Party of 5's First family trip to WDW! Just back from POR 6/16 *update 8/13 thoughts

[ampc3]

We are planning on going to the pool tomorrow as well -- I don't think I can take anymore Monopoly (which we resumed after dinner tonight). That is truly the game that never ends.

ok what is up with the weather!?!?!?!? again we were suppose to go to the pool and it is cold and couldy does mother nature NOT know our kids are out of school

We are planning on going to an outdoor concert tomorrow night in town , hoping the weather is nice for that!

I saw your link on Lynns PTR and came over to check it out. I just finished, I wanted to catch up before I posted. anyway great job It was fun to read others going through same things I am. ADR's , touring plans ect.
I got my planner out( I take to work with me everyday) to see if we might cross paths , we will be down around the same time. Soooo Happy to be in the single digits

Thanks for joining us I am soo jealous that you are staying at the POLY, that is my dream... So are our paths going to cross at all?? It is always fun to see what everyone else comes up with doing there plans etc..

 

[ampc3]

Guess what today is???



yep just started the single digit dance!!!


9 days


So yesterday I took the kids to our Disney store and got them their gift cards for the trip... They each have $80 on them, plus some cash... Do you think that is wayy to much for a child?? (B/c My DH of course did at first, but I think now he knows in reality that really won't buy a whole lot all week, depending on what it is they pick out.)

They wanted to buy everything in the store yesterday! I kept saying we are NOT buying anything here today, wait for DISNEY TRUST ME....

so I also went shopping this morning and bought the rest of our snacks and breakfast foods for the week... This is killing me not knowing whether we are driving or flying.. with the cost of gas it would seem like a no brainer, but unfortunatly since we have to fly stand by and at least 2 of us have to sit together that causes some problems and stress when the flights are full... Which of course they are now... so it really will come down to the wire.

I hope the weather is nice in Orlando ? it has been crazy here all over the place again....

Next week will be all the last minute things and for me to REALLY start my packing ... I still have some things I need to get at walmart/target..

I can't believe how close it is now... and how LONG I have waited and planned for this!! it seems like years and years....

Happy countdown to the rest of you too!!!

 

[jrico]

My DH and feel like this going to be our dream trip. We have always wanted to stay at a monorail resort, this will be our first time. I know we will be at Fantasmic on thurs 6/12 because we did Fantasmic Dinner Package, i will look back at your post to see if there are any others. 7 days till we fly to tampa 9 days till we are in the World

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Single Digit Dance!!!

I think $80 is a good amount -- that is about what we are planning for Chelsea and Connor, plus they, too, have some cash saved up.

If they think the Disney store at Town Center is cool -- wait until they see what WDW has to offer!!!

I'm with you about the weather -- doesn't Mother Nature know we have bored kids??? Thank goodness the sun finally came out today!

When will you know for sure whether you are driving or flying? Do you have to wait until the day of?

 

[lmillercrew]

Yeah for your countdown! I'm sooo excited for you. I went to the florist today and found out the lady behind the counter is going to the WDW this Sat!!!! How jealous am I?! As far as the weather, I'm in Ohio, and one day it's 75 and the next it's 55-60 and you want to turn on the furnace. Thankfully my kids are still in school and not wanting to swim, because I know that my pool is freezing.
$80 sounds about right. I think for our first time we gave them $60 and grandma and grandpa gave them $20. We just let them know that that's it, they have to work within their budget. It's a good learning experience. If they spend all their money on the first day, then that's their choice.
Keep us updated on the flight thing. That would make me lose sleep not knowing.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Whoo Hoooo Single Digits! That is so awesome, you are almost there!

I think that sounds good, the gift cards. My kids had their own $$$ last trip, mostly from gifts of Disney Dollars they had gotton and saved up money from birthdays and allowance. They had to use their own money for souvies. It was good for them, they were really more selective in their purchases. I get them each one nice pin when we are there but for the stuffed animals, jewelry, etc they were on their own and it worked out well.

We are still in school here, ho hum. Will be till June 18th.

Allyson

 

[MegansMom]

Annette--I just wanted to tell you really quickly NOT to buy the Target mister fan--I put the batteries in, and NOTHING!!! Tom couldn't even get it to work--so skip it and look for the one at Walmart that Lesley was telling us about.

YEAH for the single digit dance!!!!! Good luck with the rest of the shopping!!

I think $80 is a great amount for the kiddos!!! Have a good Saturday! Talk soon, Jen

 

[ampc3]

My DH and feel like this going to be our dream trip. We have always wanted to stay at a monorail resort, this will be our first time. I know we will be at Fantasmic on thurs 6/12 because we did Fantasmic Dinner Package, i will look back at your post to see if there are any others. 7 days till we fly to tampa 9 days till we are in the World

Ok, see you Thursday at Fantasmic! (we'll be the only ones there right??)

Happy Single Digit Dance!!!

I think $80 is a good amount -- that is about what we are planning for Chelsea and Connor, plus they, too, have some cash saved up.

If they think the Disney store at Town Center is cool -- wait until they see what WDW has to offer!!!

I'm with you about the weather -- doesn't Mother Nature know we have bored kids??? Thank goodness the sun finally came out today!

When will you know for sure whether you are driving or flying? Do you have to wait until the day of?

Thank goodness we ended up with some nice weather this weekend! Yes it might come down to the day before to decide weather flying or driving.. I need to pull up the flights today and see where they are at.. it is DRIVING ME CRAZY not to know this yet..

Yeah for your countdown! I'm sooo excited for you. I went to the florist today and found out the lady behind the counter is going to the WDW this Sat!!!! How jealous am I?! As far as the weather, I'm in Ohio, and one day it's 75 and the next it's 55-60 and you want to turn on the furnace. Thankfully my kids are still in school and not wanting to swim, because I know that my pool is freezing.
$80 sounds about right. I think for our first time we gave them $60 and grandma and grandpa gave them $20. We just let them know that that's it, they have to work within their budget. It's a good learning experience. If they spend all their money on the first day, then that's their choice.
Keep us updated on the flight thing. That would make me lose sleep not knowing.

Yes it is making me sleep We are soo excited too! Thanks

Whoo Hoooo Single Digits! That is so awesome, you are almost there!

I think that sounds good, the gift cards. My kids had their own $$$ last trip, mostly from gifts of Disney Dollars they had gotton and saved up money from birthdays and allowance. They had to use their own money for souvies. It was good for them, they were really more selective in their purchases. I get them each one nice pin when we are there but for the stuffed animals, jewelry, etc they were on their own and it worked out well.

We are still in school here, ho hum. Will be till June 18th.

Allyson

wow what a bummer to be in school until the 18th, but you must start ALOT later then us... You'll still be enjoying your summer when we have to go back in the beg of Aug...uhg..

Annette--I just wanted to tell you really quickly NOT to buy the Target mister fan--I put the batteries in, and NOTHING!!! Tom couldn't even get it to work--so skip it and look for the one at Walmart that Lesley was telling us about.

YEAH for the single digit dance!!!!! Good luck with the rest of the shopping!!

I think $80 is a great amount for the kiddos!!! Have a good Saturday! Talk soon, Jen

Thanks for the fan update.. I'll need to go look at walmart this week.






7 days one week from today people!!!!!

we will be checking into POR!!! Can't wait....
Everytime I'll tell my DH our countdown, he comes back with a yeah but in two weeks it will be our last day !

I hope it doesn't go by too fast. This is the week girls!!!

 

[MomofCKJ]

7 days! Yahoo! That is exciting and tell your DH to be a little half full instead of half empty! LOL!

We don't go back to school till August 28th and we have a week off in Feb and a week in April so that probably factors in too.


Allyson

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray for 7 Days!!!

This time in 7 days, I hope that we are on our way to DHS!!!

 

[ampc3]

7 days! Yahoo! That is exciting and tell your DH to be a little half full instead of half empty! LOL!

We don't go back to school till August 28th and we have a week off in Feb and a week in April so that probably factors in too.


Allyson

6 days today!!!! I know, do you think my DH could just go along with the program for awhile....
Our old school district use to give us breaks like that too, but we still got out earlier.. You only start about 2 weeks later but we don't get the whole week of Feb anymore..

Hurray for 7 Days!!!

This time in 7 days, I hope that we are on our way to DHS!!!

SOOO close!!! I know I keep saying today next week we will bel doing this or that, this time next week we will be having lunch @ Epcot with the princesses...

 

[Charleston Princess]

SOOO close!!! I know I keep saying today next week we will bel doing this or that, this time next week we will be having lunch @ Epcot with the princesses...

I have been doing that all day long -- this time next week we will be at Epcot, too. I want to eat lunch at Cantina de San Angel before heading back to the hotel for our afternoon break. Hopefully, we will have ridden Soarin', Living with the Land, Test Track, Mission: Space, and Spaceship Earth.

 

[ampc3]

I just posted over on your TR, I can't believe I missed the whole day early thing!! Don't know where I have been.... jeez..

We just got back from Costco looking for new luggage... but no luck tho..

I told DH that by Wednesday I would like to have an idea of WHAT we will be trying to attempt, either to forgot the whole flying idea and drive or try our luck with the flights!!!
There are pros and cons to both for sure! it would be soo much easier to just drive, but it would be sooo nice to get there about 4 -5 hours earlier too..

What time are you leaving @ Sunday??

 

[Charleston Princess]

I just posted over on your TR, I can't believe I missed the whole day early thing!! Don't know where I have been.... jeez..

We just got back from Costco looking for new luggage... but no luck tho..

I told DH that by Wednesday I would like to have an idea of WHAT we will be trying to attempt, either to forgot the whole flying idea and drive or try our luck with the flights!!!
There are pros and cons to both for sure! it would be soo much easier to just drive, but it would be sooo nice to get there about 4 -5 hours earlier too..

What time are you leaving @ Sunday??

That's okay -- we have put the idea of leaving a day early on the back burner for now.

Gas seems to be holding pretty steady (knock on wood).

We are hoping to be out of the house by 6:00 -- knowing Charles he will have us out even earlier. That will put us at POFQ around 2:00 if all goes according to plan.

 

[ampc3]

so are we thinking it is about a 6-7 hour drive?? We have never made the drive from our new house yet.. ( I think we might be in the same county or maybe the one next to us)

 

[Charleston Princess]

so are we thinking it is about a 6-7 hour drive?? We have never made the drive from our new house yet.. ( I think we might be in the same county or maybe the one next to us)

According to mapquest, it is a 7 and a half hour drive from door to door. We usually add an extra half hour since we tend to stop a couple of times for food and gas.

You do know that there is a new exit off the Florida Turnpike which eliminates the I-4 mess, don't you? If not, I can give you those exits if you end up driving.

It's really a very easy drive except for the time factor of it.

 

[ampc3]

If you already have handy that info I would love it... I would have eventually done mapquest etc.. I did think I read something about the turnpike..
Thanks!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Boy I wish I was only 7 hours away by car. *sniff sniff* It would take us something insane like 24 hours to drive.

Are you two planning a little DIS meet while you are there?

Allyson

 

[Charleston Princess]

If you already have handy that info I would love it... I would have eventually done mapquest etc.. I did think I read something about the turnpike..
Thanks!

Here you go:

75 South

In Macon merge onto 475 towards Valdosta (exit 177) -- it will then turn back into 75 South after about 16 miles.

Take the Florida Turnpike (exit 328) on the left towards Orlando. (About 300 miles after you merge back onto 75 South outside of Macon).

On the turnpike take exit 267A towards Tampa (there are lots of signs for Walt Disney World also). This is 429.

Take exit 8 for Western Way -- it's kind of the back entrance onto the property, but the big Welcome to Disney World sign is there.

You will then take a left onto Buena Vista Drive.

After a few lights (I want to say it will be the ninth light) you will take a left onto Bonnet Creek Pkwy. There will be a DVC lighthouse on the left. You will pass the entrance for Old Key West, then Port Orleans French Quarter, and then finally Port Orleans Riverside (all on the right).

Hope this helps if you are driving down.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Boy I wish I was only 7 hours away by car. *sniff sniff* It would take us something insane like 24 hours to drive.

Are you two planning a little DIS meet while you are there?

Allyson

It's quite dangerous being so close.

We are definitely hoping to run into each other!