bedgraynexl
You are likely to be eaten by a grue
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Messages
- 311
Chapter 1: Pre Trip: Star Wars and Dancing in the World: Everyone is Happy
I have never written a trip report before but I have had so much fun reading some of the others I thought I would give it a try. Here is the cast of characters: Me 30 something father of three who stays incredibly busy and really needs this vacation. I work, go to seminary, and am a minister for a small church in Oklahoma. Needless to say I am ready to get away. DW is also thirty-something and is the love of my life. She is probably a bigger Disney Fanatic than I am. She grew up with summers in California and went all the time. My first Disney experience wasnt until I was in my twenties so I am making up for lost time. We have been bi-coastal with a trip to the World in 2005 (Dolphin), Disneyland in 2006 and 2008, and now this return trip to the World in June 2010. We wanted to make sure our kids knew the magic of Disney.
Speaking of the kids first up is DS10 who is all about Star Wars weekend. DS is at that wonderful age where we will start losing him to teenager-dom soon. This may be one of the last family trips he willingly goes on. This Jedi Knight is ready for another crack at the Sith.
DD8 is the reason for this trip. DD8 is part of a Dance Team that is going for Magical Music days. Tiny Dancer is ready to perform for the DW crowds. I dont really care for the reason; it is an excuse to go to the World. The whole team has really worked hard to make this trip and everyone is ready to go.
Last but certainly not least is DD1. This is her first trip to anything Disney. She loves Mickey (on TV) but we are wondering how she will react when she comes face to face with the Big Mouse face to face.
Planning: It is difficult to give up the control of planning the trip to someone else let alone someone who hadnt planned a trip like this. DD8s director has done a good job and has offered us some flexibility. We are staying for seven days at Port Orleans: Riverside. The team is split between POR and All-Stars Music. We had talked about POR at somepoint, so this works out for us. We get along pretty well with most the rest of the team. Since DD8 is one of the youngest on the team, the older girls have really taken the minis under their wing and made them feel like they are part of the group.
Fortunately the dance stuff will only take part of our time and we will be able to enjoy the World as a family. DS is excited because it is Star Wars Weekend, so that works out too. I am a little hesitant because of the crowds, but I think there are still enough districts in school that it shouldnt be too bad.
As far as my own planning goes I have already made ADRs for CRT, Crystal Palace, Akershus, and Citricos (our 11th anniversary). The team is eating together at Chef Mickeys. I probably would have made more ressies but DW wants some flexibility in our schedule. She doesnt understand the obsessive planning that can occur. I see her point. In 2005 we just walked up and got seated. But that trip was also in April, so it wasnt very crowded. Early summer will be a different story. I got the important ones. We were not able to eat in the Castle last time. It may be a late ADR, but it is still in hand.
I also got really lucky with our plane tickets. I had been watching Southwest daily since our travel dates were released. They had been consistently about $150 -$175 one way to fly out of OKC. I got lucky and scored $84. It was the ONLY day I saw them that low. SCORE. It might have been a glitch but it was still honored. I hadnt seen tickets that low in a long time. I usually had to drive to Dallas to get lower rates.
I have also tried to plan which parks to go to on each day based on EMH and our dance schedule. I get the feeling that will all go out the window based on a family coup.
As of today we are less than a month from the World. We are getting all the little things together. The kids are bouncing off the walls (I wonder if I made a mistake putting the countdown ticker on their computer.
I am ready for this trip and cant wait to make it to the World!
Hotel
Park Tickets
Airfare
ADRs
See Ya Real Soon
I have never written a trip report before but I have had so much fun reading some of the others I thought I would give it a try. Here is the cast of characters: Me 30 something father of three who stays incredibly busy and really needs this vacation. I work, go to seminary, and am a minister for a small church in Oklahoma. Needless to say I am ready to get away. DW is also thirty-something and is the love of my life. She is probably a bigger Disney Fanatic than I am. She grew up with summers in California and went all the time. My first Disney experience wasnt until I was in my twenties so I am making up for lost time. We have been bi-coastal with a trip to the World in 2005 (Dolphin), Disneyland in 2006 and 2008, and now this return trip to the World in June 2010. We wanted to make sure our kids knew the magic of Disney.
Speaking of the kids first up is DS10 who is all about Star Wars weekend. DS is at that wonderful age where we will start losing him to teenager-dom soon. This may be one of the last family trips he willingly goes on. This Jedi Knight is ready for another crack at the Sith.
DD8 is the reason for this trip. DD8 is part of a Dance Team that is going for Magical Music days. Tiny Dancer is ready to perform for the DW crowds. I dont really care for the reason; it is an excuse to go to the World. The whole team has really worked hard to make this trip and everyone is ready to go.
Last but certainly not least is DD1. This is her first trip to anything Disney. She loves Mickey (on TV) but we are wondering how she will react when she comes face to face with the Big Mouse face to face.
Planning: It is difficult to give up the control of planning the trip to someone else let alone someone who hadnt planned a trip like this. DD8s director has done a good job and has offered us some flexibility. We are staying for seven days at Port Orleans: Riverside. The team is split between POR and All-Stars Music. We had talked about POR at somepoint, so this works out for us. We get along pretty well with most the rest of the team. Since DD8 is one of the youngest on the team, the older girls have really taken the minis under their wing and made them feel like they are part of the group.
Fortunately the dance stuff will only take part of our time and we will be able to enjoy the World as a family. DS is excited because it is Star Wars Weekend, so that works out too. I am a little hesitant because of the crowds, but I think there are still enough districts in school that it shouldnt be too bad.
As far as my own planning goes I have already made ADRs for CRT, Crystal Palace, Akershus, and Citricos (our 11th anniversary). The team is eating together at Chef Mickeys. I probably would have made more ressies but DW wants some flexibility in our schedule. She doesnt understand the obsessive planning that can occur. I see her point. In 2005 we just walked up and got seated. But that trip was also in April, so it wasnt very crowded. Early summer will be a different story. I got the important ones. We were not able to eat in the Castle last time. It may be a late ADR, but it is still in hand.
I also got really lucky with our plane tickets. I had been watching Southwest daily since our travel dates were released. They had been consistently about $150 -$175 one way to fly out of OKC. I got lucky and scored $84. It was the ONLY day I saw them that low. SCORE. It might have been a glitch but it was still honored. I hadnt seen tickets that low in a long time. I usually had to drive to Dallas to get lower rates.
I have also tried to plan which parks to go to on each day based on EMH and our dance schedule. I get the feeling that will all go out the window based on a family coup.
As of today we are less than a month from the World. We are getting all the little things together. The kids are bouncing off the walls (I wonder if I made a mistake putting the countdown ticker on their computer.
I am ready for this trip and cant wait to make it to the World! Hotel
Park Tickets
Airfare
ADRs
See Ya Real Soon
