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BIG BIG Changes. Need Help/Suggestions!

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Thu, 03/22/2012 - 23:58
drj898's picture
drj898
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BIG BIG Changes. Need Help/Suggestions!

Hey everyone. Just when I got my vacation to surprise my girlfriend for her birthday about 90% planned out, with ADR's made, and even flight information all settled, my girlfriend tells me school is too important to her to leave out a summer session for college and go on vacation. Which is really reasonable...it's just the last thing I wanted to hear lol. So after speaking with her, we realized that we can still go..but the following week. Very cool. I can do this...I just need to re-plan flight info, and just shuffle the days in the parks around. I can keep the same ADR's hooked to each park. I just need your advice for all this! I love you guys so so much and I can't ask for more whenever I need another bunch of brains to help me out. So here goes:

First off: The trip I'm moving. Instead of July 7th - 13th, we'll be there July 12th-18th. The only thing, is that she needs to be home by Noon absolute latest so she can make it to her first class of the 2nd summer session at school. So it's 6 nights. The final day is just waking up, and heading home after breakfast.

Second: I just checked out Southwest Airlines instead of my usual JetBlue based on a suggestion today from a friend. I'm on Long Island, NY, so my options as far as Southwest is either La Guardia, or MacArthur airports. I've heard great things about MacArthur so we'll probably do that. Airfare will cost about $200 less roundtrip for 2 people compared to JetBlue flying out of JFK. What do you think about Southwest?

Finally 3rd: As far as going to parks and planning....have any suggestions on what parks to visit on the days we'll be going? (Full days for parks on July 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, & 17th....Friday, Sat, Sun, Monday, & Tuesday).

VERY BAD NEWS: We won't be there for her birthday. I had a MK day planned, with Cali Grill with bday celebration, and even a potential (and probable) proposal....

VERY GOOD NEWS: I didn't make the deposit for the vacation or put any money down. Now I gotta cancel and move ADR's though.

If there are any suggestions or input I'd reeeeaalllyyyyy appreciate it!!

Thanks!! silly

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 03:00
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Jess
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We always fly Southwest and never have any problems

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 03:44
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Jess wrote:
We always fly Southwest and never have any problems

SW is all we fly, and they do the Disney Magic Express and take your luggage for ya

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 06:08
Disney Dreams
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I wouldn't worry about not being there on her actual birthday. You can still do everything AS IF it's her birthday. Am I right in understanding that she knows nothing about the trip? If so, you'll have to do something for her birthday, but maybe you could get away with just doing something semi-small (nice dinner maybe?) and telling her that night that you are taking her to WDW for her birthday. SURPRISE! clapping Or... if she already knows, then she will understand the shift in dates. It's only a few days. I wouldn't fret that. As for what you had planned... I think you can still have a MK day that is "for" her birthday, including CA Grill, birthday celebration AND proposal (if you decide to do it). I think that would be great!

Hope this helps,
Dreams

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 06:55
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Oh, it DOES help, Disney Dreams! Thank you again!

She knows we're going *somewhere* but not specifically. So i'll just tell her we're going away for her birthday. Seeing Wishes and having dinner with me in California Grill I think will blow her away. (I hope anyway lol)

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 07:00
Disney Dreams
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drj898 wrote:
Oh, it DOES help, Disney Dreams! Thank you again!

She knows we're going *somewhere* but not specifically. So i'll just tell her we're going away for her birthday. Seeing Wishes and having dinner with me in California Grill I think will blow her away. (I hope anyway lol)

Perfect! The only key is to make sure she doesn't feel disappointed on the actual day --- but if she knows something is coming up, that should not be an issue. And when you get to your hotel (if you're staying onsite) or when you first arrive at a Disney park, get her a birthday button to wear for the entire trip.

Then she will feel really special all week long! yay

OH! And if you are staying on property, make a note on your reservation that it's her birthday!

Glad I could help. Kudos to you for planning such a sweet trip.

- Dreams

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 15:31
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This is all so exciting!

I always fly Southwest and love it, no problems at all.

Does she know you are going to Orlando or will she find out once you get to the airport? You could go out to dinner on her birthday and create some kind of thing telling her where you are going!

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 18:21
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You can just pretend that it's her birthday even though it's not... It's the thought that counts... We go in November every year and my sons birthday is in October and he always gets a birthday button when we are down there. And we are taking our 10 year anniversary trip in January when our anniversary isn't till August. It doesn't matter if you celebrate it on the actual day just that you make it special.

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 19:07
MicRac
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I think it would be neat to tell her she's going to WDW on her birthday. Maybe if you could incorporate that into a cake or card for her birthday with dinner would make her birthday feel really special. Then finding out all that you are planning for her will make her know how much she is loved. I would think finding out your going to WDW would be enough to get her excited but she could also watch some Disney movies or some of the Disney planning videos.

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 19:20
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Melissa W wrote:
This is all so exciting!

I always fly Southwest and love it, no problems at all.

Does she know you are going to Orlando or will she find out once you get to the airport? You could go out to dinner on her birthday and create some kind of thing telling her where you are going!

I've decided to tell her around the beginning of June (about 5-6 weeks before departure). And tell her what days we'll be gone, the parks we'll go to and what sorts of rides are there. Aaanddd our flight information. I've decided NOT to tell her: 1) Where we're eating for each meal until we arrive at the restaurant's doors. 2) When we're eating until each particular day. 3) That I'm proposing (obviously) 4) Which resort I've decided to go with. That's a big surprise. (Boardwalk) The resorts that didn't make the cut were Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, & Beach Club. So weeks before I thought I'd do something like, "we're going to Disney World for your birthday. I know it's going to be a few days after your birthday, but I still would love to celebrate it the best way I can. Check out all these things we'll be able to see and do". And show her the planning DVD, as well as photos & descriptions of some of the more popular rides & attractions. Think top 3 in each park.

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 19:57
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Sounds like a plan drj. Be sure to tell us how it goes.

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 22:09
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I agree with Jess..pretend it's her birthday anyway! Last time we went was early June and Dave's birthday is in late June so we just pretended it was his birthday--because essentially the trip was his present. Does she have any clue where you are going? Sometimes Disney fever is hard to hide. Has she expressed an interest in going to Disney?

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Fri, 03/23/2012 - 22:50
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Oh, and an added note about southwest: they have open seating in which you're given a boarding #. I'd pay the extra money for the Early Bird Check-in ($10 per passenger per flight) so you won't have to check-in online 24hrs prior. If you don't, it can be a bit of a pain to try to check in to your flight at the resort concierge and if you don't check in within the first few minutes of availability, you will be boarding closer to the end and may not get seats together.

Love the rest of your plans!

Sat, 03/24/2012 - 00:07
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J.P. wrote:
Oh, and an added note about southwest: they have open seating in which you're given a boarding #. I'd pay the extra money for the Early Bird Check-in ($10 per passenger per flight) so you won't have to check-in online 24hrs prior. If you don't, it can be a bit of a pain to try to check in to your flight at the resort concierge and if you don't check in within the first few minutes of availability, you will be boarding closer to the end and may not get seats together.

Love the rest of your plans!

Exactly the reason why I do NOT fly SW. I try to fly Jet Blue exclusively, because i want to know where I will be seated when I buy the tickets.

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