The "We're Giving Up our APs for a Year" PTR - UPDATED 7/31 About This Page:

[KimM]

The “We’re Giving Up Our APs for a Year” Pre-Trip Report

First off, I have been reading lots of trip reports lately and was quite hesitant to start mine as I’m not near as creative as some of you folks out there. I hope not to bore you. I also hope to actually finish this TR. I have started two in the past and neither has made it to completion. Let’s hope 3 times is a charm…here we go!

DH and I have had APs for 4 years. We live in Sarasota, FL (little less than 2 hours from the Magic) and have been going to WDW about 4 times a year (3-5 days each visit) since getting the APs. DH is truly a Disney convert. Prior to our first trip together in ’04, he was of the mindset that WDW is for kids – or adults that have kids. We don’t fit in either of those categories, so when I expressed a desire to go to the World for our 5th anniversary, he was less than excited.

Regarding that 5th anniversary, since he wasn't hip to my suggestion of 4 days at Disney, I planned a very special surprise weekend for us in Tampa. We were scheduled to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in a suite with a Jacuzzi in the room. DH is a big car fan, so I planned to surprise him with tickets to Funkmaster Flex Car Show. (For those not familiar, it’s a contest for custom cars and a concert.) I’m not a huge car fan, but I knew DH would be tickled pink. I researched the area around the hotel and found a cool old movie theatre, a few restaurants and clubs I thought we would check out.

Along came Hurricane Charley (on our actual anniversary date!) and everything I planned had to be cancelled. Luckily, we were not in the path of the storm and we and our family were all safe and sound. Due to the weather, both the hotel charges and the tickets were fully refunded. That said, I was devastated. I spent a good few months planning the weekend and managed to keep the entire thing secret from DH. My sweet man felt so bad for me that he gave me the green light for a trip to WDW. Little did he know would be creating a monster! I always loved going to Disney as a kid but we never spent the night or enjoyed anything there was to offer outside of Magic Kingdom. And Passporter was the first guidebook I bought. Once I was armed with that and this website, I was unstoppable!

With all that backstory out the way (was it all really necessary? Sorry if I rambled!) , back to the theme of this trip. Even with APs, we’ve still spent a nice sum traveling to WDW over the last few years – hotels, DDE cards, holiday parties, home décor and my obsession – PINS (and Pin Trading Events)!

DH and I have been making a list of the projects we need to complete around the house – new kitchen sink, faucet and disposal, new carpet in bedrooms, paint (inside and out) – all those fun things that come with home ownership! So this year instead of renewing our APs, we’re going to take the money we would have spent at WDW and put it into the house. I only agreed to this for one year because August 2009 is our 10 year anniversary and it is my desire (and hopefully his too ) to spend that time at WDW and on a cruise. My only other choice is DL.

So I’m trying to pack as much park stuff as possible into this trip. Since we are in the area, I know I can talk DH into a trip over to DTD or dinner at one of the resorts if I really need a fix (our DDE card doesn’t expire until 2/09 so that gives me a good excuse).

Finally (admit it - you thought I’d NEVER get to it), here are the basics of our trip:

Who: Me (Kim, 36) and DH (Richie, 46)


Kim - Fan of ALL things Disney and planning queen


Richie - Loves Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, willing to let me do all the planning and enjoys every minute of it!

When: September 2 – 6 with Free Dining
Why: 9th Anniversary, final trip before APs expire and the Pin Trading University
Where: All-Star Movies (1st time) – Preferred Room (Requested Toy Story bldg.)

I just paid off the trip, so I’m eagerly awaiting my Disney mail packet!

Next installment…ADRs and other plans

[mcc0313]

Whaqt a great start Kim....you are giving up the AP's for a good reason (I mean we do need a place to live when we are not at WDW right )

And a year is not bad....especially when you start it was a great trip and the end could be a cruise or DL trip for the big 10....

Can't wait to hear more...

[B.M.]

Great Start!

[SouthernBelle]

Great start Kim, and the year will fly by. So hurry back with you TR I am ready and waiting

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Kim More please

[JaimeandChad]

Great start!!

[DyanKJ130]

Great start!! Can't wait to hear more

[Lemap760]

Great start. Can't wait to hear more about the trip.

[janicelovesmickey]

great start!! we will be there a few days at the same time.

[Nick and Ryans Mom]

Great start! I love your tie-dyed Mickey shirts!!!!

[KimM]

Originally Posted by Nick and Ryans Mom

Great start! I love your tie-dyed Mickey shirts!!!!

We bought them from a fellow Passporter - Dawn (graygables). We those shirts and get SO many compliments on them when we wear them to the parks. CMs and other guests have stopped us and asked where we got them. Dawn sent me some business cards in with the shirts and I handed them all out over the course of a few trips!

[Brettchief]

Looking forward to more! Great start!

[elisa1006]

Such a great start!!! Can't wait to hear more.

[RobDVC]

Great introduction, Kim! Sorry that Hurricane Charley ruined your perfect surprise. Can't wait to see your plans!

[KimM]

Take 1

I booked this trip as soon as free dining was announced for Disney Visa card holders. Because of DH’s work schedule, I booked for only three nights – arriving 9/3 and returning home 9/6. We have been trying to stay at different resorts each time, so I decided to try ASMovies. We’ve stayed at POP at least 3 times and at ASMu twice. ASMu is our favorite of the two. I decided to go with a preferred room, as I really wanted to stay in Toy Story.

I also decided to do the Deluxe DDP. I figured in keeping with the theme of, “this will be the last trip for a while,” that we would really live it up. When I started my preliminary planning, I was concerned that a) we would spend all of our time eating and b) we would be so stuffed we wouldn’t want to do anything! DH loved the idea of a lot of signature dining – but I thought we could save it for the 10th anniversary instead. He agreed and liked the idea of something for us to look forward to.

I tossed this around in my brain and on paper for about two months before finally calling Disney and downgrading to DDP. It saved us quite a bit and I was happy...or was I?

As I mentioned in my first post, I love pin trading and collecting. It just so happens that the dates we (well, I ) booked for our trip coincide with the Pin Trading University pin celebration, which is held at EPCOT. I convinced DH that with the money I saved from downgrading the dining plan we could afford for me to go to PTU.

I still wasn’t content with saving ANY of the money that I could have by the dining plan change, so I called Disney with the hopes of adding another night at the start of the trip. I was surprised, as was the CM, that there was still availability with free dining! All in all we STILL saved a few bucks.

Our plan is to drive over when DH gets off work on the 2nd and probably spend the evening at DTD. I’ll be back soon with the rest of the plans…

ADRs coming up next...