Renfroe family returns to WDW for first time in 5 years!

[alan_renfroe]

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[alan_renfroe]

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[alan_renfroe]

Since it has been nearly five years, I thought I would bring readers up to speed on our past Disney World experiences. My parents took me to WDW once in the early 70s when I was a small child. I loved it!

In 2005, we had a timeshare in Sebastian, Florida on the Atlantic coast. We were there for a week in June and decided to drive up to Orlando one day to take the kids to the Magic Kingdom. It was just a one-day adventure, but DW and I KNEW after that trip we definitely wanted to have a full-blown WDW trip at some point. Here they are very excited about going to Disney World! Wil was 8 yrs old and Juliana was 5 yrs old.










Finally, in 2008 we saved up for our dream vacation at Disney World! We stayed for a week at Coronado Springs Resort and we were on the deluxe dining plan. Greatest trip EVER!

It was such a wonderful experience, we decided to do it again in 2009!

Following the 2009 trip, life got really busy and extra money has been tough to come by. We've gone on vacations each year since then, but mostly short stays along the Gulf Coast.

Last November, I had a business trip to Orlando for a couple of days. Elizabeth joined me for the trip and we stayed at Pop Century. We had a nice quick trip and it totally ignited our desire to have another family vacation at WDW.

NOW: Our son is almost 17 and a Junior in high school, our daughter is 14 and wants to go to WDW really badly....so we're doing it! We have not yet booked anything, but we've made the commitment and already started making our ADRs. More on that in the posts to come.

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[alan_renfroe]

It just so happens that my wife, Elizabeth is attending a conference at Coronado Springs in early January. She will be flying into Orlando and taking the bus to CSR. Obviously there have been lots of changes at WDW since our last trip! She registered a MDE account and ordered her MagicBand. It came in the mail yesterday!









She's excited about her upcoming trip! Part of her Christmas present from me will be a $100 Disney gift card. It's only a two-night stay but she's got a few reservations made. As part of her conference, they have a dessert bar set up at Epcot on the first night. The second night she has reservations to meet with some friends at Raglan Road for dinner. (We LOVE Raglan Road!) Finally, on the day she leaves she's got lunch reservations at Kona before her flight leaves at 5pm. I told her to make sure she gets pictures!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Great pics!

Thanks WiiGirl! Nice to meet you!

 

[alan_renfroe]

We have not officially booked the stay and tickets yet, but we plan to stay at Port Orleans Riverside. The reason we haven't already booked is because after doing some research I found out that Disney has offered a 20% discount at POR for our time period the last couple of years. Last year, they rolled out that offer on December 27, 2012 for Disney Visa card holders (which we are.) Long story short: We plan to wait until after Christmas in hopes that a discount will be offered for that period of time.

That being said, as of this week we are within our 180 day window for making restaurant reservations. Here is our plan:

Friday, May 30 -
Drive to WDW (about 11 hours)
Check in at POR
Take boat to DTD
Dinner reservations at Raglan Road at 7:30pm

Saturday, May 31 -
Park = Epcot
Lunch reservations at Coral Reef at 12:15pm
Dinner reservations at Ohana at 6:45pm

Sunday, June 1 -
Park = Magic Kingdom
Lunch reservations for DS and me at Tony's Town Square at 12:15pm (it's a tradition for us.)
Lunch reservations for DW and DD at The Wave at the Contemporary at 12:15pm.
(We will plan a FP+ for around 2pm and meet back up there)
Dinner reservations at Boatwrights at POR at 7:30pm

Monday, June 2 -
Park = Typhoon Lagoon early/DHS late
No reservations for lunch. We will sleep in a bit, go to Typhoon Lagoon, and most likely do counter service at TL.
We hope to get FP+ at DHS around 5pm, 6pm, 7pm
Dinner at Olivia's Cafe at OKW at 7:55pm

Tuesday, June 3 -
Park = Animal Kingdom
Lunch reservations at Yak & Yeti at 12:00pm
Dinner reservations at California Grill at the Contemporary at 7:45pm (this will be our 19-year wedding anniversary celebration dinner!)
Watch Wishes from atop the Contemporary

Wednesday, June 4 -
Park = DHS early/Blizzard Beach afternoon
Lunch reservations at Sci-Fi at 12:10pm
Blizzard Beach afternoon
Dinner at Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club at 6:45pm

Thursday, June 5 -
Check out of POR
Park = Magic Kingdom one last time
Lunch: We hope to get Be Our Guest reservations tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. If not, we will do Liberty Tree Tavern
Will leave WDW early afternoon and eat dinner on the road home

I'm pretty excited to already have this much planned! I think this is going to be a great trip!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to get reservations for Be Our Guest for lunch on our final day at the Magic Kingdom. Oh well! Our family loved Liberty Tree Tavern the last time we went there, so ADRs have been made for a lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern a 11:50am on June 5! Works for me!

 

[alan_renfroe]

I'm already second guessing myself on ADRS!
We have a lunch ADR at Coral Reef, which our DD14 LOVES. But we are only at Epcot for one day on this trip and I personally love Le Cellier. Decisions, Decisions.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Just found out from another DISer that BOG doesn't accept reservations for lunch, but you can use a FP+ 60 days out! I will definitely be doing that!

 

[alan_renfroe]

After some careful consideration, we've decided instead of leaving really early on Friday, May 30th and driving 10.5 hours, we will leave after I get off work on Thursday, May 29th and drive about 6-7 hours and get a hotel. That way we can get up on Friday morning and be at WDW by lunch! This means we will pick an afternoon park, get afternoon FP+, and then check in at Port Orleans around 4pm. So we actually are getting another park day in!

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Hi Alan

I am here, your plans look great!

following along!

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[alan_renfroe]

Hi Alan

I am here, your plans look great!

following along!

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Awesome AlohaAnnie! Glad to have you along! Your trip is before mine, so I'm excited to see how your experience goes over the next few months!

 

[KatMark]

Alan, thanks for subscribing to my TR, and good to see you back here. I'm subscribed and will read later (headed to the train to go home and to bed right now...sicker than a dog).

***Okay, I'm back and caught up. We will be there the same time as you. Well, not Mark and I, but my girlfriend and her two daughters (it will be our 3rd annual girls trip).

You are going to some of our favorite places for meals too!

I can't wait to read more.

 

[mblc14]

So glad that you guys are headed back again!! subscribing to this next adventure.

 

[KatMark]

I'm already second guessing myself on ADRS!
We have a lunch ADR at Coral Reef, which our DD14 LOVES. But we are only at Epcot for one day on this trip and I personally love Le Cellier. Decisions, Decisions.

We were very disappointed in our meal at LeCellier back in 2011 and haven't been back. It seems that ever since they made it a "signature restaurant" the quality has gone down. Plus, we found Yachtsman Steakhouse and nothing can compare now.

We ate at Coral Reef last month and really enjoyed it.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Alan, thanks for subscribing to my TR, and good to see you back here. I'm subscribed and will read later (headed to the train to go home and to bed right now...sicker than a dog).

***Okay, I'm back and caught up. We will be there the same time as you. Well, not Mark and I, but my girlfriend and her two daughters (it will be our 3rd annual girls trip).

You are going to some of our favorite places for meals too!

I can't wait to read more.

Hi Kathy! It's good to be back again! Glad to have you along for the ride and I hope you get to feeling better soon. Elizabeth is really sick also right now.

I always love seeing where you and Mark eat, that has a huge impact on our choices, so that may be why we are eating at some of your favorites! Maybe we will see you in the parks one day on this trip!

So glad that you guys are headed back again!! subscribing to this next adventure.

Cool! Glad to have you along for the ride! Only 165 days until we leave! (Not that I'm counting or anything!)

We were very disappointed in our meal at LeCellier back in 2011 and haven't been back. It seems that ever since they made it a "signature restaurant" the quality has gone down. Plus, we found Yachtsman Steakhouse and nothing can compare now.

We ate at Coral Reef last month and really enjoyed it.

I've been seeing some less than stellar reviews on Le Cellier lately and that's too bad. We really loved it back in 2008 and 2009. After looking over the menus, and since we are paying out of pocket, we decided to go back to Coral Reef. Our kids loved it last time and the menu has more options that they will enjoy.

 

[alan_renfroe]

It's Stacey!

 

[Janet B]

Hi Alan

Good to "see" you back on the DIS!! I posted a few times on your last TR and concidentally Rosie (englishrosie47) and I just returned from a girls trip and we were talking about you and the DISmeet she was part of (she explained the whole "Team Focker" watch to me.. I remember the pix you posted - that was a big DISmeet!!

We also were able to meet up with Kathy and Mark!

Wow, your kids are young adults now!! Will look forward to following along.

P.S. So you are a celebrity now, huh? Stacy following Team Renfroe!! yay!!

 

[mblc14]

Wow!! It's Stacey!! I am so going to follow her now!!

At least you have an official countdown on days. We are still unsure of the next visit.