After having all this time to reflect, it just occurred to me why I've never received any of the (what sounds like) usual communications from Disney since my trip--no requests for feedback, no follow-up messages regarding my experience during the storm, no special offers for future trips, etc. It's because the agent I used to plan the trip used her own email, not mine. I was not only in the dark leading up to my trip, but I'm still in the dark. I wonder now if I'd get any of the "welcome back" perks I've heard about, too.
I guess we'll have to see if/when I will go back. I've been thinking a lot about it recently. It definitely feels a bit like an addiction (if you're reading this, you probably know exactly what I mean!) and it keeps calling to me, despite other real-life priorities right now (home renovations, elderly parent, etc.). Some days I still wake up with that feeling of "What are my park plans for the day?" before reality reasserts itself.
I'd originally hoped to return in Sept of 2019, but I'm forcing myself to be realistic about how long it will take me to save up that kind of money. After watching my vacation savings disappear so suddenly last time (the unplanned trip home for my uncle's death) and what a struggle it's been to pay off everything I had to borrow as a result, it's been a real leveling experience. It might could still happen: I do know I want to go the same time of year (despite the brutal heat, I prefer it over big crowds), so I have a year to make up my mind before I'd need to book reservations. But like the first time, I've learned that unless I set a date and commit, it probably won't happen. So I'm tentatively shooting for Labor Day of 2020. If I can feasibly do it sooner, I will, but I believe this is a more realistic goal. I don't want to compromise on the resort--I loved staying at PO:FQ, and would even love to squeeze in a Bucket List day/night at the Polynesian (on a rest day so I can really enjoy all of it). I also want to again include a few signature restaurants, and all the frozen adult drinks.
If I want to do it "my way," then I'll need at least as much as what I spent last time (and probably more). It sucks managing all this on a single income, let me tell you!
What tricks and tips do you use to save up?