4 generations, 3 TS a day- leaving 1/28!!!!

[Buckeye Princess]

Hello All! This will be my first trip report although I have been on the boards for over a year. I went to Disney last December and was planning to write a report, but since I went while 8.5 months pregnant, I had a little arrival shortly after that kept me quite busy.

My husband promised me we could go to Disney if the 4/3 deal came around again. And it did!!! Yipee. So I called to book a room. We booked a room at the Poly, concierge. I was very very excited.

A week later, my mother and father in law came for a visit. My sister in law is in school to be a Physicians assistant and is staying with us for a month while doing a rotation in our city. Her husband flew in for the weekend so we had a big part of the family together. My SIL mentioned that she wished she was going to Disney. I naturally invited them all along. And much to my excitement, they said yes! I love my in laws. So now we have a group of 10, 9 adults, and my dd who will turn 1 on our trip.

I am currently working on reservations. My husband and I will be going for a week and taking advantage of the 4/3 deal. The rest of our family can only come down for 4 nights. So they are going to get a 2 bedroom villa for their stay. (Anyone want the extra 3 nights. hahaha. Actually we are crossing our fingers that a room only deal will come out that they can apply later.) Myself, DH and DD will be getting studio.

We are debating between AKLV and BLT. The total cost actually isn't that different. We love the convenience of BLT but much prefer the feel and theme of AKLV. We stayed at AKL on our babymoon trip in Dec 08. We also love the restaurants there and know we will want to eat at all 3 (Boma, Sanaa, and Jiko). In fact we are planning on doing the deluxe dining plan. With no car it would not be easy to get from BLT to AKLV 3 times over the course of the week. Thoughts?

Also has anyone done any of the grand gatherings?. I'm debating on which ones to reserve. I'm doing all of the planning for this so I'm excited and nervous. They are interested in the DVC and talked about going in together to get enough points for a 3 bedroom villa that we could all go together each year. So I need this trip to really win the over.

In the next week I'll post the cast of characters as well as our tentative schedule and dining plans. Oh and I promise lots of pictures of my DD who is now 8 months. Her name is Carrington.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Here is our cast of characters. I will add pictures soon. My laptop is out of commission and I am using my husbands so I need to hook up our backup drive to get photos.

Me- Cassandra 27- I am a stay at home mom and I am a Martha Stewart wannabe. I love to cook, sew, craft, etc. If I can do it myself, I do. I am also an aspiring amateur photographer. I think I've been improving since I take tons and tons of photos of my daughter each day giving me lots of opportunity to play with light and settings on my camera.

DH- Justin 25 - He is a medical student in his 3rd year. We are very lucky that he is able to take the time off to go on this trip. He wants to go into pediatric reconstructive surgery or pediatric cardio surgery. This means many longs years and long hours ahead of us where vacation time will be at a premium. He loves Disney, maybe not as obsessive as me, but he really enjoys it.

DD- Carrington 8 months- We will be celebrating Carrington's birthday on our trip. It was not intentional, but I am very excited that it has worked out this way. We live in Cleveland while both of our families live in PA. I am excited that at least one entire side of her family will be with her on her special day. We'll have a first birthday party with my side of the family after we get back. I am optimistic about how she'll handle the trip as she has already been on a plane and loved it. She is a big people person and very easy going baby. I have been a lucky mom as she makes motherhood easy. Unless she has a drastic shift in the next 4 months, I think she'll do well.

DFIL- Dad- Rob- Recently retired former owner of a small toy manufacturer. He is enjoying his retirement and teaching at a local college and spending time on his favorite hobby, flying. He is not a huge vacation person, so I hope he enjoys himself.

DMIL- Mom- Sharon- She is a stay at home grandma. She is a vacation person and will probably be helping the most with planning. She is also a very good sewer so she'll be helping me make costumes and outfits for Carrington. I am very excited.

more to come...... My updates may be short occasionally but I promise lots of them.

A moment to sell myself....Why should you read my report???

-I promise to add links to the first post to make it easy to navigate as the report gets bigger.
-Lots of dining and food pictures come TR time.
-Lots of crafts and projects for the trip.
-Grand Gathering info/ traveling with a baby/ and traveling with two great grandparents all on one trip.
-cute baby pictures!!!!!

 

[Charlefours]

Hello!

I followed you over from my PTR and I just had to check it out. How exciting to be celebrating DD's first birthday at Disney!!

I am subbing to see how your plans go and will definitely be on the look out for your TR once you are back. I need to get all the tips on a GG as I can. I am interested in the DVC too but I do not foresee it working out for us for a bit yet. I will interested to know if you end up going for it.

I love scrapbooking and toying around with sewing. I am working on my photography skills too though I do not have a DSLR--a step down from it b/c I adjust it all myself if I so desire. I am planning on making lots of crafty things for our trip too--I need to get busy on them sooner rather than later because my time is limited! Looking forward to see pictures of things you do and the adorable pictures of your DD that I am sure you will post.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

More on our group....

DSIL- 23yrs Jenna is my husband's sister and is currently finishing up school to be a physicians assistant. She just left today for home after spending the last month with us. She was doing a rotation in emergency medicine here in Cleveland. Jenna is so easy going and I really enjoy spending time with her.

DBIL-26yrs Ryan is Jenna's husband. They were married last May. They met in college where they were both runners. I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan sneaks off for some early morning runs while we are in Disney. I light run for him is about 10 miles. Yikes. He is a pharmacist.

DBIL2- 20yrs Ben is Justin's brother. He is a sophomore in college and is studying Neuroscience. (Just like me, I was a neuroscience and marketing major.) He is also a swimmer for his school.

DGF- 80- Bob/Grandpa is a retired chemical engineer.
DGF- 80 Pat/ Grandma is a retired home economic teacher. They are Sharon's parents and currently live in Leesburg Florida, about 45 minutes from Disney. Despite being so close I do not believe they have been before, or at least not since living there. They are going to get annual passes though so that they can enjoy the Holidays as well as the Flower and Garden festival. They still travel extensively, especially on bird watching trips. Their knowledge of plants and birds is very impressive.

If you haven't noticed we are a very medically oriented group of people. Justin's mom was actually a nurse before staying home with her kids. Justin's grandfather was also a chemical engineer and his father a mechanical engineer. As such we are all big big nerds. I'm sure you'll find many nerdy moments during our trip. On a trip to Hersheypark while we were dating my husband wondered whether simple harmonic motion could cause a rider controlled kiddie ride we were on to break. I told him I didn't know, but he better not try. hahaha



Here is our rough schedules

Thursday- Justin/Carrington/I will arrive in Orlando. Gma/Gpa will drive to the airport in two cars leaving us with one and then going home. The three of us are going to go to Give Kids the World for the day. I visited here with my sister on her wish trip. I want to share it with Justin because it is an organization that means very much to me. I plan to spend many years working to help them and want him to further understand my passion. That evening we will pick up Jenna/Ryan from the airport and return to Gma and Gpa's for the night.

Fri- We will be checking in and the rest of the group will be joining us. We are staying in a 2 bedroom villa and a studio and AKLV. I am very excited. Spending the day at DHS and Epcot for EMH
Sat-MK for Carrington's birthday
Sun-AK including the Safari grand gathering
Mon- Epcot/ DHS
Tue-rest of the group leaves in the morning.
Wed-Fri- Just Justin, Carrington and I. Not sure which parks yet.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

What an eventful day! I feel like most of my day was spent waiting on Disney. I spent hours trying to get through to make my dining reservations. I also was waiting to hear back about the 2010 Mom's Panel. I made it to the second round but sadly I did not get the good news today and have not made it on to the third round.

I did however get all of the dining I wanted. Woo hoo!!!! I promise I will be taking lots of food pictures. We are going to do the deluxe dining plan. My husband enjoyed Disney when we went for our honeymoon. But he really fell for it on our last trip when we focused a lot on the food. He LOVES dole whips, as do I.

Here is our dining plan
Thur-
dinner- Wolfgang Puck then off to La Nuba
Fri
lunch- count service (I just couldn't get excited about any of the TS places at DHS)
dinner- Jiko
Sat-
breakfast- in the villa
lunch- CRT for Carrington's 1st birthday
dinner- Narcossee's followed by a Wishes fireworks cruise
Sun-
breakfast- in the villa
lunch- Flame Tree or Yak and Yeti counter
dinner- Safari Grand Gathering
Mon-
breakfast- in the villa
lunch- Le Cellier
dinner-Chef's table at Victoria and Alberts (the rest of the family will watch Carrington for us)

Tue- at this point the rest of the group will have flown home
breakfast- pre RD at Liberty Tree
lunch- Chef Mickey's
dinner-Cal Grill
Wed-
breakfast- pre RD at Akershus
lunch- Chef's de france
dinner- two, one early at Tangerine, one late at Casey's
Thur-
breakfast- ?
lunch- Columbia Harbor House
Tea at the Grand Floridian
dinner- Boma
Fri-
Breakfast- Boma
Lunch- Brown Derby
Dinner- Flying Fish

Sat
Breakfast- Tusker House
Lunch- Sanaa


Yea for food!!!!

 

[cmskok]

Hello Fellow Clevelander!

Everything looks great! I have never done a grand gathering experience even though it seems that we travel with some sort of group every year!

When are you going? We will be there in January and we are so excited to go! Carrington will love the sights and sounds..my kids have been going since they were infants and they have not lost the Disney Magic at all!

I am doing my first TR, too! It has taken me a while to get started, glad to see that yours is moving right along!

 

[Charlefours]

Hello,

I just thought I would stop back by and see how your plans are going. Any additions/changes/thoughts?

How has Carrington's first holiday season gone?

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Another Clevelander here!

Great dining choices so far. Sounds like it is going to be a great trip!

Subbing...

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Well the holidays caused an interruption in my pre-trip report but I am now back. We were visiting family in PA for about two weeks. Both my family as well as my in-laws are from different areas of PA. Justin had a two week break so we took the entire two weeks to spend lots of time with our families.

We now have only 17 days to go. I'm starting to get nervous about having everything together in time. I am almost done with two of Carrington's dresses. I have made her a Cinderella dress as well as a Pooh dress. The fabric of the pooh dress is absolutely beautiful. I just have to add the zippers and hem them. I also have created an outfit for one of our AK days. I made a leopard print skirt with a black tshirt and leopard print Mickey head applique. I still have more to go, and lots of iron on shirts.

We have also added a day to our trip! I convinced DH that we need to stay one more night so we could have an evening with just our little family of three at EP EMH. I love strolling around World Showcase at night with all of the lights.

We have made a few updates to our dining schedule. I went back and updated that post.



Carrington is teething right now. Her first teeth at 11 months! I'm hoping that there is a lull while we are at Disney because it is waking her up at night. On top of that we are slowly trying to wean her so it's been a rough week.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Hello Fellow Clevelander!

Everything looks great! I have never done a grand gathering experience even though it seems that we travel with some sort of group every year!

When are you going? We will be there in January and we are so excited to go! Carrington will love the sights and sounds..my kids have been going since they were infants and they have not lost the Disney Magic at all!

I am doing my first TR, too! It has taken me a while to get started, glad to see that yours is moving right along!

We are going Jan 28- Feb 6. When are you going? I suppose you could be there right now. Hopefully the cold of last week won't affect either of our trips.

Hello,

I just thought I would stop back by and see how your plans are going. Any additions/changes/thoughts?

How has Carrington's first holiday season gone?

Right now my major new thought is being bummed about the Cinderella's castle refub. But oh well, there will always be future trips. Carrington loved the holidays. We did Christmas three times! Once with my inlaws, then with my mom and her side of the family, and finally with my dad. (My parents recently got divorced.) It was nice because Carrington definitely got the hang of opening presents by the end. She is enjoying her new toys but I think the boxes and wrapping paper were her favorite parts.

Another Clevelander here!

Great dining choices so far. Sounds like it is going to be a great trip!

Subbing...

This Cleveland snow has been nuts hasn't it? I'm hoping the skies are favorable for our flights and that we aren't delayed.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

not in Cleveland but as close as you can get to Cleveland, and be in PA...looking forward to reading more!

(What are those black bands around your knees in your honeymoon trip pictures?)

 

[Buckeye Princess]

not in Cleveland but as close as you can get to Cleveland, and be in PA...looking forward to reading more!

(What are those black bands around your knees in your honeymoon trip pictures?)

I have really bad knees, and my husbands aren't wonderful either. We were both serious athletes through high school and college so we just abused them too much. I got the bands at the recommendation of my orthopedist. They provide light support and we wear them for hiking, sports, and long days at Disney. They are nice because they aren't as cumbersome and hot as a whole knee support. We are actually both from PA originally. I'm from Harrisburg with extended family in Patton, and my husband is from Bradford.

 

[disneylovin24]

Sounds like it will be a fun trip!!!

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Just 4 days to go for us. DH has this week off too so hopefully I won't have too much trouble finishing up my projects as he can help watch DD. I just finished up her autograph book this AM. Well it's more of a family book than her book. We used Donatalie's designs and printed ALL of them. We are going to try and see how many we can collect over the years so we'll keep taking it back with us. It's HEAVY!!! haha I'm using rings to bind it so that as we get signatures we can pull those out and leave them at the hotel.

My sewing is almost complete. I need to make her birthday shirt today. I'm going to do a cupcake applique and then perhaps embroider her name on the shirt too. I'm also considering whipping up another skirt with matching mickey applique shirt for she and I. I was surprised how quickly the first set took so I think I could have another set done in perhaps 2 hours.

On a down note Disney really messed up some of our plans. They booked Le Cellier on the wrong day and booked us the wrong Wishes cruise. I'm stressing as these are two things my in laws were very excited about. I've emailed guest communications on Thursday and am now checking my emails hourly hoping to hear back. Grrrrrrr! I've booked Marrekesh as a backup. I'm sure it'll still be fun but I was so looking forward to Le Cellier and there are lots of steak men in the family.

Back to crafting for me!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I hope you have a great trip! I'm sure that guest relations will work out your scheduling problem. They're pretty good with that. Enjoy the Wishes Cruise. We absolutely loved ours in September. Going to do it again next year. We sailed out of the GF Marina. Where are you sailing out of?

Special weather we're having here in Cleveland, isn't it?

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Oh I do love the Cleveland weather. (note sarcasm)

Well the Le Cellier reservation is now fixed. Our cruise is supposed to leave from the GF, but they are still searching for a boat that will fit us all.

 

[Charlefours]

hello again! I missed your updates. I am glad to hear that you got lots of outfits made for Carrington!! I would love to see pictures of what you did. I am crazy to think I might try my hand at make a couple outfits for my DD. I have made doll clothes but not big girl clothing but from all accounts I have been told, they are easier to do.

I hope you have had a wonderful Disney trip!!