The "End of the World" PTR or How to Make a Disney Fan Out of a New DIL - PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel
The "End of the World" PTR or How to Make a Disney Fan Out of a New DIL
About This Page: This is a discussion on The "End of the World" PTR or How to Make a Disney Fan Out of a New DIL within the Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; Long title, I know, but that's my "drama queen" side coming out!
First--The Cast: DH (Bob), DM (Kate--that's me), DD(Mary), ...
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The "End of the World" PTR or How to Make a Disney Fan Out of a New DIL
Long title, I know, but that's my "drama queen" side coming out!
First--The Cast: DH (Bob), DM (Kate--that's me), DD(Mary), DS (Seth) and DIL (Katie-don't get us confused!). Since we are all adults, I won't give ages! Let's just say that only Mary still gets carded and that's because she's a dead-ringer for Tinker Bell!
Background (i.e. "what's with the title?)--First the Mayan Calendar ends on December 22, 2012. My original plan was to spend the last week of the world doing what we all enjoy--going on vacation. To my surprise, everyone "jumped" at the chance--especially since Bob & I are paying the room and tickets, and it turned out, airfare for everyone. (Had to use up those points before they expired!) Everyone jumped, except my co-worker who usually takes the week before Christmas off work. Would she switch just this ONE year? Please, pretty please? Sugar and Honey on it? Do pigs fly? Is the moon EVER green? Like that would EVER HAPPEN???? Not in MY lifetime! Since we both can't be off at the same time, I had to change my dates. So, I asked about the week before. Sure, she'd go for that one. And thus the plans changed.
Everyone in the family was still in agreement to going. And the kids at this point were still thinking that they would need to have flights and meals and we would take care of the rest. So, I called DVC and booked AKL for Sunday through Saturday the 9th-15th. This was back in February, so at 11months I got a 2-room lock off at Jambo House! Yea!
Then life got a little busy. We, after all had to get the DS MARRIED before we could have a DIL, and they have to have a honeymoon (Thanks, DVC--we heard Aulani was WONDERFUL in June! Around May I stared looking for airfares. Who AM I kidding? I was looking at airfares in February. Then Darling Bob called me while on a trip--the airline was asking for volunteers to delay their flight--it's worth a $400 voucher! Duh! Are you joking me? Free airline ticket if you sit there for a couple more hours--but, as a good wife, my answer was--"Honey, if YOU want to and aren't too tired..." Well, he did it. And the next week while traveling again (he travels A LOT!) Another call--another ticket!
We had two Delta vouchers from the year before that needed to be booked before August and then I checked with the bank points--enough for one ticket!!!! THEN I got serious! Three tickets through United, and two tickets through Delta-for ---are you ready---really ready? $250.00! (Bob forgot to send one of the vouchers in, oops!)
So, now we have rooms and airfare and my immediate OOP for the trip--so far is...$250.00. Next--Let the Planning BEGIN!
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
The three-two split on the airfare was actually great! I don't want Katie to think that I run every LITTLE piece of her vacation--(I do, but I'm trying to be casual about things!) So, Bob, Mary and I could book our flights out of our hometown and I could book Seth and Katie flight out of THEIR hometown and we'll just meet down there! Sounds good--First snag! The flights leaving on Sunday were WAY more than flights leaving on Saturday. Plus the times were HORRIBLE! Getting into WDW after 10PM! But Saturday flights were good--for the United they were GREAT! Getting in right after lunch! So, I booked ours and then waited with Seth and Katie's until they got back from the Honeymoon! I didn't want to stress the bride out with in-law vacation plans. She's stuck with me now, so I asked if they still wanted to fly out on Sunday, or would they like me to try and get a Saturday flight for them--they wanted Saturday!
I sang all the way to my laptop and--yep--cheaper flights, but no morning flights left, so they come in during the evening. That's okay by them? You bet, Mom! Go for it! (Free still impresses my children!)
Second dilemma--I can't get the room updated to include a two-bedroom lock off on Saturday night! DRAT! And no BWV open at all! Nothing but OKW, which would be good, but we thought the AKL would appeal to Katie and since she's new to Disney and likes a "laid back" vacation--yeah, like that will happen--AKL set the tone, though I'm still pondering OKW---Bob says the only thing that's saving them is I'm not bored in my planning yet!
Solution to the problem--Get two studios for one night at Kidani. It's not too far from Jambo and they will move our bags anyway. Who knows, there might be a two-bedroom open up when we get there. And if I do change to OKW, I won't have to worry about it. I'd still like BWV though, so close to everything!
Next--Get Out the Spreadsheet, It's Time to Start Booking the Meals!
Wow-can you believe that I actually let everything slide until the magical 6 month date--when I could book ADR's? I think my new DIL thinks I'm crazy--only confirming what my son has already told her. So that magical day of July 9th rolled around and I'm on the phone with my kids--where do you want to eat? Do you want DDP or OOP? Get out the Passporters I sent you!
And DS's answer started out as--"Mom-whatever you want, only....K's birthday is on the 11th and I want to take here someplace without the rest of you." Oh, I FORGOT K's birthday is while we are there! This will need some attention! Details, more details!!!! "And I really like Le Cellier." And what about Tony's, that was fun! DD loves O'Hana and what about the Castle--oh, yes, too much $$ but...
It didn't take long until I had a list LONGER than I could manage. So, turn on the computer and pull out the spreadsheet and start matching dates and times and parks with preferences. After MUCH negotiating and checking optimal park crowds and hours and the fact that DIL doesn't like buffets and DS wants her to be VERY happy (the newly wed in him, I think), here are the CURRENT ADR listing:
Saturday--Les Chef (during the last Remy appearance of the day)
Sunday--Coral Reef - late lunch and Sci Fi Dine-Inn -OOP park closing
Monday--Tony's -unless I can snag an ADR at Be Our Guest????
Tuesday--K's birthday so separate ressies--Teppan Edo for them, Akershus for us.
Wednesday--O'Hana ressie-hopefully snaggina a table for Wishes
Thursday--Boma-our only buffet DS & DIL want to go to Legoland--don't ask they are geeks.
Friday--Late Lunch at Le Cellier--and that took a LOT of doing!!!
Saturday--Oh no! I don't have a Saturday-we leave that day!
I have more planning to do! I guess I'd better get started!
About This Page: This is a discussion on The "End of the World" PTR or How to Make a Disney Fan Out of a New DIL within the Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; Long title, I know, but that's my "drama queen" side coming out!
First--The Cast: DH (Bob), DM (Kate--that's me), DD(Mary), ...
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