Hubby & Me & Jimmy Make Three: The Third Sequel (4th Report) PTR About This Page:

[bfth]

Hi everybody! (Hi Doctor Nick! Ok...I'm dating myself with the Simpsons reference.).

It's once again time for a H&M&JMT pre-trip report. (w00t!)

It's been over a year since we've ventured to the World of Walt. Our last trip was in December of 2010 when I pulled Jimmy out of Kindergarten for a week (well it was only 1/2 day Kindergarten and he didn't miss another day for the rest of the year). It was early December and just happened to be one of the COLDEST weeks on record in Florida! Who ever thought I'd be buying GLOVES and a SCARF in Disney World?

Jimmy is now a first grader and I really didn't want to pull him out of school for a Disney trip. (Well, part of me did, but the good parent ruled). So we are going during spring break. Horror of Horrors! But I'm hoping that unlike Christmas break, spring break is staggered. Our spring break is at the end of April...several weeks after Easter. So I'm hoping (boy I'm doing a lot of hoping, aren't I?) that it won't be too crowded. (Let's keep that positive attitude shall we?).

I wasn't considering a spring trip (REALLY!) until the mom of one of Jimmy's friends mentioned THEY were going during spring break. Well if they're going, we've got to go too! (And if they jumped off the Empire State Building would I do that too? I know, I know...).
In order to get halfway decent airfare (does such a thing exist), we are flying out on a Friday and returning the following Saturday. So Jimmy WILL be missing one day of school. (But it's the day before spring break, how much can they do? AND it's the day they are celebrating Earth Day with an assembly so how much time will there really be in the classroom? The first person who mentions the word "Rationalization" will get bopped on the head with a wet noodle!).

I realize that I've been prattling on here just assuming that you've read all of my (incredible) trip reports and you know what happens when you ASSUME! So let me start at the very beginning (which is a very good place to start).

Our cast of characters on this journey is:

Bfth: That's ME! A few phrases that best describe me might be: working mom, compulsive planner and worrier, the one who is going to make the magic happen (even if it kills me!)

Sds: The hubby. Stay at Home/Work PT from Home Dad, homework helper, the soother (when someone is freaking out; unless it's him!).

Jimmy: The boy. Adorable 1st grader, loved by all, charming (and knows how to use it to his advantage), sharp dresser (only likes to wear COLLARED shirts...the kid went as a '60s era businessman for Halloween because he wanted a suit and a fedora! He's only 6 and he has 3 ties!).

And that's it this time around (love my in laws, but it's going to be nice to be on our own this time). We will, I hope, at some point be joined by or at least bump into Jimmy's friend/classmate and his family. I know they are going with another family and don't know their schedule, but it would be fun if we could get together if just for a little while -- if just for some fun photos!

We will be staying at "our" resort, the Contemporary, again. Jimmy just loves it. And so do Sds and I (although I wouldn't mind trying out some other resorts sometime in the future!). We were able to get a special room only rate through our friend who works there. This was the first time I didn't get a package, just a room. So even after going to WDW 15 times, this time I had something new to try...purchasing tickets for our stay (that were not annual passes -- Sds and I did that in our younger years when we had time and a little more money!) I used Undercover Tourist (based on recommendations from all you Passporters) and have 8 day hoppers.
We will be flying down on our favorite airline, JetBlue and then taking DME to WDW.

Just a quick note (that may include TMI, but it also could be helpful for others), Jimmy sometimes gets carsick/airsick. We've resolved that with Dramamine or Bonine for long trips. But what really seemed to get him were the stop and go lurching of the DME buses as they make their stops and starts at the various resorts. (He's fine on the buses that take you around to the parks). It's probably a combination of excitement, overheating and bus lurching. The Contemporary is ALWAYS the last stop on DME (the "circuit" is either Poly, GF, WL and Contemp or WL, Poly, GF, and Contemp). What I do is get off at the first DME stop (which lat time was the Poly) with Jimmy. I leave Sds on the bus with most of the carry ons. Jimmy and I get some fresh air and then took the monorail to the Contemporary. I think we would have beat Sds there last time if it weren't for a hold up at the MK. Jimmy loves the monorail and I think it's a great way to start our stay. (If we had gotten off the WL we would have taken the boat which would have given him even more fresh air). Sds meets us at the Contemp. This worked very well for us last time (no more travel sickness). Sds is convinced it was the Bonine that did it (because last year was the first time he was really old enough to take it). He may be right. I just didn't want to take any chances. And it made things a little less stressful. So if you've got a travel sickness or DME bus sickness issue, I'd recommend doing something like what we did (if you can...I know it's not always possible).

Ok, back on track...

Once we arrive at the Contemporary we will hopefully be greeted by my dear friend Dorothy who works there. She will take us to our "home" for the next week -- the lounge on the 12th floor. (I am hoping we will get a water view room. I know most people like the park view better, but having done both I have to say I find the water view nicer.)

Because despite my best efforts not to be, I am still a Disney commando at heart. I have my spreadsheet ready with all our plans for the week. And I'll let you all in on that in my next "installment." (Of course, I've gotten more lax as the years have gone by and sometimes we do deviate from the plan. But that's what you've got to do once you have a child. -- be flexible!!).

And since I think I've bored you enough for now, I'll close this "chapter". In installments to come you can expect more details on our transportation plan, daily ADRs and the general WDW plan of attack.

[Colexis Mom]

Great start!

[Cam22]

Great start!

[redkatrampant]

YAY! I can't wait. I want to read ALL the TRs. But I have to be picky. Since you are staying at DH's fave property I chose you!

[ilovedisney247]

That's funny! I do the same thing with DME. When I'm staying at a resort I can access from the first stop the bus makes--I get off. I hate being on that bus any longer than necessary--even if the walk takes me a little bit.

[Tabitha34]

Looking forward to reading about all your plans! Great start!

[bfth]

Originally Posted by ilovedisney247

That's funny! I do the same thing with DME. When I'm staying at a resort I can access from the first stop the bus makes--I get off. I hate being on that bus any longer than necessary--even if the walk takes me a little bit.

And here I was thinking that I was unique...and you do the same thing! Well, let's just say that great minds think alike!

[chezp]

Great start!

[bfth]

Down to some of the particulars...

As I said in part 1, we are flying down on JetBlue. We live relatively close to Newark Airport so JetBlue and United Continental (or whatever they are calling themselves) are pretty much our choices if we want to fly direct (and who doesn't when the flight is less than 3 hours long). United Continental pretty much RULES Newark but JetBlue offers better value. While the costs for tickets are about the same, JetBlue offers the one bag per person free. I am not one who can travel light. Each of us has a checked back and a carry on (although I'm the one who ends up carrying Jimmy's carry on!). At $30 per person each way even if United Continental is $50 less (per person), I'm still saving with JetBlue. Plus I like the personal TVs (which United Continental did not have on all their flights the last time we flew with them, which admittedly was 4 years ago) -- although it helps if they work (had problems on our flight back from Orlando in 2010, but what are you going to do???).

Since we are leaving on a Friday, I opted to "sleep in" (please don't laugh too hard if you know me) and get a 10 AM flight out. All well and good, until JetBlue changed the flight and time to afternoon. And that is going to cut into my Disney Time...which is a no no! (They also changed our flight time home, but not by that much so I could live with it).

Luckily, JetBlue still seems to believe in good customer service (at least that's been my experience and I HOPE it's the experience of everyone else who flies JetBlue). I called up and spoke with a lovely woman (and right now I forget her name, but at the time I wrote it down and sent an email to JetBlue saying how good she was...there's too much negativity in this world and corporations need to know about good employees). We managed to get on an 8 AM flight (so much for sleeping in, but then you KNEW I was going to end up on an earlier flight, didn't you?).

Getting from our house to Newark Airport is simple. The sexton at our church also does airport runs (and he's ALOT cheaper than a car service or parking). The minute I knew about our trip I got him to put us in his little brown book. We will be at our house by 5 and then will pick us up when we get back in. One of the reasons I love going to WDW is that once my vacation starts, I don’t have to drive anywhere. (My daily commute is only 15 miles, but the traffic is always heavy -- even though I leave very early in the morning. So I am VERY HAPPY not to have to deal with any of that when I am in WDW. Sure, waiting for a bus isn't my idea of a good time, but I prefer it over driving around on my vacation).

So I am chauffeured from my house to the airport, get on a plane and arrive in sunny (I hope!) Orlando, get on a bus for WDW, get off a bus and onto a monorail (most likely) and arrive at my resort...the Contemporary.

Background for those of you who haven't read all the previous reports (and shame on you for NOT doing so! ), the Contemporary is where Sds and I spent our honeymoon as well as our first anniversary. We've stayed at many other WDW properties (some that I like a bit more and many that I don't like that much...but isn't that the joy of Disney? There are so many different choices for all types of people). When it came time to visit WDW for the first time with Jimmy I KNEW we had to do the Contemporary. But what I surprised Sds with (and Jimmy too, although he was too young to "get it") was not just a tower room, but a room on club level.

Here is the problem with concierge; once you try it you NEVER want to go back! I was so spoiled on our first trip that for our 2nd and 3rd trips we also stayed club level (last time getting bumped up to from the 12th floor to the 14th where the balconies are HUGE!). I had to do it again this time (even though each time we go I say that the next time we go we'll have to be more economical).

I "justify" (do I really have to) by knowing that all year long we really try to save. We rarely dine out. Jimmy still isn't a big movie person, so we don't spend a lot of money going out. Our summer "vacations" consist of weekends at the NJ shore at my parents’ house. (I'm very lucky there and I know it). We are dedicated coupon clippers and continually shop for the best deals when it comes to groceries. Most of Jimmy's clothes come from a neighbor who handed then down to me from her son (and she has really good taste!) or from the grandparents (who love to buy clothes for the boy -- which is a good thing because Jimmy likes to be well dressed). So when it comes to WDW, I take the plunge and indulge! (Besides the fact that my job is has been highly stressful and Sds' isn't a walk in the park either). I like my balcony (hopefully overlooking Bay Lake) and my glass of wine (or whatever other spirit I might indulge in from the lounge). I like grabbing a quick breakfast in the morning or a mid-day snack. And I like being taken care of! (And boy do they know how to take care of you!).

So now you know how we're getting there and where we are staying. Up next we be the all important -- where we are dining! (And even after 15 trips we can still find some new places to try and enjoy!)

[Tabitha34]

Great update!!

[Colexis Mom]

Congrats on the room and flights!

[chezp]

I am so with you about JetBlue! We've only flown with them once, as Southwest are usually our preferred choice, but I was very impressed with them and having one bag flying free makes all the difference!

[bfth]

Originally Posted by chezp

I am so with you about JetBlue! We've only flown with them once, as Southwest are usually our preferred choice, but I was very impressed with them and having one bag flying free makes all the difference!

See, I do try to make every penny count (so I can indulge more at the Contemporary! I know what's important!!!)

[OhToodles!]

I love to read your TRs! I'm glad you're going back.
And I love that so many people like Jet Blue. My cousin's wife is a pilot for them and her home airport is MCO, even though I think she flys to the Caribbean mostly. I wish we could fly them, but they aren't in STL.

[Cam22]

Congrats on the JetBlue flights and your resort!