For the First Time In Forever... Updated 9/10

[BellaSoleil]

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Okay, so it hasn't actually been forever. It's really only been 2 years, but our last trip was such a bust that it almost doesn't count.

In the eyes over our overly dramatic seven year old, it has been

F.O.R.E.V.E.R.​

Our family Disney history started the day after our wedding. We had quite a blissful honeymoon and to this day it's been the trip to beat according to my husband.

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Our second trip was to celebrate my husband's graduation from nursing school. Our oldest was 1 ½ years old, but we didn't think she was old enough to go so she stayed back with Nana and Gan.

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The third trip was for her 3rd birthday. (I love a 3rd birthday trip, friends! They are old enough to enjoy everything and you don't have to pay for it.)

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Our fourth trip was a series of unfortunate events- aside from our great luck at The Contemporary (which I will share at a later time).

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Last year we took advantage of the cruise leaving out of Galveston and it was ah-mazing! Out best family vacation to date.

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So here we are – a little more than 4 months out and I can't wait to get the PTR rolling, so let's go.....​

Table of Contents:

The Big 5...
Decisions, Decisions...
Our Number 6 & The Plan...
ADR Rundown...
This & That...


Backing It Up:

The Original Princesspalooza​

 

[BellaSoleil]

THE WHO:

Before my trip report hiatus, we were a little family of three....



Now we are a family of five. (Heavy on the female side.)





I'm the travel planner of the family and have made a fun, little career out of it. I work from home and keep very busy between that and my girls. I am a total 'girl mom' and love all things princess. My favorite park is Epcot and if I had to choose one last meal it would be O'Hana.

Gregg is a lover of all things Epcot and can't wait for vacation. When we married he toured the country as a musician, but took a change when our family started to expand. He's a Respiratory Therapist and an RN by trade, but now works in marketing and admissions at a hospital. A career in the medical field come with long, crazy hours so we all can't wait to have him all to ourselves.



Belle is our resident drama queen. Literally. She chose acting as her extracurricular activity and has dreams of working for Disney in the entertainment department. Even though she will be 7 ½, she still lives in costumes plans to wear costumes to the parks everyday. During the cruise she developed an odd crush on Captain Hook and can't wait to meet him again. This will be her 3rd trip.



Our shy little Evie will be experiencing Disney for the 2nd time, but she was 10 months old on our last visit so this will pretty much be her first trip. Like most 3 year old girls, she is obsessed with Frozen. Her love for Disney isn't quite as strong as her big sister and that's okay with me. (My little ones are PBS fans.) Other than Frozen, she loves Sheriff Callie and The Little Mermaid.



Zoë James will turn 2 a month before we depart. She is our little firecracker and wants so badly to be as big as her sisters. This will technically be Zoë's 2nd trip. Last time she hitched a ride in my womb. Like Evie, she is obsessed with Frozen and she thinks every single Disney princess is 'Let it Go'. I expect her to be talking in full sentences by the time we travel and she can't wait to meet 'Nickey and Ninnie'.

We will also be bringing a sixth person... either my mom or a close family friend to act as 'nanny'.

THE WHAT:

I think we all know the answer to this.

THE WHEN:

Seven glorious days in mid-October

THE WHERE:

Art of Animation- Lion King (Although, we all have our fingers crossed that we can switch to Nemo when we arrive.)

THE WHY:

1. Gregg needs a vacation.
2. O'Hana is calling my name.
3. Belle needs an excuse to wear costumes every day.
4. Evie wants to tell Ariel that she learned to swim this summer.
5. Zoë needs a hug from 'Nickey and Ninnie'.
6. We've never been in Disney World in October and we are stoked!


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[ArielLunchBox]

This is so exciting! I'm counting down to a trip in October myself! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[BellaSoleil]

This is so exciting! I'm counting down to a trip in October myself! Can't wait to hear more!

Yay! This is going to be fun!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I'm here!

 

[leftaslide]

Beautiful family! Following!

 

[AGPrincess]

Pulling out ALL the smileys to say HIP HIP HOORAY for your new TR!!! Great start - SO excited to hear all about it!!

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[BellaSoleil]

I'm here!

Pulling out ALL the smileys to say HIP HIP HOORAY for your new TR!!! Great start - SO excited to hear all about it!!

Yay! My Dis Besties are here!

 

[BellaSoleil]

Beautiful family! Following!

Thank you so much! I think they are pretty beautiful myself.

joining in

Come on in!

 

[Alysa]

October is a great time to go! Will you be doing the Halloween party? Adorable girls! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I am here and it looks great my dear!! Love the pic of my little Belle in her Foxy suit!! LOL!!!!
I can't wait to catch up with you too!! Maybe later today

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Yay! I'm so glad I saw your PTR referred to on Emma's TR!

I LOVED going in October 2012! Wish I was going then this year again, but we'll try for October 2015 (since we'll have APs)

Your family is just lovely - such adorable girls!! What sweeties!

 

[BellaSoleil]

October is a great time to go! Will you be doing the Halloween party? Adorable girls! Looking forward to hearing more!

We are planning on going to the party. I'm a little nervous about how scary the parade will be. I think we will be watching it on YouTube ALOT before we take them.

I am here and it looks great my dear!! Love the pic of my little Belle in her Foxy suit!! LOL!!!!
I can't wait to catch up with you too!! Maybe later today

Hi love! She loved herself in that fox suit! I am thinking of starting a costume rental business out of her closet. Geez....

Yay! I'm so glad I saw your PTR referred to on Emma's TR!

I LOVED going in October 2012! Wish I was going then this year again, but we'll try for October 2015 (since we'll have APs)

Your family is just lovely - such adorable girls!! What sweeties!

Awe! I didn't know she did that. I really have made such amazing lifer friends on these boards. It's good to be back and planning with ya'll. I'm so thankful for my friends!!!!

 

[Jennifer48]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear about this trip with your whole family!

 

[BellaSoleil]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear about this trip with your whole family!

Welcome! Thanks!

 

[BellaSoleil]

I really can't remember when we decided to take this trip. It was in the talks long before we booked.

We chose fall because we've never done a fall trip as a family. I don't think I've ever done a fall trip in my life. I did work as a cast member in the fall of 2001, but I had been working at Disney for so long that I was more interested in life outside of the 'world' than I was in it. I ended up moving home after Thanksgiving. I missed my mama.

Speaking of my mama, she is the reason we chose the dates that we did. The following week would have been much more ideal, but if we wanted Nana to come along we had to book during her school's fall break. In the early stages of this trip, Gregg was thinking of sitting this one out and letting it be a girls only trip.

Once the dates were set, it was time to decided where to stay. All along I had WL CL in mind. We enjoyed our previous stay there and we love being able to let the girls grab breakfast in their jammies. Once Gregg decided to come, Wilderness Lodge was out of the picture.

As time went on, Art of Animation started to grow on me. So did the Beach Club. I consulted with my dear friend Emma (AGPrincess) and she assured me that the Big Blue Pool would be much more toddler friendly than Stormalong Bay.

So in the end, we chose the resort that best fit our family for this stage of life and Art of Animation fit the bill.

The top 5 reasons we chose our resort:

1. The Pool (specifically the splash pad area)



2. The extra space. Gregg is thrilled to have his own television to NOT watch the Disney Channel on during downtime. We also have one that will still need a nap, so it will be great to be able to put her in the bedroom and shut the door.

3. The dining table that turns into a bed. (Belle is quit giddy about this. I can just imagine her coming back after our trip- 'Belle, how was Disney World.' 'It was awesome. My bed was our dining table.')



4. The dining table that can be used to eat breakfast on. (It might not be Club Level fare, but cereal and milk from Target will certainly do the trick.)

5. It must be said again.... SPLASH PAD (My girls love a good splash pad and this one of the best I've seen.)



Things I'm not so thrilled about- the bus stop and Landscapes of Flavor. I would love to hear your thoughts on those.

I've planned for pool and playground time for the first evening and morning of our trip. I want to start off on a relaxing note instead of hitting up a park.

Do any of you have experience with Art of Animation?​

Up Next: Getting there

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I agree with the pool decision…SAB is overwhelming and too big to keep watch on 3 littles at one time by yourself. I like the theming of that splash pad myself!! I loved the pools at All Star music when my boys were little. WL pool isn't that appealing really~so good choice!! And I can sooo see her telling people about the table-bed

 

[BellaSoleil]

I agree with the pool decision…SAB is overwhelming and too big to keep watch on 3 littles at one time by yourself. I like the theming of that splash pad myself!! I loved the pools at All Star music when my boys were little. WL pool isn't that appealing really~so good choice!! And I can sooo see her telling people about the table-bed

WL pool would make me a nervous wreck with two non-swimmers. My head was in the clouds when I was thinking about it. Haha!

With AoA, I will hopefully be able to lay in a chair and watch them run around and have fun.

 

[Jennifer48]

We haven't stayed at AoA but we did visit one day and I have to say, the options at Landscapes of Flavor were plentiful. Depending on the appetites of your girls, there should be something there for every palatte. I didn't realize they had such a large splash pad. Sounds like the pool/splash pad was a good #1 reason for the AoA choice!