The Dogs at WDW (Day 10 - Leaving WDW and the LOOOONG Way Home)

[zoe dog]

WHO WE ARE:

Zoe Dog -- Me; 41; went to MK several times as a child and to EPCOT once in late 1980s with DH; compulsive planner, list-maker, and tip-gatherer, but (much to my and my family's relief) was able to be flexible once we arrived

DH -- turned 41 during vacation; late 1980s trip with me was only foray into the World; was a little spooked by memory of how perfect and "Big Brothery" everything was and loved to tease me about my "disney obsession" but is a total kid at heart and began to lurk on the DIS and other helpful sites during the last weeks before departure

E -- DD (11 years) - has an incredibly vivid imagination and so was a bit apprehensive about "spooky" rides, but determined to be a big kid; loves interaction with characters and spotting live animals and noticing all of the little unexpected things

D -- DD (almost 10 years) - wants to do it all and then do it again and again . . . absolutely fearless and utterly enthusiastic

L -- DD (6 1/2 years) - doesn't like to be left behind by the big girls, but is not a thrill seeker; began to swim like a little fish thanks to daily access to warm pools

WHERE: 6 Nights WL; 3 Nights AKL

DAY TEN: Monday July 1

Monday July 1 -- We all slept in - Yeah!!!! Boy did that feel good! The girls went down to swim while DH and I tried to pack - wow - we have accumulated a lot of stuff during this vacation! We checked out at 11:00 and then joined the girls at the pool. D got her final wish of the vacation and used every last bit of her savings to get a hair wrap. It looks great!! We had lunch from Mara and soaked up the last bit of AKL atmosphere poolside until everyone was ordered out due to thunder at 3:00.

We went to Downtown Disney for a last little bit of souvenir shopping and then drove to St. Augustine (~ 2 1/2 hours) where we had reserved a room at a family hostel for two nights. Great place - we highly recommend it and I'd be happy to provide more information to anyone who is interested. We had a room (one queen bed and two sets of bunks) with a private bathroom plus use of the kitchen and other common areas. The people who run it are incredibly helpful and friendly … and it was cheap! The girls had never been to an ocean south of Maine and we wanted them to experience what a warm surf feels like. We had a great beach day on Tuesday in St. Augustine, followed by an evening exploring el Castillo, then headed north to visit with friends in North Carolina for a couple of days. After that, we went to Assateague Island where we saw the wild ponies, explored the wildlife along fresh water marsh trails, and had more beach time. We stopped briefly in DC on our way north so that the girls could get a quick taste of that city -- definitely want to go back with them for an extended stay sometime (and NOT in summer! Whoo boy was it ever hot!) Home on Thursday July 11 -- just in time to celebrate D's 10th birthday on the 12th!

We had a wonderful, memorable, magical vacation - and so much of it was a direct result of the advice that we received on these boards. Thanks so much for the tips AND for your enthusiasm!

Although we had planned this trip with the notion that it would be the one and only Dog Family WDW Trip, I imagine that we may go back again -- especially since we still have two "pluses" left on our passes that never expire!

Thanks again! Zoe Dog

[pnelson]

I loved reading all your reports!! How did your 10 and 11 year old girls like the characters? Did they think they were babyish or did they like them?

[zoe dog]

Our older girls loved the characters, although the eldest tended to be a bit more reserved around them (but then, she tends to be a bit reserved around everyone!) I think that our littlest probably liked the face characters the best, because they were real to her, while she knew that Mickey and Goofy and Baloo and the other non-talking characters were just pretend. In contrast, since the older girls knew they were ALL pretend, I think they liked Mickey etc. best because the non-talking characters were just plain silly - the girls were a little more shy around the face characters.

[jennymouse]

Wonderful reports, zoe dog...I enjoyed them. It reminds me of the vacation my father & mother took us on when I was around your D's age. WDW was only MK then, but we went all around Florida stopping at Gatorland, Silver Springs with the glass bottom boats, St. Augustine too. I practicaly wore a map out even before we left tracing where we'd go....sort of like I do now with my DGD(7)!LOL Anyway, I'll remember that trip forever and your girls will remember thiers forever too....what beautiful memories you're making.

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Again, thanks for sharing your wonderful family vacation with us!

[kathymc]

great report - what a magical trip - I hope you guys can all get back again soon

thanks again for posting!

[susy]

Thank you so much for shjaring with us! Wow- you guys had a LONG vacation! 10 days to get home!
If it is any consolation, I have stayed at the All Stars in two connecting rooms (4 adults and 1 child) and it is quite comfortable. The food court was sooo convenient. They have a large refrigerated grab and go section. The pools are nice, with pool bars, hair wraps,etc Large arcades and gift shops. Great bus service.We also stayed at CBR and it was wonderful also. So , who knows? Maybe you will be back before you know it!!! I know the girls enjoyed the fruits of their labor!

[Credit Man]

WOW! What a great report. Thanks for posting.

[zoe dog]

Thanks for the nice comments - I had fun writing the reports and I'm glad you enjoyed them! I remember how much I enjoyed reading others' reports when we were counting down the days to our trip.

[Peter Pan Fan]

Great report! I really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.

[DisneyPoly]

I salute you for taking the time to type, in detail, all of your wonderful experiences at WDW. As I sit here at work, it lets me believe that I am actually there, enjoying all the fun.

Great job!

[erica_mutterer]

I enjoyed reading your reports. It sounds like you had a wonderful vacation. My husband and I celebrated our honeymoon in St. Augustine. They have some lovely bed and breakfasts there. We leave from NC to disney next week and are stoping on the way in St. Augustine to show the kids. It's nice when you are driving do be able to make a few extra mini vacations on the way to or from your big one.

[KayleeUK]

Thank you so much for sharing your reports, they were wonderful :D

Kaylee

[dandelion]

Great reports, zoe dog, thank you so much. I'm your neighbor in upstate NY, and my dh's birthday is also June 29. :wave:

I'm considering driving for our next trip, so I appreciate all your tips about that. And while my kids are younger than yours (currently 5.5 and 3), it's fun to "look ahead" a little to what they might be enjoying in the years to come.

Thanks again and happy planning for that next trip.

Oh yeah, and we were at the ocean in Maine on June 29, I said to dh "we have to start going to warmer beaches!" :eek:

[yepod]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post such wonderful detailed reports!
I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one!
I hope you are able to return soon to the 'world' and have another magical trip together! And give us another great report;)

[newmousecateer]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your trip reports. Sounds like you had a great time.

Thanks for sharing. :D

[TinkerChelle]

Loved reading your reports, Zoe Dog! Our first trip to WDW in 2000 was suppose to be our one and only big trip to WDW....HAHA. I am now officially an addict.:p
I just wanted to say that I loved the detail in your reports. Also, I think the positive outlook you have on things is incredible. I all too often let the little things bug me too much, but it was refreshing to read a report where someone didn't sweat over any bumps in the road. You have inspired me to try harder. ;)

[zoe dog]

TINKERCHELLE - Thanks for your kind words. Actually, my DH deserves the credit in the positive outlook category - he is a remarkably positive person, always able to find the sunny side and always believing the best in others. I'd love to think that after being married for 17 years he has rubbed off on me a little!!


ALSO - when I was thanking people for the help we'd had on these boards with our planning, I should have specifically mentioned the Sloneckers who posted a series of fantastic trip reports about two (??) summers ago. They also have three DDs (who were about our DDs ages at the time they went) and I read their wonderful trip reports several times during the looooong Vermont Winter -- it made it so much easier to imagine what it would be like when DH and I brought OUR three DDs to WDW. If you haven't already read their reports, you may want to search for them now.

[Cinderellaslipper]

Thanks so much for the great reports. It took me several years to talk my hubby into a Disney trip :confused: Once, I did however, we both can't wait until the next trip. I'm glad you had such a magical vacation.:cool: :Pinkbounc

[Poohshoney]

Thanks for the magical trip reports - I enjoyed each one so very much! You sound like such a wonderful family, a real inspiration and E, D & L sound a credit to you both. I hope you all get to go back soon to make some more treasured memories and then share them with us.:wave: