All-aboard! Yacht Club in July '17.

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Since 2007 our family tradition has been to go to WDW every two years. The tradition almost died in 2015 but 3 out of 5 of us saved it with a day trip. This year, with the help of a convention, we are going to the Yacht Club in July!

The Specifics (so far). I am a member of AHEPA which is like a Greek Knights of Columbus. A terrific organization that raises money for scholarships and good deeds in our community.
The AHEPA national convention this year is at WDW and they managed to secure a terrific group rate. So good in fact that I was able to convince my "not so much loving Disney" wife to agree to a trip! We've stayed at the Beach Club twice but never the Yacht Club. I'm beyond excited. We will be checking in Tues July 24th and leaving Sun the 30th.

The Players. The saddest thing about this trip will be the absence of my oldest daughter Alexandra. She graduated from College last year and is now enrolled in an accelerated nursing program. Her schedule just won't allow here to get away. I'm sure she'll be there for the 2019 trip!

Who is going -

Myself (Chris). Disney lover trying desperately to cling to a family with 3 children that is now in reality 2 adults and a teenager. Photography enthusiast hungry for more Disney photos. Head planner and decision maker (which often leads to getting myself in trouble).

My lovely wife (Val). Those that read my other reports will not be surprised to know that Val will be the least excited to be on our trip. I think her exact words were "I'm not going to Disney again, and especially not in the *$%##@ middle of Summer!" Considerable compromises and sacrifices were made to get her to say yes. Here is a picture of the two of us from last summer. I'm not nearly as tan now as then but hopefully will be by our trip.

Sterg - My 20 year old son will be with us this time. He missed our 2015 trip to Clearwater that included the one day at WDW. He's a sophomore at Penn State studying in the field of IT and on the swim team. He will be the source of much entertainment and laughs; if I don't kill him first. Here he is in the pool. Notice the shaved eyebrow; evidence of a bet that didn't go his way.

Toni - When my last teenager isn't wrapping me around her little finger, she is busy with schoolwork and more dance classes than Mikhail Baryshnikov. Toni loves Disney as much as I do and we are usually the only members of the early morning Park contingency. Here she is holding our dog Prince.

to be continued...

 

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Last year my in-laws moved to the Tampa-St. Pete area. Here they are at my home celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary...

So...we came up with a plan to combine a visit to see them with a Disney trip. We are flying down to Tampa on the 21st to spend a few days with them and enjoy several beaches in the vicinity. Early, early Tuesday morning they will drive us to WDW for our check-in. They may or may not spend a day or two there.

My sister and her 2 daughters will check in to the Yacht club on Monday the 23rd. They are WDW veterans of their own, in fact they've been there more than I have.

Here I am with my youngest niece. She is funny, spirited and a cutie-pie. She can also be somewhat devilish at times.

and here is my older niece, a dancer like Toni, with my Mom (Yia-yia) and my sister...

So it's going to a bit of a family affair. The delicate part, which I'm already experiencing, is balancing everybody's wants and needs without starting a nuclear family war. Once I navigate that landmine I'll be able to relax a little more.

My greatest reason for going to WDW is that it provides a massive "arena" for my Family and I to spend time together, have fun together and make memories together. The extensive planning before the trip and the nature of the Disney Bubble/experience allows me to worry less about things I would otherwise worry about on a typical vacation (transportation, meals, what-to-do, etc.). Hopefully, even with a larger cast of characters that can continue. My sister and I have already agreed that we will not be "tied to the hip" the entire trip and are now starting to plan meals and carve out some time together in the parks. It's interesting how much differently her family approaches their WDW vacation.

There is much work to be done.

 

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Looks like our itinerary is set.

Tuesday July 25th

Arrival day! Plan to spend most of the day at Magic Kingdom with an early dinner at Ohana's. (party of 12! ) That should be interesting. Amazingly, this will be my Sister's first time there despite her many trips. A bit of pressure on me as I pushed hard for this reservation. Let's hope it's a good day at Ohana's. I'm also looking forward to seeing all the changes to the Poly since our visit in 2013!

There is evening EMH at Epcot, so I can't imagine I'll miss that.


Wednesday July 26th

Avatar Day!

Plan is to get up early for rope drop and hit Avatarland. I have a FP for Flight of Passage but not until later in the day, so I'll settle for an early walk on.

Dinner is at Sanaa but that may change depending on how our day plays out, but we are planning to spend most of the day at Animal Kingdom.

Evening EMH at Magic Kingdom until Midnight. Yeah, I'll be there.


Thursday July 27th

This will be a more "traditional" day. Morning at DHS, pool time (or maybe Typhoon Lagoon), then Epcot in the evening. Dinner at Chef's de France (our first time).


Friday July 28th

Right now, the plan is for Val and Toni to join my Sister, Yia-yia and my 2 nieces for a day at Discovery Cove. I think this will be a nice break from Disney for Val.

Sterg and I will stay at the World and go commando. I have FP in the afternoon/evening for Everest and Flight of Passage.

Dinner is likely going to be Flame Tree.


Saturday July 29th

Morning at Epcot, pool time, then back to Animal Kingdom. This is the day I plan to get some good night time shots of Avatarland and the Tree of life.

Dinner at Tiffins.


Sunday July 30th


Checking out but with a late flight we are planning more Park time.

First DHS, then Epcot. I have an early afternoon FP for Soarin' and am excited to see the new version.



Well, that's the itinerary for now. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't a few changes here and there, but most of it should stay in place.

We have so much going on right now; Toni is getting ready for her annual dance recital, Sterg is training and working and Val has been super busy. Even though our trip is now within 6 weeks is seem to be off the radar (except for me).

I just bought a new lens for my new camera and am writing down a list of shots I want to take. Yia-yia took a trip to New York city a month ago and over did it a bit. She's now rehabbing a sore knee but should be ready by our trip.

My sense is that this trip is going to sneak up on the rest of the crew which will likely cause some last minute scrambling and arguing, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised with the low level of angst.

 

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Getting excited!

2 more days I'll be at the World.

I wrote down a list of photos I want to take with my new camera. Right now on the Gulf side of Florida at the In-laws enjoying the sunsets (between the rain) waiting for our drive to The Yacht Club Tuesday morning.