UPDATE: 6/1 TR STARTED-2 'Bama families + a SUV takin' on the World - March 2010!

[alleymaxx]

Hi fellow DISer's,

This is my 1st PTR and I thought this would be a great way to release some excitement about my upcoming trip!!

Travel dates: Saturday, March 20 - Saturday, March 27, 2010
Travel method: Rental car (Large SUV)
Resort: All-Star Movies (not sure of acronym on this one - ASMV, maybe?)
Accommodations: Preferred Room

Cast of characters: Family 1: Me (Deanna) 35, DH Bob 36 & DD Emma 9
Family 2: BFF Stacey 32, BFFH Bryan 34 & BFFD Ashley 9

This will be my 4th trip to Disney World. Though I am no veteran, I certainly plan to be. Since my first trip in May 2006 I became hooked and simply can not imagine vacationing anywhere else!

So I hope you can join me on this first PTR 'cause I am going to need some expertise from you other DISer's on making the most of this trip.

 

[alleymaxx]

Coming soon, more on the Cast of Characters.
And what in heck sparked this trip!

And YIKES I only have 1 ADR so far.....can't make up my mind where to eat!!

 

[alleymaxx]

One of the cast members will also be celebrating birthday on this trip!

 

[mh1973]

I will be following along!!!!

 

[alleymaxx]

You found me. I really need to get busy....

 

[alleymaxx]

Happy New Year fellow DISers!

Time to get back in the groove and start reporting, so let’s hear it for The Cast:

Up first, is Family 1, the Bagby Bunch. The Bagby’s are made up of the following Cast of Characters:

Me (Deanna), mom to Emma (9 yrs), wife to Bob for 12 years. Absolutely loves Disney World. Took my 1st trip in May 2006 and that I was all it took. I was hooked by the proverbial Disney net and lured in hook, line and sinker. One of my major flaws is that I am always LATE - no matter how hard I try -just a gift! I’m sure at some point that will come into play on this upcoming trip.

This is a picture of me & DD last year at DHS.


DH – Bob, dad to Emma, DH, 36, is not a huge Disney fan, but puts up with my passion – whatever makes ‘Momma’ happy. He is very witty and laid back. DH has one of those type personalities that gets along with anyone.

DH & Princess Jasmine May 2009

DD – Emma (a.k.a. The Beast) – our precious 9 year old daughter. She's really not a beast at all (at least now she isn't) but when she was a baby she always made these funny grunting, growling noises and DH started calling her The Beast. From there it just stuck. She doesn't mind the nickname now but I'm sure as she gets older she will.
Like Mother, like daughter, Emma loves Disney. Her favorite Disney character is Tinkerbell and her favorite princess is Cinderella.

Princess Emma eating ice cream last year outside the Rose & Crown pub Epcot WS

This will be the 4th trip to WDW for The Bagby’s.

Past trips include:

Travel dates: May 2006
Travel method: Fly, Magical Express
Resort: Pop Century
Accommodations: Preferred Room (70’s Bldg)
Ages in Group: DH 32, ME 31, & DD 5
WDW Experience: 1st Trip

Travel dates: November 2007
Travel method: Drive
Resort: Pop Century
Accommodations: Preferred Room (60’s Bldg)
Ages in Group: Various
WDW Experience: YES Program – 95lb Cheerleading Squad

Travel dates: May 2009
Travel method: Drive
Resort: Port Orleans Riverside
Accommodations: Standard Room (Alligator Bayou Bldg 26)
Ages in Group: DH 35, ME 34, & DD 8
WDW Experience: 1st stay at Moderate Resort & rain lots & lots of rain

Thanks for stopping by. Up next Family 2, The Arrington's.......

 

[alleymaxx]

We've been blessed the last 2 trips my family has taken to WDW because we have been able to travel and/or met with some friends while there. This year will be no exception!

When my DD 9 was in Kindgarten she meet her BFF. The two of them are now in 3rd grade and practically in separable. They are so much alike it's scary! As their friendship grew so did ours with BFF's parents. Quickly we (the parents) realized why are girls were so much like sisters, we all shared so many interests, one of course being Disney! Fast forward and here we are!
Now on with the Cast of the Arrington's, Family 2:

First, is BFFMom, Stacey 32 - always the life of the party. She & I share a serious passion for both Disney and Twilight!!

BFFDad, Bryan 34 - an avid fisherman who frequently participates in fishing tournaments. Both Bryan & DH can best be described as good 'ole country boys. Two true southern gentlemen all the way!

And then we have my daughter’s BFF Ashley! Soon to be 9, we will be celebrating her birthday in WDW, the Happiest Place of Earth!

(Left: Ashley, Right: Emma)


This will be the Arrington's 3rd trip WDW but their 1st time staying on-site.

Now on with the plans.....

 

[Haley/Hayden Mom]

Waiting patiently to hear your tourplans. Might make me want to go ahead and start my PTR early.

 

[alleymaxx]

Waiting patiently to hear your tourplans. Might make me want to go ahead and start my PTR early.

Hey there! Yes I know I need to get busy!

 

[alleymaxx]

Woohoo! Can we get a little Disboard

What an exciting game between 2 great teams!

 

[alleymaxx]

I just spent time updating my thread and I go to post it and my session must have timed out! Now everything I wrote is gone to cyber wasteland! I guess it's best to type it in Word, etc then copy paste. Darn it - live & learn. That's my motto!

Well gotta get DD ready to go to a birthday party so I'll have to finish later. Wondering if I'll ever get this thing off the ground!

 

[alleymaxx]

Okay – let’s try this again. How this trip came to be. Back in November 2009 BFF Mom, Stacey was mentioned that DD Ashley really wanted to spend her upcoming birthday at WDW. Since Ashley’s birthday fell perfectly during our Spring Break, Stacey thought this would be a good time to try and plan it. She also really wanted to stay on-site this trip because they had never done that before, that’s where I got involved. Since ALL whopping 3 of our trips had been on-site, she came to the expert. Now all she had to do was get her DH on board. A little talk of booking him a special Bass Pro Fishing Excursion and he was in. Before long the Arrington’s were asking, “Hey why don’t you guys join us?” Then we had my DH drinkin’ the Mickey juice!

Now first things first, where to stay? Goal is simple - a bed to sleep in. As I mentioned earlier on our 1st two trips we stayed at Pop Century. We were very pleased with the POP. On our last trip in May 2009we decided to take advantage of the 4/3 deal and try one of the Moderate resorts (POR). POR was a great resort, don’t get me wrong, but we missed the whimsy-décor that the Value resorts offered. The amenities offered between the Moderate & Value resorts just isn’t enough to justify paying the difference at least for us. So after all was said & done we decided to go with the All-Star Movies Resort. It will be a 1st for all of us!

 

[alleymaxx]

Shortly after booking our trip with The Arringtons, we collectively decided to try and rent a vehicle that we all travel in rather than taking 2 cars.

Bryan (BFF Dad) offered to line up the vehicle since he can get an employee discount through his company. Well he was able to secure a large SUV, I believe it's a Tahoe. But being the paranoid person I am and also knowing my luck, I'm beginning to wonder if the SUV has a 3rd row seat?!. I know that some did not always have them. Also, then yesterday I saw one (a newer one like we'll be renting) and it did not have a luggage rack .

 

[alleymaxx]

Purchased my Tour Guide Mike Vacation Planner and so far I am really liking it. Thanks mh1973 for telling me about it.

As I mentioned previously so far we only have 1 ADR. It's for 7:30PM at Chef Mickey's on the Saturday we arrive. Normally I would never plan anything for the arrival day because I know me and I live under Murphy's Law therefore I would be worried (paranoia again) about being able to make to the ressie on time. I seem to have a propensity for being late. But I'm not driving though so we should be good. I'll just have to keep my black cat in my pocket. Plus this is going to be an extra special surprise treat for BFF Ashley for her birthday. She has always wanted a special celebration held on her actual birthday and this year will the year!

 

[alleymaxx]

Looks like our little group will be taking a detour on the way to Disney. Stacey & I will have to stop & buy the Twilight New Moon DVD!! Now add both our laptops to the packing list so we can watch it every night before we go to sleep!

 

[amosser]

Hi - I'm following along
Have you thought about a fishing excursion for the fellows? My DH & DS did this last year and loved it (they drug me along to take pics )

What part of AL are you in? I lived in Birmingham and Elba for awhile and really miss it It is beautiful down there.

 

[MHTeacher]

Noticed your title and thought, "Alabamaians! " Thought I'd join in!

She & I share a serious passion for both Disney and Twilight!!

I'm right there with you!

Woohoo! Can we get a little Disboard

What an exciting game between 2 great teams!

Loved it---just got madder and madder as it went on that DH wouldn't agree to letting us go! He said we couldn't return from Disney on 1/1 and head off across the country 5 days later. Party-Pooper!

I just spent time updating my thread and I go to post it and my session must have timed out! Now everything I wrote is gone to cyber wasteland! I guess it's best to type it in Word, etc then copy paste. Darn it - live & learn. That's my motto!

Same thing happened to me while I was writing my first trip report. So now, it's like you said, type in word, copy and paste!

So where do you live in Alabama? I am in northwest Alabama.

 

[disneylovin24]

Sounbs like it will be a fun trip Can't wait to read all about it


You might not like me for this but Alabama would have never won if Colt McCoy played the whole game

 

[MHTeacher]

You might not like me for this but Alabama would have never won if Colt McCoy played the whole game

Well.......I will of course disagree.

 

[alleymaxx]

Hi - I'm following along
Have you thought about a fishing excursion for the fellows?

We did. I will update my PTR today with the details. I think the guys will love it!

What part of AL are you in? I lived in Birmingham and Elba for awhile and really miss it It is beautiful down there.

We live in a small town called Leeds (Home of Charles Barkley) right outside Birmingham.

Wow – Birmingham to Colorado now that’s a drastic change! A good friend of mine from school lives in Colorado Springs. Via Facebook, I see a lot his pictures of the area and it looks so beautiful. If I could ever stop spending ever extra dollar I get on Disney trips I might be able to visit there one day.