Disney in August

So much has happened in the last month! I FINALLY booked our package. If figures that I wanted until ALMOST the last minute! I was able to take advantage of the kids stay/play free and in theory, I am the only one paying for the trip since the kids aren't contributing to the cost of the hotel room and their park tickets are free. I did spring for the meal plan and Rick is paying for our Park Hoppers. We'll be staying at Pop Century (naturally!) and we'll be there Tuesday night - Sunday. Not bad really. I'm super excited about this trip. Now it's on to airfare. Trying to debate exactly what would be the best plan of action. Do I pay more for a direct flight, do I pay less for the flight to leave a day early and then have to pay for the bags? Do I have one carry-on bag and only check two bags to save on cost? So many questions and SO fewer answers. Dining reservations have been made. We'll be dining at some old favorites come this trip. 50's Prime Time, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree Tavern, Garden Grill...however all of these resturants will be completely new to Olivia, my daughter's BFF. She's never been to Disney before. So exciting! I'm hoping to schedule a planning day for us three girls so they can get an idea of where we will be on which days. Can't wait!!!

I've given up planning the upcoming (and I use the term EXTREMELY loosely) May vacation to Universal. With only 6 weeks (roughly 42 days) until this pending vacation, it doesn't look like it will happen really and I'm a little sad by it. However, life must go on and while that vacation is on the back burner for now, we must forge ahead with the August Disney trip. The package has been booked and I have purchased an additional Walt Disney World book to maximize all avenues of fun. The Passporter is by all means my FAVORITE of all Disney planning books. It's wealth of information is incredible and is incredibly user friendly in it's layout. Detailed sections for all theme parks, restaurants, and resorts, color pictures and fold up maps make this an incredible buy and worth EVERY penny! As for Birnbaum's Guide to Walt Disney World, this particular one has become almost a given for me to purchase each year. Not exactly a spectacular read, it has basic information for resorts, restaurants and theme park information. The format is much the same as previous Disney editions released by Birnbaum. The only difference is the minor changes in prices and parade/ride changes or updates. What I don't like is the lack of visitor contribution. No reviews, no thoughts or insight from actual visitors. I think that would add to the value of the guidebook. But hey, that's just my opinion. My newest book is the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with kids 2011. I haven't had a chance to sit down and read it as of yet, but as I look over at the book, I am anxious to start. As a proud subscriber to Touring Plans (http://www.touringplans.com/) I felt it was definitely time to give this one a try. We'll see how it goes and I'll be sure to post my thoughts later! ~P

63 days until Universal....

And we have NOTHING planned yet! No plane tickets, no hotel reservations...nothing. I was excited several months ago to get this going and I think the lack of enthusiasm from the family has driven me to a complete standstill. It's not that I don't want to go, but Universal is a "foreign" place to me and will take me COMPLETELY out of my Disney bubble. Rick and I have been reading the Universal planning book I bought a few weeks ago and have jotted down some ideas, but that's it. This past weekend we started looking at flights and hotel arrangements so there is a strong possibility that we will pull this off...I guess only time will tell.

~P

Resorts, resorts and more resorts

The decisions!!! I have no idea where to stay this time around! I've been toying with the idea of trying a totally new resort. We've stayed at Pop Century, All-Star Music, Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans Riverside) and the Disney Institute (now Saratoga Springs). I would LOVE to try the Wilderness Lodge or my dream would be to stay at the Boardwalk Villas. But we would be looking at spending almost $5000 for a six day/five night vacation. That and then add on airfare and spending money and not to mention that the kids would need new clothes, the cost of costumes and tickets for MNSSHP (Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party) and a huge rash of other things, we could have probably bought a new car!

I'm thinking of maybe splitting the trip but then that would involve switching hotels and who really wants to do that? I would love to have money to spend on the Grand Floridian but I'd probably have to get a second full time job to pay for that!! Hopefully business will pick up and I'll have enough money to not have to worry about where to stay! I think I may need to weigh out the pros and cons on each resort.

Let the countdown(s) begin!!

I have to admit that I'm still trying to warm up to the idea of having to put off Disney until August this year...and in doing so, I'm still trying to warm up to the idea of going to Universal in May. Now don't misunderstand...I thoroughly enjoyed Universal when I was last there 11 years ago, but I miss Disney. I really love going to Disney and now having a family of my own, it's even more fun!

Right now, we are at 126 days until our Universal Vacation in May.

We have about 225 days until Bella and I hit Disney in August/September and then another 30 days or so until the family vacay in Disney.

My head is spinning already!

Good-bye 2010, hello 2011!!

So much has happened over the last three + months. Let's recap.

• My daughter turned 7 and started school (September)


• My son became an official walker


• 2 years at my job!


• My sister turned 29 (October)


• My brother turned 27 (October)


• Halloween


• Thanksgiving/My 33rd birthday (November)


• Christmas


• First Blizzard of the 2010 winter season
• Second Blizzard of the winter season (first for 2011)

However with so many happy, enjoyable events happening, there is one thing that happened about two weeks ago that put me in a foul mood. I can no longer go to Disney World in April. that's right, it's true! I've had to push out my vacation because I didn't have my time locked in. Oh well, such is life. I'm trying to make the best of it.

I've made the decision to go to Florida three times this year. Our first trip will be in May (Universal Studios) with the whole family. Our second trip will be in August (Disney) with just Bella and myself and our third trip will be in October (Disney) with the whole family.

This will definitely be a true test to my planning capabilities. I hope I'm up to it!!