Belle_princess
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2008
Hello! I'm so glad you are here!
Before I start this PTR, I want to give you a quick recap of my past Disney Trips and what caused this to be a REDO trip for my friend and me.
My first trip was with my family in 1992. I was 13 and very highly easily influenced! My mom and dad took my brother and myself down to Disney. We met up with another family who had been my family's friends for ages. It was a fun trip. My first time at Disney.
My dad, my brother, and myself (no laughing at the hat, please!) on Main Street.
My mom, my brother, and me in front of the Haunted Mansion!
My dad and me in the Teacups ride.
What I remember: MK was awesome, I got to see animators working on a Disney movie at the MGM Studios, getting character autographs, and seeing the Grand Floridian. Yes, I remember MUCH more, but those stood out to me. From the moment I returned home, I wanted to be an animator. I practiced drawing all the time!!! I also became a certified Disney FREAK!
From the time I discovered my local Disney Store, I wanted to work there. The moment I turned 16, I was there asking for a job. Nope. . .sorry. . .you had to be 18.
Darn. Guess what. . . two years later, the day before I turned 18, I was at the Disney Store filling out paperwork! I was going to be a Disney Cast Member!
I worked there on and off as I went to college. It was fun, and they always worked around my schedule. However, I did tend to put my paycheck right back into Disney Corp's pocket!
In 2002, I graduated college. I had planned to go on a trip to Disney with a friend of mine, but she wasn't able to save the money. For a while, I thought I was out of luck. I suddenly realized that I could easily do WDW alone. My parents weren't too ok with that, but they were going to let me go anyway. Ok, so I called Disney and set up a room at All-Star Movies (complete with CM discount!) and bought airline tickets. I was ready to go.
As fate would have it, I happened to be talking to a long time friend, Diana, who had moved away. As we talked, I told her my plan to go to Disney alone. She said that was said I was going alone. I made the joke, "what, you want to come?" She paused and said "sure!" Well, yes, it did all work out. Since I was still a CM, I had some free park passes that Diana could use to get in the parks. (As a CM, I got in free). With the discount on the room, the price was wonderful, and then Diana said we'd split it. . .perfect! Diana bought plane tickets. We met up at Orlando Airport after not seeing each other in 6 years! Totally awesome!
For our trip, I made a few ADRs, but not too many. I didn't want to spend all my money on Food (this was prior to the dinning plan). We tried a few sit downs, but ultimately spent our money on souvies!
We loved eating at the Castle!!
We fell in love with Rockin Rollercoaster. It was new for both of us, and we managed to ride it 6 times during our stay!
That trip was so awesome, I was hooked. Disney World was THE place to go for me! Plus, I learned going on your own (or with a friend) is much better because you can do as you please!!
Later, I found out a friend of mine (who I met at the Disney Store) was taking her family to Disney World in August. I longed to go back. Rhonda offered me a place with her family on their vacation. I could still get in the parks for free, and I could get a discount on the room. I decided to go! Can you say SPOILED???? Wow! Twice in one year!
I started to plan with Rhonda. I was over there several nights for dinner as we planned together. Rhonda and her husband wanted to eat at a lot of restaurants- not all cheap! I was concerned. I didn't really have a bunch of money left to use. I wasn't sure dinning was the way I wanted to spend it all, but I went along with them. We had several ADRs for our trip. We also stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort. I had never stayed there and was totally hooked! Incredible!
(I'll post more pictures if I have time.)
It was on this trip to WDW that I learned that eating at WDW is the BEST! We ate at Liberty Tree Tavern, Cinderella's Castle, Marrakesh, 50's Prime Time, Hollywood and Vine, Brown Derby, California Grill. . .I could go on and on. I learned the food at Disney was just as good as the rides or the shows! Again, I was hooked.
In 2008, DH wanted to do something incredible for my 30th birthday. He decided to take me to Disney World. He loves cartoons, but waiting in the line or dealing with lots of people isn't his strong point. Well, my birthday is in November, so we decided to brave the crowds and go to Disney during my Thanksgiving break. OOPS! The place was packed!!! It was a madhouse. DH did the best he could, but he just isn't patient enough for WDW. He complained A LOT and he only found one ride that made him act like a kid (RnRC!) The rest of time, he was miserable. I tried to do things he would like and not push him too hard, but we did finally snap and got into a fight. He did make an effort after that, but the trip just wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be.
We stayed at CSR which was wonderful. DH loved that. He also had a few things he liked:LeCellier, RnRC, Casey's Corn Nuggets, the Poly,and cookies and milk at bedtime! It wasn't all bad, but he just wasn't drawn in!
However, my husband aside (which was difficult), I had an awesome trip. I got to see the parks ready for Christmas. I got to do and eat things I'd never tried before. It was just DH that brought me down- he didn't understand my love Disney, nor my need to photograph everything. He was just a bummer which made my trip less magical.
RECAP OVER
Now, that leads me to this trip. First, let me introduce the cast.
Of course, you know me, Kristin.
Disney Freak and avid Disney Planner. Favorite Disney characters: Belle, Stitch, and Mickey. Also a foodie, baker, and crazy photographer (although still learning!)
Here is my friend, Nikki
Crazy chick! Fantastic Musician and Awesome Woman of God! She is crazy, too!
Umm. . .Did I mention she is crazy???
She loves Wall-E and Finding Nemo's Dory (whom she named her dog after).
Here is DORY!!
She said she used to go to Disney with her family many times when she was younger. Last year, her life turned upside down, and she had to deal with many sad things. Her brother and his family were going to Disney World and they had invited his (and Nikki's) parents. At the last minute, Nikki was added on to their vacation and got to go with 3 days to prep! She fell in love with Disney again. When she returned, I had her over for dinner, and we started talking about Disney World. I got a scrapbook out that had some of my previous trips' pictures in it. Our conversation became more and more involved and detailed. DH sitting there made a comment that Nikki and I needed to go to Disney together! We laughed it off and continued our discussion.
Just this last March, DH bought a little sports car he wants to rebuild. That's fine, but I decided I wanted to splurge a little on myself, too. In deciding what to do with the money, I thought about Disney. I talked to Nikki, and we decided we could go only if the offered Free Dinning this year.
So we waited. Nikki kept on with her life, and I lived on the DIS hoping to hear something about FD!
In the mean time, Nikki and I decided where we wanted to eat and what things we wanted to do. When the 180 day mark rolled around, I made ADRs- just in case. Finally, there it was-the FD announcement! Nikki and I were going! I booked the trip a week ago, and we are ready to go!
Now, it is a matter of saving the money to pay off the trip, and planning. Since I have a little more time, I told Nikki I'd plan and make the arrangements. All she had to do was offer her selections from time to time, and we'd have a great trip!
So. . . that is where we are! I have so much more to tell you all, but it will have to wait for another post!
Chapter list:
Recap and Introduction- you are here
Nitty Gritty
Itinerary
Animal Kingdom MUST DO list
Hollywood Studios MUST DO list
Epcot MUST DO list
Magic Kingdom MUST DO list
Double Digits
Only 90 Days
68 Days!
Changes, Additions, Purchases and 60 days!!
7 weeks left. . .49 days
[URL="http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=37792716&postcount=38"]40 days. . .
One month. . .WOW
[/URL]Ok, Ok. . .I missed 20, so here's 17 days until we are home!
10 MORE DAYS!
9 days . . .
8 more days. . . .
We leave when??? 7 days!
Packing Panic and 6 days
Lost my job. . .five days until Disney
Double post and 4 days left. . .
3 days, 3 days, 3 DAYS!!!!!!!
2 days. . .more like 1.5!
See you real soon!
Before I start this PTR, I want to give you a quick recap of my past Disney Trips and what caused this to be a REDO trip for my friend and me.
My first trip was with my family in 1992. I was 13 and very highly easily influenced! My mom and dad took my brother and myself down to Disney. We met up with another family who had been my family's friends for ages. It was a fun trip. My first time at Disney.
My dad, my brother, and myself (no laughing at the hat, please!) on Main Street.
My mom, my brother, and me in front of the Haunted Mansion!
My dad and me in the Teacups ride.
What I remember: MK was awesome, I got to see animators working on a Disney movie at the MGM Studios, getting character autographs, and seeing the Grand Floridian. Yes, I remember MUCH more, but those stood out to me. From the moment I returned home, I wanted to be an animator. I practiced drawing all the time!!! I also became a certified Disney FREAK!
From the time I discovered my local Disney Store, I wanted to work there. The moment I turned 16, I was there asking for a job. Nope. . .sorry. . .you had to be 18.
Darn. Guess what. . . two years later, the day before I turned 18, I was at the Disney Store filling out paperwork! I was going to be a Disney Cast Member!I worked there on and off as I went to college. It was fun, and they always worked around my schedule. However, I did tend to put my paycheck right back into Disney Corp's pocket!
In 2002, I graduated college. I had planned to go on a trip to Disney with a friend of mine, but she wasn't able to save the money. For a while, I thought I was out of luck. I suddenly realized that I could easily do WDW alone. My parents weren't too ok with that, but they were going to let me go anyway. Ok, so I called Disney and set up a room at All-Star Movies (complete with CM discount!) and bought airline tickets. I was ready to go.
As fate would have it, I happened to be talking to a long time friend, Diana, who had moved away. As we talked, I told her my plan to go to Disney alone. She said that was said I was going alone. I made the joke, "what, you want to come?" She paused and said "sure!" Well, yes, it did all work out. Since I was still a CM, I had some free park passes that Diana could use to get in the parks. (As a CM, I got in free). With the discount on the room, the price was wonderful, and then Diana said we'd split it. . .perfect! Diana bought plane tickets. We met up at Orlando Airport after not seeing each other in 6 years! Totally awesome!
For our trip, I made a few ADRs, but not too many. I didn't want to spend all my money on Food (this was prior to the dinning plan). We tried a few sit downs, but ultimately spent our money on souvies!
We loved eating at the Castle!!
We fell in love with Rockin Rollercoaster. It was new for both of us, and we managed to ride it 6 times during our stay!
That trip was so awesome, I was hooked. Disney World was THE place to go for me! Plus, I learned going on your own (or with a friend) is much better because you can do as you please!!
Later, I found out a friend of mine (who I met at the Disney Store) was taking her family to Disney World in August. I longed to go back. Rhonda offered me a place with her family on their vacation. I could still get in the parks for free, and I could get a discount on the room. I decided to go!
Can you say SPOILED???? Wow! Twice in one year! I started to plan with Rhonda. I was over there several nights for dinner as we planned together. Rhonda and her husband wanted to eat at a lot of restaurants- not all cheap! I was concerned. I didn't really have a bunch of money left to use. I wasn't sure dinning was the way I wanted to spend it all, but I went along with them. We had several ADRs for our trip. We also stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort. I had never stayed there and was totally hooked! Incredible!
(I'll post more pictures if I have time.)
It was on this trip to WDW that I learned that eating at WDW is the BEST! We ate at Liberty Tree Tavern, Cinderella's Castle, Marrakesh, 50's Prime Time, Hollywood and Vine, Brown Derby, California Grill. . .I could go on and on. I learned the food at Disney was just as good as the rides or the shows! Again, I was hooked.
In 2008, DH wanted to do something incredible for my 30th birthday. He decided to take me to Disney World. He loves cartoons, but waiting in the line or dealing with lots of people isn't his strong point. Well, my birthday is in November, so we decided to brave the crowds and go to Disney during my Thanksgiving break.
OOPS! The place was packed!!! It was a madhouse. DH did the best he could, but he just isn't patient enough for WDW. He complained A LOT and he only found one ride that made him act like a kid (RnRC!) The rest of time, he was miserable. I tried to do things he would like and not push him too hard, but we did finally snap and got into a fight. He did make an effort after that, but the trip just wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be.We stayed at CSR which was wonderful. DH loved that. He also had a few things he liked:LeCellier, RnRC, Casey's Corn Nuggets, the Poly,and cookies and milk at bedtime! It wasn't all bad, but he just wasn't drawn in!
However, my husband aside (which was difficult), I had an awesome trip. I got to see the parks ready for Christmas. I got to do and eat things I'd never tried before. It was just DH that brought me down- he didn't understand my love Disney, nor my need to photograph everything. He was just a bummer which made my trip less magical.
RECAP OVER
Now, that leads me to this trip. First, let me introduce the cast.
Of course, you know me, Kristin.
Disney Freak and avid Disney Planner. Favorite Disney characters: Belle, Stitch, and Mickey. Also a foodie, baker, and crazy photographer (although still learning!)
Here is my friend, Nikki
Crazy chick! Fantastic Musician and Awesome Woman of God! She is crazy, too!
Umm. . .Did I mention she is crazy???She loves Wall-E and Finding Nemo's Dory (whom she named her dog after).
Here is DORY!!
She said she used to go to Disney with her family many times when she was younger. Last year, her life turned upside down, and she had to deal with many sad things. Her brother and his family were going to Disney World and they had invited his (and Nikki's) parents. At the last minute, Nikki was added on to their vacation and got to go with 3 days to prep! She fell in love with Disney again. When she returned, I had her over for dinner, and we started talking about Disney World. I got a scrapbook out that had some of my previous trips' pictures in it. Our conversation became more and more involved and detailed. DH sitting there made a comment that Nikki and I needed to go to Disney together!
We laughed it off and continued our discussion.Just this last March, DH bought a little sports car he wants to rebuild. That's fine, but I decided I wanted to splurge a little on myself, too. In deciding what to do with the money, I thought about Disney. I talked to Nikki, and we decided we could go only if the offered Free Dinning this year.
So we waited. Nikki kept on with her life, and I lived on the DIS hoping to hear something about FD!
In the mean time, Nikki and I decided where we wanted to eat and what things we wanted to do. When the 180 day mark rolled around, I made ADRs- just in case. Finally, there it was-the FD announcement! Nikki and I were going! I booked the trip a week ago, and we are ready to go!Now, it is a matter of saving the money to pay off the trip, and planning. Since I have a little more time, I told Nikki I'd plan and make the arrangements. All she had to do was offer her selections from time to time, and we'd have a great trip!
So. . . that is where we are! I have so much more to tell you all, but it will have to wait for another post!
Chapter list:
Recap and Introduction- you are here
Nitty Gritty
Itinerary
Animal Kingdom MUST DO list
Hollywood Studios MUST DO list
Epcot MUST DO list
Magic Kingdom MUST DO list
Double Digits
Only 90 Days
68 Days!
Changes, Additions, Purchases and 60 days!!
7 weeks left. . .49 days
[URL="http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=37792716&postcount=38"]40 days. . .
One month. . .WOW
[/URL]Ok, Ok. . .I missed 20, so here's 17 days until we are home!
10 MORE DAYS!
9 days . . .
8 more days. . . .
We leave when??? 7 days!
Packing Panic and 6 days
Lost my job. . .five days until Disney
Double post and 4 days left. . .
3 days, 3 days, 3 DAYS!!!!!!!
2 days. . .more like 1.5!
See you real soon!
Anyone know?
O'hana's for breakfast. That is our favorite breakfast on property. The food is delicious. I wish I had some of the guava juice right now.
I can't be THAT crazy!!
yes. . .it is MY castle!!
It can be your castle when you are there and mine when I'm there and it can be shared between the two us when neither of us is there!
I am so excited that you are doing the Halloween party. I 
