Taking The Plunge-TR for 1st time to WDW...is there a Dream to be had?*Update 7/25*

[Jules3Kids]

*****Update - TR starts on Page 4!******


I am so new to these boards, and I am a little nervous....but I can't resist doing a pre-trip report for my first trip to WDW!!! I have so many great ones on here...not sure I can live up to them, but it's fun for me anyway....so here goes! I hope my abbreviations are ok....and I might not know some of them. Let me know what I missed/messed up on!

Me: Julianna, 37yo stay-at-home mom, part-time student, avid gardener, scrapbooker, organic food nut (except at Disney!)and a bonafide Disney Freak now!
Background on that.....live in CA and went to DL only ONCE as a child (what were my parents thinking?) and didn't fall totally in love with the Mouse until an adult...specifically last year. DH, the kids and I went to DL last summer, stayed at the Paradise Pier for 7 days, and had the most awesome vacation we've ever had! We still talk about it all the time (thanks to my planning, ADR's, etc.) They thought I was crazy, but I spent so much time on these boards and other sites to plan...and BOY were they GRATEFUL then! And by the time we were driving home with my new TINK decal on the back of the minivan.....I was hooked and sad to leave! Couldn't wait to plan next trip!

DH: Bob...39 yo...originally from the East Coast and only went to WDW once as a child (again, I question the parents!!?)...so neither of us grew up as Disney fanatics! Not that he is one yet...but he did love DL last summer and is finally coming around to getting excited about our first trip to WDW!

DS: 15 yo...typical teenager, but a good one! Loves Disney and will probably always plan his own family's trips there! He's a thrill rider....so we will be doing all the big rides a lot! Also INSISTS on going to Blizzard Beach....water parks on his fave!
DS: 9yo...also loves Disney and never rode any roller coasters of any type until last year...Matterhorn and Thunder Mountain were all he would talk about for weeks....also a POTC fanatic and a pin trader!
DD: 3yo and truly believes she is a princess when she dresses in her Disney clothes! Can't wait to see WDW through her eyes

So the main reason for this trip is to celebrate my Mom's Retirement from 40 years of teaching high school! She is TREATING the entire family for almost everything....so I can't compalin too much that we are staying off-site in her time share (but I will stay on property next time!). She's also purchased our plane tix and Disney tix....she is so excited to do this for everyone, or else we might not make it there until next year! So we just have to take care of our meals and souveniers....and there will be lots of those!

So... Nana Mary Lou is going, along with her husband (my stepdad), Mike,
my 33yo sister Alisha and her 3yo DS!
So our 3yo girls are going to have the best time together...since they are more like sisters than cousins.

I've been emailing them constantly about ADR's I've made, things to do, etc. They think I'm a little nuts....(whatever!) but I don't care! I love planning and someone has to do it! They will appreciate it once we get there...even though as we speak they are probably talking about how strange I am becoming

DH just takes it all in stride when I start to tell him about all the different places to eat and where are going first...he just says tell me where to go and I'll be there! As long as he gets a beer now and then and a day at the time share to just VEG out...he's fine. Same goes for everyone else (so I'm giving up a day at the parks to chill by the pool...I guess that will be fun ) jk...my kids love to swim, too so I know that will be a fun day for them....
So more details to come soon...leaving on June 15!
Quick question....how do I post pics on my TR?

 

[julezdisney]

Plan away! I'm listening! And hop on over to my PTR (link in my sig) to give ME suggestions for ADR's cuz I REALLY REALLY NEED SOME!

Yay for WDW! I can't wait to plan our first trip there! I'm already thinking Spring Break 2010!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm in! You have got a good start. I obsess over my ADR's, I also have a PTR going for our trip in September, the ladies over there have really good suggestions.

 

[Jules3Kids]

Thank you for the posts to my PTR! I will definitely be checking out all of yours....I think I've read them already but I will check yours out Lady Lallie for the suggestions!
I wanted to post some pics from our trip to DL last summer....this is when I really fell for Disney and become hooked! That was a magical trip I will never forget...and I hope to repeat the experience in WDW in June. I know I will love it and I can't wait to go!
So these are all of us last July in DL...the trip we still talk about all the time!

 

[Lady Lallie]

You have such a beautiful family! Someday I want to make it to Disneyland but it is so hard to give up the WDW Magic to try something new, even though I know it will be great.
I can't wait to read more.

 

[julezdisney]

Juliana! Your fam is beautiful as well! Your daughter looks so cute with that hat! Is that at the Blue Bayou you suggested for me? Def. think I will add that to my Priority Seating list!

 

[Jules3Kids]

Juliana! Your fam is beautiful as well! Your daughter looks so cute with that hat! Is that at the Blue Bayou you suggested for me? Def. think I will add that to my Priority Seating list!

Yes that is the Blue Bayou inside the POTC ride. As you can see it looks dark, but that was lunch time! Inside it's an entirely different atomosphere...just like the ride! Hope you make it there.

 

[Williamandmom]

Sounds like fun!! I can't wait to read more!!

 

[ampc3]

Hi there I'm along too Well be overlapping during our trips..

That is so neat to be going with extended family AND having your mom treat most of it! That is VERY special and cool

Your family is adorable. You will have the best time.. can't wait to hear more, you are doing great!

 

[Jules3Kids]

Thanks to everyone who is following along...this is so much fun! I can't seem to get anything done because I just want to get back on these boards and read and plan!
Anyway, I am talking about our trip constantly to the family and DH just nods and follows along but I know in his head he is thinking I'm going a bit crazy. The kids are super excited but I must be repeating myself because my DS9 said today, "Mom you've told us that a million times already!" But he is keeping track of the number of days until we leave and he can't help but smile about it when I do talk about it!
And my DD3 wants to discuss it constantly and watch the vacation DVD all the time!
DS15 is excited also but he in his own teenage world (those of you with teens know what I mean!) It was his bday this weekend and I was up to my Mickey ears in teenagers! YEAH-they are all gone now!!

More to come later on my ADR's and other info.....

 

[julezdisney]

I know exactly what you mean about people thinking you're a little nuts.
I've mentioned my trip-planning, binders, and the DIS to people and they really just look at me like,

and than they just kinda go

Hubby saw me scrawling down names of places to eat/character meals w/dates and goes, "Are you ACTUALLY making an itinerary?"

And I said, "Yes!!" like he was crazy! He just doesn't understand.

I've been so busy this weekend that I've been kept from what has become my favorite new hobby of all time- planning this trip!

Have a good Monday!

 

[Jules3Kids]

This is getting very exciting....4 weeks until we leave for WDW! I am so excited I can't hardly stand it!
I've got the dog booked in the kennel....sorry we can't bring him but he'll live and I'm making all my lists for what needs to happen....a friend is coming over to water my veg. garden and take care of things here, and we're are getting the timers set for the lights on the house, etc. Just doing these things make me feel like it's really going to happen and soon!

So what I didn't mention before was on our last day after my mom, stepdad, sister and niece fly home, my DH and I and the kids are driving to Georgia to visit his family that lives there. It's much easier to do this and fly home out of Atlanta rather than try to take a trip back out there later. So it's actually a two week trip....lots of planning, etc! It will be great to see DH's family but I wish they were coming to WDW instead but I couldn't convince anyone of that so we are going there I think I'm looking at an 8 hour drive to Atlanta from WDW...has anyone made that drive before?

I am right now copying down any hints, tips and tricks to make life easier in WDW and to make sure we see everything! I have a Word document I made and I just copy and paste over to there anything I see on here that will be helpful. I did this last year for our DL trip and it worked great.
So this is the stage I am in right now....Lists, Lists and more Lists
And more eye-rolling from the fam with how crazy I am being, but they secretly love it, I know!

Thanks for following along and I love reading all yours, too!

 

[ampc3]

I will answer your question over on your trippie instead of mine.. You should be able to do that drive in less than 8. I think it is more around 7. We do the drive every year to south florida , to Naples, and it takes us close to 11 hours and from Naples to Orlando is alittle less than 4. So depending on how fast and how many stops etc.. I would say anywhere b/t 6 1/2- 7 1/2 hours..

 

[Williamandmom]

Wow! A two week get away!! You must be on !! That's going to be so nice to rest after all the walking at Disney!!

 

[Jules3Kids]

Wow! A two week get away!! You must be on !! That's going to be so nice to rest after all the walking at Disney!!

Yes, it will be nice to visit with family that we don't get to see very often...but I know I will dreaming of Disney!
I noticed on your signature it says you were at Westgate Lakes in 2007...was it the Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa? That is the time share we are staying at...if that's the same one, how was it? Please tell me it was at least ok...we are nervous about not staying on property, but it looks like a nice resort, with lots of amenities, etc.
Thanks!

 

[Jules3Kids]

So I've been working on my ADR's...I'm a little late, but I was able to get some stuff. I didn't think about these months ago since we were originally traveling with another group who were taking care of them, but now we are not, so I have been scrambling to get my ressie's! Plus, there are 9 of us traveling and it's been difficult with a group that large.

So far we have:

Playhouse Disney Breakfast (for my DD and niece, both 3, who absolutely LOVE Little Einsteins!!!)

Coral Reef-All I could get was an early lunch for 11:30, but that's not too bad and I really want to try it! I am trying to get ahold of someone there to schedule a diver holding a "Thank You" sign for my mom...not having much luck!

50's Prime Time-Tried to get Sci-Fi, but no luck! So went with this one instead...it looks like fun and my mom is very excited for this!

Liberty Tree Tavern-Character Dinner...I'm trying to get a cake or something special since it's our last night there, so far I have a call in there and I left a message for someone, no return call yet!


That's all I have so far....trying for another Character Breakfast one other morning but everything was booked that I wanted. I will keep trying though as I hear cancellations do happen!

For my family this is a lot of advance planning...they are used to "winging it" and doing whatever they want when they feel like it, so I feel good that I got them to agree to this much!
Keep you posted.....

 

[MRYPPNS]

Hi....I followed your link from a post you did on one of my DIS friend's PTR. The nice thing about writing a PTR is that no one cares if you repeat yourself a million times (like the family does!) we all just eat it up.

Playhouse Disney Breakfast (for my DD and niece, both 3, who absolutely LOVE Little Einsteins!!!)

We're doing lunch in October...my DS loves JoJo!

Coral Reef-All I could get was an early lunch for 11:30, but that's not too bad and I really want to try it! I am trying to get ahold of someone there to schedule a diver holding a "Thank You" sign for my mom...not having much luck!

I actaully think 11:30 is a good time for Coral Reef, you won't have to worry about waiting too long for a table.

50's Prime Time-Tried to get Sci-Fi, but no luck! So went with this one instead...it looks like fun and my mom is very excited for this!

I personally think that 50's PT is a better choice then Sci-Fi.

Liberty Tree Tavern-Character Dinner...I'm trying to get a cake or something special since it's our last night there, so far I have a call in there and I left a message for someone, no return call yet!

If you don't get the cake you all could go get ice creams on Main Street...Yum-O

That's all I have so far....trying for another Character Breakfast one other morning but everything was booked that I wanted. I will keep trying though as I hear cancellations do happen!

Yes keep calling...even try once you get there. If you can do without the characters, I've heard that the breakfast buffet at Boma is amazing.

For my family this is a lot of advance planning...they are used to "winging it" and doing whatever they want when they feel like it, so I feel good that I got them to agree to this much!

DH got cured of that winging it at Disney real quick when we did an unplanned day at MK during our first trip and the line for Peter Pan was 60 plus minutes when the day before (as we followed the plan) it was walk on.

Keep you posted.....

Looking forward for more!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great PTR so far!

Your family is adorable!

Your pics from DL really make me want to go -- it's just a case of convincing everyone else to try DL instead of WDW. I would especially like to eat a meal at the Blue Bayou!

 

[Williamandmom]

Yes, it will be nice to visit with family that we don't get to see very often...but I know I will dreaming of Disney!
I noticed on your signature it says you were at Westgate Lakes in 2007...was it the Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa? That is the time share we are staying at...if that's the same one, how was it? Please tell me it was at least ok...we are nervous about not staying on property, but it looks like a nice resort, with lots of amenities, etc.
Thanks!

I think it is the same time share! I was really nice and clean! We had a 2 bedroom room that overlooked the pool and we could see the lake. We had drove to Disney so the drive to and from the time share was about 15-20 min from most of the parks! The pool and hot tub and kiddy pool was really nice and clean!! Thats the most that I can think of right now...we were mostly at the parks the whole time! Hope this helps!

 

[Jules3Kids]

I think it is the same time share! I was really nice and clean! We had a 2 bedroom room that overlooked the pool and we could see the lake. We had drove to Disney so the drive to and from the time share was about 15-20 min from most of the parks! The pool and hot tub and kiddy pool was really nice and clean!! Thats the most that I can think of right now...we were mostly at the parks the whole time! Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! So far I have read mixed reviews, but the worst parts have been the time-share pitch....we're already there on a time share, so I'm thinking we're ok!