Planning Your Disney Vacation

JMarsden92 March 15, 2009
[3] comments

Many people have no idea where to start, or what they need when planning a trip to Disney. I have successfully mastered this part. I have been doing this for @15 years with my family, and I have also taken some of what I learned from my parents into this.

Here is a complete rundown from top to bottom on planning a complete Disney Vacation.

  • Start looking for flights, or rental cars months earlier than you are going. (Most flight companies offer specials up to 3 months prior to flying.)
  • If driving to Disney, then contact AAA (if you are a member), and check on driving routes, etc. If you aren’t a member, then think about getting AAA, as a breakdown on the road could be costly.
  • If you are driving with a camper, then start looking for a place to stop for the night if you are going to stop on your way. read more
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Disney & My Family

JMarsden92 March 3, 2009
[2] comments

My parents have been taking me to Disney World since I was just a toddler.  We stayed at the Grand Floridian majority of the time, and we were on the Gold Key Plan.  Eventually Disney stopped offering that plan.

 

My parents eventually bought into Disney Vacation Club.  We still vacationed on money for quite some time.  After they took me, wife, and daughter to Disney World, and we stayed in a DVC villa I saw what a savings this could be.

 

We toured some of the other Florida timeshare properties.  We were not happy.  We took one final journey into the DVC sales office.  After speaking with Kelly Jo we decided that we needed to think a bit more.  To our astonishment Kelly Jo didn’t pressure us one bit.  As a matter of fact she told us that she would give us some paperwork to look over, and if we were interested we could call, and do everything through the mail.

 

The other timeshare presentations were high pressured, and just as a note… the FREE food is absolutelly the worst.  (Hot Dogs, and soda are what we were given at the last timeshare presentation we went to prior to purchasing Disney Vacation Club (DVC).

 

We went home, and I did a lot of number crunching.  The wife, and I decided that this was definitelly an opportunity for us to take advantage of.  We initially purchased 150 points.  Later on we added 50 more.

 

Since we became DVC owners we have gone on more trips to Disney World.  We also used the points to go on Disney Cruise once, and also stayed at Vero Beach once.  All together we have hit the savings already.

 

We go to Old Key West majority of the time, and stay in a 1 bedroom villa.  On occassion we will stay at either the Boardwalk, or Saratoga Springs.  Granted we almost always vacation in Disney at Value times.

 

My daughter of 9 absolutelly loves going to Disney, as we don’t work on a schedule, or cram a lot into a day.  We have actually started a ritual of going to Disney during Easter.  My daughter loves the activities that the DVC resorts have, plus that is one of the only times that she has numerous days out of school.

 

The reason that the season means a lot is that Disney has structured the points values based on the time of year.  Major holidays are “Peak.”

 

By going as much as we do, we have found that purchasing an Annual Pass works best if you are going to vacation in Disney at least 2 times within the 364 days.  DVC members get a discount on their Annual passes.

 

We successfully get to see each of the parks during each trip.  Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios (Hollywood Studios).

 

Do your research if you are going to purchase a timeshare.  You may think that it looks good at first, but won’t really know until you have used it a few times.  You can see our unbiased reviews at either of our sites.

 

You can view more about Disney , Disney Cruising, and more at:

http://www.DisneyContestBlog.Com, or http://www.MyBlogs4U.Com.

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Starting to Prepare for Vacation

JMarsden92 February 22, 2009
[6] comments

constrctbarguys

Well, we recently made major changes to our upcoming vacation to Disney World.  Originally we were going to drive down with our camper, and stay in Fort Wilderness.  After we realized the cost we were going to incur we changed everything… Well, almost.

We are now driving down, and staying in a “Suite” just outside the main gates of Disney World.  Then we will be moving over to our timeshare in Disney.  Starting to prepare now is essential, as I have to make sure everything is ready.  Between getting the car luggage carrier out, and washed to making sure the car is running absolutelly perfect, there is a lot to do.  I know it seems a bit early, but it really isn’t, as work can get in the way, and I tend to forget to do things.  Some of the stuff is in my schedule to do by certain dates, so it may not be done yet.
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Disney Ft. Wilderness

JMarsden92 February 10, 2009
[1] comment

As a child I grew up liking the lifestyle of staying at Disney on “Key To The World.”  All the benefits, and perks that you can imagine.  Eventually either cost, or availability of the “Key To The World” made it so that we no longer got that when my family went.

After moving out of my parents house I met my wife, and I decided that I wanted to take her to Disney, as she had never been there.  We initially went, and stayed at Ft. Wilderness in a tent.  We had all of the amenities… TV, Refrigerator, Air Matresses, and more.  Camping… Doesn’t have to just be in a tent roughing it.

I was a little out of my element, but I dealt with it.  My wife, and I were in for a rough stay.  We dealt with downpours of rain, a tent that ripped, and my wife had to deal with her new friends “The Armadillos.”  They would constantly follow her, and bother her.  She was a little spooked by them initially, but she got used to it, and now we all joke about it.

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Disney’s Figment – A Brief History

JMarsden92 February 10, 2009
[3] comments

dreamfig

When The Imagination Pavilion first opened in @1983, 2 characters were prominently displayed. (Dreamfinder, and Figment are shown above.)  As you went through the ride you went through various sections showing Figment using his imagination to do different things.  After the ride guests could go to an upstairs playground.

You could also see “Captain EO” in the Kodak theatre next door, which then became “Honey, I shrunk the Audience.”

After several years, Disney changed the ride in @1999.  When the ride was reopened, all traces of Figment, and the Dreamfinder were gone.  The ride was now being run by Dr. Nigel.  The upstairs playground was gone, and a much smaller one was placed downstairs. 

A few years later, Disney once again remodeled the attraction.  I would believe it was due to customer comments regarding Figment, possibly.  The attraction, which still exists today, as last remodeled, features Dr. Nigel, and Figment.  The ride now elaborates on the senses of the body, such as Sight, Sound, Smell.  Figment causes his own mayhem about half way through.

The ride is nothing like it used to be when it was first opened.  I personally liked to see Figment, and I know it was the highlight of my mothers day.  When I was last in Epcot there was a full sized Figment that you could get photos with.  I have posted a picture of him below.

100_1022

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