October 2008 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Let's talk Disney World
Since so many of you all have kids or are kids, lol. 
My dad has mentioned a couple times doing a trip to Disney World during the flower show, which is March to May. I'm currently looking up quotes for the 5 of us (b/c I'm assuming my sister will join us) and OMG it's expensive.
I mean I know you can probably do disney fairly inexpensively, but dang. I wonder if my dad realizes how much money it costs now (we haven't been since I was 15).
Also friends of ours are going next month with their 4 year old and they've basically said they're not looking at the cost b/c otherwise they would never probably go.
I mean, is Mickey worth that much money? It is really priceless for a child?
Re: Let's talk Disney World
Definitely look into the park hopper pass.
I found 2 advantages to staying at a Disney resort -
1. each park is open late 1 night on a rotating schedule (till usually around 11 or midnight) to resort guests only which means shorter lines, less people, fewer younger kids,
2. the regular shuttle buses from the resorts to the parks.
And since you work for the DOD you might be able to get a slight discount on the passes. Might only be your pass or your pass and your DH's pass though. It's not a huge discount but it's a discount. I know the military gets a discount but I'm not sure if it is for all DOD employees.
I thought about maybe looking into renting a house, but with 5 people and strong personalities, figured staying on property would mean more sanity overall.
We do get pass discounts, but I'm not sure how much. I do have a contact at an ITT office back up in MD from my old job, so I'm sure I could see about a deal from her for all 5 passes.
I'm sure if it were just DH and I, it could be done cheaper, but trying to keep the family together and I really want to stay at the animal kingdom, it's pricey.
Wives Unscripted
I personally don't think Micky is worth that much money - haven't looked up costs or anything - but if it's truly OMG expensive, no, I don't think so. I mean, it's a great trip for kids but kids can have fun with a pile of leaves for heavens sake.
We're supposed to be going when C is 5, my FIL and his wife want all of the grandkids to go that year. I'm not sure what the plan is for paying for all that!
Summer, for a 2 bedroom villa at the Beach Club for a week, with park hopper passes, a meal plan and transportation for 5, it's over $8k.
The animal kingdom lodges were even more than that.
I could stay at shades of green since I'm DOD, but I've read mixed reviews on it and most say you need a car.
Wives Unscripted
I believe the discount is 10%. We never did the meal plan, just room and passes. If you stay at one of the Disney Hotels (not the resort, a hotel like the Hilton in Downtown Disney) you cannot get food delivered. It's like making a drug deal in the rear of the parking lot to get a pizza. You still have shuttle service to the resorts. You also don't get to get take advantage of the extra hours at the parks.
The animal kindom lodges are very expensive. I always wanted to stay there. I've heard from people who stayed there and said it smells like animal poo first thing in the morning.
I've stayed at the Caribbean resort and it was nice and the Hilton in Downtown Disney.
The only reason I have been to Disney is because my in-laws have a timeshare right out side Disney. I dont think I would pay the money to stay at a Disney resort.
We do the hopper passes and look for deals. We went in May and bought 3 day passes and got a free day. Also we always pack a bag with snacks and drinks so we dont have to waste our money on food at the parks. We eat most of our meals at the timeshare since they have kitchens and grills.
You are talking to the wrong person LOL. I went to Disney World every year from the time I was in the womb until I was 17, so to me, yeah um its worth it. We looked forward to going every year. Most years we didn't stay on property though. We usually stayed in Daytona and then drove to Disney a couple of times.
I have stayed on property before and it is pretty fantastic. I hear the meal plan is the way to go these days since the food is stupid expensive.
Honestly some of my best memories from childhood are from going to Disney with my family. We were an arguing bunch of people most of the time, but when we went to Disney we always had a great time.
I'm torn between the budget aspect and the how to keep 5 people happy at once aspect. Too many personalities to deal with!
Wives Unscripted
Mitz-I saw another website where you can go through someone to get DVC points for a resort, so I might look into that.
I'm not sure what my parents take on the dining plan might be. I remember when we went last time, we had a couple reservations places, but I don't that we ate dinner every night in the park. We also stayed off resort and I know my dad doesn't want to be that far out again. Plus it was not fun to find the kitchenette advertised was a microwave and fridge.
Wives Unscripted
We went for our HM and used my aunt and uncles DVC points to stay at Animal Kingdom. If you can find some way, it is very worth it to stay there, hell even just go visit for a bit one day. It is gorgeous. We never smelled any animal smells in the morning (or really ever that I remember) and we had a room that faced the Savannah (where the animals are).
BIL and FSIL stayed at the Pop Culture resort last year when they went and had a great experience. I also know they did the meal plan and I wish we had taken that option. Food is expensive at Disney! We did bring our own breakfast since we had a kitchen in our Suite so that helped out. But meal plan is definitely worth it in my opinion.
I know we will go with our kids some day. But it won't be until they are old enough to fully experience it. I'm thinking 7-8yrs old. It is something I want my children to experience, but I can understand why some people don't feel that way.
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8K!? That's a lot! Surely it is done cheaper if Alicia's family went every single year for 17 years?!
The last time I went to Disney World I was 3
. I'm definitely excited to take Campbell but not for 8K (granted it would just be the 3 of us so it wouldn't be 8k).
If it could be done for cheaper then I'd be all for it since Alicia and Mitzzi say it's the bees knees
::Fingers crossed that my ILs are planning to pay for the trip in 3 years::
Don't worry, if my dad is the one behind the trip, he's footing the bill, lol!
The one website I found for DVC points would bring the cost down to about $5k before any park tickets, transfers or meal plans. Although I'm sure you can add those on.
Part of the cost is that it's a 2 bedroom suite I think.
Wives Unscripted
October 11, 2008
Trusty Gal blog|Trusty Tales
I will have to preface this by stating the fact that my family (mainly my mom) is slightly Disney neurotic. I have been 7 times. We love it.
Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? YES - even if you don't have kids.
I would absolutely recommend staying in Disney. There are less expensive (thereby less frilly) hotels like the All-Star Sport hotel. You'll find reasonable prices there. Another advantage for staying in Disney is that there are free buses to all of the parks that pick you up from the hotel and drop you off directly at the front of all of the parks.
Like Shel said, the parks rotate late nights/early mornings and you'll want to get the "hopper" pass where you can go to one park during the day and another park's fireworks or rides at night.
If you look around for deals, they're everywhere. You can get tickets that include a certain number of meals while you're there.
Pleasure Island is part of Disney (buses take you there too) and there are TONS of bars, shows, shopping, comedy clubs, restaurants, etc....lots of grown up stuff.
I love Disney because it's such a happy place (could be because I associate the happy times of my childhood with it).
I could go on for days and days and days. If you have any questions, let me know! I know all the tricks