Officially changed our reservation today.

I'm sad my parents are not going (well...they still haven't given a 100% no..but 99.9%) but it sure was exciting talking with the Disney reservations lady on the phone to change our reservation today!!

So what I did was this: I took my parents off the reservation and switched it to a standard room at Art of Animation...since The Little Mermaid section is opening earlier than planned! Yippee!! If my parents decide they are in, all we gotta do it make a new reservation just for them in a standard room. It is cheaper for us to stay in standard rooms anyway, even with us splitting the suite (Those things are awesome, but way pricey! Two standard rooms is cheaper...but a good amount.)

But I did change the dates too. Unfortunately, my parents places of employment make it kinda difficult. My dad can only take M-F...so that means we had to go Sat-Sat...and flights will be more $$. And my mom can't take any vacation in December. But she wanted to go at Christmas time. So we were going Nov 10-17th. Parks are all decked out by then, so it was good. Hubby did not have that vacation though. He can probably get it. At his job, vacation is assigned...you get it when they give it to you...and his vacation is actually the last week of Nov and first of Dec. So since it's just us, we switched it to then..and a Wed-Wed to save on airfare. If my parents can go..we'll just switch the dates back. No biggie. (Hopefully)

So anyway, if you made it through all that babbling, thanks! We're pretty excited. I am in total Disney World withdrawal here. Our last family vacation was Nov/Dec 2010, and then me and DD took a short trip in March 2011. It's been a LOOOOOONG time since I've gone a year without a trip, let alone a year and 8 months.

And we already have our 2013 trip semi-worked out! We're heading West!!!! Yep! DISNEYLAND!!!! And most importantly, the new Carsland!! I was at Disneyland when I was a kid when my mom and step dad lived in San Fransisco. I am so eager to get back..and see the place as an adult and appreciate the park Walt created and was there to see finished. The plan is 5 days at Disneyland and then another 5 touring So Cal! :) Doing it in August, so I hope that will be a good time to visit! :) It will be way pricier than we're used to paying for...but hopefully we can swing it!

REBOOKED!!!!!

Last week I called Disney Travel and canceled our reservation for November 2011 and rebooked for November 2012!

I've been posting about my dad's medical issues and the lack of knowing what is actually wrong and if/when it will be fixed. So they decided it best to cancel our trip to Disney this coming November. It was going to me me and my hubby and our two kids and my mom and dad...dad's first trip ever I was so super excited that he'd FINALLY agreed to try it out.

When I originally called to change the dates, I couldn't because the booking window had not reached our dates yet. My mom really wants to go when it's all decked out for Christmas, but her job will not allow her time off in December. So the week before Thanksgiving it was. So we kept the same week.

AND the most exciting part....we get to stay at the brand spanking new Art of Animation resort!!!!!!! I booked us a Cars suite!! So so excited!! It's costing us about $530 more versus two single rooms at Pop Century, but I am so so excited. And since we have to wait an entire year, it gives us more time to pay it off.

We're booked!!!!

YAY!!! I booked our November trip today!!

Our state tax refund was deposited the other day...so I had the green light to go ahead and book our trip! This is our big trip with my mom and dad...so I'm very excited. I've already made a list of places to eat (my favorite part of trip planning) and discussed them with my mom yesterday and I think we have it pretty narrowed down. Still have over a month before ADR day though. I think it's pretty cool that Disney's website tells you on your profile page when you can make your ressies.

My biggest dilemma with the trip is the stroller situation. My daughter is 8, but she is small and can still semi-sorta fit. We have to bring one no matter what, for my son- he's 3. Most people would think 8 is way too old for a stroller, even in Disney. But I just took her the beginning of March for our special mother/daughter surprise trip for her birthday, and of course, no stroller. But three days in and she complained, A LOT, that her feet hurt. Part of me wants to just say "suck it up" and make her walk....but this is my vacation too and I want it to be as peaceful and stress-free as possible, and that does not include a kid complaining non-stop. She would still walk most of the time, but it would be there when she did need/want it...especially later at night when she's tired and later in the week, when everyone's feet start to get sore.

So now we just have to sit back and hope and pray for a great promo to be announced for that time. I really hope we can take some cash off our bill!

Dates and resort is chosen!!!

My mom and dad have decided to come to Disney with us in November....finally!! I took my mom in 07 for her first trip ever, and she adored it, of course! We've been trying to get my dad to go and it was always "no" and really no explanation...so we let it go. But back a few months...I brought it up again and it wasn't a flat out "no". After that he said "If you buy the tickets, I'll go." That was his way of saying "Yes, I want to go." :) And when we talked about it last weekend, he seemed excited...so this is good!!!!

The time to go was very important. Dad is not a fan of crowds or lines, so it was pertinent that I choose a week that was low crowds. I belong to Touring Plans so right away I checked the crowd calender. We decided on November. My mom really wants to see Disney World all done up for Christmas, and after our experience last year, we decided not to go in December. So November it was, since the parks are all decked out by the 9th or so when Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party begins. Decided it best to wait until after Jersey week, when the crowd calender predicts lower crowds. Normally we go mid week to mid week (for the best airfare), but with my dad's vacation and the crowd calender, we decided to go Sat-Sat. Hopefully air won't be horrendous.

So dates are set...on to the resort. We have not booked anything yet, but that will be soon!! Originally we were thinking All Star Movies. We know we're doing value...it just makes most sense for us. And my dad would probably love the Herbie section. But our December trip was an All Star resort and my little surprise getaway with my daughter the beginning of March was an All Star resort. The bus service is really not awesome. It is fine, but annoying to have to stop at every All Star resort. I guess it's not much different than staying at one of the huge moderates with multiple bus stops, but still. So we talked to my mom and she agreed Pop Century will be better, even though she has already stayed there. It will be a better bus experience for my dad.