A MouseEars View of Grand Gatherings - Complete with Over 500 Photos!

[FlightlessDuck]

Reading back over my report, I'm afraid I might have focused too much on the hassles.

Yeah, me too. Me more so than you, I think. I could try to come up with a list of some good times I had with everybody, but to be honest I can't think of one right now for each person. I know we went through that exercise on the return trip on the train, and I had an item for each person, but I can't think of them all now.

I'm pretty sure I won't have another Disney trip with a group this large. But if I did, the main lesson I learned was that you don't have to be together all the time to have special times together.

Honestly, I don't ever see us doing this again. Maybe if the separate families all end up in Florida at the same time we could meet at one of the parks for a day.

I think before the trip I would have said my favorite parks were Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Now, my favorite parks are Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Islands of Adventure.

I still like Epcot, but some of the rides are getting stale. I don't think we spend enough time in World Showcase, but I know Jenn thinks it is boring. It used to be #2 on my list, and now that's been supplanted by Hollywood Studios. Animal Kingdom still might be #4 for me. We will see next trip.

I have some goals for next trip: Ride on Test Track and Kali River Rapids. Go through the animal areas of Animal Kingdom. Ride on whatever roller coaster is in the Wonderful World of Harry Potter. Get either the flight of beer or flight of whiskey at Raglan Road (maybe both...). Actually have dinner, not just appetizers, at Raglan Road. Eat at Boma. See Le Nouba (even though I didn't like Festival of the Lion King, I think I'd still like Cirque du Soliel).

There's something to be said for driving to Disney.

As much as I hate to admit it, I'd rather drive again than take the train. Flying would be so much shorter, but would be a hassle (having to work around the airline's schedule), and Nick will be scared witless. So I am willing to drive our next trip to Disney. We will fly when we need to get to Orlando for the cruise, though.

Last, but not least, I LOVE CORONADO SPRINGS.

Me, too. Maybe some day we will stay at one of the deluxe resorts, but until then I can see us staying at Coronado Springs each time we come back, at least until the kids are grown.

If you read all or part of this trip report, thank you! I hope you enjoyed the ride.

It has certainly been fun for us

 

[kate_wdw]

Thanks!

Before:

After:

Scott has done much better than I have, and is nearly to his healthy weight range - only about 14 pounds to go. (He's lost 93 pounds.) I'm still about 28lbs. over my healthy weight range, but I have lost 65 pounds according to the scale. I can never see it in a picture, but such is life.

Wow! That's incredibly impressive. Congratulations!

During my last trip to WDW in November, I kept wondering how much less my feet would hurt if they didn't have the extra weight to lug around. Now that you've found out, you'll have to let us know!

 

[sherylcin]

Just finished reading your trip report. Thanks for all the details and especially the dining info. We now have a big group (will be 13 next January) and take our big Disney family trips every other year. I'm seriously thinking we'll try the Dining Plan for the first time next year.

I agree it is a challenge when you've got 3 families. It's always surprised me a little how much we stay together on these trips. It's probably due somewhat to the fact that we don't all live close so it's not often we get to be all together for that long. But there are always THOSE moments.........

Anyway, loved reading your report! Here's to many more Disney memories for us all!