jsmla
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
- Messages
- 4,498
This is my first trip report, so please, go gently. I guess I'll begin by introducing our merry band:
Me (41) Stay at home mom and Disneyholic, veteran and commander-in-chief of an embarassingly large number of WDW trips. Motto: There's little in life that a vacation won't fix.
Sam (16) My DS and fellow Disneyite. Unfailingly cheerful and upbeat. Loud, colorful and untiring, a walking party. The only thing that gets him down is serious behavior of any sort. (That part is important.) Motto: Homework, what homework?
Lizzie (14) My DD. Likes Disney but is beginning show effects of disturbing brainwashing effort by DH to convince her that we go to WDW too often. Cheerleader type, mainly interested in the "My Outfit is Cooler than Yours Fashion Competition" that seems to go on in any place where junior high girls meet. Very popular with everyone she meets and good with all kinds of people (That's plot material too) and generally happy as long as she's having a good hair day. Her motto in life: She who dies with the most stuff wins. (More plot)
Mom/Grandma (age withheld to protect the author). Does not "get" my Disney thing. Agrees to come at the last minute when DH backs out on me. Though she accompanied us on earlier trips to help babysit, she hasn't been in 6 years. A living saint, willing to do anything to help out (except ride coasters). Motto: Can I get anyone something to eat?
Liya (15) Our Russian exchange student. Serious, and I mean really serious. Doesn't quite seem to grasp the concept behind WDW. Treats trip like there will be a quiz afterwards. Sam stayed with her family in Russia at Easter and somewhere in the first 20 seconds of their acquaintance they developed a rather violent and mutual dislike of each other. This did not bode well for our holiday. Fortunately she was immediately captured by the charms of DD who, before the trip, introduced her to those noble bastions of American culture: the mall and WalMart. Shaping up to become a major shopper, not in DD's league you understand, but doing very well for an amateur. Motto: Shut up Sam.
I began planning this trip September 2000 when we decided to make a present of it to Liya during her stay. We're not usually 5 so I did a lot of research and held ressies at the Dolphin, Yacht Club, and All Stars (2 rooms). I wasn't completely happy with any of these arrangements but wanted to be on site. Well, after the whole EE thing I checked out off-site options and we ended up at the Holiday Inn Family Suites which suited our needs and budget much better. Having never stayed off-site I immediately began to read all the negative comments on this option and stress but I was locked in after DH saw the price difference. Our trip was for 6 nights and we crammed in as much as possible since Liya may not ever see WDW again. We planned on seeing all 4 parks and wedge in a little shopping on the side. We were also considering Disney Quest or a water park, so a modified commando-style would be in effect. Our plan was to leave for Grandma's Wednesday night, depart for Disney bright and early (ahh, the best laid plans) and spend Friday-Tuesday at WDW before returning to Mom's for a big ole Mississippi Thanksgiving family celebration where we all worship at the temple of the three "F's": family, food and football. Liya was indeed in store for an excercise in American overindulgence.
Tomorrow: Drive day (sigh), and the HIFS.
Me (41) Stay at home mom and Disneyholic, veteran and commander-in-chief of an embarassingly large number of WDW trips. Motto: There's little in life that a vacation won't fix.
Sam (16) My DS and fellow Disneyite. Unfailingly cheerful and upbeat. Loud, colorful and untiring, a walking party. The only thing that gets him down is serious behavior of any sort. (That part is important.) Motto: Homework, what homework?
Lizzie (14) My DD. Likes Disney but is beginning show effects of disturbing brainwashing effort by DH to convince her that we go to WDW too often. Cheerleader type, mainly interested in the "My Outfit is Cooler than Yours Fashion Competition" that seems to go on in any place where junior high girls meet. Very popular with everyone she meets and good with all kinds of people (That's plot material too) and generally happy as long as she's having a good hair day. Her motto in life: She who dies with the most stuff wins. (More plot)
Mom/Grandma (age withheld to protect the author). Does not "get" my Disney thing. Agrees to come at the last minute when DH backs out on me. Though she accompanied us on earlier trips to help babysit, she hasn't been in 6 years. A living saint, willing to do anything to help out (except ride coasters). Motto: Can I get anyone something to eat?
Liya (15) Our Russian exchange student. Serious, and I mean really serious. Doesn't quite seem to grasp the concept behind WDW. Treats trip like there will be a quiz afterwards. Sam stayed with her family in Russia at Easter and somewhere in the first 20 seconds of their acquaintance they developed a rather violent and mutual dislike of each other. This did not bode well for our holiday. Fortunately she was immediately captured by the charms of DD who, before the trip, introduced her to those noble bastions of American culture: the mall and WalMart. Shaping up to become a major shopper, not in DD's league you understand, but doing very well for an amateur. Motto: Shut up Sam.
I began planning this trip September 2000 when we decided to make a present of it to Liya during her stay. We're not usually 5 so I did a lot of research and held ressies at the Dolphin, Yacht Club, and All Stars (2 rooms). I wasn't completely happy with any of these arrangements but wanted to be on site. Well, after the whole EE thing I checked out off-site options and we ended up at the Holiday Inn Family Suites which suited our needs and budget much better. Having never stayed off-site I immediately began to read all the negative comments on this option and stress but I was locked in after DH saw the price difference. Our trip was for 6 nights and we crammed in as much as possible since Liya may not ever see WDW again. We planned on seeing all 4 parks and wedge in a little shopping on the side. We were also considering Disney Quest or a water park, so a modified commando-style would be in effect. Our plan was to leave for Grandma's Wednesday night, depart for Disney bright and early (ahh, the best laid plans) and spend Friday-Tuesday at WDW before returning to Mom's for a big ole Mississippi Thanksgiving family celebration where we all worship at the temple of the three "F's": family, food and football. Liya was indeed in store for an excercise in American overindulgence.
Tomorrow: Drive day (sigh), and the HIFS.
