[Colexis Mom]

The Lucky Number 7 Trip Report


First I must apologize for the lateness of this pre-trip report. With all the other trip reports going on in this forum, I’ve nary had time to write anything since I’ve been reading everyone elses! I’m naming this report the Lucky Number 7 Report. First and foremost, it’s our 7th trip as a family, and my 14th time going (two times seven)!! It was booked 7 months out, and seven is my favorite number, so why not!!


The background on our travelers:
Me, your host, Marnie, Colexis Mom, 14th trip to WDW!!
DH Matt, 8th trip with me to WDW!!
DD Alexa, 7th trip to WDW and going into 4th grade
DS Colin, 7th trip to WDW, and going into 1st grade



This trip came about out of luck, really, hence the Lucky Number 7 report title. Ever since I’ve stopped working (my company relocated south and I didn’t want to move), it has put a damper on the expendable budget, and hence, a cramp in our usual two trips to Disney World a year!! We didn’t go in 2007, but had plans for this summer. BUT, the cruise dates for 2009 were released in December, and I have big plans for cruising in August 2009 since I turn 40 next year and I really wanted to do a 7 day Western itinerary. So, frankly, I was willing to give up my Disney trip in August 2008 in lieu of the cruise in 2009. Some things came into place to make this trip doable, and hence, lucky!!


Since 2007 was the first year that I wasn’t officially working, it was our first tax return without my income. I’ll just say that Uncle Sam was very nice to us with a big fat return check!! DH also got a very nice bonus at work, and then, the IRS just wanted to send us another check for $1800!! I mean, how can you refuse that?? But the biggest kicker was finally, after many LONG years of never getting an email/postcard/phone call, NADA….I finally got an email. And this just wasn’t any old email, this was a 40% off room rate email!! I think I started jumping up and down, and had to read the thing about 5 times before it finally sunk in! I just went back to look at the email, and it said “You’ve got 7 special times to take advantage of this offer”! See, another 7. It was meant to be!!


In no time at all, that email was forwarded to Marisa, with a request to check out both AKL and BC. However, I wasn’t sure if I could stay in a standard room (that’s what the email said was on sale) at AKL. I’m a spoiled brat and need my savanna view!! But this was supposed to be a cheaper, don’t break the bank trip. I also asked Marisa to check out POFQ, as I wasn’t sure if that was covered (it said deluxes but other resorts at different rates). We ended up booking at POFQ for 5 nights at $100 a night (what a bargain)!! And then BC for 4 nights at just over $200! I can’t remember the last time I’ve stayed so cheaply at BC (probably 4 or 5 years ago), and I was not going to let this opportunity pass me by Plus, the kids are bigger now, can use the full pool, and just love it there!


So the plan is ……Thursday August 14th (I hoped to fly down late – Southwest’s schedule wasn’t out yet) til Tuesday the 18th at POFQ (which, by the way is completely new for us), and then Tuesday thru Saturday the 23rd at the BC (which is old hand for us)!! Would the dates hold? Would airfare blow the budget? Where are we going to eat?? Stay tuned……….