Sept 2012-So I can talk about it and not drive my family crazy! PTR

[HsvScrapGirl]

This is my first pre-trip report, so please bear with me.

So I don't drive my family crazy with all my planning and Disney talk, I will do a pre-trip/planning report. I know I have a long time to plan, but it is never too early to plan a Disney trip, right?

First the players...
Here is my family (Left to right: me, my DS (age 5), and DH).

My name is Angela and I am a stay at home, home schooling mama. At age 36, this will only be my third trip to WDW. I know, it really is a crime. I don't remember what year it was that I first went, but it was the year that they broke ground on MGM. Only reason I know that is I remember them talking about it.

DH (age 36) is wonderful when it comes to listen to me prattle on and on about our latest trip. However, I see that "look". He just wants me to plan it and not talk about it yet. When we get closer in, he will want to critic what I have planned and want to give input.

Our son has life threatening food allergies (dairy and peanut). This is our second trip to Disney while dealing with his food allergies, so we are aware of the "above and beyond" that Disney is known for when it comes to food allergies. He loves all things Disney, especially Disney Junior, Toy Story, and Cars. I figure with that combination, Hollywood Studios will be at least one entire day of our trip.

Our last trip was Sept 2009 for our 10th wedding anniversary. That was our first family vacation. Disney's special dietary needs department made it a true vacation. I didn't worry about the food allergies like I had at other amusement parks that we have been to. The chefs that we encountered were so helpful and knowledgeable that I was actually able to relax and enjoy our time together. That experience made it a no brainer for where our next family vacation would be.

This trip is currently planned for September 8-15, 2012. We will leave home on the 8th and drive a little over half way and stay in Georgia. Then we will drive on into Orlando on the 9th. We are still running the numbers trying to decide for sure where we will stay once we get to Orlando. Last time we stayed off site and had an amazing time. We had hoped to stay on site this time, just for the ease of things. However, in order to have all the amenities that we are used to, we would be spending more money than we really need to. So, we are looking at off site again. We have plenty of time to figure all of that out.

I'm so excited about this trip and having somewhere I can talk about it and not get that "you are driving me crazy" look from my DH.

 

[teekathepony]

It must be a test of the nerves to travel with someone with severe allergies. I'm very glad Disney goes out of their way for people like your son!
Happy planning

 

[HsvScrapGirl]

It must be a test of the nerves to travel with someone with severe allergies. I'm very glad Disney goes out of their way for people like your son!
Happy planning

It really is difficult, but you learn to adapt and a LOT of extra planning when you go anywhere. Before we leave, we will know where every Wendy's is between Disney and home. He can generally eat their chili or have a baked potato (I always have to order it plain, not cut to avoid cross contact). Good thing he likes both.

 

[HsvScrapGirl]

I think we have pretty much decided to stay offsite again this trip. Financially, it just makes sense. Last time we stayed at Grande Vista in a 2 bedroom villa with my family. This time around we will probably get a 1 bedroom since it is just the 3 of us. If closer to time my family decides they want to go we can always bump up to a 2 bedroom if we need to. Grande Vista was really a nice resort and in a great location. We really enjoyed our last stay there.
The first day of travel is pretty much already planned. We will leave early the morning on September 8, 2012. Lunch will be a picnic at a rest area once we get south of Atlanta. Then we will continue on to Valdosta Georgia where we will stay for the night. Haven't decided where we will stay there, but they must have a fridge in the room with all of the special dairy free things that we will be bringing with us.
We will arrive to Orlando on Sept 9, 2012. So once we get unloaded at the resort, we will head to the grocery store and get what we need and then crash at the resort. Traditionally, that is our pizza night. I will have DS's special pizza fixings with us, so while we wait on our pizza to arrive, I will fix his dairy/peanut free pizza. We probably won't hit WDW until the next day. If we do anything that night, it would be DTD to go to Babycakes and the Lego store of course.
We are still a month + a couple of weeks from the one year mark for our trip. Once I reach the one year mark, then I will really start planning in depth. I have 5 other days to plan. Last time we took a day and went to Daytona. We went to the beach and the racetrack. Don't see that happening this time, but it is still early in the planning process.

 

[HsvScrapGirl]

DH decided to get involved sooner rather than later in the planning. He got to looking at lodging options. He likes the idea of staying at Bonnet Creek resort. So, we are exploring that option.

 

[cheyandrew7]

I've been driving my hubby nuts talking about disney i want to get the planning down now then when it gets closer i can deal with what things we need for our trip,start packing, getting goodie bags ready for the kids ect. We are going Sept 14th to the 23 to disney there are 6 of us dh and i and 4 children. After we leave disney we are going to daytona for a few days to go to the beach and the speedway and a few other places and then its back to ohio

 

[HsvScrapGirl]

I've been driving my hubby nuts talking about disney i want to get the planning down now then when it gets closer i can deal with what things we need for our trip,start packing, getting goodie bags ready for the kids ect. We are going Sept 14th to the 23 to disney there are 6 of us dh and i and 4 children. After we leave disney we are going to daytona for a few days to go to the beach and the speedway and a few other places and then its back to ohio

We did Daytona two years ago and DS loved it! He still talks about going to the track. We haven't decided if we want to do that again this trip. If we do, we will be doing a picnic for lunch. Not many options with food allergies at Daytona that we could find.

 

[HsvScrapGirl]

This trip has to be canceled. After having had two miscarriages, we are expecting again. It has been a confirmed viable pregnancy and we are due September 3rd. Never been so happy to cancel a vacation.

 

[bakerudall]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You are correct that there is no better reason to cancel a Disney trip. Maybe you'll have a DD this time and you'll be able to show her the joy of Disney princesses in a few years.