ospopo5
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2010
- Messages
- 127
After reading so many reports and getting excited for our upcoming trip, I decided to document the process and share with you all. I think it will also help me maintain the excitement as we get closer to the trip.
Some background on the trip: We have been courted by the DVC guides for a few years now. Being from Chicago-land area we are close to the Doorway to Dreams location here. One day we decided to take the tour and go through the presentation. Little did we also know we would receive a $25 mall gift card just for going through the process? As we watched the movie and toured the BLT room mock-ups we grew excited to be able to purchase DVC. Both my wife and I have been to Disney a few times together and we know that we want to make this a part of our family vacation plans when our kids arrive. To make a long story short, when the time was right and all was set in the world, we were able to purchase a BLT contract for Disney Vacation Club.
Let’s take a few steps back to fill in some more back story. Our daughter was born in September 2009. She is now 20 months old. She is the light of our world. So full of energy, so sweet and innocent and my best buddy younger than mommy. In February of 2010 when she was just 5 months old we were able to take her to Anaheim while I had to travel for work. We happened to be staying onsite at Disneyland at the Grand California Lodge. This was my first trip to DL and while I am a big fan of the World, staying right there at this beautiful resort within steps of DL and California adventure, it can’t be beat. Not yet at least. So my wife and I packed up our 5 month old and took the lengthy flight to California, her first airplane ride as well. She was excellent. We picked up some tips on traveling with a young one and they all worked out so well. We got to have a 3 day vacation before I had to focus on work. It was so wonderful and although many people say, they won’t remember it being so young. It’s so expensive. It seemed so right since she was free and it was very inexpensive to have my wife travel as well. I can’t tell what she can and can’t remember but I know she had a blast. Her two favorite rides, Dumbo and Small World. And she event got to meet princesses too whom she fell in love with. All in all that was the fire to light under us to get going on our DVC dreams.
Fast-forward now. In October of 2010 we took a family trip to Disney World with my in-laws. Again we took a flight, knowing that she had just turned 1, we had extra help but she did awesome once again on the flight. We also were excited because we were expecting a new member to our family to arrive in March. Before we left we purchased our DVC contract and were able to take advantage of some incentives they had to offer. While we stayed off property for this trip, once again we had an absolute blast. We stayed at another time share property that was very nice. It reminded me just how much fun we will have by staying at a property like this but right on Disney. With the purchase of the DVC and the timing to use points we had to book another trip before September 2011. Once again my daughter had an absolute blast on the trip. Favorite rides again being Dumbo and It’s a Small World but she also loved the Safari, the Princess Lunch, Playhouse Disney Live on Stage and much more!
With all that being said we are cherishing the memories that we will always have with us for years to come. Plus I know that didn’t have this on my portfolio when I was 2, having to been to both Disneyland and Disneyworld and being to Disneyworld twice.
So When do we go: Due to the timing of having to use our DVC points and the birth of our second child, we planned for the trip to be in late August. We definitely prefer on the September and October months but for this trip we can be too picky. So we pushed to the last possible week that worked for us. We will be at Disney August 21-26, 2011.
Welcome Home!: That is always fun to hear! We are arriving home to the Bay Lake Towers for our first DVC stay. At the time of booking we were only able to get a studio for the first night and the 1 bedroom for the remaining nights. We are still hoping that the first night will open up for the 1 bedroom and we will be able to not have to switch rooms but we shall see.
Our Family:
You have already read about us but here is a little more information on who we are.
Matt (me): The Dad.
Nicole: The Mommy
Kennedy (our daughter): 20 months old (she will be just under 2 for the trip)
Grayson (our son): 2 months old (he will be close to 6 months old by the time the trip comes)
Picture of Kennedy at DL at 5 months old.
Picture of Kennedy at WDW at 13 months old.
The Family at Easter, April 2011.
The Story Continues: What? You’re going to drive and not fly with two young children?
Some background on the trip: We have been courted by the DVC guides for a few years now. Being from Chicago-land area we are close to the Doorway to Dreams location here. One day we decided to take the tour and go through the presentation. Little did we also know we would receive a $25 mall gift card just for going through the process? As we watched the movie and toured the BLT room mock-ups we grew excited to be able to purchase DVC. Both my wife and I have been to Disney a few times together and we know that we want to make this a part of our family vacation plans when our kids arrive. To make a long story short, when the time was right and all was set in the world, we were able to purchase a BLT contract for Disney Vacation Club.
Let’s take a few steps back to fill in some more back story. Our daughter was born in September 2009. She is now 20 months old. She is the light of our world. So full of energy, so sweet and innocent and my best buddy younger than mommy. In February of 2010 when she was just 5 months old we were able to take her to Anaheim while I had to travel for work. We happened to be staying onsite at Disneyland at the Grand California Lodge. This was my first trip to DL and while I am a big fan of the World, staying right there at this beautiful resort within steps of DL and California adventure, it can’t be beat. Not yet at least. So my wife and I packed up our 5 month old and took the lengthy flight to California, her first airplane ride as well. She was excellent. We picked up some tips on traveling with a young one and they all worked out so well. We got to have a 3 day vacation before I had to focus on work. It was so wonderful and although many people say, they won’t remember it being so young. It’s so expensive. It seemed so right since she was free and it was very inexpensive to have my wife travel as well. I can’t tell what she can and can’t remember but I know she had a blast. Her two favorite rides, Dumbo and Small World. And she event got to meet princesses too whom she fell in love with. All in all that was the fire to light under us to get going on our DVC dreams.
Fast-forward now. In October of 2010 we took a family trip to Disney World with my in-laws. Again we took a flight, knowing that she had just turned 1, we had extra help but she did awesome once again on the flight. We also were excited because we were expecting a new member to our family to arrive in March. Before we left we purchased our DVC contract and were able to take advantage of some incentives they had to offer. While we stayed off property for this trip, once again we had an absolute blast. We stayed at another time share property that was very nice. It reminded me just how much fun we will have by staying at a property like this but right on Disney. With the purchase of the DVC and the timing to use points we had to book another trip before September 2011. Once again my daughter had an absolute blast on the trip. Favorite rides again being Dumbo and It’s a Small World but she also loved the Safari, the Princess Lunch, Playhouse Disney Live on Stage and much more!
With all that being said we are cherishing the memories that we will always have with us for years to come. Plus I know that didn’t have this on my portfolio when I was 2, having to been to both Disneyland and Disneyworld and being to Disneyworld twice.
So When do we go: Due to the timing of having to use our DVC points and the birth of our second child, we planned for the trip to be in late August. We definitely prefer on the September and October months but for this trip we can be too picky. So we pushed to the last possible week that worked for us. We will be at Disney August 21-26, 2011.
Welcome Home!: That is always fun to hear! We are arriving home to the Bay Lake Towers for our first DVC stay. At the time of booking we were only able to get a studio for the first night and the 1 bedroom for the remaining nights. We are still hoping that the first night will open up for the 1 bedroom and we will be able to not have to switch rooms but we shall see.
Our Family:
You have already read about us but here is a little more information on who we are.
Matt (me): The Dad.
Nicole: The Mommy
Kennedy (our daughter): 20 months old (she will be just under 2 for the trip)
Grayson (our son): 2 months old (he will be close to 6 months old by the time the trip comes)
Picture of Kennedy at DL at 5 months old.
Picture of Kennedy at WDW at 13 months old.
The Family at Easter, April 2011.
The Story Continues: What? You’re going to drive and not fly with two young children?
