WOOHOO Christmas at Disney!! Another year or no wrapping for me!

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Ok this is going to be a boring post. Its all about my budgeting. But for me, its the most important part of the trip. See my DH will do anything to make me and the kids happy, but even he has his limits, and the limits revolve around a budget. He has never given me a set limit and said this is what we will spend but he will give me that LOOK and I know that I have gone over board with planning and buying.

So like I said we drive down. So we have gas, hotel, and food while we are on the road. Now if you ever stepped keyboard into the transportation board and read the driving thread you will see that most people will book and make sure then can cancel the day of. Not me. I am all about saving $$$ I figure money saved on the road is money I can spend at WDW. I book where I know we can get to with out any issues. So this year I booked a Comfort Suites 2 queens with a sleeper sofa which is the only way I will book for $82 with tax!!

Now the big $$$$ is gas. NOPE not for me!!! Gas for our trip is FREE!! Thanks to my shopping habits and shopping rewards sites. I alread have in my hand $225 in gas cards and I've earned enough points for $50 more and I still have back to school and Christmas shopping for family! Gas last year cost us about $250 so that is more then budgeted for. Now the only expense left is food and well since gas is paid for with the GCs and I still have points coming HELLO free Cracker Barrel GCs.

So our entire trip will be just hotels and MAYBE a meal if I don't earn more GCs. So around $250 to get 5 people to and from WDW is not so bad.

Now the while we are there expenses are a bit more. But since we are DVC members the cost of the villa I don't count. I know other members will but I don't it just sounds better in my head LOL. DH and I also have vaild APs that will not expire until March so another expense knocked off for this trip. Thanks to Disney raising prices I did buy the kids their tickets last night. So one expense is off of our list. Which makes me very very very happy.

So now we just have that LONG list of ADRs to pay for. Thanks to our Disney CC and our business we already have over $300 in rewards with about $200 more coming before we leave so that is half my DDP cost. I hit the Disney store about once a month and get Disney GCs and put them away. Makes my life easier and I know everything is paid in cash.

Now we just need a souvie budget. I am a mean mom. I make my kids save money and buy themselves stuff. Now I am not a total meanie we do buy them one thing. It can be anything last year DD #1 got a Dooney bag. Thankfully we go once a year so the kids don't ask for a ton. This year DS already said he is going to Ridemakerz for his one thing. Of course DD #1 is eyeing a new Dooney and well DD #2 just wants a WDW Potato head LOL Now DH will get his watch and I will get a purse, a hoodie and a kitchen gadget. I know I get more then everyone else but I did all the planning so darn it I deserve it.

We talked about doing MVMCP and I am still so torn. I want to do it since we normally get there the day AFTER the last party but this year they have one the day after. I know the last one is normally sold out so its the busiest and the day after they start the holiday parade and the holiday wishes everyday and for free. Sooo by not going we are saving around $300. I know I gave the kids the option to do either the party or the dessert party and they chose desserts so I went with that but I am still thinking HMMMM.

So stay tuned to see what I decide since I have no clue!

Since you are driving, I am going to go out on a limb and assume you are taking I95 to get to Florida. Here is a great site full of information about I95. I'm not sure how often it is updated, but you can see the price of gas by state, so you can plan and maximize the Gas Cards you have.
I95 Exit Guide

As far as the MVMCP goes, I have heard people say that the parade and holiday wishes is free the week after, but what about all the other stuff. Does it snow on Main Street, do you have the special Character meet and greets... The party is more than just a parade and fireworks show. I am going for the first time, so I can't say for certain that it is better to skip the party, but I don't think you get all the stuff you get at the party for free the next week.

 

[brianheather]

I have been following... Love your PTR so far... and I totally feel your pain with the planning... I change my ADR's and DVC resort often lol. I guess it is a sickness.
I have been eyeing up the cricut for awhile, but still have not purchased it. I am the least crafty person I know. Is it simple to use?

 

[PoppyGirl]

You're autograph books are AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I LOVE them! You are inspiring me for some ideas on what to do with mine!

Which one do you have? I have expressions. I only have the Disney font cartridge but I use it all the time for scrapbooking.

 

[Vickis3js]

Since you are driving, I am going to go out on a limb and assume you are taking I95 to get to Florida. Here is a great site full of information about I95. I'm not sure how often it is updated, but you can see the price of gas by state, so you can plan and maximize the Gas Cards you have.
I95 Exit Guide

As far as the MVMCP goes, I have heard people say that the parade and holiday wishes is free the week after, but what about all the other stuff. Does it snow on Main Street, do you have the special Character meet and greets... The party is more than just a parade and fireworks show. I am going for the first time, so I can't say for certain that it is better to skip the party, but I don't think you get all the stuff you get at the party for free the next week.

The I95 guide is my fav site but thanks for reminding me to add it to my bookmarks on my new cell phone!!

Well the last 2 years we saw snow on main street and we also got to see the special stage shows. As far as the character meet and greets they are not available at any of the parks. BUT since we are DVC members we make sure we make it to the DVC CHristmas party and we get to see them in Christmas attire there. So I think I just answered my own question. LOL I am going to order a cake instead to be delivered to the room.

Thanks you just saved me a few more weeks of sleepless nights fussing over to MVMCP or not!

 

[Vickis3js]

I have been following... Love your PTR so far... and I totally feel your pain with the planning... I change my ADR's and DVC resort often lol. I guess it is a sickness.
I have been eyeing up the cricut for awhile, but still have not purchased it. I am the least crafty person I know. Is it simple to use?

I am so not crafty or atleast I didn't think I was. The cricut is super simple for basic cuts and stuff. The Disney ones are a bit harder since you have to cut the layers and then piece them together. But if I can do it I think anyone can. I follow a few cricut inspired blogs and I get some great ideas and then go with it from there. I just got an idea on here in someons PTR for a decoration for our room that I can make with my cricut so you never know when you will be inspired LOL.

Yeah its a sickness alright. I think today I am doing some ADR changing. I just can't leave well enough alone!

 

[Vickis3js]

You're autograph books are AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I LOVE them! You are inspiring me for some ideas on what to do with mine!

Which one do you have? I have expressions. I only have the Disney font cartridge but I use it all the time for scrapbooking.

Awww thanks!

I have the expression. Honestly I think if you have the Disney Font one you really don't need the other unless you need the more detailed characters. I was able to snag the Tinkerbell one for CHEAP at walmart on clearance and the Pooh one I grabbed on ebay for cheap. I think if I didn't get them for the price I did I probably would have just stuck to the Disney font one.

Have fun with your Cricut!

 

[Vickis3js]

Alright so I was looking at our ADRs with the kids yesterday and there is some things that we MAY change. Wait who am I kidding there are things that I WILL change.

But since I need to really finalize our park plans I am being a good girl and not changing anything yet. Plus I still don't know if our waitlist is or will ever come through and that has a big impact on what our plans are.

So as of right now our plan will be as follows. Now just so you know I am pretty much doing this as I go along. I must say this PTR has really helped me organize some things. So thanks to everyone on the Dec planning thread of convincing me to do this!!

Arrival day. Well hopefully I can convince DH and the kids to get up and get on the road before 8 am. Mainly because I want to get to WDW!! BUT last year they had the DVC/AP sale at WOD that day and it ended at noon. So If we can leave early I have a chance of stopping at DTD and SHOPPING! If not then my plan is to check in at OKW and head to Epcot. That is my kids fav park. I know it will be too late to get FP but we will ride Test Track and then head to the countries where DH and I will grab a drink in France and then head to Morroco and grab the kids a virgin frozen drink they have been talking about for a year!! Then its Lecellier for dinner. Depending on how DD is we will either stay for illumninations or head back and get settled.

Day 2 is AK day. We are up bright and early since I got an ADR before rope drop YEAH ME!!! AK is our easy park we can do that one in about a half a day. But see this is where I have a problem. I have Boma booked for 6 and I know we will be done by then so do I change it? The kids want to add Kona in some where but being its a party night I want to avoid MK. Olivias at our resort may have to do.

Day 3 is DHS day. I have an early ADR for Captains Grille. That is DH and I's fav place. I swear they put something special in their Mickey waffles because they are the best. Plus its always dead so you get great service and its quiet and you can relax and not feel rushed. So after breakfast we should hit DHS before rope drop. Hit TSM ride it and then get fast passes and then hopefully ride again! Its our fav. We will see the Stunt show and maybe hit AI since we have never seen that. Then we have a F! package at MM. I am so excited we have never seen F! I was always scared to take DD. But my mom is lending us her head phones she uses at the Nascar races and we will let DD use my ipod under that so she has her music which she uses to calm herself. She is excited too because now she gets to see it and not just look at pics mommy shows her on the dis!

Day 4 MK day. We will be at ROPE DROP BABY!!! Then we will all ride Space Mountain as a family!! That is our only goal for this trip. Any other rides are a plus for us. So we will hang around until we have dinner at CRT!! DD#2s pick and she is super excited about it! She lights up everytime we tell her we are definatly going.

Day 5 Another Epcot day. This day we will do rope and hit all the rides we will run on Soarin and then head to TT and grab FP and ride depending on the wait. We have to hit the Cool station and I want to do all the little things in innovations this year with the kids. Last year we did 1 epcot day and we spent it in the country doing Kim Possible missions. But now I am not sure if we will be there until our ADR for Biergarten. I think I am going to show DH and the kids this plan and see what they think.

Day 6 Another DHS day. Mainly because the kids want to do lunch at Sci Fi. So not sure what we will do. We can sleep in, hit DTD, go to DHS for lunch and then head out. Or we can go in the morning to DHS ride TSM, grab lunch and then leave. I have Cape May booked for dinner but that may change as well.

Day 7 Christmas Eve in MK. OUr fav place to be. We will grab something to eat at MS bakery for breakfast after rope drop. We will hang out and wander around and ride rides here and there. We have a late lunch at LTT and then we might head out for a break. Then its back to MK so we can enjoy our Wishes Dessert party!!! SOOOOO excited. This is a first for us.

Day 8 Christmas day. This is our NO park day. We sleep in, well for us. The kids wake up and run to see if Santa left them anything in their stockings under our small fiber optic Mickey Christmas tree. Then we head over to WL for our breakfast at WCC. All the kids agreed and picked that for Christmas breakfast. I think they liked the idea of getting Milk shakes for breakfast LOL. Then we will hang out at the resort until dinner time. Where we will head to CR for our CM dinner. The kids all screamed that when I said they could pick dinner. LOL Then its to the docks for their Christmas present. Well I guess now I can't show this to the kids but I can go over it with DH.

So that is our plan. But like I said if our waitlist comes through some of it will change. Any advice? Any recommendations? I am so excited its getting closer and closer!

Day

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Sounds like you have a great plan! I like that it is not too overly full. I read some where things are planned to the minute, and while mine will most likely be planned like that, I think it is a great idea to chose a few things to do that day and let the rest be decided by where the wind blows you.

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

The I95 guide is my fav site but thanks for reminding me to add it to my bookmarks on my new cell phone!!

Well the last 2 years we saw snow on main street and we also got to see the special stage shows. As far as the character meet and greets they are not available at any of the parks. BUT since we are DVC members we make sure we make it to the DVC CHristmas party and we get to see them in Christmas attire there. So I think I just answered my own question. LOL I am going to order a cake instead to be delivered to the room.

Thanks you just saved me a few more weeks of sleepless nights fussing over to MVMCP or not!

Very useful site. I'm glad I could remind you of it. Thanks for the info about the week after the MVMCP parties. Maybe we can do Disney on Christmas someday. Too bad it is so crowded and expensive to go then.

 

[Vickis3js]

Ok well call #1,999,999 was made to Member services to see what is available to switch to when we will be down there. Nothing at BLT, nothing at VWL except a 1 bedroom and well I need a 2, nothing at Beach club for more then one night and the same goes for Boardwalk. I could get the last 2 nights at AKL in a 1 bed sv but DH said no that if we did a split stay we had to stay at the one resort for atleast 3 nights. UGHHHHHH So we are staying at OKW. Which I am happy with but I am wanting to do a split stay. I seem to like insanity. LOL So I am not giving up I will continue to call atleast once a week.

Until then I am going to continue to look at my ADRs second guess them, check whats available online, figure what I have is ok, and change nothing.

Told you I was obsessed LOL

 

[exwdwcm]

sorry nothing was available at BLT! OKW looks nice though and i do want to try it out sometime!

The I95 guide is my fav site but thanks for reminding me to add it to my bookmarks on my new cell phone!!

Well the last 2 years we saw snow on main street and we also got to see the special stage shows. As far as the character meet and greets they are not available at any of the parks. BUT since we are DVC members we make sure we make it to the DVC CHristmas party and we get to see them in Christmas attire there. So I think I just answered my own question. LOL I am going to order a cake instead to be delivered to the room.

Thanks you just saved me a few more weeks of sleepless nights fussing over to MVMCP or not!

so when/where is the DVC christmas party? i know about welcome home wednesdays, but not sure we plan to do it or not (it is our first DVC trip!).

the plans look great so far and your auto books are AMAZING!!!! love them.

and love all the great budget saving tricks you mentioned too with gas cards and pre purchasing disney store cards too. you can quickly save up that way! we are doing some of it too!

on MVMCP- i vote to save your money, since you can see all the stuff anyhow once they start running it during the normal park hours. I just wouldn't waste the money on it when you can basically get all you would at the party for free!

 

[Vickis3js]

sorry nothing was available at BLT! OKW looks nice though and i do want to try it out sometime!

so when/where is the DVC christmas party? i know about welcome home wednesdays, but not sure we plan to do it or not (it is our first DVC trip!).

the plans look great so far and your auto books are AMAZING!!!! love them.

and love all the great budget saving tricks you mentioned too with gas cards and pre purchasing disney store cards too. you can quickly save up that way! we are doing some of it too!

on MVMCP- i vote to save your money, since you can see all the stuff anyhow once they start running it during the normal park hours. I just wouldn't waste the money on it when you can basically get all you would at the party for free!

The Christmas party is pretty cool. They have it one day a week starting late Nov or early Dec I can't remember which. My kids had a blast last year I think its totally worth going to. We have yet to do the Welcome Home Wed.

Anyway the party is held in a HUGE tent outside of Epcot/International gateway. Last year they had photopass people to take pics with CHip and Dale and Mickey and Minnie. They had DeeVee there and a DJ that played songs and had little dance things for the kids. My kids got to Dance with Pluto it was awesome. They had free juice and free Christmas rice krispy treats. Everyone got a DVC ornament and they have all the DVC pins that are just coming out for sale. They also have a raffle for some gift basket. We were there for maybe an hour or two mainly because the line for the pins was really long. I think its definatly worth it. They probably won't annouce it for another month or two at the earliest. I'll post it when I find out!!

Thanks I loved making the books. Can't wait for my vinyl to come so I can make the shirts!!!

We will definatly not be doing MVMCP. I just can't justify it. Especially since I added the dessert party and now will definatly be getting a cake delivered to the room. I might even through in some goodie bags or something for the kids. Who knows.

 

[Vickis3js]

Ok so each time we have gone to WDW I have said before we leave I am not leaving this time without <insert many things here> and well I have always left without those things. Or I've come home and said OH MAN I totally forgot to <again insert a million things here>. So I am making a list of things I want to try or do or see.

Sooooo our big thing this year is to all ride Space Mountain. We are a family of wimps, well all but DD #1 and we have no clue where the heck she gets it from. Space Mountain is as adventurous as I get. I actually have a blast riding it. Last time I took DH on it he cracked everyone up. You gotta picture a 6'5 300lb bald man screaming like a little girl. Well go to page one look at his pic and then imagine him literally screaming like a 5 yo who just had her teddy bear stolen. Well thats DH on Space Mountain LOL. Well this year DS said he wants to ride it and well poor DD #2 said she would go along for the ride. If we do that one thing then the trip will be a success!

Others we have never done are:
Illuminations never seen that
Tiki room I know its Corny but its on the list
Tom Sawyers Island never been on it
Great Piggy Bank Adventure looks cool
American Idol was not open last time we hit DHS

Now for what I really want to do/try FOOD!!! I'm addicted to Food Porn here on the dis. I can look at the pics all day long. Our first trip to WDW I had a plan I wanted to try different counter service places and different snacks. But we stayed at Pop and DH for some odd reason fell in love with their food court. The only CS places we hit OTHER then the Pop was Flame Tree and WGP express. Next trip all we did was EOS and Mara. So I am all about trying the places on my first list.
That list is:
Sunshine Seasons
Cosmic Rays
Starring Rolls

Of course that might mean canceling some of my ADRs but if I can get just one of them this trip I will be HAPPY!!

Now the last list is one that keeps growing and growing and growing. Its my list of must try snacks. The top of the list is KRINGLA SWEET PRETZEL!! I left our first trip without it, second trip totally forgot about it, and when DH and I went we stood in line for 30 minutes without moving for it. FInally DH said he needed something to eat then because his blood sugar was getting low and we still had about another 30 min wait so we left without it. So my goal is to go to Epcot and get one. I am NOT leaving without that bad boy!!

Other snacks I plan on trying
Kaki Gori I will let the kids get that and try theirs
Anything from France
Cupcake from starring rolls
Apple from Goofys or anywhere although they are too cute to eat

So thats my big plan. I feel like I am still missing so many goodies!!! I am sure this list will grow as I check out the restaurant board. I really need to stay far away from that one but I just can't bring myself to do it for more then one day. So am I missing anything??

 

[PoppyGirl]

I am with you on the total fun of trying things I've missed on prior trips. Your plan sounds great! Hope you do them all.

 

[exwdwcm]

The Christmas party is pretty cool. They have it one day a week starting late Nov or early Dec I can't remember which. My kids had a blast last year I think its totally worth going to. We have yet to do the Welcome Home Wed.

Anyway the party is held in a HUGE tent outside of Epcot/International gateway. Last year they had photopass people to take pics with CHip and Dale and Mickey and Minnie. They had DeeVee there and a DJ that played songs and had little dance things for the kids. My kids got to Dance with Pluto it was awesome. They had free juice and free Christmas rice krispy treats. Everyone got a DVC ornament and they have all the DVC pins that are just coming out for sale. They also have a raffle for some gift basket. We were there for maybe an hour or two mainly because the line for the pins was really long. I think its definatly worth it. They probably won't annouce it for another month or two at the earliest. I'll post it when I find out!!

Thanks I loved making the books. Can't wait for my vinyl to come so I can make the shirts!!!

We will definatly not be doing MVMCP. I just can't justify it. Especially since I added the dessert party and now will definatly be getting a cake delivered to the room. I might even through in some goodie bags or something for the kids. Who knows.

Thanks Vicki- do they send info out about the DVC party- do you know which night they do them each week? definitely will have to check it out! especially since Epcot will just be a monorail ride away from BLT!

i also have starring rolls on my list. i used to walk past it everyday on my way to work- i used that cast member entrance to come into the park from backstage each morning when i worked at H&V, yet never ate there!

we LOVE Cosmic Ray's and Sunshine- both have great choices beyond just the usual burger or chicken nuggets. and of course, love all the toppings at CR and the music from Sonny Eclipse (is that still his name?).

i love the food porn threads too- i swear i will gain 20lbs. i am still trying to work off weight i gained this past december!

 

[Vickis3js]

Thanks Vicki- do they send info out about the DVC party- do you know which night they do them each week? definitely will have to check it out! especially since Epcot will just be a monorail ride away from BLT!

i also have starring rolls on my list. i used to walk past it everyday on my way to work- i used that cast member entrance to come into the park from backstage each morning when i worked at H&V, yet never ate there!

we LOVE Cosmic Ray's and Sunshine- both have great choices beyond just the usual burger or chicken nuggets. and of course, love all the toppings at CR and the music from Sonny Eclipse (is that still his name?).

i love the food porn threads too- i swear i will gain 20lbs. i am still trying to work off weight i gained this past december!

Well it seems to change each year. Last year it was every thurs or fri. I know we went on Christmas eve so what ever that day was, was the day of it. The year before it was the day before. They never sent us any invite or anything it just popped up on the member website. I personally think its definatly worth it. I've made all our plans so far and will definatly change them to go to it. Mainly because we collect the DVC pins and you can get them there!!

I need to get back to planning. The kids started football and back to school is coming up so I am busy shopping and running the kids to practice. I miss my DISNEY PLANNING!

 

[exwdwcm]

Well it seems to change each year. Last year it was every thurs or fri. I know we went on Christmas eve so what ever that day was, was the day of it. The year before it was the day before. They never sent us any invite or anything it just popped up on the member website. I personally think its definatly worth it. I've made all our plans so far and will definatly change them to go to it. Mainly because we collect the DVC pins and you can get them there!!

I need to get back to planning. The kids started football and back to school is coming up so I am busy shopping and running the kids to practice. I miss my DISNEY PLANNING!

thanks for all the info- i will be stalking the member site for any info about it. We'd love to check it out!

so school is back in session? you have all your ADRs, right? and you are not doing the CP i saw. Anything else you need to still book?