BLT -- A Sandwich or a Resort? Nov 09 TR (12/9 Lessons Learned)

[Marshay]

The subtitle for this PTR is: "Let's add another day ... please?"

Hello! We just decided to go to WDW this fall to celebrate our family's newest addition -- another girl! Like we really need a reason to go to WDW ...

This will be our third DVC trip (previously at Beach Club and Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo).

Here we are!

at Polynesian


at DHS


and the newest addition:



I am a SAHM to two girls. One will be 4yo in July and the other was born in March. My oldest has been to WDW 3x already and asks us every few weeks, "when are we going back to WDW?"

I love to scrapbook, do crafts, play volleyball and plan trips to Disney! I will be 39yo in July. I've been to WDW over 30x. My parents started my love for Disney back when I was in school.

My DH is a self-titled Computer Geek. He is 46yo (and can't believe he is a dad again at his age!). He loves photography, not planning anything, going "out" and eating a good steak. Surprisingly, he is the one to suggest that we buy DVC -- so we did in early 2007. He did not grow up loving Disney but has learned that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!




TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page #1 - Introduction to Family and Vacation (5/9)
Page #6 and 7 - Park Priorities (5/28)
Page 8 - Restaurant Priorites (5/31)
Page 9 - Tentative Schedule (6/6)
Page 11 - OT -- Father's Day Craft (6/10)
Page 12 - Southwest and Magical Express (6/22)
Page 13 - AKV Points, Southwest Credits and Tickets (7/7)
Page 14 - Schedule (7/16)
Page 15 - Southwest Credit and Disney Maps (7/28)
Page 15 - Osbourne Lights and Tickets Again (7/29)
Page 16 - New Schedule (8/5)
Page 17-18 - New Schedule Again and DDP (8/17)
Page 19 - My Minnie Mouses (8/27)
Page 21 - More Autograph Book Pages (9/20)
Page 22 - Disney Magical Express (10/8)
Page 22 - Trip Purchases (10/11)
Page 23 - More Trip Purchases (10/15)
Page 25 - Family Park Must-Dos (11/9)
Page 27 - We're Back Pre-Quiz (11/18)
Page 27 - Will we make our flight? (11/23) #401
Page 28 - 1900 Park Fare (11/24) #408
Page 28 - More 1900 Park Fare and BLT at Night (11/24) #414
Page 29 - Surprises Today! (11/24) #422 and #423
Page 29 - Magic Kingdom Finally!! (11/29) #435
Page 30 - Magic Kingdom Finally!! cont'd (11/30) #437
Page 30 - Our Last Day (12/8) #448
Page 31 - Lessons Learned (12/9) #452

[Marshay]

So we really wanted to go to WDW in December to see the Christmas decorations but we also really, really, really wanted to go to BLT.

What?? We wanted to go to a Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich?

For those who may not know, BLT is the new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort at the Contemporary Resort. It's called Bay Lake Tower and it opens this fall.

Since we originally only planned to go for a short weekend and wanted to check out this resort ... just in case we wanted to add on more points here , we were so very excited about going. However, I'm the type of person who thinks a trip to WDW is not complete unless it is more than one week. My DH thinks it's perfectly fine to just go for Friday - Sunday.

So, I told him I'd rather not go at all if I can't go for at least 4 days. It just wouldn't be worth it to do all that packing (esp with a young one), so I'd rather wait until next year and go longer.

He agreed we could go for 4 days.

{Hmmm, can I get just one more day ...}

However, when we called Member Services, all the days we wanted to go in December were not available at BLT. So we switched to November 14 - 18.

What's that you say? Nov 14-18 is actually 5 days?!

{Said in a raised voice with an innocent look} Really?!!?

Yes, you are correct. Right after I found out that we couldn't get in BLT for Dec, my DH tells me, if we want to add another day, we can. Well, I didn't argue with him at all or question it. I added that extra day!

[Marshay]

So here's my immediate ToDo list (not in order):

1) Print menus and decide where we want ADRs

2) Figure out if we want to do the DDP again, just pay OOP, or do the TiW (Tables in Wonderland) card

3) Get Cheap airfare (decide if we buy a ticket for an 8 month old)

4) Prioritize attractions for each park

5) Once schedule comes out, plan days in park and make ADRs

6) Register for ME

7) Update packing list to include baby gear

8) Order groceries to be delivered

9) Send bulk package to resort (obviously decide what goes inside)

[Trentmom]

Found you!!!

Now Back to read

[Trentmom]

Way to go getting your fiive days

Can't wait to see your pics of BLT...no not the sandwhich

I would wait to see how squirmy DD#2 is before I decide on getting her a seat or not. If she is a very calm baby, I would just hold her

I am sure a lot of people will disagree

[kaoden39]

I'm here! Boy the Disneyland side is much easier to navigate.

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Trentmom

Found you!!!

Now Back to read

Yeah!!! My first reader!!

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Trentmom

Way to go getting your fiive days

Can't wait to see your pics of BLT...no not the sandwhich

I would wait to see how squirmy DD#2 is before I decide on getting her a seat or not. If she is a very calm baby, I would just hold her

I am sure a lot of people will disagree

I sure would love to save the $$ and we'll have 3 seats. Hopefully if we go thru Southwest, we'll get "A" and can pick 3 in a row...but then I was thinking maybe we want to reserve 2 seats (aisle and window) in one row and one aisle in another. As long as it's not a full flight, no one is going to want to take the middle seat between DH and my 4 year old...so perhaps we could get it anyway, w/o paying.

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by kaoden39

I'm here! Boy the Disneyland side is much easier to navigate.

It's probably just me -- I like to plan!

But seriously, WDW does have a bit more and having a baby along means I got to plan more too.

Oh, and welcome!!

[kaoden39]

Originally Posted by Marshay

It's probably just me -- I like to plan!

But seriously, WDW does have a bit more and having a baby along means I got to plan more too.

Oh, and welcome!!

Thanks. And yeah there is definitely more for you to plan for now.

[betsywdw]

I'm here too!!! I need to read now!

Love the title

[betsywdw]

I'm so excited to hear and see your thoughts on BLT! That is plan for us at some point too!

I always end up sneaking an extra day on our trips I think DH forgets what the original plan is and I just act like it always was that way

We took DD to WDW when she was 8 1/2 months old. We bought her a seat only because we wanted all 3 seats to ourselves. She ended up sitting on our laps the entire time but it at least gave us the extra room and we didn't have to worry about another person in our row.

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by betsywdw

I'm here too!!! I need to read now!

Love the title

Thanks! I thought for sure someone might already have it but didn't see one...

Originally Posted by betsywdw

I'm so excited to hear and see your thoughts on BLT! That is plan for us at some point too!

I always end up sneaking an extra day on our trips I think DH forgets what the original plan is and I just act like it always was that way

We took DD to WDW when she was 8 1/2 months old. We bought her a seat only because we wanted all 3 seats to ourselves. She ended up sitting on our laps the entire time but it at least gave us the extra room and we didn't have to worry about another person in our row.

Yes, I plan to give my pre-BLT thoughts and definitely will do so afterwards.

Oh, so you took an 8 month old to WDW? I need to know EVERYTHING. I'm wondering if it makes sense to do the dining plan or not...I'm figuring that an 8 month's old schedule will make it difficult to enjoy the dinner (sit-down at TS), so maybe we should just skip it.

Also curious how scared she may be of the noises, dark, etc. I know all babies are different but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Trentmom]

Originally Posted by Marshay

Thanks! I thought for sure someone might already have it but didn't see one...



Yes, I plan to give my pre-BLT thoughts and definitely will do so afterwards.

Oh, so you took an 8 month old to WDW? I need to know EVERYTHING. I'm wondering if it makes sense to do the dining plan or not...I'm figuring that an 8 month's old schedule will make it difficult to enjoy the dinner (sit-down at TS), so maybe we should just skip it.

Also curious how scared she may be of the noises, dark, etc. I know all babies are different but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

maybe instead of Dining plan, you do the quick service dining plan?

That might be easier with a baby's schedule

[Marshay]

Originally Posted by Trentmom

maybe instead of Dining plan, you do the quick service dining plan?

That might be easier with a baby's schedule

I'm definitely considering it. We are still hoping to do some Table Service though. I'll go ahead and make ressies when I can and I'll just have to cancel them if we don't use them.

The more I think of it, the more I think we'll just do OOP. And of course I'll save my receipts and then compare to the three different plans.

Hmm, I see a trivia question for my TR already -- which dining plan would have been the best way to go?