- Joined
- Jul 13, 2005
Disclaimer: The publishing of a pre-trip report in no way obliges the author to produce a full trip report post holiday (although I probably will if I have the time)
What is it about Disney? It makes you feel like a child again, lose yourself in the magic and do irrational things. Like inviting the in-laws to come with you on your next trip
Back in February 2007, high on the euphoria of having discovered Disneys Best Kept Secret and purchased our own little piece of the magic (namely DVC at Disneys Saratoga Springs), I mentioned to the in-laws that they should join us on a future trip. And so, here we find ourselves, just fourteen l-o-n-g months later, all packed and ready to head off for our 6th trip to the World. But this is no ordinary trip. Not only will the in-laws (I promise I will stop calling them that and introduce them properly in a minute) be joining us but, more importantly, this will be our first ever family trip. Yes, all of us will be discovering the magic together. Having taken five trips previously without the youngest member of the family, we finally decided he was old enough to fully appreciate the joys of a family holiday to Orlando.
So, it was decided. The seven of us would travel together on this holiday. The when was fairly simple. It needed to be during school holidays, although the thought of paying school holiday prices somewhat irked me. None of us fancied the idea of July or August, the hottest time of the year in Orlando (and most probably one of the busiest). I couldnt possibly wait until September. In order to use our DVC points, it needed to be before September and so we chose to travel in the Easter holidays. I immediately started pricing up flights and was overjoyed to discover that Virgin Holidays didnt seem to have cottoned on to the fact that many LEAs had switched to the 6-term year and, therefore, the Easter holidays fell outside of the normal Easter period. I quickly booked a flydrive for us all before VH realised the error of their ways and hiked up their prices. Reservations were duly made for 8 nights at Disneys Villas at Wilderness Lodge and a further 6 nights at Old Key West. We will be staying in a 2-bedroom dedicated villa at both resorts and are very much looking forward to staying somewhere different.
I must admit to having taken a rather laid-back approach to this trip, due to many factors the main ones being a) I have never travelled with a 5-year old before and have no idea what he is likely to be capable of in terms of early starts/late nights and b) I have never travelled with 2 pensioners before etc. etc. So, rather than blather on too much, allow me to introduce everyone.
Me (Joh aka Wilma-Bride) - I have introduced myself countless times in previous trippies and the detail never changes ( I just get older!) I love all things Disney (in fact, Disney is growing on me more and more with each and every trip) but also (gasp) love the Universal parks and Sea World. I am really looking forward to visiting Aquatica on this trip.
DH (Gary) DH never ceases to amaze me when it comes to our trips to Orlando. I have always said that he humours me and indulges my need for an annual trip to the World but, in reality, I am becoming increasingly convinced that he loves it as much as I do and secretly longs to go back. He is the ultimate adrenalin junkie and prefers the Universal parks to Disney (but I can forgive him for that).
Me and DH taken on the Disney Wonder in Aug 07
DD1 (Sian) Having just turned 15, Sian is at that Kevin stage. I never know, from one day to the next, whether going to Disney World is cool or meh (from the Oxford English Teenage Dictionary). Sian is also an adrenalin junkie and is really looking forward to her favourite rides, RocknRoller Coaster and Duelling Dragons.
DD2 (Rhiannon aka Rea) Rea turns 14 the day after we arrive in Orlando and is really excited about celebrating her Birthday in the Happiest Place on Earth. Our first day will be dedicated to her and she has made all the choices on where we will go and where we will eat that day. She doesnt do rollercoasters or fast rides but makes an excellent bag minder
DS (Daniel aka Danny Boy) This is Daniels first trip to the World. He is really excited (obviously) and is most looking forward to seeing Mickey Mouse and the Power Rangers. Since the day we booked, he has been convinced that he is going to eat ice-cream for breakfast every day while were there (maybe once we are on holiday, after all).
DMIL (Doreen aka Reeny) Mother (as I call her) is almost as excited as me (no mean feat, I can tell you). She is looking forward to Kennedy Space Centre and the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. We get on really well (at the moment) and I just hope we are still on speaking terms at the end of the holiday.
DFIL (Charles aka Chuck) Charles is the most easy-going, laid-back chap you could ever meet. He is a wonderful guy and, although he is not in the best of health, I have no doubt that (despite his protests about giant mice and happy people) he will join in with gusto and enjoy himself immensely. He is also looking forward to Kennedy Space Centre and, obviously, meeting the big cheese himself.
Me, Chuck and Reeny at DSIL's wedding reception
So, there you have it the whole clan. Due to mega work commitments in the last few months and the aforementioned factors, I am ashamed to admit we dont have an itinerary as such. We have a few ADRs (some of which I suspect we wont even keep dont worry DISers, I will cancel the ones we cant make it to) and a couple of other things planned but, other than that, this is going to be a bit of a free-for-all. It remains to be seen whether that kind of approach will work when there are seven people to consider. We all have different ideas of what kind of holiday we want (and expect) and I suspect that the next fortnight wont be without tantrums and frayed tempers (although Ill try my best to control myself).
So, I bid you farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu and see you all in a fortnight!
What is it about Disney? It makes you feel like a child again, lose yourself in the magic and do irrational things. Like inviting the in-laws to come with you on your next trip
Back in February 2007, high on the euphoria of having discovered Disneys Best Kept Secret and purchased our own little piece of the magic (namely DVC at Disneys Saratoga Springs), I mentioned to the in-laws that they should join us on a future trip. And so, here we find ourselves, just fourteen l-o-n-g months later, all packed and ready to head off for our 6th trip to the World. But this is no ordinary trip. Not only will the in-laws (I promise I will stop calling them that and introduce them properly in a minute) be joining us but, more importantly, this will be our first ever family trip. Yes, all of us will be discovering the magic together. Having taken five trips previously without the youngest member of the family, we finally decided he was old enough to fully appreciate the joys of a family holiday to Orlando.
So, it was decided. The seven of us would travel together on this holiday. The when was fairly simple. It needed to be during school holidays, although the thought of paying school holiday prices somewhat irked me. None of us fancied the idea of July or August, the hottest time of the year in Orlando (and most probably one of the busiest). I couldnt possibly wait until September. In order to use our DVC points, it needed to be before September and so we chose to travel in the Easter holidays. I immediately started pricing up flights and was overjoyed to discover that Virgin Holidays didnt seem to have cottoned on to the fact that many LEAs had switched to the 6-term year and, therefore, the Easter holidays fell outside of the normal Easter period. I quickly booked a flydrive for us all before VH realised the error of their ways and hiked up their prices. Reservations were duly made for 8 nights at Disneys Villas at Wilderness Lodge and a further 6 nights at Old Key West. We will be staying in a 2-bedroom dedicated villa at both resorts and are very much looking forward to staying somewhere different.
I must admit to having taken a rather laid-back approach to this trip, due to many factors the main ones being a) I have never travelled with a 5-year old before and have no idea what he is likely to be capable of in terms of early starts/late nights and b) I have never travelled with 2 pensioners before etc. etc. So, rather than blather on too much, allow me to introduce everyone.
Me (Joh aka Wilma-Bride) - I have introduced myself countless times in previous trippies and the detail never changes ( I just get older!) I love all things Disney (in fact, Disney is growing on me more and more with each and every trip) but also (gasp) love the Universal parks and Sea World. I am really looking forward to visiting Aquatica on this trip.
DH (Gary) DH never ceases to amaze me when it comes to our trips to Orlando. I have always said that he humours me and indulges my need for an annual trip to the World but, in reality, I am becoming increasingly convinced that he loves it as much as I do and secretly longs to go back. He is the ultimate adrenalin junkie and prefers the Universal parks to Disney (but I can forgive him for that).
Me and DH taken on the Disney Wonder in Aug 07
DD1 (Sian) Having just turned 15, Sian is at that Kevin stage. I never know, from one day to the next, whether going to Disney World is cool or meh (from the Oxford English Teenage Dictionary). Sian is also an adrenalin junkie and is really looking forward to her favourite rides, RocknRoller Coaster and Duelling Dragons.
DD2 (Rhiannon aka Rea) Rea turns 14 the day after we arrive in Orlando and is really excited about celebrating her Birthday in the Happiest Place on Earth. Our first day will be dedicated to her and she has made all the choices on where we will go and where we will eat that day. She doesnt do rollercoasters or fast rides but makes an excellent bag minder
DS (Daniel aka Danny Boy) This is Daniels first trip to the World. He is really excited (obviously) and is most looking forward to seeing Mickey Mouse and the Power Rangers. Since the day we booked, he has been convinced that he is going to eat ice-cream for breakfast every day while were there (maybe once we are on holiday, after all).
DMIL (Doreen aka Reeny) Mother (as I call her) is almost as excited as me (no mean feat, I can tell you). She is looking forward to Kennedy Space Centre and the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. We get on really well (at the moment) and I just hope we are still on speaking terms at the end of the holiday.
DFIL (Charles aka Chuck) Charles is the most easy-going, laid-back chap you could ever meet. He is a wonderful guy and, although he is not in the best of health, I have no doubt that (despite his protests about giant mice and happy people) he will join in with gusto and enjoy himself immensely. He is also looking forward to Kennedy Space Centre and, obviously, meeting the big cheese himself.
Me, Chuck and Reeny at DSIL's wedding reception
So, there you have it the whole clan. Due to mega work commitments in the last few months and the aforementioned factors, I am ashamed to admit we dont have an itinerary as such. We have a few ADRs (some of which I suspect we wont even keep dont worry DISers, I will cancel the ones we cant make it to) and a couple of other things planned but, other than that, this is going to be a bit of a free-for-all. It remains to be seen whether that kind of approach will work when there are seven people to consider. We all have different ideas of what kind of holiday we want (and expect) and I suspect that the next fortnight wont be without tantrums and frayed tempers (although Ill try my best to control myself
).So, I bid you farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu and see you all in a fortnight!
