Last Minute PTR

[haleofafamily]

MEET THE TRAVELERS:

Just decided to start a PTR. We leave May 1st (that's 11 days). I feel like I have everything planned and ready to go. I need something to occupy my time and mind - thus the PTR idea.

Info on the crew - this trip my DH is not going (work and wants to use vacation time for something other than WDW - gasp) so my mom will be the going along to enjoy WDW and help out with the kids. She loves Disney almost as much as I do so it will be fun. She has travelled with us on 4 of our Disney trips so I know she will be fabulous!

My mom:

My children - (each child chose their 'smilies' in my signature)
Seth (12)

Zach (10) (I have no idea why his picture is so small)

Cade (7)

Jake (6)

Morgan (4)

Ashlynne (2)

Me (Merci)

Coming up: family history

 

[haleofafamily]

OUR FAMILY HISTORY:

A little about us - My DH and I have been married for almost 17 years and we have 6 kids and a dog (golden lab named Chewy). We live in the Kansas City area - Kansas side. My DH is a civil engineer and runs his company's office here. I am a stay at home mom and just became a travel agent specializing in Disney travel.

We home school our children which isn't as hard as it sounds. I tried the traditional home school approach, but after a year I realized it wasn't going to work for us. I didn't feel like I could teach our older kids and train our younger kids at the same time and be effective at either. So we found a DVD program that works great for us. Our school age kids watch a teacher in a classroom setting and do the work with the class. I just prepare the paperwork the night before and then grade stuff later.
Our kids and a little about their personalities:
Seth (12) - loves art, photography, and animals. He is a great older brother and is very responsible and a little bossy - what oldest child isn't?
Zach (10) - loves sports. His favorite is whatever season we are in. He has grand plans to play football in college and then go pro. He is very tender hearted and a hard worker.
Cade (7) - also loves sports and is very smart. He is a perfectionist and so is easily frustrated with himself and others when things aren't going according to his plans. He is caught between wanting to hang out with his older brothers and play with his younger siblings.
Jake (6) - CUTE but don't tell him. He hates being called cute but oh my goodness is he ever. He is very helpful and protective of his little sisters. He also has a little bit of a temper - call him cute and it comes out!
Morgan (4) - all girl. She loves the princesses and acting like one. But to the surprise of her friends will wrestle with the boys - comes from having 4 older brothers I guess. She talks and sings...constantly!
Ashlynne (2 almost 3) - she is a princess and a tomboy. Even though she is the baby of the family she doesn't act like it. She walked and talked before any of the others. She is very independent and a little stubborn.

Chewy (3) - our golden lab. She is everyone's favorite so is very loved and well taken care of. Even though she is over 60lbs - she is an inside dog most of the time.

Hope you enjoyed meeting my family!


Next: our Disney history

 

[haleofafamily]

OUR DISNEY HISTORY:

My first trip to WDW was over 25 yrs ago when I was 13. My grandparents decided to take my family on the trip. I think we stayed somewhere offsite and it had a Hawaiian theme. I really don't remember much about the trip other than one of the hula dancers coconuts falling off during the luau.

My second trip was when I was 19 or 20. One day my parents decided to go to Disney so we loaded up and went (at least that is how is seemed to me - but they had to do some planning right?) We stayed at an Embassy Suites and again I don't remember much about the trip, but some of the traveling details. We drove all night and on my mom and my turn to drive and navigate we got lost

Next trip was when I was married with 2 kids ages 2 and 1. Again my parents decided we needed a trip to WDW. They took our family, my sister's family (she had a 1 yr old) and my 2 brothers (jr high/high school age). We stayed at All Star Sports and really did no research or planning. We rented a 15 passenger van (Disney had just started the bus transportation from resorts to parks). The buses ended up being great for us because we could come and go as each family needed. This trip is the first time I saw Festival of the Lion King (outdoor stadium) and feel in love with it! We had a great time, but it was very hot! This was my DH's first trip to WDW and because of the heat and taking 2 young children he was not sold on how great a Disney vacation could be for our family.

Next trip was a few years later. We had 4 boys ages 10 mon. to 7. I had been looking at prices on-line and found great deals so I asked my mom if she wanted to go. My DH did not want to (the Disney bug hadn't bitten him yet - but just you wait). My mom decided to ask my sister who had 3 kids ages 11 mon. to 6 to come with us. Our travel party consisted of 3 adults 7 kids and no husbands.

We have a friend who is a huge WDW fan and told us about renting DVC points to stay onsite. We decided to go this route and stayed at SSR.

It was brand new and not close to being completed. The decor was great because everything was brand new. We LOVED the pool, but hated the long walk to get there or the cold bus on the way back. This trip took place right after a major hurricane had come through (can't remember which one) so the parks were deserted. This is the trip that I fell in LOVE with WDW!

Next up: my DH finally loves well likes WDW a lot

 

[bellebookworm9]

Hi! I followed you over from Lisa's PTR. You are so lucky that you only have 10 days left before you leave. I have 26 and it feels like I've been waiting forever! Your family is so adorable. Can't wait to see where you're staying, eating, and going!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey there! Don't tell your son but I think ya'll are a super cute family. I look forward to reading all about your Disney adventures.

 

[haleofafamily]

Hi! I followed you over from Lisa's PTR. You are so lucky that you only have 10 days left before you leave. I have 26 and it feels like I've been waiting forever! Your family is so adorable. Can't wait to see where you're staying, eating, and going!

Thanks for coming over! Choosing where to stay was such a chore - but one I didn't mind having . It's still a little in the air because we're on a wait list.
Glad you said the kids were adorable and not CUTE . Thanks.

Hey there! Don't tell your son but I think ya'll are a super cute family. I look forward to reading all about your Disney adventures.

I won't tell him! It has been fun reliving the memories or lack of them. I went back and added a couple of photos to go with one of the trips. I thought I had one of our dog but photobucket and I are fighting over that as you can relate .

 

[stacikristine]

I'm subbing! You have such a beautiful family!! I can't wait to read about your plans!

 

[haleofafamily]

DISNEY HISTORY CONT'D and MY DH FINALLY 'GETS IT'

When I had gone with my sister, mom and our kiddos we found a local FL girl through a church there to come and babysit our younger kids. It made touring the parks so much easier and enjoyable.
Because we came back with such rave reviews about the trip, my DH decided to give WDW another try. This time we booked 2 bedroom at OKW.

To help us out with our kids we took a girl from our church who is the oldest of ten. Nothing our kids did surprised her!

This was a great trip and my DH liked WDW this time as well. It was relaxing because we knew how to tour the parks now. OKW was a great resort - so peaceful and the rooms were huge!

Things went so well that my DH agreed to another trip and so off we went. We had heard great things about BCV so my friend was able to book us there. (This will be our 3rd time to book a 2 bedroom DVC property by renting points.) We took the same girl with us to help with the kids. We decided to surprise the kids with a limo and when we stepped outside a stretch hummer was waiting for us - talk about pixie dust!

I can't remember why but we decided to add on 3 nights to our trip and booked 2 regular rooms at WL for the first 3 nights.

I can't explain it but I didn't love WL. I have no idea why. But I have read enough positive reviews to give it another try.

We loved BCV! Everything about it was wonderful. The decor, pool and location. WOW - it was awesome. The pool was so great that one morning we planned on just swimming and taking it easy. Of course our kids were up at 7am and ready to go. We didn't know that Storm-a-long Bay (pool) didn't open until 9 or 10 that morning. We get ready, head down there, find tons of empty chairs and then the lifeguards came over and told us the pool wasn't open yet and this is what happened:

One of my favorite memories from this trip was watching Wishes in MK. We had gotten ice cream for everybody and we were happily eating ice cream, watching fireworks and then I turn and see this - PURE JOY!

Coming up: More history - I promise I'm trying to wrap it up

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Hi! I found this on the front page of the pre-trip reports and am subscribing! So excited to read more!

 

[haleofafamily]

I'm subbing! You have such a beautiful family!! I can't wait to read about your plans!

Thanks so much. So glad you joined. I hope you enjoy reading mine as much as I enjoyed yours.

Hi! I found this on the front page of the pre-trip reports and am subscribing! So excited to read more!

Glad you're joining in. I am having a lot of fun with the memories and pictures!

 

[__disneygirl]

Hi there!! I am LOVING this so far. Cause whoa. Six kids. God bless you!! You're all beauuuuutiful by the way! I want a big family someday so I am really looking forward to reading your report and seeing what it is like with such a big group.

 

[haleofafamily]

Hi there!! I am LOVING this so far. Cause whoa. Six kids. God bless you!! You're all beauuuuutiful by the way! I want a big family someday so I am really looking forward to reading your report and seeing what it is like with such a big group.

Hello - glad to have you aboard! We do feel God has blessed us - most of the time .

 

[haleofafamily]

EVEN MORE HISTORY

By now my DH realizes I am beyond hope with my Disney addiction and since he loves me very much he agrees to spend our 15th anniversary in WDW. Plus he is a health/exercise loving kinda guy so I bribed him...we agreed that if I participated in the 5k at Disney World then we could vacation there as well.

Gotta admit I walked the 5k, but it was fun!
We booked a studio at BWV and this time it was just us - no kids . We really liked BWV. The location can't be beat and I loved the pool slide!
Disney World does celebrations right. We enjoyed all the attention and congratulations we received when we wore our anniversary buttons. Now my DH wants to wear them on every trip

On our couples only trip we went to AKL and had dinner at Boma. I LOVED AKL!! I had been on a mission trip to Africa when I was in college so this resort became special to me. My DH loved it too - so much so that after that trip he was convinced to buy into DVC and of course we chose AKV as our home resort. One of the perks was a free stay at SSR. So we booked it during the Christmas season. This time we took my SIL (who had never been to WDW) to help with the kids. Her boyfriend decided to surprise her on the next to last day of our trip and flew down and proposed to her in front of the castle.

So romantic!!! They are married now and the picture of us all gussied up is from their wedding. She used all her nieces and nephews (total of 12) as flower girls and their escorts. So adorable!!!
If you remember the first time we stayed at SSR I didn't love it. But this time I had done my research and we requested the Grandstand section and got it. It was perfect and I really liked SSR this time and would happily stay here again.
I know I keep saying that I love things but when it comes to WDW but it perfectly describes how I feel. Soo I loved Disney at Christmas time!

My favorite memory from this trip was all of us dancing on the street during the Osbourne Festival of Lights at DHS. The kids were trying to catch the snow (soap) on their tongues and we were having the time of our lives! Walt Disney World and Christmas - two of my favorite things!


Up next - Last History Section - I promise!

 

[lomaha]

Just wanted to say Hello and tell you what an awesome job you are doing with this TR. You have a beautiful family!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I went back and looked the pictures that you added. Everybody in your family is just so darned adorable (started to use cute again but didn't so as no to offend your son).

So glad to hear that your husband finally "got" Disney. Thankfully, mine got it on our first trip and loves going. Sometimes, he'll act like he doesn't care one way or the other but then when somebody asks him something about it, he starts talking a mile a minute.

 

[haleofafamily]

Just wanted to say Hello and tell you what an awesome job you are doing with this TR. You have a beautiful family!

Thank you so much! I can't believe how fun this is to do. It is a little addictive though.

I went back and looked the pictures that you added. Everybody in your family is just so darned adorable (started to use cute again but didn't so as no to offend your son).

So glad to hear that your husband finally "got" Disney. Thankfully, mine got it on our first trip and loves going. Sometimes, he'll act like he doesn't care one way or the other but then when somebody asks him something about it, he starts talking a mile a minute.

Thanks again. That is exactly like my husband. He tries to act all cool about Disney, but once someone gets him talking about it he gets as excited as I do. He is starting to wish he was going on this trip too, but I know he will enjoy a break from all the busyness of our household. Work has been difficult so he needs some peace and quiet.

 

[haleofafamily]

FINAL HISTORY LESSON - Test Follows

On our last trip I forgot an important detail. We drove for the first time. My DH (Aaron - just realized I never gave his name - oops) had been wanting to take a long road trip. With 6 young kids that had never been on my wish list, but after looking at the financial aspects of it it made sense. We drove straight through on our way down and I gotta be honest it wasn't bad at all. The kids were great! You're not gonna believe this but over the 18 hour drive we only stopped 3 times . With stops the total trip was 21 hours.

It went so well we decided to do it again. This time I had been looking at home rentals on ebay and found a great price for 6 nights at a 4 bedroom house with a private pool. Since we already had AP's and were willing to drive we were able to take this trip fairly cheaply considering we have such a big family. On a side note - I love having an AP but not sure it is terribly cost effective because if a good deal for accommodations is released I start getting the itch to go and convince myself it won't cost too much since we already have park tickets.
We asked my mom to join us on this trip and she was in! We really liked the house and staying off-site wasn't awful at all. I thought I would be a 'have to stay onsite kinda girl', but it was great. I would definitely do it again.

My kids our huge Star Wars/Clone Wars junkies and on our drive down we drove through a BLIZZARD. It was during the night and with our headlights reflecting on the falling snow the kids said it looked like we were traveling at light speed!

On our most recent trip to WDW we invited my mom again and my niece (10). By now we feel like we could do Disney without help, but my mom loves going and we love having her so it's a no brainer. This time we stayed at our home resort AKV - Kidani. We had a 2 bedroom and my mom had a studio. I can not express how much we love this resort. The theming, pool, CM's, just everything about it was AMAZING. Aaron liked it so much that when I asked him to choose our resort for our trip in Dec '10 - he chose to come back here.

We decided to add 3 nights at the end of our trip and went back to OKW. Sometimes Aaron feels like he needs a vacation after our WDW vacations so that was the purpose of this part of the trip. Total relaxation! Aaron and the boys went into a water park for a day (a first for them) and I took the girls to have breakfast at the castle (a first for us). On our resort switching day we played at Downtown Disney.

Having down time at the end of our vacation was great!


Coming up - What we all came here for in the first place...DETAILS on the next trip

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hello! Merci
followed you over from Lisa's PTR...you have a beautiful family; thank you for sharing your history for your love of Disney. When I homeschooled my older two children the DVD and satelitte classes were just starting to really come out...I am so happy to hear that they do work. I had looked into them but my children had requested going back into the mainstream about that time. They were missing their friends and I was not having much luck finding a group we were comfortable with.

Sounds like you guys have a wonderful trip coming up...how fun to share Disney with your mom.

looking forward to hearing your plans...you arrive the day we leave FL!
Happy Planning!

 

[haleofafamily]

Hello! Merci
followed you over from Lisa's PTR...you have a beautiful family; thank you for sharing your history for your love of Disney. When I homeschooled my older two children the DVD and satelitte classes were just starting to really come out...I am so happy to hear that they do work. I had looked into them but my children had requested going back into the mainstream about that time. They were missing their friends and I was not having much luck finding a group we were comfortable with.

Sounds like you guys have a wonderful trip coming up...how fun to share Disney with your mom.

looking forward to hearing your plans...you arrive the day we leave FL!
Happy Planning!

Thanks for coming over.

The DVD's have been great for us.

It took me a while to figure out your name. I kept thinking it was 'longing to bat disney'. I'm the same way with car license tags. My husband figures them out very quickly while I sit there totally clueless. Most of the time he has to interpret them for me.

I'm longing to BE AT Disney too!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I watched the video and I don't blame you one bit for falling in love with the resort. It's beautiful!