sunnysideup3
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2010
- Messages
- 766


We are back with another fun filled adventurous year leading up to our January 2015 Disney vacation!!! I have vowed to make this PTR turn into a real TR this time --one of my very few New Years resolutions! Ive enjoyed reading other TRs in our year off from Disney and I cant wait for us to make some new memories of our own.
Our last trip in December 2012 was wonderful, but we had some (relatively) unexpected plans come up. You can plan your Disney vacation down to the last morsel of every meal, but you cant really plan on being 7 weeks pregnant during the vacation. SURPRISE!!! (He was supposed to be an after the vacation baby!) Because of that, two things happened:
1. I couldnt ride the rides I was SOOO looking forward to: Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, etc.
2. I started to get really sick about 3 days into the vacation and didnt get to eat most of the meals Id been craving since our December 2011 trip! Surprisingly, Disney pizza was a saintly being and there was a lot of time spent relaxing at night, eating Disney pizza in our room, which wasnt a bad thing!
So, as soon as we got home, I asked DH for a do-over trip...but this time, wed be a family of 4!! I am so excited to introduce the newest edition of our brood to Disney and start making memories as a full family!
Who are we? Its really been that long, huh .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78773468@N02/12660933855/
Our family shortly after Sam was born!
General:
A family of 4 from Wisconsin, husband originally from Illinois, so a mixed marriage of a Packers and Bears fan. Its insane, let me tell you. We love to travel and try to go on 1-2 family vacations a year, one with each set of grandparents. Were lucky to have great parents who we like to vacation with yet their vacation styles are vastly different, so we get both ends of the spectrum. Well find out more about both families in a later update! Now, on to the specifics!
General:
A family of 4 from Wisconsin, husband originally from Illinois, so a mixed marriage of a Packers and Bears fan. Its insane, let me tell you. We love to travel and try to go on 1-2 family vacations a year, one with each set of grandparents. Were lucky to have great parents who we like to vacation with yet their vacation styles are vastly different, so we get both ends of the spectrum. Well find out more about both families in a later update! Now, on to the specifics!
Me (Jillian):
Im a 32 year old event planner for a University. I love Disney. I became obsessed after taking a trip with my in-laws in December 2009. Im what youd call a late bloomer. Id been before in November 2001, but I dont remember much except there were a lot of strollers, and it was really really busy because it was Thanksgiving week--my brother and I waited in a horrendous line for Space Mountain and it ended up breaking down before we even got on. EPIC FAIL. After our 2009 trip, we had the obligatory wed like to go to Disney with the grandkids, too statement from my parents. We started planning feverishly (something we hadnt done in 2009--we literally just showed up! AHH!!!) and had a magical trip with my parents. We (cough...cough ..I) decided we needed to go back again and planned a December 2012 trip. The rest is history!
Im a 32 year old event planner for a University. I love Disney. I became obsessed after taking a trip with my in-laws in December 2009. Im what youd call a late bloomer. Id been before in November 2001, but I dont remember much except there were a lot of strollers, and it was really really busy because it was Thanksgiving week--my brother and I waited in a horrendous line for Space Mountain and it ended up breaking down before we even got on. EPIC FAIL. After our 2009 trip, we had the obligatory wed like to go to Disney with the grandkids, too statement from my parents. We started planning feverishly (something we hadnt done in 2009--we literally just showed up! AHH!!!) and had a magical trip with my parents. We (cough...cough ..I) decided we needed to go back again and planned a December 2012 trip. The rest is history!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78773468@N02/12661413043/
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite MK Ride: TTA Peoplemover/Space Mountain
Favorite DHS Ride: Tower of Terror
Favorite AK Ride: Expedition Everest
Favorite EPCOT Ride: Spaceship Earth
Favorite Character: Snow White, Mickey, Swedish Chef
Favorite Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid
Favorite Cartoon: Phineas and Ferb
Favorite Disney Food: Poohs Puffed French Toast
Favorite Disney Song: Part of Your World or Strangers Like Me
Nate:
39 year old owner of a gaming store in Chicago, is slowly (very slowly) but secretly becoming a Disney lover. I think I wear him down more than anything with my constant Disney talk, but hes been a great sport about returning again. He likes to play board games, work on computers and go on drives around the state.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78773468@N02/12661756424/
Favorite Park: DHS
Favorite MK Ride:Space Mountain
Favorite DHS Ride: Tower of Terror
Favorite AK Ride: Expedition Everest
Favorite EPCOT Ride: Test Track
Favorite Character: Mr. Incredible
Favorite Cartoon: Steamboat Willie
Favorite Disney Movie: TRON
Favorite Disney Food: Raglan Road Bread Pudding
Favorite Disney Song: Heigh Ho Heigh Ho
Eli:
6 (7 at the time of our trip) year old wild and crazy kid. He LOVES Disney. Hes the one person I can have whole conversations relating to nothing but Disney about. He appreciates going on Disney trips and has made proposal booklets and speeches to both sets of grandparents, lobbying them to go. Hes a smart kid, he loves cartoons and has a stuffed Woody doll that is inseparable from him. Hes already stated he will be bringing him to college, just like Andy wanted to. Hes got a big, great heart and is so genuine and caring.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78773468@N02/12661278395/
On the Disney Wonder!
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite MK Ride: Splash Mountain and Carousel of Progress
Favorite DHS Ride: Tower of Terror
Favorite AK Ride: Kilimanjaro Safari
Favorite EPCOT Ride: Spaceship Earth
Favorite Character: Woody, Mickey, Pluto
Favorite Cartoon: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Favorite Disney Movie: Toy Story
Favorite Disney Food: Mickey Ice Cream Bars
Favorite Disney Song: Its a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
Samuel (Sam):
Sam is our newest addition, the Surprise! Were pregnant at Disney World baby. He was born in July 2013 and is a happy, giggly, squishy ball of love. He just went on his first vacation (which Ill discuss in the next post) and was a dream baby on vacation. We are so excited to introduce him to the magic of Disney and have him be at that age where things start to seem really magical. He enjoyed meeting some Disney characters at an early age (FORESHADOWING!!!) and I think he will love this trip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78773468@N02/12661710934/
Favorite Disney Song: anything from Mary Poppins
Favorite Character: Cinderella (see picture above)
Im excited to get to know everyone over the next year and hear any fun tips or tricks youve picked up recently. I cant wait to tell you about our plans for this special vacation a lot of first time things for us, and some special travel companions along for the ride again!
Thanks for tuning in and I cant wait to share this with you!