we can do more snacks and milk for Catie.

[mom2rtk]

Yeah! I'm in!

[francis6306]

[jenseib]

Count me in!

[francis6306]

Originally Posted by mom2rtk

Yeah! I'm in!

Originally Posted by jenseib

Count me in!

Edit...what what do you mean Cat Member..that should read TA. LOL

Glad to have you both on board! Like you had a choice!

Jen- Yes… yes… when the time comes, I'll contact a TA! That way YOU can be on the phone at dark thirty booking my CRT ressie 190 days out!

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by francis6306

Glad to have you both on board! Like you had a choice!

Jen- Yes… yes… when the time comes, I'll contact a TA! That way YOU can be on the phone at dark thirty booking my CRT ressie 190 days out!

I love dark thirty! LOL

I wish you could change your dates just a little earlier. I plan to arrive on the 8th and leave the 11th.

[oboedm]

Congrats on the move! Hope you a settling in well. Please know that all your DH's hard work is appreciated! I was a marching band geek in HS and it was so enjoyable because my teacher put in so much work. That reminds me.... I should really write a thank you note to my band teacher! He was an amazing personwho ad such a positive impact on my life!

[francis6306]

Originally Posted by oboedm

Congrats on the move! Hope you a settling in well. Please know that all your DH's hard work is appreciated! I was a marching band geek in HS and it was so enjoyable because my teacher put in so much work. That reminds me.... I should really write a thank you note to my band teacher! He was an amazing personwho ad such a positive impact on my life!

Awe!! There is something about the bond a (good!!!) band director has with their students! We both love what he does, so it makes it easy to make the sacrifices, ya know?

[francis6306]

So has anyone else spent their day trying to make plans and switch things around?? Just me??

You know, I *know* that there wouldn't be any discounts for thanksgiving week. I knew that going into this. It just chaps my hide that there IS a discount out there and I can't use it AND I'm going at a top dollar time. I have tried to figure out when we could move the trip, but it's just stuck where it is I think, for several reasons.

We're still crunching numbers, but I'm afraid we're just stuck. I'll see what it looks like when my TA gets me the numbers, but after talking to Corey, he thinks we're better off just keeping our dates as they are. Oh well. He's agreeing to me spending a lot of money this way!

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by francis6306

So has anyone else spent their day trying to make plans and switch things around?? Just me??

You know, I *know* that there wouldn't be any discounts for thanksgiving week. I knew that going into this. It just chaps my hide that there IS a discount out there and I can't use it AND I'm going at a top dollar time. I have tried to figure out when we could move the trip, but it's just stuck where it is I think, for several reasons.

We're still crunching numbers, but I'm afraid we're just stuck. I'll see what it looks like when my TA gets me the numbers, but after talking to Corey, he thinks we're better off just keeping our dates as they are. Oh well. He's agreeing to me spending a lot of money this way!