The Moles' Hole....First EVER Disneyworld Trip, offsite, October 6th 2012

[nursechrissy32]

Hello fellow MP'ers! Greetings from sunny California...yes home to our beloved and original Disneyland.

For the past....well many, many years our family, aka The Moles Hole (Our last name is Moles)....have wanted to go to Disneyworld....we tried last year, however I was not granted the time off, but this year....we are totally going and I am so excited to share in the planning and trip report with you all!


Travel dates: October 6th to October 15th 2012
Travel method: Southwest airlines from Sacramento,California to Orlando, Florida
Resort: Legacy Vacation Club offsite (Condo donated by our friends)
Accommodations: Legacy Vacation Club
Ages Represented in Group: DD Clinton (age 36, first time DWorld) DM Christine (age 36, first time DWorld), DS Andrew (age 18, first time DWorld) and DD Brooke (age 13, first time DWorld)
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: First time trip to Disneyworld...VERY excited!!!!!!
Comments: Looking forward to planning and sharing, reading everyone's experiences and advice!
Cast of characters: The Moles Family aka The Moles Hole

With all of this planning, the reality that we may not get to go...due to inability to pay for the whole thing.....was sad for us. However, feeling as blessed as we have, to have had many years of enjoyment at our home base of Disneyland, one could not complain. We are very thankful for our life and all the blessings that we have. One day at work...I was talking to one of our unit's doctors (I work in a very busy Neonatal ICU)...he asked where we were going to stay if we could go. I shared with him that we may not be going afterall.

Later that night I got a text from our wonderful doctor...who shared that him and his wife wanted to give us a gift. I, of course cried and told him that he was so generous to share with our family, and he did not have to....of which he insisted that we accept his offer of a week at the Legacy Vacation Club Resort. He went on to tell me that it was not a luxurious place, but was close to the resort and would save us some money. With my crying, came my daughter's tears and the realization that we just saved well over a thousand dollars....we could make it work...we have almost 10 months to pay and save.

So this trip report will be about a thankful family going to Disneyworld for the first time...about budgeting and reading trip reports and anything I can about how to make this trip the most affordable and fun trips that I can for our family.

So here is the plan.....

For the next 2 months, each time I get paid I will buy one 6 day park hopper from undercover tourist. (They are offering the 5 day park hopper with the 6th day free and no shipping fees).
I am going to stalk the southwest airlines website vigilently 2-3 months prior to our trip so I can try and get the best and cheapest rates possible. (Please share if you have any thoughts on this...we have never flown as a family and I am not sure how to get the absolute best rates. I did hear that looking at midnight was a good plan). I am working currently, on budgeting for food, and other things such as rental car and spending money...any and all thoughts are appreciated please.

So....this is the beginning, I am so looking forward to this trip and thank you all for comin' along with us! Only 249 more days to pay for our very first Disneyworld vacation!!! Soooooooooooo over the moon!!!!

[katierella]

Congrats on DW. As a fellow neighbor and a loyal SouthWest/JetBlue user (into DL) I was shocked when I planned my trip to DW. SW was twice as much to fly than a couple other carriers. Delta was half the price at $300 RT (out of Sac 2 flights) and Virgin has a non-stop out of SFO for $300 RT. You will have to place MCO (Orlando) out of SFO directly on Virgins flight scheduler. It takes some digging. Virgin also allows 1 free checked bag and 1 carry on. Delta charges for a checked bag. These rates were for the first week of June this year. Hope this helps.

[candles71]

I was going to suggest watching Jet blue also. The new rules for airlines say the fare you see is it, taxes etc included. I don't know how that affects baggage fees, but keep them in mind when comparing prices. I love SW. We flew Jet blue for the first time to DL in Dec and I enjoyed them as well. How much you would save using SFO will have to include additional gas and parking fees. The long term economy lot at Sac is still $9 a day, or if it is close enough finding friend to pick up and drop off is easier if they don't have to take time off from work to drive to SFO. (Just a thought. We have been figuring this time and expense in how much we would actually save using SFO or Oakland).
One of these days I am going to ask you which NICU you work in.

[nursechrissy32]

Congrats on DW. As a fellow neighbor and a loyal SouthWest/JetBlue user (into DL) I was shocked when I planned my trip to DW. SW was twice as much to fly than a couple other carriers. Delta was half the price at $300 RT (out of Sac 2 flights) and Virgin has a non-stop out of SFO for $300 RT. You will have to place MCO (Orlando) out of SFO directly on Virgins flight scheduler. It takes some digging. Virgin also allows 1 free checked bag and 1 carry on. Delta charges for a checked bag. These rates were for the first week of June this year. Hope this helps.

Thank you so much!

[nursechrissy32]

I was going to suggest watching Jet blue also. The new rules for airlines say the fare you see is it, taxes etc included. I don't know how that affects baggage fees, but keep them in mind when comparing prices. I love SW. We flew Jet blue for the first time to DL in Dec and I enjoyed them as well. How much you would save using SFO will have to include additional gas and parking fees. The long term economy lot at Sac is still $9 a day, or if it is close enough finding friend to pick up and drop off is easier if they don't have to take time off from work to drive to SFO. (Just a thought. We have been figuring this time and expense in how much we would actually save using SFO or Oakland).
One of these days I am going to ask you which NICU you work in.

Thank you so very much!!

NICU, Stockton California

[candles71]

Thank you so very much!!

NICU, Stockton California

Ah, I have had a nieces in Mercy San Juan's and in Sutter Memorial's NICUs at various times over the years. One is 16, one just turned 9, and a friend's youngling who will be 10 soon.

[Hannahbelle]

Have a blast planning Chrissy! I think once our ADRs were made and the flights were booked I felt better about planning my first WDW trip! Also being a DL regular, I felt a little over whelmed with the WDW planning but it all came together nicely and Im a lot less stressed in planning our April Spring Break trip.

[nursechrissy32]

Hi Hannahbelle!! I saw that you went!!! I am so happy for you!!!!!!! I just paid for the touring plans website...whoa man I could make a mess of things! haha....but, I am going to take it slow and just plan the parks we are going to do...better not plan bathroom breaks and atm stops hahah.

Did you do a trip report? I am going to go read it if you did. And so cool you are gonig back in April!!!

[yellowrosedtxn]

A good website to look at flying is either www.travelzoo.com (look under the super search) or www.kayak.com because you only need to put in your information once and can look at several different air travel sites. That does not include Southwest though. So, I always go look at their sites as well. And don't wait for just a couple of months before going, start looking now. I have always been told the best days to look for good rates are Tuesday - Thursday.

When going to WDW (because I LOVE Disneyland) just remember you will not be able to do it all. Look at the things you and your family want to do the most, and plan for those things. Then go back and see if you can or want to fill it in with more. Another website that I like is www.tourguidmike.com. He was good for telling you on which days what parks are best to visit for less people. You have to pay for the site, but it is not a large fee and it is good for up to 30 days AFTER your trip, even if your trip is 2 years from now.

I am excited for you to go. This year we are going back to Disneyland at Thanksgiving. Then our next vacation is a Disney cruise with a possible trip to WDW. Haven't decided on that for sure yet though.

Good luck and just have fun planning AND then at WDW!

[Hannahbelle]

Did you do a trip report? I am going to go read it if you did. And so cool you are going back in April!!!

Yes! Well I started one anyway. I promise to finish it....its just hard to make the time. WDW is amazing you're going to love it! I'm so happy to get an opportunity to go back. We actually joined the DVC and our home resort is Aulani. Im postponing Aulani by a year because this opportunity to go back to WDW came up. (Hubby is working a conference and our Premiere passes are still good)

Yikes! I HAVE to finish my trip report before I leave for another one!! LOL!

[nursechrissy32]

A good website to look at flying is either www.travelzoo.com (look under the super search) or www.kayak.com because you only need to put in your information once and can look at several different air travel sites. That does not include Southwest though. So, I always go look at their sites as well. And don't wait for just a couple of months before going, start looking now. I have always been told the best days to look for good rates are Tuesday - Thursday.

When going to WDW (because I LOVE Disneyland) just remember you will not be able to do it all. Look at the things you and your family want to do the most, and plan for those things. Then go back and see if you can or want to fill it in with more. Another website that I like is www.tourguidmike.com. He was good for telling you on which days what parks are best to visit for less people. You have to pay for the site, but it is not a large fee and it is good for up to 30 days AFTER your trip, even if your trip is 2 years from now.

I am excited for you to go. This year we are going back to Disneyland at Thanksgiving. Then our next vacation is a Disney cruise with a possible trip to WDW. Haven't decided on that for sure yet though.

Good luck and just have fun planning AND then at WDW!

Thank you!!!

[nursechrissy32]

haha, can not wait to read it!

[nursechrissy32]

Ah, I have had a nieces in Mercy San Juan's and in Sutter Memorial's NICUs at various times over the years. One is 16, one just turned 9, and a friend's youngling who will be 10 soon.

Very Nice! sutter is awesome!!! Can you tell they were once preemies now? These lil miracles end up being the most smart, and strong children ever!!!!

[nursechrissy32]

www.touringplans.com


Oh man this site of color coded planning could be some massive dangerous stuff...for people like meeeeeee!!! So I have decided not to get all crazy and schedule bathroom breaks and locations of atm's hahaha...but I did use the crowd forecast to schedule what park to see first.

I started to look up airlines, but most of them have no published rates for my dates yet...what is wrong with people not scheduling a vacay 10 months in advance? ! hahaha!!!!

So, ill keep you all updated as to when I get the prices pinned down.

I am buying my first of 4 park hoppers on Thursday!!!

[DisneyFunFamily4]

Yikes! I HAVE to finish my trip report before I leave for another one!! LOL!

why yes you do! and once you get to day 5 I can help! Cant wait till april.

NurseChrissy, you picked a great time to go. We were there oct 6-11 last year and we had such a great time! dont forget to take in to account you will be there for the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot when you are planning your ADR's. We ate around the world on two different days there was still plenty we didnt get to try. I did a trip report, check it out if you haven't already. We are DL locals (temporally transplanted to the east coast) OUr first trip to WDW was a little overwhelming but it's so worth it. you'll love it!

[nursechrissy32]

why yes you do! and once you get to day 5 I can help! Cant wait till april.

NurseChrissy, you picked a great time to go. We were there oct 6-11 last year and we had such a great time! dont forget to take in to account you will be there for the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot when you are planning your ADR's. We ate around the world on two different days there was still plenty we didnt get to try. I did a trip report, check it out if you haven't already. We are DL locals (temporally transplanted to the east coast) OUr first trip to WDW was a little overwhelming but it's so worth it. you'll love it!

Thank you ! Yes, I will check out your trip report I am a bit in the non understanding mode about the food and wine festival...what is the difference at Epcot? They have more of a variety of foods? I was already overwhelmed thinking that there was so much variety anyways! Is there extra cost for certain things?

Thank you <3

[danyoung]

The F&W Fest is a much bigger deal at Epcot than at DCA. They do many booths (like over 20?) that each have 2 or 3 different things to munch, a couple of desserts, and 2 or 3 wines. It's a whole buncha fun to eat and drink around the World Showcase Lagoon, getting exotic and tasty food and drinking small cups of excellent wine. There are a lot of seminars available too, and there's the Eat to the Beat concert series that features vintage groups (think The Turtles, David Cassidy, Davy Jones, etc.).

[DwarfPlanet]

Hey NC glad your finally getting to go. Make sure you take some comfy shoes for theres alot more walking involved at WDW than at DLR.

[nursechrissy32]

Hey NC glad your finally getting to go. Make sure you take some comfy shoes for theres alot more walking involved at WDW than at DLR.

hehe thank you for the heads up! Is it really going to cost us 4-500 a piece to fly? I have been checking every day...and these are the rates so far...ahhhhhhh a bit discouraging....any thoughts?

[nursechrissy32]

My sweet darling daughter came home from school today...proclaiming that she got a job. (she is 13).

So...I asked her where she got a job...she was in school all day, and told me that she knew how she could help save money for Disneyworld.

"Mom...you and dad dont have to buy my lunches anymore."

"Honey, its only 2.50 a day, its not alot of money."

"Well, I signed up to be a food helper, and I get free lunch. So by October, that could be almost 400 dollars saved."

Of course I cried...so proud of my sweet girl!! Apparently, her middle school uses cafeteria helpers at lunch time, and she will get free lunches. She told me she has been on the waiting list for 2 weeks, but didnt want to tell me until she "got the job" haha..

So, just wanted to share with you all.

OH!!! And in 9 days....we will have saved enough to buy our tickets!!! Of course I will post a pic when they arrive!

[scoobydooby]

Wow that's cute. And she just bought her own plane ticket!

[danyoung]

....any thoughts?

Check out airfarewatchdog.com. They let you sign up for fare alerts for multiple airport combinations. If you have more than one airport in your area, this is a great way to find the cheapest fare.

[yellowrosedtxn]

That was so sweet of your daughter! You can tell that she really wants to go to WDW to help out that way!

[nursechrissy32]

Thank you everyone !!!

[candles71]

13 year old girls have their moments.... (I'm on my second one, I know of what I speak :P) LOve it.