My overdramatic, overemotional, usually accurate trip report *now LIVE* pg16 New Pics

[Msslaydbug]

My overdramatic, overemotional, sensational, yet usually accurate pre-trip report..
But Mom, weren't we going to Disneyland ? ​

In Feb I started planning a trip to Disneyland for this May. We had been to Disney World our last few trips and thought a road trip from Colorado to California would be fun. We did it when my son was 3, stopping for a few days in Las Vegas along the way. We did have a blast and enjoyed our vacation.


Once my husband agreed to the trip , I jumped into researching Disneyland with my heart and soul. I got 4 books from the library and spent more time on the Disneyland forum here at the DIS (foreign turf to me). I literally spent hours trying to find us the perfect hotel. I grilled DH about what was most important to him price, the size of the room, walking distance, nearby restaurants, continental breakfasts, or a fridge in the room.

I even had that poor man on Google earth looking up the various hotels so we could see where they were in relation to one another ! ( Note to the ladies: If your husband is willing to Google Earth hotels in the Disneyland area and in the process let you take an aeriel tour of the park with you looking over his shoulder - without losing his temper you should probably keep him around ! )



I then had to decide what other California parks we would do. I cornered DH when he came to bed one night and have a very serious conversation about our options.

Legoland - I had been to this one before and would *NOT* be paying money in any way shape or form to go back. DH and DS could go and DD and I would stay in the Disneyland park and do a princess overload day if need be.

Sea World - we do this almost every trip to Florida didn't really need to see the California version of it.

Universal - didn't think we would really enjoy it after being spoiled by Universal Orlando and staying at RPH before. Also we have DD3 and didn't think there would be much for her

San Diego Zoo - this is the one we finally decided on. We would actually leave Anaheim and go to San Diego for a few days on the last few days of the trip before heading home.


Now you will quickly learn I am a mommy and daddy's girl. They live less then 3 minutes from me and most of the time I wouldn't have it any other way ! My kids feel the same way and DH loves them too. What is a trip without Grammy and Pa ? So, I corner DH again and ask him how he would feel about me inviting them ( we travel with them frequently). He doesn't mind and says go for it.


Now, this portion of the trip takes a bit more work. Grammy does not like to spend Pa's hard earned money. She also lives by the "what if" set of rules. She hates to plan ahead and always has to be nagged into making a final decision.


I place call to Grammy and I tell her I found a GREAT rate at so and so hotel that can't be beat (not a lie!). If she is even thinking about coming with us she should book it - she can always cancel it later. I am working my magic on her ( secretly I know she knows what I am doing but really can't help herself because she wants to go !)



My mom says she doesn't know if they will go because she doesn't think my dad will want to drive. I tell her they can fly and we can meet them there. ( We have nothing against flying - we just really enjoy the road trip). Grammy still can't commit because she thinks "Pa" will want everyone traveling together.



I *really* want my parents to go so I start researching airfare to LA. Are they crazy $250 from Denver to LA ? I can fly to Orlando for that !

Orlando ?

Did I just say I could fly to Orlando for that ?!

Hmmmmmmmm



My brain starts thinking a mile a minute. I do some quick calculations - I *can* go to Orlando for just a little bit more.

Later that night ....
DH comes home from work. I give him a quick hug and kiss and ask how his day was at work.

He knows something is up ......

Me: What if we didn't go to Disneyland and actually changed it to Florida ?

DH: Are you telling me you have read 4 books from the library front to back, spent 2 weeks researching hotels and rates, booked our actual hotel, made our itineraries, invited your parents and now we aren't going ? I have even had to make decisions of what I will order from certain restaurants ! " <imagine slight shrieking by the end of this sentence>

Me: Well, I am just saying if it is only a little more - why not go to Florida. I don't know why I didn't think of it before.

DH: "Whatever !"

Me: < Running to the bedroom to jump back on the laptop >

Long story short ....

My parents decided to go, DH has forgiven me for changing the trip a million and one times and we are now off to Orlando.....again !!

 

[Msslaydbug]

Cast​

Me: Lori, 32 and the director of this show. I am the wife, mom and daughter to the other cast members in our party. You can call me the instigator of any and all trips we have ever taken to Disney World. I am the wife to a wonderful man who love me for the Disney trip planning freak show I am. Mom to two mini Disneyaholics in the making and daughter to two parents who can be talked into any trip their grandchildren are apart of.

I do nothing halfway. When I get involved in something, I jump in with all my heart and soul.

I am the coordinator and planner of all our trips. I enjoy the planning almost as much as the trip itself (I said almost but not quite). I supply everyone with copies of our spreadsheets and daily itineraries.

I work part time from home doing medical billing for an office. I have worked for them for 5 years. The plan had initially been to quit but they wouldn't let me go so we made a compromise and know I get to work whenever I want. Works for me !! I also run my own photography business but am currently taking a break until this summer.

My first trip to Disney was when my parents took me to Disneyland when I was 11. It was the first "real" vacation I had ever been on. Every summer we spent the summer in Ohio and Virginia visiting family. Although I wouldn't trade my summers visiting our large extended families for anything, I loved Disneyland.

DH: My husband, where do I even begin ? He is active duty Army National Guard. He loves his job and the trials and travels it brings with it. He is the ultimate family man. He works very hard for his family and we are his #1 priority. His childhood wasn't the best so he wants his children to have everything he never had and more. He likes Disney but doesn't quite love it the same way me and the kids do. He just wants to know when and where to show up. He doesn't care what resort we stay at and it drives him crazy how many times I change our resort and ADR's. We keep him on a "need to know basis".....

His first trip to Disney was when he was about 15 or 16 years old with his family as well. The mouse bug did not bite him on that trip though - that happens later.

DS10: He is the mirror image of his dad and too smart for his own good. You know that saying the apple doesn't fall far from the tree ? It applies here like no other. He is the best child a parent could ask for - and I mean that literally. He is a first degree black belt in karate and has earned every bit of it through all of his hard work and dedication this sport takes. He loves anything to do with Nintendo, playing with friends, swimming, pirates and Disney World. He is a momma's boy and we have a pretty special bond. He is going into middle school this next year and I hope as he gets older this won't change !

First trip to Disneyland at age 3 and Disney World at 5.

DD3yo: She is truly the princess of our house. She is quickly learning though that means one thing - I am the QUEEN. She doesn't like that fact and combine that with the age 3 and it makes for some pretty unforgettable moments in our house. Constantly causing drama and chaos wherever she goes ! She loves ballet, anything princesses, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, and our golden retriever Chandler who she has made her personal "unicorn" and walks him around the house by his collar. She halready has a Starbucks addiction at the age of 3 - her favorite is hot chocolate, barely warm, with sprinkles or in the summer a vanilla frap)

First trip to Disney World at age 10 months

Grammy: My mom. I love her dearly and she is my best friend. She usually has to be talked into these trips. Not that she doesn't love Disney - she does - just not like some of us ! I don't think a trip to Disney would be the same without either her. I have even gotten her to come with me when DH couldn't get off work. We call her Pollyanna. She hates this but it's true ! She finds the good in everything - and quite frankly that might be the one thing that send me right over the edge sometimes ! She loves the Grand Floridian and I would love to one day surprise her and stay there. Her favorite thing is to have tea in the Garden View Lounge. Her favorite character is Minnie ... you guessed it ...because she is always singing, skipping and happy



Pa: He is our " go with the flow" guy. He truly is a Disney fan but would never admit it to anyone. His grandkids are the apple of his eye and would go to the ends of the earth for them. He would give anyone in his family the shirt off his back. He has worked hard to provide his family with everything we need. I don't know if he has a favorite character that he has ever admitted to. I will now have to make it a mission to find out.

My parents with my brother and I. My brother loves Disney almost as much as I do but can't go this trip as he is having friends come into town that weekend

 

[Figment's Friend]

Your family is lovely! I'm ready to hear more about this upcoming trip, looking forward to it!

 

[Msslaydbug]

Thanks Figment - I look forward to writing it !

 

[stagemomx3]

I'm in.

 

[natale1980]

Your kids are cute as can be!!!

-nat

 

[Sacha_L]

count me in too!

 

[DWGal210]

I'm in too - great start so far!!

 

[Msslaydbug]

To the trip report everyone - hopefully I will keep you as amused as I typically keep myself

 

[Msslaydbug]

Our Disney Hotel History ​

Our first trip to Disney World was in 2000. I spent many hours going over the various hotels and decided to let DH choose since I really had too many options to consider and it was driving me insane ! He chose CBR. He liked the idea of having the sandy beaches and having that tropical feeling. Of course after reading the DIS I kept reading nothing but bad things about CBR.


I am so glad we didn't listen to the bad reviews. Our family loved this resort. I agree that with it being so spread out that it wouldn't be for ever person or family. We enjoyed that everything at the resort didn't seem to be on top of everything else. It was a very quiet slow paced resort with the perfect Caribbean feel - just like what my husband was after. We loved the walk to the food court from our room in Jamaica. My son loved exploring the island Caribbean Cay on our walk to the food court in the morning and some evenings. There were so many fish and turtles - every morning he would race to see how many he could find in the water.



While CBR will always hold a special place in our hearts I think our two family favorites have become Animal Kingdom Lodge and Pop Century.



Back in 2006 we planned a trip for May and after changing resorts 4 times ( yes,4 !) we ended up staying at AKL. Oh my goodness - how I loved this resort ! I think truthfully the only problem I had with this resort was that there was so much to see and do, that sometimes I wanted to be at the resort more than the parks ! My daughter would wake up every morning and jump out of bead just excited to see what animals she could find for that day. We were there for 8 days and it never got old.



More and more it seems we are ending up back at Pop Century. Both with free dining and without. If you would have told me I was going to like Pop Century I would have told you that you were high. I was a hotel snob and would not enjoy my stay at a Value resort. We stayed there completely by accident one trip when we booked Shades of Green that year for 2 rooms and found out exactly 6 days before our trip they had made a mistake with our reservation and had only reserved one room. The only resort left that was under $500 per night ( not kidding) was Pop Century. I was soooo upset. I had read terrible terrible things on the DIS about this resort ! I knew our trip was doomed and I would hate every minute of it. I was shocked to learn I loved it. Our entire family loved it. It is loud and obnoxious, bright and loads of fun ! We also feel like we can extend our stay a little longer because we don't have to pay as much.



Let's see 6 or 7 days at a deluxe or moderate or 10 -11 days at a Pop Century. Pop it is - every time ! I think we would much rather go two times a year for a 10 day trip then 3-4 trips for 5 days too. I want to be there as long as possible !


This upcoming trip in May we are finally going to be trying out Shades of Green for the very first time. Disney isn't offering the dining plan so there is nothing stopping us !

I am loving the idea the rooms are so large, there is a balcony, a fridge and it is in close proximity to the Magic Kingdom. We have requested connecting rooms with my parents near the pool in the old section. Hopefully, we will get all of our room requests.

 

[natale1980]

I've only stayed at value resorts and the cabins at Fort Wilderness. But
I LOVE POP!!! My Son loves the baby pool and would be disappointed if we stayed anywhere else. I don't think we will do any of the deluxe resorts until we are in the DVC.

-nat

 

[DWGal210]

I love POP! I've been there twice (once when it first opened and was only about a month old and then again in March 07) and I think it's very fun. Cute, nostalgic, and as you said, kids love it. I like the moderate and deluxe resorts, and each of them is very lovely and fun in their own way. But I myself would rather spend more $$ on other things than the hotel. So POP is my choice as well!

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm on board!

 

[dreamergirl78]

GREAT pre trip report so far. I am so excite to read more!!!!!

 

[racefanof88]

Having a good time here. Joining in

 

[creativeamanda]

Another POP lover here! I'm hoping to pull a solo trip out of dh, and my choice is POP!

 

[Msslaydbug]

A few pictures from our May 2006 trip with my parents !​

This was a very special trip for us. My parents do soo much for our family. and we wanted to give them a big huge thank you so we invited them to Disney World with us and were able to pay for their hotel and food ( they bought their tickets). Our trip was 12 days and we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Royal Pacific Resort at Universal It was a wonderful trip !

 

[dreamergirl78]

What great pics!!! Looks like tons of fun. I can't believe how small Ella is.

 

[Sacha_L]

love the pics!

 

[racefanof88]

I love your pictures. Your children look so sweet and they are precious.

I have offered to take my mother many times but, she comes up with a reason not to go everytime............lol.

I wish I had booked us at the Pop, but Dale liked the ASMo when we stayed there but, I wanted something different and he picked the Music. I was just so glad to get them to try the DDP