The Brady Bunch From Hell Rides Again—We are missing one of the bunch.

[katdocnorf]

Here we go again the Brady Bunch from hell. I call us that because we have my kids and his kids and our little one which makes 6. 4 boys and 2 girls in all.. Anyway here is the cast....


MY HUBBY--THE LOVE OF MY LIFE 'LEE'
Not really a Disney Fanatic like me but trying to convert him. He just likes to relax on vacation, no hustle and bustle-going from park to park and restaurant to restaurant. So we have to compensate for him and have some vacations of doing nothing and the others are split of half Disney Craziness and half Disney Relaxation.

OLDEST STEPSON 'BRANDON' HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 30 IN APRIL.
I say would have because he is our missing member. He passed away in October from an accident he was in at work. We miss him very much especially since this trip was supposed to be kind of an anniversary trip. 10 years since 2004 OKW Christmas trip. We were going to repeat some of the pics we took that trip to show how everyone has changed over the last 10 years. For example, Brandon and Chris specifically wanted to repeat pictures taken at a rest stop in South Carolina. They were each standing under the Welcome to South Carolina Sign.


MIDDLE STEPSON 'JUSTIN'. HE TURNED 27 IN JUNE.
He is autistic. He is everybody's buddy, fun loving, loves video games and movies and of course MICKEY MOUSE.


YOUNGEST STEPSON 'THOMAS'. HE TURNED 25 IN JULY.
He is the real hard head of the bunch. He will be staying behind this trip as he has to work and volunteered to take care of the animals; 3 dogs and 2 chinchillas.


MY OLDEST 'CHRIS'. HE TURNS 18 NEXT MONTH.
Loves Disney and pin trading just as much as I do. Although in the past couple of years it has lightened up quite a bit. Loves Video games, when VMK was still around he played with me, he is a Mathmatics wiz.....and just started at ODU and is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace engineering.


MY DAUGHTER 'ALLY'.
This is another hard head. If she thinks she is going to get in trouble, she immediately develops amnesia... Over the years she has Loved the Disney Princesses, Pooh and Hannah Montana. Now though at the age of 13 she has developed a boy band infatuation. Loves 5 Seconds of Summer and One Direction.


AND THEN THERE IS OUR DAUGHTER... 'ANNA'. SHE JUST TURNED 8.
Loves Disney Princesses and My Little Pony. She is also autistic, has ADHD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and OCD. She is worried that the rides in WDW will be scary. This will be our first trip to WDW since she was 1. We have been enjoying the DVC Beach Resorts for the past several years at the request of my older 2 and my hubby. But I informed them that we could no longer deprive her of WDW.


FINALLY THERE IS ME 'KAT'..
Definite Disney Fanatic, love anything Disney. Most of my wardrobe consists of Disney Shirts (T-shirts, Polo Shirts, Tank Tops, Sweat Shirts--you get the idea). Over the last several years I have been a college student; completing my BA in Business and MBA w/concentration in accounting, which explains why I have not been up here in a while--NO TIME. But now the time is getting closer (about 4 months away--yayayayay!!!)


Well here we go to give a little background, if you don't already know me. I have been a DVC member since 1997..Home Resort is Boardwalk. Also own at Vero Beach as well. First trip to Disney was in 1988 and have been hooked ever since. Growing up my parents always tried to save up money to take us (me and my brother) to Disney World but something always came up that emptied the savings jar-like my braces when I was 12. But finally after I graduated from High School, my boyfriend(at the time--now ex-husband) and I decided to try to go and we set up, with a local travel agency, the trip we wanted and we were allowed to make payments as long as it was paid in full 60 days before departure. In October 1988 we went to Disney World. Next trip would not be until 1997, which was the year we also purchased DVC and have been going just about every year since sometimes more than once in a year. Also have been on 3 Disney Cruise Vacations, the 3 day, the 7 day western and the 7 day eastern.

NEXT POST---CHAPT 1--RESERVATIONS MADE....DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS......

 

[katdocnorf]

So like I said we had been planning this 10 year anniversary trip for some time. 2004 was the year me and my hubby go married and it was our first trip as a blended family that Christmas. We had left on Christmas day. Everyone literally opened their presents and then we packed the Fordzilla and then got on the road. (Fordzilla if you don't know was the Ford Excursion a huge SUV beast).

My 2 kids had the morning with their dad and then I picked them up mid-day then they opened their presents so it was late afternoon by the time we got on the road (all 7 of us- Anna wasn't around yet).

We stopped quite a bit on the way as we drove through the night. We stopped at a rest stop in South Carolina and took some pictures.

These pictures Brandon and Chris specifically wanted to duplicate.

Of course around breakfast time the next morning it was time to stop and eat. We arrived in Jacksonville area about that time and stopped at (of course) Cracker Barrel.

Then another few hours and we arrived at our destination.

Next Episode: 2004 Anniversary Back Story - Part 2

 

[katdocnorf]

We arrived at Old Key West and enjoyed our stay there very much. We were near the middle of the resort near one of the quiet pools. The main pool was closed for rehab that year so that worked perfectly. Actually when we went swimming some people would stare at us thinking that it was too cold. But for us it was fine especially since the pools are heated. I don't remember which parks we went to each day but we had a great time. Enjoyed ourselves as a newly blended family and even went to Bush Gardens one day and Sea World another. We had Bush Gardens Premium Passes as Bush Gardens Williamsburg is only 45 min from our home. This also entitled us to go to Sea World on the passes as well. Anyway it was sad to have to come back to reality.

My 2 children from my previous marriage are worn out on Disney World as there father constantly goes and runs them around like crazy so the last several years we have been doing other Disney Resorts and only returned to WDW one time but did not get park passes. So we have discussed returning at the 10 year mark to kind of relive that experience and show how the younger ones have grown since then and to let the youngest one finally experience the parks as she has been deprived of Disney Parks.

So now here we are 10 years later and we are planning this 10 year anniversary trip but without one important person Brandon. We will miss him immensely this trip but we will continue to do what he wanted as this was his fantastic idea.

Next episode: Booking the Room...

 

[ach222]

Joining in

So sorry to hear about Brandon'd passing, I'm sure this trip will bring back lots of fond memories of him for you all.

Sounds like a fun group! Interested to see your plans with a group spanning that many ages/interests!

 

[moe10378]

I am so sorry for your loss. Death is so hard anyways, but when it's someone so young, it's that much harder...

Sounds like an interesting bunch!!! I have 13 yr old twins w/ autism! The parks can be a scary place, but also bring out some amazing things!!!! Glad your family gets to have this time, after so much heart break!!!

 

[katdocnorf]

Thank you for your thoughts. And yes it can be interesting on any outing with all of us. The main thing we always hope for is no melt downs. As anyone with a child with autism knows melt downs can happen at any given time.

 

[katdocnorf]

So the family is so diverse and large we always vote on most things but particularly where we will go for vacations and where we will stay. Natural Lee and I can override any vote if we see fit, but anyway....we vote. So over the last couple of years I have told everyone that there would be no vote for where as we would be doing WDW for 2014; however, we could have a vote or mutual decision on which resort.

Everyone was thinking and came up with many ideas. From Boardwalk to Animal Kingdom Lodge to Old Key West (that is where we stayed in 2004). We seriously thought about duplicating the 2004 trip by staying at Old Key West but we came to the conclusion that it can still be an anniversary trip and not stay at the same resort. So we all decided to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. This would be perfect for Anna since she loves going to the Zoo at home so much that we had to get a membership so that we could go as often as she wanted and time permitted. But since we are DVC this means having to wait for that 7 month window and crossing our fingers that what we want, when we want is available. So we know the when and that is the week after Christmas just like we did in 2004. So to maximize points I figured out: Check in on Sunday after Christmas for 3 nights in a standard and then 3 nights in a Savannah view. (After the 31st is cheaper points) So now that all of that is figured out we waited and waited for that 7 month window (the end of May) to arrive. NOTE: Also I will have to book the first 3 nights and then wait 3 more days to book the other 3 nights because it would be like seperate reservations.

 

[moe10378]

Thank you for your thoughts. And yes it can be interesting on any outing with all of us. The main thing we always hope for is no melt downs. As anyone with a child with autism knows melt downs can happen at any given time.

Oh yes, gotta love those melt downs!! And the stares make it soooo much worse!!! We usually only end up spending half a day in the parks. I watch them, and take my cues from their behaviors

 

[katdocnorf]

Well got busy with a lot around the house so I haven't been up here in a couple of weeks. SORRY.

So the end of May finally arrives and I go to book the first three nights and nothing. No standard 2 bedroom available at AKV at either Kidani or Jambo. So decisions. Lets see what is available. I was able to get Savannah view for the first 2 nights. So I took those. Now I had to wait 2 days to try to book something else. 7 month window Agh!!! Why couldn't there have been a standard room for the whole week and then I could go back and change or waitlist the other nights I wanted in Savannah View.....????? Instead I have to nickle and dime this.

So two days go by and I try for AKV again. NOTHING!!! Nothing at all. My choices for a 2 bedroom were only Saratoga and Old Key West....WOW...

So I booked Saratoga for the remainder of the week and waitlisted for 1 night in a Savannah view (3rd night) and 3 nights in a Standard.

I don't know about everyone else but my luck with waitlists have not been very good. But I continue to try. I have had some luck but very minimal. Usually just a day or so of a longer waitlist comes thru. I have also had where nothing came thru and I have also had mix ups some how where my waitlist has totally disappeared from the system and I did not know this until a month or so before our trip (my fault for just assuming and not checking--never do that again).

ANYWAY NOW we wait.....

NEXT: DID IT or DIDN'T IT.

 

[katdocnorf]

My most successful wait list to date has probably been a couple of years ago at Vero Beach. We decided on a 8 night trip but I could only get the first 5 nights in a 2 bedroom. With our big bunch we have to have a 2 bedroom and 2 standard rooms (which I don't like to do). I enjoy having a kitchen otherwise with so many people our food bill becomes the largest part of the trip. Not that we don't eat out at all but I balance it to make things enjoyable and affordable at the same time. Anyway so I looked around and nothing. Could not get 2 studio rooms for the last 3 nights or 2 Inn Rooms either. But I did find 3 nights at Hilton Head which is half way back home and makes a good stop off point when returning home. Hilton Head is very relaxing and we have done HHI a few times when returning from WDW. So I booked that and waitlisted the remaining for 2 Inn rooms and a 2 Bedroom . I left the last night however at HHI. I hadnt been in about 3 years and I do love it there even for just one night and it helps break up the drive home. Well low and behold about 3-4 months before our trip 1 of the nights comes thru but it is for the last night at Vero. What about the in between night. We cant go to HHI and then back to Vero then back to HHI. What do I do? Should I take the chance? Well I did.... and I sweated every minute of it. I think it went all the way to about 2-3 weeks before the trip and the other night came thru in an Inn Room. So our trip that year was complete thanks to wait listing. 5 nights in a 2 BR, 2 nights in 2 Inn Rooms, and 1 night at HHI.

Well here I sat on this one and a couple of months go by and one of the wait lists come thru for AKL Savannah 1 night. That I guess is better than nothing. At least we are not moving 2 times and are only moving once. Now we just wait for the other 3 nights that I currently have booked at Saratoga. It would be much easier to move within a resort than to a totally difference resort. KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.


Next: ADR's???