Hi all!
As per tradition, whenever the down payment is made on one of my trips I write the trip report that day. Well this trip is a bit different, I am writing the trip report in Minnesota while my best friend makes the down payment in Alaska. It has been interesting trying to plan this trip with a 3 hour time zone difference but so far we have been successful. It is a good thing though that you dont get charged per e-mail or we would have paid for our trip in e-mails planning the trip. A little side note here, I am writing this from the car dealership where my car is getting a new head gasket, (not mentioning the price) this might be longer than usual due to being stranded for several hours in a waiting room. Anyways, here are the specifics.
Who: It started as two, it expanded to 3, then we got one more to make 4, in the end its 5 going along. In the order in which we joined this expedition, we have Me (25 next week), my best friend and travel partner for years Sara (25), her significant other Ben (26 I think there may be a correction later), her sister, Megan (23) who is a wonderful person who has downs but LOVES rides, and her brother Lucas (20).
What: A trip to the swamps of Mississippi. Just kidding, of course a trip to our favorite vacation destination Walt Disney World, Florida! This will be my 7th trip to WDW, Saras 5th trip, Megan and Lucas 2nd trip and Bens 1st trip.
When: October 18, 2006 October 22, 2006. Its a shorter trip but I am in school (still) in the fall, we cant go in the winter, and this past summer Sara, Megan, and Ben have been working in Alaska and couldnt get time off as the jobs they have at a resort there are seasonal. We also didnt really want to try coordinating flights from two cities not to mention that the 3 of them would be going from Alaska time to Eastern time which if I am figuring right would be 4 hours difference and about a 6 hour flight for them.
Where: We will all be leaving from Minneapolis, flying to Orlando, and staying at the Coronado Springs Resort. Sara and I have a goal to try and stay at every resort WDW has at some point in our life time. Were getting down there with 5 trips together, we have managed to stay at 6 resorts together. I am a bit further along I have 8 resorts finished. This will be all of our first stay at the Coronado and Im sure the people on the Resorts boards could have figured that out from all the million questions I have been asking about Coronado. We are hoping to have connecting rooms with a fountain view in the Casitas buildings. That may be asking a bit much but we figure if we ask for the sun the moon and all the stars but only get one well still be estatic anyway. Besides it cant hurt to ask for the perfect room, weve actually gotten it a few times.
Why: Well Sara and I have been going to WDW every year since the year we graduated High School together. I had been once before and due to unforeseen circumstances she was unable to go with me in 2005 but those were the only two trips she hasnt gone on with me. For the two of us its an annual tradition, Sara was also a little mad at me because I got to do the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom last year with my parents. She practically insisted we go in October again so she could go to these events as well.
Ben joined the expedition after hearing Sara and I talk about it. He had wanted to go even before we told him that any guy either of the two of us date has to be at least tolerant of our trips, weve been doing them long before meeting said guy. It would be even better if they wanted to come with, so it was a good sign that he wanted to come along even before we told him that part.
Megan wanted to come along the minute she left WDW on her first trip in 2001. She is a regular rollercoaster junkie, which if you see her would probably surprise you. She is a very sweet person and with downs a lot of people figure her for about 16-18 and not the thrill ride type. Not Megan, she loved all the rides at WDW and when asked for her favorite it was probably Rockin Rollercoaster in MGM Disney Studios.
Lucas was a little indecisive about going along again. Like Megan his first trip was in 2001, unlike Megan he really doesnt like the thrill rides. When their Father asked if he would go along so we could get 2 rooms (guys in one, girls in the other) he agreed to go along. It ended up slightly more expensive this way, but this way all parents are happy with our arrangements. Yes, were all above age that we can do what we want but we still have to listen to our parents complain if they want to. (Are you ever old enough not to have to do that?
)
How: Working, Working, Working With tuition, bills, car, etc. all 5 of us have had to put every penny away for WDW. Sara and I have figured out nearly every cost cutting trick to going to WDW. I kept telling Sara that if she wanted any money out of me, we had to book this and she had to ask for it in the first two weeks of August. The thing is I tend to be a bit of a penny pincher (tuition is at $200 a credit and rising) and while I love going to WDW and want to go, it makes me wince when forking over $700. Thats a 3 credit class with books! Of course as the universe would have it, books, tuition, car, drivers license, eye appointment, and car insurance all came due in the first 2 weeks of August. As that is all necessary items, Ive just been writing checks left and right. Its the same story with all of us but with enough determination you can do anything, hence our several trips.
As for our tenetive schedule, I have no idea beyond the very bare bones. Fly from Minneapolis to Orlando after my Organic Chemistry lecture, flight is not booked so I have no idea when we are getting to Orlando. We will probably then go to Planet Hollywood for dinner with the voucher included in our package or if not that Rainforest Café as per our birthday tradition (we always go there, well rainforest, usually in the Mall of America not WDW) if either are still open. The next day well be in the parks and will probably go to the Halloween party that night figuring Thursday will be better than Friday night. Saturday well be in the parks and Sunday well be in the parks until our unknown flight home. Monday morning were all back at work and in classes.
We are generally MUCH more planned by the time we make the down payment but being in two different time zones has inhibited much planning. Most of it is getting done but all via e-mail and a few phone calls. Sara has a schedule worked out practically to the minute (were commando vacationers and love every minute of it. Weve done it this way every trip) but unfortunately I have yet to see it. As this is our 5th trip together Im sure what ever it is that she has come up with will be basically the same as what we have always done in the past. We also recognize that not everyone vacations this way so with the miracle of cell phones we can split up in the parks though no one is really sure they want to!
That about wraps up the pre-trip information (3 pages later) all of this will be posted on my website http://www.geocities.com/picturedisney so you can always find it there. I have been lately overhauling the site so there isnt a whole lot there but I am adding stuff about every week (at least until school starts but I hope to have it caught up by then). There may also be a pre-trip report II in the future as I get more details out of Sara and our travel agent so check back again. Otherwise, check back in the end of October for the Minnesotans Annual Disney Expedition!
Minnesota
As per tradition, whenever the down payment is made on one of my trips I write the trip report that day. Well this trip is a bit different, I am writing the trip report in Minnesota while my best friend makes the down payment in Alaska. It has been interesting trying to plan this trip with a 3 hour time zone difference but so far we have been successful. It is a good thing though that you dont get charged per e-mail or we would have paid for our trip in e-mails planning the trip. A little side note here, I am writing this from the car dealership where my car is getting a new head gasket, (not mentioning the price) this might be longer than usual due to being stranded for several hours in a waiting room. Anyways, here are the specifics.
Who: It started as two, it expanded to 3, then we got one more to make 4, in the end its 5 going along. In the order in which we joined this expedition, we have Me (25 next week), my best friend and travel partner for years Sara (25), her significant other Ben (26 I think there may be a correction later), her sister, Megan (23) who is a wonderful person who has downs but LOVES rides, and her brother Lucas (20).
What: A trip to the swamps of Mississippi. Just kidding, of course a trip to our favorite vacation destination Walt Disney World, Florida! This will be my 7th trip to WDW, Saras 5th trip, Megan and Lucas 2nd trip and Bens 1st trip.
When: October 18, 2006 October 22, 2006. Its a shorter trip but I am in school (still) in the fall, we cant go in the winter, and this past summer Sara, Megan, and Ben have been working in Alaska and couldnt get time off as the jobs they have at a resort there are seasonal. We also didnt really want to try coordinating flights from two cities not to mention that the 3 of them would be going from Alaska time to Eastern time which if I am figuring right would be 4 hours difference and about a 6 hour flight for them.
Where: We will all be leaving from Minneapolis, flying to Orlando, and staying at the Coronado Springs Resort. Sara and I have a goal to try and stay at every resort WDW has at some point in our life time. Were getting down there with 5 trips together, we have managed to stay at 6 resorts together. I am a bit further along I have 8 resorts finished. This will be all of our first stay at the Coronado and Im sure the people on the Resorts boards could have figured that out from all the million questions I have been asking about Coronado. We are hoping to have connecting rooms with a fountain view in the Casitas buildings. That may be asking a bit much but we figure if we ask for the sun the moon and all the stars but only get one well still be estatic anyway. Besides it cant hurt to ask for the perfect room, weve actually gotten it a few times.
Why: Well Sara and I have been going to WDW every year since the year we graduated High School together. I had been once before and due to unforeseen circumstances she was unable to go with me in 2005 but those were the only two trips she hasnt gone on with me. For the two of us its an annual tradition, Sara was also a little mad at me because I got to do the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom last year with my parents. She practically insisted we go in October again so she could go to these events as well.
Ben joined the expedition after hearing Sara and I talk about it. He had wanted to go even before we told him that any guy either of the two of us date has to be at least tolerant of our trips, weve been doing them long before meeting said guy. It would be even better if they wanted to come with, so it was a good sign that he wanted to come along even before we told him that part.
Megan wanted to come along the minute she left WDW on her first trip in 2001. She is a regular rollercoaster junkie, which if you see her would probably surprise you. She is a very sweet person and with downs a lot of people figure her for about 16-18 and not the thrill ride type. Not Megan, she loved all the rides at WDW and when asked for her favorite it was probably Rockin Rollercoaster in MGM Disney Studios.
Lucas was a little indecisive about going along again. Like Megan his first trip was in 2001, unlike Megan he really doesnt like the thrill rides. When their Father asked if he would go along so we could get 2 rooms (guys in one, girls in the other) he agreed to go along. It ended up slightly more expensive this way, but this way all parents are happy with our arrangements. Yes, were all above age that we can do what we want but we still have to listen to our parents complain if they want to. (Are you ever old enough not to have to do that?
)How: Working, Working, Working With tuition, bills, car, etc. all 5 of us have had to put every penny away for WDW. Sara and I have figured out nearly every cost cutting trick to going to WDW. I kept telling Sara that if she wanted any money out of me, we had to book this and she had to ask for it in the first two weeks of August. The thing is I tend to be a bit of a penny pincher (tuition is at $200 a credit and rising) and while I love going to WDW and want to go, it makes me wince when forking over $700. Thats a 3 credit class with books! Of course as the universe would have it, books, tuition, car, drivers license, eye appointment, and car insurance all came due in the first 2 weeks of August. As that is all necessary items, Ive just been writing checks left and right. Its the same story with all of us but with enough determination you can do anything, hence our several trips.
As for our tenetive schedule, I have no idea beyond the very bare bones. Fly from Minneapolis to Orlando after my Organic Chemistry lecture, flight is not booked so I have no idea when we are getting to Orlando. We will probably then go to Planet Hollywood for dinner with the voucher included in our package or if not that Rainforest Café as per our birthday tradition (we always go there, well rainforest, usually in the Mall of America not WDW) if either are still open. The next day well be in the parks and will probably go to the Halloween party that night figuring Thursday will be better than Friday night. Saturday well be in the parks and Sunday well be in the parks until our unknown flight home. Monday morning were all back at work and in classes.
We are generally MUCH more planned by the time we make the down payment but being in two different time zones has inhibited much planning. Most of it is getting done but all via e-mail and a few phone calls. Sara has a schedule worked out practically to the minute (were commando vacationers and love every minute of it. Weve done it this way every trip) but unfortunately I have yet to see it. As this is our 5th trip together Im sure what ever it is that she has come up with will be basically the same as what we have always done in the past. We also recognize that not everyone vacations this way so with the miracle of cell phones we can split up in the parks though no one is really sure they want to!
That about wraps up the pre-trip information (3 pages later) all of this will be posted on my website http://www.geocities.com/picturedisney so you can always find it there. I have been lately overhauling the site so there isnt a whole lot there but I am adding stuff about every week (at least until school starts but I hope to have it caught up by then). There may also be a pre-trip report II in the future as I get more details out of Sara and our travel agent so check back again. Otherwise, check back in the end of October for the Minnesotans Annual Disney Expedition!
Minnesota
