I can't wait..... I have to make a PTR...PTR!!

~edit~ WERE LEAVING TOMORROW!!! and there's still so much to do!! I still have some packing and have to take Clyde to the doggie sitter.

It's hard to believe that i started planning this trip just a year ago. The time really does go fast. Almost sad to see all the planning end but cant wait till 6am to start my Disney Vacation!!!

edit~When I originally posted this pre trip report it was probably to early but I was new to the site and sooo excited to find it. At the time I still had over 300 days to go. Well here we are less that 90 and still as excited as ever. Thanks for reading along.

I guess I'll start with my family...My DH and I have been married for 18 years and have 3 great kids. We have been to Disney 3 times and this will be our last trip as a family still under the same roof.

So here it goes, DH ( i get this sort of face in every pic but I love him anyway) and me



My DD will be 17 when we go the WDW



Other DD will be 14



And DS will be 10



We have just recently booked for the first week of December and will be staying at POFQ.

Only 315 days!!!!

 

[ShookieJones]

Excited to follow along....especially since you used a guitar pick to cover your address. sweet!

 

[Zipadeelady]

I know it's frustrating...especially when discounts are on the lean side these days and Disney seems to be pushing back announcements/releases more than usual. We went in Dec 2010 and discounts for free dining didn't come out until July and room discounts hit in August. Fast forward to last year...free dining wasn't announced until August for that time of year (I think room discounts hit later that month). I know they've really been tricky too about which resorts are included.

1 ?- did you call or check online? I know I've heard several people say they've had better luck by phone. Still, don't give up...unlike dining, people don't check every day for openings- so if you do...you might luck out.

I have been checking on line and calling. Just can't believe that 1900+ rooms are booked already. Still happy if we end up at POFQ ( i mean were at Disney) but the more I look at Coronado I would really like to try it.

Good to know about the time frame of last years discounts. That gives me some time to relax and not worry about what to do. Thanks HouCuseChickie!!!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Excited to follow along....especially since you used a guitar pick to cover your address. sweet!

AHHH a fellow musician!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Good to know about the time frame of last years discounts. That gives me some time to relax and not worry about what to do. Thanks HouCuseChickie!!!

If you use this link, you can track historical discounts (you'll need to scroll down a tad)...

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

So far, 2013 has people scared b/c it's not following previous years' patterns. i.e. free dining for the fall had already come out by this point last year. Sooooo all sorts of speculation and that if things are released, might be released later than anticipated. I think we all have our fingers collectively crossed for discounts on our respective travel dates. Hoping for the best for everyone.

 

[ShookieJones]

AHHH a fellow musician!

Dontchaknowit!

 

[gwhb75]

Lol...Yes it's the Crystal Palace!

In honor of the character dining at Crystal Palace...here is your prize ribbon!!!

Sweet.

 

[Zipadeelady]

I know I started this PTR a little early but i just had to post again to let you all know that...........

We're at 199 Days!!!!! finally under 200..never thought we'd make it.

 

[Figgy1]

I know I started this PTR a little early but i just had to post again to let you all know that...........

We're at 199 Days!!!!! finally under 200..never thought we'd make it.

Congrats!!!!!!!! only 19 days til ADRs!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Congrats!!!!!!!! only 19 days til ADRs!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are sooo right! I will be posting again to let you know what the family has decided on!

 

[Zipadeelady]

OK.....I'm at 180 days today and you can bet I was up at 6am to make my online reservations. Everything went very smooth. We each picked a place to have a TS then I got to pick the extra..

We will be having magical experiences at:
T-Rex
Boma
Cape May Cafe
Ohana's
Coral Reef
Teppan Edo
Kona Cafe for breakfast....I've got to try this Tonga Toast!

Some other plans that have changed are our resort. We have decided to stay at Riverside again. Next time we'll try POFQ. So excited...now I just get to sit back and..wait

 

[Todd L]

We stayed At Pofq 2 times before we bought into the Dvc and still miss that place.

Its beautiful and the Xmas decorations are great. Youll love it!!

The Boat ride Downtown is reall Nice and relaxing...a Bit chilly in December but still really nice!!

 

[foreverbelle]

Sounds fabulous!! I haven't tried Boma yet, a lot of people rave about it....

 

[Zipadeelady]

Ok everyone new update.....So my DH likes Disney but isn't crazy about it like me well yesterday he says to me "what drinks should we take to Disney?" WHAT!!! Did he just ask me a Disney question about our upcoming Disney trip? YES!!! I don't care if it was an odd question because it was a question. I so love him right now.

Also...only 153 days left!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Ok everyone new update.....So my DH likes Disney but isn't crazy about it like me well yesterday he says to me "what drinks should we take to Disney?" WHAT!!! Did he just ask me a Disney question about our upcoming Disney trip? YES!!! I don't care if it was an odd question because it was a question. I so love him right now.

Also...only 153 days left!!

I hear you on the husband thing! Mine is the same way and gets upset with me when all I can talk about is planning for an upcoming trip! It always catches me off guard when he brings it up himself! Have a great trip!!

 

[Zipadeelady]

I hear you on the husband thing! Mine is the same way and gets upset with me when all I can talk about is planning for an upcoming trip! It always catches me off guard when he brings it up himself! Have a great trip!!

It's hard not to talk about it all the time! I see that you went last Christmas so I'm going to have to read your TR, this will be our first time during the Christmas season!

 

[TheMouseFan]

It's hard not to talk about it all the time! I see that you went last Christmas so I'm going to have to read your TR, this will be our first time during the Christmas season!

It was so incredible to see all of the Christmas decorations! You will love it! Have fun!

 

[brifraz]

It was so incredible to see all of the Christmas decorations! You will love it! Have fun!

Agreed! We loved visiting from Xmas to New Year's a few years ago and did Thanksgiving last year. It is just beautiful. When we were there for the week from Xmas to NYE, we spent significant time just touring the resorts and looking at decorations.

Have fun planning! 6 months is when we really get cranked up with our planning.

 

[Zipadeelady]

It was so incredible to see all of the Christmas decorations! You will love it! Have fun!

Can't wait were really getting excited now!

Agreed! We loved visiting from Xmas to New Year's a few years ago and did Thanksgiving last year. It is just beautiful. When we were there for the week from Xmas to NYE, we spent significant time just touring the resorts and looking at decorations.

Have fun planning! 6 months is when we really get cranked up with our planning.

Now that my kids are a little older I would really like to tour some of the resorts! Especially during Christmas, I hear GF and WL are amazing that time of year.

 

[Zipadeelady]

OK...New updates!!!

Due to the Dining Plan we have decided to move our trip back two weeks to take advantage of the DP. I was able to get all the same ADR's with slightly different times but it all worked out good. Although we pushed back 2 weeks we have finally made it to double digits!!! 96 days till we pull out of the driveway!!

Another set back we had is our bills keep getting higher and are kids are getting more expensive but yet our income stays the same! How does this happen? Anyway we decided to get rid of our beloved Betty.. yes Betty is my mini van. She was a beaut. This was a sad event until I realized that I looked way cooler in my Malibu plus i was saving us $335.00 a month!!!! I have been driving a mini van for the past 16 years, just getting rid of it makes me feel 5 years younger. How will I get to Disney you ask? Well since flying is out due to the cost of 5 of us. My wonderful mother who happens to have the faternal twin of Betty says "you should take my van". I love my mother!!

These next few months should go super fast with all of the kids's school activities. Sooooo Excited!!!

 

[mklively]

I love going to Disney in December!! Christmas decorations are up, not so busy, and not so hot. Since we are unable to go this year I will be living vicariously through you.