Pre-Trip Another Spring Trip! late April 2017

Well, well well. :D

Just got back from Disney a 10 days ago, and here I am again! Also I finally got my husband to join the board too, so @DarthDaddy maybe also be piping in on this PTR!

So once upon a time, there was a girl who was obsessed with the beach (specifically Myrtle Beach) and that was the only place in the world I ever dreamed of vacationing. I would never even entertain the idea of going anywhere else. Until....

We had a daughter. However, in 2015 at the suggestion of my mother, I begrudgingly conceded and agreed to go to Disney. She planned a pretty amazing Disney trip. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge, did plenty of Character Breakfasts, the whole 9. I think she thought we'd never go back, so she planned a top of line trip.

Instead, it had the opposite effect.

Six months later (our April 2016 trip) we were back and had an even more amazing time than the first trip, if that's possible.

Disney Depression has been killing us, and we've been thinking long and hard what to do about next year's trip. We had bounced the beach back and forth for awhile, but something deep down inside of me what not real happy with the thought of going to the beach. (what is wrong with me?? I used to love the beach!) I think we've decided. Disney again next year! Our daughter will be 3 in June and then no longer free, so our thought process is we might as well milk that one last time if we are going to be Disney fans and going a lot.

So far, we know almost nothing except we've got to start saving, ASAP. My parents are going in March, and like the past two trips, we tag along with them. We make our own plans, but are normally in the same parks on the same days, so we can usually get together during the day. They are staying at Coronado Springs and we'd like to do the same, but we just have to see how much more it will cost us than a Value since we have about 10 months to plan and save for the trip. We are waiting for the 2017 prices to come out and then I guess we will make an official decision at that point!

****UPDATE: WE ARE NOW GOING IN SEPTMEBER 2017! We couldn't do early 2017 and thought we were cancelling for awhile, but we've decided we can do September and it gives us plenty of time to save! So please don't be confused by the first page or two of us saying we can't go!!!****

In case you missed our last trip report, or PTR.. here is our cast:

I am Britt & this is my husband AJ (aka @DarthDaddy)
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And here is our little girl Harper who is currently almost 2. She will almost 3 on our next trip!
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So that's about all I've got right now! Stick around for the next 18 months!

:)
 
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ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Yayyy!!! So happy to see your latest post! It might seem far out but the extra time to save will give you more peace of mind and help make for a more enjoyable trip. AND you'll have plenty of time to plan your ADRs and FPs too! It will be here before ya know it :D.
So true!! I really get to think it all out, and i'll have plenty of time to make my choices! I think one thing we are going to be doing a LOT less of are ADR's in the morning! They do not suit Harper at all, and they just stress us all out, of course she'll be 3.5 by then, so things could be different too!
 

ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
480 Days To Go:
Here are some VERY early thoughts for the next trip:

1) I know Harper will be a LOT older than she is right now, but she will still only be 3.5 on this trip. I think I'm going to avoid early morning ADR's. These have been notoriously iffy on the past two trips. She didn't even want to be in Ohana in April. It bums me out, and stresses me out, So I think it's a good idea to skip them. I may do ONE like Ohana again (loved it) but that will be it for the entire week.

2) I am going to try VERY HARD to do some Disneybounding on this trip! I know from experience that September is very hot, so it'll have to be something I can do in shorts, or dresses, but I've ALWAYS wanted to do it. 15 months gives me plenty of time to get together some outfits. I think it'd be so cute!

3) BOMA is a must. I know I just said I wasn't doing morning ADR's but I think I need to get back there, so maybe we'll do a dinner ADR? I need to get back to my beloved AKL, even if just for dinner! :)

4) I have NO idea if my parents are going in September or not. We haven't discussed it. I told them we couldn't go, and then we thought hard about September and decided that Yes, we could do it. Anyway, IF by any chance they go the same time and we get an "adult day" like we did this past trip, we've decided that our Adult day will be in Epcot! I've never been able to walk leisurely around and see what there is to see in every country. I'm HOPING we could catch the very beginning of Food & Wine! That'd make it MUCH more exciting.

5) Last thought for now is that we really want to stay at Port Orleans. Probably Riverside since I think they can still get room discounts (Am I correct here?) This is the one Moderate I REALLY want to see. I'm not sure how I feel about one bus though. At AKL, it made for super crowded bus stops. It was the one big thing I liked about CBR! Several bus stops meant way less crowded waits.
If that didn't work out, I think we'd probably do CSR, but I really want to aim for POR.
That's what I've got right now!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
5) Last thought for now is that we really want to stay at Port Orleans. Probably Riverside since I think they can still get room discounts (Am I correct here?) This is the one Moderate I REALLY want to see. I'm not sure how I feel about one bus though. At AKL, it made for super crowded bus stops. It was the one big thing I liked about CBR! Several bus stops meant way less crowded waits.
Port Orleans Riverside has 4 bus stops. Port Orleans French Quarter only has one (though there are two separate waiting areas.) The resorts *may* share a bus during less busy times of day. There is also an internal bus shuttle that runs between the two resorts. I have gotten discounts at both resorts, though Riverside discounts are usually easier to come by.
 

ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Port Orleans Riverside has 4 bus stops. Port Orleans French Quarter only has one (though there are two separate waiting areas.) The resorts *may* share a bus during less busy times of day. There is also an internal bus shuttle that runs between the two resorts. I have gotten discounts at both resorts, though Riverside discounts are usually easier to come by.

Thank you!!!! I am still very *new* to a lot of this! 4 bus stops actually makes me a bit happier!!
 

WDWDarling

Well-Known Member
So true!! I really get to think it all out, and i'll have plenty of time to make my choices! I think one thing we are going to be doing a LOT less of are ADR's in the morning! They do not suit Harper at all, and they just stress us all out, of course she'll be 3.5 by then, so things could be different too!

Early morning ADRs can definitely be rough, especially after a long day in the park the day before. It's hard for my DH & I sometimes and we don't have kids yet so I can imagine it's even harder for little ones.

I do think its worth it to plan one or two like you mentioned and then give yourself a chance to sleep in a little on the other days.

Happy planning!
 

ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It's only been a few days, but everything is changing with our trip! I personally believe for the better, and I'm so excited!

We were originally going to do September of 2017, and then go in 2018 in November to see everything dolled up for Christmas, but we are a little worried about saving for this trip, and then immediately saving for another trip, so my mom suggested to me today (Yes, we are going at the same time again!) "how about we just make next year the Christmas trip!" and I wholeheartedly agree!! I've been dying to see the Christmas decorations in Disney and taking my favorite holiday and seeing it in my favorite place sounds like a dream come true!


So here are the very loose plans!
11/25- 12/2 at POR!
Thanksgiving is 11/23 so I'll be off 11/23 and 11/24! I suggested we skip Thanksgiving and leave on 11/23 and have a day or two extra, which is not completely out of the question, we are just going to see how we feel when it gets closer.

Has anyone been in Late November? What is the weather like?

I am also changing the name of this PTR to something else!
 

blreinsel

Well-Known Member
I'm freaking out! I'm so excited! I thought it was going to be two years off, and now it's next year!!! POR is the one I've REALLY wanted to stay at, too. I'm hoping with weather a little cooler, it wont be sweltering, but I have NO idea what to expect in November!

I will get there someday! It's hard to get away as a teacher any time that's not summer or a holiday break which stinks. But SOMEDAY! So excited for you!!
 

ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I will get there someday! It's hard to get away as a teacher any time that's not summer or a holiday break which stinks. But SOMEDAY! So excited for you!!
We are taking advantage of the "off" seasons while Harper is still young and not in school. Not sure what the future holds and if we'll be taking her out of school to vacation. We've always vacationed in September, so school will certainly throw it off.
 

samantha788

Well-Known Member
My sister and I went this exact week in 2014. Left early Sunday after Thanksgiving and stayed through Friday. It was perfect!!! We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside too and loved it! That and French Quarter have become our favorite resorts. Crowds were great, weather was nice. Comfortable during the day- I remember wearing shorts/jeans, then at night jeans and a sweatshirt was just as comfortable. And NOTHING beats seeing the Christmas decorations for the first time!! That trip was our first time and it blew away any expectations we had. You will LOVE it! Plus we were able to do a christmas party which was an extra treat :) the parade, fireworks, and whole ambiance was so fun.
 

ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My sister and I went this exact week in 2014. Left early Sunday after Thanksgiving and stayed through Friday. It was perfect!!! We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside too and loved it! That and French Quarter have become our favorite resorts. Crowds were great, weather was nice. Comfortable during the day- I remember wearing shorts/jeans, then at night jeans and a sweatshirt was just as comfortable. And NOTHING beats seeing the Christmas decorations for the first time!! That trip was our first time and it blew away any expectations we had. You will LOVE it! Plus we were able to do a christmas party which was an extra treat :) the parade, fireworks, and whole ambiance was so fun.
This is so great to hear! I am so so so excited. ( I keep saying that!) but Christmas is my most favorite holiday, and since having my daughter, it's been even better, add in Disney with Christmas décor and I'm going to be in Heaven!!!
 

DonnaOnTheRocks

Well-Known Member
My last trip was the same week in 2015, we got there on black Friday and stayed til the following Friday. Crowds were slightly heavy that Saturday but the rest of the week was perfect! Weather was also perfect. It's so much more comfortable than the September heat/humidity. The Christmas party was amazing too, you'll love it! Currently planning for a 2018 trip... that seems way too far away!
 

ScarletBegonias

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My last trip was the same week in 2015, we got there on black Friday and stayed til the following Friday. Crowds were slightly heavy that Saturday but the rest of the week was perfect! Weather was also perfect. It's so much more comfortable than the September heat/humidity. The Christmas party was amazing too, you'll love it! Currently planning for a 2018 trip... that seems way too far away!

So glad to hear all of this!! I cannot wait!!!
 

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