"It was the time of our lives!" WL Jan 10-15 2010 NEW: 5/17 PTR LINK UP!! PG 44

[BippityBoo]

Oh! how magical for Abby! Wilderness Lodge is beautiful...I so want to stay there in Nov/Dec but I know it is out of the question having to get two rooms when we go. Maybe next time...something to look forward to!

We drive straight through!!! always there and home...next time we think we are going to stop a night on the way home; depends on what day I plan to drive home on.

BTW: Ashton will be 4 next visit...so I believe he is a few years behind Abby and a yr ahead of Aiden.
Connie

Connie---We stopped in Pensacola on the way home and got an excellent rate on a Gulf view room at the Holiday Inn. I will post pics on my last post. It was a really nice Holiday Inn that was totally rennovated after the storm. The room was HUGE! Let me know if you are interested in more info. We paid $130 a night and there were non gulf/bay rooms for $99. It would be great to stay and lounge, pool, bar, restaurants, beach access.

Do you have a normal stroller that you use for Ashton at home? I would highly reccomend taking it with you instead of renting. The positive of renting is obviously no hauling on and off transportation like buses, boats, etc. The negative is that you dont have it during wait times for those transportations and through the lobby, up the elevator and to your room in case he falls asleep. We did LOTS of carrying our big baby boy

Hi Katie! Loving the TR so far, you're making me homesick for the WL!

*Angela*

ANGELA!!! Oh my goodness, so sorry I did not send you the link! What was I thinking I am going to do a post next about you and was going to ask you if you mind that I give out your info if anyone wants it? Thanks for reading!!!

Yay! You're there!

The Wilderness Lodge is so pretty, I'd love to stay there someday.

How cool that Abby got a pin almost as soon as she arrived!

I know!!! The place is AMAZING! I can not rave enough.

 

[BippityBoo]

Wow, great start! It's the little things that make Disney so special, I am sure your daughter loved getting to pick a pin! Can't wait to see what happens next.

I know! I could not believe it!! The CMs were SO wonderful this trip!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Connie---We stopped in Pensacola on the way home and got an excellent rate on a Gulf view room at the Holiday Inn. I will post pics on my last post. It was a really nice Holiday Inn that was totally rennovated after the storm. The room was HUGE! Let me know if you are interested in more info. We paid $130 a night and there were non gulf/bay rooms for $99. It would be great to stay and lounge, pool, bar, restaurants, beach access.

great price! we normally go to our fav in Ft Walton but I haven't been to Pensacola in about 20 yrs...we are doing FWB over the summer so I may have to get the info and make that our stop for the way home!

Do you have a normal stroller that you use for Ashton at home? I would highly reccomend taking it with you instead of renting. The positive of renting is obviously no hauling on and off transportation like buses, boats, etc. The negative is that you dont have it during wait times for those transportations and through the lobby, up the elevator and to your room in case he falls asleep. We did LOTS of carrying our big baby boy

Great point! I didn't think about that!! but, I may have to check into renting one from one of the local renting agencies(will have to do some research)...as I mentioned before we can not fit the stroller and luggage...

funny story Danny & I were finished bringing kids all over so as his 40th bday and new car (we had given Gwendolyn our car) we bought a Mach I Mustang...that is what I drive...when we bought it we did know we were going to be adding to our family two years later!...love it but, not made for family travel!
.

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[luckylady]

I"m in. Love how your DD got a magical moment right away. That was great. Love WL, trying to talk DH into there insted of Polly.

 

[lillylynnb]

Coming on board to read more about the cold and MAGICAL MOMENTS.

 

[klacey1]

Hi, Katie! I'm just joining in and have caught myself up! I LOVE the WL and would absolutely love to stay there. So beautiful-- your pictures truly capture its magic.
That is so sweet of the CM to give your daughter a pin. And good for her to be so outgoing-- I'm sure plenty of kids would have shy'd up and not been able to answer the questions!

 

[Charlefours]

Subbing in!! I am new to your TR!! The WL is my dream resort. We were thinking of staying there in September but with everyone who is coming with us, the Mods were the best bet for everyone's pocketbook. It looks so utterly beautiful!! Something to look forward to for another trip.

We are driving too!! I think my DD will do well in the car--we have driven a few long trips with her and she normally does really well too.

 

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

You can add me to the list of people jumping over from Becky's report! I'm enjoying your TR and I can't wait to hear more!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Your pics of WL are beautiful! I stayed there when I was younger, so I hardly remember much about it but it seems like a wonderful resort. I'd love to go back sometime.

And don't you just love having those special cm encounters? We too came across some great ones this trip - definitely makes things that much more magical. I bet your DD felt so special!

 

[ladybugmom]

WOW!! I'm gone all day and now I'm 2 pages behind!! Your TR is hopping, Katie!! And I'm glad I could help bring over some readers!!

WL is beautiful!! And I'm impressed that Abby already received a magical moment!! How cute that Aiden got all excited about the Mickey bus!! I'm interested to hear more about the stroller issues. I was just talking to Brent today about if we should take ours or rent one. He cannot STAND having to fold it down to take it on the buses. But I was thinking about the sleeping issue on the way back to our resort. Decisions, decisions!! Can't wait to hear about your room and MK!! (I thought about the COLD weather the entire time you were gone hoping you weren't miserable!)

 

[keltshan]

I'm joining in and can't wait to hear the rest of the story! We leave for WL in 5 days! I so want a magical experience

 

[DWGal210]

I'm here, I'm here! Late but better than never.

What a fun time you guys had getting to the WL! And the hotel DOES look gorgeous!! I would love to stay there sometime - it looks just magical!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Cory's Gal]

Hi Katie! Just found your TR! Your children are so adorable and I LOVE the caricature of the two of them! The Wilderness Lodge looks absolutely breathtaking! We went to WDW in January of 2007 and we had a few cold days, I don't think it got as cold as it did when you were there though! Looking forward to reading more of your report!!

~Beth

 

[r4blessings]

Joining in your trip report (came over from Becky's!) and love it so far! Can't believe how cold it was for you guys! Love your organizational skills (with the boxes!) and pictures! We drive to WDW every August from NY! We love driving (DH hates to fly, but doesn't mind the drive and by this point my kids are used to it!) so I might think about using your box idea this August!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[DisneyJo]

Sounds like the journey was fantastic and how sweet was your DS when he spotted his first Disney bus

That CM sounds fantastic how wonderful Abby had a magical moment so soon

 

[teentoddlermom]

We were on a college road trip through the south, and our last stop was Gainesville - UF before heading to the WL cap off the family vacation in WDW, our favorite place!
We finished our tour at UF by 2pm, and I had booked us a night in Gainesville. We got to the hotel, and it was gross. I immediately called WDW to see what was available, nothing at any hotel except suites for $1000's. We had no idea it was such a short ride to Orlando from Gainesville. We were resigned on staying in the gross hotel, but decided to throw all caution to the wind, and blasted out at 3pm! We got to the WL by 5pm, and lo and behold, a room was available. When we arrived at the WL, we were blown away by the beauty of the resort, and we had many magical experiences on that trip. Thanks for jogging my memory, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of your TR!

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

Just subbing. Saw you over on Beckys PTR so thought I would come along and have a read- I have a little catching up to do!!

 

[aharbin88]

I'm from Becky's PTR, too! Maybe she should start charging referral fees. I'm sure she accepts Disney dollars!

I love, love, love your Rubbermaid boxes! I packed a bunch of our stuff in those boxes for our annual beach vacation, and I LOVED it! I got a lot of "I wish I had thought of that!" from my other family members.

I think between the two of us, I think we can make Rubbermaid recession-proof!

Your kids sound adorable. I love that Aidan got so excited when he saw the Mickey bus. My oldest DD, Caroline, is 2 now, but will be 3 at our travel time. I'm going to try to find pics of things like that to show her what to expect. She has been to WDW before, but she was 15 months old at the time, and doesn't seem to remember it. Whenever we look at pics from the trip, she thinks it's her baby sister in there with Snow White!

I'm subbing, and I can't wait to hear more. That "will our room be upgraded?" teaser has me intrigued!

 

[cdotla]

Great updates!

Sounds like a great trip so far! And the drive definitely didn't sound that bad! I wish we lived that close!

Can't wait for more!