The Darling Family June 2011: A Last Minute Budget Vacation

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

Just finished catching up on your report! You always have the best Photopass pictures. That is so cute that the boys joined in on your Photopass excitement.

 

[dismagiclover]

Thank you...you have just helped all of my rainy fears go away!

By the way, do you use the names Wendy, John & Michael for the trip reports, or are those their true chosen names? Having the last name Darling, and being a Disney fan, must have at least made you think about it, if those are not in fact their actual names.

Those aren't the kids real names and Darling isn't actually our last name either. I thought it all up for the first trip report I did and it has stuck. It stuck so well that the kids actually dressed up as the Darlings for the MNSSHP last year. It was so fun!

Just finished catching up on your report! You always have the best Photopass pictures. That is so cute that the boys joined in on your Photopass excitement.

Since we take so many photopass pictures some of them are bound to turn out

 

[dismagiclover]

DH joined us around now. He must have maxed out on fast passes. Anyway we’d already completed Mexico and Norway so we were headed for China. It was hot though. Really hot. Wendy spotted a group of young women with shade umbrellas and actually stopped them to ask where they bought them. Lucky for her the answer was China. So Wendy now had a mission too. Buy a Chinese umbrella. So before we could get to our Duffy mission in China we stopped in the shop that sells umbrellas. Wendy picked one out and they wrote her name on it in Chinese. Here she is with it.

I know I am biased, but I find her absolutely adorable. The boys finished China and we headed towards Germany. Another picture I love.

The boys finished up Germany and we headed to Italy. Here they are coloring in Italy.

And with that Duffy Quest was complete. We had been to every country. So of course we had to do a photo shoot to commemorate this great achievement.

Here is John’s finished product.

Here is Michael’s finished masterpiece.

Our tummies were rumbling and we headed towards lunch. On the way we encountered a colonial band.

We were a bit early for our ADR time, but we were hoping it wouldn’t be a problem. So where did we eat for our last meal in Disney?

 

[kittylady1972]

We were a bit early for our ADR time, but we were hoping it wouldn’t be a problem. So where did we eat for our last meal in Disney?

Cute, cute photos! It's funny I was going to guess Le Chef de France...only because we did that same thing one time...spent our last day at EPCOT with lunch at Le Chef...and then I was reading back through your TR and saw that you did make a ressie there...so did I win???

 

[firecracker725]

Those aren't the kids real names and Darling isn't actually our last name either. I thought it all up for the first trip report I did and it has stuck. It stuck so well that the kids actually dressed up as the Darlings for the MNSSHP last year. It was so fun!

I have to admit, being the eagle eye that I am, that I figured out the children's names were not really Wendy, John, and Michael while reading one of your previous TRs. However, I am absolutely shocked that your last name isn't really Darling. I'm actually kind of devastated.

 

[Lorelai]

I have to admit, being the eagle eye that I am, that I figured out the children's names were not really Wendy, John, and Michael while reading one of your previous TRs. However, I am absolutely shocked that your last name isn't really Darling. I'm actually kind of devastated.

This was the first trip report I've read of yours (I should have read previous reports, as this poster did)...you had me going!

 

[MEK]

That picture of Wendy IS absolutely adorable!!!! That needs a frame. It's a keeper!

Cute flat Duffys!

 

[ellajeansmom]

I think I've told you before, but I love how your family takes it easy and doesn't rush from ride to ride (well, except for your DH's FP obsession!) and you make the time to relax at the resort

Great idea on getting each kid their own photopass card - I planned on the adults in our party each getting one but I didn't think of DDs getting them too. I'll have to remember that

I had a feeling you would opt to spend the evening at MK with Wendy, and what a wonderful evening you had - I'm sure Wendy appreciated having your undivided attention.

That picture of Wendy with her pink umbrella is adorable! Your boys and their Duffy quest makes me laugh...good for them for accomplishing their mission

 

[dismagiclover]

Cute, cute photos! It's funny I was going to guess Le Chef de France...only because we did that same thing one time...spent our last day at EPCOT with lunch at Le Chef...and then I was reading back through your TR and saw that you did make a ressie there...so did I win???

You definitely won!! Your prize is another update Great minds think alike with those last day reservations

I have to admit, being the eagle eye that I am, that I figured out the children's names were not really Wendy, John, and Michael while reading one of your previous TRs. However, I am absolutely shocked that your last name isn't really Darling. I'm actually kind of devastated.

Sorry about the devestation. Back in the old days on the DIS (if you can call 2009 the old days) most people used fake names in their trip reports. You can still think of us as the Darlings. I don't mind.

This was the first trip report I've read of yours (I should have read previous reports, as this poster did)...you had me going!

I think in the very first trip report I wrote I said something in the introduction that said "For the sake of the report we'll call DD Wendy Darling" or something like that. So it was pretty obvious in that first report. Now it seems natural to call them that here on the DIS. The kids even read the reports sometime and they think it's normal too.

That picture of Wendy IS absolutely adorable!!!! That needs a frame. It's a keeper!

Cute flat Duffys!

I do love that picture of Wendy. You are right. It does deserve a frame of its own. Or at least a print.

I think I've told you before, but I love how your family takes it easy and doesn't rush from ride to ride (well, except for your DH's FP obsession!) and you make the time to relax at the resort

Great idea on getting each kid their own photopass card - I planned on the adults in our party each getting one but I didn't think of DDs getting them too. I'll have to remember that

I had a feeling you would opt to spend the evening at MK with Wendy, and what a wonderful evening you had - I'm sure Wendy appreciated having your undivided attention.

That picture of Wendy with her pink umbrella is adorable! Your boys and their Duffy quest makes me laugh...good for them for accomplishing their mission

One of the great things about going so frequently is that it removes that sense of urgency. Sure we like rides, but we don't need to be on one every minute. The boys and I especially just like wandering around and exploring. DH and Wendy are a bit more focused on getting those rides in, but I have to say they are a bit more focused in real life too. My birthday trip is coming in January and it is just DH and I. I've warned him that rides are not a priority for me. I'm planning on doing a lot of smelling the roses. I have no problem if he leaves me to go on rides. He insists he is OK with just smelling the roses with me, but we shall see.

 

[dismagiclover]

We headed for our ADR in France. This was the ADR we made because DVC members get a 20% discount at lunchtime. It was nice to walk into the air conditioning. Even though we were a bit early they had no problem seating us. We enjoyed our lunch very much. DH especially enjoyed the onion soup. He still sometimes talk about that onion soup. During lunch we had a visitor.

We were happy to see Remy. After our enjoyable leisurely lunch we ambled back towards the main entrance. We had to stop for a photo pass picture on the bridge over the English Channel (the bridge between France and the UK).

This is my favorite family shot of the trip. Then we had to make a stop in the UK for the requesite Hob Nobs.

This is something I get every trip and don’t ever share very well. I think we then used some Soarin fast passes acquired earlier by DH. Then we slowly made our way towards the front of Epcot. As always I tried to savor those last few minutes. As we walked by the ball the kids pointed out that we hadn’t ridden Spaceship Earth this trip. So we hopped on for a ride through the past. Then we were shown our future.

There was nothing else to keep us from leaving. We really needed to get on the road so we weren’t driving too late. But wait! As we headed towards the exit, the boys started to clamor about using the photo pass cards one more time. So we got this final shot of the boys.

An appropriate summing up of the boys’ trip I would say. We headed to the car and said goodbye to Disney property. Our annual passes expired at midnight that evening, but by that time we were snoozing in a nondescript hotel in Georgia (or maybe it was South Carolina.) We finished the ride home the next day. It wasn’t the most extravagant trip we’d ever taken, but it was a great bonus trip. I would definitely recommend a last minute budget trip. A week in Disney with those you love the best is better than a week pretty much anywhere else.

 

[kcandbella]

Looks like a great way to end a fun trip! Those last moments are always a little bittersweet though. At least the boys got to finish their Duffy mission. Your PP obsession must be rubbing off on them too!!!

Do you have a picture of Wendy's name on the umbrella? I would love to see what it looks like!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Mary Ellen is right...that picture of Wendy really needs to be in a frame...she's so adorable!Great pictures of the boys with their Duffy's...they are so cute!

Your last line brought a happy tear to my eye...it's so true

 

[dvc4life]

What a great way to end your trip! Thank you so much for sharing another trip with us.

 

[kittylady1972]

Great final entry to your trip report. Sounds like a great trip. I think it's definitely something we'll try to do in the future too as I think we could manage a budget trip!

 

[Angies1274]

Catching up....again.

Love all your photopass pics! I say it every trip but next time I'm going to make stopping for more pictures a priority. Whether the boys like it or not! Actually I may steal your idea and get them their own card...hmm..that may just work!

Glad you were able to have that special time with Wendy at MK! Looks like you had a wonderful evening!

So cute about the Duffy Quest! So glad they were able to accomplish their mission!

A great end to a great trip!! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[MEK]

Wonderful ending to your trip! I have that same Tink shirt!!!!!

I didn't know DVC members got 20% at Chefs. Good to know!

Cute Remy pictures.

I really enjoyed your TR!!!! Thanks!

 

[Missyrose]

The boys are so cute with their Duffys! I'm sorry your trip is over, I really enjoyed following along.

We're hoping to squeeze in a trip just before our APs expire next October!

 

[ellajeansmom]

Very cool that you got a visit from Remy during lunch

That is a wonderful picture of the whole family (including a Duffy bear) on the bridge

Thanks for sharing another trip with us, it was fun to read along

 

[ohboyx3]

Awesome!! We pulled the kids out a few days before school ended as well. It is true.... they do just watch movies those last couple of days. Ha ha!

 

[Shannon84]

We really enjoyed seeing Remy, I thought he was too cute!! glad to hear that you had a good last meal at WDW

I saw Duffy merchandise (stuffed bears and the outfits) EVERYWHERE when we were down there I couldnt help but think of you guys