Our UnFORGETtable summer trip! A June TR:Update 10/24 Animal Kingdom!

[stace208]

Hi there and welcome to my trip report!
I'm excited to be sharing our Disney trip with you and hope that you will feel comfortable enough to join in!

For those who don't know us, let me start with some introductions.
I'm Stacy and I'm the planner for the most part. I am a second grade teacher.

My DH is John. He's an engineer by trade though he's into the management stuff nowadays. He loves Disney almost as much as me but is much more reserved. Not just about Disney-in all things.

My DS, Ben, is 9. He is bright, happy go lucky, and LOUD most of the time. He's always cooking up some sort of story for a movie or a video game. He loves Lego, video games, swimming, and the TV.

Ellie, my DD, is 7. She's my little sweetheart. She's more like her dad, tends to be shy and quiet, although she's coming out of her shell more and more these days. She loves to draw and do any type of art/craft project, swim, read, and watch TV.

We drove to Disney this time and it works for us. We live in southeast Virginia so our trip is about 12 hours including bathroom stops. John loves having the car and not having to rely on Disney transportation all the time.

We purchased DVC in October 2009 so this was our 2nd trip on our DVC points and our first stay at our home of Old Key West. We had a 1 bedroom villa for 9 nights-June 23-July 2nd. We really loved Old Key West and I booked our trip for next summer there just today.

Next up will be our arrival day...and the first of my forgetfulness...hence the title of my TR. You're gonna love some of what I forgot!

Quick links
Arrival Day part 1
Magic Kingdom morning part 1 and part 2

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I'm here Stacy! Can't wait to read all about your trip

 

[Happydog]

Hi there! I will follow along!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Here! Just noticed that when I chimed in from the car earlier that I had no ticker or anything show up! Hmmmm

 

[MeMom]

Just got in from camp and crawled into bed.
I plan to be here the rest of the evening with my legs propped up.
What a nice way to start my Dising - with a new report!

We enjoyed our visit with you and the treats Brooklynn got,
but it is sad that Purple Dog had to come to such an untimely ending.

 

[VAisforDisneyLvrs]

Hi there! I have been absent from the boards for a couple of days because my computer broke!

My husband is kindly blowing off his grading for the evening to let me DIS. He's pretty great.

I am happy to be here. I will definitely follow along, but since I don't think I am going to get a new computer until after our Disney trip I may only be able to post sparingly!

Thanks again for picking up the goodies for me while you were there!

 

[wsushocker]

I'm here!

 

[stace208]

I'm here Stacy! Can't wait to read all about your trip

Hi Sara! Thanks for coming over!

Hi there! I will follow along!

Hi ya HD! I'm glad you came over!

Here! Just noticed that when I chimed in from the car earlier that I had no ticker or anything show up! Hmmmm

Hi there WigD! I'm glad you came over. I do see no ticker here...odd. I saw it on your posts on your TR though. Weird!

Just got in from camp and crawled into bed.
I plan to be here the rest of the evening with my legs propped up.
What a nice way to start my Dising - with a new report!

We enjoyed our visit with you and the treats Brooklynn got,
but it is sad that Purple Dog had to come to such an untimely ending.

Hi MeMom! Thanks so much for coming over!
We really enjoyed meeting you guys as well. I wish we could've spent more time together and maybe away from a TV so my children would've interacted a little more.

Enjoy your rest-you deserve it!!!

Hi there! I have been absent from the boards for a couple of days because my computer broke!

My husband is kindly blowing off his grading for the evening to let me DIS. He's pretty great.

I am happy to be here. I will definitely follow along, but since I don't think I am going to get a new computer until after our Disney trip I may only be able to post sparingly!

Thanks again for picking up the goodies for me while you were there!

Hi Maggie! Thanks for coming over! That's a great DH you've got to give up his computer!! That's lousy that yours broke.

Glad you got the goodies! I was nervous for a bit because we couldn't find the CD but John went on a search while I took Ellie to characters. He's pretty good too!

I'm here!

Hi Shocker! Thanks for coming over!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Well hello friend! So glad you invited me over here! I will be keeping up MUCH better on this TR b/c it is sooooooooo hot here that I am pretty much locked into the house. We really can't get out and do anything. Even the pool feels like a hot tub!!! YUK! So I am very much looking forward to some entertainment from you that I can participate in from my air conditioned living room!!!

 

[dancin_princess]

I've made it!!! Woohoo!! 1st page

 

[stace208]

Well hello friend! So glad you invited me over here! I will be keeping up MUCH better on this TR b/c it is sooooooooo hot here that I am pretty much locked into the house. We really can't get out and do anything. Even the pool feels like a hot tub!!! YUK! So I am very much looking forward to some entertainment from you that I can participate in from my air conditioned living room!!!

Hi there friend! I'm so glad you are here. I've missed chatting with you.

I hear ya on the heat. We got in the pool tonight and I told the kids it was their bath for the night. I stayed in with them but I hate when it's that warm-I like my swims to be refreshing!

I hope I can live up to the task of your summer entertainment.

I've made it!!! Woohoo!! 1st page

Hi ChiChi! Thanks so much for coming over!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Found your TR this morning, great start, can't wait to read more!!

 

[stace208]

Found your TR this morning, great start, can't wait to read more!!

Hi! Thanks for joining in!!

 

[stace208]

Our story begins while most of the world was still sleeping on a Wednesday morning. 3 a.m. and the alarm sounded. John and I got up quite quickly-we were going to Disney today! I remember being amazed that I had slept as well as I had as usually I struggle sleeping the night before a trip. I think maybe the fact that the day before I'd still been at work had something to do with it!

We dressed and brushed teeth quickly as we had all showered the night before. The kids had slept in travel clothes and were sleeping on the couches in the family room. John loaded up the one bag I had kept to put last minute things in and I packed up the cooler. The kids woke and went to use the bathroom and brush their teeth. Then they gathered their pillows and stuffed friends and went out to the car. John and I did one more sweep of the house (I find this funny and you will too as our story progresses...if I only knew...). We put the dog in his crate-my mother-in-law was coming down to stay with him in a few hours and headed out the door. We hit the road at 3:25-10 full minutes earlier than last year! Woot!!

The trip was uneventful, thankfully. We had decided, to save on time, that we would pack food and only stop for gas and bathroom. It worked great. The kids alternated munching, watching movies, reading, playing games, and just hanging out. We visited at least 1 rest stop in every state! We stopped for gas in South Carolina I think. The kids and I all napped at some point but no one for very long. John drives the whole way, bless him. He gets car sick so he doesn't like to ride anyways. We hit Florida and stopped quickly for free OJ and bathrooms. We were all excited now even though there's still a few hours to go.

Once in Orlando our first stop was Wal-Mart. Not exciting, I know, but I didn't want to have to come back. Ha! We were in and out quickly this year-last year we arrived on a Friday and it took FOREVER! Plus I had a list this year which helped keep us focused on what we needed. We piled back in and headed for Old Key West!!
Yay! We made it

We parked and made our way into the Hospitality House. They are remodeling the front so I didn't take any pictures. I had done online check in and my only request was a first floor room. I know most don't like it but I have a bad knee and just enjoy having a patio. Anywho, there was a line for the online counter but no one at the regular desk so a CM there called me over. We got our welcome packet very quickly and were on our way to our first floor villa!! I was thrilled that I got my request!!
We parked and found our villa. Here are the pictures I took!

We really loved the villa. I know they are refurbing them and I hope when we stay in a 2BR next summer it is refurbed but we had no complaints about this one. It was clean, HUGE, and wasn't really that "worn out" if you ask me. I really like the beachy feel and just felt at home here-that's the point, right!?
We got settled some and I am pretty sure I changed my clothes. Then we headed out for our first TASTE of Disney!

 

[¡WDW!girlrox(:]

Hi!
I'm here!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Thank you for posting the pictures of Old Key West....it's a resort I have always wanted to stay at, and now I want to even more I would love to see the reburbished ones, because yours looked pretty darn good to me!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I think your villa looks nice and very roomy! You have a sofa, loves seat and chair with an ottoman? Too cool!
So are they refurbing all of the villas at OKW? I suppose it is time....

OKW is officially back on my list, but we need a car. Maybe next July!

 

[VAisforDisneyLvrs]

I am wondering what you overlooked on your last walk-through!

Your villa looks fantastic! I can't wait to read more.

I am using DH's computer tonight for a little while, too. Someone rolleyes1) suggested he buy a new video game today, so he is busy playing that right now.

 

[MeMom]

We were supposed to get to see all of that in person.

I love the feel of Old Key West, too. We'd love to be able to stay in a place like you had one of these days.

I am glad that you got your first floor room.
Don't you want to just jump into your pictures and be there again?

 

[MickeyisBeast]

The villa looks fantastic, very nice I love the beachy theme to it!
Can't wait to hear about your first taste of Disney haha