There's no place like home, a December 2011 DVC pre-trip. 12/2 p56 DL and WDW updates

[rentayenta]

back my friends to the show that never ends. And a big to any new friends and all the lurkers. Take the plunge, the water is fi-ine! I am a big believer in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

Now I know what some most of you may be thinking: October 2010, is this chick insane? And the answer is quite possibly yes. Starting a pre-trip report whilst writing a current trip report seems to be all the rage these days so I thought I'd give it a go. My last pre-trip report began at 563 days so technically I am way behind with only a mere 403 days. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your perspective I am in full, 100% pedal to the metal, trip planning mode.

My current report is nearly finished and I wouldn't be me if I were not already planning the next trip. For my current read click the link. But don't worry, you don't have to read that one to get full enjoyment out of this one. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2182656

So sit back, grab a drink, and join me on this wonderful journey of DVC trip planning. Just think, with a contract ending in 2054, I get 45 more years of trip planning nirvana!

Up next: the who, when, why, where, how, a multi-level countdown, and a trip to Arizona, and a trip to Mexico but not necessarily in that order Here's a little hint as if the title weren't enough...........

Up next: the story of us.

 

[rentayenta]

1. The story of us http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33384566#post33384566

2. DVC and me http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33404725&posted=1#post33404725

3. The who http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2271514&page=5

4. Disney points math http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33476595#post33476595

5. The when and where http://www.disboards.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=33499605

6. DH chimes in. Huh? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33530014#post33530014

7. DDP- yay or nay? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33563565#post33563565

8. Budget. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33585330&posted=1#post33585330

9. The plan is a changin'........again. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33614334&posted=1#post33614334

10. DDP dissection. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2271514&page=19

11. Disneyland!!!! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2271514&page=24

12. Disneyland update- here now!!! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2271514&page=27

13. Lots of changes!!! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33942007#post33942007

14. Disneyland pics!! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33966899&posted=1#post33966899

15. Plan updates. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34539079#post34539079[url][/B]

 

[Trentmom]

WOO HOO


First!!!

Not sure if I have ever been first before


I started my last Pre Trip Report 15 months in advance...so you are all good in my book

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Love that you've started this Jenny and the pic of the wee DVC bus just makes my heart swell with happy memories

 

[rentayenta]

WOO HOO


First!!!

Not sure if I have ever been first before


I started my last Pre Trip Report 15 months in advance...so you are all good in my book

Now that's what I am talking about Sharky!!!! 15 months, I love it! Like I said the journey is every bit as important as the destination. DH asked what I was writing last night. When I told him, I thought his eyes were going to roll off his face.

Love that you've started this Jenny and the pic of the wee DVC bus just makes my heart swell with happy memories

Yay!!!! I was hoping you'd be here. Too much planning to fit in my almost completed trip report.

 

[rentayenta]

So as promised, the story of us. This is us:

DH: 43, Disney muggle up until this last trip in May. extraordinaire and all around good guy. He grew up in Northern California and was a huge Six Flags fan until I got a hold of him but it has taken time. Been married for 16 years, have 3 children, and couldn't imagine sharing my life with anyone but him.

Me: 40, Wife to said , mom to 3 crazy kids, and work as a mental health therapist on a locked adult pysch unit. Grew up in So Cal and have been to Disneyland too many times to count Before going to WDW, and I swore I never would, I couldn't conceive loving anywhere as much as the Motherland but after our first trip the WDW in 9/07 I was hooked. Like fish on a hook, hooked. I still miss my beloved Disneyland but until the DCA renovations are complete, sometime in 2011, I am not going back.

Gabby: 12, oldest DD, smart as a whip, loves to argue and do her hair just started Jr High and plays comp soccer. Her first trip to Disneyland was when she 3 y/o.

Chloe: 10, middle DD and uses that title to her advantage, wants to be a chef when she grows up, is an indigo child to the fullest is super tender hearted, and her first trip to Disneyland was when she was 2 y/o.

Joshua: 8, youngest and also uses this to his full advantage, loves to skateboard, play soccer and baseball, and is the funniest kid I have ever met. He is my spicy and his first trip to Disneyland was when he was 3 months old.


Here are some older photos of the kids at Disneyland through the years:

Sorry some are so big, not sure how to make them smaller.

 

[Trentmom]

Planning is half the fun, so you can never start a Pre Trip too early

Love all the pics of your clan. So fun to see them when they were younger and see them now. You have a beautiful family

 

[rentayenta]

Planning is half the fun, so you can never start a Pre Trip too early

Love all the pics of your clan. So fun to see them when they were younger and see them now. You have a beautiful family

I was thinking how quickly they really do grow up. It's bittersweet.

I agree about planning but some of my friends who also post (read lurk) here on the DIS, Keith and Tracy, think I am a lunatic. haters. I know they are lurking though.

I see your Disney food money ticker is growing!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Sounds great, I'll join in! It's never too early to start planning a Disney trip.

DVC is amazing...there really is no place like home!

 

[rentayenta]

Sounds great, I'll join in! It's never too early to start planning a Disney trip.

DVC is amazing...there really is no place like home!

I agree, DVC is amazing. I am still in shock that we purchased during our last trip. It makes planning our first trip home even more exciting which I didn't think was possible.

Where is your home?

 

[wdwgirl03]

I agree, DVC is amazing. I am still in shock that we purchased during our last trip. It makes planning our first trip home even more exciting which I didn't think was possible.

Where is your home?

I know exactly what you mean! We purchased a couple years ago, after our trip in Jan. of 2006. I remember coming home and Dad was talking about looking into it...I thought he was joking! But a few months later we were members! Our home is Saratoga Springs but on our past few trips we've been lucky enough to stay at some of the other DVC resorts. Just got back from the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[rentayenta]

I know exactly what you mean! We purchased a couple years ago, after our trip in Jan. of 2006. I remember coming home and Dad was talking about looking into it...I thought he was joking! But a few months later we were members! Our home is Saratoga Springs but on our past few trips we've been lucky enough to stay at some of the other DVC resorts. Just got back from the Wilderness Lodge.

The Wilderness Lodge is amazing. Our friends stayed there the year before last and I loved it. The bridge and stream running through the lobby are so cool.

We stayed with our friends at both the OKW and AKV and both were really neat in their own ways.

SSR is our home too and we couldn't be more pleased. I am so looking forward to staying there next year.

 

[Trentmom]

I was thinking how quickly they really do grow up. It's bittersweet.

I agree about planning but some of my friends who also post (read lurk) here on the DIS, Keith and Tracy, think I am a lunatic. haters. I know they are lurking though.

I see your Disney food money ticker is growing!

They are just jealous

Thanks.. Now that I have free dining, that is our MVMCP tickets and either souvenirs or Tip money.....

 

[reyasmommy]

Now I don't feel so bad planning my trip so far in advance.

Your kids are adorable and oh so photogenic.

I look foward to reading more.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Hi! Mind if I follow along? I was over here looking for ideas on starting my very 1st PTR (1st TR for that matter) for our upcoming quickie trip to DL to check out our new home (VGC) and came across your post. I think I read a TR of yours a long time ago and really enjoyed it. Your kids are so cute!

I am a Disney addict and we also made the decision to buy into DVC this year, while staying at the cabins in Ft. Wilderness this past March. My husband and I took the official WDW DVC tour and my penny pinching, disney skeptic dh fell for their spiel hook, line and sinker! We bought into VGC because it is only a 7 hr drive and it really is home for us despite having really enjoyed the 2 trips we have taken to WDW.

Look forward to reading about your pre trip plans!

 

[rentayenta]

They are just jealous

They own DVC too. Maybe they are jealous of my literary wit?

Thanks.. Now that I have free dining, that is our MVMCP tickets and either souvenirs or Tip money.....

Good job on scoring free dining. MVMCP looks like so much fun!!! Have you made your ADRs?

Now I don't feel so bad planning my trip so far in advance.

Your kids are adorable and oh so photogenic.

I look foward to reading more.

Thanks for reading and posting and for the compliments about my little tax deductions.

Hi! Mind if I follow along? I was over here looking for ideas on starting my very 1st PTR (1st TR for that matter) for our upcoming quickie trip to DL to check out our new home (VGC) and came across your post. I think I read a TR of yours a long time ago and really enjoyed it. Your kids are so cute!

I am a Disney addict and we also made the decision to buy into DVC this year, while staying at the cabins in Ft. Wilderness this past March. My husband and I took the official WDW DVC tour and my penny pinching, disney skeptic dh fell for their spiel hook, line and sinker! We bought into VGC because it is only a 7 hr drive and it really is home for us despite having really enjoyed the 2 trips we have taken to WDW.

Look forward to reading about your pre trip plans!

VGC looks gorgeous! I would love to add on there one day. Have you stayed there yet? I have stayed at the GCH so I can only imagine how wonderful the villas are!!!

DH fell for it too like your DH. I will give the details later.............

 

[vamassey1]

I'm on board. I'm loving the pictures of the kids through the years. It's amazing how fast they grow up. Thank goodness pictures freeze them in time.

 

[Trentmom]

They own DVC too. Maybe they are jealous of my literary wit?







Good job on scoring free dining. MVMCP looks like so much fun!!! Have you made your ADRs?










Thanks for reading and posting and for the compliments about my little tax deductions.




VGC looks gorgeous! I would love to add on there one day. Have you stayed there yet? I have stayed at the GCH so I can only imagine how wonderful the villas are!!!

DH fell for it too like your DH. I will give the details later.............

Definitely jealous of your witty ways

Thanks. so excited to try MVMCP

My ADR day is this Thursday

 

[justkeepswimmin]

VGC looks gorgeous! I would love to add on there one day. Have you stayed there yet? I have stayed at the GCH so I can only imagine how wonderful the villas are!!!

DH fell for it too like your DH. I will give the details later.............

Yes, we stayed at GCH for the 1st time last fall. We got a free upgrade to a theme park view room and it was DIVINE but the std room size was a little cozy for my family of 5. The 1 bdr Villas are perfect for us. Sadly, for this quickie Oct trip, we will be squeezing 5 into a studio (calm down occupancy police, my youngest just turned 2 ) to conserve points.

See, I am skilled in crazy disney logic that allowed me to convince my dh that VGC was basically on the way home from our planned San Diego vacation this fall so why not just stop by and just check out the villas, get our APs which we were gonna have to buy anyway for our Dec trip, etc, etc. Did I mention we live in Tucson, AZ? So yeah, on the way home, not so much but my dh did not protest that much and that 1 night has now become 2!

I see your siggie has THVs. Is that where you plan on staying for your Oct 2011 trip? Those look so great. We stayed in FW cabins this spring and absolutely LOVED them. The THV look like a more upscale and spacious version of the cabins. We went to WDW for the first time end of Sept/ beg of Oct in 2006 and it is awesome! We did the Mickey's not so scary Halloween Party and caught the beginning of F&W. You guys will have a blast!

 

[tarak]

Now I know what some most of you may be thinking: October 2010, is this chick insane? And the answer is quite possibly yes. Starting a pre-trip report whilst writing a current trip report seems to be all the rage these days so I thought I'd give it a go. My last pre-trip report began at 563 days so technically I am way behind with only a mere 403 days. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your perspective I am in full, 100% pedal to the metal, trip planning mode.

Nothing wrong with an early PTR. I started one for our Dec. 2010 trip. And I am clearly not insane!