All I want for Christmas..Is to go BACK! 11/29-12/5 @WL~UPDATE 12/17 pg 4

[heath-and-javens-mom]

We just returned home from a great 7 days in Walt disney world....It was so much fun, and I cant wait to go back.
The decorations were absolutly amazing

Heres a quick introduction of the cast for those of you that have not read the PTRS and previous TRs...

This is me, Farrah..With Marc Von Em (back up singer for Rob Thomas)..

Just so you know, I am a Huge Rob Thomas/Matchbox twenty fan, and I have traveled to St. louis, Milwaukee, Detriot, and Chicago to see him in concert..and when he goes on tour again I will be there- where ever that is.lol
Disney and Rob are my 2 obessions...combine them and I am in heaven.

This is my husband, Dane (and me)

Luckily he likes Rob Thomas/Mb20 too, so he puts up with my addiction.
He is also the reason why I LOVE disney..He took me there for the first time in 2001..and I have been disney crazed ever since.

These are our boys, Heath, and Javen.These were taken September 2008 at Wilderness lodge photo shoot...
Heath is 10, and Javen is 6.

So that is MY family. BUT theres more to this cast....
My step sister and her fiance, and their kids came along..here is a picture of them

And My dad and his wife came along foir part of the trip as well....

My dad and step mom have never been to disney so It was great to get to introduce them to the most magical place on earth.
My step sister Bri had been many years ago, but didnt remember much-and the rest of her family had never been, so It was a first for almost everyone.

First installment will be up very soon.


The Looong DRIVE down page 1
Wilderness lodge photoshoot page 1 and 2
DHS evening and Osborn lights page 2
DHS morning page 3
DHS evening page 4

 

[tinkgurl]

I'm here!!

 

[hlrababy]

Aww, you know I am here girl!!!!

I am still sad we didn't get to meet up

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

No more wasting time, lets get to it!
We woke up at 4:00 AM, on Nov 28th -One day before our arrival day. We threw our clothes on, fed the dogs, and we were out the door by 4:20ish. We already had the van packed, and the TV's, and gameboys were fully charged and ready to go for the boys.
We arrived at our meet up spot...This is where we would meet up with Bri, Poe, Zioe, Kalyie and My dad and his wife...
A happy Bri and Poe at 4:30 in the morning....

Bri and I

A very excited FARRAH!!!

Heath was super excited! I was hoping they would go back to sleep...But that didnt happen.

Javen was a little more relaxed, and played his nintendo DS all morning.

Dane was soo tired that morning. He had finished hanging up all the Christmas lightsthe night before so that we would come home to a decorated house. He went to bed at 12:30AM, and was back up at 3:30AM

MY dad finally pulled up...

and we were on our way...in just a few short hours (LOL- okay a few short DAYS) we will be in Disney World!!!

after sevral hours of uneventful driving we stopped to fill up..It seemd like we had been driving FOREVER, but in all actualality it had only been like 5 hours. only 11 more to go!
Stoping to fill up,..here is Bri with her happy face..lol

Inside we grabbed snacks for Heath and Javen. I promise I push for more nutritous things, they just wont go for it.

My dad loves long road trips so he loved every minute of this, and he was ready to get back on the road.

And Finally..ON THE ROAD AGAIN

We continued driving for about 2 hours- then we gota call from Bri..."PULL OVER" she said. Zoie was puking in the van..TMI??? Sorry. So we pulled off at the nearest reast stop..we got her cleaned up, had a potty break, and hoped for a smooth drive.
ONLY It was not smooth! There was a traffic jam that looked like it went on for miles and miles. My GPS does not have traffic updates, so My step mom looked it up on her cell phone, and she found another route to take. Well that "ROUTE" took us way out of the way. Eventually we ended up back on the highway, and it was finally Smooth sailing.
a couple hours later we diecided to stop and grab lunch..somewhere in GA we had a late lunch at the RIB SHACK...

Grandma, and Granpa with Heath and javen

Poe was crackin me up...

After 12 hours TOTAL of driving we stopped off in Valdosta Ga ...This would be our home for the night...It was a really nice hotel.

you would think the boys would be tired since they got up at 4Am..but Nope.

my guys wrestling before bed...sooo excited that they will be in DISNEY tomorrow!

Up next we arrive at the lodge...well kinda.............................

 

[tinkgurl]

I know I've already told you this, but you are gorgeous and I just love your family!

Whew, 4 am! Dane got like no sleep!

So exciting that you're going with your step-sis and her family and your dad and step-mom.

Wow, what a nice room you guys stayed in!

 

[Pinky166]

Hi Farrah...I'm in! I love your trip reports.

You & your family are soooo cute. Can't wait to read more.

 

[always_learning]

So glad I found your TR! My mom and I were just chatting about how your dad & step mom did What was the name of your hotel in Valdosta? This is usually the city we stay in but our hotel was CRAPPY last time.

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

I'm here!!

Thanks for joining in.

Aww, you know I am here girl!!!!

I am still sad we didn't get to meet up

I know..That totally sucks! I have been waiting to meet you for 3 years. Such a bummer. We HAVE TO make arrangments to get together next year.

I know I've already told you this, but you are gorgeous and I just love your family!

Whew, 4 am! Dane got like no sleep!

So exciting that you're going with your step-sis and her family and your dad and step-mom.

Wow, what a nice room you guys stayed in!

Thank you so much. You are to sweet.
Yes dane was super tired, buthe stayed awake thru the whole drive down.
My dad was not in to disney at all, but I fixed that.

Hi Farrah...I'm in! I love your trip reports.

You & your family are soooo cute. Can't wait to read more.

YAY..so glad you made it over!

So glad I found your TR! My mom and I were just chatting about how your dad & step mom did What was the name of your hotel in Valdosta? This is usually the city we stay in but our hotel was CRAPPY last time.

HI!! they both did good in disney- didnt wake up at 7 and 8 AM like we did, but they came to the parks later in the day and got to ride alot of stuff.
That hotel is off exit 16 in Valdosta, It is new, Its a windgate by Wyndham....verrra nice...and so much room. It was better than the wilderness lodge room in all honesty.

 

[bsjs0708]

Great report- you have a great family...so much fun!!!! I can't wait to read some more and see some more pics!!

 

[accountingbabe08]

It is great to see you on the boards again. I can't wait to read more.

 

[DisneyJo]

Hi Farrah, wow that was a long drive and you still have more to do You American's are crazy

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

Great report- you have a great family...so much fun!!!! I can't wait to read some more and see some more pics!!

Aw, Thank you for joining in...I will work on a update tonight.

It is great to see you on the boards again. I can't wait to read more.

Hello there! Its been a while. I stay away from the boards when I am not planning a trip or doing a TR cause its to depressing. lol

Hi Farrah, wow that was a long drive and you still have more to do You American's are crazy

you are correct- we are crazy.
I think Im gonna try flying down next year even though I have a fear of flying...I could be there in 2 hours VS 16 hours..... Who wouldnt fly..






Update coming up tonight......

 

[Disneychix]

Hi Farrah!! I looked for your family everyday around the WL but I never spotted you! So sad! We must've been on totally different schedules!

Can't wait to read along!

 

[Native NYer]

So glad I found your new TR. Now to go back and read!

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

We didnt set the alarm for this morning because Dane is a human alarm clock- Always up before 7AM.
We grabbed showers, and went downstairs at about 9AM to induldge in the free cont. breakfast. I dont have any pics of this -but dont worry, your not missing much.
I didnt eat much because I am always to anxious to eat the morning I know we will be arriving in disney.

We had a uneventful 4 hour drive Up untill all 3 vehicles seperated....Bri and Poe were going to POP, and My dad and I were both going to WL....I drive waaay faster than both of them so when My GPS said to get off on a exit I DID....well, my dads GPS told them to get off on a different exit-so we were no longer a GROUP.
My GPS took us thru neighborhoods, and subdivisions, and country roads.......,It was CRAZY...Then we spotted the backside of Magic Kingdom..we were driving along space mountain. I had never seen this 'side' of disney..so the GPD tells me to make a left- I DID...Only it took us to the backside of the WL. Im guessing it was the employee enterance There were gates and a buzzer as I pulled in. I pressed teh buzzer and explained that my GPS made me do it- lol and that I am lost. The CM on teh other end kindly told me tob turn around, get back on the road and take the NEXT left and that I would run right end to the enterance.

So after a few minutes of confusion we were back on our way..and then...there it was...just screaming "welcome home"....lol

I was so bummed that the GPS took us the back way so we didntget a pic of the DISNEY WORLD sign. Ohwell, these cheered me up....

We pulled up in the valet area, and seen my dad had already made it..appearently his GPS is more accurate than mine.
We unloaded our stuff on to the cart and got a number tag from bell services. Dane finished unloading while I went in to check in. The lobby took my breath away, again. The huge tree is unbelivable.
Check in was smooth and my room was ready! I was estatic.

My step mom checked in and sadly their room was not ready- so we had bell services take all teh luggage to our room- ROOM 5049...JUST PERFECT!!!!!!

views from our balconey

The kids made themseves at home..ON OUR BED...

I gotta say Im not impressed with the bunkbeds..I wont pay extra for those again. anyway....
I pulled out the small Christmas tree that I had purchased for the room and we decorated it with red and green bulbs and a few mickey ones too.
It was a cute addition to the room.

My step mom finally got the text that their room was now ready...and ony a few doors down so we carried all their luggage to the room and got them settled in. I was SOOOO dissapointed with their standard room view...it over looked the loading area.I was so bummed for them. Ohwell, they didnt seem to care much, and said they would nt be using the balconey much anyway.

Oh the boys spotted the first hidden mickey of the trip in the hall

Javen is sooo good at spotting these things!


I schedualed a photo shoot at 4:10 here at the lodge, so we decided to get showers and get dressed for that.
We met Dad and Becky at 4:00 in the hall and walked down to the photo shoot check in.
I paid for the shoot and only waited a few minutes before our photographer was ready for us.
I was really impressed with our photographer this year- she asked what we perferred, how we wanted to split off (familys), etc. She was very good.
She ended up taking mear 90 pictures....here are a few..

Continued....

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

There were soo many more GREAT ones but I dont want to bore you with the same type of pics TIMES 90.

Up next we gotta hurry- we have a ADR that we are late for!!!!!:scared1

 

[tinkgurl]

Haha, I hear ya about the human alarm clock. That is SO my B/F!

Ugh, that stinks about the GPS! How funny though it took you that way!

Woo! I love that "Welcome Home" feeling when pulling up to WL.

Wow, what a great view from your room!

Gotta love finding Hidden Mickey's!

Aw..you guys look so good all dressed up! I don't know if you mentioned this, but did you use any of the pics for your Christmas cards?

 

[hlrababy]

OMG, I love the photoshoot pictures!!! Girl, you are just beautiful!!!!!!!!!

The boys look might spiffy in their nice outfits!!!

 

[Tinkh]

Your family looked so adorable for their pictures! Loved the view from your room. Amazing. Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip.

 

[Pinky166]

Awww you guys look Fab-U-Lous!

I just love the WL...your trip report is going to make me sad as I was at the WL this time last year.

The lobby & christmas tree is just breathtaking.