MAYbe we should go back to Disney World-A May 2012 PTR;6/7 Link to TR-Post#592; p. 40

[MHTeacher]

I hope you get to do the Wishes Dessert Party! I went on my trip last September... it was a "Girls Only" trip and we surprised my mom with the Dessert Party for her birthday! It was so nice to have a place to sit and watch the fireworks, especially since it had rained about an hour before we checked in to the party. And there was a wide variety of desserts and plenty of them. If you want, you can read my review of the Dessert Party:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44089633&postcount=99

Hi Shannon! Glad you came over to my planning!

We are doing the Wishes dessert party! I got it booked the first evening the dates were released for May. So far, it's still a secret from my family. I hope they enjoy it! I linked over and read your review-Seems as if you enjoyed it, so that's good to know. The pics of all the desserts look yummy!

 

[PixieMama]

Oh, yay for booking the Dessert Party!

I thought about booking it for DH and I, but he doesn't really have a sweet tooth, like I do. But I really want to book it for our family trip (if we go next year) 'cause I know our DDs will LOVE it!

 

[MHTeacher]

Oh, yay for booking the Dessert Party!

I thought about booking it for DH and I, but he doesn't really have a sweet tooth, like I do. But I really want to book it for our family trip (if we go next year) 'cause I know our DDs will LOVE it!

I'm really excited about it! We are eating a late breakfast that day at 'Ohana, so I know we'll only eat counter service that evening around 5-6 p.m. So, I'm hoping everyone will be ready to snack on some sweets!

 

[MHTeacher]

I’ve realized that our current trip is getting closer and closer, so I need to wrap up this review of our past trips! So let’s get on to the next trip we took.

Our next trip was planned for May 2009. Up to that point, this was the shortest window of time we’d ever had in between our trips. (We’d just visited in September 2008.) We decided to leave as soon as school ended that year, and the Poly was chosen again as the resort.

We were in Tokelau again, but this time on the side away from the quiet pool, on the first floor. We enjoyed being able to sit on the patio, watch the wildlife, and listen to the boats crossing the lake.

We made it to AK for park opening during our first day!

We also ate breakfast at Tusker House for the first time,

And, we saw the Flights of Wonder show for the first time. If you’ve never seen this, it’s worth seeing at least once!

Magic Kingdom was magical, as always!

We went somewhere we’d never been during all our trips. We had a dinner reservation at Boma, so we were able to check out AKL! I think it’s an absolutely stunning resort! As far as Boma---well it was good, but very expensive-and we weren’t on the dining plan! Glad to say I’ve eaten there, but I don’t need to go again!

We found crowds to be manageable during this trip. This picture was at the end of EvMH one night at DHS.

Of course, we had a breakfast at ‘Ohana!

During this trip, our oldest daughter, Elizabeth, kept dropping hints about how she’d love to come back to celebrate her 16th birthday later that year. Toward the end of the trip, Kevin and I talked about it, and thought, “Why not?” Since her birthday is in December, we just decided right then and there to upgrade our PH tickets to APs. And thus, began the four trips in one year scene!

NEXT UP: WE CELEBRATE A SWEET 16TH, AND NEW YEARS EVE!

 

[natebenma]

First off, I want to say thanks to you and to all of the other teachers here.



I told all of my son's 7th grade teachers last year- "Bless you for what you do" There aren't enough words to say how much I appreciate teachers who work with this age group, a group of young people who are not always in the best frame of mind for learning.

But, back to you! What a great picture of all of you at the Poly. Was that photopass or a kind stranger who took it?

I so want to see Flights of Wonder, but my guys are not really into shows.

Love Boma. But then again, we have been on the dining plan both times we have eaten there. My only complaint is there was too much yummy and interesting food to try and not enough room in my tummy for everything I wanted!

The juice is yummy, too. I know your daughter loves the tropical juice drinks.

 

[MHTeacher]

First off, I want to say thanks to you and to all of the other teachers here.



I told all of my son's 7th grade teachers last year- "Bless you for what you do" There aren't enough words to say how much I appreciate teachers who work with this age group, a group of young people who are not always in the best frame of mind for learning.

Thank you Dee so much! Middle schoolers are a special sort, but I love my job and couldn't imagine doing anything else!

But, back to you! What a great picture of all of you at the Poly. Was that photopass or a kind stranger who took it?

If I remember correctly ( and that's saying a LOT, since I can't remember where I put my phone half the time), I think it was just a nice person passing through the lobby who took our picture!

I so want to see Flights of Wonder, but my guys are not really into shows.

Send 'em over to KSS to get wet, and you can do the show!

Love Boma. But then again, we have been on the dining plan both times we have eaten there. My only complaint is there was too much yummy and interesting food to try and not enough room in my tummy for everything I wanted!

The juice is yummy, too. I know your daughter loves the tropical juice drinks.

It was good, and lots of different things to try-But, whew, it was an expensive meal paying out of pocket for 4 adults/1 kid! Is the juice served during breakfast, because we had dinner there. But, you're right, Rachel does love that Poly tropical juice!

 

[PixieMama]

Love seeing the pics from the Poly. I may have mentioned this, but I'm hoping we stay there on our next family trip! It will be the first time in a Deluxe for us!

DH and the girls have seen the Flights of Wonder show... but I can't do it! Birds freak me out, man.

 

[disney<333]

I'm enjoying seeing pics from your old trips! It's fun to see the changes in your family, Disney, oh, and retired Vera Bradley!! Is it bad that I know the names of the patterns and bags in your pics?!

 

[wakica]

4 trips in one year - NICE!!!! THat must have been a REALLY great year
and I agree with you about Flights of Wonder. I thought meh! whatever - but dd and dh said ya, let's check it out and we all ended up LOVING it!!!

 

[earthfaries]

I just found your pre trip report and I can't wait to start reading it! Your upcoming trip sound so fun!!!

Can't wait to start reading

 

[racefanof88]

Again great pictures! That was a huge eagle!! We haven't seen FoW. Dale just isn't much on seeing any of the shows. I have yet to see Nemo . Dale likes the stunt show and Indiana, but that is all.


Since my shoulder is messed up I may be seeing more shows this trip than in the past!!!!

 

[MeMom]

During this trip, our oldest daughter, Elizabeth, kept dropping hints about how she’d love to come back to celebrate her 16th birthday later that year. Toward the end of the trip, Kevin and I talked about it, and thought, “Why not?” Since her birthday is in December, we just decided right then and there to upgrade our PH tickets to APs. And thus, began the four trips in one year scene!

Those annual passes are fun and dangerous!!!

Good-looking group.

 

[amazingact21]

Four trips in one year...sounds like an amazing year! Looks like you all had a fun time on your first trip of the year. That one picture of you all at the Poly is great!

 

[cinderella crazy]

Was that the May 2009 trip? The one where it rained, and rained? I didn't know you all had gone 4 times in a year! Wow! That would be amazing!

 

[creativeamanda]

I must agree that middle school teachers are a breed apart. Of cours,e my husband is a middle school math teacher, so I am partial to them, lol.

I absolutely love that you all went whole hog and upgraded to APs. I keep thinking I will do that, but I never do it. Maybe this year. I hope to run the Tower of Terror race, but I won't know if I can jump up to 10 miles til closer to the June trip.

Boma has a really good breakfast, and if you are on the dining plan, it is a great choice. I love that you are showing us your family traditions and how they started!

Great update!

 

[MHTeacher]

Love seeing the pics from the Poly. I may have mentioned this, but I'm hoping we stay there on our next family trip! It will be the first time in a Deluxe for us!

I must warn you-you'll be spoiled by the Poly, and it will be hard to stay anywhere else!

Is it bad that I know the names of the patterns and bags in your pics?!

Is it bad that I still own all these bags?

I agree with you about Flights of Wonder. I thought meh! whatever - but dd and dh said ya, let's check it out and we all ended up LOVING it!!!

I know what you mean! I really thought I would hate it, but it was really interesting! Glad we saw it!

I just found your pre trip report and I can't wait to start reading it! Your upcoming trip sound so fun!!!

Glad you're reading along!

 

[MHTeacher]

Since my shoulder is messed up I may be seeing more shows this trip than in the past!!!!

That will be a good excuse for you to drag everyone with you to see some of those shows you never get to see---especially Nemo! Hope you're recovering from your surgery!

Those annual passes are fun and dangerous!!!

Disney definitely won on that one! We may have saved money in upgrading to the passes, but we more than made up for it in resort fees, eating in the restaurants, and shopping while we were there!

I wish we could have renewed them and keep them yearly like you and Jill!

Four trips in one year...sounds like an amazing year! Looks like you all had a fun time on your first trip of the year. That one picture of you all at the Poly is great!

Thanks! It was so much fun! Wish we could have kept them renewed....

Was that the May 2009 trip? The one where it rained, and rained?

We missed the rainy season by one week. Can't remember without looking back for sure if we were there the week before or after that week. Y'all were there that rainy week weren't you? I remember reading several TRs about it. Sounded miserable!

I must agree that middle school teachers are a breed apart. Of cours,e my husband is a middle school math teacher, so I am partial to them, lol.

I absolutely love that you all went whole hog and upgraded to APs. I keep thinking I will do that, but I never do it. Maybe this year.

I teach math too!

I loved upgrading those tickets to APs! Just being able to say I had an AP and knowing I could plan another trip and have a huge expense taken care of was great!

 

[MHTeacher]

As I’d previously written, in May 2009, we had upgraded our park tickets to APs so that we could return in December for our oldest daughter’s 16th birthday. Since the dates were not flexible, I began searching for a resort during the summer. Because Elizabeth’s birthday happens to fall during the week between Christmas and NYE, we were faced with the most expensive resort rates of the year. AP rates for POR were the most reasonable thing I found for our family of five. The rate was around $250/night.

In looking around the DIS, I found mention of another travel agency that had exclusive rates at selected Disney resorts for our time. I filled out a request, and was informed that Yacht Club, water view, would be around $263/night. DUH! That was a no brainer as they say! Kevin said book it! and I did!

We left home on Tuesday evening, December 28, and drove to Tallahassee to spend the night. We checked into the Yacht Club Wednesday around lunch.

We walked over to Epcot, and were greeted by these time boards:

The next day was the sweet 16 birthday! The birthday girl chose to go to MK for the day!

Now, the pictures you really want to see---THE CROWDS—

We left and returned to YC for a nap shortly after those pictures were taken. We had a reservation for a birthday dinner at 1900 Park Faire that evening.

There was a surprise planned for this dinner:

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

 

[MHTeacher]

After dinner, we returned to MK to catch the castle lighting ceremony.

The fun thing about December 30 is that MK goes through a “trial run” for NYE. So, they do the same show two nights in a row. The 30th is the practice run. We saw Holiday Wishes,

And then at midnight there was a countdown, followed by the NYE Fantasy in the Sky! This was amazing!

The birthday ended around 3 a.m.!

NYE was spent at DHS.

There was live music in front of the sorcerer’s hat from about 9 until midnight and then fireworks at midnight.

It had been a long day, and some people in our family slept through the NYE fireworks.

It was a short visit, but after dealing with such crowds for three days, we were ready to head home.

UP NEXT: THE THIRD TRIP IN A YEAR ---WE GO WITH SISTERS/COUSINS

 

[wakica]

oh my gosh!! the WAITS!!! Did you go on anything at all??? or just soak up some atmosphere?

Everything looks SO pretty all lit up. What a super fun way to spend Christmas holidays/new years/bday!!! and I can't beleive he slept through the fireworks. now that's definitely TIRED!!!