A June 2025 multigenerational trip.

[mommyk8]

Hey everyone! Welcome to my pre-trip report. I’ve been on and off Disboards for years but this is the first time I’ve tried writing any type of report.
A little about my past Disney experiences and how we’re got to planning this trip.

My name is Kate and my family is DH, DD18, and DD13.
I first went to Disney as a kid when Epcot had first opened. We did 1day at Magic Kindgdom and a second day where we did Epcot and then hopped over to Magic Kingdom. Epcot had just opened so it must have been February of 1985. The second time we only did one day at Magic kingdom in June of 1987. The one thing I remember from that trip was waiting for fire works to start and finding our friends from home sitting a couple feet down from us. We thought that was so funny meeting up with someone at Disney. Then we watched Tinkerbelle fly from the castle just before the fireworks started. It was perfect. My next visit was 1990 with my high school youth group and MGM studios was new. There was a show that they picked people from the audience to participate. I got chosen for the Cheers part and sat at the bar. They then filmed it so that the audience watched aTV that had part of an episode on it and the participants were filmed into the episode. It was such a different park than Hollywood studios is today. But a great experience.
It was over 20 years before I returned in 2016 for a family trip with my husband’s side of the family. There was 11 off us, 6 adults and 5 kids ages 3, 4, 9,10 &12. It was our first time staying on property at Kildani AKL. We toured the parks all together 90% of the time. It was June, it was hot, but we had the best time and I couldn’t wait to go back. But life happened and then COVID happened and it was then it was 2023. My sister told me her family was going in June 2023. So we decided to tag along. We stayed at CBR which is a perfect moderate resort in my opinion. DH thought the room was too small, he got spoiled with the Villa at Kildani. But the location with the skyliner was fabulous. We stayed five nights and had 3 day park hoppers. We rope dropped and took afternoon breaks then went back in the evenings. It was still hot but more relaxed and enjoyable. We also didn’t stay stuck with my sister’s s family the whole time. We met up did some rides, scheduled a dinner together one night and then also did our own thing.

December 2023 my brother in law informed the rest of the family that they were planning on going to Disney World in June 2025 if we wanted to plan to join them. Of course we want to go, it’s Disney.

Up next the planning begins.

 

[mommyk8]

Where will we stay?

The excitement when you know you’re going to Disney. It makes me want to be there right at that moment. I want to start planning now. The details given in Dec 2023 were that we were going in June 2025 sometime around the 24th my nieces 21st birthday. (More to come about that.)

It’s a year and a half away. What am I going to do until then. I like to know the specific dates we’re going, where are we going to stay and then start deciding what parks we’re are visiting, in what order? Are we going to have resort days. To genie+ or not genie+, what restaurants do we want to try, how are we going to get there. I like to research everything.

But it’s BIL family trip and they are talking about staying at the Polynesian. So I started watching YouTube tours of the rooms at the resorts. DH didn’t think the deluxe studios at Polynesian were big enough for our family, we have 2 teenaged daughters and we need more than one bathroom and there is no washer/dryer/full sized fridge in a studio. (His priorities). We didn’t know anything about the Tower, only that it was being built. So I started researching the DVC resorts. We watched tours of the resorts. So many beautiful areas in Disney which would we choose?

By this time we are into February 2024 but it is still too early to try to book anything. But I’m reading Disboards and watching YouTube So many people said look into renting DVC points. And then I found out about DVC resale contracts. We looked at our budget, looked at the pros and cons and went for it.
Now the decision do we book at our home resort or look at other resorts? We talked about trying to get a 2BR at BLT at the 7 month mark. It would be somewhat close if BIL family was at the Polynesian and only a monorail ride away. Then Disney announced the refurbishment. Did we want to risk it? Nope.
So we decided we would book at our home resort Saratoga Springs. We are currently booked a 2BR standard and are hoping to stay in the grandstand or the paddock.

What dates will we go?
BIL hasn’t given specific dates except they will be there June 24th so I decided June 21-28. 7nights at Disney, yes please.

How will we get to Disney?
We live in Pennsylvania and the last 2 trips we flew to Orlando. So of course I immediately thought we would fly. Then I realized that
in June of 2025 DH and I both have off on Juneteenth which is a Thursday. So instead of flying we are going to take that Friday off and drive to Disney. We plan to leave on Thursday drive at least half way there and spend a night then drive the rest of the way on Friday.
The pros we get there a day earlier, have a car available to us, we can take water, groceries, beer with us or stop at the store when we get there. We have the option of driving to the parks or taking Disney transportation.
The cons it will take 2 days to drive there and drive home unless we decide to be crazy and drive straight through on the way home. We’re still have time to decide that.

Next up making a list.

 

[DLo]

Following along . Looking forward to reading more.

 

[mommyk8]

Real life update my DD13 made the club volleyball team which means we will be having some weekend trips for her volleyball tournaments this spring. Right now we are going to King of Prussia, Baltimore MD, and Virginia Beach. She is very excited to have made this team. It also means reworking the budget just a little.

I still don't know dates or plans for BIL's family so I've been making lists.

First up is where we want to eat.

So far on the list for Table Service
50's Prime Time- we had a great time when we ate there last time and the food was pretty good. At least the pot roast I had was tasty.
Chef Art's Homecoming- We ate here last year for lunch and it was good but we had sat out in the sun for and hour and I was so hot I couldn't enjoy the meal and we ended up taking a bunch of the food to go. I want to try it again.
Boma- I've watched the YouTube foodies and want to try it.
Morimoto- My DH wants the spareribs and my
Raglan Road- It looks good and entertainment
Jock Lindsey's Hangar bar
Sebastian's Bistro- We went there last year and it was delicious
Steakhouse 71 - I looked at this when we were talking about staying at BLT and it looked good for lunch.
Summerhouse
Nomad Lounge

We also have a Quick service list
Polite Pig
Eet! by Maneet
Regal Eagle
Flame Tree BBQ
Satuli Canteen
snacking around Epcot- we should be there at the end of Flower and Garden.

Treats-
Gideons- cookies and cakes
Summerhouse cookies
Cake Bake Shop- although the prices scare me
Karamell Kuche caramel corn
Dolewhip

Things to think about.....
How many park days? 6 or 7 day park hoppers? or 6 day water parks and more? so we can play mini golf one day. I need to price this out. So far AAA has the best price on tickets but I don't know if they are tickets I can link to MDE or vouchers I need to go to guest services.

How to tour the parks
My girls are night owls. They would prefer to sleep in but last year we Rope Dropped at Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios with a break at the resort and then different parks in the evenings and they did well with that schedule.

Do we do the same rides or try something new. In AK we've never taken the train to the outpost or went on the animal trails. I'd like to do some of the things we haven't done in the past but not sure if my girls will be interested. I'd also like to see Pandora at night but I don't think that will happen in June.


Thursday- Travel day 1- make it to South Carolina.

Friday- Arrival Day-Currently at Saratoga Springs for the full week, but depending if BIL family is arriving on Saturday, I had thought that we might do 1 night at AK so we can eat at BOMA, wander the resort, and spend the night. Then on Saturday we would check into Saratoga Springs and if the family are coming in early, we can could go to the waterpark with them.
DH has talked about checking out the Character Warehouse and I have seen people post that the local Walmart in Orlando has cheap Disney souvenirs.

Saturday- HS morning and AK evening
Sunday- AK Am, HS evening
Monday-Epcot extended evening hours
Tuesday- Sleep in, maybe EP or MK in the evening
Wednesday- MK- extended evening hours
Thursday- sleep in- resort day
Friday- Whatever we haven't done

Saturday- leave Disney for home.


That's my recent thoughts on our trip. I think next month BIL family should have dates and resort selected. Til then I'll keep watching YouTube and reading the DIS,

 

[mommyk8]

Wow it's been over a month since I updated. My oldest is now 19 and is having some mental health issues but things seem to be looking up for her with some intensive treatment. My youngest has started volleyball practices. Christmas is in 10 days and I am not ready at all.

Finally BIL has given us his dates and resort.

Flying in Monday June 23rd- Leaving Friday June 27th, a bit shorter then originally thought. I would guess they will schedule the earliest flight Monday and the latest flight leaving on Friday.
They are staying at Wilderness lodge at a Copper creek Cabin.
DH and I are discussing possible hopping over for one night stay at Copper Creek but I don't know if I can justify staying in a cabin. The points ouch especially if we aren't even going to be spending much time there. I think a stay in a 2 BR VILLA would allow us to be at the same resort so the kids can all swim together.
BIL mentioned wanting to do a day at Universal which seems like a lot for 5 days. They are planning on drinking around the world in EPCOT on Tuesday which means Wednesday or Thursday for them to attempt to do Universal. And Wednesday may be a slow start with a hangover.

Other changes - my other BIL is not coming. My MIL/FIL are now debating if they are going to come for a shorter stay.

With arriving Friday June 20th we will go get some groceries and settle in and eat somewhere at DS and still have 2 full days without relatives.
I'm thinking we will do 2 park days on Saturday and Sunday, DAK and DHS. DAK we could do Boma for dinner and DHS we can do 50's primetime. Then sleep in on Monday and meet up with BIL family once they arrive. If they decide to do DAK or DHS on Monday we may have to adjust.
Usually in June, Monday is extended evening hours at EPCOT and Wednesday is at Magic Kingdom. I don't see them doing Epcot on Monday if they are there on Tuesday.

Since they are leaving Friday we are discussing if we should leave Friday night and drive for a few hours before spending the night somewhere and then finishing the drive home on Saturday.