budafam
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2009
Hi everyone! Welcome to my 5th trip report (FIFTH!?) Sometimes I can't believe it myself.
A little quick background...
May 2011 was our very first trip to Disney World (the beginning of the end as DH calls it). I fell in love. My mom had passed away unexpectedly in November 2009 and I felt like something was missing... I'm not saying Disney filled that void but it was the first time I was truly happy since I lost her. I wanted to go right back after our first trip. I surprised DS with a mother/son trip in October 2011. We did the deluxe dining plan and I bought myself an AP. We returned as a family (along with my MIL for her first time) in May 2012. As a side note, in July I became a Disney travel agent! Then in October 2012 I surprised DD with her own mother/daughter trip.
Since the beginning of this journey, I had been after my dad to come with us. His world was turned upside down when mom passed away. He was always so well taken care of with her around. Let me tell you, the first time he walked into a grocery store after she passed was quite the shocker for him. Over $3 for a gallon of milk!?! He's come so far in the years since she's been gone. He learned how to do his banking online, he takes his grandkids whenever we need him to... he's just been GREAT. The only problem is getting him out of the house.
One day my sister was over and we were talking about Disney (imagine that)... he said he would go. I knew this wouldn't last long so I went home and booked the trip. By the time he called me to tell me he had changed his mind, it was booked. There was nothing he could do. Haha... we had him!
Disney would've been the kind of place my mom would have loved. She got so excited every 4th of July for fireworks... she loved to talk and her kindness outshined anyone else's that I've ever known. I knew dad would see this in Disney when we went.
DH chose to opt out of this trip. Someone needed to stay home in case it snowed... lol. It also made the trip a lot cheaper for us.
Here are the details:
December 3rd-10th, 2013
Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Villas
1 Bedroom Savanna View
Deluxe Dining Plan
6 Day Base Tickets
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Tomorrowland Dessert Party
Disapalooza
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in DTD
Pirates League
The Lucky Ones:
Me (age 30) - 5th trip
DD (age 5) - 4th trip
DS (age 7) - 4th trip
Sister (age 54) - 2nd trip
Dad (age 76) - 1st trip
I know, HUGE gap between my sister & I. She's actually my half sister. Dad had her with his first wife. She has a son that's 3 months younger than me. So I'm an aunt to him but we're actually the same age. It's so weird, I know.
I've traveled with my dad before (we went to Vegas 3 times in my teens) but I never went anywhere with my sister. Before we left, her husband told us that we need to keep a leash on her... lol. They went to Disneyland in May and when it was time to board the plane, her husband couldn't find her. She was in the gift shop totally unaware that it was time to board. I knew I would have my hands full with this group.
I planned from about 300 days out. We did movie nights leading up to it. We even had a 100 days till Disney party... I will post pics in a bit. I could not have been more excited about a trip. I knew this was the big one. This would be the one that my kids remember the most... especially with their grandpa along.
The majority was planned according to what my dad likes. I know my sister was coming along but more than likely this would be my dad's only trip.
Sooo enough talk! Expect a lot of food (I already did a dining report if you want to check that out here). Expect a lot of surprises. As always, expect a LOT of pictures. I do get a little camera happy whenever I'm in the World.
Enjoy our trip! Thanks for reading along!!!
Table Of Contents
~100 Days Till Disney~
~One Day To Go~
Day 1
~Our Journey~
~Speak Up!~
~Dad Loves His Old Cars~
~Our 1st Dancing Lights Experience~
Day 2
~Wake Up! We're On Day 2!~
~We can draw, we can draw~
~Clean Plate Club!~
~Elvis Made Our Night~
~Video #1~
Day 3
~Better Take Your Hat Off For This One!~
~Cutting It Close~
~No Margaritas Before Noon?~
~Always Make a Meeting Place~
~15 Miles!~
~I have no idea what I just ordered!~
~I have no idea what I just ordered! Part 2~
~Video #2~
Day 4
~Dad just left Donald hanging~
~CAN WE RIDE IT AGAIN!?~
~Attack of the Yak~
~Grandma & Grandpa~
~TOO full for Boma???~
~Party's Here! Disapalooza 2013!~
~Breaking the Rules at AKV~
~Video #3~
Day 5
~You're Going DOWNtown?!?~
~Buying Out Goofy's~
~Prehistoric Headache~
~Nail Polish Incident~
~This is NOT what I ordered (take 2)~
~Video #4~
Day 6
~Halting Haunted Mansion~
~Someone's Tired...~
~First Mickey Bar~
~Can You Handle It?~
~Perfect Timing~
~5 MINUTE WAIT for the DWARFS!!!~
~One Foot Talent~
~Video #5~
Day 7
~Sleeping in Odd Places~
~Great Start to Our Last Day~
~The Forgotten Wand~
~All Aboard!~
~Center Table~
~15 Hours at MK~
~Creepy Eel Eyes~
Day 8
~Explore the Resort~
~Tragical Express~
~Video #6~
A little quick background...
May 2011 was our very first trip to Disney World (the beginning of the end as DH calls it). I fell in love. My mom had passed away unexpectedly in November 2009 and I felt like something was missing... I'm not saying Disney filled that void but it was the first time I was truly happy since I lost her. I wanted to go right back after our first trip. I surprised DS with a mother/son trip in October 2011. We did the deluxe dining plan and I bought myself an AP. We returned as a family (along with my MIL for her first time) in May 2012. As a side note, in July I became a Disney travel agent! Then in October 2012 I surprised DD with her own mother/daughter trip.
Since the beginning of this journey, I had been after my dad to come with us. His world was turned upside down when mom passed away. He was always so well taken care of with her around. Let me tell you, the first time he walked into a grocery store after she passed was quite the shocker for him. Over $3 for a gallon of milk!?! He's come so far in the years since she's been gone. He learned how to do his banking online, he takes his grandkids whenever we need him to... he's just been GREAT. The only problem is getting him out of the house.
One day my sister was over and we were talking about Disney (imagine that)... he said he would go. I knew this wouldn't last long so I went home and booked the trip. By the time he called me to tell me he had changed his mind, it was booked. There was nothing he could do. Haha... we had him!
Disney would've been the kind of place my mom would have loved. She got so excited every 4th of July for fireworks... she loved to talk and her kindness outshined anyone else's that I've ever known. I knew dad would see this in Disney when we went.
DH chose to opt out of this trip. Someone needed to stay home in case it snowed... lol. It also made the trip a lot cheaper for us.
Here are the details:
December 3rd-10th, 2013
Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Villas
1 Bedroom Savanna View
Deluxe Dining Plan
6 Day Base Tickets
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Tomorrowland Dessert Party
Disapalooza
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in DTD
Pirates League
The Lucky Ones:
Me (age 30) - 5th trip
DD (age 5) - 4th trip
DS (age 7) - 4th trip
Sister (age 54) - 2nd trip
Dad (age 76) - 1st trip
I know, HUGE gap between my sister & I. She's actually my half sister. Dad had her with his first wife. She has a son that's 3 months younger than me. So I'm an aunt to him but we're actually the same age. It's so weird, I know.
I've traveled with my dad before (we went to Vegas 3 times in my teens) but I never went anywhere with my sister. Before we left, her husband told us that we need to keep a leash on her... lol. They went to Disneyland in May and when it was time to board the plane, her husband couldn't find her. She was in the gift shop totally unaware that it was time to board. I knew I would have my hands full with this group.
I planned from about 300 days out. We did movie nights leading up to it. We even had a 100 days till Disney party... I will post pics in a bit. I could not have been more excited about a trip. I knew this was the big one. This would be the one that my kids remember the most... especially with their grandpa along.
The majority was planned according to what my dad likes. I know my sister was coming along but more than likely this would be my dad's only trip.
Sooo enough talk! Expect a lot of food (I already did a dining report if you want to check that out here). Expect a lot of surprises. As always, expect a LOT of pictures. I do get a little camera happy whenever I'm in the World.
Enjoy our trip! Thanks for reading along!!!
Table Of Contents
~100 Days Till Disney~
~One Day To Go~
Day 1
~Our Journey~
~Speak Up!~
~Dad Loves His Old Cars~
~Our 1st Dancing Lights Experience~
Day 2
~Wake Up! We're On Day 2!~
~We can draw, we can draw~
~Clean Plate Club!~
~Elvis Made Our Night~
~Video #1~
Day 3
~Better Take Your Hat Off For This One!~
~Cutting It Close~
~No Margaritas Before Noon?~
~Always Make a Meeting Place~
~15 Miles!~
~I have no idea what I just ordered!~
~I have no idea what I just ordered! Part 2~
~Video #2~
Day 4
~Dad just left Donald hanging~
~CAN WE RIDE IT AGAIN!?~
~Attack of the Yak~
~Grandma & Grandpa~
~TOO full for Boma???~
~Party's Here! Disapalooza 2013!~
~Breaking the Rules at AKV~
~Video #3~
Day 5
~You're Going DOWNtown?!?~
~Buying Out Goofy's~
~Prehistoric Headache~
~Nail Polish Incident~
~This is NOT what I ordered (take 2)~
~Video #4~
Day 6
~Halting Haunted Mansion~
~Someone's Tired...~
~First Mickey Bar~
~Can You Handle It?~
~Perfect Timing~
~5 MINUTE WAIT for the DWARFS!!!~
~One Foot Talent~
~Video #5~
Day 7
~Sleeping in Odd Places~
~Great Start to Our Last Day~
~The Forgotten Wand~
~All Aboard!~
~Center Table~
~15 Hours at MK~
~Creepy Eel Eyes~
Day 8
~Explore the Resort~
~Tragical Express~
~Video #6~