This Trip Report Is Under Refurbishment For Your Future Enjoyment (UPDATED 9/13 with final bonus chapter)

[Terra Nova guy]

Awesome intro, as I would expect. Looking forward to the report!

 

[glennbo123]

Signing on! Thanks for the bat signal!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'm here and in at the start just so I can get behind as usual.

Believe me, I know the feeling! And don't worry, I'm usually a slow updater.

Totally get this one! I've had some pretty brilliant ones in the past and also some pretty big duds. Sometimes there's just nothing that sticks out during a trip.

Yeah, or nothing that sticks out in a pithy catchphrase-kind of way.

Killed many a good hours that I should have been working with your TRs but never once was I bored. I still can't get over how big/old your kids are now! Can't wait to read more, I'm sure it's going to be epic.

I don't know if I can live up to "epic". I'm shooting for "better than doing work".

I saw you have a few TR's going. Which one is the current one? Can I join in halfway through?

OK I read your whole into and made the first page!

You did that just to prove me wrong, didn't you? I can respect that.

Nice photos of you and the Missus. I think you are saying you like to eat.

Well, we're trying to keep it real here. And this is not a false statement.

here

Liesa!

So happy that this has started! I am really looking forward to reading about your adventures!

Magdalene! I don't know if we'll live up to the mosquito story.

I loved the introduction, especially the pictures. I hope the rest of the family will never read this or you will get a hard time! But it’s amazing how they have all grown up! I think the first report I read Scotty was Drew’s age. Now I feel old, too. And I don’t even have a 14-year-old to compete against in sports...

Pretty incredible how time goes by, isn't it? It doesn't feel like it's been a decade or more...but it has. The time passes quickly.

Oh, and the rest of the family has all seen their glamour shots. And yet, I'm still alive!

can't wait to read all about it!

and thanks for reading along!

 

[jhoannam]

I’ve been waiting for this... now where’s the rest of the report?

 

[tammy]

This should be fun!!

 

[piglet1979]

I can't wait to hear more about the trip.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Same bat time, same bat channel, same bat TR?

No, I guess no on all counts, but I'm here!!

Dang. Just realized. Another TR to fall behind on. <sigh>

Doc! Don't worry, I'm usually slow at updating these things.

Here.... back to read later! about 16 other TRs to catch up on.

pkondz! You've been doing impressive work catching up, I see.

Only 16? You've been on a whirlwind tour. What's my excuse?
Oh wait, two jobs, working on submitting all kinds of paperwork for new job, house hunting...now I remember.

When it rains, it pours.

Looking forward to more!!

scrappy! Thanks for following me over here.

YAYYYY!!!!! The only tr can read on my work computer and still have the photos load! (Looking at you @pkondz )

Annie! If I didn't know better, I'd say you threw a little shade there.

Can't wait to follow along!

Thanks for jumping in!

Hey - I did come back to read - I logged on real quick during my lunch break but did not have time to read - I didn't even skim.

Brownie points for you! Thanks for coming back.

I thought that was decided when you went back to the Flamingo (I think that was it) - with the mosquitos.

I think it was decided long before then.

OMG - hysterical. You guys have a great sense of humor. Sarah looks like a typical teenage girl that is less than thrilled that her image is being captured at that moment. You can almost hear the silent squeek of excitement from Scotty. David and Drew look like they were captured on Drew cam - and Drew looks like he is hopped up on sugar.

I'm sure we could all find a gem photo from our trips - I know I can (and those are our absolute favorites).

That photo of Sarah was taken near midnight when our flight to Minneapolis was cancelled a couple of years ago (after spending all day at the airport). We all felt that way. And with Scotty and Drew, I had a lot of photos to choose from!

I don't know - Iowa and Oklahoma look awfully suspect - like maybe you just set foot across the border.....or worse.

Hey, that still counts! Besides, we spent a lot of quality time in Oklahoma.

I'm thinking of renting one for our next road trip - will make travelling with the dog so much easier. Yep, just the two of us and a dog (maybe 2 if we get another pup)

With 4 kids, there's no way we could travel without the minivan. You just need the space! They're not always cheap to rent, though.

oh my - that is crazy....not to mention, with your touring style, I don't see your family wanting to have to dedicate so much time to eating. I'm thinking mostly quick breakfasts, pb&j's or snacks mid-day, and perhaps a nicer meal in the evening.

So glad you got this report started - looking forward to reading all about it.

You pretty much nailed it. Pop tarts or donuts for breakfast in the room, pb&j for lunch, sit-down dinner. We did buy a few lunches, though.

Those photos are hilarious! What a unique way of starting a trip report. Looking forward to reading all about your trip.

aboard! We try to keep it real around here.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Awesome intro, as I would expect. Looking forward to the report!

Jeff! Good to have you here.

Signing on! Thanks for the bat signal!

Glenn! Thanks for jumping in!

I’ve been waiting for this... now where’s the rest of the report?

As to your question, I can only refer you to the title.

This should be fun!!

Tammy!

I can't wait to hear more about the trip.

and thanks for reading!

 

[WDW2012]

Just finished up the last trip report, looking forward to this one. Although Disney in July......? (where is the gates of hell emoji?)

 

[buteraa]

I love it! Can't wait.

 

[Pluto0809]

I saw you have a few TR's going. Which one is the current one? Can I join in halfway through?

Sure you can join in anytime you like, the more the merrier! My current one is:

Don't Pet the Sweaty Things

I also have a PTR going but it's going to be done here in the next week as I finish up my plans for my Food and Wine trip that starts on 10/19. Probably not worth joining in at this point, better to just wait for the TR.

 

[Babacuss]

Love The Intro, I'm in!!Thanks for sharing.

 

[MNtwinsplus1mom]

Yay! A new Oblivious family trip report! We took our first family trip to WDW when our youngest were 4. A perfect age for it! Can't wait to hear all about Drew's reactions to so many exciting firsts. Cool that your brother was experiencing it for the first time too. Big group trips pose some challenges but can be so much fun. (I arrived early solo for a 7am rope drop on my own last fall while on a trip with my mom and sisters; best solution and that way everyone was happy when we met up later that morning. I've made my policy of heading to the parks before opening [even if I must leave behind loved ones temporarily] clear to my immediate family members as well, but so far they have proven quite hearty and cheerful, so I'm thankful we can always go together.)

We would never be able to justify paying out of pocket for the dining plan. Yikes! I only do the dining plan when it's free for us (3 times, yay!). A great deal for a Moderate Resort family like ours (but less so now, bc it's only free quick service).

I can't believe you have only a few states left! It really does help I think that states where your family lives are much smaller than states out here. So many interesting places to go! When we visited D.C. this summer I made a bunch of potential itineraries, one of which had us going all the way to Boston. That died in negotiations, but our revised plan took us to many cool places so it all worked out.

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Just finished up the last trip report, looking forward to this one. Although Disney in July......? (where is the gates of hell emoji?)

to the party! Believe me, if I could have visited during a time other than the summer...I would have.

I love it! Can't wait.

Thanks for joining in!

Sure you can join in anytime you like, the more the merrier! My current one is:

Don't Pet the Sweaty Things

I also have a PTR going but it's going to be done here in the next week as I finish up my plans for my Food and Wine trip that starts on 10/19. Probably not worth joining in at this point, better to just wait for the TR.

Cool, thanks! I'll hop on over soon.

I will confess that I never bother joining in on PTR's. Everyone's plans are to their own tastes so I feel like it's not worth my time to comment. I'd rather read about the experience you had.

Love The Intro, I'm in!!Thanks for sharing.

and thanks for reading!

Yay! A new Oblivious family trip report! We took our first family trip to WDW when our youngest were 4. A perfect age for it! Can't wait to hear all about Drew's reactions to so many exciting firsts. Cool that your brother was experiencing it for the first time too. Big group trips pose some challenges but can be so much fun. (I arrived early solo for a 7am rope drop on my own last fall while on a trip with my mom and sisters; best solution and that way everyone was happy when we met up later that morning. I've made my policy of heading to the parks before opening [even if I must leave behind loved ones temporarily] clear to my immediate family members as well, but so far they have proven quite hearty and cheerful, so I'm thankful we can always go together.)

Karin! Glad you made it. I'll get into the stuff with traveling as a group, but we kind of handled things the way you did. We knew rope drop was important. But no matter how much we preached it, the others were less concerned with it.

We would never be able to justify paying out of pocket for the dining plan. Yikes! I only do the dining plan when it's free for us (3 times, yay!). A great deal for a Moderate Resort family like ours (but less so now, bc it's only free quick service).

Yeah, we loved free dining in September when we could take advantage of it. I hate that they rolled it back on the moderate resorts. But we can't go in September anymore, anyway. It just doesn't make sense to pay out of pocket.

I can't believe you have only a few states left! It really does help I think that states where your family lives are much smaller than states out here. So many interesting places to go! When we visited D.C. this summer I made a bunch of potential itineraries, one of which had us going all the way to Boston. That died in negotiations, but our revised plan took us to many cool places so it all worked out.

But they all skipped Delaware...

Seriously, though, it looked like you guys had a great trip!

 

[KimmyD]

Fabulous! I cant wait to read all about it! Great Intro!!!!!

 

[Ruthie5671]

My hubby and I were in WDW the first week in July. The word hot doesn't even begin to describe the temperature, and we're not a slave to a school calendar. We are just glutton for punishment!!!

 

[KsGiGi]

Enjoying the report, and look forward to more.

 

[pkondz]

Hey there. Sorry about the mess. I’m just getting this Trip Report started, so there’s a lot of work to be done here.

Sheesh. Least you could've done is picked up a bit. That's what kids are for.


Oh... that's what kids cause in the first place. Nevermind, then.

We’re talking a whole mess of introductory crap that most of you will skim right through just so you can post “first” in the replies or promise to come back and read later after you wash your hair or something.

Now who would do that?!?!?!?

I’ve got an idea—how would you like a behind-the-scenes look at how a Trip Report gets put together?

Good. Maybe then I can finally put a good one together.



ha! not likely.

Usually this will be some funny thing your kid said during the trip

This does not bode well for my solo trips...

or a “hook” that is designed to get people reading further to find out what the title means.

I gave that up. Now I just post a pithy word or two.



Maybe that's my problem.

it seemed as though all of Walt Disney World was under construction

ugh... well, that sucks.

My family and I visited Walt Disney World in the middle of July, 2018. Because we are idiots.

I'm surprised you had recovered enough to meet me this fall.

Ok, and we are also slaves to the school calendar.

Uh huh. Take 'em outta school for a bit!


But the truth is.... it's Julie that's messing that up for you. Just admit it. Then duck.

this is my 11th trip report here on the DISBoards.

Whoa! You've been busy.

Most of them are not about Disney vacations, so it’s surprising I haven’t been banned from here yet.

You and me both.

(with Oregon, Washington, and Alaska left to be visited).

Ha! I've done two of those. And I'm a stinkin' foreigner!

She is a 4th-grade teacher, which is one of the reasons we’re stuck traveling with the rest of the mobs in the summer.

Told you.

Anyway, I’m thankful that for 20 years she hasn’t realized that she outclasses me and could have done way better,

way, way better! massively better! Hugely! Ginormously better!

Of course, that’s not stopping me from posting this photo:

No. What's not stopping you is that she is not reading this update.

Sarah is my 16-year-old daughter.

Sorry I missed her. Was looking forward to meeting her.

She is an incredibly strong woman who can destroy anyone with the mere power of her stinkeye.

On second thought.... maybe I don't mind that I missed her.

David is my 14-year-old son. He is smarter than I am.

But you can say that about pretty much anyone. Everyone.

David can solve a Rubik's cube in under 25 seconds.

I can vouch for this! I think he did it in under 20, actually. I was pretty stunned, actually.

I spend my time avoiding competing against him in any sports because he is now reaching the age/maturity level where he will beat me in just about anything.

Meh. Drew is probably just about there.

I can tell you for a fact that he was very excited about returning to Disney World.

Who isn't????

Andrew (or Drew) is our 4-year-old bundle of terror joy. Supposedly he “keeps us young”,

Oh, I'm sure he does something to you.

but I don’t quite understand that phrase because with his energy level he mostly just makes me feel very, very old.

I believe this. He didn't stop once. The other boys turned into exhausted zombies and he just kept right on going.

And to keep him away from caffeine.

I don't think that would have any effect on him.

Dude. I just said we were going to Disney World. Pay attention. Nobody likes a skimmer.

Whoops! Sorry.
<goes back to read>

I mean, do you really need a reason to go to Disney World?

Of course you do. The reason is because you love it.

it would cost our family almost $2,500 just for the dining plan by itself (since 5 of us are considered “adults”). We could take another vacation for that.

Not at Disney you can't.

pkondz! You've been doing impressive work catching up, I see.

I don't mind saying.... my brain is getting a bit... fried.

 

[pkondz]

Only 16? You've been on a whirlwind tour.

Down to 2-3 now. Feeling kinda burned out now, though.

What's my excuse?
Oh wait, two jobs, working on submitting all kinds of paperwork for new job, house hunting...now I remember.

Yeah, that'll do it.

The only tr can read on my work computer and still have the photos load! (Looking at you @pkondz )

No idea why not. I'm still using photobucket.
How are you posting your photos, Mark?

 

[franandaj]

With 4 kids, there's no way we could travel without the minivan. You just need the space! They're not always cheap to rent, though.

We often rent a minivan and find that they are cheaper than some of the other vehicles, then again we travel with enough luggage that we would need to hire a trailer if we didn't get a large vehicle! No room for any kids!