Oh, yes we are! **home from SSR, with pics and final thoughts, p.10, post 139

[Pixieflip]

I guess we'll call this a PTR that will go into a live TR! If you want to come along, here we go...


A little background info for you. My DH and I are both 40, wait, he's 41! Been married 18 years, college sweethearts. We have 4 kids.

DS16 is a junior in high school
DD13 is in 8th grade
DD12 is in 7th grade
DS9 is in 4th grade

DH has been going to WDW since 1972, but my first trip was in 1991 when we got engaged. The kids have literally grown up there. Every corner has a memory, every ride has a story and most restaurants have been enjoyed. And yet, we still feel like there's more to do!

Here's a photo from last Christmas at the Best Friends Breakfast at Ohana:

And my favorite photo, as usual, by the Castle:

We have been through quite a year. The death of my aunt. The death of my friend. The death of my grandpa. 7 months of unemployment. My DD13 blew out her knee on a trampoline. And a very bad other situation/business deal that I'll not disclose any of the details, but suffice to say, it has been shocking at how vindictive some people can be.

On the other hand, we have much to be thankful for. We are all healthy. DH started a fantastic job in June. My business has really picked up. Our kids continue to make good choices. We have an amazing group of friends and the best extended family who all helped us survive the past year. God is so good!

So, yes, we are keeping our DVC reservation and heading to our favorite, happy place, Disneyworld!! 17 days till we leave. I can hardly wait.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm in.... I hope your Disney trip is special..

 

[Coach81]

More, more, more!!!

 

[Pixieflip]

The trip we have planned has been in jeopardy several times. The entire time DH was unemployed, we wondered if we'd get to go. Even when he started working in June, we wondered if we should. That other bad situation, well it is resolving itself in our favor TODAY!!! I guess that's why I'm so giddy and ready to write this out to share with my peeps who understand our joy over a little piece of heaven in Florida.

We check into SSR on 10-10-10 and check out on 10-16-10. This will be our first time at SSR and I'm really excited. We like to try new resorts and since BCV was full, probably due to F&W, we are happy to stay at SSR. We've requested a DTD view, but we'll see.

Oh, my parents are going along with us. And they'll be flying and using ME. We always seem to take one set of grandparents or the other. Last Christmas was my inlaws, this fall is my parents. Grandparents are great, we enjoy traveling with them. I'll have to look for a photo of them for you.

Here's where I know a lot of you will groan. We drive 24 hours to get to WDW! I know, I know, but you know what? The cost to fly a family of 6 from here is $1600+fees (we are not a major airport). We can drive for under $600. Driving means we can go more often and to us, that is a good thing. Our usual plan is to drive 15 hours the first day and land somewhere in northern Georgia. Then we only have 8 hours the second day, which seems like a breeze. But arriving at dinner time on 10-10-10 seems like we will be wasting an entire day at SSR.

And so, a new plan was hatched. We are leaving after work on Friday, 10-8-10. We'll drive 9 hours. Then on Saturday, we'll drive the rest of the way. We have made a reservation at CSR for one night!!! We've never stayed there either! I hear great things about it and the kids are super excited to try the pool in the morning. While they swim, I'll buzz over to SSR and check in. If the room is ready, we'll take our stuff and get settled. If not, no big deal, we'll send it to bell services. Not a big fan of leaving belongings in the car all day. After we're all set, we can head to the Magic Kindgom. My favorite.

Sound like a good plan? What do you think?

Up next: Our DVC history...

 

[nolanboys]

Sounds like a great plan. Good idea to leave Friday night and stay the extra night at CSR. I also have 4 kids and DH and I are college sweethearts. Married 15, been together 20. So happy that things seem to be on the upswing for your family. You will have a great time!And I know about airfare for 6!We have a discover escape card that lets us rack up points for $100 vouchers to be used on travel expenses. I booked airfare for $1400 for spring break, but we had been saving up our points, so we got $600 off.

 

[Pixieflip]

Joining DVC was the best thing we have ever done. Sure, the payments were hard a couple of times, we're not made of money you know. But we are down to our last 5 payments!! I still can't believe we get to have points till 2042!! The vacations just keep coming!

Here's a little trip down our DVC memory lane. We joined in January 2001 when I was 5 months pregnant with our last little one, DS9. We were on a trip to WDW and my DH kept bugging me to go see the sales center. Well, I knew what would happen if I agreed to go. And I was right! They were just getting ready to open up VWL so they were selling out Vero Beach at a steal of a price. Of course, we had to do it.

Here's our little family at Cocoa Beach on the day we became DVC members:

Our first trip on points was a year later, 3 nights at the VWL. We felt like such grown ups!! What a great place. We'll have to go back there some time for sure. DS was only 8 months old. Nope, not afraid to take a baby to WDW. Most baby-friendly place I've ever been.

Our next trip on points was a little of a disaster in planning. We thought we'd do a cruise, so we booked it. Then my DH got cold feet on all the extra expenses for a cruise, so we cancelled. I can't remember the details, but we ended up planning a trip to WDW instead and got two rooms on points at PFQ. Now we love PFQ, but I was sad to not have a villa. Oh well. We had a fun time anyway! Here we are in 2003. (Two younger kids were not on Splash, but with inlaws in the gift shop.) DH and myself in front row, Mom and older DD in second row, and Dad with oldest DS in the back. Classic photo.

In January of 2005, we took that Disney Cruise! It was a year of fantastically fun planning. We gave it to the kids as their Gold Gift on Christmas, so they had no idea until 13 days before the cruise. What fun!!!! (BTW, my parents are on the left.)

And on Castaway Cay:

Up next: a couple more trips.

 

[Pixieflip]

I'm in.... I hope your Disney trip is special..

Thanks! I'm glad you're with us in spirit.

More, more, more!!!

I'm working on it!!!

Sounds like a great plan. Good idea to leave Friday night and stay the extra night at CSR. I also have 4 kids and DH and I are college sweethearts. Married 15, been together 20. So happy that things seem to be on the upswing for your family. You will have a great time!And I know about airfare for 6!We have a discover escape card that lets us rack up points for $100 vouchers to be used on travel expenses. I booked airfare for $1400 for spring break, but we had been saving up our points, so we got $600 off.

Airfare is crazy, isn't it? Plus baggage fees. So frustrating. Good thing my families drives well. Looks like we have a lot in common. And you're leaving soon! Have a fantastic trip!

 

[AnnaS]

I am enjoying reading it all and looking forward to more. Happy to hear things are looking up for you guys and enjoy your upcoming trip.

We are hoping to make ours too next month.

 

[heathers4um]

I am soooo happy for you!! You sound as if you not only need this but deserve it very much!

Cant wait for more...

 

[ospopo5]

I am enjoying reading your story. I am glad that we are not the only crazy one. We bought after a year of having info. Our guide called us and we had a very minimum point purchase. Called today and booked our first trip home for next August. 5 nights with a 1 year old who will be turning 2 and a yet to be named baby who will be 6 months old.

I am glad we took the plunge and will be doing more. I hope my family will be able to create the memories like you have and are doing!

 

[Pixieflip]

In January of 2007, we took a 7 night trip to BCV and absolutely fell in love with that resort. Seriously, how many points should I plan to have so I can winter there when we retire? Walking distance to Epcot, a cleaning service every 4 days, no snow...yep, I'm there. Anyway...kids are getting bigger.

In the fall of 2007, we had some points that were going to expire. My parents were heading to Florida to use their AP's one more time. Dad grew up on the Jersey Shore (though his experience was VASTLY different than that show! I'm just saying!), so he always likes to tack on a few days at the beach. Well, guess what. We were able to give my parents 4 nights at Vero! Yeah! They had a blast and even took photos of "our" villa. It's one of the beach cottages! Are we all given the best room, or are we just lucky? Maybe some day we'll actually stay there. Can't find the photos right now, they're on the old computer. Sorry. But, it's another great example of why we love our DVC. Our thrown away points were someone else's great time and a great resort.

The next trip on points was THREE YEARS LATER. Ugh. It just about was too much to bear, being gone from my happy place that long. But as everyone knows, the economy was hard, gas was over $4 a gallon. We just kept postponing.

Until January 2010. We luxuriated for 5 nights in a 2 bedroom Savanna View Room at Kidani Village. Oh. my. goodness. It was so lovely. And my family, we just keep getting older!

Wait. One more treat. This past February, for my DD13's actual 13 birthday, we surprised her with a trip to OKW. She about flipped out. I love DVC. She felt like a rock star texting all her friends she was in Florida instead of algebra!

Up next: ADR's.

 

[toniosmom]

Love reading your PTR! Your photos are lovely -- it's so nice to see how the kids have grown. I started taking similar photos in 2008 when my son was 3 years old. That is also the trip where I bought in to DVC at Kidani. We have had two more trips since that time and have 3 more planned before the end of 2011, including a short cruise on the Dream. I am enjoying looking at our photos over the past two years, watching my son grow. He is now almost 6 years old and I will have more photos to add to my collection.

I can't wait to read more about your upcoming trip. Enjoy!

 

[Pixieflip]

Happy to hear things are looking up for you guys and enjoy your upcoming trip.

Yes, things are looking up and not just because we're going to WDW.

I am soooo happy for you!! You sound as if you not only need this but deserve it very much!

Cant wait for more...

Thank you!

Love reading your PTR! Your photos are lovely -- it's so nice to see how the kids have grown. I started taking similar photos in 2008 when my son was 3 years old. That is also the trip where I bought in to DVC at Kidani. We have had two more trips since that time and have 3 more planned before the end of 2011, including a short cruise on the Dream. I am enjoying looking at our photos over the past two years, watching my son grow. He is now almost 6 years old and I will have more photos to add to my collection.

I can't wait to read more about your upcoming trip. Enjoy!

Thanks! That reminds me that I made a poster of our photos with Mickey through all the years on all our trips. It's for our Mickey bathroom. Of course we have a Mickey bathroom, doesn't everyone?

In case you're wondering, the other trips not mentioned as using our DVC points, obviously there were years before that point and we stayed at various WDW resorts. But also, my inlaws built a vacation home 15 minutes outside of WDW and graciously allow us to stay there or join them there. Yep, we are spoiled.

 

[Pixieflip]

I am enjoying reading your story. I am glad that we are not the only crazy one. We bought after a year of having info. Our guide called us and we had a very minimum point purchase. Called today and booked our first trip home for next August. 5 nights with a 1 year old who will be turning 2 and a yet to be named baby who will be 6 months old.

I am glad we took the plunge and will be doing more. I hope my family will be able to create the memories like you have and are doing!

WDW with babies is certainly different than other trips you've had in the past and also from the way it will be when they're older. But what a great baby friendly place. We took it slower, I took them back to the room for naps if needed, but sometimes we were blessed with a spontaneous nap in the stroller - and then you hoped for no fireworks or train whistles to wake them! Take all your stuff and enjoy. And take all the photos you want, it's true, they do grow so fast.

And no, you are NOT the only crazy ones!

 

[Pixieflip]

So, at exactly the 180 day mark, I jumped on the phone with Disney Dining. Yes, it is preprogrammed into my cell. Isn't it on yours, too?

At that time, DH was still unemployed so making these ADRs was a little bittersweet. Good ideas, no guarantees we'd get to enjoy. But I made them anyway because we know you can't necessarily just walk up anymore. We're not doing the Dining Plan. I don't even know how much that is for the 6 of us!! We did it the time we stayed at the BCV in 2007. It was sooooo much food. Way too much. And my girls do not eat anything close to a full adult portion. My DS9 is happy with buttered noodles all day every day. So, we'll have a good breakfast in the villa, lunch and a snack in the park and dinner back in the villa or maybe in the park, depending.

Our for sure meals are:

The Turf Club on 10-10-10 for dinner

The Crystal Palace on 10-11-10 for breakfast

Garden View Tea Room on 10-11-10 - that's tea for mom's birthday celebration and a girls only event

The Turf Club on 10-12-10 for lunch

The Captain's Grille on 10-15-10 for breakfast. This place reminds me of my grandpa who just passed away this summer, very nautical, he would have enjoyed it there. This day will be his birthday and I thought my dad might enjoy it here. We'll see. Hopefully he won't get too emotional.

We won't eat at the Turf Club twice. We'll pick the one that works best and cancel the other one. There are several CS places we love and plan to visit: Cosmic Rays for their rotisserie chicken, Flame Tree BBQ, Yorkshire County Fish and Chips, etc. I don't really love any CS at DHS. Maybe I should try for and ADR at 50's Prime Time Cafe. I just don't know what day we'll do DHS.

What do you think?



Up next: Disney Planners Unite!

 

[com_op_2000]

I am enjoying reading your thread. Will be following, have a great trip.

 

[ajf1007]

Love your tr so far and can't wait to read more!

 

[Pixieflip]

I am enjoying reading your thread. Will be following, have a great trip.

Love your tr so far and can't wait to read more!

Glad you could join us!

I totally should be doing a million other things, but you know what I spent today doing? Finishing my digital scrapbook of our last Disney trip! We absolutely cannot go again if we don't have the last one completed. I'm just gonna take more photos and they'll get all backed up and mixed up in my mind. Anybody feel my pain?



I'll get it ordered here in a few minutes. Checking that off my list. Oh, my list. I should probably start one of those...

 

[ajf1007]

Glad you could join us!

I totally should be doing a million other things, but you know what I spent today doing? Finishing my digital scrapbook of our last Disney trip! We absolutely cannot go again if we don't have the last one completed. I'm just gonna take more photos and they'll get all backed up and mixed up in my mind. Anybody feel my pain?



I'll get it ordered here in a few minutes. Checking that off my list. Oh, my list. I should probably start one of those...

That's great! I'm definitely going to do that after this trip. We're going to DL (VGC) for a week 10/2 - 10/9 and we're so excited. I think the digital scrapbook is such a great idea. Do you do that on Kodak's website?

 

[Pixieflip]

That's great! I'm definitely going to do that after this trip. We're going to DL (VGC) for a week 10/2 - 10/9 and we're so excited. I think the digital scrapbook is such a great idea. Do you do that on Kodak's website?

Hey, are you going to do a trip report on your VGC trip? I'd love to hear because that is on our very short list of dreams.



I use Creative Memories' software. I absolutely love it. Want me to post some photos? I will try tomorrow.