DalmationGal29
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2011
- Messages
- 238
Welcome to my first ever Pre-Trip Report. Wait, that is not technically true, I did start typing up a Pre-Trip Report for our last trip but never started a thread for it here on the DisBoards.
So….Welcome to my first ever PUBLISHED Pre-Trip Report!
This trip has been a long one in the making. We had originally hoped to be back to WDW in the Fall of 2014, but due to my son’s medical issues last year (more on that later) we had no choice but to postpone, at least 1 year. So for my family, it will be 3 years since our last visit, November 2012.
First, the when! We will be leaving on Black Friday, November 27th and begin the long, 20+ hour drive to Florida. The plan is to arrive in Orlando around mid-Day on Saturday, November 28th and head straight for DTD.
Next the who! 5 adults, 4 child, 1 infant and 1 dog. So that is 10 people and 1 dog. I see you have noticed that we are bring an animal with us, which means we will not be staying on property (more on that later). I don't mind so much, as our dates don't fall into the Free Dining Promo anyway.
Let's begin with some introductions!
My family first:
I’ll start with myself…my name is Kim and I’m a Disney Addict! I have been visiting WDW since my first trip at 6 months old with my parents. I don’t think I actually became “addicted” until after returning from our 2007 trip. At that point I was a new mom and hadn’t visited since my senior class trip in 1994. There was no planning or research done for the 2007 trip (GASP - - I know). We had no idea that the Flower & Garden Festival was going on, my husband’s trip was cut short because of flooding at home, we stayed off-property and had NO ADRs! Beginners!
When we decided to go back in July 2011 for 2 weeks, again staying off-site, I was prepared. I spent months planning, revising, gathering information and learning everything I needed to know for our trip. The family I traveled with was amazed on how prepared I was and what an easy trip it was, they just went with my schedule and everything flowed perfectly! On our last day my daughter and I even hit all 4 parks in 1 day!
Our last trip was just my husband, daughter and myself in November 2012 when we finally were able to stay on-site and even had free dining! Again a lot of planning and scheduling made the trip a breeze!
Now I don’t get to go as often as I would like and this trip is only #15 in my 39 years. I am self diagnosis with CDO, which is OCD but in order. Since I enjoy the extreme planning and constant thirst for Disney knowledge my traveling companions have left me in charge of all the planning / reservations / organizing this trip.
Favorites:
Park – Epcot
Ride – Soarin’
Character – Eeyore
Princess – Merida
Villain – Chernabog
At MNMCP November 2012!
Next Up is my husband Jim, he is 44 years old and isn’t a big fan of Disney, He is 1 of 8 children and growing up they weren’t able to vacation much. He tolerates my obsession to a point, but I know how to get around talking about Disney and this trip when he is in the room. His first ever trip was in 2007. On our first day we visited AK and it ended up pouring so much that we had to run for cover and the park was shut down for lightening strikes. We were able to get to MK in the evening (after drying off), but during Wishes we received a phone call that our hometown was flooding along with our basement. The next morning he flew home to take care of things. He has since returned to WDW on our trip in 2012 and did enjoy himself, but this is technically only his 2nd visit to the Mouse!
Favorites:
Park – Epcot
Ride – Main Street Railroad
Character – Burt from Mary Poppins
Princess – Our Daughter
Villain – Captain Hook
Chillin' with the Main Mouse
Hubby & I waiting for our turn on Star Tours!
Then there is my daughter Mackenzie who is currently 8, but will be turning 9 on this visit. Our first park day will be her actual birthday and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can get one of the coveted BOG Dinner reservations. She is my Disney Princess through and through, as well as my partner in crime. She eats, sleeps and breathes Disney. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this goes on as long as possible! I have noticed that some of the other girls in her 2nd grade classes have moved on from Disney Princesses this year, but not mine; she searches out Hidden Mickey’s in everything we do! She even insisted on a Frozen Backpack and Lunchbox this year.
Mackenzie has a very active schedule that keeps us all busy – Girl Scouts, Tap Dance classes, during the Spring & Fall she participates in Soccer and the winter is Basketball. Her first trip was in 2007 when she was 4½ months old and this will be her 4th visit.
Favorites:
Park – Magic Kingdom
Ride – Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Character – Dumbo
Princess – Rapunzel
Villain – Mother Gothel
First Trip April 2007
After BBB in November 2012
Celebrating her birthday at 50's Prime Time Cafe
Lastly is my son Alexander. Alexander will be 3 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday on this trip (23 months) and it will be his first ever visit to WDW! The reason this trip was postponed from last year is because Alexander was born with heart defects and a clubbed foot. Before he was 5 months old he had undergone 3 medical procedures and 4 major surgeries, including 3 open heart surgeries in an attempt to repair the valves and holes in his heart. We spent just over 3 months in the hospital. Since his last surgery in May 2014, everything has been holding steady. There are still 2 small holes and some leakage, that will eventually need to be repaired, but his doctors are hopefully that another surgery can wait until a couple years out when he is older and stronger. As of his latest cardiology appointment on April 6th there has been no change, which is good and bad. Good because he isn’t getting worse at this time but bad because they were hoping for some reduction in the leak by now. We mentioned to the doctor that we are planning this trip and she has no issues with us going at this point. He'll have another cardiac check-up on October which will be the ultimate go or no-go for this trip.
Favorites:
Park – Never been
Ride – Never been
Character – Mickey Mouse (loves watching Disney Jr.)
Princess – Doesn’t have one
Villain – Pete the Cat
In the NICU right after his birth
Hanging out with Stitch
Getting ready for a day at the beach with Mickey
Already loves his Mickey Mouse!
Next up, more introductions - Nana & Pop Pop!
So….Welcome to my first ever PUBLISHED Pre-Trip Report!
This trip has been a long one in the making. We had originally hoped to be back to WDW in the Fall of 2014, but due to my son’s medical issues last year (more on that later) we had no choice but to postpone, at least 1 year. So for my family, it will be 3 years since our last visit, November 2012.
First, the when! We will be leaving on Black Friday, November 27th and begin the long, 20+ hour drive to Florida. The plan is to arrive in Orlando around mid-Day on Saturday, November 28th and head straight for DTD.
Next the who! 5 adults, 4 child, 1 infant and 1 dog. So that is 10 people and 1 dog. I see you have noticed that we are bring an animal with us, which means we will not be staying on property (more on that later). I don't mind so much, as our dates don't fall into the Free Dining Promo anyway.
Let's begin with some introductions!
My family first:
I’ll start with myself…my name is Kim and I’m a Disney Addict! I have been visiting WDW since my first trip at 6 months old with my parents. I don’t think I actually became “addicted” until after returning from our 2007 trip. At that point I was a new mom and hadn’t visited since my senior class trip in 1994. There was no planning or research done for the 2007 trip (GASP - - I know). We had no idea that the Flower & Garden Festival was going on, my husband’s trip was cut short because of flooding at home, we stayed off-property and had NO ADRs! Beginners!
When we decided to go back in July 2011 for 2 weeks, again staying off-site, I was prepared. I spent months planning, revising, gathering information and learning everything I needed to know for our trip. The family I traveled with was amazed on how prepared I was and what an easy trip it was, they just went with my schedule and everything flowed perfectly! On our last day my daughter and I even hit all 4 parks in 1 day!
Our last trip was just my husband, daughter and myself in November 2012 when we finally were able to stay on-site and even had free dining! Again a lot of planning and scheduling made the trip a breeze!
Now I don’t get to go as often as I would like and this trip is only #15 in my 39 years. I am self diagnosis with CDO, which is OCD but in order. Since I enjoy the extreme planning and constant thirst for Disney knowledge my traveling companions have left me in charge of all the planning / reservations / organizing this trip.
Favorites:
Park – Epcot
Ride – Soarin’
Character – Eeyore
Princess – Merida
Villain – Chernabog
At MNMCP November 2012!
Next Up is my husband Jim, he is 44 years old and isn’t a big fan of Disney, He is 1 of 8 children and growing up they weren’t able to vacation much. He tolerates my obsession to a point, but I know how to get around talking about Disney and this trip when he is in the room. His first ever trip was in 2007. On our first day we visited AK and it ended up pouring so much that we had to run for cover and the park was shut down for lightening strikes. We were able to get to MK in the evening (after drying off), but during Wishes we received a phone call that our hometown was flooding along with our basement. The next morning he flew home to take care of things. He has since returned to WDW on our trip in 2012 and did enjoy himself, but this is technically only his 2nd visit to the Mouse!
Favorites:
Park – Epcot
Ride – Main Street Railroad
Character – Burt from Mary Poppins
Princess – Our Daughter
Villain – Captain Hook
Chillin' with the Main Mouse
Hubby & I waiting for our turn on Star Tours!
Then there is my daughter Mackenzie who is currently 8, but will be turning 9 on this visit. Our first park day will be her actual birthday and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can get one of the coveted BOG Dinner reservations. She is my Disney Princess through and through, as well as my partner in crime. She eats, sleeps and breathes Disney. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this goes on as long as possible! I have noticed that some of the other girls in her 2nd grade classes have moved on from Disney Princesses this year, but not mine; she searches out Hidden Mickey’s in everything we do! She even insisted on a Frozen Backpack and Lunchbox this year.
Mackenzie has a very active schedule that keeps us all busy – Girl Scouts, Tap Dance classes, during the Spring & Fall she participates in Soccer and the winter is Basketball. Her first trip was in 2007 when she was 4½ months old and this will be her 4th visit.
Favorites:
Park – Magic Kingdom
Ride – Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Character – Dumbo
Princess – Rapunzel
Villain – Mother Gothel
First Trip April 2007
After BBB in November 2012
Celebrating her birthday at 50's Prime Time Cafe
Lastly is my son Alexander. Alexander will be 3 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday on this trip (23 months) and it will be his first ever visit to WDW! The reason this trip was postponed from last year is because Alexander was born with heart defects and a clubbed foot. Before he was 5 months old he had undergone 3 medical procedures and 4 major surgeries, including 3 open heart surgeries in an attempt to repair the valves and holes in his heart. We spent just over 3 months in the hospital. Since his last surgery in May 2014, everything has been holding steady. There are still 2 small holes and some leakage, that will eventually need to be repaired, but his doctors are hopefully that another surgery can wait until a couple years out when he is older and stronger. As of his latest cardiology appointment on April 6th there has been no change, which is good and bad. Good because he isn’t getting worse at this time but bad because they were hoping for some reduction in the leak by now. We mentioned to the doctor that we are planning this trip and she has no issues with us going at this point. He'll have another cardiac check-up on October which will be the ultimate go or no-go for this trip.
Favorites:
Park – Never been
Ride – Never been
Character – Mickey Mouse (loves watching Disney Jr.)
Princess – Doesn’t have one
Villain – Pete the Cat
In the NICU right after his birth
Hanging out with Stitch
Getting ready for a day at the beach with Mickey
Already loves his Mickey Mouse!
Next up, more introductions - Nana & Pop Pop!
that we get BOG. Then at 7am I will be on the phone with a CM to book the 4 girls at Pirates League (which is a surprise and will be difficult as my DD will be up getting ready for school and wondering what I am up to!)
with my breakfast reservation, let's see what is available for lunch.......we currently have a reservation for 11:55am at BOG! Yep, 3 sit down meals in 1 day! Now we are not going to eat this much food. Hopefully on Friday when I am up early making our reservation for 12/2 I will get another BOG lunch reservation for this day and in turn cancel our lunch on 11/29.
