Let's Start at the very beginning - PTR:August 17-31 2014 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Let's Start at the very beginning - PTR:August 17-31 2014
PTR Part One
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read you begin with A-B-C when you go to Disney you begin with…....well your last trip, what else could it be. And that is where this PTR also begins.
My last trip to Disney World was October 2011. It was my first trip in the fall and first time at MNSSHP and first time staying at Shades of Green but most of all it was my first trip as a parent and that also made it my son Evan’s first trip. I have to say it was the best trip I ever had, just something so magical about spending time in my favorite place with my favorite person on earth.
As we were finishing up that trip I began to formulate this trip. In 2011 Evan was not in school yet, he is now in first grade so I knew we would be heading back in the summer. I can’t afford to go every year and wasn’t sure I would even make every other year so I was looking into the 2 ½ year range. If Mom came we would be staying at Shades of Green again if not I was hoping for a moderate. I knew I wanted to stay longer, we usually do 10 days and that just isn’t enough time. I wanted to be able to have a day at a water park and the pool and a visit to Legoland. I’ve always traveled in the summer and found the very end of August to be a good time. Although it is hot the crowds seem to begin to dwindle down. So that was it as of November 2011 I had a game plan…sometime in the summer in 2-3 years and for longer than 10 days…Hey it was a starting point.
Right now I’m in the middle of my 180 day windowso I have been working on my ADR’s so hopefully they will be all set before I get to all the details of the trip.
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Can't wait to hear the rest of your plans....and where you will stay. And yes I love how we are always looking at the calendar to see when we will go again before our current trip has happened. I jut love the planning.
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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
WDW- july 2015 beach club
I'm just so excited, I've been booking my ADR's all this week so each day I'm like "this day we will eat here and be in this park and doing this..." it is like a little vacation in my head and with all the snow this winter I could use a little vacation.
Now on with the report...
So after having a rough idea of what I wanted to do way back in 2011 I would quietly daydream throughout 2012. When I needed a Disney fix I’d looked at the various hotels to think about where I’d like to stay. I tracked the progress of the New Fantasyland to think about the new attractions to visit. I’d look over the school calendar to think about when we could go. And I’d explore the bank account too, truly the most important piece of the puzzle.
During all of that time I decided I would stay at Port Orleans French Quarter or Shades of Green. I can only get Shades of Green if my mom comes with us. She loves to travel and she is still young enough and healthy enough to do so but I know the time will come some day when she will no longer be coming with us. Since I don’t get to WDW every year I keep wondering if this will be her last trip. I mean you never really know do you?
As I said before, I traveled many times in the summer, I think about 15 trips in all were in the summer and I have found the last full week in August is a good time. We usually look when the rates drop and the park hours slack off a little and then head down. Our schools don’t start until after Labor Day and the local Florida schools all start the end of August so it just makes sense to go then. Everyone always says “it is so hot in Florida in August” well guess what, it is hot in Jersey in August too.
I really, REALLY wanted to go for a longer stay. Our usual plan is 10 days but last trip was the first time in a long time that I didn’t tour completely commando style and I really liked it. Evan was still too small to go on many things so we missed a lot so I guess I want to make up for lost time. Plus I would like to tour a water park, visit Legoland and hang out at the pool a bit. So if I could swing it I wanted to do 2 weeks. I decided on Sunday August 17 to Sunday August 31. I always like to have off the day before I leave and the day after I return and with the Labor Day holiday being September 1st, this worked out perfectly.
Last trip (actually the last several trips) have all been with a group and although I love my family very much I just didn’t really want a big deal this time. I loved just spending time with Evan last trip. But being the good person that I am I sent out notice to see if anyone was interested. My sister told me she would love to go but they were going on a cruise in 2012 and with their oldest child heading to college in a few years she figured they wouldn’t have the money – she is now getting her kitchen redone so I suppose if she really wanted to, she could have had the money. No big deal her husband isn’t my most favorite person so if I didn’t have to spend 14 days with him I wasn’t going to cry about it.
Mom said right away she was interested – Yes! Not only is she a great person and one of my best friends but she can help with Evan, will give me an adult to talk with and now Shades of Green is back on the table.
My Brother and his family stated they MIGHT be interested but I cannot tell you how many trips they have “planned” that have never happened. They have 2 college kids so doubt they will make it – but hold on, their final decision is still pending.
And every trip I always ask my best friend. She is doubtful but I’m still holding out hope that she might be able to join us, at least for a day or two.
Around August/September of 2013 the military rates came out for Disney World and with Mom coming I was able to snag POFQ. Shades of Green you can book 1 year in advance so in early September 2013 I looked to see how things were and they were running a sale. 40% off room rates for the exact 2 weeks we were planning. Tinkerbelle had certainly sprinkled her magic pixie dust that day. I quickly snagged a room there too. At this point I’m still holding the POFQ room in the hopes that Disney will offer free dining during our time frame but judging by the past few years, it is unlikely. If not I’ll cancel POFQ and we will stay at SOG. So at this point We are staying at Shades for only $70.00 per night – can’t beat that right?!
I ALWAYS book a car while in Disney. I know it is more money but I love the time it saves. Shades of Green has buses but for Epcot and MK you have to go to TTC and to get to other resorts – well you know how that goes. Plus we are doing Legoland so will be heading off property and it just made sense. I have found the further out you can book your rental car the better the rates. My last 2 visits I booked a minivan at 1 year out and spent about 400.00 for 10 days. Compared to about 700.00 if you wait until about 4-5 months out. This time was no different I priced around and got a full size car, for 2 weeks, with military discount for a total of $530.00. My Advice – book early people.
Southwest is most likely the airline we will use but their rates for end of August come out in early March. We will buy passes (thinking annual pass) once we check into Shades of Green. They provide a discount and there is no tax. If we buy them at our local base then we pay tax. The downside is you get a voucher which you take to the ticket window to activate – more on that on my day 1 plans. I’ll probably buy TIW as well.
So that is it for now
Me, Evan, Mom and a guest (see next post)
From NJ to Florida
August 17 – 31, 2014
Staying at Shades of Green (unless some miracle of free dining then Port Orleans French Quarter)
Full size car
14 days of fun!
BTW: I’m so afraid I will cancel my POFQ reservation and then the next day Disney will release free dining. I think if I hold off until June that would be OK. Disney will know what they are doing by then and I would still be able to get the deposit posted back to my credit card before travel and be outside of the FP+/Magic band window and PIF time frame so it shouldn’t screw up anything for any other Disney guest.
Coming up next – proper introductions of the cast of characters.
About This Page: 
...well your last trip, what else could it be. And that is where this PTR also begins.
. In 2011 Evan was not in school yet, he is now in first grade so I knew we would be heading back in the summer. I can’t afford to go every year and wasn’t sure I would even make every other year so I was looking into the 2 ½ year range. If Mom came we would be staying at Shades of Green again if not I was hoping for a moderate. I knew I wanted to stay longer, we usually do 10 days and that just isn’t enough time. I wanted to be able to have a day at a water park and the pool and a visit to Legoland. I’ve always traveled in the summer and found the very end of August to be a good time. Although it is hot the crowds seem to begin to dwindle down. So that was it as of November 2011 I had a game plan…sometime in the summer in 2-3 years and for longer than 10 days…Hey it was a starting point.
so I have been working on my ADR’s so hopefully they will be all set before I get to all the details of the trip.
Holly: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Deb
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
I loved just spending time with Evan last trip. But being the good person that I am I sent out notice to see if anyone was interested. My sister told me she would love to go but they were going on a cruise in 2012 and with their oldest child heading to college in a few years she figured they wouldn’t have the money – she is now getting her kitchen redone so I suppose if she really wanted to, she could have had the money. No big deal her husband isn’t my most favorite person so if I didn’t have to spend 14 days with him I wasn’t going to cry about it.
off room rates for the exact 2 weeks we were planning. Tinkerbelle had certainly sprinkled her magic pixie dust that day. I quickly snagged a room there too. At this point I’m still holding the POFQ room in the hopes that Disney will offer free dining during our time frame but judging by the past few years, it is unlikely. If not I’ll cancel POFQ and we will stay at SOG. So at this point We are staying at Shades for only $70.00 per night 
– can’t beat that right?!
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