- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
So, I guess it is unofficially official. :lol: Why is that? Well, because today I bought the UNofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009, because my wonderful DH decided that he, too, would like a Disneymoon. Well, at least, he can't think of anything better and he knows how much this means to me. 
I have read many trip reports and pre-trip reports, and I have really enjoyed them, especially the ones that are for people going around the same time period as we are. So, I thought I would share our journey, and more importantly, get advice from the many, many, many DISers that are more experienced at this than I am! It will also give me an outlet aside from DH, who is still learning to be enthusiastic about WDW. More on that in a moment...
Anyway, this will be my fifth time at WDW, and second time staying on site. My very first trip was in 1991, when I was only six years old. We stayed at a Days Inn, and had one very memorable morning when I lost my second tooth while trying to chew our pancakes for breakfast. It was a memorable way to lose that tooth. It was especially memorable since my family didn't live in America at that point (my family is from South Africa). It was part of a longer trip to Florida to see my mom's sister who married an American, and who was very excited to have us stay for a long vacation.
A few years later we moved to Canada, and we went to Disney as part of another visit to my aunt in Florida. We had a great time, but it was seriously difficult to go back to cold Canada after our time in Florida!! My mom vowed not to do that to us anymore, but we only ended up in Canada for three years.
We went back to see my aunt and do Disney for Spring Break again in 1996, when we were now living in the US. Unfortunately, my parents had decided to take me out of school for a few days on either end of Spring Break, and my English teacher decided that this clearly meant that my parents cared nothing for my education and took it out on me. He and I never really liked each other (he was my teacher again in eighth grade for English AND social studies) but it didn't overshadow our trip. What I do remember, very plainly, was the PINK CASTLE!!! I remember not expecting it, and as much as it was kind of horrendous looking, I am glad I got to see that since it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and especially since it wasn't my only trip to Disney.
I went again in 1999 with my Show Choir group for a competition at Epcot. We stayed in All-Star Sports (not sure why it wasn't Music, but still) and that was a very interesting experience, especially since I knew a lot more about Disney than a lot of my friends. I loved seeing the new Animal Kingdom park, since I had lived in Africa until I was seven years old, but we were supposed to stay in groups of at least two or three, so I didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked. Plus, we did our performance, practicing, etc, which definitely took up some time. So that was a very interesting experience for me.
Unfortunately, that was my last Disney trip, and it will be over 10 years since my last visit and I am SO EXCITED.
Looking at the website and my brand new guidebook, there are so many things that are new, AND we are looking at staying at either a Moderate or Deluxe resort (more on that later, I promise).
Now, for the reason that my poor DH has been scarred about Disney? I really and truly love my in-laws. Really. But they have the AMAZING ability to make vacations work. DH hated going to Florida in general before we met because his parents had schlepped him and his brother around and around every time they went down to Florida. The only time DH went to Disney was when he was 15 (1998). They had been to visit the grandparents, and before the trip, the parents had promised that he would get back for New Year's Eve, since his friends were throwing a big bash. The plans were changed against his will at the last minute when they were already in Florida, and he was basically outvoted by his parents and brother. So to Epcot they went for the day.
I found out later from my DMIL, that they had stayed at a motel waaaaaaaay far away from WDW, driven in, eaten in the car (they keep kosher, but even then you could bring food into the park, or found a solution so you didn't have to eat in the car), only had snacks and drinks in the park all day, and then ate again in the car after the park. And then drove again to the motel something ridiculous like 100 miles away. Sounds like a delightful trip for a 16 year old, doesn't it? At this rate, I am kind of amazed that he agreed to it, but a lot of it has to do with how excited I am, and I'm hoping to get him excited as well.
We are almost at the 6 month mark!! To come...the cast of characters and details of our trip (so far)!
to any visitors who would like to join us on our adventure!
I have read many trip reports and pre-trip reports, and I have really enjoyed them, especially the ones that are for people going around the same time period as we are. So, I thought I would share our journey, and more importantly, get advice from the many, many, many DISers that are more experienced at this than I am! It will also give me an outlet aside from DH, who is still learning to be enthusiastic about WDW. More on that in a moment...
Anyway, this will be my fifth time at WDW, and second time staying on site. My very first trip was in 1991, when I was only six years old. We stayed at a Days Inn, and had one very memorable morning when I lost my second tooth while trying to chew our pancakes for breakfast. It was a memorable way to lose that tooth. It was especially memorable since my family didn't live in America at that point (my family is from South Africa). It was part of a longer trip to Florida to see my mom's sister who married an American, and who was very excited to have us stay for a long vacation.
A few years later we moved to Canada, and we went to Disney as part of another visit to my aunt in Florida. We had a great time, but it was seriously difficult to go back to cold Canada after our time in Florida!! My mom vowed not to do that to us anymore, but we only ended up in Canada for three years.
We went back to see my aunt and do Disney for Spring Break again in 1996, when we were now living in the US. Unfortunately, my parents had decided to take me out of school for a few days on either end of Spring Break, and my English teacher decided that this clearly meant that my parents cared nothing for my education and took it out on me. He and I never really liked each other (he was my teacher again in eighth grade for English AND social studies) but it didn't overshadow our trip. What I do remember, very plainly, was the PINK CASTLE!!! I remember not expecting it, and as much as it was kind of horrendous looking, I am glad I got to see that since it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and especially since it wasn't my only trip to Disney.
I went again in 1999 with my Show Choir group for a competition at Epcot. We stayed in All-Star Sports (not sure why it wasn't Music, but still) and that was a very interesting experience, especially since I knew a lot more about Disney than a lot of my friends. I loved seeing the new Animal Kingdom park, since I had lived in Africa until I was seven years old, but we were supposed to stay in groups of at least two or three, so I didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked. Plus, we did our performance, practicing, etc, which definitely took up some time. So that was a very interesting experience for me.
Unfortunately, that was my last Disney trip, and it will be over 10 years since my last visit and I am SO EXCITED.
Looking at the website and my brand new guidebook, there are so many things that are new, AND we are looking at staying at either a Moderate or Deluxe resort (more on that later, I promise). Now, for the reason that my poor DH has been scarred about Disney? I really and truly love my in-laws. Really. But they have the AMAZING ability to make vacations work. DH hated going to Florida in general before we met because his parents had schlepped him and his brother around and around every time they went down to Florida. The only time DH went to Disney was when he was 15 (1998). They had been to visit the grandparents, and before the trip, the parents had promised that he would get back for New Year's Eve, since his friends were throwing a big bash. The plans were changed against his will at the last minute when they were already in Florida, and he was basically outvoted by his parents and brother. So to Epcot they went for the day.
I found out later from my DMIL, that they had stayed at a motel waaaaaaaay far away from WDW, driven in, eaten in the car (they keep kosher, but even then you could bring food into the park, or found a solution so you didn't have to eat in the car), only had snacks and drinks in the park all day, and then ate again in the car after the park. And then drove again to the motel something ridiculous like 100 miles away. Sounds like a delightful trip for a 16 year old, doesn't it? At this rate, I am kind of amazed that he agreed to it, but a lot of it has to do with how excited I am, and I'm hoping to get him excited as well.
We are almost at the 6 month mark!! To come...the cast of characters and details of our trip (so far)!
to any visitors who would like to join us on our adventure!
and when we got married 
we had just moved, I had just started a job and Raif was about to start a job. So, we had no money and no vacation time 
Now, it's more of a matter of needing to actually decide on where wanted to go and when and make it happen. 
Then, almost any of the Table Service restaurants can have kosher food at them if you order in advance. Which of course, got me thinking about the 
Originally, I thought of AKL, but my friend Erin (whose mom owns DVC so she's been there 198,476,872 times)pointed out that AKL is at the back end of forever in terms of location, and we would only be able to afford a parking view room. Our second option is POR, since it's a beautiful resort and a moderate, and not CBR (TOO BIG) and Erin tells us it's quiet. I want to be able to promise DH some down time and have some relaxing time together as well. If this were any other vacation we would have done Pop Century, but not for our honeymoon! There is nothing wrong with the values, but this is special!
The grounds are beautiful, the food court is great.....we LOVE it there. My DH especially liked that it is quiet and a nice "escape" from the overstimulation of the parks! That said....it's your honeymoon, a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Go big or go home! If I could stay in a deluxe I would choose AKL. Just my 2 cents!
I would totally be up for any funny parakeet stories you have. We have many! 
