The Year of Disney Trips: ***Update!!!! 8/20/08****

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Ok so instead of doing a TR of just my August trip, I've decided to do a multi TR thread. Lemme 'splain.

You see a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away….uh wait….wrong story.

While I was planning my April Ultimate Disney Vacation which essentially turned into a girl's trip to The World; (if ya wanna read all about it, check out my TR Here) and getting addicted to the DIS boards and everything there is to do at Disney I decided I wanted to make more trips throughout the year to my magical place. I mean there's MNSSHP and MVMCP and P&P Party and how could I miss those! So in April I decided to buy an annual pass since it would work out best for all my upcoming trips. Plus I already had 2 more trips booked and planned by the time I actually went on my April trip. That's right ladies and gents, I had planned 3 Disney trips at once. It was not an easy task, but I was in heaven doing it, and once the first one (April trip) was planned; the other 2 were really a piece of cake. I had become a planning expert thanks to the DIS!

Ok so that brings us to the start of The Year of Disney Trips. I already wrote a TR for the April trip (see link above). I've been back twice since then and am trying really hard to get back there 2 more times before the year is up. Plus my AP is good until April of 2008 so I may get to plan some trips for next year. So far nothing's been planned but I'm slowly devising plans on how exactly I'm getting back to my happy place.

So without further adieu; weeee'rrrreee…outta here!


TABLE OF CONTENTS:
June Trip
Mini Pre-TR--June: Post #2
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Post #3
Introductions : Post #4
Smells Like Teen Spirit -- The Trip Begins: Post #33
What is that Falling from the Sky? : Post #44
Adventures in Check-In: Post #46
Welcome Home!: Post #48
Welcome Home! Part Deux: Post #49
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Dining Family Style: Post #66
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Dining Family Style (Part 2): Post #67
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Dining Family Style (Part 3): Post #68
Smells Like Teen Spirit: A Soarin' We Will Go: Post #98
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Think, Think, Think: Post #111
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Under the Sea Dining: Post #121
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Under the Sea Dining (Part 2): Post #122
Off to the World Showcase...Maybe: Post #136
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Rain, Rain, Go Away!: Post #151
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Rain, Rain, Go Away! Part 2: Post #169
Happy Birthday to Mom: Part 1: Post#178
Happy Birthday to Mom: Part 2: Post#179
Mom's Birthday and Relaxin: Post #188
You went WHERE?!?!: Post #202
The Happiest Place on Earth: Post#225
A Little Charm Will Get You a Long Way: Post #240
Devising a Plan: Post #265
Trying to Get Out: Post #271
A Park Hopping We Will Go: Post #275
Encounter with a Yeti: Post #282
MK Ending: Post #289
Changes in the Plan: Post #307
2 Parks in 1 Day: Post #310
2 Parks in 1 Day: Part 2: Post #325
2 Parks in 1 Day: Part 3: Post #332
2 Parks in 1 Day: The Finale: Post #338
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Final thoughts: Post #340
August Trip
Mini Pre-Trip August: Post #352
Six Parks in Four Days!!: Post #355
Adventures in check in...again: Post #364
Napkin Twirling Fun: Post #374
Sneaking Around CR: Post#383
First Park Day!!!: Post #397
Who Dat Calling Me?!: Post #409
O Canada!: Post#415
Exploring More of WS: Post#425
Exploring More of WS Part II: Post#436
Morning in MK: Post#445
Royal Lunch: Post#457
P&PP Where's the Rum?: Post #464
P&PP Continued: Post #466
Why is it so hot?!: Post#484
Hooray for Hollywood!: Post #550
End of MGM Day: Post#566
Headin' for that Other Park: Post#583
Jumping into the Sunday Funnies: Post#584
What've they got in there, King Kong?: Post#613
Ride the Movies: Post #653
October Trip
October Mini Pre TR: Post #665
A Quick Getaway to the Mouse: Post#666
Room Roulette: Post#681
Time to Cool Off: Post #691
Getting to MNSSHP: Post #707
Getting to MNSSHP Part Deux: Post #715
MNSSHP: Post #716
MNSSHP Pt. 2: Post #717
Boo To You Parade: Post #734
Villains Everywhere: Post #744
Hallowishes!: Post #747
Let the Eating Begin!: Post #759
Some More Eating Around the World: Post #768
I Come From the Land Down Under: Post #776

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

June Trip:
Travel Dates June 10 - June 15

A little backstory for this trip. In February, as I was maddeningly planning my April Ultimate Disney trip my cousin (30ish) who lives in Pennsylvania tells my mom (her aunt) that she wants to come visit after she graduates college.

Now some further backstory; my cousin used to live with us when we lived in Colorado way back when and when she was in high school. She ended up getting preggers her senior year and after graduating HS, she went back to Puerto Rico (where her entire family was/is). But to this day, my mom (her aunt) remains her favorite aunt and my cousin probably loves her more than she does her own mom. Ok back to first backstory.

So my mother, being the loverly giving person that she is thinks this is a wonderful idea and tells her that she'll pay her plane ticket as a graduation present and tells her to bring her youngest kidlets. Now, my cousin has 4 kids , all boys. Yes I feel her pain (now). So my cousin agrees and my mom asks her specifically which kids she's bringing. So my cousin says her 2 youngest ones because one of her other 2 kids is in Puerto Rico living with his father and the other one is on house arrest. Yes drama big time. So my dear mother tells me of all this and says that we can go to Disney while they're here because none of them have been. Doth my ears deceive me? Did my mother, who has been complaining about my upcoming (April) trip to Disney just give me permission to plan another trip to my happy place?! So before she can retract what she says I say OK!! And get to planning yet another Disney trip whilst finalizing my April trip. Wooohooo!!!!

So I hit the DIS and start looking up deals and whatnot. I decide that my best option is renting DVC points since it will be 5 of us. I wanted to do the DDP and that would work out great because then I won't have to buy a ticket for that as I would if I booked a regular resort. Score it! So on I go to the DVC rent/trade boards to beg and plead for the dates I wanted. Finally a loverly gentleman gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. I wanted BCV, but I soon learned that so did everyone else so I was left with the options of OKW and SSR. I went with a 2BR at SSR because I had seen so many DVC owners on the list with that as their home resort. Plus I found more info on SSR than OKW when I did a quick search. So it was settled and I had gotten that part out of the way.

I then decided to do some resort comparison prices, because Disney threw out some specials on the resorts or the AP prices or something and I was wondering if I could save some dinero (money). So I checked out POR since a lot of people on the DIS favor that resort and it's one of the few that sleeps 5. Well apparently I could stay at POR for about $300 less than what I was renting the DVC points for. Hmmmm. So I went to the DIS for opinions and it was unanimously decided for me that the SSR deal was way better than POR. So I stuck with SSR and will bless the DIS whilst on the trip.

Next were airplane tickets for my cousin and her kidlets. I searched American Airlines for about 2 weeks and then 1 morning they ran a deal and whaddya know! Cheap tickets! Score it! Good got that out of the way.

Now onto the Dining: I wanted to try some new places than from my April ADR's so I browsed the Disney Restaurant list and hit up the Dining boards and made up a list. I think the original list went something like this:

Chef Mickey's Dinner
Coral Reef Early Dinner or as I call it Linner
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (added after April trip)
Dinner at Boma
Breakfast at Ohana's
Dinner/Linner at Sci Fi

That was the original list, and whilst in The World it would change. Stay tuned for that.

We'd also be celebrating my mommy's birthday whilst in The World!! Woohoo!!

So everything was set and all was good in my happy planning world because I was heading back to The World!!

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Alright so that was my very quick pre-TR for my June trip. Let's fast forward to after my April birthday trip and a week before the June trip.

My cousin calls my mom up and asks her if it would be a problem to add her other son, the one that was in Puerto Rico with his father. Apparently something had happened and he's leaving Puerto Rico and now my cousin wants him to come with her on the trip and she'll pay his plane ticket. My mom, who hasn't planned a bit of the Disney stuff basically tells her she doesn't know because she has to talk with me (I think I was sleeping at the time). So when I wake up because (I work nights at a hospital) my mom tells me this news. So I say "Wha Wha Wha?!" A freaking week before they arrive! Oh man. So I tell my mom that I have to find out if adding him to the ressie will be a problem. So off I go to email the loverly DISer who rented us the DVC points. I have no clue when he'll get back to me. Mom and I talk and complain about the situation and mom is royally pissed and has worked herself up to the point where she is going to call up my cousin and flat out tell her no that we can't add him, but at last minute try to bring him along and just tell her that to make her feel bad (yes my mom can be evil ) or that if he comes she won't go, which I quickly veto because we'll be there during her bday. So she goes with option #1 and my cousin feels bad. I get an email back though and am told that it shouldn't be a problem to add him on while checking in. So all is well again, even though my cousin doesn't know it.

The week goes by quickly enough and my cousin and 2 of her kidlets (the add on kidlet will be flying to Orlando the day before we arrive and be staying with relatives that live there) arrive 3 days before the trip and I go and pick them up and she'll have some time to spend with my mom before the actual trip.

Up next: We're going to The World!!!

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

So it's about time that I introduce the cast:

Me Zorylee or Li, pronounced Lee (28).

I've loved Disney for as long as I remember. I grew up on the Disney channel back in the days when Winnie the Pooh had a show where the characters were actual people in the character suits, which was followed by Dumbo's Circus (anyone remember that show). My father took my brother and I to Disneyland when I was about 6 years old and I was in absolute heaven then my mom took me to WDW when I was around 9 years old when it was only MK and EPCOT (I think). When we moved to Miami, FL the only thing I was happy about was being so close to the World. I'm single, with 3 furbabies and aunt to 4 furbabies, all cats. I Lurrrve Donald, love to scrapbook, and am the only Disney freak in my family (they all think I'm weird for obsessing over all things Disney).

Mom (50ish)

She'll be celebrating a birthday whilst in The World. She doesn't understand my Disney obsession, yet this trip was her idea and I was more than happy to plan it.

Bre (sounds like BREad without saying the "ad" part) Cousin (30ish)

She lived with us while she was in High School and has just graduated College. Mom to the 3 minions that will be joining us. Disney virgin, but is truly a big kid.

The Minions (My cousin's kids)

L-R: Ivan, Joey, Daniel

Minion #1 Daniel (15)
Second oldest of 4 kids, he's 15 going on 30. His younger brothers look up to him. He's our late add on. Disney Virgin.

Minion #2 Ivan (14)
I guess he's the middle child of his 4 brothers. His mom is really tough on him and very very hyper child. He's the misunderstood one and became my favorite of the 3 minions whilst on the trip. He acts tough but has a heart of gold. Disney Virgin.

Minion #3 Joey (10)
The baby of the brother quartet. He's literally called bebe (baby in Spanish) by his family. I refused to continue this name during the trip and had to burst his little smart aleck ways whilst trip. This kid could get away with murder if they let him. Disney Virgin.


Up next, getting there.


Next Installment: Click Here

 

[PrincessAlways]

Wow, Li, you're up early on this Saturday morning! I'm up earlier than usual too. Going to a Yankees' game today! What can I say...married a true fan! When I saw your new TR link, I just had to jump over to join in! Can't wait for the fun to begin!

 

[Disneyolic]

I'm subbing ... but I'll be back later to read!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hi Li!

I am so happy to see that you started your new report!

I totally remember Dumbo's Circus and that Winnie the Pooh show. In fact Alek and I were talking about them just the other day so when I saw you mention them I laughed a bit.

Adding the cousin on at the last minute must have been very stressful. I would have been in full freak out mode.

Can't wait for your next update!

 

[scottny]

Ok I am on board.

 

[MeMom]

Your title caught my attention, because that's kind of what this year is for us. We did the all-family trip last month, and we have three all-girls trips between now and the next all-family trip. We decided to take full advantage of those APs, too. We're doing our first MNSSHP in October, Candlelight Processional in December, and nothing special yet at Spring Break. Only thing is, we're ten and a half hours away! It's not so easy for us, but it is well worth the trouble to get there. We'll look forward to hearing more and seeing lots of good pictures.

P.S. I turned 50 this summer in Disney World. Maybe I can help get your dear old mom to be a Disney addict.

 

[puggymom]

I'm here, yeah I know you were just waiting around for me weren't ya?

Anywho, isn't great planning so many trips at once, I have 3 myself over the next 12 months, hopefully can squeeze a 4th in there too!

I give you and Tracy (DLMama) credit for planning these family get aways, I don't think I would want them all tagging along at the same time and messing with my happy place.

Looking forward to more.

 

[DisneyJo]

Great start

Just had to say I love how all you US DISser's now use the word whilst

 

[ericamcl]

subbing to this TR!! Loved your last one

 

[wannago2disney]

Looking forward to more

 

[PaMom001]

Ok, you can start the party now. I'm here.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

Subbing, now I'm going to be readin'

 

[MRYPPNS]

Love me s'more Duck Tales !

Count me in.

Heidi

 

[HomeschoolMama]

Whew! I thought that the cousin you went with last time was the one you're taking this time. I thought, "Dang! She has 4 boys?!"
I'm with you now. I get it now...

Great start. I don't know how you can keep all your trips figured out! I'm confused thinking about it.

 

[Avivasmom]

Waving Hi from a neighbor...we are in Plantation. SO not to far away.

We are now waiting for our 2nd trip of the year to happen. Our first was the end of July!

Cannot wait to read more.

 

[Sleeping*Beauty]

Man I wish I lived close enough to make a year of trips.

 

[Lauralee131]

Ok so instead of doing a TR of just my August trip, I've decided to do a multi TR thread. Lemme 'splain.

Ooooh....

You see a long long time ago in a galaxy far away….uh wait….wrong story.

I just transported myself to the Studios to ride Star Tours...

Sorry...having a really bad bout of PDD - Post Disney Depression - thinking that this time LAST Saturday night I was at the beach at the Poly Man, I've got it baaaaad...Gotta go plan another trip I guess...

While I was planning my April Ultimate Disney Vacation which essentially turned into a girl's trip to The World; (if ya wanna read all about it, check out my TR Here) and getting addicted to the DIS boards and everything there is to do at Disney I decided I wanted to make more trips throughout the year to my magical place. I mean there's MNSSHP and MVMCP and P&P Party and how could I miss those! So in April I decided to buy an annual pass since it would work out best for all my upcoming trips. Plus I already had 2 more trips booked and planned by the time I actually went on my April trip. That's right ladies and gents, I had planned 3 Disney trips at once.

You are my idol Z...3 trips at once? You are GOOD!!

It was not an easy task, but I was in heaven doing it, and once the first one (April trip) was planned; the other 2 were really a piece of cake. I had become a planning expert thanks to the DIS!

Woooo Hooooo!!!!

Ok so that brings us to the start of The Year of Disney Trips. I already wrote a TR for the April trip (see link above). I've been back twice since then and am trying really hard to get back there 2 more times before the year is up. Plus my AP is good until April of 2008 so I may get to plan some trips for next year. So far nothing's been planned but I'm slowly devising plans on how exactly I'm getting back to my happy place.

So without further adieu (sp?) weeee'rrrreee…outta here!

Cool! I'm on board baby!!

With all these TR's going on, how am I ever going to have time to work on mine??

So many TR's, so little time...

Great start

Just had to say I love how all you US DISser's now use the word whilst