I would like to make one thing quite clear!

[Hummingbird]

I never explain anything! - As the great Mary Poppins so eloquently put it!

But I guess I could bend jsut this once.



First off, Ive been lurking over this board for around a year I think and I never really thoguht to sign up. So why register now, you maybe wondering.

Well, I've decided to goto Disney World.

Although this may not seem like such a big deal, I need to "explain" myself for you to really understand. I am 30 years old and I have 3 children and 2 step children for a total of 5. Well make that 6 if you count the Husband because sometimes I cant tell if he's 27 or 7. (We have DD13, DD12, DS10, DS8, DD2)

And none of us have EVER been to Disney. Not Once. Not even to the front gate. (Well I did goto Epcot one time because I sang in the candlelight processional) AND we all are born and raised right here in the great state of Florida. Not only that but we've lived our whole lives in the Lakeland/Plant City area. Only a mere 30-40 min drive.


Both DH and I come from some not so well to do families, and our mom's are bestfriends, so we kinda just ended up together from all the time we spent around each others homes. So we spent all of our trips at Lowry Park Zoo & Busch Gardens most times. SO we already know the joys of theme parking together to an extent.Once we got older and could afford the trips ourselves, we soem how got hooked on Universal.

I originally started lurkign on this board because of the US/IOA section, but about 2 months ago out of sheer boredom and curioustity I read trip report. AND OMG, it changed my life. Really. No really it did.

Because now, I am about to embark on our First Ever Disney Trip. With 5, no make that 6 kids. Well 7 if you count me because I think im way more excited than anyone else.

I know I will be asking lots and lots of questions in the coming months as we plan to make this thing happen around the end of the year (somewhere between Nov 1 and Dec 31).

Im an accountant so Im really notorious about planning, but form what Ive gathered so far is I need to try and just relax and not get so caught up in the details. This first thought now has me on the verge of a panic attack. So with that said I am counting on oyu guys to be my sanity. Dont hesitate to remind me of the utter nonsense and not to complicate things that are really quite simple

 

[lovetoscrap]

And none of us have EVER been to Disney. Not Once. Not even to the front gate. (Well I did goto Epcot one time because I sang in the candlelight processional) AND we all are born and raised right here in the great state of Florida. Not only that but we've lived our whole lives in the Lakeland/Plant City area. Only a mere 30-40 min drive.

WOW! I can't imagine being that close and never having been!

Both DH and I come from some not so well to do families, and our mom's are bestfriends, so we kinda just ended up together from all the time we spent around each others homes. So we spent all of our trips at Lowry Park Zoo & Busch Gardens most times. SO we already know the joys of theme parking together to an extent.Once we got older and could afford the trips ourselves, we soem how got hooked on Universal.

That is so sweet and romantic! I absolutely adore the son of one of my good friend's and for a short time he and my daughter (both 14) were making doe eyes at each other but then things happened so nothing came of it. I am trying to figure out how to make sure they get together in about 6 years or so he can be my SIL!

But not ONE trip to Disney??? Did your kids ask to go? Have you been to Downtown Disney? I would imagine though that living that close the area is probably a little over saturated by the Mouse.

I originally started lurkign on this board because of the US/IOA section, but about 2 months ago out of sheer boredom and curioustity I read trip report. AND OMG, it changed my life. Really. No really it did.

That is so cool. What was it that sold you??

I know I will be asking lots and lots of questions in the coming months as we plan to make this thing happen around the end of the year (somewhere between Nov 1 and Dec 31).

Keep in mind that the week of Thanksgiving and the weeks right around Christmas are the worst times to go. The week right after Thanksgiving or the few before it are very nice if you can get the kids out of school.

Im an accountant so Im really notorious about planning, but form what Ive gathered so far is I need to try and just relax and not get so caught up in the details. This first thought now has me on the verge of a panic attack. So with that said I am counting on oyu guys to be my sanity. Dont hesitate to remind me of the utter nonsense and not to complicate things that are really quite simple

Are you going to actually stay on property? Sounds like you are.

But if you are counting on US to keep you sane then you are in the wrong place! 'Cause we are all insane when it comes to Disney! But we like it that way The good news is that once you get your first few trips behind you the level of planning does go down.

Check out our Disney Tips Board. There are several people that have some very helpful planning packets that will help you out. Get a binder because you will want one to keep all of your planning information in. And realize that the planning is almost as much fun as the trip will be for most of us, so enjoy the process. I will say that a full first Disney trip for 6 people is really not all that simple. There are a lot of options and decisions that make it complicated, which is why there are so many internet planning forums and sites with all of this information.

But we will help you and can't wait to read your trip report!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Welcome to the best place on earth for overplanning and overstressing. You'll fit right in! Can't wait to hear how your planning progresses.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I imagine it was hard growing up and not being able to go being that you lived so close, you have every reaason to be excited. (Then again I went often as a kid and now too and I still get overly excited and I have no excuse!) I hope you have a great trip and enjoy the panning, it really is half the fun!

 

[JoePa4Ever]

welcome! you've definitely found the best place for Disney trip planning

 

[lakelandcallsme]

I was born and raised in Lakeland!! You are gonna have a blast!

 

[Hummingbird]

WOW! I can't imagine being that close and never having been!
That is so sweet and romantic! I absolutely adore the son of one of my good friend's and for a short time he and my daughter (both 14) were making doe eyes at each other but then things happened so nothing came of it. I am trying to figure out how to make sure they get together in about 6 years or so he can be my SIL!

lol according to my mom, just include them in lots of activities together and constantly tell the other one how nice the other one is. My mom stayed in my ear saying "He's such a nice young man" or "Look how he interacts with his mom, you know how a man treats his mom is how he will treat his wife"

But not ONE trip to Disney??? Did your kids ask to go? Have you been to Downtown Disney? I would imagine though that living that close the area is probably a little over saturated by the Mouse.

Not one trip. My kids have never really asked to go, but they love love disney. They are really kinda content with US/IOA because were all big movie buffs, and there always gone away to camp during the summer so we just never went. Never been to DTD either. And your right I think thats one of the reasons its never been a big deal because the mouse is EVERYWHERE here.

That is so cool. What was it that sold you??

My DD14 was reading the trip threads with me and they were just so detailed it made us feel like we were on the trip with them, then the pictures were so awesome, I decided I wanted my kids to get to experience that kind of magic. (And me and DH since he did mention a couple months ago that he would love to see Disney instead one day when we started planning our annual week long at US/IOA)

Are you going to actually stay on property? Sounds like you are.

Yes! I feel like since this is our first ever disney experience we should really go all out.


Thanks for the warm welcome! I already cant sleep at night and I dream everynight of our trip now and I actually see us doing differnt things in the park based on other people's pictures I have seen. Its like thier pictures with our faces lol.

 

[Hummingbird]

welcome! you've definitely found the best place for Disney trip planning

Thanks!

I was born and raised in Lakeland!! You are gonna have a blast!

Thanks! Nice to see someone else from the area!