Mom's buying so we're flying TR About This Page:

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

Great final thoughts! Thanks for sharing your trip with us - I'll be looking forward to your next one for 2013!

[Cam22]

for the dining plan review. Great wrap up thoughts, too! for taking us on vacation with you guys! Sorry another trip is quite a distance off.

[mzozzietj]

Darlene, thanks so much for your great details in your TR. I always learn so much reading your reports!

I've been wavering back and forth on trying out the DDP for our trip since it's just a 4-night stay and I do think we "could" save money with it... but traveling with a 2-year old there are so many variables that DH thinks it's too risky. If she has one melt-down or tantrum and we have to miss a meal then there goes our savings out the window. I do love the idea of paying ahead too though. I can't wait to try the DDP when DD is older and life is a tad more predictable with her.

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by kingfamily1129

Thank You for being so honest in your TR. It's nice to have an honest opinion versus a sugar coated one. Just because you went to Disney doesn't mean every single moment ends up magical and wonderful, even though we hoped they would be.

Your insight has helped me in my planning of my next trip and I can't wait to read your next PTR and TR, no matter how long it is we have to wait

Thank you so much for reading my TR. I'm glad that you've enjoyed and that it's helping you plan your own trip. I love going to Disney because I love being in that "bubble" there but you're 100 percent right. Just because I'm there doesn't mean that things won't happen or that I love everything. And I know myself, I would rather get an honest opinion about something so I just give what I'd like to get in return. Mom even says sometimes I'm "too" honest" about things.

Originally Posted by lauriep

Thanks for all the wrap-up information! I'm glad it ended up, after some time to decompress, being mostly a good memory, and that you do want to go back again. I have to skip 2012 also, but the way time flies, 2013 is really just around the corner. I've enjoyed following your vacation, with all it's ups and downs and will definitely be on board when I see your next PTR.

Thanks Laurie. There's no way you can keep me away from Disney. Yes, I went through a couple of long stretches between some trips (6 years between 2 and then 8 years between the next 2) but in those instances I was already an adult but there wasn't a lot of desire to go back as nobody in my family was willing to go and I'm not the type to go and enjoy it by myself. I have more fun "sharing" everything with someone. Now I have Lenny and Abby to share it with so the desire to go back is there again. The money's not but the desire is.

Originally Posted by chezp

Thanks for the wrap-up and interesting about the savings and the Dining Plan.

Thanks Cheryl for reading along. I'm glad you enjoyed everything.

Originally Posted by HiddenMickey

Have fun planning for your next trip....when MK will be a lot more exciting! Thanks for taking the time to share your trip with us.

Thanks. I'm glad you read along - and planning a new trip is always fun. The next one a little more so because as you said, they'll be more in the MK to look forward to.

Originally Posted by DawnK

Great trip Darlene!!! Lots of ups and downs...mostly ups!!! Everyone has a few meltdowns (including me) at Disney....so much to try to do..always go,go,go. Anyway, great pictures and the most important part is that you DID have a good time And next time you go you will have the new part of fantasyland to look forward to!!!

Thanks Dawn. I'm glad you enjoyed my TR and the pictures I included. Writing this TR I did realize how many ups there were. When you're in the moment, sometimes it's hard to focus on the good parts and say yeah, this part is a little bump but look at the good parts we've had.

Originally Posted by B.M.

Great wrap up! And it sounds like we will be returning to WDW about the same time frame

Thanks. If you're planning on possibly August of 2013, then yes, we'll be going about the same time frame. Lenny said he'd prefer NOT to go with the BTG so I'm thinking maybe going in August again. There might be a few days where the BTG's might overlap but they shouldn't be there the whole time (hopefully). According to a CM this year, I guess the BTG's go until about 1 week before the "value" season starts (so that put it to about August 7th for them to leave completely for the rest of the year).

Originally Posted by sophierushmom

Well we can start our own little "No Disney until 2013" pity party club! We will be moving next summer and my husband needs a little Disney break so no Disney for us until August of 2013. Although it stinks it gives us something to look forward to and well what would life be wihtout having something like Disney to look forward too.

I'm definitely joining that. The summer isn't quite over yet so it hasn't "hit" me yet how far away we're looking at but I can tell you come next summer, I am going to be so depressed with no vacation to look forward to - and by then it will really seem like it's still so far off. Oh well, what can you do? I don't want to wish life away because it does go quick enough as it is. I know moving may not be the ideal thing but that's something to look forward to next year for you. Are you moving closer to Disney though, that's my question

Originally Posted by KMB733

Looks like you made the right decision of going without the dining plan. Great final thoughts. Abby ended up with a nice collection of pins. Thank you for sharing your trip with us!!

Thanks Kathy. I'm still happy with my decision to drop the plan. And like I told Lenny, we could pretend we were still on it because I used a card to pay for everything . Abby did end up with a nice collection of pins - and she want's to add to it the next time we go. I had fun with it too so I'm not opposed to it. Besides, it counts as her souvenirs and they're small enough we can bring them home on the plane.

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Another great TR Darlene, I always enjoy sharing your families trips, and even with the downs, reading through I saw so many ups. I am glad that the downs are beginning to fade. I loved seeing Abby with all the characters, she so enjoys her character interaction and glad that flying worked out well, it definitely leads to more flexibility when planning for the next one.

Great overview of the dining plan / OOP, we went OOP this year as well (we had the TIW card though) and I have been noting in my report as well as to how well it worked for us also. I also never thought I would be traveling without it, but we also found that we ate much differently and that it gave us more options in terms to eating what we wanted, not what was part of the package.

Hope the new school year brings you less stress, thanks again for sharing your trip with us.

Thanks Meg. I'm glad you enjoyed another one of my TR's- even with the downs. Abby does really love the characters so that's why I always schedule so many character meals. They go at her pace and allow her to watch for them and get ready unlike at a traditional M&G where she can't really watch them and see what they do.

As for the DDP - I'm glad I went without it but it certainly will make it harder to decide what to do in the future because it did give us flexibility to order differently and skip a meal if we so wanted (which we didn't). When it actually comes time to decide though, like I said, I'll just plan both ways and see which works out better for us. And thanks for the wishes about school. I hope it goes well but for some reason, I'm really expecting the worst.

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Thanks for sharing your trip with us Darlene!

Thanks Marnie for reading along with my TR. I hope you enjoyed it all.

Originally Posted by Jakesmom1118

Great trip report! I loved seeing Abby so happy with the characters. All the down parts of any trip just make the good parts that much better. I did enjoy reading everything and am glad you shared!

Thanks so much - I'm glad you enjoyed my TR this year. Only after the fact did those downs make the ups so much better but thankfully writing this made me realize we did have good times this year.

Originally Posted by wishes

Thanks so much for sharing, Darlene! I think every trip has its ups & downs. I still remember my Dad having a fit over something stupid (like a map) the first time we were there, waaaay back in 1975! I really appreciate your candor & honesty, and I'm so glad you will be planning another trip for the future. And I don't remember who said it, but 2013 really isn't that far away...it will be here before you know it!

Thanks for reading my TR. I hope you enjoyed all of it. And IMO, itn't that a guys "job" on vacation - to have at least one fit over something totally stupid? I know Lenny has but some of them have been more humorous than anything. This year, not so much, but in the past he has. I'm glad you guys appreciate my honesty. Sometimes my mother says I'm too honest but that's the only way I can be. That's the way I was raised and I like to give what I'd like to get back in return.

[alexsmommy0412]

Thank You for sharing your trip with us. I enjoyed following along with it. I think every trip has ups and downs, I am glad you share the downs as well. I think Abby got some great pins. Looking forward to your next PTR and TR no matter when it is.

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

Thanks. If you're planning on possibly August of 2013, then yes, we'll be going about the same time frame. Lenny said he'd prefer NOT to go with the BTG so I'm thinking maybe going in August again. There might be a few days where the BTG's might overlap but they shouldn't be there the whole time (hopefully). According to a CM this year, I guess the BTG's go until about 1 week before the "value" season starts (so that put it to about August 7th for them to leave completely for the rest of the year).

.

Actually, we will either go the Fall/winter before or after you as I'm not a fan of the summer heat.... But either way; were in for a long wait.

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by disneynina

I really enjoyed reading both your PTR and your TR. I love the honesty....no vacation, especially Disney, is without its ups and downs. It was really nice to be carried away from all that has been going on with my family since the Spring, so thank you.

Thanks Nina, I'm glad you enjoyed my PTR and TR. Nothing is without it's up's and downs but we always hope vacation will be without them. Sometimes it happens (or the downs are really small), sometimes it doesn't. I'm also glad that reading everything took you away from your troubles for a while. We all need some sort of escape and it's nice to know that my reports can be that for people

Originally Posted by WeRDisneyFanatics

Great final thoughts! Thanks for sharing your trip with us - I'll be looking forward to your next one for 2013!

Thanks Heather. I'm so glad you've enjoyed it and will stay tuned for my next one.

Originally Posted by Cam22

for the dining plan review. Great wrap up thoughts, too! for taking us on vacation with you guys! Sorry another trip is quite a distance off.

Thanks Cam for joining me. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm really bummed the next one is so far off but since we're a little shy in the money department, it most likely will work out.

Originally Posted by mzozzietj

Darlene, thanks so much for your great details in your TR. I always learn so much reading your reports!

I've been wavering back and forth on trying out the DDP for our trip since it's just a 4-night stay and I do think we "could" save money with it... but traveling with a 2-year old there are so many variables that DH thinks it's too risky. If she has one melt-down or tantrum and we have to miss a meal then there goes our savings out the window. I do love the idea of paying ahead too though. I can't wait to try the DDP when DD is older and life is a tad more predictable with her.

Thanks so much for reading my TR. I'm glad you enjoyed it and that you're taking something away from it. That was my dilemma for this year - if we went with the DDP and cancelled a meal, then there goes the savings. Although I didn't do what many others here do - put money onto gift cards for the meals - I did budget for our meals and I was able to stay within that budget. I didn't put all the numbers for that in my summary as it was strictly what the DDP would have paid for but we actually came in really low on my OOP budget because we ended up ordering differently than I had planned on. So while there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the DDP, it's what works for your family. And us being woman, it serves us better IMO to go with that gut feeling. And if your gut is telling you OOP, then that's they way you should go (that's what mine told me).

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by alexsmommy0412

Thank You for sharing your trip with us. I enjoyed following along with it. I think every trip has ups and downs, I am glad you share the downs as well. I think Abby got some great pins. Looking forward to your next PTR and TR no matter when it is.

Thanks Kristin for reading along. I'm glad you enjoyed all parts of my TR. Abby did get some pins not only from trading put also from some PPer's as well (thanks again guys, you know who you are). I'll let you know when my next trip is coming so you'll know when to tune back in

Originally Posted by B.M.

Actually, we will either go the Fall/winter before or after you as I'm not a fan of the summer heat.... But either way; were in for a long wait.

The heat isn't what really bothers us - it's the humidity - but the summer works out best for us. We like to take a longer trip and with me working for a school, they frown on us taking any time that cuts into the school year. I'm not a teacher so I wouldn't be missed but that doesn't matter. They still don't like it.

[Cheeser]

I know how hard it is to stay Disney happy when you've had a bad trip. Our March 2011 trip was a doozy. But the only thing I can do is plan another and hope that this time is better. Glad you made it home safely and I look forward to another TR in the future...hopefully 2013 as you previously planned.

[saibot0001]

Thanks for sharing your final thoughts. I enjoyed reading your entire TR up until the very last post! The more I think about it, the more I agree with you on the dining plan. I think either way would work for our family too. We would just order a little differently if we were not on it (actually, we would order the way we normally eat...no desserts at the counter service and we would probably share dessert or an appetizer at theTS and we would probably bring our water bottles in to drink with lunch). We would probably come out about the same. I think we will probably end up going OOP on any trip that we could not get free dining for primarily b/c we do have a picky 10 year old who does not eat too much and I don't think that alone would be worth it. So maybe one day we will see, but we are enjoying the free dining that we have on our last 2 trips! Totally worth it!
I'm sad that your TR is over, now I need to find another one to try to keep up with. I can't keep up with more than 2 at a time because it takes too much of my time and plus, I would end up confusing myself reading more than a couple at one time. Oh...I do have one question....how many pennies did you end up with on this last trip?

[shnewell]

Thanks for writing a great TR, Darlene! I enjoyed experiencing your vacation with you! You have a great writing style.

Interesting on the DDP vs. OOP comparison. Our trip this year will be the first time we've gone w/o the dining plan in several years. DH is hesitant about this because he just likes to have everything pre-paid so we don't have to worry about it during our vacation. But, we have APs this year, so we are getting a Tables in Wonderland card which, in the end, I think will save us more $$. So, in the meantime, I'm tracking how much money I save using grocery coupons and such and putting that money aside in a savings account. Before our trip, I'll load up some Disney gift cards with the money and we'll use those to pay for meals.

I think that with each trip you have to look at the current DDP prices and perks and then decide whether it makes sense for you based on your family's current eating habits. I think we are also a family that can make it work either way.

I'm sorry that your trip wasn't necessarily all that you had hoped. But I'm glad that you're focusing on the positive parts and looking forward to a 2013 trip! Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

[mommapants]

Great wrap up and final thoughts. sorry this TR is coming to an end, I've enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing it all with us.

Could you post a photo of all the pressed pennies??

I just got a bunch of pins on eBay just for Evan to trade. 25 pins for 18.00 and free shipping (my very first eBay purchase).

Love the dining costs comparison. Since you can save money paying OOP then you need to check out next trip if Disney will be offering discounts on the room? 20%, 30% even 40% can save you even more.

[WeLuvTheWorld]

Great wrap up and discussion about the DDP vs OOP.

The picture of Abby with Tinkerbell in her hand is so cute. I love the expression on her face.

Did you end up with the whole set of pins (the square ones)? It looks like Abby did really well her 1st time at pin trading.

Thanks again for the great TR!

[sophierushmom]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

I'm definitely joining that. The summer isn't quite over yet so it hasn't "hit" me yet how far away we're looking at but I can tell you come next summer, I am going to be so depressed with no vacation to look forward to - and by then it will really seem like it's still so far off. Oh well, what can you do? I don't want to wish life away because it does go quick enough as it is. I know moving may not be the ideal thing but that's something to look forward to next year for you. Are you moving closer to Disney though, that's my question

Actually we could be because Orlando is on the list of possibilities for my husband. However the Army is not always very quick with their assignments so we will not know until sometime in November exactly where we are going next just know that we are moving at the end of the school year. I actually enjoy the moving so it really is something to look forward to and when we do find out our location I will be doing major research on houses, schools and all those other important life things! So I wouldn’t have time to plan a trip anyway or at least that is what I keep telling myself!

[goofysdtr]

Well, I've spent the better part of the last week catching up on your PTR & TR. Thanks so much for sharing it with us, Darlene--the good and the bad! I feel your pain on the time 'til your next trip. It'll be almost two years since our last trip by the time we get back. Your TR has helped give me a dose of the magic in between. Thanks! I know it seems like forever right now, but I'm sure both of our trips will be here before we know it.