2 Trips in 1 = A lot of Disney...FUN!?!?! Updated 2/18/11 Pics of Us

[melser13]

2 Trips in 1 = a lot of Disney Fun or so I hope.

Okay – I’ve lurked and I’ve lurked and I’ve lurked. I love reading, I always have, but writing…it’s just not my thing. So starting a PTR is a bit scary, yet fun. I need to think of it as scrapbooking (which I would do more of if I had the time) it is a bunch of tiny projects that add up to a wonderful book, and in this case a wonderful (and probably crazy) Disney Vacation.

So…2 trips in 1…what does that mean…

We are going in July and NOT over my bday. Weird, very weird going to Disney in July and not over my birthday. I’ll get over it…I promise. We are going with….everyone?

See our last trip to Disney we banned, yes BANNED the grandparents from going. Why? Many reasons but mostly we needed a family trip. It was our first, and to this point ONLY family vacation without grandparents. Soooo since then our, well my, Disney loving parents keep asking us when we are going back. We had a decision to make…you see, we are on the every other year plan. 2011 is the “on” year, so of course we are going to go…right? Well, we had to decide…try to get a bigger house since we have filled ours thanks to our LAST Disney trip, or go to Disney. Hmmm….that was a no-brainer. The housing market is terrible in Ohio, so I justifiably said we can DEFINITELY go to Disney or MAYBE move. Then…let’s start planning.

Except, here’s the catch: My Disney loving parents, while they both still LOVE Disney, do so separately now. This has added to planning craziness that has become the 2 trips in 1. Which really was MY bright idea!

So…sit back, relax, and enjoy this adventurous show. I hope I still LOVE Disney after this trip!


Up next…Exactly WHO is going? And How do I keep it FAIR?

 

[melser13]

Here is the overview of our immediate family...

Me: I’m a 31 year old lifelong Disney lover. I was born and raised in Ohio, where I still live today, yet I grew up in Disney. I kid you not; I probably have been to Disney more times than my age. I shamefully admit that at times…but we have family in FL so it just was natural to go there. More than that, I’m an only child, so once I hit 6th grade I brought a friend. Really, I think that was more for my parents than me at times! Now, I plan trips for my friends too…though I think I sometimes overwhelm the newbies to Disney! I live through them when we can’t go!

DH: He is also 31 and a Disney Convert. That’s my personal doing. I took him for the first time as a freshman in college. We did 3 parks in 1 day! What a way to start…a whirlwind tour. Lucky for me, he liked it and my mom took us back that summer. Then we went again our junior year of college. Since then we have gone several times. And now…he’s hooked. Actually he was hooked a long time ago. We debated and debated about taking a honeymoon there, and we didn’t because we thought people would think we were CRAZY to go to Disney for our honeymoon at 21 and 22…and now we KNOW WE WERE CRAZY NOT to go! (Thus he planned a pleasant 10th anniversary surprise trip for me this June…I’m debating on a PTR for that one too…I just have to get going.)

DS: He will be 7 this week! Where has the time gone? He is into everything LEGO – that’s really the main reason he likes to go to Disney – the Lego store…but we get him everywhere else. He thinks he is going to come home with the Death Star this year from the Lego store…hmmm not thinking so. He just FLYS through the Lego sets though. He has been to Disney 3 times (and 1 additional time when I was preggo with him) He loves it there, and has had great times on all trips. He is also in to soccer and just being a kid.

DD1: She is 5. This will be her 3rd trip to Disney (yes, she went once while I was preggo with her too!) She is a princess at heart, but a tomboy as well. Our favorite memory is from Tower of Terror (yes, we made our DD who was 3 at the time go on ToT…what was I thinking?) She was doing great on it until we went out to the elevator part and I told her we were going up now, and we proceeded to drop! Ooops. She still wants to do it again this time now since she recovered. But really, what was I thinking having my 3 year old do all the big kid rides? Ahhh fun times. She is also, besides Disney, in to dress up, gymnastics, and soccer…and she can’t wait to be there again to eat at the Castle.

DD2: She is currently 9 months and starting to walk! She will be 14 months on this trip (the youngest age any of our kids have gone) Go ahead…ask. Was I there pregnant with her too!?!? No…and yes. She is our VERY EXPENSIVE SOUVENIER! (TMI…Sorry) We always joked that “if” we had another it would be fun to have a “Disney” baby. Seriously though, she was a HUGE surprise. We love her and she is a great addition to the family and created many positive changes around here (for 1, I now teach from home as opposed to the hour each way drive I had last year)

Okay – Lots of info here!

Since this PTR is for our trip with kids, I will try to focus on that. We are going for 10 days!!! Longest. Trip. Ever. To Disney! And then…after 10 days at DISNEY WORLD we are going to Hilton Head Island to stay where???? Where else but at Disney’s Resort! But no… that is NOT the 2 trips in 1… I guess this means it is actually 2 trips in 1 PLUS the Beach???? Or 2 trips in 1 plus a “don’t tell the kids we went without them in June” and then the BEACH? Oh…I don’t know. But please do enjoy…or try to.

I'll add pictures soon - and hopefully followers as well.

 

[melser13]

Well...I'm gonna update 1 more time...maybe gain a few readers. We are going in July for 1 long stay. We are starting the drive on 7/7, leaving the baby to fly down with my dad and his wife. We are VERY thankful for that! It just makes our drive much easier with only the 2 kids fighting in the back and not three complaining!

So - the plan is to drive through the night and get to Disney on the 8th. We are then going to stay at BLT from the 8th - 13th. My dad and his wife will be down there from 7/8 - 7/14, so this is why we are staying at BLT to be near them.

THEN - the "2nd" part of our trip begins and on 7/13 we are transfering over to BC where my mom will be joining us. We will stay there from 7/13 - 7/18. My aunt and uncle with also be there the 13th and the 14th, so it will be 1 big celebration.

We are thrilled because these are new places for our family.!

As you can see, we are making efforts to ensure 2 separate trips. However we will all be at dinner together on the 13th! That came about because this trip we had EVERYONE pick 1 place to eat and wouldn't you know it my mom and dad picked the SAME PLACE...So instead of disappointing anyone, I told them we will all do it together. Lucky me. Now where on earth could be their FAVORITE pick of a place to eat...

 

[matkensgirl2000]

Well, I'm in! Your Disney experiences are pretty similar to mine, except I never went as a child (my little sister went with my cousins...don't get me started on THAT one). And I'm dying to know, where did everyone choose for supper?

 

[melser13]

Well, I'm in! Your Disney experiences are pretty similar to mine, except I never went as a child (my little sister went with my cousins...don't get me started on THAT one). And I'm dying to know, where did everyone choose for supper?

Thanks! Glad to know you're in... Wow - I'm sure that went over well when they took your little sister! I'll update more later. I'm working on getting ready for a bday party for Bryce, my 7 year old right now. i.e. LOTS OF CLEANING!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Joining in, too! I love that you're doing so much this summer!!
I hope to have a big group go with us sometime, maybe several years from now. Some folks just don't get why we're going back again. Uh, hello?!?! Cause it's awesome!!!
Can't wait to see where you guys pick to eat!

 

[nvsnot]

I'm in and looking forward to reading the rest of your PTR!

 

[melser13]

I'm in and looking forward to reading the rest of your PTR!

Yay! I'm so excited to have followers...and I am slacking on my updating duties. I apologize but i have been crazy busy with my 7 year old's birthday parties. Thank goodness Bryce enjoyed them, but I must admit I am exhausted. 16 1st graders in my house was not quiet or easy. Boys...that's all I've got to say about that one.

I'll update tomorrow morning... Sorry for the delay, but I've actually got to get my powerpoint ready for tomorrow's class. Oh how I MISS Disney planning.

Be patient. I'll be back tomorrow.

 

[melser13]

Well, I certainly have been busy this week and didn't have time to update. Not that I haven't started to update and then got distracted. That is the terrible thing from working at home, EVERYTHING gets in the way of my Disney planning, even my work! Who knew! I'm on the computer all day long, but I had to catch up on "paperwork" from my teaching sessions. SORRY!!!

So, where is the 1 place both my mom AND dad wanted to go with my family. Well, it is a place where we all will blend into the craziness that is happening. (when I say we, I do mean my mom, my dad, my dad's wife, my aunt (mom's sister), my uncle, and Matt, me, and our 3 children... one big happy family.)

Where else, but the hootn hollarin Hoop Dee Doo Review. I love it, so I'm sure my kids will too. It's the only day everyone overlaps, so it will be a neat experience.

I've started making a few ADRs (I need more, I know) But like I said, everyone got a pick this year...
CRT (Carmella's)
Crystal Palace (my dad's)
O'hana dinner (Matt, DH)
Tusker House (Bryce)

I still have to pick mine too.

Wow, I feel like I have been gone from the boards for so long that I have a lot of catching up to do! I need some relaxation and motivation so I think I'm going to go read some PTRs.

PS - I'm gonna try to find some pictures to upload so you know who is who!

 

[teachermommy78]

Subbing!