Holiday Fun with the (extended) Family

[Mandychelle79]

As I have said in the Title... This is a four generation grand gathering trip, with the youngest being 4 and the oldest being 76... aye ya aye. Some of the cast is the same as our last Disney adventure ( see link in siggie) So now I present the cast of Characters, in no particular order.

Me- Mandy, age 29, no really, for the first time. I will celebrate my 30th birthday at Walt Disney World this year. Been to Disney and surround area a lot, but this is my 2nd time to stay on-site. Favorite Ride: Rockin Roller coaster. Favorite Character: Goofy

DH- Scott, 39 when we go. Likes Disney well enough to suggest going this year instead of in 2 more years Favorite Ride: Rockin Roller coaster
Favorite Character: Stitch

DD- Bradyn, 6, third Disney trip in 4 years. Has never stayed off site. Hoping to ride Rockin Roller coaster.. anyone seeing a trend here? She's so close to the height limit that its up in the air if she will get on or not. Its going to depend on the angle of her head at the time of being measured. Favorite Character: Cinderella though Tinkerbell is running a close second.

DS- Alex- 4 . Is 40.5 inches in shoes so hopefully will be able to go on the ride ive been hearing he wants to ride... splash mountain. We've been putting growing dust in his food
favorite ride: The grand Prix. Favorite Character- Wall-E

DM- My mom. 51, loves everything Disney. Favorite ride. Its a Small World. Favorite Character- Eyeore I think

DDad- My dad, 53, and tolerates Disney. official driver of the big ol van of adults. Uses a ECV in the parks due to losing his leg in a work accident 13 yrs ago. Favorite Character- Donald Duck

Gma- My grand ma, 74 and doesn't act a day over 50. Seriously she doesnt think shes old at all. Still does the barn work and all that.

Gpa- My grandfather- 76, early stages of dementia but loves being around kids, keeps telling my mom he wants to go to Florida one last time ( I think this is their 3rd last time trip ) Was hospitalized in the early fall so he WILL be using an ECV.

Accommodations:

2 regular rooms at All Star Movies

My family in one room, the van full of adults in the other.

Check in Date:

December 12th ( for me) and December 13th for the van of adults.. more about this later.

 

[Mandychelle79]

This trip started the planning stages about a year ago when DH looked at me and said Let's go to Disney next year. Let the planning begin. The last trip we took I planned everything out. What days we would be at what park, where to eat on what day, every last detail. And you know what? I hated it. I did not have as much fun as previous trips where we just flew by the seat of our pants. And I found out that Im not good at getting codes added to our vacation and things like that. I met a TA on another board and became pretty good on line friends with her so we are using her services when booking this trip. And im not over planning. Yes we have restaurants we want to go to and probably be in the park that they are at, but we are doing park hoppers this time so we really do not have to be. But I digress. On with the pre-trip.

When we were talking about the Disney trip, we invited my mom along for an extra hand with the kids. So it started out to just be the 5 us. Then DDad got a PIN code. The 40 percent off one for the time frame we are going. Mom invited the grand parents and so we are a grand gathering.

Then I checked my email that is attached to my disney account and what do I have? A PIN code for free dining for the time we are going. On the phone with the TA after calling mom and letting her know. TA called back and here is the breakdown.

Base price for parents- 2900, with dad's pin code 2653.76, with my pin code, 1940.44. That's a savings of 959.76 using my pin code vs base price and 713.52 over they had with the 40 percent pin code. The 40 percent pin code had saved them 246.24. I must say my parents were very happy with the amount I had saved them on this trip.

Base price for my family- when we booked with dads we were only going for 7 days because of when his pin code started. So with dads pin code- base was 2443.60, with pin was 2095.62 for a savings of 246.32

my pin code has more dates to it and since we are going to be in Orlando on the 12th we decided to add a day at Disney- Base price 2549.34, with my pin code- 1835.62, which is a savings of 713.72 over base price. We ended up saving about 260 dollars vs using dads pin code and got an extra day and food for that day

 

[Mandychelle79]

Well two things were learned last time we went to disney too much family togetherness does not bode well for us and we dont really do breakfast.

So here are our dining plans for the week

My family

Princess Breakfast
Crystal Palace Dinner
1900 Park Fare Dinner
Garden Grill
Ohana's Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch

Parents and Grandparents

Planet Hollywood
LTT
1900 Park Fare Breakfast
Marrakesh

Together Meals

WCC for my Birthday
Chef Mickeys

 

[Mandychelle79]

WE LEAVE

And I cannot wait. Our plans so far is load into the car once Bradyn gets home from school and drive to Charlotte, NC where I got a room for less than 45 dollars for the night. We will sleep a few hours and be back on the road and hopefully be Checked in to ASMo before 4 pm. Then we are meeting up with some of my friends at DTD and who knows.

 

[Mandychelle79]

A package came today....

What was in the package?

2 autograph books with pens that I got for under 7.00 each on the web and two lanyard key chains for Dh and I.

So far so good. Just have to make a packing list, a food that I need for the trip list, and umm yeah thats all.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Trip Jammies Bought

Went shopping today and got the kids head phones for the DVD players and Got them their trip Jammies. Alex sticking with Disney theme got Toy story. Bradyn otoh got I-Carly. Tried to talk her into tink, but no

 

[Mandychelle79]

Ordered each of the kids enough shirts for the trip with different Disney characters on them. As soon as they get here I can pack..

 

[Mandychelle79]

Shirts have shipped, they will be here on monday Guess I will be packing on Weds for the kids. Packing this weekend for me and Scott. Going crazy waiting.

 

[Mandychelle79]

YAY!!! as the cold and snow settle in to western pa we are leaving for warmer temps.