The "Dreams Really DO Come True" Trip Report - COMPLETE - UPDATED 11/4 About This Page:

[jhoshowski]

Right off the bat, I am going to get the disclaimer out of the way. I have never written a trip report, and having read the marvelous ones that are posted here every day, I am nervous. So please be kind. If you find it too boring to read, please don’t feel obligated (just don’t tell me)!

First off, the introductions.
Me – Jennifer (35). Certifiable Disney nut. Former travel agency supervisor, now mostly stay-at-home mom – I work a few nights a week at a local pharmacy. I have been to WDW more times than I can count, but I can never get enough.
DH – Fred (39). Computer security analyst. Fancy talk for surfs the web and takes long lunches. Had one trip a long time ago with his family. This will be his third since we have been married.
DS9 – Ethan. Almost as big as me! A super smart kid (he gets straight A’s), with a sensitive side. An awesome baseball player and golfer. Has been to WDW four times.
DS4 - Nicholas. Used to be super shy, but preschool cured that last year. He is going again this year - same teacher, so it should go well again. A real comedian – you’ll see in my pictures!! He has been to WDW twice.

This trip came about because, well, it was time. Our last trip was December 2005, and we have been going every two years or so. Around July 2006, I started getting the urge to plan. We decided to try a trip with just the four of us – we have always gone with a large group of family. They like to camp, which we did with them. This time a friend of Fred’s at work offered up his timeshare near DTD – sorry, the name of it escapes me. All we would need to pay was $500 for the week, to help cover the association fees. In return, we would have use of a 1400 square foot, 2 bedroom condo. We chose the dates October 20 – 27, 2007. We wanted to attend MNSSHP (Fred is a big Halloween fan), miss Columbus Day weekend, and be home for Halloween. These dates seemed perfect.

Well, I think we know where this is going, being the “Disney nuts” we all are. Seven nights wouldn’t be enough – we needed at least eight. So, I decided we would add on a night at a value resort onsite at the beginning of the trip. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wanted our first trip with just the four of us to be magical. I wanted to stay onsite! Not only that, I wanted the dining plan! So, I drew up a price comparison with a little “creative math”, and showed Fred that it wouldn’t cost that much more when all was said and done (the AAA discount helps), and he was on board.

Up next. . . choosing a hotel, and ch-ch-ch-changes. . .

[jhoshowski]

I started sending Fred links to hotel descriptions and pictures at work. Thank goodness for All Ears Net! It didn’t take us long to decide that we wanted to go with a moderate hotel. We would love to do a deluxe (Fred is a bit of a hotel snob), but the budget wouldn’t allow for it. After lots of review and discussion, we agreed on the Caribbean Beach Resort. I contacted a former employee of mine, and had her book us October 20 – 28 (got that extra day in there) with nine day park hoppers and the meal plan. We decided to pay extra for a preferred room location. I don’t like the idea of have a long walk between our room and the food court, so this was a necessity for us.

Well, not long after that I found my wonderful Passporter friends. I became an active member of the boards, sharing what knowledge I have, and learning lots more in return. One thing I learned – everyone seems to love Port Orleans French Quarter. And although I wasn’t reading anything BAD about CBR, it didn’t exactly seem overly popular. So, I went on All Ears Net to read the reader reviews. CBR was rated the LOWEST of the moderates. EEKK! A frantic phone call to Fred later (which included the usual “whatever you want, honey”), I had changed our hotel. Since a preferred room location was no longer an issue, that put money back in our pockets. All set, right? Well, not exactly.

Umm . . Meap testing would be going on at school when we were scheduled to be at Walt Disney World. You know, important state testing stuff. And I started hearing the rumblings about free dining. So, I grabbed the calendar. My family had planned for WDW in late September, and my parents are supposed to dog sit for us. Fred wants to go to MNSSHP – he says if he can’t, we aren’t going to WDW. Quick calculations led me to the dates September 8 – 17. Another e-mail to Mistie at AAA (sorry, Mistie)! Bonus – this puts us in value season instead of regular. More money in the pocket! Now we are at 180 days – so I jump on the phone and get our ADRs taken care of.

Finally, all set, right? Right? Well, I am a worrier by nature. I knew that Disney Visa cardholders got a jump on the free dining. And why don’t I have a Disney Visa, I am asking myself. So, what do I do? I get one. I sit and PRAY that it will come in the mail before free dining is offered, and it does. I send an e-mail to Mistie so that I can cancel my package and rebook, putting the deposit on the Disney Visa. I get a response that Mistie is out indefinitely – her father is dying. I quickly go on the Disney website, book a new package using the Disney Visa, and then call and cancel my package with AAA. Then I wait.

The day that free dining is offered, I am hunched in front of the computed, surfing the boards with way more people than would normally be there at 6:30 AM. I start dialing at 6:50. Hit redial. “Sorry we are not open”. Hit redial. “Sorry we are not open”. Hit redial. “We are experiencing unusually large call volumes. . .”. I held for about 20 minutes, and apparently, I was one of the lucky ones. I read horror stories on some boards of people who held for HOURS. Finally, all of our ducks were in a row. We were going to Disney World.

Up next, okay, we are just changing one more thing, I swear. . .

[mcc0313]

Sounds great so far...so how did you talk DH into going even though he was missing MNSSHP?

[jhoshowski]

Actually, the beauty of it was that MNSSHP started on September 14, so we were good. It was something to look forward to for the majority of the trip!

[jpod523]

awesome start! can't wait for more!

[vfair]

Great start to your trip report! Can't wait to hear waht you changed next!

[Starla4436]

I love it already....more please!

[DyanKJ130]

Great start!! Can't wait to read more!

[snoozin]

I can't wait to read more! Great start!

[lonereb]

From one Michigander to another---Great TR. Keep it comin'.

[Colexis Mom]

Great start

[amandal]

Yay, your TR!!!!! I'm so excited to see what you guys did compared to Suzie and I. I am a tad jealous though that you two got to meet. I'm so sorry that you changed your trip dates, got excited over still getting to see MNSSHP, then that was the day it friggin monsooned. Kind of a bummer, no? Anway, that's not til Friday - let's get rolling already.

[x2qwk2cx]

Originally Posted by jhoshowski

DH – Fred (39). Computer security analyst. Fancy talk for surfs the web and takes long lunches. . . .

Are they hiring at all?????

Everything sounds great so far!! Can't wait to hear more!!!!

[TMWIlson7196]

Everything sounds great. Can't wait to hear more about your trip planing.

[disneydani]

You're off to a great start....I love all the changes!

danielle