A low season family does it... We book 12/27-1/3. Are we crazy? That's a given!

[txmomto1]

There are few things in life I love as much as vacation. I love planning it, booking it, researching, changing plans, more research, packing, the travel, and most of all the trip. So with the amount of time I spend on the DIS, I thought someone might be interested in our plans. If not, I love reliving the planning that I've done! Crazy? Yes I am!

So here is the group!

Me: 35, from Southern California. I grew up going to Disneyland. There is a picture of my parents with me at DL when I was just a few months old. I grew up on DL, and spent field trips, birthdays, and grad night there. I love it. I was there shortly after Space Mountain opened, and remember crying in the 2+ hour line to ride it. I did not want to go, and my mother forced me! I also remember begging to go back on it after we got off. I've only been to WDW 4 times. The first was around 25 years ago, and I rode Space Mountain with my 87 year old great grandfather. He was furious when a cast member suggested it might be too much for him. BTW, he handled it fine, and lived to be 102. So, you can say roller coasters and Disney are in my blood.

DH 37. He's happy to keep me happy. I think he's a bit worried about my obsession with vacation. He likes to come along for the ride. His parents took him to WDW when he was around 8, and a trip to DL once in his teens. So a Disney pro he is not. He got the bug though with our trip to WDW last January. So now he's been twice in the past two years, and is ready to go again. He likes table service, and beer at Biergarten. He's not a fan of waiting in line to meet the princesses, but is proud when DS tell's Belle he loves her!

DS 5. I'm raising a boy who loves vacation! He has his favorite hotels, and loves to travel as much as I do. His first trip to WDW was in January of 2007 for his fourth birthday, followed up with a trip in September of 2007 for free dining. He's a ham, and loves to dance at Biergarten, and thinks Belle is "beautiful". Did I tell you he has no fear? Boy loves ToT, EE, and all the mountains. He's thrilled to be tall enough for RaRC. I'm not sure I can handle that though!

DM 62. She raised me! She was at DL the week it opened, and my favorite picture of her is from her grad night in DL in 1964. Until last September, she had never been to WDW. I had to explain to her about the different lands, and that Magic Kingdom is similar to DL. We brought her along for the fun in September, and she loved it. Beyond the heat, she loved it! She and DS are roller coaster buddies!


So that's the crew. I'm in the middle of planning, and hope some of you will enjoy my madness!

Next up, what happens when a 7 day cruise ends?? Of course, it's time to start planning a trip to WDW!

 

[amyy]

I don't think you're crazy. I would love to go right after Christmas but it would never work because of my boyfriend's schedule.

 

[txmomto1]

Before I get to the origins of our upcoming trip, I thought I'd let you know how we got here. In September of 2006 I began planning our first family trip to WDW.

This was a trip of many firsts. DS's first plane ride, DS's first trip to WDW, and the first time on site for all of us.

Our January trip was during the WDW marathon, and our friend from Texas was going to be there running it. We did not know about this until after we had made arrangements. It was fun making plans to meet her family one day.

I've got to say, that was one of the best trips of my life. The weather was great, and seeing the look on my son's face was priceless. I tried to etch each image into my memory, as I know that his excitement will change. He was so well behaved and loved every minute.

We spent two days at Magic Kingdom, one day at Animal Kingdom, a half day at MGM, and a day at Epcot. We where on the DDP, and loved it. This trip was before my hard core Disney planning started. I did not know about ADR's until a month or so before the trip. This trip is when I found DIS.

So fast forward to March, and I start to get the itch. I need to plan a trip. So the research begins. I'm not certain when I stumble across it, but Disney is offering FREE DINING?? Is it weird to go to WDW two times in 9 months? Do I care?? No, not so much.

So I'm calculating, and build a couple of spread sheets. I figure, this trip is CHEAP. Would it not be cool to bring my mom? So I give her a ring, and ask her to come along. At first she was hesitant. She did not want us to pay for her. I reminded her that growing up, she took my grandmother everywhere, and now is my time to pay it forward. After numerous thank yous, she's in, and we are booked. 5 nights in WDW for free dining.

OK, now I get serious. There are ADR's to be made. So I get to work. I get the holy grail of free dining reservations, Le Cellier at 6 PM the first night. WOOT! We are off to a good start. I know this is not a dining report, but I thought I'd let you know what I got.

We ate at:

Le Cellier
Crystal Palace
Donald's Breakfastsaurus
Hollywood and Dine
Liberty Tree Tavern

So do you notice a theme? I got a little character meal CRAZY. The trip was great. DS mastered every mountain, tower, and expedition to be had. It was hot, and we where tired, but I loved it all.

Shortly after our September trip, I got the urge again. I needed to plan a trip. DH came home from work, and I brought up the possibility of another vacation. He know's not to argue. I compromised, and came up with a 7 night cruise out of Galveston. The trip was in March, and we had a blast.

It was near the end of March, I realized I had nothing to plan. What am I to do? I get online and start to search. The challenge this year was that our DS starts kindergarten this Fall. So now we have to travel at, GASP, PEAK SEASON!

During our first trip, we traveled during the first part of January, and I remembered how beautiful everything was for the holidays. Our only options around school where the week between Christmas and New Years. Now, I'm a DIS pro now, and I realize this is the busiest time of year. Do I really want to go then?

I decision has to be made. Can I brave the PEAK SEASON crowds?