How to drive yourself CRAZY in Disney World!

[Harmony272]

Pre-Trip

It all started when my Hubby and I came back from our 2nd Anniversary trip in January 2006. My family got to hear about my great Disney escapades and how now is the BEST time to visit the mouse. So after they all got tired of watching the “free” Disney vacation video. I finally sold them on a vacation to the happiest place on earth... Disney World.
::WARNING:: There are 15, yes count 'em, 15 people going on this trip. Feel free to stop reading if you want. This is going to be VERY long.

Let me introduce the cast of characters (and I use this word very loosely ).

Me: 24 yrs. “The Planner”
Fav character: Tinkerbell AKA “My Girlfriend” (DH doesn’t mind this one bit. Hey! Stop those naughty thoughts, this a kid friendly trip report)
Character most like: White Rabbit, “we’re late, we’re late, we’re late”

Dad: 60ish “Pawpaw”
Fav character: Pluto
Character most like: Pooh Bear

For those of you who like little side notes here ya go…When I asked him his fav. character he said road runner. I know, I know (sigh) I’m ashamed to be his offspring. I have a lot to teach him apparently.

Mom: 60ish “Mawmaw”
Fav character: Minnie Mouse
Character most like: Mad Hatter

She isn’t able to come with us this trip and she is reminding us every chance she gets.

Sis #2: 35 yrs. “The Donor” (more on this later)
Fav character: Tigger
Character most like: well…Tigger.

Nephew: 12 yrs. Austin
Fav character: Pluto
Character most like: Scrooge McDuck

Last visit he was 3, he doesn’t remember any of it so I count this as trip 1.5 for him.
He is most like scrooge because he has saved over $400.00! (that is a lot of pins)
I’m glad I’m his fav Aunt.

Sis #1: 39 yrs. “The Guzzler”
Fav character: Pooh Bear & the Guy who played Tarzan in “Tarzan Rocks” (wow, she is going to be disappointed when she discovers its gone…shhhh don’t tell her yet.)
Character most like: The Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood

Neice #1: 5 yrs. Jessica
Fav character: Spiderman, WHAT!!! No spiderman at Disney you silly girl. 2nd fav: Buzz
Character most like: Mogli
Excited to meet Mike and Sully and the Power Ranger.
She is only 39” tall (1 more inch). I measure my two nieces weekly. Why you ask? because I’m OCD crazy trip planning Auntie.

Neice #2: 3 yrs. Rachel
Fav character: anything with pink and glitter, it changes daily.
Character most like: Stitch

Keeps on asking if the witches (Disney Villians are all witches to her)
are going to get her at Disney World.
She is very sick of watching the Disney vacation video, “Please Auntie, can we watch something else this time?"

My Hubby: Wes
Fav character: Who Else? Jessica Rabbit!!! (and no, I’m not a red head)
Character most like: Prince Phillip

My first Disney convert! I forced him there on our honeymoon and we have been back the past two years to celebrate our anniversary.
But this time..he can't take off work so he won't be coming with us.
So I asked his littliest sister.

My DSIL: 11 yrs. Katelynn
Fav character: Belle
Character most like: Belle

She is the female version of her brother. It’s a bit un-nerving sometimes.
I should let you know that my In-Laws, as great as they are, Don’t Like Disney!!!
This is her second trip to Disney World. She is not a thrill seeking kind of girl. Last trip I tricked her, I mean got her to go on ToT and she FREAKED out.
Big mistake, then she wouldn’t go on anything else remotely thrill-ish.
This trip she is going to try BTMRR, or so she says. Whatever makes ya happy kiddo

For the first 2 days these poor suckers will be joining us…

Aunt: 60ish “Little Italian lady” (LIL for short)
Fav character: Eeyore
Character most like: 100% Fairy Godmother
If you want it, she will get it for you . But whatever you do don't make the LIL angry. She funded many GREAT trips to Disney World for me when I was younger.

Cousin: 40is “CJ”
Fav character: Pooh Bear
Charcater most like: Pooh Bear.
She is sweet and cuddly and helped start my original obsession with Disney World.

Cousin ’s DH: 40 ish “Big C”
Fav character: ??
Character most like: Jeff Foxworthy meets Larry the Cable the guy (I couldn’t think of a character that combines those two. Can you?)
He is hilarious!! True southern gentlemen (when he wants to be).

Baby Cousin #1 19 yrs “little C”
Fav character: used to be goofy
Character most like: baloo
Wants to be a policeman, and will be a darn good one too.

Baby Cousin #1's Girlfriend
Never met this GF. Guess I'll have to post the dirt on her later.

Baby Cousin #2 16 yrs “ShoppingPrincess”
Fav character: Tinkerbell
Character most like: Tinkerbell
Makes my shopping habbits look like nothing! She can spend 100 bucks faster than you can say Sephora.

And last but not least…

The Fairy Godfather: 40ish “Paran”
Fav character: Mickey Mouse
Character most like: Gaston (but a little nicer)

Here are the plans:6 days in Disney World: 15 people, 4 parks, 1 water park, DTD, The Boardwalk Villas and a 13 hour road trip in 2 cars. Only 2 more weeks!!!!
We have one TS every day, At least a 3 hour break every day, and a “special” surprise dinner planned for our first evening.

Everyone excited to see how it goes? I know we are.
Why is my sister called the doner?
Will Katelynn ride BTMRR?
Will Austin spend any of his money?
Will Rachel knock out any character attendants?

More plans to come....

 

[Janet-TX]

Can't wait to see how this comes out! We did a family trip in 1999 with 10 people....and I thought that was crazy.

 

[pumba]

we returned in May after a gathering of four or five familys.....eleven of us and we had the greatest time......I hope you take lots of photos

 

[mikesdisneymom]

Waiting for more.

 

[Harmony272]

we returned in May after a gathering of four or five familys.....eleven of us and we had the greatest time......I hope you take lots of photos

I plan on taking lots and lots and lots of pictures . I will post some (if I can figure it out).

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

, oh boy! a big family report! [was trying to respond yesterday
but my computer went ker-puttie]... coming from a large family,spread
all over the country... i am looking forward to your family escapades.

i can only imagined if we ever crashed the joint..disney would never be
the same! [and those por unfortunate souls visiting @ the sametime!]

i like your intro. too! it gives a lil glimpse of your family dynamics. and
their expecations of land.

here's my observations: you described the personalities of your
group and then listed their favorite characters...so that's a reflection how
you see 'em versus how they see themselves? can't wait to see how
the agnedas played out.[this would be similar to ours.]

sis to sis covering appox., 15years..your the youngest but the organizer?
we covered over 20 years, & the middle child is the "hub".

* how u read my mind? " "..also , are we to take it since you
don't have red hair, there are other personality traits that compares u
to jessica R.? ..so can't wait to see the group pics!

my lil miss cutie pie > ...is our master planner. 99 she organized
a small [1/4] family reunion trip..i was dead set against it but it was one
of our best-ever vacation. while i'm not a gung-ho disney manic..it has
been great stumbling along...so i'm learning a lil to help my lil miss cutie
pie > . yep, she is that

* which makes me the luckiest guy on/around wdw!

my sister is a beautiful redhead! we were paired by 2's...interesting in that,
we had 3 children....2 boys and one each lil mermaid !

i see you like to draw your cousing/nieces into the trills rides...while they're
probably leary of your suggestions, i'm sure you'll come up a few tricks? why
do i feel this is going to a fun but educational trip? i guess if they all are
still talking to you , it was a sucess? did you all come back together?

the suspense is like a magnet for reading....can't wait to hear bout the
freak & knock outs and any meetings with jessica!

 

[Harmony272]

, oh boy! a big family report! [was trying to respond yesterday
but my computer went ker-puttie]... coming from a large family,spread
all over the country... i am looking forward to your family escapades.

i can only imagined if we ever crashed the joint..disney would never be
the same! [and those por unfortunate souls visiting @ the sametime!]

i like your intro. too! it gives a lil glimpse of your family dynamics. and
their expecations of land.

here's my observations: you described the personalities of your
group and then listed their favorite characters...so that's a reflection how
you see 'em versus how they see themselves? can't wait to see how
the agnedas played out.[this would be similar to ours.]

sis to sis covering appox., 15years..your the youngest but the organizer?
we covered over 20 years, & the middle child is the "hub".

* how u read my mind? " "..also , are we to take it since you
don't have red hair, there are other personality traits that compares u
to jessica R.? ..so can't wait to see the group pics!

my lil miss cutie pie > ...is our master planner. 99 she organized
a small [1/4] family reunion trip..i was dead set against it but it was one
of our best-ever vacation. while i'm not a gung-ho disney manic..it has
been great stumbling along...so i'm learning a lil to help my lil miss cutie
pie > . yep, she is that

* which makes me the luckiest guy on/around wdw!

my sister is a beautiful redhead! we were paired by 2's...interesting in that,
we had 3 children....2 boys and one each lil mermaid !

i see you like to draw your cousing/nieces into the trills rides...while they're
probably leary of your suggestions, i'm sure you'll come up a few tricks? why
do i feel this is going to a fun but educational trip? i guess if they all are
still talking to you , it was a sucess? did you all come back together?

the suspense is like a magnet for reading....can't wait to hear bout the
freak & knock outs and any meetings with jessica!

Hi Lil,
Yes, I'm the baby, I love disney the most and I am the only one in my family who like to plan things, so I elected myself.
My family, as a whole, can best be described as this smiley .
I am afraid for the poor unsuspecting souls that will be in Disney with us.
Its going to be a very interesting trip, only 13 more days away!!
Thanks for reading.
And..Unfortunately I am not like Jessica Rabbit. Although my hubby would like that very much.

 

[dismom9761]

I am very interested in this report because there are fifteen of us going in October.Our group includes eight kids between 2 years and 10 years old.

 

[OhMari]

Harmony, please come on and post your Trip Report, I can't believe that many people went all together. It's been 10 days.

 

[Harmony272]

Well, we are back since Sunday. It was an...interesting trip, to say the least. I should start by saying that my sister, The Guzzler, did not attend our little gathering. It was a last minute, kinda crazy thing that I really can't go into details about right now. So on with the show...

We left home on Friday the 28th around 4:00 p.m., planning on stopping that night in Tallahassee. We figured we would get there at midnight.

That was wishful thinking, ha.

I drove my car, along with the 12 year old, the 11 year old, and the 5 year old.
My dad and sister in the other car with the 3 year old. Well, needless to say my car was the happening place to be, oh boy! They wasted no time tormenting me with, "Are we there yet" and "When are we going to get there", and "Is this DISNEY" and Is THIS disney", and "I'm hungry"......

Now, It was my idea to seperate the 3 and 5 year old, this is important at the end of the trip. Just keep this in mind.

We
drove
and
drove
and drove some more.
We stopped for the potty about 2 times and finally...

We stopped at a very nice Pizza Hut somewhere in Mississippi. (You thought I was gonna say Disney, didn't ya)
After we ate to much food, and made a very big mess (which I tried to clean up) we were back in the cars.

We left the nice Pizza Hut (sorry susie the waitress) and were quickly on the road. It was at this point I switched cars with my sister.

I was now in the relaxing car, time for a nap. NOT!

I soon discovered my 3 year old neice, Princess Stitch, wanted to listen to "Small World". It went something like this...
Princess Stitch (P.S.) "I wanna listen to small world"
Me "Okay"
My Dad "Here we go again"
Me "What was that, Dad?"
Dad "You'll see"
::Song now over::
P.S. "AGAIN"
Me "umm....okay"
Dad "Oh Sh*t"
::Song over again::
P.S. "AGAIN"
Me "alright just one more time"
Dad "I've listened to this da*n song for 3 hours"
Me "Okay P.S. don't you want to listen to another song?"
P.S. "SMALL WORLD, SMALL WORLD!"

Well, that went on for quite a while. But we didn't really care because we were on our way to DISNEY WORLD!!!

And according to Princess we got there a lot sooner than expected...

 

[Harmony272]

for anyone who is actually reading this here ya go haha...

We continue to drive and were approaching Alabama. The sun has gone down and it is pretty much pitch dark outside. The three year old "Rachel aka Princess Stitch" asks me to turn the lights back on. I told her to talk to God about that because I don't control the sun or the moon for that matter. She still doesn't believe me. Whatever kid.
She is scared.
I distract her, because 3 year olds are easily distracted, also easily amused.

"Look, here comes the tunnel, Rachel" I said
"You better hold on tight Auntie, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" she said
"Alright Rachel" I said
"This is Disney World" She proclaimed
"Well we can turn around now Dad" I said

It was a very funny moment. We laughed for at least 5 minutes and then Rachel asked to listen to...SMALL WORLD. Again.

At some point that night I switched back into my car. I think it was at a gas station around 10:00 pm we all got candy, even the kids. The kids were confused about why they were allowed candy that late. Its vacation, duh!

We finally arrived in Tallahassee to our lovely hotel. and by lovely I do mean terrible. My dad said he had to be up by 7:30 am to take his meds (remember this for later). I called the front desk and set a wake up.

Nobody could sleep, we were all WAY to excited to sleep. About every five minutes somebody would start giggling which would make every one else do the same. Then at about 3:00 am Rachel wanted pancakes, she was hungry.
We laughed at this.
She started to cry.
We explained that in 4 and a half hours we would get some.
And I think, the last time I looked at the clock it was 4:00 am.

7:30 comes and I wake my dad up.
This is what I hear on the phone ......*&()^#$%!@#$$%^
okay remember now, he was the one who told me to wake him up that early. He said he didn't remember doing that.
hmmmmmm riiiiiiiiight, dad.
He says go back to sleep for another hour. So we do, and we wake up, and get Rachel her dang pancakes. She is happy. She drinks two milks.
We make another mess, this time at McDonalds and I try to clean it up.

9:30 am
Everyone pottied.
Cars got some gas.
Off we go.

I can't seem to remember where we ate lunch at, but I'm sure it was an all American chain and I'm sure we made a mess.

Everyone slept for awhile. And then we switched up the cars again.
In car #1 Dad, Sister, Jessica the 5 year old.
In car #2 Me, Austin, Katelynn, and Rachel aka pancake girl.

We were getting BORED.
What to do when you are bored in the car? Get the 3 year old to entertain you of course.
Katelynn and Austin started asking her to say things in her cute little 3 year old voice.
EVERYTHING is funnier when a 3 year old says it
when you are tired
and when you have had a lot of sugar.

I believe Katelynn started asking her to do impressions of people.
Katelynn would say "Do Austin, or Auntie, or pawpaw, or Jessica"
Rachel would then reply with a strange animal sound, like "muaapapo".
We did this for a least 3 hours.
It was very entertaining in the car going 80 mph

Then suddenly, Austin has the idea that my Dad's impression should be "Where's my Stockings"

I guess I should explain this...
My dad has to wear these medical stockings because of his kidneys. He has lost them that morning in the tiny hotel room, I don't know how.
Instead of looking for them he would walking around saying where's my stockings. It was funny to us.
Maybe because we are weird or maybe because we hadn't sleep but 4 hours. Probably both.
Back to the story...

From here on out we all walked around saying "Where's my stockings".
It was much funnier when the kids said it though.
It was our own "Love ya mean it". It became our catch-phrase if you will.
We are still saying to now. Although its not as funny without the sugar.

We arrive in Clearwater at my Aunt's house around 4:00 pm. We immediately jump in the pool, partly because we are hot and partly because we stink.
Swim Swim Swim and tomorrow we are going to DISNEY WORLD.

Everyone is happy and excited, and yes, we finally get about 6 hours of sleep that night.

Next up...Its a Blizzard in here.

 

[Valentine]

What a Great report!! Very funny!! We are reading!! Keep on posting

Thank you!!

Kathy

 

[Harmony272]

Yay, at least somebody is reading. Thanks Valentine .

 

[tiggerbell]

More please. I don't want to do ANY work today!

 

[erinch]

I guess I should explain this...My dad has to wear these medical stockings because of his kidneys. He has lost them that morning in the tiny hotel room, I don't know how.

As I was scanning this terrific beginning instead of working, I thought this meant that your dad lost his KIDNEYS in the hotel room. It took a full 5 seconds for my self to say "that can't be right."

 

[Simba22]

I also do not want to do any work today and I am enjoying reading your report! More please!!

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

this is a fun report! Our family has catch phrase of the day too, sometimes they last longer, like months or years. When I tell my sister about your "Where's my stockings" - I need ya to know that we'll probably be adopting that one for a while. That is really funny! Can't wait for more!

 

[mumom95]

As I was scanning this terrific beginning instead of working, I thought this meant that your dad lost his KIDNEYS in the hotel room. It took a full 5 seconds for my self to say "that can't be right."

I thought the same exact thing "how did he lose his kidneys", had to do a double read

Still want to know why your sister is "the donor", or did I miss your explanation already?

 

[mousiemom]

You are too funny! I'm also enjoying your TR from work. I see ya'll went thru my home town in the tunnel. I can't wait to read the rest. Keep it coming!

 

[momoftriplets]

We need another post!! I guess no one wants to work today!!!! Glad your dad found his kidneys!