1st Trip (of many!) as Mr. & Mrs.--the TR-- UPDATE 9/9: Life Update--We're Moving!!

stacikristine

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
We’re Back! And we had the time of our lives! :dance3:


Hi everyone, I’m Staci. For those of you who read my PTR, you already know that. For those of you who didn’t follow along, Welcome! Here’s the link in case you’d like to go read the prequel to our trip story: Click Here for PTR.

As you can see from the title, this was my husband’s and my first trip to the World as Mr. and Mrs. We were married last December, and just took a small honeymoon since we got married only a few days before Christmas and wanted to be back home for our first Christmas together. We knew we’d be taking a small honeymoon, so we decided last October to start planning a trip to Disney World for this September.


This leads me into a little background on the Cast:

Staci, 22—that’s the Mrs. (me)! As many of you know, I’m a graphic designer for a legal services company. I also do freelance design. I’m an obsessive planner. I just love fitting all of the details together like a puzzle. Insane? Maybe. :upsidedow I think this is one of the reasons I love Disney World so much. There is just SO MUCH to plan! And let me tell you, I had it planned down to the last pair of socks in our suitcases! :rotfl: I also just love all of the details at Disney World and how everything works together to provide such great opportunities for amazing vacations. When I’m not psychopathically planning, I love helping my hubby with the youth kids at church, reading, watching The Office & 24, and spending time with family. This was my fourth trip to the World. I don’t remember my first trip at all—I was two. My second trip wasn’t until I was 15. I went with my family and my uncle and his family. We stayed at Fort Wilderness and even though it poured every day, we loved it! I went again in October 2006. It was the girls and Pawpaw trip. I went with my mom, sis, grandparents, aunt, cousin, and her two girls. We stayed at POP Century and had a blast! Let’s just say I was excited beyond all measure for our trip to finally start! :woohoo::yay:

Michael, 22—that’s the Mr.! Michael works as a youth and music minister for our church. Even though it can be very challenging at times, he loves his job and we both love hanging out with the kids. He loves playing the guitar (and I love listening to him play) and is very talented at making highlight videos. While I’m more of the obsessive event planner, Michael is more of the obsessive orderer. For example, all of our vacation video is already labeled with the day, place, what, and clip number. Together, we make quite the vacationing pair. :rolleyes: But we have TONS of fun at it! I mean, who doesn’t have fun once they admit they’re a nerd?! :laughing: When he’s not putting his iTunes in order, Michael also loves watching The Office & 24 (he got me hooked on both), reading (though he doesn’t like to admit it) and interpretive dancing in the car. We laugh a lot! Michael had only been to Disney World once before. He was 9 and stayed in the Contemporary. While he was excited about our trip, he didn’t really get the hype like I did. He was more excited to be away from work and the world for a week than go to Disney World. I think it’s safe to say that is NOT how he feels anymore! He’s already talking about our next trip! :woohoo:


Here’s a pic of what we’re really like:

IMG_4066.jpg



And this is us being a little more civilized:

IMG_4829.jpg



When we started planning our trip, we planned to stay at POP Century. I really enjoyed it last time, and we knew it’d be in our price range. However, I bought The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide online and found out about all kinds of new savings, including renting points from DVC owners. In fact, that’s what brought me to the DISboards in the first place! I ended up renting points and staying at a Deluxe Villa for less than what it would have cost us to stay at POP! :thumbsup2 We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House in a DVC Studio. I can’t even tell you how much we loved this resort! (But more on that later) We had the Disney Dining Plan and Park Hoppers.

Our trip dates were September 20-26, 2009. We drove down to Dallas (from Oklahoma) on the 19th to stay with my aunt, and then left for Walt Disney World early Sunday morning.



I’m so excited to share ALL about our trip with you all! It was absolutely fantastic, and it’ll be a lot of fun to re-live!

Thank you all for reading!! :goodvibes



Up Next:
An extra passenger?
Frozen Custard
Pretty, Pretty Disney Princess



I've included a quick link to the different installments...I'll update this when I have a new post:

1. Day 0: Traveling to Dallas
2. Day 1: Flight to Orlando & DME
3. Day 1: AKL Check-In and Room
4. Day 1: Exploring Animal Kingdom Lodge
5. Day 1: DownTown Disney
6. Day 1: Video of AKL
7. Day 2: Epcot Future World
8. Day 2: Epcot Future World
9. Day 2: Break from Epcot
10. Day 2: Coral Reef and Epcot
11. Day 2: Spectro and Wishes
12. Day 3: Disney's Hollywood Studios opening and first ride
13. Day 3: Disney's Hollywood Studios morning and afternoon
14. Day 3: Disney's Hollywood Studios and end of Day
15. Day 4: Magic Kingdom Rope Drop
16. Day 4: Magic Kingdom Morning
17. Day 4: Magic Kingdom late morning, and a fun break!
SO SORRY!!!!!
18. Day 4: Dinner and Magic Kingdom Evening
19. Day 5: Keys to the Kingdom Tour!
20. Day 5: MK Afternoon and a Magic Moment!
21. Day 5: Epcot World Showcase Late Afternoon
22. Day 5: Epcot World Showcase on Speed!
23. Day 6: Animal Kingdom Morning
24. Day 6: Animal Kingdom late morning
INTERRUPTION: Help Please!
INTERRUPTION: Contest Update
25. Day 6: Rest of Animal Kingdom
26. Day 6: Boma and DHS night!
Excuses are like a butt...
27. Day 7: Boma Breakfast and DHS morning
28. Day 7: DHS and Home
29. Life Update
30. Trip Wrap-Up!
Life Update: We're Moving!!



 
I wish I could say I was the extra passenger! Can't wait to read your update!! And I wish I had known about renting points earlier. Oh well!! There's always next time. Glad we both found the Dis anyway. :goodvibes

And to get back to your other thread, I will definitely have to look into that!! I was looking in the Orlando and while the cost of living is pretty much the same, the exact same job I'm doing there STARTS at more than I make now (after 2 raises!) But I also do need to go back to school and stuff...so I don't know if I'm going to be moving before or after that. Pretty much the thing that keeps me here now is my mom watching Landon. Daycare is SO expensive!! It can cost as much as rent for a small apartment!! :scared1: But I have some research to do :surfweb:
 
I can't wait to read about your trip! I have been so busy with work, coaching cheerleading, and just plan life that I don't think I really have a lot of free time to write a trip report unfortunately. I looked for you while were there but I was sad we never ran into each other. Our trip turned out great and I can't wait to hear all about yours!
 


I'm here, too!

Excited to hear about the trip!
"extra passenger"? Hmm....several possibilities come to mind.....(although, I don't think you spent any time in jail, so I'll rule one of them out)
 
I can't wait to read about your trip! I have been so busy with work, coaching cheerleading, and just plan life that I don't think I really have a lot of free time to write a trip report unfortunately. I looked for you while were there but I was sad we never ran into each other. Our trip turned out great and I can't wait to hear all about yours!

I see you are from Pittsburgh PA Pixie-- I am too:) What part of Pittsburgh are you from?
 


Woohoo :cool1:

Are you going to update soon? Cant wait to see your room. Is renting DVC points a money saver? I don't know anything about it. SO happy to be here :love:
 
I'm definitely joining in for this one! First of all congratulations on your marriage last year - you are a beautiful couple!

I always love hearing how people discover how much they can save by renting points from a DVC owner. I've stayed twice last year at BWV and got a boardwalk view in December 2008 for a one-bedroom villa and paid so much less than staying at a value resort or even moderate (thanks to the DVC owner for a great rate on points! :thumbsup2)

Can't wait to hear all about your trip and see lots of pics and maybe some videos ;)
 
Yay! You've started the TR! Count me in!popcorn:: I hope you had a fabulous time! Can't wait to see how all of your outfits and planning turned out!
 
I'm here! And first!

Haha! Yay! :thumbsup2


I wish I could say I was the extra passenger! Can't wait to read your update!! And I wish I had known about renting points earlier. Oh well!! There's always next time. Glad we both found the Dis anyway. :goodvibes

And to get back to your other thread, I will definitely have to look into that!! I was looking in the Orlando and while the cost of living is pretty much the same, the exact same job I'm doing there STARTS at more than I make now (after 2 raises!) But I also do need to go back to school and stuff...so I don't know if I'm going to be moving before or after that. Pretty much the thing that keeps me here now is my mom watching Landon. Daycare is SO expensive!! It can cost as much as rent for a small apartment!! :scared1: But I have some research to do :surfweb:

I know--I wish I could be an extra passenger on everyone's trips! Yeah, I was lucky to have stumbled upon it... It saved a lot of money, and we got to stay in a Deluxe! :thumbsup2 Yeah, we have lots of things we're saying "next time" for already! Wow--that would be incredible if you could have that kind of raise! Keep me posted. Yeah, daycare is outrageous. And I'm sure your family would miss you SO much if you moved. But it's good you're looking into all of it! :goodvibes


I can't wait to read about your trip! I have been so busy with work, coaching cheerleading, and just plan life that I don't think I really have a lot of free time to write a trip report unfortunately. I looked for you while were there but I was sad we never ran into each other. Our trip turned out great and I can't wait to hear all about yours!

I can't wait to write all about it!! I know--I looked for you too, but I guess our paths just never crossed. If you're not going to write a TR, what was your highlight? Your favorite meal? Something everyone should do next time?


I'm here, too!

Excited to hear about the trip!
"extra passenger"? Hmm....several possibilities come to mind.....(although, I don't think you spent any time in jail, so I'll rule one of them out)

Yay! Haha... Nope, no jail time! :rotfl:


i am just joining in to read your TR!! count me in:)

Hi! Thanks so much for reading!! :goodvibes
 
Woohoo :cool1:

Are you going to update soon? Cant wait to see your room. Is renting DVC points a money saver? I don't know anything about it. SO happy to be here :love:

Hi Katie! Yes--I'll update Day 0 (travel to Dallas day) today sometime! And maybe I'll be able to start on our arrival day. You'll for sure be able to see some AKL pictures by the end of this week! Oh my goodness, YES! It's SUCH a money saver. We stayed for 6 nights at a studio savanna view room at AKL for cheaper than what we could have stayed at POP! :eek: It was only $560 for the entire 6 nights! I've met so many people who rent points every trip. If you want more info, PM me, and I'll send you a link. The only drawback is you can't take advantage of the specials (like the 4/3 deal). But you can stay at WL for about $1050 for the entire week's lodging.


popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:: Waiting for more popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::

It's coming soon!! :thumbsup2


Reading along popcorn::

Hi! Thanks for reading! :goodvibes


I'm definitely joining in for this one! First of all congratulations on your marriage last year - you are a beautiful couple!

I always love hearing how people discover how much they can save by renting points from a DVC owner. I've stayed twice last year at BWV and got a boardwalk view in December 2008 for a one-bedroom villa and paid so much less than staying at a value resort or even moderate (thanks to the DVC owner for a great rate on points! :thumbsup2)

Can't wait to hear all about your trip and see lots of pics and maybe some videos ;)

Hi! Thanks so much for reading!! Thank you--we're really happy together. Isn't renting points just the greatest?! I don't know if we'll ever do anything else!! :goodvibes I took almost 2,000 pictures plus the photo CD, and we have hours of video footage!!! ;)


I'm here Staci! I can't wait to hear all about your trip!!! :woohoo:

Yay! I'm glad you made it over! :thumbsup2 I can't wait to share all about it!


Yay! You've started the TR! Count me in!popcorn:: I hope you had a fabulous time! Can't wait to see how all of your outfits and planning turned out!

Hi! Thanks! It was wonderful!! Haha--the outfits were a super great time saver... I can't wait to share! :thumbsup2


Count me in popcorn::

Yay! Hi!


YAY!! Needless to say, subscribing. Can't wait for some PICS!!! :thumbsup2

Haha--Yeah, I figured you would be! :upsidedow Thanks! I took almost 2,000!!! So they're on their way! ;)
 
Yay Staci! The trip report has been posted! I was ready to close out the window because I saw non of my favorite reports hadn't updated and then the saw "The TR link has been posted!" :thumbsup2 Can't wait to hear about more! And SO glad to know that Dbf and I aren't the only ones making goofy faces on our trip :rotfl:
 
Yay Staci! The trip report has been posted! I was ready to close out the window because I saw non of my favorite reports hadn't updated and then the saw "The TR link has been posted!" :thumbsup2 Can't wait to hear about more! And SO glad to know that Dbf and I aren't the only ones making goofy faces on our trip :rotfl:

Hey Jess! I'm glad you found it! I'm about to start on the first real installment :thumbsup2 Haha--we make TONS of goofy faces! It's what makes them interesting :rotfl:
 

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