900 Miles from the Fun!--A Joint-May/June 2011-Pre-Trip Report

[jundland]

Hello and welcome! My name is Davis and I will be doing most of this due to the fact that my wife is currently enrolled in school. She is usually the one to do this. You can find her previous trip reports here:

The Prius & The Poly Trip Report

We Stuffed our Faces and Searched for the Tronorail, It's Trip Report Time!


That said, I believe introductions are in order.

As I said, my name is Davis (or Max, as I have been called in previous trip reports, due to a nickname assigned to me by my Mother long ago due to my similar behaviors of the character Max from Where the Wild Things Are) and I’m 40 years old.

Next up is my wife, Bridget (Bridora on the DIS Boards). She is 31 and is going back to school to finish up her Bachelor’s in Accounting.

In August of this year, we will have been married 12 years. We have two kids, Allison who will be 11 in May, and Luke who is 9.

My first trip to the World was in 1985 with the Parents and Brother.

(I'm the good-looking one on the left)

My next trip back was with my own family in 2003. Bridget had never been and we were going to be visiting family and staying in Melbourne anyway, so we took a 3-day trip and were hooked.

We have returned every year since. Even once in 2007 without kids. “Party!”
We became DVC Members in 2009 after much persistence on my part.

Yeah, I wore her down.

Needless to say, our kids have pretty much grown up with Disney World as a common part of their lives.

Ok, enough of that stuff…on to the report.

What should you, the friendly reader, expect from our Adventures?

Actually, we kind of “wing it” on our trips.

We only have 3 ADRs at this point and I don’t expect to make any more.
Photos are to be expected. Many photos of: us, park signs, Hidden Mickeys, comparisons of food size in relation to body parts,

and so on.

We will also complain about ride wait times, rude guests, attractions that have been done away with, and the lack of time in a day to get things done.
We will surely discuss all the fun, too, basically the same crap that everyone does on a Disney Vacation; so join us, won’t you?

We check in May 26th at The Boardwalk and stay there until the 29th.

Then we move to the Beach Club for the remainder of our stay (June 4th)

Our ADRs this trip are:

‘Ohana for dinner on the 26th
Le Cellier for lunch on the 27th
Via Napoli for dinner on the 31st

The kids chose ‘Ohana; we have been there a couple of times and they love it.

Bridget especially loves the bread, but that pretty much goes for all bread, anywhere.

Le Cellier and Via Napoli will be new to us all.

Let us know what you think of these.

Another “new thing” for us this trip will be a side visit to Universal Studios to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Our preparations for this trip so far have been to purchase new water bottles for everyone. They are pretty cool. They are made of plastic of some kind and can collapse and be rolled flat for saving space in the old backpack.

We will be driving down to Florida, as always, in my wife’s Toyota Prius to save gas. We took it on the last two trips and spent only $150 on gas each trip. From Arkansas & back on previous trips, that was what we spent one way.

Packing a car this size is a challenge because everything must go in just the right spot, kinda like a brain teaser puzzle.

Ok. I think that’s about enough for a first installment. If you weren’t run off by my ramblings, then please continue on the journey with us. Feel free to ask questions, make comments, or carry on general conversation along the way.

Thanks, and have a great day.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey Max and Bridget! For a minute there, I thought I was reading the wrong report when I saw "Davis" instead of Max.

Our travel dates are almost the exact same. We're arriving at Port Orleans Riverside on May 25th and will stay two nights. Then, we're checking into Caribbean Beach and won't leave until June 4th.

I'm looking forward to hearing all about your plans because I'm hoping some of our park days overlapse and we can see each other again.

 

[sahm2two]

Subscribing! You get there before us, but we'll be there at the same time interested to read your ptr... I might have to go read the TRs too, I love reading trs that include kids!

 

[Bridora]

Hey Max and Bridget! For a minute there, I thought I was reading the wrong report when I saw "Davis" instead of Max.

Our travel dates are almost the exact same. We're arriving at Port Orleans Riverside on May 25th and will stay two nights. Then, we're checking into Caribbean Beach and won't leave until June 4th.

I'm looking forward to hearing all about your plans because I'm hoping some of our park days overlapse and we can see each other again.

Hey Lisa! Great to have you here. I know, lol, it's confusing when you add nicknames to the mix, isn't it?

I hope we will overlap on some days, too! Surely we will be in the same place at the same time at least once...right? So you could only handle 2 days away from Caribbean Beach, eh? I have got to find time to catch up on your report!

Subscribing! You get there before us, but we'll be there at the same time interested to read your ptr... I might have to go read the TRs too, I love reading trs that include kids!

Hi! Welcome aboard! I may have to add a disclaimer to this PTR, because after reading our first installment I have to say that I like Davis's writing style much better than my own.
I'm going to have to go over and read up on your PTR, too!

 

[princess_momma]

HEY!!!!!!!!! I am so here!! Yay!!!

Except I come with sad news. Due to work and time off stuff...our trips no longer truly overlap. My first day is your last day. And I don't arrive until like 1:30. SO SAD!!

But...hey...how sad can we truly get when we are BOTH going to Disney World and will be there SO SOON!?!?!? HOORAY!!!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Bridora]

HEY!!!!!!!!! I am so here!! Yay!!!

Except I come with sad news. Due to work and time off stuff...our trips no longer truly overlap. My first day is your last day. And I don't arrive until like 1:30. SO SAD!!

But...hey...how sad can we truly get when we are BOTH going to Disney World and will be there SO SOON!?!?!? HOORAY!!!

Can't wait for more!

Ok, lol! You're right...how sad can we be?!
I'm so glad you are here! Soon the tickers will say 1 month!

 

[jundland]

Ok, only a tiny bit to report today. On this year’s trip we are going to try something different.

Not a new ride or show or anything like that, but . . .

***Warning – nerdy content***

. . . a touring plan.

I know what you must be thinking: “Aren’t those for old people with no sense of adventure or spontaneity”? To that question I say, “maybe”.

Actually, we listen to a podcast called “betamouse”. It’s all about the “techie” side of Disney parks and is sponsored by touringplans.com.

Touring plans has this really cool program that calculates wait time and gives you a “plan” on what to do on any given day at a Disney park.

We will be your guinea pigs and let you know how it works. If you have used this in the past, please tell us what you think of it.

That’s all for today. If I haven’t thoroughly bored you, come back for an exciting announcement Friday night.

P.S. Fix the Yeti already . . .Geez.

 

[Bridora]

I am excited about using touring plans. Previously, I had been one to scoff at them and complain about going by a schedule. I am curious to see if and what kind of a difference using one will make. We don't plan on using one every day of the trip. So far, we've only gotten one for Animal Kingdom. After the last two years' experiences in Animal Kingdom, it can't get worse!

We are all really itching to get back to Disney World around here, (aren't we all?) but we haven't done much else in the way of planning/stockpiling. Soon though, soon it will begin!

 

[jundland]

Is this thing on?

Ok, I said we would have an announcement today (Friday...it's still Friday on the West Coast!) and we finally do.

Without any ado what so ever . . .




Just kidding, "Drum roll please . . ."






. . .May 2012, this family will set sail . . .

. . . on the Disney Dream!



Baby, it's time to get a new ticker!

 

[Bridora]

Whoa! An empty room...I think we need a little excitement in here!





...wait wait wait!!!!!!! Laundry does not count as excitement.



Continuing on . . .

As this semester is finally coming to a close and none of us got blown away either last night or Monday night in a tornado, I've finally had a little bit of time to devote to our fast approaching Disney vacation! Hooray!

I mentioned a countdown calendar to the kids a few days ago since they seem to be really ready for a Disney vacation this year. They have been begging me to make it every day since. I planned on using some Mickey heads that Davis got me last year to make a countdown calendar (that I never made) and I puchased a new sheet of posterboard to use. When I got home with the posterboard I could not find those darn Mickey heads anywhere, ANYWHERE! Ugh! So, today, I brought my stapler home from work, purchased some construction paper, and set to work as soon as I got home (after making a pot of coffee, of course) on making a paper-chain countdown. After a bit of mis-math (what a silly thing for an accounting major to mess up on!) I cut out 32 strips of paper instead of the needed 28. Yup, only 28! I set to work armed with my Pip-Squeaks markers

and Susan Veness' The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World.

On the front of each link I wrote the date and the number of days until Disney. My first one, not so pretty:

On the back of each link I wrote an interesting tidbit from the book, or a piece of our family-specific Disney history. I know this next picture will be hard to read, but it says, "Look for R2-D2 and C-3PO in the Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones scene. Look directly across from Indiana Jones on the left-hand side of the tram, just about eye-level near the snakes. (Hint: they will be with hieroglyphics) Almost-but-not-quite-and-a-bit-rearranged-taken-straight-from the Hidden Magic book.

Then, after forbidding the kids to read any link, I had them help me staple the links together to form our chain!

They were also immediately able to pull one link off for today, which is the one the above pictures were of.

Exciting times, folks!

 

[Bridora]

I'm so glad that May is here! You know what that means, right?

We go to Disney World this month!

Here in Arkansas, we have been having some wacky weather recently. Last week tornados blew through, causing some pretty bad damage in some places (nothing to us personally), though not as widespread as in Alabama. Since then, it's pretty much been raining every day. A lot. We're not under water here at home, but many surrounding areas are. On the bright side, due to power outages and flooding at my campus, I ended up not having to take any finals! I found out just this afternoon that my final final for the semester had been canceled. Among other things, this means more Disney planning time!

Last night, we visited this really cool website to upload a picture of each of us and make our Star Tours Passports! If you are planning on going to Disney World anytime after Star Tours opens back up you need to go here; what a fun souvenir! It's really simple to do: just choose whether you want to be a Jedi, Queen, Rebel Pilot, or Podracer, upload your photo, situate your face just right, (you can even change themes) and it creates a passport for you. You can then print it out,

This instruction sheet automatically prints with your passport.

Sorry for the blurriness!

do a bit of folding, gluing and cutting, and you're done!

You can even post your Passport straight to Facebook if you'd like.

It was pretty fun!

We've started gathering things to get ready for our trip. Davis has all our camera cords and various chargers together in their bag. I've bought a couple boxes of fruit snacks. And, best of all, we got a new camera! My small point and shoot decided it didn't really want to work anymore, so we had to get a new one. We had been looking at the waterproof cameras anyway, so it all worked out! We ended up getting an Olympus Stylus Tough, on a pretty good sale at Staples. I haven't taken too many picutres with it yet, but I'm so excited to be able to take it on water rides!

Our countdown chain is getting shorter!

 

[sahm2two]

fun passports! and for May! Disney this month!!!

 

[princess_momma]

AHHHH I am so JEALOUS of you guys going on the Dream!! Can me and Landon tag along?!?! SO FUN!!

I LOVE the passports! That is awesome!! Your countdown is awesome too!! As you know from FB, I do quotes...but fun facts is even better!! (It gets so hard to find the just right quote!!) AHHH I'm so excited that you are going THIS MONTH!! Hoooorrraaaayyyyy!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I thought about you guys when all of the bad weather was passing through Arkansas and Louisiana. There was a report tornado about 15 miles from our house and then one very near John's parents. Scary!

Yay for not having to take your finals. I'm sure that was a load off your mind.

Thanks so much for posting the link to the make your own Passport. That's so cool!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I forgot to post that the camera you got is the same one I thought about getting. I can't wait to see how your pictures turn out.

 

[Bridora]

fun passports! and for May! Disney this month!!!

And now Disney in just a couple of weeks! I'm so excited!

AHHHH I am so JEALOUS of you guys going on the Dream!! Can me and Landon tag along?!?! SO FUN!!

I LOVE the passports! That is awesome!! Your countdown is awesome too!! As you know from FB, I do quotes...but fun facts is even better!! (It gets so hard to find the just right quote!!) AHHH I'm so excited that you are going THIS MONTH!! Hoooorrraaaayyyyy!!!

Of course you & Landon can tag along. What we need is a bag like Hermione's for you to pack yourself in...

Thanks! I've got the passports in my park bag so I don't forget them. I just have to make sure I remember to bring the bag.

This is the first year I've done a countdown chain & I'm so glad that I did. We all look forward to pulling another link off each day. Even though it took a while to write each one, it was worth it! I'll have to take another picture--it's getting short! I love your Facebook quotes!

I thought about you guys when all of the bad weather was passing through Arkansas and Louisiana. There was a report tornado about 15 miles from our house and then one very near John's parents. Scary!

Yay for not having to take your finals. I'm sure that was a load off your mind.

Thanks so much for posting the link to the make your own Passport. That's so cool!

Yes, we were hanging out in a closet. Luckily, the closet is in the kids' toy room and was filled with games. They kept busy with Battleship for a while, then did some reading. It can get pretty scary!

I danced when I found I had the option of not taking finals!

Did you make yourselves some passports?

I forgot to post that the camera you got is the same one I thought about getting. I can't wait to see how your pictures turn out.

I'm so excited! I can't wait to take it on Kali River Rapids.

 

[Bridora]

Hi every-couple-of-people reading!

We are starting to really get ready for this vacation! We've packed a few things, made a few lists and plans, and done online check-in for both stays! Remember, we are doing a Boardwalk/Beach Club split stay?

We are also in the midst of trying to sell our house. This hasn't impacted our packing too much since we haven't started all that much yet. We've got someone coming to show the house tonight at 6:30. Hopefully, we'll be able to make it until we leave without having to stash full suitcases in odd places!

I have most of my t-shirts, tank tops, and shorts packed. Davis does too. I haven't packed a thing for the kids because they've still got 3 school days and the weekend to make it through!

Here a picture of our super-short countdown chain:

And a few of the snacks I've gathered. Don't mind the Diet Rite and Dr. Pepper in the background; they just wanted to be in the picture.

And, just for prettiness, some of the flowers from our patio:

 

[mickeystoontown]

for getting so much accomplished already. I am like you and have my stuff and John's stuff ready but haven't done anything as far as getting Hunter's things together. Like you, I can't really pack his stuff yet since he wears his Summer clothes every day already.

Lovin' all the snacks. You gotta have plenty of stuff to eat during the long car ride.

I'll cross my fingers that the house showing goes well this evening. (Actually, it's probably happening right now!) Your flowers are gorgeous! I haven't had much luck with my pot plants this year. They're already started to look bad.

 

[princess_momma]

AHHHH I can't believe you are so close!! I hope you do little updates on FB!! I'll be watching for them!! You are going to have the best time ever!!

 

[Bridora]

for getting so much accomplished already. I am like you and have my stuff and John's stuff ready but haven't done anything as far as getting Hunter's things together. Like you, I can't really pack his stuff yet since he wears his Summer clothes every day already.

Lovin' all the snacks. You gotta have plenty of stuff to eat during the long car ride.

I'll cross my fingers that the house showing goes well this evening. (Actually, it's probably happening right now!) Your flowers are gorgeous! I haven't had much luck with my pot plants this year. They're already started to look bad.

Yep! You know all about those driving snacks too!

Our silly realtor never lets us know how things went with a showing...I guess we'll know if they're interested...until then...nothing...

AHHHH I can't believe you are so close!! I hope you do little updates on FB!! I'll be watching for them!! You are going to have the best time ever!!

AHHHH! Me neither! Soooooooooooooo excited!