Lots of Characters, Lots of Firsts but Lots of Drama: Why We Say NEVER AGAIN!! 3/21

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Dad joined him but I heard him complaining about it but DH stuck up for me.

Sounds like you got your share of grief upon arrival between your DMA & dad. Good for your DH taking your side

I can't wait to read your DD's reaction to walking down Main St. & seeing the castle for the first time

Was this your first time staying at CSR? We've only stayed there once but were in the Casita's. At first I was bummed out (I wanted the ranchos too) but the Casita's were so pretty to walk among at night with the lights & fountains running. We really liked our stay there but it was a long walk over to the themed pool & we didn't have a car. I hope you have lots of pictures to share, I don't think we had the time or energy to properly check out the ranchos section.

 

[jforever52]

Subscribing. Love the report so far...it brings back memories of when I planned a trip for my "loving" family in 2003 (party of 13). We had similar drama. You just can't please everyone all the time

 

[Charlefours]

I ended my last post after a bit of a drama filled hour or so. I pick up at the point of when DH and Dad were off to go get our luggage brought up. Shortly after they left, I heard a knock and I opened to see it was Bell Services dropping off a gift for us. What could it be and who is it from?

A close up of the attached note:

Our wonderful TA sent us a gift to welcome us here at Disney. How sweet!!While DH and Dad went to carry up our luggage, I took pictures of the room because I knew that it would never look the same that week.

The beds:

Close up of the head board:

If you close at the bolster pillow, you will see hidden Mickeys:

The shower area:

The vanity area:

A detail shot of the sliding doors:

The curtains:

The room, from the far wall, out to the door area:

As Dad and DH brought things up, I would stash them away. I unpacked our suitcases as much as possible but the one thing I have to say is the drawers at CSR are tiny. If there were not three adults and Lily in one room, it probably would have been plenty of room but DH and I kept the bulk of our clothes in the suitcase in the closet area.

As I mentioned, we were upgraded to a courtyard view. Of course, I had to take pictures of the view too.

View from the balcony, right outside of our room:

Off to the Left:

After they were finished bringing everything up, we gave Lilian her Minnie gift bag filled with stuff for the week. Lilian loved her crayon roll up, sunglasses and the rest of her princess bows.

Looking cool in her shades :

I love Lily's feet but I am not one of those weird people obsessed with feet. For some reason, I just really think her feet are cute. I have taken pictures of her feet since she was a little baby. Here's one I took on our first day:

So after getting Lilian her last treat bag, I decided I would quickly drop things off to the others. I had already been asked many times by everyone where we were going and what the plans were for the week. I distributed to each room the weekly chart I posted on my PTR. Here it is again, for any new readers:

DBF just had to laugh when I gave it her but I told her, I had already been asked a ton of times where we were going, what we were doing on each, etc. I told her I was not going to keep answering the same question day in and day out. After that task was done, I headed back to my room to get the rest of my group.

Minor Drama Moment 2

DGM was not convinced about going to MK since it was closing earlier than other parks that evening. I told her, for Lilian Magic Kingdom IS Disney. We wanted to get her there so she could see the Castle. She was, okay then I guess we'll go with you.

Could it be, was it really finally time for us to go?

Up Next: Would we ever get to MK? Where would we go first?

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

to my TR! Glad to have you here. I refuse to feel behind on my scrapbooking so I don't do chronological scrapbooking most of the time. Are you a traditional or digital scrapbooker?

I started traditional scrapbooking when my son was 6 months old and feel in love with it...I had a Creative Memory consultant that had once a month crop night and ever 6 months an all day crop..then we moved packed all the my supplies and then a year later we had to move again and all my supplies are still in boxes so I turned into digital scrapbooking to keep up or just to special events.

What type of scrapbooking to you do?

I just enjoyed reading your update. We are staying at CSR for first time and can't wait to read more about it.

 

[martinolichfamily]

Great updates...just read through them all!
I couldn't even imagine going on vacation w/a ton of family members! lol

Your resort looks really neat!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

no you are not being too honest...I was pulling your leg ...when I was telling it like it was about my parents joining along I felt sometimes I was too honest, you are doing great!

I love your chart, really put my posters to shame great job!
my mom rolled her eyes when I hung it up on their door; and still asked everyday what the plan was

the room looks so inviting and it appears so peaceful a place to rest in between park hopping!

 

[my2disneyboys]

Hey Stephanie,
Reading your report I can feel your pain! It brings back memories of our first Grand Gathering after which Wayne and I declared NEVER to do it again!! Well, a few trips later as you know it IS happening again! However, Like you I am sure, I took away from our disaster lot's of tips to make this trip a more memorable and still enjoyable trip with hopefully little drama.... how you ask!? For starters the people that kind of caused most of the "drama" are not and were not invited. They know Disney isnt for them so it wasnt like we had to hurt peoples feelings or anything! Who we do have going is just Wayne and his brothers and their kids.... I think I can see myself getting annoyed with people always asking me what is next or what to do (because I, like you, have given each person a spreadsheet with all the info) or if people dont show up for dinners after I planned them 180 days before the trip when everyone said "we will do whatever you do... just sign us up!" On our first GG trip nothing was planned which was an issue so on this trip every dinner is reserved and a few breakfasts, as well as where we are going each day.... other than that, people are on their own! I can see how even the planning can be an issue for a grand gathering! LOL I guess we cant win either way!! Another thing I want to differently is that we planned for this to be a GG for the first 4 days, then we have 3 days with just us and our beloved MK!!!

Sorry for the long story!! I am in a chatty mood and have been around only cranky kinds all day! But, I can't wait to hear more!! I appreciate your honesty and hope to get some more tips from your experience which I hope I can apply to our trip! Oh and I LOVE the pictures of Lilian. (Her feet are adorable!!) No, I am not a weird foot person either but I also love Myles feet and have since he was a baby.... I forget what its call but the top of Myles foot has always been high and his feet have always been little so the combo of the two makes for some cute baby feet!! I would post a pic I took of Myles and Owen's feet I took when Owen was born, but I dont want to start feet pictures on your trip report!!

 

[dismagiclover]

Uh oh! These past two updates don't bode well for the rest of the trip. It's tough to try and move large numbers of people. You did a great job planning. I hope you didn't get too much grief. Makes for an entertaining trip report though

 

[MaryAz]

Great updates. Did you share a room with your Dad? I think he and DGM are my top 2 picks for the "drama King and Queen" Good for you for sticking to the plan. Ranchos looked nice. I hope you are headed to MK!!

 

[pookersmom]

Hehe... lots of this sounds like dealing with my mom trying to finalize plans for our trip this coming January. ACK! She's really passive-aggressive about everything, and tries to get between my sister and I as we try to plan together. Grrr...

Your daughter does have exceptionally cute feet.

 

[kmrein]

Woah, I missed a few days and a few pages here...so I'm a little late but just wanted to say I love the treat bags for your dd! My mother used to do that for us when we were traveling and I just remember how much I loved it.

As someone who often travels to WDW with my in laws, all I can say is....I appreciate your honest report and ....I understand.

 

[irish dancer]

Yay on the upgrade! The room looks beautiful, love the colors!

We've never gone with a large group but we have traveled with my DSis and her family. Guess she referred to me as the "vacation nazi" to other family members after our trip. Doesn't bother me though especially if it means we get to go on our trips with just us.

Good for DH sticking up for you with you dad, sounds like some of these 'adults' needed to be reminded that this was Lilian's birthday trip not their trip.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I can already tell this is going to be a bumpy ride! We went with my IL's last year, and although we had a wonderful trip, we had some bumps and some drama as any bigger group would. It made for a GREAT TR though, so I'm loving yours so far!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Stephanie,

I just read both of your latest updates. Your dad did the same thing that Joe does when we get to the room....grabs the remote! Drives me nuts! I think I put it in my last TR, but last year, when we stayed at CSR, on our LAST night at Disney, guess who watched the Steelers game and guess who sulked outside by herself?:rolleyes

I would have gone nuts being asked about MNSSHP tickets over and over again and knowing me, I would have probably thrown them at her the 100th time she asked.

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

DGM is starting to drive me crazy....I dont know how you dealt with her. That was so nice of angela to send you a gift. What a great TA. I cant wait to hear lily's first impression of MK.

 

[lexmas]

I can tell that this is going to be a very entertaining TR! Scares me about my upcoming trip in January, but at least I'll be able to think about your trip as consolation!

Interesting that you skipped online check in. We're thinking about doing the same, since I've heard that it's difficult to change the room location that you get if you do online check in, and I have my heart set on staying in the 90s at Pop. Seems like it worked out for you!

I would have done the same...no way that I would ever be sitting in the room watching TV when it's time to get to the MK! Especially knowing it closes early. I can't believe your MIL didn't want to go to the MK first. The ONLY reason why I'm not going to the MK first is because I don't want DH to miss it. But to a toddler, MK is completely what disney is about.

Hopefully they will become more cooperative, or you will just go without them. That is my plan for my trip!

 

[wlwilliams9]

Holy Cow! I missed 3 updates!! You were a busy bee yesterday!! Were you DISing instead of doing your homework!!


I can't believe the drama started immediately! Did DGM ever say, "Well, I would have....." when scrutinizing your plans? That would have driven me over the edge!

CSR looks beautiful! I love the decor in the room!

Mike is like your Dad, as soon as he gets in the room he turns on the TV! Even when he doesn't plan on watching it, it still has to be on! I'm glad Allyn backed you up though!

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[BlueEyes78]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your planning sheet! Did you make it yourself or from a template?? I want one for our big family trip in November!

 

[mousescrapper]

thanks to all your handy links I am caught up sorry for all the drama and minor melt down moments w/ and for everyone....driving for 2 days can take the best out of anyone...but it seems Lily has stayed like sweet sunshine through it all....glad she loved all her treat bags too. My Rachel (almost 8) loves the crustables...that is the only way she'll eat PBJ....I have the maker for them but it's not the same

the room looks great...glad for the most part you got what you wanted. We stayed in the Casitas last March but those buildings at the time were not renovated yet....it looks beautiful I want one of those bolsters for my bed


once again kuddos to the spreadhseet and being director of this large group...hope MK makes up for some of the early day stress

J~

 

[BabyEeyore]

Whew, I'm all caught up! I'm loving the updates so far and how honest you are. Sorry it was a bumpy ride!