Our 2008 grand, GRAND FLORIDIAN Christmas trip 12/6-12/14

[Lcaemom]

Let me start with a little background...I finished nursing school in May of 2006. My only wish was to be able to take my 3 DDs to WDW...I didn't want a party or any kind of gift. We booked our first trip in 2007, for December 8-15th. We stayed at POR; we loved it!!! It was a perfect magical week. While we were there we visited all of the deluxe resorts...loved POR but, these were definately above and beyond POR. I never thought they would be attainable for us...and our pocketbook. Once we returned home, I was hooked. I went to the WDW website and priced out all of the deluxe resorts...spent some time on the phone with WDW and within two weeks of returning home we were booked at the GF for 2008. While online, I found this website, and joined many others who like me...love Disney. I started learning all kinds of things here...about codes and pins, things we hadn't seen, things we did not know about, etc. I saved over $1000 from all of the info that I learned here, and was able to plan for a trip that completely surpassed 2007. Our first trip was so beautiful and magical but, we had now learned more, were more prepared and we stayed at the Grand Floridian...which is breathtaking!!!

On December 26, 2007 I was on the phone with WDW pricing the WL and GF...I was told that for $200 I could hold a reservation for next year. The GF fills up pretty quickly so, I was advised that if I was really interested I should put down a deposit. So, I got out the credit card and started reading the numbers while my family sat dumbfounded. They could not believe that we were really going back to Disney...at Christmastime!!! My DH shot me a look that said "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!?" But, once I hung up I said "it was only $200 and it's refundable up to 45 days out"...the balance isn't due until October...that was a million years away!!! So, he then asked "what exactly is the balance?" For 8days/7nts with 8 day PH tickets...it was approximately $4200. I then found these boards...I learned about AAA. I called them and they made me another ressie...identical to what we already had...for $3800. So, we now had two ressies. About a month into posting on these boards I learned about codes and pins. I called WDW back and asked if I had one...they applied it to my original ressie with them...which brought the trip down to $3203!!! As 2008 proceeded we found great airfare...in June...I realized that it cost the same amount of $$$ to fly on Dec 6th as Dec 7th so, I added Saturday to our trip. The GF was sold out...so, I paid for one night at POR. In July, we made our countdown chain...with 147 links...way too long to countdown...we'll never do that again!!!
The making of the chain...

15 DAYS TO GO!!!


5 DAYS TO GO!!! Packing up the Princess gowns.

We paid in full in October, and also added the DDP...don't think we'll do that again, unless it is free. It wasn't worth it to us but, I'll get to that later.

The night before...can't believe it's here!!!

Then...the day finally came!!! On December 6th, I got up at 4am...don't think I really ever slept that night. I finished up some last minute stuff, printed out pet instructions, house instructions...my parents were taking care of the pets, got dressed...posted one last post on my PTR...and then woke up the kiddos!!! We joked that on "the day" that I would skip up and down the hallway singing Christmas songs...and I did!!! I was the biggest kid in the family. Everything was done so, the kiddos just had to get up...they slept in the clothes they would be flying in...they brushed their teeth and all four girls in the family were ready to go.
...now we're just waiting for DH!!!

My dad came to drive us to the airport at 4:30am. He ended up getting mad that he came out at "not even the crack of dawn" and had to wait for my DH...who took longer to get ready than the four girls in the family!?!


At 4:45am...we were FINALLY on our way...after waiting almost a year!!!


As we drove to the airport we stopped at Dunkin Donuts for bagels and coffee...it was so early, it was still dark...felt like we fleeing town in the dead of the night. Until we pulled into the airport terminal...it was chaos!!! It was only 5am-ish but, there were hundreds of others just like us on their way to Disney.


We weren't flying until 7:10am so, we had plenty of time to take lots of pictures, check our bags, and start typing my 11yo DD's report that was due the day after we returned from this trip. She had a biography to do so, she picked...Walt Disney. What an amazing man!!! We sat on the floor in the terminal and typed for about an hour, until was time to board. We were the last ones on the plane because, we had to wait for guess who??? He was in the bathroom...AGAIN!?!
We finally managed to make our way out of the airport!!! Goodbye Boston!!!

Next up: Landing at MCO...more pictures...and day #1, POR and DTD...

[Hyonlyf]

1st trip subscribers!!!

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip! Hurry up and continue your tale!

[Nicole786]

Awesome! Subscribing!

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Sounds like its going to be a fun trip! I can't wait to hear all about it. Its been a couple of years since we last stayed at the GF, but we loved every minute of it there-great atmosphere and service.

[whogirl'smom]

Subscribing. Can't wait to hear more!

[princessesrule4]

Hi! Popped over from the GF Chat thread and I'm enjoying reading along!
Cute family - your youngest reminds me of Dakota Fanning!

[Maxie86]

You're off to a great start. Looking forward to the rest.

[BlueSkies]

Lcae You're off to a great start!! And what a beautiful family you have... There really is no place like the GF ...cant wait to read more...

[Lcaemom]

Thanks for joining Hyonlyf, Nicole786, KeepMovingForward, whogirl'smom, princessrule4, maxie86 and blueskies!!!

[wdwgirl03]

Oooooh, sounds like fun...I am in too!

[PolyAddict]

Along for the Grand ride!!!

We honeymooned there in 1989 and haven't been back since (mostly because of our Poly addiction), so i live through everyone else's trips.

[Lcaemom]

My three goofy girls...goofing around on the plane...they had lots of enery for having been up so early. But, it was so worth leaving so early, because we still had the whole day.
Landing at MCO...we're getting closer. It wasn't even lunch time yet.


OK, so I was a little excited, chronicalling our way through MCO. I was so excited to actually be there that, I thought these memories were just as worth capturing as say standing in front of the castle...there are lots of those pictures coming...just need to get to WDW first...we haven't even gotten out of the airport yet. When we got home last year, I read through someone else's TR and they had their family pose with this Goofy statue so, that was mission number one accomplished. I was so happy that I remembered to take that picture. However, my family now knew what they were in for...LOTS AND LOTS OF PICTURES!!!

We got off the elevator and could see the HUGE crowd at the DME counter...and there were hundreds of cheerleaders. I did not remember this from last year...and we were at POR for the whole week, then. This year was very different...they were everywhere!!! The line went very quickly...the CMs were so nice and efficient.

We're getting closer!!! We ended up on Disney Cruise line bus...which was fine. We watched the cruise video, instead of the resort video. But, so excited.

I called my parents to let them know we were there...and then I saw THE SIGN!!! I could have cried...we were actually back!!! Suddenly we surrounded by Disney busses and Disney signs...it was surreal. I couldn't believe a year had past, the countdown was over we had finally made it back!!!

[SageFemme]

Subbing! Are they still doing the $200 down with the balance due in Oct.? We're wanting to go this Dec.!

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Great start Lcae! Can't wait to read it all!!! Beautiful family!

SageFemme- the $200 deposit is good for any package reservation at any disney resort. a $200 deposit holds your entire reservation until 45 days before the trip when the entire balance is due in full.
That is for packages including room and tickets or room, tickets and meal plan.
A room only reservation is not considered a package. Room only requires a 1 night deposit plus tax on the one night rate.

[Lcaemom]

We worked our way to POR, after OKW and POFQ...everything was so Christmasy and just as beautiful, as the year before. I wondered if I would think it lived up to imagination, this year compared to last year. Everything was certainly off to a good start. It was a warm FL day, the palm trees were blowing in the wind...Christmas decor looks very different in that setting than up here in the north, amidst bare trees and snow. I felt like we had gone to heaven. We pulled into POR...and again that was just as beautiful as I remembered.

I whispered to DH before the bus stopped..."I'm going to book it inside...you grab the bags and kids." (maybe not in that order) We were the last stop and the whole crowd we started with from MCO were still with us on the bus...which meant there would be a mobscene to check in. So, I ran inside...after taking a couple of pictures, of course. I was the first one in line...and one of the very few in line. The rest of the bus got into the POP Warner line...there was a separate line in the middle of lobby, just for them. The place was a zoo!!!




This was our room...exactly the same as last year...different building. Very nice, very clean. I had planned that we would check in and hang out at the pool...which we did.


My DD was so excited!!! She was bouncing off of...everything!!!


The walk to the pool is little bit of a hike...but, the walk is so worth it. LOve the big waterwheel...and the dock. There are horses and carriages and a stand for hairwraps, the 5-person bikes. I really love it there!!!

The main pool...Ol Man Island...the plan was to hang out there and just relax.


First, we needed some drinks...I was hoping for something in addition to drinks but, they only sold chips at this pool bar...the Muddy River. A little disappointing because we were starving but, trying to save our appetites for an early dinner at DTD. So, we got by for a little while on three big bags of chips and frozen drinks. My DD loved hers and dranks everyone elses...except DH...his had alcohol. I was thinking if I had had an alcoholic drink, I would have been sound asleep by 4pm...I could have fallen asleep at the pool, in the sun...we were soooooooo relaxed by then!!!


Just as I was about to doze off...we decided that we were ready to head over to DTD and eat. We were starving!!!


We headed over to the boat launch and took a boat to DTD. Such a great ride...you pass the other side of POR...where the mansions are. Then POFQ, very beautiful...cute pool. Then you pass the old tree house villas...they are refurbishing those. Then as you head into DTD you pass all the birds that sit on the sides of the river, waiting for the boats to pass so, that they can jump in and eat all the fish that the boats turn up.
I love DTD...so much to see...and of course everything there is beautiful, too. It seemed to be very crowded. We started at The Earl of Sandwich. I had a holiday sandwich there, last year...turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo. It was so deliscious...and this year was once again!!!



We walked through all of the stores...looking to see what we might want to take home, scrapbooking supplies, dishes (I got rid of mine in June and never replaced them...didn't find any at Disney, though), looked at this year's Christmas ornaments...pretty similiar to last year. We bought alot of souveniers last year so, I really didn't feel the need to buy as much this year.
But, it's still always fun to look...to me, anyways. My family feels differently about that.


My DD HATES Stitch (last year, she turned herself inside out on the ride at MK...screaming bloody murder) but, for whatever reason she feels the need to run right up and get all wet at the World of Disney.
We walked around the corner to see Santa...they do such a cute job there with his little house. There was a line so, no one wanted to wait...I figured we'd get back there or see him at MK...or Epcot...that never quite worked out!!! DD was NOT happy!!!



Outside the art/scrapbooking store...I'm at a loss for names, at the moment.


As we were walking by, this man came out with a bucket of water...it looked liked water...and started making this Mickey on the sidewalk. That is why I love DTD...there is always something going on. There's music, and the waterfall, and the smells of chocolate, and cinnamon, and gingerbread, and popcorn.


We were planning on going to Ghiradelli's for something chocolately but, were still so full from dinner that we ended up at the candy place and got something small...we each of us got a cookie or candy. We were planning on coming here more than once but, never got back there all week so, these are the only pictures I have of DTD...unless I check my 13yoDD's camera...she might have some. I'll post them later if she does. So, it started to get dark...we were really starting to lose our steam. We were planning to be at the rope drop at MK in the morning which meant needing to be up early...again...to transfer to the GF. We decided to call it a day. We headed back on the boat. Jumped into bed...put Stacy on...we LOVE Stacy!!! We were all sound asleep, in minutes. It was a great first day...and it really wasn't even our official first day!!!

Next up: Transferring to the GRAND FLORIDIAN!!!