Here we go again - Riopooh Family trip - The Sequel

[riopooh]

Well, we’re at it again. Well, maybe more appropriately, I’m at it again and my family is coming along for the ride.

Here is my report from our last big trip - the same time frame - President's Week in 2005.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1083262&referrerid=&highlight=

I hope that works.

That trip was great and special - it was our first trip with another family, their first trip all together (I love newbies) and we just had a great time. I was a little nervous because of all the pressure on about being a tour guide which I'm not feeling this time around. Whew.

This trip is going to be different because everyone is more aware of what Disney has to offer and they are making requests. We were actually planning to go next year (2/2008) (my little DVC contract really only covers us for every three years) but then we heard some startling news – The Power Rangers had moved to Disney. MGM Studios to be exact. Well, how could we not go see them? My DN2 is a huge Power Ranger fan. And has converted my sweet little Princess into one also (although at the twelfth hour this Halloween, she switched from Pink Power Ranger to Pop Diva). I know how fast this stage goes by and he is just so adorable about it, we decided to rent points to supplement what I had available and move the trip up a year. What can I say – any excuse will do!!

 

[riopooh]

Yay! My link worked. (Don't you love that smiley).

Me - Riopooh– still your basic Disney Nut - head trip planner, photographer (now with a super duper 8Pixel Canon Rebel) and writer of this report.

DH – my Disney enabler – likes to pretend he is too cool and that my Disney-ness is amusing but I know the truth. He is desperately trying to find someone to play golf with while in the World – so far no luck but the man is pathologically friendly so I’m sure something will work out.

DS – Age 12 ½ – has probably grown 8 inches since our last trip and only gained a few ounces (he likes to lurk over me even thought the difference in our heights is probably less than an inch- this week at least) – still easy going and good-natured except for a few pre-teenage bouts of attitude and moodiness – will probably require more free time to compensate all the family togetherness (especially with her sister) but still looking forward to the trip.

DD – age 6 ½ - the princess – if you can believe it, higher maintenance, higher volume. Still challenging us but I think we are making headway. Has started to un-princess herself a little in order to keep up with the boys. Knows her aunt is a more sympathetic target than mom and not afraid to use it.

DSis – big sis & best friend - those boys are wearing her down but I promise to find some time for us to relax and enjoy this trip as much as the kids.

DBil – openingly admits that he enjoyed our last trip and looking forward to going again. (Probably looking forward to a week in the sunshine the most.) Still willing to cook for us but has put in a request for some kind of manly indulgence (to offset the fact that he doesn’t golf).

DN1 – age 8 ½ – still our little gameboy – at that age where he is starting to be more big kid than little – He’s pretty quiet when with the group so I’m really looking forward to spending time with this super smiling ride hound. (My godson & kindred spirit).

DN2 – age 6 ½ - as he gets older and stronger can now be consider a turbo-powered flying squirrel – I think he is getting to be more of a challenge since he seems to be more aware that his charming grin can get him out of trouble – but seems to only find more trouble to get into. Surprisingly, for such a gregarious & out-going child, he is also very fearful of characters and rides, which also then rubs off on my daughter. Luckily, my sister isn’t one to sweat the small stuff and she doesn’t mind being left behind while the others ride (I don’t think I would be so gracious) but I’m hoping that some pre-trip awareness can help him be a little more adventurous and open to suggestions. I would never try to trick him or force him to do something but I know once he tries something new, he’ll probably love it (like Turtle Talk – he wouldn’t even go in the pavilion last trip) or hopefully, Soaring.

We did extend an invitation to my brother and his merry band but he adamantly refused – much to the chagrin of his 9 year old. (We try not to discuss our upcoming trip in front of him.) I really have trouble understanding peolpe who don't want to go to Disney World - I just can't imagine it!!

We also invited my Dad again. Mom passed away in September of 2005 so Dad has been on his own for over a year now. He’s faced many new challenges but has also accomplished a lot. As always, he relishes in his grandchildren. He told me once that he judges the quality of his weekends by how many grandchildren he gets to see – not too much pressure on me there!! We are lucky enough to see him nearly every week. Usually I pick him up on Sunday afternoons and my husband drives him home after dinner. We’ve developed a new tradition of Sunday dinners – sometimes elaborate, sometimes simple but always most importantly; it is nice to be together. I’m certainly not Martha Stewart, not even Betty Crocker but we do fairly well. It’s been good for my kids too. My mom had always been very involved with my two kids and losing her had a big effect of them. My dad is different than my mom was, but in a way, the same, and it is heart-warming to see their relationship develop with their grandfather.

We don’t push the Florida trip a lot with my dad – if he does decide to go with us, we’ll have to make a lot of changes to accommodate him. Right now we are all planning on driving and we are splitting our trip between two nights at the Wilderness Lodge and three nights at the Beach Club. If he goes, we would be flying and the last time I checked flights were starting at about $550 each – way too rich for my wallet. Plus we would have to tone down the park touring and I don’t even know what to think about the split hotel stay. But if he really wants to go – we’d do it.

 

[riopooh]

Yea! This is a picture from one of my earlier trips with my sister - 1973.

Like the headwear??!

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

When do you plan to be there? My DH too, is a golf lover! We won't even be taking the clubs because he won't have anyone to play with

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

tell us more

 

[OhMari]

I hope your dad goes with you. And, my husband wants to golf too. I golfed all my life, but I can't take the pressure of someone behind me. I like to golf when I know someone is not waiting for me to putt.

 

[riopooh]

mouseketeer_mom: we go nowhere w.o his clubs. And honestly - we all get along alittle better if we allow Daddy to go and play on his own every once in a while!!!

OhMari - I agree with you. I grew up playing golf but haven't since my honeymoon - 16 yrs ago!! but I couldn't imagine playing in the kind of traffic they get at Disney - especially if they pair you up - you could end up with some like my DH 7 his very seriuos 8 handicap!!

Back to business...

So, what’s going to be different this trip...

For starters - we are all planning on driving down. The good thing about that is it gives us more flexibility and saves us a bundle of money. The bad thing is of course – it’s about an 18-20 hour drive,

Our reservations are for Sunday & Monday nights at the Wilderness Lodge and then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Beach Club.

I am really looking forward to our split accommodations. Well, not the split part (especially with all the vittles that my DBil will be trucking down and re-packing and re-trucking around.) But I love the Wilderness Lodge and am also really looking forward to the Beach Club (especially Storm-A-Long Bay and the walkways to Epcot!!)

Next difference – I don’t think we will be park hopping. Last time we went, we really wore ourselves out. Plus, now we are resort hopping so enough is enough!! Not to mention, the extra $170 per family just doesn’t seem justified. Of course, never say never – especially once my darling “no I’m not the Disney nut in the family but let me add my two cents worth and change all the plans” husband gets involved. We’ve done enough trips that I really feel that we can take time to slow down and really smell the roses but once he gets going he can turn all commando on me and it’s go, go, go… so we will see about park hopping. One thing in my favor is that since I kept such a detailed record from our last trips – I can remind him that yes, in these types of matters, I usually am right!

At this stage of the planning (meaning me fiddling around with Extra Magic hours, Resort locations and the dilemma to hop or not), I’ve drawn up a basic schedule where we start with the Magic Kingdom, do Epcot and MGM when we’re at the resorts in that area and on the last day do a quick run into the Animal Kingdom solely to ride Expedition Everest before heading north. That’s the glory (and Disney’s intention) of the pricing of the multi-day tickets. For an extra $10 or so, we can add that extra day on just for the couple of hours before we have to leave. My husband, in a moment of father-son bonding the other day mentioned to our son that maybe they two of them would head over to Universal for a day –(what and leave me out of the fun?!) Not to mention a little excursion like that would add another $175-200 to my banker-OCD budget. I suggested Disney Quest (which we already have tickets to) but got a blank look from my DH about that – note to self: review “Hidden Secrets of WDW” video with family before trip.

On our 2005 trip, my family only had three park days while my sister’s crew did four and it was fine. (Not really too little (almost) but certainly not too much). We park-hopped between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and my sister spent her extra day (the day before we arrived) at the Animal Kingdom. Our October 05 trip was a last minute trip and we spent a lot of time at both the Animal Kingdom and Studios plus one night at the Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party. This year I am planning four solid days between the Magic Kingdom (1), Epcot (2) and MGM Studios (1) plus if my family will indulge me, the night we arrive is an evening Extra Magic night at the Magic Kingdom – meaning the park will be open until 3am. I’m hoping to go over for SpectroMagic and Wishes and maybe just a few rides. (We’ll see if that idea makes it past my rather logical and early bird husband. His usual bedtime is about 9pm at home.) I could probably stay up until 3am to close the park and I’m sure my son and BIL would be happy and able to join me but it would probably throw us off kilter for the next day or two.

 

[riopooh]

Last trip we ate most of our meals in our suite – which worked out great. It was relaxing, delicious and economical. My BIL did all the cooking. We did two character meals, which don’t need repeating. And, even though I love my BIL’s cooking, a vacation isn’t a vacation without some eating out so somehow we will have to find a way to fit something into our schedule and budget. My kids love to eat at the Rainforest Café so I might try to work that in one afternoon.

One thing we did do right last trip was spilt the day in half and spend a lot of time playing in the pool. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about Storm Along Bay. I know we will really be getting our money’s worth there! We would do a park in the morning; go back to our room for a snack & swimsuit change and then head to the pool. After a few hours in the pool, we would head back up for a delicious dinner & then out again for the night. There was only one night we were too tired to head back out. One thing that I try to do while at Disney is make sure we don’t completely exhaust ourselves during what is supposed to be our rejuvenating, vacation time.

I am also planning some special treats for the adults. (I figure just being in vacation in Disney is enough of a treat for the kids!)

On our last trip my husband was able to play two rounds of golf – once with some friends who also happened to be doing a family reunion trip and once on his own. Plus he had a chance to meet the golf legend, Arnold Palmer, on a quick side trip to the Bay Hill Golf complex. This year he is hoping to play once with his friend in Longwood and chances are he’ll manage another game (or two) on the Disney courses.

My BIL, who last trip spent the entire time with his family and ours, decided he needed a vice of his own – so he has been side up for the “Rookie Experience” at the Richard Petty speedway. I don’t know if having my BIL (who already drives like a NY cabbie) get racing pointers from the pros and 8 laps in a true stock car but that’s our plan for Tuesday morning.

So now my husband is golfing and my BIL is racing around a racetrack, so what is a girl to do? Personally, just being in Walt Disney World with my favorite people from the real world is enough. Well, almost enough. I’ve done enough research to know about a lot of the less obvious treats that Disney has to offer but what to choose. We could do a Keys to the Kingdom tour or a Behind the Seeds tour but I really wanted to do something different that we would both enjoy but not take us away from our families for too much time. I signed us up for an early morning Segway tour on the Thursday of our trip.

 

[not-too-old4fun]

I just wanted to say that I find that totally admirable that you take the time for your father every sunday. What a wonderful thing to do for him, especially with the loss of your mother. I've lost both parents which means I will never have to go through that however my grandmother is alone and I always feel guilty that I am not doing enough. Anyways.... that's off topic but I just wanted to say I admire you.

It certainly sounds like you are a Disney planning pro. As for me... it's our first trip and my head is constantly spinning. I keep planning and un-planning. I have one ADR confirmed (Primetime 50's). 2 shows: The Cirque du soleil and Hoop-dee-doo. My troubles begin when I try to plan the parks around the reservations. I've no idea where Fort Wilderness is nor what we should do prior to our reservation.

You wouldn't consider taking another trip in April to guide me along huh?

 

[VMK magic WDW]

Haha, have fun on your trip? i wish i went to WDW