WDW Tips

Our next upcoming trip is what I lovingly refer to as the “Grizwald” Family Vacation. This is the 1st family vacation my family and I have taken as adults. The attendees are as follows:

Me(33)- Disney Veteran of 30+ trips. I am the master planner for this vacation

Jim (35) (DH)- Disney Veteran of 20+ trips.

Dad(54)-15+ trips to world but last was in 2002; Sometimes referred to as Jed Clampitt

Mom(54)-same as dad; we will be celebrating her 55th birthday while there

Chris(Brother)(27)-10+trips to WDW, Only one of us who has been to any overseas parks (Tokoyo Disneyland) Currently stationed in Hawaii; will be deployed to Iraq again this fall for the 4th time

Crystal (Sister in Law)(28)-2nd trip ever to the world

Patsy(Grandma)(75)-3rd trip

Possible Attendee: Cousin Melissa(26)-never been to Disney;currently live in NC. Undecided if she will be joining us

Background:
My immediate family has not all been together since 2004. My brother is currently in the Marine Corps and has been stationed in NC and HI. In 2005, both my parents and my husband and I lost our homes in Katrina, 3 days after my brother was deployed to Iraq. While both me and my brother have been home since then, neither of us have been back to MS at the same time. Late last year my parents sold their property to a casino developer and were able to purchase a new home and basically be financially secure into their retirement years. My parents are taking both their kids and spouses as well as my dad’s mom on an all expense paid trip. We will be celebrating my mother’s 55th birthday while at Disney and well as enjoying being together before my brother is once again deployed. Also last August we lost my grandfather while my brother was in Iraq and was unable to come home for the funeral. This is the first time he will be seeing my grandmother since then. This is also my grandmother’s 1st trip without my grandpa.

Accommodations:
We are currently booked at Old Key West in a 2-bedroom villa. This is the same place we stayed in 2002 when we took my grandparents on their first Disney vacation. I would have liked to be at a different DVC resort but this was the only thing available when we made the reservation and also when AP rates were released. We will be there for 7 nights. I also tried to get a bounce back rate while at the Poly in Feb, but again nothing else was available. I have also inquired into a Grand Villa but have had any success with price and/or availability

Travel:
Obviously since my Brother and SIL live in Hawaii they will be flying. They are actually flying in 2 days before everyone else and will be staying at All Star Sports for their first night on property.
My husband and I will be flying in but not arriving until 11:30pm the first night
My mom, dad, and grandmother will be driving from MS and arriving approx 3:30pm the first day

All flying travelers will be using Magical Express.

Advanced Dining Reservations:
April 4th
Whispering Canyon-Lunch
Chef Mickeys-Dinner

April 5th
Yak and Yeti-lunch

April 6th (Mom’s Birthday)
Hoop Dee Doo 9pm Show

Apirl 7th
LeCellier Dinner

April 8th
No ADR’s

April 9th
Ohauna Dinner

April 10th
check out day No ADRs

Other info
Our park plans will basically follow the ADR’s. We are not planning any water parks. There will probably be a few night for us to go to Pleasure Island and the marketplace. I have an EPCOT fireworks cruise booked on the Breathless on the 5th. At the time it was booked we did not think that my grandma was going to want to go to the parks with us so the 6 person limit on the Breathless was not an issue. We are still not sure how we are going to handle this but I am not wanting to cancel it. Maybe we will draw straws..who knows. I am hoping maybe there will be a cancellation with a pontoon boat and then the problem will be solved. We are also wanting to have a photo session at the Grand Floridian seeing as all of us have not been together in such a long time. I will book that over the next 2 days.

Well that’s the plan so far. I’ll keep you updated on any changes.

As I had mentioned in an earlier post, I pre-purchased a Photopass CD before our trip. We split the cost between the 4 of us which made the $100 price very reasonable. It also ensured that all 4 of us would be in the pictures and not have 3 of us in the picture and 1 taking the picture.

While at Disney we made sure that everytime we saw a PhotoPass Photographer we stopped to take our picture. Since beginning this service several years ago, Disney has increased the number of photographers. No longer is it just the person taking your picture when you enter the park. They pretty much have someone anywhere you might want to get your picture made. We took pictures in just about every country in world showcase (drinking our way around the world), in front of several attractions, and with just about every character. When you visit a character most of the photographers take more than just the standard “pose” picture. We have pictures of us walking up to the characters, getting hugs, and even kisses on our hands. The photographers seem to make sure that the casual aspect is covered as well.

After we got home we had around 100 pictures that had been take on our Photopass card. After we cropped and added boarders it came to around 220 pictures that were included on our CD. The boarders are pretty neat. You can add a generic “2007″ banner across the bottom or depending on what park you can add a dated logo for that location. I thought it was pretty neat that for EPCOT you can add either the EPCOT banner or a special 25 Years EPCOT logo with Figment and Mickey. Also when you take a picture with certain characters (Fab 5) you can add a signature like “love, Mickey Mouse” to the corner of the picture. You can’t however add 2 boarders. We got a magical moment picture with Donald, Goofy, and Pluto and it would only let us add one autograph to the bottom.

One thing I did not like about the Photographers is that they were usually insistent that you take your sunglasses off for the picture. In several of our pictures you can’t even see our eyes because we were squinting. I think next time I will just leave my sunglasses on. I think the pictures will be better that way.

Also since we went to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we were given a different Photopass card which offered a special discount of 40% off any pictures that we purchased from that night. We were told that we would not be able to add the MNSSHP boarder to those pictures if we did not do it that night. However, I did not have any issues with adding them to my account/CD.

I ordered the CD on Friday and received notification that it has shipped today and would have it by the end of the week.

About a year ago Disney started the Photopass program.  Basically you any time your picture is taken by a Disney photographer they give you a credit card size card (or scan the one you already have).  All of your pictures from your entire trip are stored on that card.  You can either view them at the Camera Centers at any park or view them on-line once you get home.  You have 30 days once you register on line to buy the pictures.

While we were there Disney was also testing being able to add your ride photo to your photopass as well.  They were testing it on Test Track.

Once you register and view your pictures you are able to add borders or descriptions to your pictures.  The cost is $12.95 for a 5×7.  You can buy all of your pictures on a CD for $99.99 and it comes with a copywrite waiver which allows you to print them at home.

I purchased 2 of the pictures which were taken on our photopass.  We didn’t have many pictures taken on the photopass so it was not worth it for me to buy all of them.  I ordered them on Monday and they arrived today.

This program can only get better.  I imagine that Disney is selling many more pictures now than they ever did.  I know that in the past we would get the claim tickets for the pictures, but very seldom stopped to view them.  Add to it that you will soon be able to get ride photos as well this is a win/win situation.