Party of 5's First family trip to WDW! Just back from POR 6/16 *update 8/13 thoughts

[ampc3]

I your TR so much

It gave me so much joy to see your beautful family enjoy WDW.

I loved your final thoughts and will take them to heart.

We look forward to your next TR ~ the truth is that 2010 will be here before we know it

Thank you for such kind words, that really means alot!

Awwww, what a great trippie! I loved it and getting to know you and your family! 2010 is really only 18m away you know, it will be here before you know it! Better start looking at those menus now!

Allyson

I am so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for tagging along

Annette,

I really enjoyed your TR and got a lot of great tips from you! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Tammy

Glad I could help,looking forward to your TR too.

I really enjoyed your TR! Isn't it amazing to see the World through your kiddo's eye's.

Yes it is, thank you so much!

Thanks for a lovely report and your final thoughts, seeing your kids thoughts has reminded me that my DD wants to write her own TR for our next trip, wonder if she will, we leave tomorrow for 14 days and both the girls have been sent to bed ridiculously excited

Thanks again

I hope you are having a fabulous trip! can't wait to hear about it!

AWWW ANNETTE!!!! You made me all emotional!!! I loved your closing comments!!! I do hope you guys get there again soon--and hopefully, 2010 will come quickly!!! ;o) I loved reading along and meeting you in person!! I so wish we had more time to talk, but it was a joy to at least meet you even if just for a short moment. Lifelong "disfriends" indeed!!! We MUST keep in touch and updated on everything going on!!! Hope to talk soon, Jen

Thanks so much Jen, yes lets keep in touch for sure!

We must have been thinking it was time to wrap it up.... the same time almost. I agree with so much of what you said: Rope drop, Tour Guide Mike, character meals and staying on site. I will miss your report and family too- it was fun to read your interview!

Thanks again, was a blast meeting all of you!

Loved every minute of your TR! It sounds like your DH is my hubby's twin on the Disney philosophy! Does not understand why I enjoy the planning so much, but once we were there a few days he stopped and thanked me for it. He was effected by the pixie dust while we were there and loved every minute. But here is my advice- try to set a return date (approx) now. The pixie dust seemed to fade as we got further from our trip (5/07). It took some convincing to get him to commit for our 5/09 trip!

Two years feels like forever- but it is not too bad. We have had some fun road trips in the interim- Pennsylvania, Washington DC and New Hampshire- all fun but admittedly no WDW!

Good luck planning your next trip- have you thought about renting points from a DVC owner and maybe getting a one bedroom?

Thanks for following along, glad you enjoyed it. I will take your advice to heart and tell DH my plan!
I wasn't sure if we could do a one bedroom with 5 people?? I do need to check into the whole renting points thing.
make sure you do a TR next year for your trip too!

What wonderful thoughts! I've really enjoyed your trip report! Here is wishing you pixie dust for a return trip soon!!

So glad you enjoyed it, I'll take that pixie dust for sure!

Thanks again to all of you, really, you all had such nice things to say and it really is apprecitated it and made doing this all worth it!

 

[morgtroy]

Thanks for sharing, I can't believe this is your first TR, you seemed like a pro.
You gave a lot of great tips, especially closing thoughts. I read everything Disney I could get my hands on when we planned the first trip. I've never done a TR, I scrapbook and spend months after my trip scrapbooking it. That's how I've gotten over post disney blues the last 2 trips. Plus I can't tell you how many times we get those books out and look at them. I make a family book then separate smaller books for each of my kids to keep. It's truly a magical place, you can even see the magic in the pics, but they still don't do it justice.

My DH is in agreement with yours. Every 2 years. We went in 2005 and again in 2007. Both times for the fall, free dining package. Which I highly recommend. Great savings and very low crowd level. But the 2 years roll around pretty fast and Disney adds a few new things in the 2 yr period. Plus gives you more time to save/budget. I have to warn you that we seem to want more next trip and upgrade/splurge (translated "spend, cha ching") a little more each time.
My DH also doesn't get into the planning that much, but I will say each time he's gotten a little more involved in it. He's actually said where he wants to stay and mentioned a couple restaurants he wants to do next trip. Some men apparently have thicker skin and it takes longer for Disney magic to seep in. He definitely has a blast while we're there. He loves the dining plan.

Next year is a "Disney Year" for us
I do have a few questions for you, but I'll PM you.
Thanks again for sharing, you have a great family.

 

[snowbell]

I cannot believe you are done.. i just found this report... i am only on page 8 so I am excited to hear all about your trip.

 

[A M&Asmom]

I just read your TR....wonderful trip. I almost felt like I was there and I sure am wishing I was going soon. I read these TR's and just dream about going again! Might have to wait a couple years, but we will be back. Again thanks for posting you TR so we can live Disney through you!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great TR and great final thoughts, Annette!!! I have so enjoyed reading about your trip and seeing all the photos of your lovely family! I am so sad it is all over now.

As others have said, 2010 will be here before you know it!!! Just think: a year from now you can book for 2010!

 

[ampc3]

Thanks for sharing, I can't believe this is your first TR, you seemed like a pro.
You gave a lot of great tips, especially closing thoughts. I read everything Disney I could get my hands on when we planned the first trip. I've never done a TR, I scrapbook and spend months after my trip scrapbooking it. That's how I've gotten over post disney blues the last 2 trips. Plus I can't tell you how many times we get those books out and look at them. I make a family book then separate smaller books for each of my kids to keep. It's truly a magical place, you can even see the magic in the pics, but they still don't do it justice.

My DH is in agreement with yours. Every 2 years. We went in 2005 and again in 2007. Both times for the fall, free dining package. Which I highly recommend. Great savings and very low crowd level. But the 2 years roll around pretty fast and Disney adds a few new things in the 2 yr period. Plus gives you more time to save/budget. I have to warn you that we seem to want more next trip and upgrade/splurge (translated "spend, cha ching") a little more each time.
My DH also doesn't get into the planning that much, but I will say each time he's gotten a little more involved in it. He's actually said where he wants to stay and mentioned a couple restaurants he wants to do next trip. Some men apparently have thicker skin and it takes longer for Disney magic to seep in. He definitely has a blast while we're there. He loves the dining plan.

Next year is a "Disney Year" for us
I do have a few questions for you, but I'll PM you.
Thanks again for sharing, you have a great family.

Thanks for such kind words, I got alot of tips here and on TGM and did ALOT of research and following along of other's TR... Glad I could help, got your pm and will answer it this weekend..
Great that next year is a disney year for you all... I wish we could go in the fall, but DH is adament that they don't miss school.. so that really only leaves us the summer, which I would for sure go in June again.

I cannot believe you are done.. i just found this report... i am only on page 8 so I am excited to hear all about your trip.

Thanks for finding us and reading along! Hope you like it

I just read your TR....wonderful trip. I almost felt like I was there and I sure am wishing I was going soon. I read these TR's and just dream about going again! Might have to wait a couple years, but we will be back. Again thanks for posting you TR so we can live Disney through you!!!

Thanks for reading

Great TR and great final thoughts, Annette!!! I have so enjoyed reading about your trip and seeing all the photos of your lovely family! I am so sad it is all over now.

As others have said, 2010 will be here before you know it!!! Just think: a year from now you can book for 2010!

Hey Jackie, Thanks so much for joining me! I feel like I have made so many friends along the way... still wish we would have run into each other... yes we should plan a Dis meet sometime, since our kids are so close in age, and we are practically neighbors... Yes can't wait to book for 2010~

 

[Moms3sons]

Anyway I knew that we would not be using all the FP we had collected, so I decided to start to give them away… I swear people just look at you , like you are crazy or trying to scam them. I can’t believe how many people don’t know you can use the FP later then the time on the ticket. I asked several CM’s during the trip and they all said anytime after just NOT before ….

Great TR!
It seems you have really figured out the art of the Fastpass with baby swap and I would love to understand it as well as you do.

On our last trip in 2005, we spent half our time crisscrossing the parks trying to use our FP during the given time. We had no idea that we could use them after they expired (I think we even threw some out since we didn't get back to the park in time after our daily break/nap!). Did you ever have trouble using your FP later than your window? I've heard that some rides will not let you (Soarin and Toy Story?)

Our trip is at the end of Sep and we will have two of our three boys (leaving our youngest with grandma). Our 2 year old will be too small for most all of the rides and my 7 year old loves all rides (rode Test Track at age 3 and loved it!). Would it work for us to split our FP collections (I get one FP at a ride and get 2 FP at a different ride) then use the baby swap to allow us to take turns riding with our 7 year old while covering more ground? Do the CMs ask to see that everyone in the group has a FP before allowing the first parent to use the FP line before getting the baby swap pass? I think one of us would have to ride solo using the single ticket FP, but then the other parent could take 7 y.o. during the baby swap?

Thanks again for your great Trip Report - I enjoyed reading along. Our next trip will likely be a party of five (in a couple more years).

 

[ampc3]

Great TR!
It seems you have really figured out the art of the Fastpass with baby swap and I would love to understand it as well as you do.

On our last trip in 2005, we spent half our time crisscrossing the parks trying to use our FP during the given time. We had no idea that we could use them after they expired (I think we even threw some out since we didn't get back to the park in time after our daily break/nap!). Did you ever have trouble using your FP later than your window? I've heard that some rides will not let you (Soarin and Toy Story?)

Our trip is at the end of Sep and we will have two of our three boys (leaving our youngest with grandma). Our 2 year old will be too small for most all of the rides and my 7 year old loves all rides (rode Test Track at age 3 and loved it!). Would it work for us to split our FP collections (I get one FP at a ride and get 2 FP at a different ride) then use the baby swap to allow us to take turns riding with our 7 year old while covering more ground? Do the CMs ask to see that everyone in the group has a FP before allowing the first parent to use the FP line before getting the baby swap pass? I think one of us would have to ride solo using the single ticket FP, but then the other parent could take 7 y.o. during the baby swap?

Thanks again for your great Trip Report - I enjoyed reading along. Our next trip will likely be a party of five (in a couple more years).

Kim,

I am going to send you a PM later today...

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I know it's been forever but I had to come back and finish your report! What a wonderful family trip it turned out to be. We don't go back as a family for another year and it's so depressing. I love all of the pictures you took!