Let the Excitement Begin...

[clarkfamily]

Last September, when we took our 5-night September trip to the Poly, it was the first time to WDW for all of us. It was nothing short of magical. In the year since, our children have grown to treasure their memories of the trip even more than we imagined...which is why I am so thrilled that we just booked our second trip! Let the joy of planning begin!

The basics:

• Our trip is booked for January 4-10 at the Poly. (And if our requests our magically granted: in two connecting rooms on the third floor of Fiji, marina side! We loved everything about this location on our last trip!)
• Much to my surprise, my mom is giving this trip to all of us as a Christmas gift! ...and better yet, she is joining us this time! As is my sister, so it will be an extended family trip! Neither of the them has ever been to WDW, so it be especially exciting to see them experience it for the first time...while also sharing in the children's wonder!
• The kids do not know about the trip yet, and my mom will surprise them with the news on Christmas morning. We have not yet developed a detailed plan for how to do this, but the anticipation of this kind of surprise makes the trip -- and the planning -- all the more special.
• Because my mom offered this trip just two weeks ago, I feel a bit crunched on planning time! This has been a bit stressful for someone like me, who fusses over the details and who enjoyed spending more than six months planning our first stay! Fortunately, I got reasonable dining reservations even at this close range -- and even for a party of 7. I feel very lucky about that!
• Despite everything I learned on these fabulous boards the first time, I still feel like such a beginner, and I have so many more questions as I begin this planning process again! On my mind at the moment: how to pack for January weather, whether to attempt parades this time around, everything about pin trading (which I'd love to let dd5 and ds3 try out this time), how best to travel with the supplies we'll need for ds-8-months...and perhaps, most importantly, how to avoid worrying about how big the crowds might seem to us (rated 5s or 6s this time as compared to 1s and 2s on our last trip)...and that on many days our plans have us heading to the least recommended park .

Thanks all for reading! We couldn't be more excited!

 

[shellbelle76]

Good for you!!! Enjoy the planning and anticipation!