My Weird, Wild, & Wonderful Pre-Trippie! #256: I'm back!

[Bev1016]

Hello all,
Watch this space, for it's about to get interesting! (I hope .....)

After reading the exciting pre-tripping adventures of so many of you, I decided it was time to take a stab at my own little pre-trippie!

This trip is my third to WDW, but it also has its share of firsts---planning for a multi-generational group of seven, coming up with the absolute best way to use the DDP (probably not going to happen ), and doing it all without having a nervous breakdown.

Therefore, I'm taking the "stop and smell the roses" approach to trip planning by documenting every stinking detail for me to cherish (or obsess over ) and for all of you (which may just be DH, as I will force him to read this ) to enjoy!

Coming up--How did this trip come to be? Let's go back in time about 27 years. . . .

 

[passthepixiedust]

Yay! I'm in! AND I am first! Yay, me!

 

[Bev1016]

Yay! I'm in! AND I am first! Yay, me!

Yay Tracy's here! Thanks for dropping by! I hope that this will be mildly interesting!

 

[Bev1016]

And so it begins . . .
Let's go back in time, shall we? (I promise, it all ties in to the trip!)

I was five years old when DH and I met (he was five, too). I professed my undying love for him, and I was rejected. Kindergarten love can be so cruel.

However, that tragic incident was either forgotten or swept under the rug, and DH and I grew up together, went to high school together, and were friends and debate partners. For our senior trip, we went to DL and other California spots. My only prior trip to DL wasn't great fun, so I wasn't particularly jazzed about this one. But then DH started talking about his love for the place--bringing maps to class, showing us what rides we would go on first, and how he would lead us to the best DL trip ever!

It honestly was a magical day, and I was smitten with DL and with the future DH. He showed me what a wonderful place DL was, and that is still one of the best days of my life.

Fast forwarding ahead through 10+ years, DH and I finally reunited and were married in August of 2004. Our honeymoon was my first trip to WDW, and we had a great time. We also visited DL (with my family) in July 2005, and we went back to WDW in 2006. We love the Disney parks, and they truly are a big part of our lives and lots of good memories.

And so, with that slightly sappy (but very true!) introduction, we begin this little pre-trippie in October, 2006, when we felt that irrestible urge to return to WDW . . . .

Coming up: Is this is a vacation or a guilt trip? Taking the Family to WDW.

 

[rentayenta]

Me too, me too! Can't wait to read more Bevily and I best still be seeing you over on mine!

 

[mvazul]

What a great start! I look forward to reading more!!

Michelle

 

[Goofyluver]

Bevily!!! I'm in! I'm in! I'm in!

 

[passthepixiedust]

DH is "one of us"??? How did I not know that? Was I not paying attention again?

 

[Bev1016]

Me too, me too! Can't wait to read more Bevily and I best still be seeing you over on mine!

Hi Jenny! You'll definitely still see me on your thread--wild Mickey heads couldn't keep me away!

What a great start! I look forward to reading more!!

Thanks Michelle! I hope I don't disappoint!

Bevily!!! I'm in! I'm in! I'm in!

Woohoo! Just read your most recent post about the SW parade and the DISser sighting--funny stuff!

DH is "one of us"???

Oh yes. More of that will be revealed as the pre-trippie continues. I got him signed in to the DIS boards, so hopefully he'll be joining in on the discussion every now and then.

 

[pgsahm2]

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[Bev1016]

Looking forward to reading more!

Thanks Amanda! I'll try to continue my exciting saga later today!

 

[rentayenta]

Hi Jenny! You'll definitely still see me on your thread--wild Mickey heads couldn't keep me away!

Oh yes. More of that will be revealed as the pre-trippie continues. I got him signed in to the DIS boards, so hopefully he'll be joining in on the discussion every now and then.

Your DH joined?! OMG I am so green with envy! How on Earth did you pull that off?

 

[Bev1016]

Your DH joined?! OMG I am so green with envy! How on Earth did you pull that off?

DH loves all things Disney. He was always the trip planner for his family when he was growing up, so it's something he loves to do.

His only obstacle is technology! I'm helping him figure out everything about the DIS boards, and once he gets that mastered, I'm sure he'll have plenty to say about the wonderful trip we've got planned!

 

[Bev1016]

Is this a vacation or a guilt trip?

So, in the past two years, my family has started taking an annual summer vacation together. In 2005 it was DL, in 2006 it was Las Vegas (DL was WAY better), and in 2007 it was . . . well, that’s what we’re talking about right now!

The family really wanted to go to WDW, and DH and I were very supportive of this idea! However, they wanted to go in June 2007, when the girls (and all other girls (and boys) on the entire planet) were out of school and ready to go on vacation. DH and I were suggesting we go earlier, like April, or February, or even October, and we became a little possessed. We started reading the guides and planning like this was going to happen, all the while waiting for the official word from the rest of the family.

And the official word from the family? No. My dad didn’t want to miss that much work, and so they still wanted to wait until summer. The problem was, they had already created two WDW-crazy monsters who could not bear the thought of waiting until summer to go back to WDW! Whatever to do? Go by ourselves, of course!

And so we did. DH and I spent a lovely week in WDW last October, thinking that would be the end of our jaunts to Florida for a while. But we were wrong!

The family was still planning on a summer/fall 07 trip to Florida. DH and I were trying to avoid the subject, unsure if we could afford yet another trip. When the subject was discussed, we tried to sidestep it until we could do some number crunching and see what we could afford.

Well, our days of sidestepping were numbered, and this April, we found ourselves cornered! The whole family–all seven of us–were traveling in the same vehicle, when a voice from behind me says “When are we going to make our Disney reservations?”

I was bewildered. I wasn’t quite sure what to say, and DH and I started stammering profusely. Finally, one (or both) of us muttered “We’re not sure that we can go,” followed by a quick “But we’ll plan your trip for you!”

And then nothing. Absolute silence for over a minute (which, in a car with my family, is a long time!). DH and I both wanted to shrink into the corner because of the shame and distress we had brought upon the family name.

Later that day (once everyone started talking again), DH was playing with our nieces–they enjoy climbing on him, and one said “We can’t go to Disney World without YOU.” His heart was melted instantly, and he began seriously considering how we could take this trip.

We both felt like we needed and wanted to go if we could, and so we started seriously looking at our budget and determined that we could AND WOULD make this work so that we could have a great WDW vacation!

And, once again, I turned into the crazy beast that is vacation planner extraordinaire! I dashed to my nearest library to check out the Unofficial Guide and all other trip books, and I scoured the Internet for all of the flight and room info.

So once again, WDW trip planning madness had begun–yippee!

Coming Up: Let’s Meet Our Contestants!

 

[Avivasmom]

What a great uncle he is!!

I cannot wait to read about all your planning!!! Sounds like it is going to be a great trip. I am taking my SIL for her first trip and cannot wait for her to see it through my DD eyes!!!

 

[Bev1016]

What a great uncle he is!!

Thanks! DH is a great uncle--the girls absolutely love him.

I am taking my SIL for her first trip and cannot wait for her to see it through my DD eyes!!!

It's definitely a different trip when you have kids with you. This will be my first time to WDW with kids, and I'm really excited!

Oh, and welcome! Thanks for reading my pre-trippie!

 

[Bev1016]

It's time to meet our contestants!

So, before I delve any further into my planning adventure (I so desparately want to talk about Cher singing the National Anthem, but no! I must exercise restraint), let's learn a little about my traveling crew, shall we!

Me: aka Emily (my real name), Bev (my secret Internet name), Bevily (my ultra-hip hybrid name invented by Jenny): What to say? I'm 32, this will be my third trip to WDW, and if I could, I would quit my job and plan trips for those mellow vacationers who fail to properly plan for WDW! I love the parks, but my special responsibility is planning all of the pre-trip stuff: hotels, airlines, ADRs, etc.
So, you can imagine how many times my head spun (think a happy version of the Exorcist) when I found out about free dining!
Although this planning has a tendency to make me a little insane, finding the DIS boards has given me a healthy outlet for all of my frenzied pre-trippiness. I thank you, and my family thanks you.

DH: Also 32, he is the yin to my yang, the ideal trip partner in so many ways. He loves to plan and organize, but he also manages to keep a level head when I tend to freak out! Where I am the pre-trip specialist, DH is the park operations specialist. He always gets us on all of the rides, and I am but a fool to ever second-guess him!
DH also serves as "the human pony" to our two nieces, who are transported all over the place on his shoulders--he's a good kid, that DH.

My Sister: She is 31, mother to the two nieces, and a good time on trips. She, along with my mom and dad, pretty much let DH and I go free when it comes to planning and organizing, so everyone's happy. She's quite the picky eater--we're OK as long as we stick to steak and burgers. In every other way, she's pretty easy to please. The only thing that would make the trip better for her would be to accidentally run into Jon Bon Jovi while strolling through the parks.

Mom and Dad: I'm lumping them together, because it's my pre-trippie, and I said so! My parents are cool, and I love to vacation with them. My dad just retired, so he definitely deserves a nice, happy vacation with the whole family. My parents are both vegetarians, healthy and fit--I'm not, but they are good role models! Like my sister, they're happy when someone else does the planning, and they are glad to be along for the ride.

Niece (7): Niece #1 is smart, nice, really shy around people she doesn't know, and pretty crazy around those she does know (we like that!). She is excited to ride all of the roller coasters and is growing out of the princesses phase, although I think she'll still be excited to eat at CRT. She's most excited for the Rockin' Roller Coaster and Splash Mountain. Niece #1 is 7 now, but will be 8 at the time of our trip.

Niece (5): Niece #2 is such a girly girl. She likes frilly dresses, ballet, barbie dolls, and has an imaginary boyfriend named Todd Plant. She says some of the funniest, most creative things, and I think she will love WDW! She's not sure if she's going on the roller coasters yet, but I think we can talk her into it.

So, that's our little gang! I hope to have some pics (at least of me and DH) sometime soon.

Coming up: Flights, Hotels, and Meal Plans--Oh My!

 

[passthepixiedust]

Sounds like a fun crew, Bevily! I can't wait to read more!

Cher? Do tell.....

 

[rentayenta]

Looking good Bevily! You and Mr. Bevily sound like a great team; you plan and he knows the parks!

 

[Goofyluver]

Waiting for more Miss Bevily!