Pre-Trip Not my best move by any measure

Oh boy, that was a huge mistake! In December of 2012 we took our first Disney vacation and fell in love with everything so we promptly re-booked for a December 2013 Disney vacation and hit the jackpot! On December 4th we were selected as the family to open the Magic Kingdom! A once in a lifetime experience
opening.jpg
that will never be forgotten. Re-booked for a December 2014 Disney trip like always. Well both my daughters compete in gymnastics and we found out in June that the first meet of the season was on our scheduled vacation dates and there was no availability for any other dates in December. I thought to myself that it wouldn't be a big deal if we skipped a year considering how great the last trip turned out. So, we booked a trip instead to the Smokie Mountains...big mistake. No magic, no Dole Whips, no palm trees, no Star Tours! We had a nice time but not a great time and I still have not heard the last of it from my girls. So.....

Today I booked our 10 day vacation for December 2015 at Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2 bedroom Presidential Suite! My self imposed exile from wdwmagic and disboards is over! Letting the planning begin and the surprises take shape. June 7th I can start make dinning ressies. I love reading all the pre-trip and trip reports but I never post my own but I'm so pumped for this trip I plan I detailing how epic this next trip will be.

Thanks for reading!
Paul
 
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gooftroop5

gooftroop5

Well-Known Member
Similar story here! We skipped 2014 and my kiddos won't let me forget it. We got hooked on our first visit it 2007 and have been every year and even twice in 2012! :) Have a 2 week trip planned for July 2015.

Have fun planning! And welcome back!!
 
Mickey81

Mickey81

Well-Known Member
Planning is so much fun, enjoy. I'm sure it will be great trip. I completely understand the struggles of working around competitions. My daughter did gymnastics for a number of years, and now does all star cheering. We was unable to go this january like we normally do because of competitions. When we book resssies for our September trip, we will be in Myrtle Beach for a competition. Can't wait to hear about your plans.
 
FlaggNL

FlaggNL

Well-Known Member
Prefeelings are more than great! I guess it is in one way easier for Americans to go the WDW, but on the other hand it is as expensive as for us Europeans! We have to go during Dutch holidays, since Sacha is still studying. So that's why we choose to go in October, it's cheaper than the summer holidays! And wow what an experience to be the opening family!! Curious about your plans :)
 
mrdrift

mrdrift

Well-Known Member
Can't wait to hear more of the plans for December 2015 trip. Being able to be part of the opening ceremony at Magic Kingdom is a dream come true. Sorry you missed the 2014 trip and went to Smokie Mountains. At least you will be returning this year and should make everyone happy again. Following along.
 
cedardad

cedardad

Active Member
Original Poster
A little update. We had planned on 10 days at Bonnet Creek but the girls expressed some interest in Universal Studios so we are staying for 7 nights at Bonnet Creek and 3 nights at Wyndham Cypress Palms. This whole Universal thing makes me feel like I'm cheating on Disney a little. Anyone ever feel the same?
 
Mickey81

Mickey81

Well-Known Member
Never been to universal, probably will some day. Doesnt really feel like cheating if it's a trip over a week. We've done Busch Garedens ( fun coasters, no themeing) and Sea World ( awful experience, horrible employees, will never return). Yes I know they are owned by the same company, but sea world was just awful. Never felt like cheating. Just promiscuous vacationing.
 
ratherbeinwdw

ratherbeinwdw

Well-Known Member
We had never been to Uni before last October. I didn't think it would be anything I would really enjoy, but with the addition of Potter, we decided to give it a try. We really, really enjoyed it. We'll be doing two or three more days there, in May, alone with our Disney trip. I see no reason to feel any guilt. You owe it to yourself to enjoy as many different experiences as possible. I wish we had started going there sooner.
 
FlaggNL

FlaggNL

Well-Known Member
cedardad said:
A little update. We had planned on 10 days at Bonnet Creek but the girls expressed some interest in Universal Studios so we are staying for 7 nights at Bonnet Creek and 3 nights at Wyndham Cypress Palms. This whole Universal thing makes me feel like I'm cheating on Disney a little. Anyone ever feel the same?
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I can imagine if feels a bit like cheating. We also did 2 days Universal during our last October stay. In someway it feels that way, but on the otherhand the parks are so different! Universal has one big pro and that is Harry Potter. That part is marvelous and there is not much in WDW that can compete with that. Maybe when Avatarland is finished we can all say that Universal has nothing that can compete. But on the other hand Universal still can learn of lot of Disney! The shows, the characters, the working people in Disney are way better than anything like it in Universal and besides the HP part in our opinion Universal have to many simulators......
 
cedardad

cedardad

Active Member
Original Poster
88 days to go! Another quick update. We have decided to dump Universal and go to Daytona Beach for 3 nights after Disney. My wife and girls want to see the beach! We already have a deep sea charter fishing trip booked as well. Earlier this summer the girls wanted for us to drive from Michigan so they could see the country and at first I agreed. The more I thought of it with all the stress of traffic and problems that could pop up we are going to fly again. For $1008.00, the four of us can fly non-stop and be there in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The ADR's that I thought would be tough to get were no problem. BOG, Minnie's Fantasmic, Sci-Fi breakfast any many more are planned. We are happy to see the Osbourne Family Lights before it is gone for good. Now, if the new Star Wars Launch Bay is open when we are there, that will be the icing on the cake.
Sorry for the ramblings of a crazy man, but I'm super excited for this vacation, Next year our oldest starts high school, travel gymnastics keeps rising and it's going to be harder to have our mid December Disney vacations. I plan do do everything I can to keep them going, but things change.
For now I will keep reading your trip reports and fine tuning an awesome Disney vacation! 88 days!!

Paul
 
rob0519

rob0519

Well-Known Member
Twenty plus trips to Disney later, I know exactly how you feel. Other places are nice, pretty, interesting and usually less expensive, but there is no magic, no Mickey and Minnie, no Castle, no Typhoon Lagoon. We've tried to stay away, but the more we try to stay away, the more the place pulls us back in.
 
cedardad

cedardad

Active Member
Original Poster
Wow, another update with changes. When I thought of driving down I planned on starting out a day earlier than we do when flying. So now we are leaving on the 11th and staying 1 night at All Sports then moving to Bonnet Creek the next day. Magical Express from airport to All Sports then use Uber for a week then rent a car for Daytona Beach! Uber is great for getting around the parks. WBC to Epcot is $5!! tip included and no paying for parking! Signed up with Uber and received a $30 credit. Loving the planning.
 
fractal

fractal

Well-Known Member
cedardad said:
Wow, another update with changes. When I thought of driving down I planned on starting out a day earlier than we do when flying. So now we are leaving on the 11th and staying 1 night at All Sports then moving to Bonnet Creek the next day. Magical Express from airport to All Sports then use Uber for a week then rent a car for Daytona Beach! Uber is great for getting around the parks. WBC to Epcot is $5!! tip included and no paying for parking! Signed up with Uber and received a $30 credit. Loving the planning.
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smart! Never thought of using Uber.
 
cedardad

cedardad

Active Member
Original Poster
Flights paid for, resorts paid. Next paycheck tickets will be purchased. What the heck I'm I going to do with everything ready to go and 80 days left to go? I'm sure my wife and girls will attack the Disney store with no abandon.
 
lisa 1989

lisa 1989

New Member
This just happens to be an occupational hazard of being a WDW fan. We've been to many other beautiful and interesting places all over the World, but however much we enjoy them, the visit always seems to be missing a certain something. Arriving for our 30th visit in November, plus having visited DLP, Hong Kong and California, with a few Disney cruises sprinkled in for good measure, we still can't get enough! No-one knows yet, but we've just booked a Panama Canal cruise for my hubbies 50th birthday in May. We'll break it gently to those not familiar with the pixie dust.
 
cedardad

cedardad

Active Member
Original Poster
65 days to go! Flights, resort and tickets are paid. Very cool thing happened today, on one of our MK days I was able to get BOG reservations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'll let my wife pick which one and release the others. Every trip report I read helps with counting down the days!
 

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