xoktenox
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2008
- Messages
- 3,176
Hello and welcome to my Wedding/Disneymoon Pre-Trip Report!! 
To all who are joining an xoktenox trip report for the first time, welcome! And to all my veteran readers and friends, so glad youre back! If anyone was a part of my last TR for my June 2011 trip, you know I abandoned it. FAIL, Kristen, FAIL. I think I just had the Disney blues really bad after that trip. Chris and I were sick a majority of the time and it really took a toll on how long we could tour for and how much we got done. But, I can assure you, this PTR will not be abandoned! If you check out my ticker, know me, or are a part of my Jan/Feb 2012 PTR (link in my signature, go join in!) you will see the wedding is just under a year away! But thats ok because DISers know that the planning for a trip, especially a Disneymoon, starts longgggg before you actually leave. Add planning a wedding to planning a trip to WDW and, well, thats one heckuva lot of planning!!
So, lets get down to the nitty gritty. If you dont know me, Im Kristen. Im 24 years old and from Long Island, NY. I'm the epitome of a Disney fanatic!! Currently, I work part time at a local credit union while finishing my final semester of my Masters degree in adolescent education. December cannot get here fast enough!! I love all things Disney the movies, the parks, the music, the home décor, everything! Id have to say my favorite character is Belle and my favorite classic Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. My favorite Pixar movie would be Toy Story (all of them!) or Bolt.
Here's me this past June during our Engagement photoshoot at the Polynesian!
Obviously, since this is a wedding/Disneymoon PTR, you have to meet my other half. My soon-to-be hubby is Chris. Hes 27 years old and is rivaling me in his love for Disney more and more each trip. He is a full time cable technician and also spends all his time wishing he was a professional hockey player ha ha In reality though, he plays goalie for a deck hockey team. Hes really good and always looking for ways to improve. He cant wait for us to have our own house so we can decorate it with Disney art and kitchen décor lol His favorite Disney character is Jack Skellington and his favorite Disney movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. His favorite Pixar movie would have to be Monsters Inc.
This is also from our Engagement shoot in June
Now since this PTR will revolve a lot around our wedding, let me tell you a bit of the history of Chris and I. I wont go too crazy or try and bore you so Ill make it short as I can. Rewind time back to 2003, around May. I was 15, in 10th grade and just started my first job as a cashier at a supermarket. I worked there all summer and in September, got moved into the bakery department as I started 11th grade. Well, the bakery just happened to be attached to the deli in this supermarket and a flirtatious deli boy started talking to me. I remembered him vaguely from high school (our high school had 3200 people in it, so it was very easy to not know everyone, especially since Chris was 2 grades ahead of me). Anyway, we talk and hangout a few times but it just wasnt meant to be quite yet so we dont talk much for a while. A year passes and Chris and I start talking more again. We hangout a few times but again, just not the right time. I start dating other people, so does Chris and years go by. Now its April of 2007 we catch each others eye again, both still working at the same supermarket, and start talking and reminiscing about all the fun we used to have together. We hangout often and talk everyday. Soon, Chris asks me to be his girlfriend and as they say, the rest is history. I couldnt ask for more from a partner in life and I look forward to the rest of our lives together more and more every day. Its great loving someone and knowing they love you with all their heart back. Most of all, I cant wait to have kids one day and take family trips to Disney World! But thats the story. Hopefully it wasnt too boring for you all lol
Here's us in 2007, skinnier and younger lol
2008
2009
2010, on our way to the MK
2011, our Engagement shoot
Now, lets talk about the wedding and the trip! Chris and I got engaged in April of this year, on a weekend trip we took to Philadelphia for our 4 year anniversary. However, wed already known we were going to get married, when, and where. We actually booked our reception before we were officially engaged! Crazy and untraditional but its what we did and its worked! Our wedding date is October 28, 2012 at a beautiful place near our house that were absolutely in love with. We love it more and more every time we go there and are so happy with our choice. Ive picked a dress (perfect), shoes, (sparkly) veil (gorgeous) and tiara (of course, Im a princess!) Our DJ is booked (and amazing) in addition to our limos and my Rolls Royce. My dad and I will drive to the church in the RR and then Chris and I will leave in it and go to the reception hall. Our photographer and videographer are known all over Long Island and actually used to take my dance pictures when I was a kid. The only major thing that isnt set yet are the bridesmaids dresses and a florist which we are working on! Ill show some pictures and elaborate on this all a little more throughout the PTR.
Straight from the reception were going to go to a hotel thats right near the airport well be flying out of the next day! Im anticipating getting there by about 1am. The flights arent released yet for Southwest and probably wont be for quite a while but Im still indecisive if well take the first flight out the next morning (which is usually a 6:15 flight) or the next flight which I think is usually a 10:15ish flight. I know well be pooped but were really good at sleeping on the plane and well either nap when we get to Disney or just call it an early night on our first night there.
Now, on to the trip stuff that we know so far! We will be staying in Disney from October 29-Novemeber 9! Thats 11 nights! Our longest trip ever! Id say wed stay one extra night and make it 12 but at this point were not going to because that last night is a Friday night and will be more expensive than a weekday night. Who knows, we have a lot of time and that could change. Where will we stay? Port Orleans Riverside! Our ultimate dream resort is the Polynesian. However, its just tooooooo darn expensive. We can stay for almost 3 times as long staying at POR than if we stay at the Poly. While wed love to say were staying at the Poly, were not upset ONE BIT to stay at POR! Were actually thrilled! The place is gorgeoussss and were both so excited to stay there. So yay!
People have been asking us for a while now where we plan to go on our honeymoon and when we tell them Disney World, most people roll their eyes or shout in dismay. I get pretty annoyed at this because its OUR honeymoon and everyone should just be quiet about it. But, I do see where theyre coming from. Even my parents stressed to us that we need to make this trip different and more special than our other trips, since we go to Disney every year, sometimes more than once a year. And theyre right! There are several things that we already have planned that will make this trip stand out from others. For starters, well be there for Halloween! Weve never seen the fall decorations and Im so incredibly thrilled for that. In addition, weve never been to a Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party and we plan on doing that on October 31, Halloween night!
Another fall activity weve never been to Disney for is the Food and Wine Festival! Oh, Im sososoooo happy well be there for this!
Something we wanted to try this past trip but just couldnt afford was the Wild Africa Trek in Animal Kingdom. The tour was just introduced this year and its expensive but were making sure we do it for our Disneymoon!
At Port Orleans, they have those romantic horse-drawn carriage rides and we know for sure we want to schedule one of those. Im not sure if theres anything else at this point that weve thought of.
So that's all for now! I hope many people will join in, say hi, and stick around for all the fun that's to come over the next year!
To all who are joining an xoktenox trip report for the first time, welcome! And to all my veteran readers and friends, so glad youre back! If anyone was a part of my last TR for my June 2011 trip, you know I abandoned it. FAIL, Kristen, FAIL. I think I just had the Disney blues really bad after that trip. Chris and I were sick a majority of the time and it really took a toll on how long we could tour for and how much we got done. But, I can assure you, this PTR will not be abandoned! If you check out my ticker, know me, or are a part of my Jan/Feb 2012 PTR (link in my signature, go join in!) you will see the wedding is just under a year away! But thats ok because DISers know that the planning for a trip, especially a Disneymoon, starts longgggg before you actually leave. Add planning a wedding to planning a trip to WDW and, well, thats one heckuva lot of planning!!So, lets get down to the nitty gritty. If you dont know me, Im Kristen. Im 24 years old and from Long Island, NY. I'm the epitome of a Disney fanatic!! Currently, I work part time at a local credit union while finishing my final semester of my Masters degree in adolescent education. December cannot get here fast enough!! I love all things Disney the movies, the parks, the music, the home décor, everything! Id have to say my favorite character is Belle and my favorite classic Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. My favorite Pixar movie would be Toy Story (all of them!) or Bolt.
Here's me this past June during our Engagement photoshoot at the Polynesian!
Obviously, since this is a wedding/Disneymoon PTR, you have to meet my other half. My soon-to-be hubby is Chris. Hes 27 years old and is rivaling me in his love for Disney more and more each trip. He is a full time cable technician and also spends all his time wishing he was a professional hockey player ha ha In reality though, he plays goalie for a deck hockey team. Hes really good and always looking for ways to improve. He cant wait for us to have our own house so we can decorate it with Disney art and kitchen décor lol His favorite Disney character is Jack Skellington and his favorite Disney movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. His favorite Pixar movie would have to be Monsters Inc.
This is also from our Engagement shoot in June
Now since this PTR will revolve a lot around our wedding, let me tell you a bit of the history of Chris and I. I wont go too crazy or try and bore you so Ill make it short as I can. Rewind time back to 2003, around May. I was 15, in 10th grade and just started my first job as a cashier at a supermarket. I worked there all summer and in September, got moved into the bakery department as I started 11th grade. Well, the bakery just happened to be attached to the deli in this supermarket and a flirtatious deli boy started talking to me. I remembered him vaguely from high school (our high school had 3200 people in it, so it was very easy to not know everyone, especially since Chris was 2 grades ahead of me). Anyway, we talk and hangout a few times but it just wasnt meant to be quite yet so we dont talk much for a while. A year passes and Chris and I start talking more again. We hangout a few times but again, just not the right time. I start dating other people, so does Chris and years go by. Now its April of 2007 we catch each others eye again, both still working at the same supermarket, and start talking and reminiscing about all the fun we used to have together. We hangout often and talk everyday. Soon, Chris asks me to be his girlfriend and as they say, the rest is history. I couldnt ask for more from a partner in life and I look forward to the rest of our lives together more and more every day. Its great loving someone and knowing they love you with all their heart back. Most of all, I cant wait to have kids one day and take family trips to Disney World! But thats the story. Hopefully it wasnt too boring for you all lol
Here's us in 2007, skinnier and younger lol
2008
2009
2010, on our way to the MK
2011, our Engagement shoot
Now, lets talk about the wedding and the trip! Chris and I got engaged in April of this year, on a weekend trip we took to Philadelphia for our 4 year anniversary. However, wed already known we were going to get married, when, and where. We actually booked our reception before we were officially engaged! Crazy and untraditional but its what we did and its worked! Our wedding date is October 28, 2012 at a beautiful place near our house that were absolutely in love with. We love it more and more every time we go there and are so happy with our choice. Ive picked a dress (perfect), shoes, (sparkly) veil (gorgeous) and tiara (of course, Im a princess!) Our DJ is booked (and amazing) in addition to our limos and my Rolls Royce. My dad and I will drive to the church in the RR and then Chris and I will leave in it and go to the reception hall. Our photographer and videographer are known all over Long Island and actually used to take my dance pictures when I was a kid. The only major thing that isnt set yet are the bridesmaids dresses and a florist which we are working on! Ill show some pictures and elaborate on this all a little more throughout the PTR.
Straight from the reception were going to go to a hotel thats right near the airport well be flying out of the next day! Im anticipating getting there by about 1am. The flights arent released yet for Southwest and probably wont be for quite a while but Im still indecisive if well take the first flight out the next morning (which is usually a 6:15 flight) or the next flight which I think is usually a 10:15ish flight. I know well be pooped but were really good at sleeping on the plane and well either nap when we get to Disney or just call it an early night on our first night there.
Now, on to the trip stuff that we know so far! We will be staying in Disney from October 29-Novemeber 9! Thats 11 nights! Our longest trip ever! Id say wed stay one extra night and make it 12 but at this point were not going to because that last night is a Friday night and will be more expensive than a weekday night. Who knows, we have a lot of time and that could change. Where will we stay? Port Orleans Riverside! Our ultimate dream resort is the Polynesian. However, its just tooooooo darn expensive. We can stay for almost 3 times as long staying at POR than if we stay at the Poly. While wed love to say were staying at the Poly, were not upset ONE BIT to stay at POR! Were actually thrilled! The place is gorgeoussss and were both so excited to stay there. So yay!
People have been asking us for a while now where we plan to go on our honeymoon and when we tell them Disney World, most people roll their eyes or shout in dismay. I get pretty annoyed at this because its OUR honeymoon and everyone should just be quiet about it. But, I do see where theyre coming from. Even my parents stressed to us that we need to make this trip different and more special than our other trips, since we go to Disney every year, sometimes more than once a year. And theyre right! There are several things that we already have planned that will make this trip stand out from others. For starters, well be there for Halloween! Weve never seen the fall decorations and Im so incredibly thrilled for that. In addition, weve never been to a Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party and we plan on doing that on October 31, Halloween night!
Another fall activity weve never been to Disney for is the Food and Wine Festival! Oh, Im sososoooo happy well be there for this!
Something we wanted to try this past trip but just couldnt afford was the Wild Africa Trek in Animal Kingdom. The tour was just introduced this year and its expensive but were making sure we do it for our Disneymoon!
At Port Orleans, they have those romantic horse-drawn carriage rides and we know for sure we want to schedule one of those. Im not sure if theres anything else at this point that weve thought of.
So that's all for now! I hope many people will join in, say hi, and stick around for all the fun that's to come over the next year!
POR just looks beautiful! Oh, the Wild Africa Trek, Chris and I have literally been drooling over going on it since before it was even open for bookings lol 
We'll be in Disney at the same time! 
