traveljunkie2
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2009
- Messages
- 201
Okay, here we go. I've been lurking on this board for a while and have learned SOOOO much already! Unfortunatley, the rest of my group is clueless and happy to remain so. It is up to me to do all the planning to make this trip a success. PLEASE HELP ME!
Oregon Group:
Me - SAHM to 2 boys (DJ age 6 and LC 3). Grew up going to DL several times a year. Major planning freak! Ideal job would be a (majorly overpaid)personal assistant to some celebrity where I get to control someone's world with an unlimited budget and get to travel everywhere, too. But my family would have to come with!
DH - along for the ride. Hoping he doesn't get laid off before the trip! Didn't want to go to WDW until youngest DS was at least 6, but we got an a great deal on airfare so here we go! He's mainly excited to see the rest of his family who are joining us.
DS (6) DJ. Super excited. Loves DL, but doesn't like scarry or fast rides.
DS (3) LC. Asks everyday if today is the day we go to DL. Will want to ride every ride, even the scarry and fast ones!
My mom - Grammy. Looking forward to seeing the World through her grandkids' eyes. She has nerve damage in her legs and can't walk easily. She'll be renting a scooter from Walker Mobility. This will probably be the last big trip she takes, so we gotta make it good.
We are flying from Oregon for $280 RT with only 1 connection!!!!!
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California Group:
DH's dad - Lolo. Along for the ride. We're shocked he even wants to go. Certified couch potato. Will go along with anything we plan.
DH's new wife - Dolly. First trip with the family.
DH's middle brother - Uncle A - Super excited for the trip. Will go with the flow, if his wife doesn't get in the way.
DH's middle brother's wife - Tia. Another planning freak, but completely unorganized. Her focus will be keeping costs down for the group so she can blow her money on souveneirs.
DH's youngest brother - Uncle B - just graduated from college. His dad is paying his way since he doesn't have a job and has no intention of getting one. Along for the ride, but will probably bail on us once we get to the parks. (Why can't MY trip be paid for, too?)
They are flying from California for $250 with only one connection!!!!!
Our Objective:
Have the most fun while spending the least amount of money! None of us are interested in character meals, so that should help!
Lodging:
We are renting a 5 br/4.5 ba house located 8 miles from MK. We have 3 master suites with queen or king beds, and 2 bedrooms with 2 twins each. Included: pool, gas BBQ, media room, full kitchen, washer & dryer, 2 strollers.
We will be there 10 nts, with 7 days in the park.
Transportation:
We are renting a minivan for about $330 for 10 days. We will also rent midsize car, but haven't booked it yet.
Meals:
We plan simple breakfasts at the house, snacks in a collapsible cooler, lunches at the parks at CS places, and dinner aftr leaving the park, either offsite for cheap or at the house.
Itinerary:
We arrive Saturday night. Sunday will be shopping, planning, swimming and meal prep day. Park hours haven't been released for January yet, but I hope to do MK the first day (Monday). We will be avoiding the EMH parks, but need to work in fireworks schedules, also, since we will not be park hopping.
We will have 7 day passes. Plan to do parks Mon, Tues Wed, (rest on Thrusday), Friday, Sat, Sun, Mon. Group from Calif. leaves Mon afternoon, so we may skip that day, or just go for the am. The Oregon group leaves Tues. am.
I plan 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot and one day each at AK and HS.
Cooking:
To save money we will eat most dinners at the house. These will be simple (grilled meat with salads) type meals. I'm looking at deals for meals on restaurant.com, so we could eat out for cheap. Also thinking about Sweet Tomatoes and other buffets. Hoping to get some coupons for these kinds of places! we'll probably check out Steak and Shake, too.
Food is not the highlight of this trip, unlike when (most of ) this group went to Europe in 2003. We ran into some problems when some of us wanted sit-down meals and others wanted cheaper meals. Thankfully we have 2 cars so we can split up.
The Planning Process:
I am the only one involved, with very little feedback from DH. His strategy is: I plan what our group will do, anyone who wants to join us can do so or do their own thing. I just don't want this to end up costing us time and money. We'll see how it all works out.
DISboard addictions:
DISign board - so far I have created 2 shirts for DSs and have tye die kits and transfers ready to be done!
Budget board - I've learned so many great tips (buying double cheseburger plus extra bun, get free water and add flavor packets, collapsible coolers are OK). I know I will save a tons of money using these tips.
I have yet to read through the zillions of TRs and Pre-TRs here, but I look forward to learning from everyone's experiences.
I would love to hear from peple who have sucessfully pulled off a trip with three generations of travelers, and any tips for making this a truly enjoyable trip for everyone!
Oregon Group:
Me - SAHM to 2 boys (DJ age 6 and LC 3). Grew up going to DL several times a year. Major planning freak! Ideal job would be a (majorly overpaid)personal assistant to some celebrity where I get to control someone's world with an unlimited budget and get to travel everywhere, too. But my family would have to come with!
DH - along for the ride. Hoping he doesn't get laid off before the trip! Didn't want to go to WDW until youngest DS was at least 6, but we got an a great deal on airfare so here we go! He's mainly excited to see the rest of his family who are joining us.
DS (6) DJ. Super excited. Loves DL, but doesn't like scarry or fast rides.
DS (3) LC. Asks everyday if today is the day we go to DL. Will want to ride every ride, even the scarry and fast ones!
My mom - Grammy. Looking forward to seeing the World through her grandkids' eyes. She has nerve damage in her legs and can't walk easily. She'll be renting a scooter from Walker Mobility. This will probably be the last big trip she takes, so we gotta make it good.
We are flying from Oregon for $280 RT with only 1 connection!!!!!
----------------------------------------------------------
California Group:
DH's dad - Lolo. Along for the ride. We're shocked he even wants to go. Certified couch potato. Will go along with anything we plan.
DH's new wife - Dolly. First trip with the family.
DH's middle brother - Uncle A - Super excited for the trip. Will go with the flow, if his wife doesn't get in the way.
DH's middle brother's wife - Tia. Another planning freak, but completely unorganized. Her focus will be keeping costs down for the group so she can blow her money on souveneirs.
DH's youngest brother - Uncle B - just graduated from college. His dad is paying his way since he doesn't have a job and has no intention of getting one. Along for the ride, but will probably bail on us once we get to the parks. (Why can't MY trip be paid for, too?)
They are flying from California for $250 with only one connection!!!!!
Our Objective:
Have the most fun while spending the least amount of money! None of us are interested in character meals, so that should help!
Lodging:
We are renting a 5 br/4.5 ba house located 8 miles from MK. We have 3 master suites with queen or king beds, and 2 bedrooms with 2 twins each. Included: pool, gas BBQ, media room, full kitchen, washer & dryer, 2 strollers.
We will be there 10 nts, with 7 days in the park.
Transportation:
We are renting a minivan for about $330 for 10 days. We will also rent midsize car, but haven't booked it yet.
Meals:
We plan simple breakfasts at the house, snacks in a collapsible cooler, lunches at the parks at CS places, and dinner aftr leaving the park, either offsite for cheap or at the house.
Itinerary:
We arrive Saturday night. Sunday will be shopping, planning, swimming and meal prep day. Park hours haven't been released for January yet, but I hope to do MK the first day (Monday). We will be avoiding the EMH parks, but need to work in fireworks schedules, also, since we will not be park hopping.
We will have 7 day passes. Plan to do parks Mon, Tues Wed, (rest on Thrusday), Friday, Sat, Sun, Mon. Group from Calif. leaves Mon afternoon, so we may skip that day, or just go for the am. The Oregon group leaves Tues. am.
I plan 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot and one day each at AK and HS.
Cooking:
To save money we will eat most dinners at the house. These will be simple (grilled meat with salads) type meals. I'm looking at deals for meals on restaurant.com, so we could eat out for cheap. Also thinking about Sweet Tomatoes and other buffets. Hoping to get some coupons for these kinds of places! we'll probably check out Steak and Shake, too.
Food is not the highlight of this trip, unlike when (most of ) this group went to Europe in 2003. We ran into some problems when some of us wanted sit-down meals and others wanted cheaper meals. Thankfully we have 2 cars so we can split up.
The Planning Process:
I am the only one involved, with very little feedback from DH. His strategy is: I plan what our group will do, anyone who wants to join us can do so or do their own thing. I just don't want this to end up costing us time and money. We'll see how it all works out.
DISboard addictions:
DISign board - so far I have created 2 shirts for DSs and have tye die kits and transfers ready to be done!
Budget board - I've learned so many great tips (buying double cheseburger plus extra bun, get free water and add flavor packets, collapsible coolers are OK). I know I will save a tons of money using these tips.
I have yet to read through the zillions of TRs and Pre-TRs here, but I look forward to learning from everyone's experiences.
I would love to hear from peple who have sucessfully pulled off a trip with three generations of travelers, and any tips for making this a truly enjoyable trip for everyone!
