And we're back...quick highs and lows.

[Portugal1000]

Glad you had a great time. We got back today week share a lot of highs. We loved Universal again.
We have a 15 year old boy and also hates posing for photos. We started going when he was five and have great photos for about 7 years then it got more difficult. This year he discovered kick and free texting. OMG. Drove me crazy. All I kept thinking was his friends parents must think we are having a really boring holiday if he is online so much. I wish the parks didn't have internet.
No complaining from him though except when we went shopping, but I think we hate it as much as each other, husband loves to shop. Definitely sounds easier if you have just one but I know he would love to have a friend with him. I just couldn't face taking them for three weeks. Too much responsibility.

 

[joolz1910]

Glad you had a great time. We got back today week share a lot of highs. We loved Universal again.
We have a 15 year old boy and also hates posing for photos. We started going when he was five and have great photos for about 7 years then it got more difficult. This year he discovered kick and free texting. OMG. Drove me crazy. All I kept thinking was his friends parents must think we are having a really boring holiday if he is online so much. I wish the parks didn't have internet.
No complaining from him though except when we went shopping, but I think we hate it as much as each other, husband loves to shop. Definitely sounds easier if you have just one but I know he would love to have a friend with him. I just couldn't face taking them for three weeks. Too much responsibility.

I hate shopping too. Don't mind the Disney Store but would never want to go to the Malls for a day. We take a friend for my eldest when we holiday in the UK which makes life much easier but I would not want the responsibility for longer than 1 week.

 

[DLPdaft]

I laughed out loud at the tag-team-of-misery comment!
As you have so few lows it was clearly an amazing holiday for you all.

 

[igk]

Well if my children are anything to go by it doesn't get easier as they get older! They're now 18 and 16. On a recent (non-Disney) holiday we went on a sightseeing excursion and took along sandwiches that DW had made. DS18: "Why are the sandwiches cut into triangles?" Me: "Beacause yesterday your sister asked why they were cut into rectangles". Commence argument about the shape of sandwiches...
Anyway my upcoming trip is a little treat for DD as she did very well in her GCSEs, and DS will be off to university...

 

[bex7583]

This was our second 'once-in-a-lifetime-trip.'

The Lows

Really struggling to pin down 'lows' as the whole trip was fantastic. However, I never pass by an opportunity to moan, so here they are:

The Weather
Wow, soooooooo hot. We went in October for our first trip so we weren't really prepared for the humidity. It slowed us right down and nearly finished off my youngest who, it transpires, hates the heat (see low #3). The downpours didn't really bother me as, being British, warm rain seemed like a bit of a bonus.

Other People
The vast majority of 'other people' were nice, happy and (at least on the surface) normal. We came across crazy New-Jersey-redt.shirt-man (I will save him for the full trip report), people who allocated whole seats for their bags on packed buses and cast members pulling faces behind people's backs.

My Kids
Renamed 'the-tag-team-of-misery' They seemed to take it in turns to moan. Yet not once, NOT ONCE, did I use the 'ungrateful' word against them. Instead, I turned to Disney wine (Once upon a Vine) and sang Disney songs inside my head to drown them out. DD(7) hates the heat, dark rides, scary rides, steep rides and walking. So that was fun. DD (15) hates posing for photos, (so glad I had Memory Maker) the amount of times I visit restrooms (I have a rating system if anyone is interested?) and will only eat fries and Cesar salad, minus dressing and parmesan (Dining Plan was soooooo worth it). DD(11) hates the other two.

But they still said it was the best holiday and didn't want to come home.

So now to my highs. There are so many but I will try to condense them.

The Highs

Universal Studios
I loved this place! I am a Harry Potter geek so this was right up my Diagon Alley. Went to Margaritaville and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The Hard Rock Hotel was great and the Express Passes were a huge bonus. I was also very pleased with the child-swap system in the parks.

Old Key West
Still love the laid back atmosphere of this place. Had a great room in a perfect location. Buses were regular. Happy.

The Food
We had the Dining Plan which we love as it allows us to eat in places which we could otherwise not afford. I was really pleased to see a bigger range of veggie food on offer and managed to eat only one veggie burger and one pizza for the entire 12 days - result!

Memories
For me, this is what this trip was all about. I love the special moments (between the moaning/whining) and sharing the Disney magic together. We laughed a lot.

sounds great , looking forward to reading your trip report

 

[goopysolelady]

Sounds like normal families here! I think I can "top" all of you though...last trip was July (2014) with DGD's ENTIRE SOCCER TEAM! ... plus some younger siblings. Imagine DW with 15 ... 11-12-13 year olds...in July! It really wasn't as bad as it COULD have been...they're "close enough" to be like "sister's" but they're not and that makes a huge difference. They all got along very well. The heat in July was (and always is) an issue but, being soccer players, they deal with it during spring, summer and fall practices & games....and, are very good about drinking lots and lots of water. Our biggest problem was the July rain/thunder storms. Postponed or cancelled a few soccer games which threw our schedule into a total mess! Just a suggestion for you to "take it or leave it" but March & April and October are wonderful times to visit. We've done a few trips during DGD's spring breaks in March and LOVED IT; also in October during a short break the schools give the kids. Sounds like all trips were successful and sisters/brothers fighting is just part of being a fabulous family!
The team and coach. DD is front row, left and coach is son-in-law:

 

[joolz1910]

Sounds like normal families here! I think I can "top" all of you though...last trip was July (2014) with DGD's ENTIRE SOCCER TEAM! ... plus some younger siblings. Imagine DW with 15 ... 11-12-13 year olds...in July! It really wasn't as bad as it COULD have been...they're "close enough" to be like "sister's" but they're not and that makes a huge difference. They all got along very well. The heat in July was (and always is) an issue but, being soccer players, they deal with it during spring, summer and fall practices & games....and, are very good about drinking lots and lots of water. Our biggest problem was the July rain/thunder storms. Postponed or cancelled a few soccer games which threw our schedule into a total mess! Just a suggestion for you to "take it or leave it" but March & April and October are wonderful times to visit. We've done a few trips during DGD's spring breaks in March and LOVED IT; also in October during a short break the schools give the kids. Sounds like all trips were successful and sisters/brothers fighting is just part of being a fabulous family!
The team and coach. DD is front row, left and coach is son-in-law:

We went in October for our first trip and loved it. Would definitely go again at that time of year