Nice score!Thanks to our flight credits*, we spent just under $900 for four** people. The original cost would’ve been around $2800. That’s almost a 70% savings!
Great resort picks and 9 nights is a dream!Book Resorts -Polynesian Village Resort (Studio - 5 nights) & Beach Club Villas (Studio - 4 nights)
See I knew I liked you....anyone who loves CoP is a good person!
It is going to be incredible! We did a 10 day Poly trip for spring break back in 2010 (with rack rates of $260/n) and three boys LOVED it there!! The twins celebrated their 8th birthday that trip and Jack was almost 10 and it was simply perfect.Why yes, M, we will be staying at the Tiki Man Resort!
This reservation came through weeks ago and M is still talking about it.
I’m so excited about the volcano pool, the monorail, and the proximity to Ohana and Kona. I’m also excited to finally try the pulled pork nachos (they look delicious!) and a drink from Trader Sam’s.
I was (and still am) flabbergasted. This trip is going to be amazing!
Wow!! Great to be able to use the credits for a fabulous saving on flights!
YES! I was honored to be a Bridesmaid in her weddingWelcome, Alicia! I’m so excited that you’re here! You’re a Disney-with-kids expert so I’d love any feedback you have.
I’m still a bit sad that we missed on our 2020 trip, but this trip should help make up for it!
Yes, M is going to LOVE Disney World. She’s definitely the second most excited person in our family for the trip.
As for the coasters, I’m planning to ease in slowly. We had her join us on the “family” coaster at our local amusement park and she was traumatized. It was not the reaction I was expecting as she loves to go fast and spin fast… but somehow it was too much. We’ll be in MK first so we’ll start with Barnstormer and then move on to 7DMT if that goes well. We’ve been talking a lot about the roller coasters and I think she’ll give them a try, but I’m happy for her to bypass them this time if it results in a happier girl.
(And I’m not even going there with BTMRR or Everest… I’ll happily take her on them but I don’t think they’re worth pressing until she’s older.)
She does, right? And thank goodness… I adore M but I do not need two of her!
I can’t believe it worked out so well. This will allow us to have two “off” or flex days which should keep us from burning out. This will also give M plenty of time for the pool!
Thank you! I was surprised when that came through so easily - I’ve read so many times that it’s hard to book through DVC. I’m super excited about that short walk to Epcot!
Isn’t that hysterical? I hope I don’t slip into calling it the Tiki Man Resort while I’m there!
And thank you!
Isn’t that the truth?!
I really was stunned… but I went with it! I needed to get everything booked before he changed his mind!
Thank you! I’m super excited about staying at an Epcot-area resort for the first time.
Hi, Cindi! It’s wonderful to be back on the DIS and I am SO excited to go back to Disney World!
And I completely agree, I get very excited when I see someone I “know” here. It seems many folks have left or aren’t as active as they used to be (which I understand, as I’m one of them!) so it’s always delightful to see a familiar name.
Thank you for the congratulations! We were so happy to welcome L - we waited longer than we’d hoped. It will be amazing to introduce Disney to both girls.
(Also, did I spot you in Dugette’s wedding pictures on FB? I thought it looked like you…)
Thanks! I was so happy to stumble upon the fact that we still had flight credits at both airlines. And you’re right - it was definitely a use it or lose it situation (and I’m happy we were able to use it!).
Thank you! I (and M) are SO excited! Certainly, we would’ve been very happy at another resort as well, but I think the Poly will be so convenient and I’m thrilled to have a chance to stay there.
Thank you, again! I’m so glad I was reading random FAQs and randomly searched for messages before booking those flights - I’ll take any savings I can get!And another congrats are in order for the awesome flight luck! That's fantastic that you were able to use credits and save some money on those flights.
I'm right there with you on buying seats for the babies/toddlers. I've never done a lap seat, that just sounds miserable.
Thank you! I’m so excited about both of them (SO CLOSE to the parks!) and I’m so happy we can take our time and take breaks with such a long trip.
$260 a night?! Wow! We certainly enjoyed savings by renting points (almost 50% the studio rack rates!) but we’re paying much more than than $260 a night.
Yes, I was REALLY excited when I realized we still had those credits. I swear we’d tried to use some flight credits before (perhaps my husband’s United credits?) and found it to be very cumbersome. It was very easy to use credits for both Southwest and Delta.
I thought so!YES! I was honored to be a Bridesmaid in her wedding
) strollers, but never purchased a double stroller due to the age difference in our kids. We hated to drop $500+ on a stroller that we’d maybe use occasionally for a year or two… but Disney World is an exception. We rented a double Baby Jogger City Mini GT as we LOVE our single stroller version of the same stroller. @khertz was kind enough to answer my question about OSR and we went ahead and pulled the trigger!
I know. I know.Where, oh where, is the Magical Express?!
Next is a rental car… have you seen the rental car prices?! We’d need a car for nine days, so the lowest rental car price for a company I’m willing to rent from (Alamo with our Costco discount) is nearly $700!
Yes.
). The only downside is the storage compartment underneath isn't a large in the double.
I was sad when I learned that the Magical Express was ending (I LOVED it and used it for every trip from 2007 on), but I’m really feeling the loss now that I’m traveling with two young kids. If only I could guarantee a coach bus with Mears I would consider it, but it seems less likely of a guarantee since we’re not staying at as large of a resort (Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, etc.).I know. I know.
This is a great idea!
I even tried a rental with a same-day drop off and pick up and the price is exactly the same. I’m sure the extra-high cost is due to picking off at one location and dropping off at another (that always seems to increase the cost), but I wasn’t expecting it to be more than double the cost of a one-day rental that picks up and returns to MCO. Yikes!I appreciate the feedback! We LOVE our single City Mini and would’ve absolutely bought the double if we had kids closer in age. That’s a bummer about the storage basket but not a huge surprise as our City Mini has the smallest basket of all of our strollers. I’m hoping a smaller basket is an incentive rather than a detriment - I’m used to carrying a small purse in Disney and want to minimize the amount of stuff we schlep in every day. I’m sure it will be more than prior trips but I am refuse to carry every last “I might need it” thing.I used to own the City Mini double jogger stroller and loved it! It's just as good as the single (I had that too
We’ve been on several trips since having M (including several that involved rental cars and bringing/renting a car seat) so I didn’t anticipate how much more work this would be. I’m sure the difference is I know Disney World has multiple transportation options thanks to my travels and the DIS - I’d never consider something like a town car if I was going to San Francisco, for example. (But frankly, maybe I should!
)
HI! Not sure if I have commented, but I am following along! I have a 3 year old and 20 month old (at least I think he is 20, I lost count recently), and I have been Following PixieDustedMom on YouTube and she is AMAZING for tips with toddlers! Her kids are about the same age difference as mine so it is super helpful! We also purchase seats for our "lap baby" age children. I was on a flight with terrible turbulence once and someone dropped their baby on the plane. That was enough for me (many years pre-children) to decide to fly with a car seat. We have the cheap Cosco Senera Next carseats and my daughter calls it her "airplane seat." She gets so excited when we bring it out!
What? Highway robbery.I priced out the current cost of picking up a car from MCO and dropping it off at the Disney Car Care Center (who I LOVE and have used several times). Unbelievably (or not?), the price was much higher than I expected - around $150 for a one-day rental!
Good luck!That said, rental car costs fluctuate a ton, so I’ll check a few more times to see if I can beat the price.
).
(That Yeti is a strong pull!)
awwww...
The other very funny comment from M that threw me for a loop was an unexpected ride request. She told me she wants to go with me on Expedition Everest (yes, she used the entire ride name) in order to see the Yeti. I mentioned that Everest is a pretty intense roller coaster and she said that was fine.
This is the same girl that is nervous about riding the Barnstormer and is still considering if she can brave Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Slinky Dog.
But Everest? No problem!
I don’t know if she’ll decide to ride Everest once we get there (or if she’ll be tall enough - she’s pretty petite for a five-year-old!) but this exchange was a hoot.
Welcome, Katie! Thanks so much for joining in!
Indeed. I expected a ridiculous price but it was WAY more ridiculous than I expected.
Yes, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Certainly, I’ll take her on if she wants but I don’t want to ruin the rest of our day.
Thankfully we’ll be at MK first so we’ll see how Barnstormer and Seven Dwarfs go and go from there.
Good test coasters. If she can handle that... hmmm... I think BTMRR is less intense than EE. Better still, SDD would be a good next step, I'd think?Yes, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Certainly, I’ll take her on if she wants but I don’t want to ruin the rest of our day.
Yes, my plan was to start with Barnstormer (little and short), then 7DMT, and then Slinky Dog on our HS day. I was going to bypass BTMRR for M this trip (as she seems skittish about roller coasters) as it’s more intense than the other coasters I listed. And I’m not even considering RnRC or TRON for her (and she wouldn’t be tall enough for the second one anyway).
Welcome - I’m so glad you stumbled over! When is your trip?
She is also not excited about Haunted Mansion but is willing to try it once as her mommy LOVES that attraction. (Although, interestingly, she’d LOVE to go on the Nightmare Before Christmas version available at Disneyland during the holidays… kids! 
)
I’m so excited to try Capt. Cook’s! I’ve heard so many great things about it (the nachos, pork sandwich, and Thai meatballs all sound especially good!) and can’t wait to have it so close.
It certainly does! I’m not 100% set on this plan, but am unsure of another good place to fit in Boma. I’d actually not planned to go to Boma (or the AKL) at all, but between a YouTube review by Addicted to the Mouse (I LOVE their food reviews!) and @StarWarsMomofGirls! ’s Boma review on her trip report… I’m trying to find a way to squeeze it in.The Firework Dessert Party has soooo many sweets, so I'd keep that in mind before a Boma buffet. But then again, I'm thinking of my husband, who would eat his weight in zebra domes if he could.
) and I prefer Jambo House to Kidani Village. )I didn’t even have Sci-Fi on my radar until M spotted it on a YouTube video and asked, “what is that?” She seems very interested in eating there, while I am unsure (between L perhaps eating better in a highchair, plus the darkness of the restaurant). I think I’m more likely to book 50’s Prime Time (a personal favorite and very highchair-friendly) and save Sci-Fi for a future trip when the kids are bigger.
I’m so torn on this one! I’d love to try a new place, but the reviews for Roundup Rodeo give me pause. I’m not sure we’d want a two hour meal in the middle of the day, plus I’m nervous about the overhead speaker noise. Hollywood Brown Derby would be so much faster (and cheaper!) - and yes, I’d absolutely get that Cobb salad!TSL is a great place to spend in the morning with kids in DHS. So Roundup would be really convenient. But then again, by that point you might just want something light like the cobb salad from Brown Derby.
Basically, I have no advice on that front.
It seems to work so well for me, especially in the heat. I think it’s less necessary in cooler weather - I’d be happy to sit outside La Cantina with tacos and chips in 70 degree temperatures! I think it’s also what I’ve gotten used to at Disney World, as I’ve eaten zero meals at table service restaurants inside the Universal parks and been perfectly happy.I completely get why you like having set ADRs. Those breaks are necessary on busy park days! Plus, it helps a lot with having a plan. As a parent, knowing what's coming can be key!
It sounds like you all are going to be having some great meals. Reading your list makes me wish I were going to a Disney restaurant right now.
I seriously don’t know where the request for Everest came from!
I think it’s unlikely she’ll ride it during this trip (especially once she sees how big that mountain is!), but I guess we’ll see!
