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Old 11-12-2011, 11:03 PM   #1
deerislemom
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New Year’s Family Fun PTR – 12 days, 12 people, 3 resorts

New Year’s Family Fun PTR – 12 days, 12 people, 3 resorts

Cast of Characters:
Me – an unlikely Disney fan (really… I had every intention of being the parent who never takes her kids to Disney World. Now we own DVC points and annual passes)
DH – another unlikely Disney fan (I couldn’t have been more surprised when he signed us up for a DVC tour 3 days into our first Disney vacation)
DS – 13
DD – 11
DD – 4
Mother-in-law
Father-in-law
Brother
Sister-in-law
Niece, Nephew, Nephew – triplets, age 7

When: December 29, 2011 – January 9, 2012

Lodging:
3 nights at the Swan
5 nights at Old Key West – 2 bedroom villa
3 nights at Saratoga Springs Resort – 1 Treehouse Villa, 1 Studio

Basic Plan:
Six months after our first (and what we thought would be our only) trip to Disney World in 2010, we joined the Disney Vacation Club. Last January we used our points for the first time and purchased premium annual passes. Last year’s trip was over the MLK holiday, so we scheduled this year’s visit a few weeks earlier to get two trips out of the passes. Plus we thought it would be fun to try New Year’s at Disney. Last January my parents joined us for 5 days of our 10-day vacation. This year, my in-laws are coming for a few days, and then my brother and his family will join us for the last 4 days of the trip.

We fly from Maine to Orlando on Thursday, December 29 and check-in to the Swan. DH travels frequently for work and is a Starwood Platinum member. We’ll stay 3 nights at the Swan using Starwood points. January 1 we move to a 2-bedroom villa at Old Key West. Monday, January 2 my husband’s parents arrive for 4 nights. They head out on Friday and we transfer to a Treehouse Villa at SSR. My brother, his wife, and their three 7-year olds fly in on Thursday night. We’ll connect with them on Friday afternoon and their kids will stay with us at the Treehouse for 3 nights while they stay in a SSR studio. Monday, January 9th we’ll have until about 1:00 p.m. to enjoy the resort or a park before taking the Magical Express back to the airport to return to a cold winter in Maine.

Dining:
We segmented our trip and added the Deluxe Dining Plan for two single nights during our 11-night, 12-day vacation. Made it in just under the wire before they changed the policy for DVC members (segmented dining plans are no longer allowed). We also have a Tables in Wonderland card. Details will follow, but reservations include Hoop Dee Doo Review, Crystal Palace, Chefs de France, La Hacienda, Kona Café, and Akershus Princess Dinner.

46 days and counting! We’ve never been at a truly busy time of year, so New Year’s should be interesting. I’m open to feedback on these plans… please chime in with your suggestions or experiences.
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My Previous TripsWDW twice 1970s, DL 1985, WDW 1986, DL 1988, WDW OKW Apr 2010, WDW OKW and VWL Jan 2011, WDW Swan, OKW, and Treehouse Villas Jan 2012, Disneyland September 2012, BCV Feb 2013, OKW April 2013, Disney Fantasy August 2013, OKW Thanksgiving 2013, Boardwalk New Year's 2014, Disney Fantasy Feb 2015
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