MAGGIED
Magic Creator
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2005
- Messages
- 3,513
The best place to start is at the beginning
. Many, many years ago
when I was about 10 years old my parents
being the wonderful people they are, took my sister and I to Disney World
.. not that I remember much about it (as my own children would say that was back when they discovered dirt)
. 
Fast forward to 1997. Our first family trip to the Happiest Place on Earth!!! The cast of characters was DH, DD, DS and myself. I knew I had at least two of them hooked when DD was crying on the last day as we stood at the end of Main Street looking at the castle and DS was amazed at the double rainbow behind the castle exclaiming that Mom was right this was the most magical place in the world.
Since that first trip there have been on countless others.. 28 actually
some with all four of us
some with two or three of us and some with just me.. traveling with my DSis
. So that brings me to this trip and the purpose of this pre-trip report
besides the fact that my friend Jenjolt asked me to do one
The Girls are doing Disney!!!!!!!!
Having just arrived home from DS 16th birthday trip at the end of Jan 2009 yes just a couple of weeks ago . The guilt was settling in about not taking DD who is in college
but what was I to do
she was away at school
. I know book a trip when she was out of school
so the planning began. 
A few years ago I brought my Aunt
her first trip at the age of 66
after that trip she asked me to take her back
and then there was a long time family friend
also age 66.. never been to Disney
and my Mom
who loves to do fun things
. You all see where I am going with this
. So after a few phone calls everyone was on board
and then I needed to convince DH that yes it was okay to go three months later
so I put DD up to it
he cant ever tell her no
. so after a quick phone call to Daddy it was all set
.
The cast of Characters for this trip
Me . Wendy. lover of all things Disney dream is to retire from my job here, move to mouseland where DH can play golf and I can make Disney goody baskets to deliver to those having magical vacations .
DD Maggie college freshman wonderful young lady kind hearted and as sweet as can be
DMom Dawn . Loves to have fun never takes a serious photo loves her grandchildren
Daunt Lorl .DMoms sister loves to come to my house to visit with my Mom I always take good care of them . My uncle loves me for taking my aunt away and giving him a week of peace and quiet
DFriend .Pat .. DMoms best friend .. grew up with her family . Has had much heartache in her life and this is her first trip to Disney!!!
Our trip will be the third week of May so now I have all the planning to do .first hotel
Because I am paying college tuition I wanted to keep this trip as reasonable as possible so where to stay . Well lets try for POR they have that trundle bed and DD is a tiny little thing 5ft and about 100 lbs. So the call was made . What do you mean no I cant stay in that room . PLEASE
.. yes that was about how my conversation went with the people at Disney travel
. Finally I convinced them that yes I know how big the room is, and yes I know that the trundle bed is for a child
but honestly
I have seen 10 year olds bigger than DD so shouldnt it be based on size and not age
. Sorry for that rant
..well the nice lady said okay!! YES
WE ARE IN
. okay
now to add dining
. DONE
.. oh and did I mention that DH is retired military so we get 40% off the room rate deal that they are offering now
this is looking good so far
. 
Just a side note when we were there in January Dh and DS were on a package . I was not long story but lets just say that I recently had surgery and the nice folks at Disney allowed me to be in the room and not on the package that meant that I had to buy my tickets separate and no dining plan (that was okay) . So here I am at the counter at the Magic Kingdom and the price for the 5 day ticket was around $235 so I call DH over and say You know for just about $60 more we could buy 5 day tickets for all of us to use on a trip later this year . And to my surprise he said do it . I handed the lady my Disney Visa card faster than you could imagine so those are the tickets we are using this time .
Okay so lets see where we are .
Cast of Characters ..done
Hotel done
Dining added ..done
Airline . Not done
The search for reasonable airline began . Hello can you say in about 15 minutes I had direct flights from Rochester to Orlando for $164 each YES!!!! Then I decided it was worth the extra $12 a person to confirm our seats right then after all I didnt want the 5 of us split up on the plane and the last time I took my DMom and DAunt on a trip they misbehaved on the plane its really funny that these two older woman can really get things going . They are too funny!!!
Recap tickets, hotel, dining, airline all done . Now to rejoin Tour guide mike so that I can get those best days what he doesnt have them published . I am beginning to sweat yes I know its not a pretty picture but I became very nervous about this so a call I made to my DSis . For an hour we talked about how can this be doesnt Mike know we have to figure out our dining oh I should mention that my DSis and her husband will be there the week before we are going t hey are DVC owners and take a few trips a year . So we spend a great deal of time stressing over the fact that the information and park hours werent posted
then what happens
Mike post her week but not mine
. She is all happy and giddy about being able to plan
while I sit here and try to strategize what to do
. Well
I do know that I want to take them all to dinner at Cinderella Royal table
I think everyone should eat there once
okay for us it has been many first times
but thats okay
. Then my DAunt really liked Chef Mickeys
. dont ask me why as I dont think the food is all that great
but she loved it
so being the somewhat good researcher that I am I know that although the booking for dining is 90 days out I can book these two places
.
Hello.. Disney Dining . After a little changing around I was able to get reservations at Both Chef Mickeys and Cinderella Royal table ..
So thats where we are at . On Sunday I will call to make the rest of our dining reservations I am looking at Mama Melrose for a Fantasmic package, San Angel Inn at DD request, the tea at the Grand Floridian, and Crystal Palace at DMoms request.
I now have to begin the planning of making shirts, autograph books, etc . feel free to stay along for the ride .
Fast forward to 1997. Our first family trip to the Happiest Place on Earth!!! The cast of characters was DH, DD, DS and myself. I knew I had at least two of them hooked when DD was crying on the last day as we stood at the end of Main Street looking at the castle and DS was amazed at the double rainbow behind the castle exclaiming that Mom was right this was the most magical place in the world. Since that first trip there have been on countless others.. 28 actually
some with all four of us
some with two or three of us and some with just me.. traveling with my DSis
. So that brings me to this trip and the purpose of this pre-trip report
besides the fact that my friend Jenjolt asked me to do one
The Girls are doing Disney!!!!!!!!
Having just arrived home from DS 16th birthday trip at the end of Jan 2009 yes just a couple of weeks ago . The guilt was settling in about not taking DD who is in college
but what was I to do
she was away at school
. I know book a trip when she was out of school
so the planning began. A few years ago I brought my Aunt
her first trip at the age of 66
after that trip she asked me to take her back
and then there was a long time family friend
also age 66.. never been to Disney
and my Mom
who loves to do fun things
. You all see where I am going with this
. So after a few phone calls everyone was on board
and then I needed to convince DH that yes it was okay to go three months later
so I put DD up to it
he cant ever tell her no
. so after a quick phone call to Daddy it was all set
.The cast of Characters for this trip
Me . Wendy. lover of all things Disney dream is to retire from my job here, move to mouseland where DH can play golf and I can make Disney goody baskets to deliver to those having magical vacations .
DD Maggie college freshman wonderful young lady kind hearted and as sweet as can be
DMom Dawn . Loves to have fun never takes a serious photo loves her grandchildren
Daunt Lorl .DMoms sister loves to come to my house to visit with my Mom I always take good care of them . My uncle loves me for taking my aunt away and giving him a week of peace and quiet
DFriend .Pat .. DMoms best friend .. grew up with her family . Has had much heartache in her life and this is her first trip to Disney!!!
Our trip will be the third week of May so now I have all the planning to do .first hotel
Because I am paying college tuition I wanted to keep this trip as reasonable as possible so where to stay . Well lets try for POR they have that trundle bed and DD is a tiny little thing 5ft and about 100 lbs. So the call was made . What do you mean no I cant stay in that room
. PLEASE
.. yes that was about how my conversation went with the people at Disney travel
. Finally I convinced them that yes I know how big the room is, and yes I know that the trundle bed is for a child
but honestly
I have seen 10 year olds bigger than DD so shouldnt it be based on size and not age
. Sorry for that rant
..well the nice lady said okay!! YES
WE ARE IN
. okay
now to add dining
. DONE
.. oh and did I mention that DH is retired military so we get 40% off the room rate deal that they are offering now
this is looking good so far
. Just a side note when we were there in January Dh and DS were on a package . I was not long story but lets just say that I recently had surgery and the nice folks at Disney allowed me to be in the room and not on the package that meant that I had to buy my tickets separate and no dining plan (that was okay) . So here I am at the counter at the Magic Kingdom and the price for the 5 day ticket was around $235 so I call DH over and say You know for just about $60 more we could buy 5 day tickets for all of us to use on a trip later this year . And to my surprise he said do it . I handed the lady my Disney Visa card faster than you could imagine so those are the tickets we are using this time .
Okay so lets see where we are .
Cast of Characters ..done
Hotel done
Dining added ..done
Airline . Not done
The search for reasonable airline began . Hello can you say in about 15 minutes I had direct flights from Rochester to Orlando for $164 each YES!!!! Then I decided it was worth the extra $12 a person to confirm our seats right then after all I didnt want the 5 of us split up on the plane and the last time I took my DMom and DAunt on a trip they misbehaved on the plane its really funny that these two older woman can really get things going . They are too funny!!!
Recap tickets, hotel, dining, airline all done . Now to rejoin Tour guide mike so that I can get those best days what he doesnt have them published . I am beginning to sweat yes I know its not a pretty picture but I became very nervous about this so a call I made to my DSis . For an hour we talked about how can this be doesnt Mike know we have to figure out our dining oh I should mention that my DSis and her husband will be there the week before we are going t hey are DVC owners and take a few trips a year . So we spend a great deal of time stressing over the fact that the information and park hours werent posted
then what happens
Mike post her week but not mine
. She is all happy and giddy about being able to plan
while I sit here and try to strategize what to do
. Well
I do know that I want to take them all to dinner at Cinderella Royal table
I think everyone should eat there once
okay for us it has been many first times
but thats okay
. Then my DAunt really liked Chef Mickeys
. dont ask me why as I dont think the food is all that great
but she loved it
so being the somewhat good researcher that I am I know that although the booking for dining is 90 days out I can book these two places
. Hello.. Disney Dining . After a little changing around I was able to get reservations at Both Chef Mickeys and Cinderella Royal table ..
So thats where we are at . On Sunday I will call to make the rest of our dining reservations I am looking at Mama Melrose for a Fantasmic package, San Angel Inn at DD request, the tea at the Grand Floridian, and Crystal Palace at DMoms request.
I now have to begin the planning of making shirts, autograph books, etc . feel free to stay along for the ride .
I really think the point of them driving the two hours for a visit is my Aunt wants help picking out wall paper and I told them I have some surprises for them....
.. so we will have to see.... 
. As I said before I think everyone should experience a meal in the Castle... just for the atmosphere.... I think my traveling buddy's will love it....
.... or her nose!!!
Thanks for stopping by my report. Yes, I have a lot of Dining Plans. The trip pretty much revolves around it. I am a chef by trade, and I look forward to trying the work of my contemporaries, and not having to cook for a week. That is the advantage of a few solo days and going with all adults with like tastes. I can pretty much do what I want to do with dining. 
or about 28%. The real value is in the appetizer course, which is not included in the "regular dining plan".
