It's official, We are planning JULY Trip!

[zendisney]

Trip Dates July 11- 23, 2009

SSR July 12-19
Vero Beach July 19-23

I think this is going to be the best trip ever. My sister Teresa and her husband Jim will be meeting us at Disney World. This is the first time we will be at Disney at the same time : ). Teresa and Jim will be staying at Pop Century.
Our trip will begin on Saturday, July 11, 2009. We are going to stay at The Buena Vista Suites that night. The reason we decided to leave a day early is because we discovered in March when we took our dd 3 to WDW for her first time; she had a hard time adjusting to waking up at 3 a.m to go to the airport etc. We figured leaving in the afternoon on Saturday afternoon will allow us to start off our vacation on a regular time schedule. LOL I know that will change quickly but we thought this would be a great start.
Then on Sunday we will begin our magical journey at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. (SSR)
We are having a blast getting this trip ready... highlights include: A dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Revue (2nd time), Breakfast at O'Hana's (first time), Mama Melrose (1st time), Breakfast at Chef Mickey's (first time) , and many new adventures, I am sure we will find ourselves involved in. On Friday the 17th we are going to Celebration Tavern for dinner with our Aunt Danise and Uncle John... they are natives to St Cloud.
Vero Beach will be our first stay ever and we are looking forward to a "Pirate Dinner"
The really interesting part of all this is that our dd3 is really our granddaughter. We have had her for over a year full time. And before that almost full time anyway so it isn't much different.
Our lives have changed so much in the past year. They are good changes but they are different. We are relearning how to travel with a little one at Disney. It is has been fun but we are new at it but to the eye of an on looker you would never know that we are not Lakyn's mommies. So what will we celebrate on this trip? That we are a family, of course!
Hopefully by the time we go to Disney World in July we will have full custody of Lakyn. Our lawyers are working diligently on getting this done.
We are looking forward to this trip for soooo many reasons. Every trip has it's own set of special memories and we cherish the magical moments. I think the extra cool thing is being here on the boards and having special folks to share the magic with... So here we go.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a few steps."
I will be updating our pre plans and will have a detailed report when we get back.
I will also be wearing my pedometer every day tracking our mileage.

 

[minniemimi52]

Did you see the post about the dessert buffet for wishes? What do you think?
21 DAYS TO GO!!!!!

 

[zendisney]

I am pretty sure I m going to drive in from Houston!

 

[zendisney]

This is going to be a very entertaining trip to WDW. Me and my dd 3 our going on a road trip. Minnie Mimi 52 has to work so she is going to fly. I am a little goofy... but I think this trip wll be just fine. I love road trips. This way we will have our own car... no worries. Hakuna Matata!

 

[Blesseddaddy]

I'm in!!

 

[manntra]

Sounds like you are going to have a great trip coming up! And it is right around the corner! You are driving? How long will that take you?
I have to figure out how to use my pedometer before I go in October!! I bought it for my trip in January and never took it!

 

[zendisney]

I love my AAA agent, Ginger Davis. She rocks! We picked up maps, TripTik, and a Florida Tour Book and an Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi Book (they put all those states in one book... WOW!
Love AAA Triptiks.

Minniemimi52 and I are still toying with itinerary. We are all about the Magic Kingdom because of DD 3, Lakyn. We are working on "talking up" the other parks to Lakyn. I think she will be very excited to see some of the shows in Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom.

 

[zendisney]

Hello manntra, It will take two days to drive. The most I will drive with our dd3 is 7-8 hours. I think that is all you can ask of a little one. : ) Plus on the way there it will only be me driving... them minniemimi52 will be in on the ride back. That will be much easier. I like to share the driving.
I thought the pedometer would be a fun way to track my Disney mileage.
What kind of pedometer do you have? I got mine at Weight Watchers. It is pretty easy to set up. I think they make things easier these days. HA HA, I sound like my grandmama. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[zendisney]

Hello Blessed Daddy, Thanks for joining me. I don't know how exciting this pre-trippie will be... but I will add in my own blend of nerdy humor. I think this is fun. Thanks for joining me on my journey.

 

[manntra]

I just clicked on your picture in your signature and I didn't realize it would take me through all of your pictures! Lakyn is sooooo cute! I just love her expressions with the characters! She must be so much fun to have at the parks!
I have no idea what kind of pedometer I bought! I bought it before my trip in January thinking it would be cool to see how far I walked each day and then I kind of forget about it! I will give it to my niece to read (tiny little instructions) and make it her job to figure it out!
Make sure you have some of the cheeseburger flatbread at Artist's Palette for me at SSR. Yum!

 

[zendisney]

I just clicked on your picture in your signature and I didn't realize it would take me through all of your pictures! Lakyn is sooooo cute! I just love her expressions with the characters! She must be so much fun to have at the parks!
I have no idea what kind of pedometer I bought! I bought it before my trip in January thinking it would be cool to see how far I walked each day and then I kind of forget about it! I will give it to my niece to read (tiny little instructions) and make it her job to figure it out!
Make sure you have some of the cheeseburger flatbread at Artist's Palette for me at SSR. Yum!

Tracy, We had that cheeseburger flat bread in March and loved it! It reminded me of a healthy nacho plate. LOL I know I added the word healthy.
The picture thingy is an accident. I have no clue how to do pictures on here. Someone suggested photo bucket and that was that. Still a newbie at all this.
Lakyn does give us a lot of joy. We get a kick out of her.
I think your profile pic is hilarious. It reminds me of Toonces the driving cat from Saturday night life skit from years ago. What is your puppie's name?

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

I am here!

 

[Blesseddaddy]

Hey there. The road trip should be fun. I hope your vehicle has a DVD player or you have a portable one that will help pass the time for Lakyn?? I remember those days of making long road trips by myself with my two girls. Tracy would have out of town work and I would load my two up and drive from here to La. (which usually took about 9 to 10 hours) to see my folks. Just take a deep breath and be prepared to stop and let her get out and stretch her little legs and you should be fine!! It is a bit harder, when it's just you, because anything she needs, you will have to stop to handle it, but if you head out knowing that, then it shouldn't be a problem......even if it means stopping at the stop sign at the exit to your neighborhood!! I use to drive both Tracy and my folks crazy because I preferred to travel late, sometimes during the night, simply because the girls would sleep more and not need "me" to do as much for them, which allowed me to get farther, quicker!! Of course, everyone worried about "us" being on the road late, so it was a toss up and I only did it when, I knew "I" needed too!! Anyway, if it gets to be too much, just call it a day..........find a hotel and have some fun time!! Of course, since we met you AT Disney, I know that she is a "traveler" already, so you are probably all good to go anyway!!

I also agree about her being ready for some of the shows at AK and DHS, as much as she was into the parade that night, she will eat some of those shows up at both of those parks, along with their own parades!! So many good times ahead for you all.

Looking forward to hearing more about the itinerary once y'all get it where you want it.

 

[zendisney]

Hey BD, You gave some awesome advice. Thanks. I am a little nervous traveling a lone with our little darling. I am planning to bring her little dvd player. I think the other parks are going to win Lakyn over too. I am really looking forward to all of this. It just feels right.

 

[manntra]

My dog's name is Ziggy..he is a 7 year old Miniature Pinscher and in the picture he is driving my Mini Cooper! lol...Toonces!! I miss him, that was back when SNL was really good!!
Yes, cheeseburger flatbread = healthy nachos!! I will buy into that!! Didn't you know that all of the food at Disney is healthy?
You are only 10 days away!!!
Tracy

 

[zendisney]

WDW ITINERARY FOR WEEK OF JULY 12- 19
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I am leaving Houston on Thursday morning (July 9th) ROAD TRIP!
We will drive approximately seven hours. I plan to make it to Alabama.
On Friday the 10th I plan to make it to the "SUNSHINE STATE"
Orange or Grapefruit?
We will have lost an hour by then and will be feeling a slight time lag. It will be ok. On Saturday, we will pick up Gilchrist at the airport in Orlando.
We are staying at The Buena Vista Suites (BVS) Saturday Night. I have heard a lot of good things about the BVS from the POD TEAM and other diser's so I am sure we are in good hands.

Sunday, July 12, 2009
We are going to get up and drive over to the Animal Kingdom.(AK)
We are going to follow suggested itinerary from The Unofficial Guide. (TUG)
The TUG says that AK is the best park to visit on Sun.
We plan to stay at AK until 3:00 p.m. and then go check in to our "home away from home"... Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (SSR). We are hoping to get our room in the The Springs. It is a one bedroom, with full kitchen and washer.
After we check in we will probably go into Orlando to eat dinner, go food shopping and explore the area. When we get back from our mini excursion we will put up groceries and I will probably take Lakyn over to the pool for a swim.
More to come...

 

[manntra]

Sounds like a good first day to me! You got me thinking that maybe I should go to AK (I arrive on a Sunday too.) that first day....the hours just came out for October so I am into uber planning mode now!!

 

[minniemimi52]

I've requested a building at SSR for our trip in 8 DAYS!!!!! I also ordered a cake for our brother-in-laws B'day while we're there. His birthday is the day we go to the Hoop-De-Doo Review. Should be a lot of fun. Now, I'm trying to find out info about Vero Beach. I posted a thread in the DVC Planning Forum. If anyone knows about the layout, we'd appreciate some insight.

 

[Blesseddaddy]

Carla it appears that you are giving yourself plenty of time to make the trek across!! Just take it nice and easy and think, FUN, FUN, FUN!!

I don't have any insight into the Vero Beach area, sorry. If it was along the panhandle over here on the Gulf side, I might could help you out a bit, but I have never had the privilage of being at Vero Beach, though I hear it's wonderful.

It appears that we are going to be heading out as well, later this morning. Guess that is why I am still up, trying to get things in order, but I did have to stop long enough to Dis a bit!! I will try to keep up with your pretrippie while we are out. If I can't, I will certainly get caught back up when I return. You all have a GREAT 4th and a SPECIAL trip (just in case I miss you before you head out!!)......I truly hope it's a Magical Vacation that each of you enjoy............especially Lakyn!!

 

[minniemimi52]

Thanks, BlessedDaddy! Have a great 4th! I posted a thread in the DVC area and got some good responses about room locations and layout of the resort. I think it will be relaxing. If you have any tips about FL's West Coast or the Gulf Coast between FL and TX, send them on since we'll be driving back on Jul 23. We don't intend to push the trip back -- of course, heading home does things to one's planning. . . . lol

Have a safe 4th!