ZephyrHawk
Confirmed Disneyphile
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Messages
- 6,510
Hello everyone!
The last time I tried to do a trip report was several Disney vacations ago, and it didn't work out so well. Technically, it worked out fine, it just didn't finish well...or at all...but I digress. For the trip I have planned to begin later this week, I will be doing a number of activities that don't get written about frequently in trip reports (I know, because I've searched for them) and I thought I could do a service to the Disboards as a whole by using this forum to educate folks abot them.
So, I thought I would try to do a trip report again. This time I shall not try to make it as comprehensive as with previous reports (for instance, there's no way I'm going to try and take photos of every meal). This way, hopefully, I might actually be able to finish it within a reasonable time from my return from the world. Anyways, might as well get started.
Cast of Characters
This is DH and I from our Disney trip back in 2007. We haven't changed much.
DH - Is just short of 36 years old and an attorney working for the State of Michigan. He's a former cast member and has recently indicated that although I may now know more about Disney from my years on the Disboards, he has forgotten more about Disney than I shall ever know. He really wants to take a DVC ownership tour sometime during this trip; you know, just to see what the rooms look like.
DH is into relaxed touring with little planning, which is why I am in charge of making sure there is some structure to the trip.
Me - I'm recently turned 35 and an attorney working in private practice. I like travel, Disney and otherwise. When I'm not traveling I like to plan my next trip. I got this attitude from my parents, who half the time I have no idea where they are in the world. I have a short list of things I simply must do on this trip, because I doubt I'll have time to do them next time when I'm dragging a toddler and a whole slew of old folks around.
Bo - Bo is our travel mascot. He's got his own travel blog. I won't speak for him here, but I figured I should include him in the cast before anyone starts asking, "WTH is up with the garden gnome?!"
Every gnome wants to be a travel gnome someday....
DD - Otherwise known as "Sir Not Appearing In This Trip Report".
Yes, we're leaving the adorable little tyke at home. Why? Because I have a "no diapers" rule about Disney. I know other people take their babies and are fine with it, but I am not. DD is 7 months old and will be spending the week vacationing at her grandparents house, along with our cat Gwen. A lot of people think we're weird for taking vacation without her when she's "so young". But my parents left me with my grandma to go on their 10th anniversary trip to Mexico when I was only 2 months old, and I managed to escape without mental scarring, so I think we'll be okay. Which brings me to...
Why Are We Taking This Trip?
DH and I were married on June 28, 2003, which for those who don't like math, was 10 years ago. Originally, we weren't planning to go anywhere to celebrate, or at most, we'd go somewhere close to home like we did when celebrating our 5 year anniversary. I was concerned about reserving funds that would be needed in the coming year while we each took turns with parental leave. Then, last December, as I was distracted by the holidays and caring for a 2 month old baby, DH suggested that what would be really cool would be if we could get the Chef's Table at Victoria & Albert's for our anniversary.
To paraphrase Bender from Futurama, I had forgotten he could tempt me with things that I like.
Also, there was the draw of the fact that this will be our last trip to Disney without DD for a looooooong time. There are things one really cannot do when traveling with young kids (for instance, tours that feature "friends" out of costume) that we'd like to check off our Disney bucket lists. Plus, our next trip looks like it might be a bit of an handful already. It's currently in the works for Nov/Dec 2015 and will involve a then 3 year old DD, my parents, and both sides of DH's divorced and remarried parentage, inclusive of DD's great-grandmother and several aunts. This is what happens when you have the only grandchild in 3 families.
Grand Gathering = Kill me now.
So, I indicated to DH that if my end of year bonus was of a certain level, then we would be able to afford a nice Disney anniversary trip, and I'd consider it. Luckily for us, I was soon put in the position of having to live up to my promises.
So What's The Game Plan?
We are staying at Saratoga Springs in a studio room (we rented points). We have 9 day park hoppers, with the water park option. We are not on the dining plan (it just didn't make sense for this trip). We have direct flights each way (nice!) and will be utilizing Disney's Magical Express.
June 22 - Crack of dawn early flight to Orlando, followed by some time in parks TBD and dinner ADRs at Raglan Road
June 23 - Parks TBD and no ADRs
June 24 - Backstage Magic Tour (includes lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe)
June 25 - Park TBD, but probably Epcot in the evening, dinner ADRs at Flying Fish
June 26 - Late-ish breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's, more parks TBD
June 27 - Blizzard Beach followed up by ADR at the V&A's Chef's Table (we couldn't quite get our actual anniversary date)
June 28 - 10th Anniversary in the Magic Kingdom!, dinner ADRs at Be Our Guest
June 29 - Park TBD, no ADR
June 30 - Short park day, probably MK, evening flight home
So that's the nuts and bolts of it all.
The last time I tried to do a trip report was several Disney vacations ago, and it didn't work out so well. Technically, it worked out fine, it just didn't finish well...or at all...but I digress. For the trip I have planned to begin later this week, I will be doing a number of activities that don't get written about frequently in trip reports (I know, because I've searched for them) and I thought I could do a service to the Disboards as a whole by using this forum to educate folks abot them.
So, I thought I would try to do a trip report again. This time I shall not try to make it as comprehensive as with previous reports (for instance, there's no way I'm going to try and take photos of every meal). This way, hopefully, I might actually be able to finish it within a reasonable time from my return from the world. Anyways, might as well get started.
Cast of Characters
This is DH and I from our Disney trip back in 2007. We haven't changed much.
DH - Is just short of 36 years old and an attorney working for the State of Michigan. He's a former cast member and has recently indicated that although I may now know more about Disney from my years on the Disboards, he has forgotten more about Disney than I shall ever know. He really wants to take a DVC ownership tour sometime during this trip; you know, just to see what the rooms look like.
DH is into relaxed touring with little planning, which is why I am in charge of making sure there is some structure to the trip.Me - I'm recently turned 35 and an attorney working in private practice. I like travel, Disney and otherwise. When I'm not traveling I like to plan my next trip. I got this attitude from my parents, who half the time I have no idea where they are in the world. I have a short list of things I simply must do on this trip, because I doubt I'll have time to do them next time when I'm dragging a toddler and a whole slew of old folks around.
Bo - Bo is our travel mascot. He's got his own travel blog. I won't speak for him here, but I figured I should include him in the cast before anyone starts asking, "WTH is up with the garden gnome?!"
Every gnome wants to be a travel gnome someday....
DD - Otherwise known as "Sir Not Appearing In This Trip Report".
Yes, we're leaving the adorable little tyke at home. Why? Because I have a "no diapers" rule about Disney. I know other people take their babies and are fine with it, but I am not. DD is 7 months old and will be spending the week vacationing at her grandparents house, along with our cat Gwen. A lot of people think we're weird for taking vacation without her when she's "so young". But my parents left me with my grandma to go on their 10th anniversary trip to Mexico when I was only 2 months old, and I managed to escape without mental scarring, so I think we'll be okay. Which brings me to...
Why Are We Taking This Trip?
DH and I were married on June 28, 2003, which for those who don't like math, was 10 years ago. Originally, we weren't planning to go anywhere to celebrate, or at most, we'd go somewhere close to home like we did when celebrating our 5 year anniversary. I was concerned about reserving funds that would be needed in the coming year while we each took turns with parental leave. Then, last December, as I was distracted by the holidays and caring for a 2 month old baby, DH suggested that what would be really cool would be if we could get the Chef's Table at Victoria & Albert's for our anniversary.
To paraphrase Bender from Futurama, I had forgotten he could tempt me with things that I like.
Also, there was the draw of the fact that this will be our last trip to Disney without DD for a looooooong time. There are things one really cannot do when traveling with young kids (for instance, tours that feature "friends" out of costume) that we'd like to check off our Disney bucket lists. Plus, our next trip looks like it might be a bit of an handful already. It's currently in the works for Nov/Dec 2015 and will involve a then 3 year old DD, my parents, and both sides of DH's divorced and remarried parentage, inclusive of DD's great-grandmother and several aunts. This is what happens when you have the only grandchild in 3 families.
Grand Gathering = Kill me now.
So, I indicated to DH that if my end of year bonus was of a certain level, then we would be able to afford a nice Disney anniversary trip, and I'd consider it. Luckily for us, I was soon put in the position of having to live up to my promises.
So What's The Game Plan?
We are staying at Saratoga Springs in a studio room (we rented points). We have 9 day park hoppers, with the water park option. We are not on the dining plan (it just didn't make sense for this trip). We have direct flights each way (nice!) and will be utilizing Disney's Magical Express.
June 22 - Crack of dawn early flight to Orlando, followed by some time in parks TBD and dinner ADRs at Raglan Road
June 23 - Parks TBD and no ADRs
June 24 - Backstage Magic Tour (includes lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe)
June 25 - Park TBD, but probably Epcot in the evening, dinner ADRs at Flying Fish
June 26 - Late-ish breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's, more parks TBD
June 27 - Blizzard Beach followed up by ADR at the V&A's Chef's Table (we couldn't quite get our actual anniversary date)
June 28 - 10th Anniversary in the Magic Kingdom!, dinner ADRs at Be Our Guest
June 29 - Park TBD, no ADR
June 30 - Short park day, probably MK, evening flight home
So that's the nuts and bolts of it all.
