The Neighbors do Disney, DAY 3 MK ADDED!

[cwnhokie]

This is my first attempt at a trip report, here goes......
The cast is
Me – Obsessive in Travel Planning, but nothing else
DH – Obsessive in Everything Else
DS – Going to WDW for his fourth 5th birthday party
DS – he’s three, need I say more
DMIL – retired in August, doesn’t know if her body will hold up for the entire trip, but will die trying
DFIL, retired two days before our departure, hopefully they survive retirement together
DSIL – planning for the trip of a lifetime, looking for some rest and relaxation from her day job as a home daycare provider
DBIL – the cop, wondering if the kids are going to line up to give him a CM appreciation card
DNephew - Mr. Too Cool for Disney, 12 almost 13 year old
DNiece – 12 year old, turns about she believes Dinosaurs may still exist.
DNephew – Soccer star, 9 years old
DNiece – turns our not a big fan of Dinosaurs, 8 years old

I’ll have to try to come up with some cute nicknames for the next report.

Pre trip report
Let me start a little further back, before our last trip to the World. My dad’s wife said, “We have some extra weeks on our timeshare, do you guys want to take the kids to Disney?” Seemed like a simple enough request. We sat down one afternoon and looked over the book to choose a timeshare. We settled on the Liki Tiki Resort. When the phone call came that we had indeed secured the resort, we had 3 months to plan. I had planned my wedding in 3 months, so a trip to Disney should be a piece of cake. I called my neighbors who are Disney fanatics and asked them a few questions. Soon they were on their way across the street with a stack of guidebooks in tow. Looking back, that was probably the beginning of the end for me. I began flipping through the unofficial guide and was both overwhelmed and intrigued. Soon after that I stumbled upon the obsession that my DH would come to call Disney crack, the DIS! Before I knew it I was making PSs, for character meals and pirate cruises, getting wonderful discounts on a rental car and airfare. When I went to buy our tickets I quickly realized that it would make much more sense financially to buy a 10 day non expiring ticket and take two trips. And so it begins… DH’s family had already expressed an interest in going to Disney the following year, instead of the beach and the rest is history. We went, we saw, we conquered, we’ll I think we were actually the ones that got conquered. When we got back, I couldn’t even talk about Disney or look at anything Disney. I was so overwhelmed. That is why I never did a trip report for our first trip, I mentally couldn’t take it. After a few days I began to feel better. I could see it happening to DS 4 also, he started talking about the trip more to all of our friends and neighbors, and we began to think that maybe we could do this again. Only next time we would have to stay longer so that we could take it slower (that’s pretty funny now, looking at the itinerary I have planned for our 10 day trip.) I must admit that I actually started the initial planning for the upcoming trip before we set out for the first one, but among DISers I know that is not out of the ordinary.

I must have figured up the costs on every angle available for Disney accommodations, and you may not already know this, but there are a heck of a lot of them. I finally decided that a pool home would be the best decision for our group of 12. After looking at pictures of literally thousands of pool homes on the internet, I narrowed it down to three for the rest of the group to decide on. We talked about it while we were at Myrtle Beach in August and decided on Belle Vue Villa in Windsor Hills. Now, even though I only dedicated one paragraph of the trip report to our decision making process for accommodations, don’t let that lead you to believe that it was anywhere near a quick or spontaneous decision. I later added an extra day to our week at Belle Vue Villa and once everyone else goes home our family will move to VWL where I rented points for a studio for two nights.

It was a very Disney Christmas this year, everyone got tie dye Mickey Head shirts thanks to the directions I found on the DIS and lime green t-shirts with an iron on design that I got from julia&nicksmom with our family name. Let me just say that the guys were not thrilled with the color selection, least of all DBIL the cop, and it occurred to me just recently that I forgot to tell them why I selected that color. Of course, Mr. Too Cool for Disney, my 12 year old nephew, was not impressed by any of it. Each family also got a copy of the Unofficial Guide, AKA the bible, a hidden Mickey book, and each kid got a Birnbaum’s WDW for Kids book. The younger kids got a invitation to the pirate cruise. The guys got a ride along at the Richard Petty Driving Experience (half off thanks to the Budget board). DFIL and DMIL got dinner at Victoria and Alberts and an Around the World on a Segway tour. Grandma had told us last Christmas that she wanted a Segway, this was the best we could do. Ok, my inlaws are now officially scared of the family travel planner, me!

I started a Family Disney Newsletter that I’ve been sending monthly since September, with little tips, tidbits, and trivia. I pass along any great deals I find. The response has been ok, but less than excited. Mr. Cop can only focus on the money, which I can agree is plenty to focus on. Grandma and Granddaddy have been busy trying to retire and make sure they would still have some money to live on when we get back. DH and my kids just think I’m crazy anyway so nothing new there. I’ve tried to keep my Disney talk limited to one conversation a day, even though it is constantly bumping around in my head.

As our departure gets closer the phone calls and emails are increasing, they need me after all. DSIL and DMIL heard from their friends that something called the Hooptie? is awesome and we should definitely check it out. “You mean the Hoop Dee Do Review?” I say. “Oh you’ve heard of it?” Have I heard of it, did you read any of your books people? I explain that it gets great reviews, but that I was worried about the cost, they decide, let’s do it. So I pick up the phone and it’s booked. I suppose I shouldn’t have been worried about the cost, because DSIL is looking at this as the vacation of a lifetime and also booked CRT and Discovery Cove. With one month to go I’ve started rethinking all of our arrangements, driving everyone nuts as I attempt to over plan every detail. We’ve decided to do the Family Magic Tour instead of the Pirate Cruise. DS5 says he really doesn’t want to do any of it, he just wants to do the pirate ride.

I got a phone call that DNephew, soccer star, won the state championships for his age bracket and now will have to cut the Disney trip short to go to Cleveland to play for the National Championships. He came off the field saying, “Mom, do I have to go to Disney World?” How many kids do you think have ever uttered those words. While trying to help them change their plane tickets from Baltimore to Cleveland, I got a Ding fare from Southwest for our return trip for $32. I was so nervous changing the reservation and was so excited when DH came home to tell him the news. Then I realized I have cancelled our flight to Orlando, not back and was left with two flights home. Check out my thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1011661
to read more about that debacle.

The week before we leave I somehow managed to sign our entire family up for 3 exchanges on the community boards, scheduled a huge Daytona 500/Son’s 5th birthday party for about 50 of our closest friends, and signed up for snack for both of my boys’s preschool classes. Meanwhile, I’m still making Tshirts, working part time and trying to pack, without losing my mind. DMIL calls and says, “I need help with what ticket to buy?” You have got to be kidding me, you’re asking me this now, didn’t we cover this in the September edition of the Disney Family Vacation Newsletter? And you are seriously asking me this question now? I asked her if she wanted the MYW tutorial and then make her own decision or did she just want me to tell her what to buy? She said, “Just tell me what to buy!” So come to find out, no one else bought their tickets yet and they had to have them sent FedEx from Ticketmania. Well, you know what they say, “you can lead a horse to water….”

Somehow, all our bags get packed, everyone gets their park tickets, plane tickets, and rental cars. The parties are done, the exchanges are sent, and we secure rides to the airport and all manage to get seats close together on the plane, not absolutely sure that is a good thing. And we are off for the Neighbors Family Disney Vacation

 

[java]

Oh me thinks this is going to be gooooooood!!!! Someone else's family togetherness is always fun to read about.

 

[Twingle]

Oohh, another planner

Can't wait to hear about your trip!

 

[Mickey Fanatic]

This sounds like it will be a great report. I can't wait to find out how everything goes.

I like your idea of a monthly newsletter. My family is considering going next May and renting a house as well. I already know that I will be considered the crazy planning person!

 

[OhMari]

The ticket situation was funny. You should of made a count down for them in Sept., and told them they had to buy their tickets by then, otherwise the prices would be going up. Isn't it amazing how people really don't listen.

 

[OhMari]

The ticket situation was funny. You should of made a count down for them in Sept., and told them they had to buy their tickets by then, otherwise the prices would be going up. Isn't it amazing how people really don't listen.

Waiting for the rest>

 

[jamal]

I can't wait to read more about this crew! Thanks for getting it going

 

[sk!mom]

From one crazy planner to another- can't wait to read the rest. I plannd a family trip for 9 two years ago. Everyone had such a great time that they want me to plan another in a couple of years.

 

[Mickeefan]

I'm the planner in the family and we're planning a trip for January. I like to newsletter idea, but I know my DBIL will think I'm nuts! Looking forward to more of your report!

 

[roberrl187]

This will be a great report. Looking forward to more.

 

[cwnhokie]

Thank you for all the positive responses, I hope my report can live up to your expectations. I guess I better get back to it then!

 

[byoung]

Nice report.

 

[swillis]

Very good. I'm looking forward to more! And my son would utter that same phrase if he had a chance to play football instead of going to Disney

 

[antree]

I can't wait to read more.

Maria

 

[Minniespal]

Can't wait to read more

 

[cwnhokie]

The nieces and nephews have never flown before. We are taxiing down the runway and Mr. Too Cool for Disney says, “Hey, this is kind of like my scooter, only faster and with wings!” Mr. Too Cool for Disney will now be known also as scooter boy. Scooter boy has never been able to master riding a two wheeler and has friends that ride on either side of him to catch him if he starts to fall. Yet somehow he manages to be a too cool athlete and chick magnet. He used to be very self conscious, but is really developing a sense of humor and constantly surprised me with his wit this trip.

Hoping that the discounted airline that we are flying with is in fact more than a scooter with wings we start our journey into the sky and towards Florida. We left behind a recent snow storm of 10+ inches and forecasted temps with highs in the low 30s for the sunshine state. During the flight my two angels slept almost the entire time and Soccer Star tried not to get sick. I sat silently worrying if the house we had rented actually existed and would be available for us. I had never planned a trip for 11 of my inlaws before and it is a little unsettling.

We arrived in Orlando without incident, except our dear little soccer star must have been practicing his moves on the seat because he got quite a lashing from the “gentleman” sitting in front of him. We rode the exciting little shuttle/train thing, which my boys consider one of the best rides in WDW, gather our luggage with EASE , man we really have this flying with two young children down. Go us! Go us! Go us! (foreshadowing here) and set off to secure our rental cars. Grandma and Granddaddy chose the first one in the EA line, a beautiful orange car that turned out to be an excellent choice because it was easy to find in crowded parking lots (Which of course, I already thought about, being a obsessive planner and DIS devotee, but I let them come to that realization on their own and few days later). She then set off to worry about what happened to DSIL and family, “they said they rented EA too” she kept saying. Finally I figured out this was impossible because there are six of them and there is no way they could have rented an intermediate, which is what you have to rent for EA. Then we found them one aisle over looking at their invisible mini van. DSIL was muttering something about not having been able to figure out how to sign up for the Emerald Club using my mousesavers.com link. National ended up offering them a Full size SUV, because they were out of mini vans for some reason. Problem solved and they start to load up. This was all taking place without my knowledge because we were sweating our you know what’s off attempting to put all of our luggage and two strollers into our new black car (can’t remember what kind it was, DH would know, remember he obsesses about everything else) with leather seats and a sunroof. And keep track of the boys who were screaming about getting to our new house and not being able to roll the window up and down. Well you put the luggage in, you put the strollers out, you put the laptop in and you shake it all about…this fun version of hokie pokie went on for a while (go Hokies!!) and DH, let’s just call him AR, finally comes to the conclusion that it’s not all going to fit and more importantly our little birthday boy couldn’t reach the power window thingee, which is very important to him in a rental car.. So we take it out and move down the line to try a different one. DFIL just sits in his bright orange car and shakes his head. While DH is putting the luggage in the new car, birthday boy realizes that he still can’t reach the window thing and starts to whine. I tell him if he mentions one word about the window thing when Daddy gets in the car, Daddy is going to blow. One more round of the luggage pokie and we are on our way!!! To sit in a long line to get out of the garage and an even longer line of traffic on I4. WooHooo, we are almost in Disney World! “Are we at the new house yet?”

We arrive at Global property management to pick up our key. Very simple, takes less then 5 minutes and we are off to see our new house. We pull up the same time as the cousins, while Grandma and Granddaddy make a quick grocery run. The kids all run in and explore every nook and cranny of the house and claim bedrooms. We soon realize that the bed in Grandma’s bedroom indeed does not have a mirror over it like she thought it did in the pictures, we know she will be disappointed, but decide to offer them this room anyway. I tried to tell her when we were looking at the pictures on the website, that it was not a mirror over the bed, not sure why she thought it was to begin with but somehow with the angle the picture was taken in her mind it looked like a mirror. Oh well, they are stuck sleeping with Willie Will, our 3 year old, all week anyway.

Man this is getting long, and there is so much day left. But aren’t all the days that way in WDW?

Mr. Obsessive opted to take a swim with the wee ones while I unpacked. Yay me! Anyway I am busily unpacking all of the stuff we overpacked once again, luckily there was lots of space, plenty of drawers and a walk in closet with lots of hangers. Almost done, everything is put away except the toiletries. Let me just get the toiletry bag, it’s over here, no maybe over there, no, oh toiletry bag, where are you toiletry bag. Really don’t want to do this, but I must ask Mr. Obsessive…. Oh honey? Have you seen the toiletry bag? Both of us realize at the same time that we never got the toiletry bag off of the belt. Well how could I keep up with the bags? I was too busy checking my itinerary, making sure that we didn’t need one more ADR, making sure all of my email confirmations were lined up and in the order that we would need them in my neat little plastic folder with the zipper that I had bought and decorated with Disney stickers and markers. How could I be expected to keep up with the luggage too? This is really not good for Mr. Obsessive’s heart. He does not like for things to go wrong. It is 6:30 and we have ADRs for Chef Mickeys at 8:10. He hops out of the pool and changes. I call southwest while he is in route. I finally get to a person in Orlando and they have the bag.

Meanwhile, I’m stuck at home discussing directions with Mr. Obsessive’s dad. We both study the map and I decide that we should go out to 192 take a right and look for signs to WDW. I don’t think that is a specific enough plan for Granddad. He wants to know which way is East and which way is West on the map. It doesn’t say and this is upsetting to him. The phone rings and it is our friendly neighborhood ticket broker. I explain that we already have our tickets. Perhaps there is something else we would like to have tickets for? A dinner show perhaps? Well sir, our itinerary is pretty tight and I’ll let you know if we decide to squeeze one in. Ok, Mam, we can deliver the tickets right to your door and if there is anything else we can help you with just let us know. Well there is one thing. I say, “Can you tell us how to get to WDW from here?” He seems to be a little surprised that I actually asked him something, but, hey, he offered. So he explains how to get to the Contemporary. Granddaddy is still not satisfied because he does not know if he is going East or West and he doesn’t have specific street names. Granddaddy just trust me, I’m the master planner remember? Ok, maybe directions don’t fall under the heading of planning, and I did mess up my plane tickets, and we did leave a bag at the airport, but I don’t think the bag thing went under my umbrella, that is under Mr. Obsessive. I say to him do you know if Disney is East or West of here? Then what difference does it make whether we know if we are going East or West, let’s just take a right! And there are lots of signs. I promise! The group leaves to somehow find Disney World and I am left alone with my thoughts, maybe I should call and see if I can add another ADR!

I still don’t know how Mr. Obsessive missed a bag at the airport, especially as many times as he put them in and out of the rental cars. He later tells me that he had in his head how many bags we were checking when we left home. But when we stopped at his mom’s I added a bad and he didn’t figure that into his plan. Mr. Obsessive gets to the airport and back in record time and we leave for Chef Mickeys only slightly behind the rest of the group. He later tells me that this rental really has some speed and after riding Test Track later in the week, he tells me that was nothing, I had that rental up to at least 110. Geez, we could have borrowed some toothpaste and a brush, oh well. (I must add here, that he did very well with this little disturbance. Normally it would have really upset him, but I guess with Disney magic it was all ok, or at least bareable.)

We arrive at the Contemporary only a few minutes late and with only one little disagreement about the interpretation of one of the WDW signs and catch up with our group that hasn’t even gotten to the podium yet. Ok, time to run to the gift shop and buy some autograph books, get our picture taken and we are seated within ten minutes. We have a big table and a booth. That made it tricky to get pictures, but it was ok. Grandma was loving the characters and Granddaddy was even smiling. We didn’t even get a chance to go get food before the characters started coming. Mr. Cool was trying to act uninterested but Chip and Dale both had fun messing with his hair and giving him a hard time. He smiled and played along and even said he was having fun.

Our birthday boy, AKA Mr. Obsessive Jr. was all about the autographs. No hugs, no posing for pictures, just sign the book please. And make sure I get them all, mom. Willie Will had a ball waving his napkin around. Granddaddy was initially take back by this activity and was mainly concerned about Willie knocking everything over and only mildly concerned with him slapping him in the face every few seconds with the napkin.

The girls had a ball getting autographs and pictures. Soccer Star had his mom go buy him an autograph book because he forgot his and he enjoyed it too. Mr. Obsessive and The Cop spent the whole evening comparing features on their new camcorders they had just bought for the trip.

The food was good as usual. I love there parmesan mashed potatoes, although, they were much more rich than I remembered. It was hard to eat them all but I did my best and so did Willie, a boy after my own heart. He ate two helpings. Grandma told me that Granddaddy said, this was a wonderful choice and a great beginning to our trip. A little pat on the back for the obsessive travel planner, Thanks.

I forgot to tell our waiter that it was DS’s birthday and they had done the last celebration for the night. But he brought out a cupcake with a candle and Minnie came over to sit beside DS and while we all sang Happy Birthday.

We noticed that the placemat was signed by all the characters and realizing how special it was, Mr. Obsessive swooped in to take care of that little treasure and make sure nothing happened to it.

Next stop … the observation deck for the fireworks. There weren’t many people there yet and we went to get a seat on the bench. A man sitting there said he was saving the spot for his wife who was in the bathroom. Either she was very, very, very large or there was plenty of room for at least one of us to sit there too. At least Grandma, who was beginning to feel the effects of the long day of traveling and coming to terms with the disappointment that her bed did not have a mirror over it. I left to go get some post cards for all the poor souls back home. When I came back Grandma was sitting beside the man’s not so big wife, with Willie on her lap. The other kids were sitting on the ground and Mr. Obsessive and the cop were still discussing their cameras. Granddaddy was just taking it all in and I’m not sure where DSIL was. I’ll have to check the video and pictures. (I wish I knew how to include pictures in my report. Perhaps I’ll figure that out later.) The kids loved the monorail going over their heads and enjoyed the fireworks. They were all pretty tired when we left for home.

We all made it back to the house, eventually, we put the boys to bed and took a short swim while we waited for Grandma and Granddaddy to find their way back. All in all it was a good first day in the world of magic. Exhausted we settled in for the night before our first day of parks. Tomorrow the Neighbors take on Animal Kingdom!

 

[DAPford]

This sounds like fun can't wait to hear more

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I'm loving your trip report. Can't wait for more

 

[epb217]

Tell me about the house. We will be renting in Windsor Hills and haven't stayed offsite before. How was the drive to the parks? Did you have any problems with the house? Would you stay there again?

 

[jamal]

This is a great report!