DIS turns into Alaska Cruise - June 2010

[mncherokee]

Our story begins where our 1st trip to WDW ends. My family (DH, DS14, DD9 and DD2 - ages at time of travel) traveled with my DS scout troop and stayed in a house in Windsor Palms in June 2008. We went to WDW, but experienced what I called 'A Taste of Disney.' Because we traveled with a young toddler and a larger group, we weren't able to visit all of Disney we thought we would before we left... so I have had this longing to return.

Enter my mother... she wanted to treat me and my sister's family to a WDW vacation. We couldn't get dates together to go at the same time, but the fire had been lit again...

So, my DH and I have looked at schedules, crunched some numbers and crossed our fingers and have booked our next trip to the World for Spring Break 2010 (end of March-beginning of April).

So far it is me, my DH, DS16, DD10 and DD4 (ages at time of travel). We have booked with Romancing the Mouse for a house in Windsor Hills. My parents may join us, but that has not been confirmed.

 

[mncherokee]

DD3 is watching Disney Channel this morning... "Mom, I want to see that!" I look up and see Playhouse Disney onstage at Hollywood Studios. "We can see that when we go in March!" - Me "I'm going to catch a little bubble!" - DD3.

1st item to add to our itinery: Playhouse Disney at Hollywood Studios!

 

[shordiebecka]

how cute! happy planning with things, can't wait to hear more details!

 

[mncherokee]

So my DD3 has gotten out the Disney for Kids travel book and is looking at the maps of the parks. "Mom, this is how we get there." She also wants to have breakfast with June (Little Einstein's), Pooh and Mickey Mouse.... I don't think there is a meal quite like that. But, I might be wrong. I just tell her... 'We are going in March.' That's a long way off for a little one!

 

[mncherokee]

Since our trip isn't until next March, I haven't been doing much preparation for WDW yet. Today my 3 year old was putting cereal bars in a zippy bag. "What are you doing?" I asked... "Getting them ready to go to Disney so you can put them in your purse." she replied. Glad someone is on top of things! I wonder if they will still be good next March?

We are taking a trip to Nashville, TN in June. We planned for this trip last week... staying at Gaylord Opryland, going to Grand Olde Opry (my 9 year old is excited to see Carrie Underwood) and Country Music Hall of Fame and a trip to the Aquarium restaurant (this was the pick of the 3 year old). There is also a Disney Outlet : at the mall where the restaurant is, so we are planning on going there as well.

 

[mncherokee]

Last summer when we went to WDW, we drove from Minnesota to Orlando and made many, many stops on the way. One place we tried to visit en route was Nashville. All we saw during our trip last year was Econo Lodge. Although we had planned them, we eliminated visits to the Grand Old Opry and Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville. We just planned TOO MUCH on this trip.

We knew we couldn't do a trip to Orlando 2 years in a row, so we thought we would try again for Nashville this summer.

I spent this morning re-arranging my reservations for Nashville. We decided over the weekend we needed to scale back our hotel (Gaylord is pretty spendy)... we have settled on Hyatt Place Opryland instead (at least I will get Starbucks in the morning).

 

[mncherokee]

We have been talking about the possibility of camping on the way to Nashville. DH asks this morning 'Is there Camping at WDW?'

Now, you need to understand that DH LOVES, LOVES, LOVES camping. My idea of ruffing it is a 2 diamond hotel rather than a 3 diamond. (Yep, I like to live on the edge ).

I replied, 'Yes, there are nice cabins... about the same price as the house offsite.'

DH, 'No, I mean can you tent there?'

Tent... for a WEEK? sleeping on the ground after a day in the parks?

Me, 'Yes, at WDW you can do just about anything you want to do.'

Stay tuned... will DH talk me into camping at WDW? Or will we stay at the home in Windsor Hills...

Ah, maybe this planning is going to get interesting.

 

[mncherokee]

I have been all over the DIS camping board...

We are leaning toward doing 1-2 days during our week to camp and do activities at Fort Wilderness.

DH is happy to be able to camp and fish.
I am happy we have the house for the full week as a backup.
The kids will love the Fort pool!

As Hannah says... 'It's the Best of Both Worlds!'

Won't book the camping until August when the actual rates come out.

I'll have to work on which days we are going where! That's the part I like!

 

[mncherokee]

Let me take the time to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day out there!

I thought you might want to know a little bit more about my family:

Me (Lisa) - I have been a fan of Snow White for as long as I can remember. I grew up (and still live in Minnesota) so going to Disneyland or Disneyworld was just too far to consider. Most vacations as a child, I went to Chicago to visit relatives. Our trip in 2008 was my first visit to WDW... and I turned 40 later that fall!

DH (Eric) - He also was from a family that did not travel far for vacations. WDW last summer was the farthest he had ever traveled. Eric loves cars (he has a project Blazer in the garage) and camping. He didn't really want to go to WDW, but caught the magic when we were there and wants to go back!

DS15 (Andy - will be 16 at time of travel next spring) - Typical teenager. He is very into drama (he was just in Les Mis this spring!) Last summer, he went to the Bahamas with his Scout troop while we visited WDW, so he missed most of it. He did go one day with us to Hollywood Studios. So, this will be his chance to see WDW.

DD9 (Calista - will be 10 very soon! and at time of travel) Calista is a straight A student and will be getting a parakeet if she has straight A's on her final report card. She plays violin, dances, sings, acts and enjoys every sport she tries.

DD3 (Zoe - she will be 4 at time of travel) Zoe is an extremely independent toddler... but she is also mama's girl. She has been actively helping to plan this next trip .

DH, Calista, Zoe and I traveled around WDW last summer with another Mom and SIS from the troop. I found it difficult to 1) actually see everything with the toddler (she was 2 1/2 at the time) and 2) try to get everyone on the same page to agree on our activities.

When we returned, people asked us if we saw this attraction or went on that ride... the answer was the same... 'We wanted to but didn't quite get there'

So, when I returned, I just felt that I had missed a tremendous amount of WDW. We clearly planned WAY TOO MUCH last time and had too many different tastes in the party to agree.

Next spring break will be our chance to see what we missed last time... and revisit some of the things we loved (like those sundaes at Ghiradelli).

 

[All7OfUs]

Great start to your ptr; I'm especially enjoying your journey on the decision to camp! You should read my TR from last April. My sister and I camped at FW with our (collective) 7!!!! kids. We had a blast. There is soooo much to do there! AND you get a newly renovated pool with a slide. The campfire is too much fun, as well.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[mncherokee]

Great start to your ptr; I'm especially enjoying your journey on the decision to camp! You should read my TR from last April. My sister and I camped at FW with our (collective) 7!!!! kids. We had a blast. There is soooo much to do there! AND you get a newly renovated pool with a slide. The campfire is too much fun, as well.

Can't wait to read more!

I am slowly warming up to the camping idea. Also, I realized that if we have a site at the Fort, we will be able to use Disney transportation to the parks. Something I didn't do last time since we were off site.

I think we are going to do some trial runs this summer for camping.

 

[mncherokee]

We head to Tennessee to see the Opry in a couple of weeks (another stop we briefly saw from our 2008 WDW excersion!)

I have ordered the AAA camping books and we are looking at some KOA's to visit on the way down and the way back... as a test run depending upon the weather.

I'll report back on how it goes!

 

[All7OfUs]

Hi Again!

I think you'll have a great time camping along the way! Just keep in mind that FW is THE BEST campground anywhere, and much, much cleaner and WAY more fun than anything you'll stay at elsewhere. So, if you have a good time in TN, then you should have a double good time at the Fort!

My parents and sis live in Bowling Green, not too far from Nashville. Beautiful area!

 

[MinnieNurse]

Followed you over from my report. Cant wait to hear more about your plans. DH is also very interest in the cabins at FW. I am not completely sold on it. If it were cheaper like the camp grounds I might consider it, but he says its to far to pull our camper when you can fly it in 2 hours.

I am also really interested in your Tennesse trip. I have many fond memories from there. My Dad is from Kentucky, came to Texas in the military, met Mom and never went back. So every single summer of my childhood we drove to Kentucky for a 2 week vacation. The only fun part of it was getting there went to tons of neat places: Opryland (not open now), Dollywood, Loretta Lynn's ranch, Elvis's house, a bunch of different caves. I really would love to take DS one day.

 

[mncherokee]

Followed you over from my report. Cant wait to hear more about your plans. DH is also very interest in the cabins at FW. I am not completely sold on it. If it were cheaper like the camp grounds I might consider it, but he says its to far to pull our camper when you can fly it in 2 hours.

I am also really interested in your Tennesse trip. I have many fond memories from there. My Dad is from Kentucky, came to Texas in the military, met Mom and never went back. So every single summer of my childhood we drove to Kentucky for a 2 week vacation. The only fun part of it was getting there went to tons of neat places: Opryland (not open now), Dollywood, Loretta Lynn's ranch, Elvis's house, a bunch of different caves. I really would love to take DS one day.

My SIS lives outside of Memphis, so we have done Graceland and Sun Studios. I am thinking we might do Mud Island this time in Memphis. My grandfather was originally from KY but met my grandmother in WV and we never really traveled to the area, but I really like it (must be in my blood). My DH and I both thought TN was BEAUTIFUL when we drove through to WDW last year. I am looking forward to TN... can't believe it's only 3 weeks away!

I can't sell DH on flying. With 5 of us it gets $$$$. Plus you have to rent a car when you get there. I wish we had a camper. We have a boat, but can't really sleep in it.

 

[mncherokee]

So, a couple of months back when we were looking for a vacation for this summer, we saw that Carrie Underwood was at the Grand Olde Opry Tues June 9. I bought tickets, booked the hotel, DH requested the vacation time... all set. right?

Well, since then we have found out...
My Niece has her graduation open house the Sat after the Opry... so, we just need to be home by Friday...

The church where DH and I met is having a farewell open house on Sunday before the Opry... we could leave Monday....

Then my DH gets an email on Friday for manditory meetings on Monday and Tuesday of that week .... since his vacation is approved, he still could go, but would somehow need to get the info. Looks like it would be good if he could go to the Monday meeting. We could leave that afternoon and arrive in Nashville sometime on Tuesday.

Also, DS9 is auditioning for a play on May 30 and we don't know what the rehearsal schedule is going to be like.

And we seem to have less $$$ available for this trip then originally budgeted.

We could postpone the trip until later... the Opry tickets are not refundable, but we could use the credit up to a year (maybe on the way to WDW).

I'm not even sure what I want to do at this point. The rest of our summer is so booked, we really won't have another block available to go anywhere. Our next available block is next Spring Break to WDW.

Why is it so difficult to go on vacation?

 

[MinnieNurse]

I hope things work out for you.

 

[mncherokee]

I hope things work out for you.

Thank-you... I just have to laugh... tonight I got an invite for my daughter to perform her dance routine on Sat the 13th... with a rehearsal on the 11th.

Hopefully we won't run into all these scheduling conflicts with the WDW trip next spring!

 

[All7OfUs]

Sounds like you're rolling with the punches pretty well! and you're right, why IS it so hard to get a way? Our lives are so crammed with every activity we can squeeze in, that it just really makes it hard! I do hope you can get away though! Sounds like you could use it with such a busy schedule!

 

[mncherokee]

I just looked to see if we could move our hotel reservations in Nashville... because CMA is that weekend, the room type we need (2 doubles) is not available.

I think we need to stick to original plan or cancel all together... stay tuned for the decision!