Team Renfroe trip report with TONS of pics & reviews

[alan_renfroe]

Hello readers! Thanks to all of you who have left such wonderfully gracious comments on this thread! I also thank you for the inspiration to begin my first pre-trip report in anticipation of our next trip in Spring, 2009.

In the new pre-trip report, I will post thoughts, plans, and pictures of events in our lives along the way. I think it will be a great way to pass the time until our next trip! The link is posted in my signature.

Again, thanks for the great comments on this thread! It has been such a wonderful experience sharing our greatest vacation ever with our DIS-friends.

 

[Dcanoli]

I think it will be a great way to pass the time until our next trip! The link is posted in my signature.

Okay, here we go again!

 

[mousebit]

Yay! More adventures with the Renfroes! And a pre-trippie too!!

I think you'll enjoy May, Alan. That's when we used to go. Beautiful weather, moderate crowds, Flower & Garden Festival... We used to go to celebrate DGD's bday on the 15th. We did try to go the first half of the month, tho. We found that the closer we got to the middle of the month, the warmer it got, the more it rained and the more school groups we ran into as they were taking field trips. Not a big deal at all. Still a wonderful time to go. Wish we could still go in May, but DGD went and grew up on us and it's hard to work around finals and end of school activities now that she's in middle school. Right now, I wouldn't think of going to Disney without her. I figure my days are numbered. Soon, she won't want to hang with the old folks so much...so I cherish every Disney trip and every little minute I get with her. But you already know that's what it's all about...

ETA: Whoops! Meant to post this on your new thread! DUH! Oh, well, I'll see you over there later.

 

[ty&brenmom]

I have just finished reading your trip report and what a wonderful vacation you had.
I enjoyed all your reviews and all your wonderful pictures. It is weird reading about someone's trip that you don't even know and you feel like you were there. My sons sat with me and loved to look at the pictures and talk about our first trip last year (it was going to be our only one, but once we left I knew we had to go back).

So thanks for sharing and keeping some of the Disney magic alive.

 

[averill94]

Thank you for posting this great report! I enjoyed every moment.

Please tell me your children act or model... what poses! They should put out a booklet for kids My kids could learn something from them.

So happty that only your daughter got ill. At each post I was just waiting for somebody else to get it.

Looking forward to your next one,
Margaret
p.s.- we have BAD memories of H&V too!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I'm late in but I love your report!! Your children are gorgeous!!!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Yay! More adventures with the Renfroes! And a pre-trippie too!!

I think you'll enjoy May, Alan. That's when we used to go. Beautiful weather, moderate crowds, Flower & Garden Festival... We used to go to celebrate DGD's bday on the 15th. We did try to go the first half of the month, tho. We found that the closer we got to the middle of the month, the warmer it got, the more it rained and the more school groups we ran into as they were taking field trips. Not a big deal at all. Still a wonderful time to go. Wish we could still go in May, but DGD went and grew up on us and it's hard to work around finals and end of school activities now that she's in middle school. Right now, I wouldn't think of going to Disney without her. I figure my days are numbered. Soon, she won't want to hang with the old folks so much...so I cherish every Disney trip and every little minute I get with her. But you already know that's what it's all about...

ETA: Whoops! Meant to post this on your new thread! DUH! Oh, well, I'll see you over there later.

Thanks, Barb! It is good to see you made it over to the new pre-trip link!

I have just finished reading your trip report and what a wonderful vacation you had.
I enjoyed all your reviews and all your wonderful pictures. It is weird reading about someone's trip that you don't even know and you feel like you were there. My sons sat with me and loved to look at the pictures and talk about our first trip last year (it was going to be our only one, but once we left I knew we had to go back).

So thanks for sharing and keeping some of the Disney magic alive.

Aww...that's awesome! It is such a great feeling to know that my pictures and stories were enjoyed by others - especially families sharing the trip! I'm so glad you enjoyed the report.

Thank you for posting this great report! I enjoyed every moment.

Please tell me your children act or model... what poses! They should put out a booklet for kids My kids could learn something from them.

So happty that only your daughter got ill. At each post I was just waiting for somebody else to get it.

Looking forward to your next one,
Margaret
p.s.- we have BAD memories of H&V too!

Thanks, averill94! Those kids aren't models, but they are definitely actors!!! Just not professionally! That is SUCH a sweet thing of you to say!

I'm with you - I was really afraid we were ALL going to come down with the bug that DD got. It's a long story, but basically she was exposed to someone very sick on the bus the day before. After we got home from our trip, DW got it and about a week later, I got it. Let me tell you - it was BAD!!! Poor DD!! If that is how she felt at Disney, I can't even imagine!

I'm late in but I love your report!! Your children are gorgeous!!!!

Thanks, PHP! It's nice to see you over on the new pre-trip thread!

Hope all you other readers will come and join us!

Alan

 

[alan_renfroe]

Below is a link to a post I made over on the new pre-trip report thread where I give each restaurant a letter grade.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=26289317&postcount=35

 

[mplsmom1]

, but he had promised he was riding EVERYTHING at Disney. SO, we made a bet. If he rode EVERYTHING, I would give him an extra $10 for souvenirs on the last day. [/IMG]

Memories! I had to bribe my DS at about that age to ride "The Patriot" at Worlds of Fun (inverted coaster ride). Once he rode it, we had to do it over and over 5 times in all! Like the report!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Memories! I had to bribe my DS at about that age to ride "The Patriot" at Worlds of Fun (inverted coaster ride). Once he rode it, we had to do it over and over 5 times in all! Like the report!

I KNOW right? Once they try it, they find out they LOVE it! MY DS is now a total thrill junkie and wants to go to Six Flags Over Georgia to do several of the big roller coasters! We are going to go before the summer is over.

 

[shoppgirl]

I just finished reading your trip report. I had to post to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it! This was by far THE BEST report I have read. I loved all your photos (it was more of a photo report, which is fabulous!) and you have a beautiful family. You did an amazing job on the dining report too. Such yummy food photos! Thanks for the great read!

 

[alan_renfroe]

I just finished reading your trip report. I had to post to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it! This was by far THE BEST report I have read. I loved all your photos (it was more of a photo report, which is fabulous!) and you have a beautiful family. You did an amazing job on the dining report too. Such yummy food photos! Thanks for the great read!

Wow! Thanks, shoppgirl for the AWESOME comments! I am SO glad you enjoyed the report! I had read several trip reports before our visit, and I made sure to take lots of photos because I knew I wanted to do one upon my return. This was my first WDW trip and my first trip report - so i hope to do MORE in the future!

Thanks again, and have a great week!

Alan

 

[mamaboogie]

Dear Alan (AND team Renfroe!)

I looooooooovvvvveeeeddddd your TR!!

So many amazing pictures! And great detail! What I loved most was your very positive attitude (even in times of adversity!) which seems to have rubbed off on your gorgeous kids! They really are a credit to you and your DW. I find it quite depressing reading a report where they OP is negative and finding fault with everything.

Your DS was amazing trying all those different types of food!

I'm coming over to WDW in August - very soon! Your TR has got me even more excited - if possible!!! We have ADRs at many of the restaurants you tried and we're hoping our two girls will enjoy the dining experiences as much as your children.

Thanks for taking the time to write such a brilliant TR - can't wait till you go again and bring us more fab pictures!

Shari xx

 

[englishrose47]

Alan your report is legendary, we can't let go !!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Dear Alan (AND team Renfroe!)

I looooooooovvvvveeeeddddd your TR!!

So many amazing pictures! And great detail! What I loved most was your very positive attitude (even in times of adversity!) which seems to have rubbed off on your gorgeous kids! They really are a credit to you and your DW. I find it quite depressing reading a report where they OP is negative and finding fault with everything.

Your DS was amazing trying all those different types of food!

I'm coming over to WDW in August - very soon! Your TR has got me even more excited - if possible!!! We have ADRs at many of the restaurants you tried and we're hoping our two girls will enjoy the dining experiences as much as your children.

Thanks for taking the time to write such a brilliant TR - can't wait till you go again and bring us more fab pictures!

Shari xx

Thank you VERY much, Shari! I really enjoyed working on the trip report - it gives you a chance to relive your experiences all over again! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

We are really lucky with DS and his adventurous nature. The only problem is that now he wants the most expensive things on menus!!

If you get a chance, check out my pre-trip report I've started. (The link is in my signature.) Team Renfroe is heading to the beach next week, and there promises to be plenty of picture taking going on!

Alan your report is legendary, we can't let go !!

Legendary!!! That's classic!!

I only wish that in the "Real World" I could do something that made people so happy! I loved putting this trip report together!

 

[Sue88]

I am so glad that you shared this trip. Your family is so sweet and I do hope you have many more trips that prove to be "the time of your lives"!

 

[kschafer]

Hi Alan,

First I found your pics on the food thread, then on the CSR picture thread (which I now believe will be where we stay on our next trip!). I decided it was time to read my first TR. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I really enjoyed reading about everything you did (and ate )

It sounds like your first trip was great. You got so much done (more than I think we accomplished in June, but that's just more incentive to go back right?) Although I hope for an adults only tirp in the next couple years, DH and I decided to wait 5 years to bring the boys back. They will be 8 and 11 at that time. It looks like about the perfect age for kids to truly enjoy all WDW has to offer and still see the magic.

Sorry you DD got sick, we too came down with the stomach flu while there. The kids got over it after a 1/2 day of rest but I (and the other adults) were down for 2 days. Stinks but you got to take care first.

A suggestion for your next trip. You mentioned you like tuna, you have to try the tuna oscar at Kona Cafe. This was the best meal I had in WDW!!! I posted a picture of it on the food thread if you want to check it out.

Thanks for the great TR!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

I am so glad that you shared this trip. Your family is so sweet and I do hope you have many more trips that prove to be "the time of your lives"!

Thank you SO much! We just got back from a 5 night trip to the beach, but it didn't come close to "time of our lives" we had at Disney. We can't wait to go back next spring!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Hi Alan,

First I found your pics on the food thread, then on the CSR picture thread (which I now believe will be where we stay on our next trip!). I decided it was time to read my first TR. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I really enjoyed reading about everything you did (and ate )

It sounds like your first trip was great. You got so much done (more than I think we accomplished in June, but that's just more incentive to go back right?) Although I hope for an adults only tirp in the next couple years, DH and I decided to wait 5 years to bring the boys back. They will be 8 and 11 at that time. It looks like about the perfect age for kids to truly enjoy all WDW has to offer and still see the magic.

Sorry you DD got sick, we too came down with the stomach flu while there. The kids got over it after a 1/2 day of rest but I (and the other adults) were down for 2 days. Stinks but you got to take care first.

A suggestion for your next trip. You mentioned you like tuna, you have to try the tuna oscar at Kona Cafe. This was the best meal I had in WDW!!! I posted a picture of it on the food thread if you want to check it out.

Thanks for the great TR!!

Hi kschafer! I'm glad you enjoyed the trip report! It was a lot of fun writing and reliving this wonderful trip. I enjoyed it so much that I started a pre-trip report, which has also been fun.

The reason we had not been to Disney prior to this May was that we were waiting for our children to be the "perfect age" for Disney. Although there now seems to be no such thing, I would say 11 and 8 is about as close to perfect as you can get! That's one of the reasons why we want to go back again next year - 12 and 9 sounds great too, doesn't it?

Great suggestion on the tuna at Kona. I will definitely check that out. Thanks for sharing!

Alan

 

[alan_renfroe]

It is looking like we are going back in May, 2009! I am planning and saving for a trip for May 16 - 22, 2009. Wish us luck!

Alan