This time it's all of us: A Tale of Two Families.....a Summer 2015 PTR

[Davidsmommy]

Introduction​

Hi! I'm Kristen. I am super excited to start a Pre Trip report. I wrote a trip report a bunch of years ago when my husband and I took our kids to Disney World, but haven't been all that active posting since then. I have been reading along though and decided a great way to plan and deal with my excitement is to start documenting!

I have been to Disney a lot. My parents bought an off site timeshare back in the 80s. We visited quite a bit throughout the years in my childhood and beyond, and when I became an adult, I kind-of took over the timeshare. Now, my family uses it every year to go somewhere. Usually Disney.

I think my obsession began when I started planning my first trip with my husband (EL) and our kids (David and Rebecca) to Disney on our own. Becca was two and David was seven. We stayed at Pop, with the dining plan (back when it was app, entree, dessert tips included!), and just had a ball. Here are some pictures from our 2007 trip:

(Note - I am feeling so nostalgic right now. I don't remember the last time I looked at these pictures! Sorry so many, I was just so happy to see them.)


Left to Right: David, Becca, EL



Becca



Left to Right: Tigger, David



Left to Right: Becca, Me, Dale, David

And I couldn't resist:


Princess Cinderella

That trip began a deluge of trips. I actually went 4 times that year. It was kind of insane. The second time was with my son for a mommy/son trip for free dining. We had booked All Star Movies (I think - one of the All Stars) and we got upgraded to a 1 bedroom at Saratoga! Here's my boy:


David


The third time in 2007 was with my husband for our 10th anniversary. We stayed at AKL with a Savannah view. LOVED everything. The aliens are my favorite, so here we are with one:


EL


Me

Fourth time, I went with my best friend. We both had a hard year and it seemed like a girls trip to Disney was required. We stayed at Pop.

That trip convinced my best friend (let's call her Mrs. Incredible - scratch that, she just told me she wanted to be known was Veronica) to buy DVC. She was hooked and just as crazy of a planner as I was. Here we are at Crystal Palace:



Left to Right: Piglet, Me



Left to Right: Veronica, Pooh


In December 2013, I went back with Veronica and another friend for our 40th birthdays. We decided we should take a girls trip every 5 years, so that was this trip. We stayed at AKL Savannah view. Had a ton of fun.

I cannot find one picture from this trip. Imagine three forty year olds running amok through Disney World.

THEN, Veronica told me that she was taking her kids in August 2014. Her husband (Buzz) was finishing up some classes so it was just her and the kids (Prince Charming and Belle). I realized that I had not yet taken Becca on HER mommy and me trip (since I took David when he was 7). I also asked my mom to come along, as she hadn't been to Disney in many years (I usually went with my dad and stepmom). So, girls trip (plus one boy) 2014 was on! Veronica and kids stayed at the Contemporary BLT and my family traded the timeshare to stay offsite in a 2 bedroom condo at the Parkway International. Here is a pic of all of us from that trip:



From Left to Right (Back row): Mom, Me, Veronica; (Front row): Becca, Belle, Prince Charming

So, now we are planning for August 2015. Next Post will have Cast of Characters!

 

[Davidsmommy]

Reserved for Chapter Links​

Introduction
Cast of Characters
Lodging​

 

[Davidsmommy]

Cast of Characters
​

Almost everyone is pictured at least once (although some pictures are quite old!) in my introduction. Unfortunately, I can't find one picture of Veronica's husband, Buzz. Imagine a handsome forty something father of two. Below is a rundown of everyone coming on the trip. This is the first time we will go to WDW with all members of both families!

Family #1: The Bluths (Guess what I am watching for the 1000th time while I write this....)

Me: Kristen, 41 years young. Disney freak. I work for the government. I enjoy my career and work super hard. In addition, we have an hour plus commute each way, and that makes me cranky. There is never enough time to do everything!

Favorite Disney Characters: Little Green Men from Toy Story (Jack Skellington is a close second)
Favorite Park: Hollywood Studios
Favorite Disney Restaurant: Jiko
Favorite Disney Ride: Tower of Terror
Favorite Bluth: Buster

My husband: EL, 43. Not so much of a Disney freak. He goes for me. Loves AK though and quite enjoys relaxing. Also a government bureaucrat and commutes with me.

Favorite Disney Character: Tigger
Favorite Park: AK
Favorite Disney Restaurant: Jiko
Favorite Disney Ride: Expedition Everest
Favorite Bluth: GOB

My son: David, 14. Enjoys Disney. Video gamer extraordinaire. Clarinet player. Is now totally 14 - a bit mopey, more secretive. I'm adjusting to my little guy becoming more of a young man. It totally freaks me out.

Favorite Disney Character: Goofy
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Disney Restaurant: anywhere he can get a bacon cheeseburger
Favorite Disney Ride: Splash Mountain
Favorite Bluth: George Michael

My daughter: Rebecca, 10. LOVES Disney and big rides. Into princesses still. Plays the violin.

Favorite Disney Character: Elsa
Favorite Park: Hollywood Studios
Favorite Disney Restaurant: Kona
Favorite Disney Ride: Tower of Terror
Favorite Bluth: GOB

Family #2: The Incredibles

Veronica: My best friend. We became friends in 5th grade, although if she were posting, she would tell you I turned the whole class against her. I think she is misremembering, but I have still apologized numerous times! She's also 41. I'm not going to go too into detail about her family details because she is more private than I am. However, she has a job and works hard.

Favorite Disney Character: Mike Wazowski
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Disney Restaurant: California Grille
Favorite Disney Ride:Toy Story Mania

Buzz: Veronica's husband. Forty something. Also has a job and works hard. Veronica and Buzz have been together since high school. He is very smart and sort-of quiet.

Favorite Disney Character: Russell from Up
Favorite Park: Animal Kingdom
Favorite Disney Restaurant: Boma
Favorite Disney Ride: Rock N Roller Coaster

Prince Charming: PC is one of the sweetest little guys I know. He is polite and funny and smart. He cracks me up every time I see him. He enjoys acting. He really is a charmer, hence his name. He is like 11.

Favorite Disney Character: Mickey Mouse
Favorite Park: Animal Kingdom
Favorite Disney Restaurant: Tusker House
Favorite Disney Ride: Expedition Everest

Belle: Belle is 8. She'll be turning 9 on our trip. She loves to read. She is spunky and fun and quite adorable. She reminds me so much of Veronica when she was young. Belle can give you a withering look and I swear I feel like I am looking into the eyes of her mom. I just die laughing. She and PC also have the puppy dog eyes down and can pretty much get whatever they want from me.

Favorite Disney Character: Goofy
Favorite Park: Magic Kingdom
Favorite Disney Restaurant: Cinderella's Royal Table
Favorite Disney Ride: Expedition Everest

The Bluths and the Incredibles, sadly, do not live near each other. We are about 3 hours apart, so we don't see each other nearly as often as we would like. However, we do usually manage a couple of trips/get togethers a year. Plus, Veronica and I text/email quite often. There is nothing like getting together for a nice vacation though, especially in our favorite place on earth! Veronica is the one friend I can tell everything to, and not feel judged or like I need to leave anything out. We get each other. We have been through a lot together in the last 31 years (31? That can't be right.....but it is!). The kids and husbands also get along, so it works.

Coming up next: Lodging!

 

[jchurch0409]

Following along!

 

[DVC2007]

What a fun idea! Looking forward to reading about your vacation!

 

[Davidsmommy]

I know those vacation dates! Hi Veronica!

 

[Davidsmommy]

Welcome to my pretrip report! To continue on - Lodging:

So, Veronica and family are DVC members. They will be staying at one of my very favorite resorts - Animal Kingdom Lodge! I have stayed here a couple of times before. Once with my husband for our tenth anniversary, and once with Veronica and our other friend, Alice, for our 40th birthday trip. I just find it one of the most wonderful, relaxing, beautiful places in the world. I love sitting on the balcony, sipping coffee, and staring at zebras. Life simply does not get much better than that. I love the restaurants, too. Jiko is maybe my favorite Disney restaurant. Boma is also incredible for both breakfast and dinner. So, I am excited for the Incredible family. We have some joint meals planned at AKL, and we will surely be over to visit as well.

The Bluths are doing a split stay. We are starting out in an offsite timeshare. My dad bought a timeshare in Orlando in the 80s, and we have sort of taken it over. So, I use that to trade for a nicer place usually in Orlando (I don't like the one we own). Last summer, my mom and my daughter and I stayed at the Parkway International Resort, and the location was ideal. It was a fine timeshare - two bedrooms, full kitchen, washer and dryer. It is clean and appropriate for what we need. It isn't really a fun resort to DO things at, but we will be elsewhere most of the time anyway. So, we are doing a week there again for this trip.

Then, we are moving over to the Polynesian for our last 4 nights. I cannot tell you how excited I am to stay there. I never have before, and I just love the resort. I am looking forward to eating at both Ohana and Kona without having to travel to get there, as well as having easy Magic Kingdom access with the monorail. Every day I get a little thrill when I think about watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach.

This trip will be in August, but I am not as worried about the heat as I was last year before we went (at the same time). It really wasn't as bad as everyone says. I mean, yeah, it was hot. But, I wasn't miserable, and that usually means it is tolerable!

Veronica and her kids were in town a couple of weeks ago, and we got to go out to breakfast and then our kids got to spend some time playing together. We also all watched Wreck-it Ralph together (again). I just can't wait to be back at my happy place with my family and the Incredibles!

Up next: Dining!