First trip home - anything I should know?

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Tomorrow morning we FINALLY leave to take a nice leisurely drive down to FLA for our first trip to SSR.
We've booked a 2 bdrm for my family, parents and Dsis.
We will have a 6 y.o. and a 12 y.o. (turning 12 on the trip) with us.

Does anyone have any tips or advice to make our DVC trip smoother? We're so excited!

Thanks for any advice and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[crisi]

The rooms won't have salt and pepper in them - or any other condiments. They'll have coffee prefiltered for a day.

Our "DVC Pack" includes the picnic salt and peppers, sugar, Mr. Coffee type filters, coffee, peanut butter, cereal, a box of dollar store laundry detergent - a few other dry goods. We buy half and half, milk, eggs, cheese and bread when we get down there from the store - its about twice as much as a grocery store for that stuff, but we aren't buying much.

 

[byoung]

Have a great trip. You will have crowds this weekend.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thanks! That's good to know about the small stuff. Hmm, we're spending the first night at my ILs, I might need to raid their pantry.

 

[JimMIA]

The best advice I can give you is to realize that it's the first of many trips -- S-L-O-W...D-O-W-N and spend some time at the resort! Your commando days are over.

Have a great trip.

 

[starbox]

Now that Disney is a permenant part of our family life, we've started adding family traditions that are linked to Disney. We made a very big deal out of purchasing a Leave A Legacy tile at Epcot when DS turned 10. DD knows she'll get a tile when she reaches that milestone, and we've made the kids promise to carry on the tradition when their own children turn 10.

Since you have one turning 12, it might be a neat tradition to start on this trip.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm having a hard time stopping the planning part of the trip. We have two down days where we are doing things without entering the park (fishing trip, BBB, Chef Mickey). Its hard though.
My DH did say exactly what you said JimMIA. He even offered to lay around the pool a couple of extra days while we go to the parks without him.

I like the legacy idea for the 12 y.o. She is actually my niece and she's had a rough year. My Dsis got divorced last month and her new little brother from her Dad is due in January. She's a great kid and we've planned alot around her birthday. This might be a nice gift on top of that. Thanks starbox.

And to quote my 6 y.o. - I'm too excited to sleep (too many Disney commercials).

 

[Tabetha]

Wow. Sounds like you're going to have a wonderful time! Any lingering doubts and fears I had about making the choice to join DVC vanished when we walked into our one bedroom unit at VWL this October. It truly makes it a whole different experience, being there as a member. For once the time in the room didn't feel like we were burning valuable vacation time!

Best wishes for a very special vacation, and welcome home!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I second the S-L-O-W D-O-W-N comment! We do usually go the parks every day anyway (Thank you DVC for the great AP discount!), but we usually like to go early in the day before the crowds get bad, and then we spend the middle part of the day relaxing at the resort.

We do have our little DVC and WDW traditions now too. We ALWAYS go to Epcot as soon as we arrive. We pre-check in, and catch a bus to Epcot right away. Then we head out to the Publix as soon as we get our room assignment and stock the kitchen with our needs. That usually leaves us plenty of time to get back to Epcot in time to enjoy Illuminations...another first night tradition! It is also our last night tradition.

Getting ready to head out in 8 days to enjoy those traditions once again!

 

[thelobstershanty]

The best advice I can give you is to realize that it's the first of many trips -- S-L-O-W...D-O-W-N and spend some time at the resort! Your commando days are over.
Have a great trip.

This the Best advice you can get! I totally agree! Once you embrace this mindset/vacation style; you are a full fledged DVC member!
Congratulations, have a great trip. You will not regret your DVC membership!

 

[FLYNZ4]

The best advice I can give you is to realize that it's the first of many trips -- S-L-O-W...D-O-W-N and spend some time at the resort! Your commando days are over.

Have a great trip.

We just got back from 5 night at WDW... we went into the parks every day... but we only went on a total of 7 attractions... and that was including the MK train... and the MGM annimation tour. We did pick up fast passes... but we always gave them away except one time.

Now for the antithesis... this past summer we went for 13 nights. Our family went into "commando mode" for the first week or so. But then, DW's brother/SIL joined us for their first trip ever to WDW... so we went into commando mode again

I liked last week's pace better! LOL

/Jim

 

[LVSWL]

We always take plenty of bottled water with us. It is nice to start out the day with a bottle for the parks, or carry one to the pool. I also like to take microwave popcorn and some packs of hot chocolate and mini marshmellows for a special treat. I hope that you have a wonderful time. Be sure to let them know at check in that you are celebrating a birthday. They will usually do something special. And in the parks, if you go by guest relations, you can get a special button for the birthday child and they receive special treatment that day.