[larissamorn]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Boy, V isn't kidding when she's talking about all the books and the 20+ times we watched the 2005 and 2006 planning videos!

So here's a little bit about why we decided to go PP. And let me tell you, we're not rolling in dough over here!

When I was researching the first trip to WDW (the one we ended up cancelling) I read about all these wonderful places to eat. Let me tell you, that was a loooong time ago and one of the first things that popped into my head when we decided to go was, "California Grill!!! Victoria & Albert's!!! We have to go! I wanna eat there so baaaad!" We are foodies, both of us. And I'm not a food snob, definately not a wine snob (I don't drink), but back when we had cable we would watch the Food network for entire weekends. We knew for sure that we wanted to at least do the dining plan but when we found out that we could eat at basically any restaurant in the World AND get room service too, well that was almost too much to pass up.

One of the other reasons we decided to go PP (ummm...) was for the cruise/preferred seating/show tickets for the pm entertainments. We do love the fireworks but both of us are shorty and V is on the waifish side of slender so we tend to get pretty beat up in crowds. We've been fortunate enough to do the balcony seating at Fantasmic at DL a few times and thought this would be a similarly wonderful experience! Our seats for La Nouba look amazing. The woman who helped us select them was literally raving about what great seats they are, not too close, but close enough, and dead center. Hee. We're not too sure about the show but music is my daughter's life and when she found out there was a live orchestra she was all for going.

There were lots of other reasons we ended up choosing Plat over Prem (which includes almost all the same features except for the spa treatments, some restaurants and some tours), but I do have to say that Vicki & Al's being included (for as many dinners as we would like to take there!) was what sent us over the top. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] It became kind of a running joke as we started to read/hear about the different activities outside the parks that sounded like fun. I'd say, "Hey, that's cool! Do you want to do that?" then we'd both finish in unison, "Because IT'S INCLUDED!" Ahhh yes, we are a couple of nerds. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] And ultimately that was the real clincher. Being a single mom for so long I do tend to penny pinch and talk myself out of a lot of unnecessary expenditures. I knew, and so did V, that if we thought doing something might be fun but also expensive, well if it was already paid for we would *have* to do it, but if it wasn't, well maybe we should hold off... Well I didn't want to hold off this time. So now we're gonna go crazy and do whatever we like because, hey, it's already paid for. And it is paid for, too. Not charged on a credit card. Paid for. Paid off. Paid. That's one of the best parts! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Okay, so V already filled you in on our interminable planning sessions. I think I need a hobby. Other than planning our vacations, I mean. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/whistling2.gif[/img]

Let's see, the coolest thing we got was a packet that was sent to our (completely uninterested and uninvolved) travel agent was a packet from Jeffrey the PP specialist. (I need to come up with a different abbreviation/acronym!) It included a thick stack of papers for noting every ADR we would like, recreational activities, tee times, tours, the spa stuff, and a little bit of personal information. We, thank goodness, had a good chunk of our planning already done so I filled in the info then emailed a copy to Jeffrey. There was also a pamphlet that went into somewhat more detail than the Disney website about what sorts of things were included with the plan. Then there was my favorite piece: a letter from Jeffrey which said, among other things, these magical words, "Upon arrival to the Resort, please have your clients inform the Valet Host that they are Disney's Platinum Plan guests and you will then be escorted directly to the Concierge floor for check in."

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

Well poor Jeffrey, we must have changed and tweaked and basically rewritten our itinerary at least six times. He suffered through it, though. The last email he sent me said these not so magical words, "I would be happy to assist you with anything else you might need before your arrival." Victoria and I both wondered aloud if that meant once we got there he no longer wanted to have anything to do with us. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I hope not! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Actually I think his office is over at the Poly, so that might explain it...

Anyhow, it's going to be quite exciting to see what kind of reception we get. I'll be more than thrilled if we can just get into a shower after our overnight flight, but I'm not holding my breath. The people around me might want to hold theirs, though! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

Okay, I'm officially goofy and think I'd better try to go get some sleep. This is our last night at home!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! Yay!!!

Before we leave, just in case I don't get to post again, I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone here. You're all so incredibly gracious and I've learned sooo much in my six months on the boards. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] You are all going to be partially responsible for the buckets of fun we're about to have. Thank you, thank you, thank you! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

best,
--Larissa [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img]