Our "Totally Tinsel" Christmas vacation! UPDATES Page 14 - two!!

[DWGal210]

Hello to all of you!

We are back from our extravaganza Christmas vacation, where we stayed for a total of 9 nights at the AKL Kidani Village and Saratoga Springs. I hope to entertain you with our pictures, stories, and relating of our trip! So buckle up, and let's get started!

For those of you who did not read my PTR (and shame on you ), here is an introduction to the cast:

Me: 27 year old Disney lover, and the author of this report.

DSister: 18 years old, and also enjoys Disney vacations.

DUncle, DAunt, and DCousins: (kids are ages 3, 9, 14 and 16) Both my sister and I have gone quite a few times with our aunt, uncle and cousins. They are DVC owners and so we've spent quite a bit of time at Disney World!! Back in February, we started planning this trip - that 10 months went FAST!!

I am uploading pictures as we speak, so stay tuned for those! In the meantime, here is a pic to hold you until I continue this report:

See you real soon!

INDEX:

Day 1, Part 1: Page One
Day 1, Part 2: Page Two, Post 23
Day 1, Part 3: Page Two, Post 24
Day 1, Part 4: Page Two, Post 25
Day 2: Page Four
Day 3, Part 1: Page Five
Day 3, Part 2: Page Six
Day 4, Part 1: Page Seven
Day 4, Part 2: Page Eight
Day 5, Parts 1 and 2: Pages Nine and Ten
Day 5, Part 3: Page Ten

 

[MHTeacher]

Hi....Read and enjoyed your pre trip report. We were at Disney around the same time, so I can't wait to read your trip report, and see how your vacation went. Ours was great!

 

[heaven2dc]

Sounds like a really fun trip with cousins and your aunt and uncle! Can't wait to read all about it (and love TR's with lots of pics!) hint-hint

 

[DWGal210]

Hi....Read and enjoyed your pre trip report. We were at Disney around the same time, so I can't wait to read your trip report, and see how your vacation went. Ours was great!

Hi there! Nice to "see" you again! I bet we passed each other during that week and just never knew it! We had a great time, I can't wait to share it with everyone!!

Sounds like a really fun trip with cousins and your aunt and uncle! Can't wait to read all about it (and love TR's with lots of pics!) hint-hint

Welcome!!

I am loading 500 pics into Photobucket as we speak I kept a trip journal this time around so I could better remember what we did, and when, etc. So I am getting that organized tonight and I should have an update soon! Thanks again for reading!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Helloooo Katie! Glad to see you started! I'm subbing!

 

[annnewjerz]

Hey! Just saw you were back and had started your TR. I started mine too---but have only done part of one day so far. I've been so super busy, it's been hard to make time for TR writing.

Anywho, signing on for this one and really looking forward to hearing all about the trip!

Ann

 

[DWGal210]

Helloooo Katie! Glad to see you started! I'm subbing!

Hey Anita!! So sorry I was unable to make the meet on the 27th...we had dinner that night at Sci Fi and by the time we got back to the room, it was getting late and the kids were restless. I've been reading your TR so far as well - sounds like you guys had an interesting time!

Hey! Just saw you were back and had started your TR. I started mine too---but have only done part of one day so far. I've been so super busy, it's been hard to make time for TR writing.

Anywho, signing on for this one and really looking forward to hearing all about the trip!

Ann

Hey Ann!! How have you been?! I know, I have only done a few things, too....I hope to write more as the week goes on. I'll go over to your TR and subscribe!

 

[Disneymoon09]

woohoo! im in!

 

[ladybugmom]

YAY!!! I'm here, Katie!!!!

 

[MeMom]

Hey Anita!! So sorry I was unable to make the meet on the 27th...we had dinner that night at Sci Fi and by the time we got back to the room, it was getting late and the kids were restless. I've been reading your TR so far as well - sounds like you guys had an interesting time!

You missed some interesting dancing, for sure.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your pictures, especially around Kidani. It was a good week for us, but I sure would have loved a full ten days. Our long summer vacations have spoiled us, so a week or less just seems to fly by now and we feel like there is so much we don't get around to.

We enjoyed meeting everyone on NYE. Sorry we didn't all get to sit around and really talk and get to know each other too much. The entertainment was a bit of a distraction , Brook was busy trying to get Joe and Henry over there before fireworks (glad they made it by the time the evening was completely over), and Bella needed to be walked around. It was all over so quickly. You guys were wonderful to let Brooklynn hang out with you. She was quite happy.

 

[praisehisname]

I'm joining in!

 

[DWGal210]

woohoo! im in!

YAY!!! I'm here, Katie!!!!

I'm joining in!

Yeah!! Thanks, everyone!! I am hoping to do Day 1 today.

 

[DWGal210]

You missed some interesting dancing, for sure.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your pictures, especially around Kidani. It was a good week for us, but I sure would have loved a full ten days. Our long summer vacations have spoiled us, so a week or less just seems to fly by now and we feel like there is so much we don't get around to.

We enjoyed meeting everyone on NYE. Sorry we didn't all get to sit around and really talk and get to know each other too much. The entertainment was a bit of a distraction , Brook was busy trying to get Joe and Henry over there before fireworks (glad they made it by the time the evening was completely over), and Bella needed to be walked around. It was all over so quickly. You guys were wonderful to let Brooklynn hang out with you. She was quite happy.

Hey there!! No worries, it was a busy time. My sister and Brooklyn were having the best time - I'll be sure and post some pics of them playing, they were so cute!! Thanks for organzing that...it was a lot of fun! And if we are ever down again for NYE, for SURE we will be at the Poly - that is THE place to watch the fireworks!!

 

[jewels1916]

Hey! I am excited to read your TR! I was in and out of your PTR for a while....I forgot what dates you were there. Were we there at the same time??

 

[DWGal210]

In an effort to stretch out this TR for as long as humanly possible, I am going to do each day in multiple parts. Not only will it leave you in suspense, it will also allow me to remember better exactly what we did each day.

So here we go!!!!
The morning of the 26th came VERY early for me. I went to bed right at 9, but of course, didn't actually fall asleep until around 11:30. It was comical - that clock was just tick-tocking by and my eyes would not close. I thought for sure that last glass of Christmas wine would knock me out, but no dice.

I then awoke before my alarm, bright-eyed and bushy tailed at 3:00AM!! Was I excited, or what?!

Now, for those of you that do not live in the Midwest, this week we had a LOT of winter weather. A LOT. West of us was hit the hardest; they had about 21" of snow (yes, you read that right, 21 inches of snow) and travel in the western half of the state was non-existent. But after checking the weather reports and road conditions, we made our way on the road, right on time at 6AM.

As I mentioned in my PTR, I had made goody bags for the kids to take on the trip. A few days earlier, I let my goddaughter in on the secret and had her help me decorate the gift bags; below is the finished product.

The kids later told me "Thank you!" and thought it was fun. I'll for sure do that again - it was a nice way to get in the mood of going!

My uncle and I caravaned down to the airport. We left at 6AM, but due to 2 bathroom breaks (for the adults, not the kids), and the blowing snow that was making the driving a bit of a slow go, we got to the airport at 9AM and got in line to check in!

Not everyone was in the picture-taking mood...

But I did get a great shot in front of the tree in the Moline airport! Thanks, kids!

And we were off, on time! Woo hoo!! It only took about 15 minutes to de-ice the plane, and we were off!!

Orlando, here we come!!

Coming in Part 2....will we get to Raglan Road in time?!?!?

Stay tuned!

 

[ladybugmom]

YAY!! You've started!! Glad the kiddos liked their goodie bags!! That was so sweet of you to do that for them!

 

[DWGal210]

YAY!! You've started!! Glad the kiddos liked their goodie bags!! That was so sweet of you to do that for them!

Thanks for coming on board, Becky!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, Katie! You have some explaining to do! You should have told me you had started your TR!

I am here now, though, and can't wait to read the rest!!!

 

[DWGal210]

Oh, Katie! You have some explaining to do! You should have told me you had started your TR!

I am here now, though, and can't wait to read the rest!!!

Oh no, sorry Jackie!! I should have sent out a PM. But at least you are here now...thanks for joining in!!

Part 2 of Day 1 is coming up today, so stay tuned......

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh no, sorry Jackie!! I should have sent out a PM. But at least you are here now...thanks for joining in!!

Part 2 of Day 1 is coming up today, so stay tuned......

No worries now that I am here. You can continue.