The MURPHYS are LIVE again!!!! Bringing in 2011 with the MOUSE!!! (VWL and AKV)

[TigrLvsPooh]

The Murphys are LIVE!!!!!!!
The Villas at Wilderness Lodge
&
Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani

January 2nd - 9th 2011​

Hello again to all my DIS friends!!! We are so excited for our next adventure down in WDW!! Our last trip was March 2010 and since then we've had a few other vacations ... Tennessee in May, Vegas in June, Universal in July, Kings Island in October, but of course none of these compare to Disney. Even though I have to admit the WWoHP was extremely awesome! I defintely want to go back there again soon, but WDW of course comes first. This trip is especially exciting because it will be our first time staying at the new AKV Kidani! I can't wait to see what it's like, and I'm super thrilled for the kids to have that second bathroom!! Disney was smart to make that change.



For those of you who don't know us you can brush up on our previous LIVE reports here:

YC: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2420655

OLD KEY WEST/POP: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120680

CONTEMPORARY/POLY: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1986183

AKL/POLY/OKW: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1897008

BEACH CLUB: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1806020

And inside one of those links is another page of links to older live reports as well as links to our Travel Channel special.



OK... so HERE WE GO!!!!!!

The Cast:

Brendan - age 38 - Husband, father, and ESPN Radio sports guy.

Erika - age 37 - Wife, mother, and domestic goddess. Not only obsessed with Disney but also all things Twilight and Harry Potter.

Nicholas - age 11 - The videogame addict, future stand-up comedian, loves all the rides, especially MS, TT, and Space Mountain. Starting to get a little bit pre-teen and can sometimes pout or get annoyed with Mom and Dad. He can't function without his iTouch, cell phone, DSi, and PSP on him at all times.

Connor - age 9 - The artistic one, loves all the Kidcot stations, loves any kind of drawing contests at the resorts, loves Phineas and Ferb, Toy Story 3, Small World, Pooh, Buzz, Seas with Nemo, TSM, Dinoland, and the HISTK playground. He is obsessed with Legos!!! Also he is our allergy boy. He was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease so we are ordering groceries from Wegoshop and talking to the chefs for special menu items. I will report often on how that goes.


The Plan:

Arriving January 2nd for one night in a studio at VWL then switching over for six nights at AKV Kidani in a one bedroom! Using Magical Express, have 7 day park hoppers, and no dining plan this time.


ADRs:

Chef Mickey's
Teppen Edo
50's Prime Time
Crystal Palace (Pooh breakfast)
La Hacienda de San Angel
Chefs de France
Narcoosee's


So you might be wondering why I posted this today... I like to give people a chance to post their questions before we leave so I know what to look for. If you have any questions about the resorts, our dining, the parks, or anything else, please go ahead and start posting your questions now. I am happy to investigate, ask questions, snoop around, sneak a peek, etc., LOL , so fire away!

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Can't wait to read all about it

 

[wildcatfan]

I loved reading your report in March and I will be following along this time. I remember you were there during the NCAA tournament. At least this year you will still be at home during the big UK/Louisville game. Well, maybe it was your mother or mother in law that was the fan. Anyway, I have so wanted to go to Disney during the holidays but we always go in the summer. I guess I can travel along with you guys by following along with your report. Have a great time and safe travels!!

 

[BlueSkies]

Erika Your live reports are terrific!!! Looking foward to reading along...

 

[precious pixie]

I'll be joining along. I am thinking of staying in AKL next trip so I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Can't wait to read all about it

Thanks for joining us "virtually"!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I loved reading your report in March and I will be following along this time. I remember you were there during the NCAA tournament. At least this year you will still be at home during the big UK/Louisville game. Well, maybe it was your mother or mother in law that was the fan. Anyway, I have so wanted to go to Disney during the holidays but we always go in the summer. I guess I can travel along with you guys by following along with your report. Have a great time and safe travels!!

Yep, that was my Mom She's a big UK fan! Sadly she won't be along with us this trip, but several members of my husband's family will be down there the same time as us. This is our first winter trip to WDW in years!! I think 2001 might have been the last time. We typically go in the spring every year, but this year the deals were just so good for January we couldn't pass it up.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'll be joining along. I am thinking of staying in AKL next trip so I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Welcome aboard!

If you scroll up to my original post you can click on my trip report for AKL. We loved it!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Erika Your live reports are terrific!!! Looking foward to reading along...

Thanks I enjoying doing it. And it gives me something to do while waiting in line for stuff. LOL

 

[ReneeDisney]

Looking forward to another live report. Enjoy your trip!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Looking forward to another live report. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for joining in!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

A little pre-trip talk....

We went back and forth a hundred times about the dining plan on this trip. We enjoy paying for all our meals ahead of time, it really helps with budgeting out how much money to bring/save/etc but in the end we decided not to. We are hoping that this will actually end up saving us money. One main reason, our oldest is now 11 and would have to have the adult dining plan. He really just doesn't eat that much. Not to get his money's worth anyway. I figure we'll have a full kitchen in the villa, and we are already ordering groceries for youngest son's Celiac needs, so we can throw in a few extra things for the rest of us. We will still eat dinner out each night, but breakfast and lunch we will eat either in the villa or bring it along with us, etc. At least that's the plan. Will it actually happen?? That is yet to be determined.

Just noticed today that Splash Mountain will be down the entire month of January. But on the positive side we will make it in time to see the Osborne Lights before they close!

My biggest goal for this week of prep is to figure out what to pack! The weather in Florida has been very cold lately, but according to weather.com its supposed to be 78 Sunday when we arrive and in the 70's the first few days. So is that shorts weather??? Hmmmm... My husband sure seems to think so, but I'm thinking the kids could just wear athletic pants with a tshirt. I'll probably end up packing way too much, but since we are flying Southwest we can take up to eight bags.

Oh, another cool thing to report! Our Travel Channel show is now available to watch on YouTube!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB7zVh7uz7g

That's the link to part 1... it's in 6 parts total! I'm so excited it is saved!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dvc at last !]

Yeah - I am in !

 

[jjohnson]

Hi Erika,
Have a wonderful trip! I'm looking to reading your thoughts on Kidani. We stayed in a 2brm value last Aug. @ Jambo.
Joyce

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Yeah - I am in !

Welcome!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hi Erika,
Have a wonderful trip! I'm looking to reading your thoughts on Kidani. We stayed in a 2brm value last Aug. @ Jambo.
Joyce

Hey Joyce! Good to see you!! I will report back all the Kidani details!!

 

[BlvInMagic]

Can't wait to read all about your upcoming trip! It is chilly at the World -- my husband and I had to by hats and gloves on our recent visit there this December.

PS - We saw your show on the travel channel (years ago)...it was great and we got a lot of helpful tips from the show and your family

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Packing, packing, packing!!!! We've got shorts, pants, tshirts, sweatshirts, and everything in between! According to weather.com it looks like 70's all next week!!!!!!!!! So we are hoping to wear shorts most days with a sweatshirt in case we need it. I can't even remember what 70's feels like its been so cold the last two months. I am ready to warm up!!! Luckily we are flying southwest so we can take plenty of bags. I've even got an extra bag for shopping!!

We are on the hourly countdown!!!! 41 more hours to go!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lovedisney77]

Can't wait to read about your adventures

 

[precious pixie]

Yea its almost time for your family to head on over to wdw I didnt even realize that you could still bring bags for free on southwest my boyfriend and I just got in from a holiday trip to minnesota and spent a total of $50 to check our bag. I felt bad for a girl in front of us in line because her bag was nearly 1lb over and she had to leave the line to take something out. They wouldn't even let her take it out right there

I think it makes sense that you did not go with the dining plan this time around. I have only stayed in a studio before and did keep more snacks and drinks around as compared to when I am in a regular room (even though there isn't a huge difference). If I was to stay in a 1 bdr I'd probably be more motivated bc it would have a dishwasher