***Updated 10/02/08!!!*** Disney Dazed--Pre-Trip Report May 17-27, 2008

[PrincessSarah314]

But First: A Bit of Background


Welcome to my first ever trip report! I've been reading lots of other trip reports and am
happy to finally be writing my own!


My name is Sarah and I'm 28.

I live in Chicago and have a son who is 8 (almost 9)

I work in Sports Marketing and am a nursing student.

We'll be driving down to Florida and spending one night at the Nickelodeon Family
Suites Hotel before heading to Pop Century for 5 fun filled nights! After Disney
we will be heading to New Smyrna Beach for 2 nights before heading home! We are
very excited to be going and I have been going to Disney World since 1986.

For this trip my mother will be going with us, as she loves Disney almost as much as I do.
I promise to do updates often and include lots of photos! I have most of our planning
done and now just have to complete the pre-trip shopping!

In the meantime, I'm posting a few pictures from the 2007 trip at which we stayed in
Coronado Springs. I can't wait to hear from everyone and hope to get lots of feedback
as I'm posting; so I know what people would like to see included in future updates as well
as my actual Trip Report. Just go easy on me; after all, I am new to this!

The castle from Main Street

It was my niece's first trip to the Magic Kingdom!

My family has a rule about Mickey Ears...You can't just buy them, you have to earn them!

My niece and nephew

Who knew Belle wore purple crocs?

She was very excited to meet her "twin" sister!

The pool at the resort

The pool again

I'll be back tomorrow with an update and a run-down of the plans! In the meantime, let me know you are out there and reading this!

 

[fernoppi]

Hi Sarah! Thanks for visiting my pre trip report
You have some pretty cool pictures! Cute nephew and nieces! Coronado Springs looks cool. I think we will be visiting there to try Pepper Market. Hope it's yummy =) Oooh you're going to stay at Pop too!

 

[Msslaydbug]

We will be in Disney about the same dates. Can't wait to read both your pretrip and trip report !!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Hi Sarah! Thanks for visiting my pre trip report
You have some pretty cool pictures! Cute nephew and nieces! Coronado Springs looks cool. I think we will be visiting there to try Pepper Market. Hope it's yummy =) Oooh you're going to stay at Pop too!

Coronado Spring is nice, but POP is a family favorite! My son loves all the oversized toys and things everywhere. It's a bright, loud, resort that seems even more "kid-friendly" than the rest of Disney (if that's even possible)!

I hope you keep reading!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

We will be in Disney about the same dates. Can't wait to read both your pretrip and trip report !!

I'm really looking forward to going in May! We've always been in summer, usually June or August and it is so HUMID it's unbearable at times!

I'm hoping for less humidity and lighter crowds. Have you been in May before?

 

[disneyhockeymad]

Hey Sarah!
Looking forward to reading the rest of your pre-trip report, your neice is adorable, especially in her Belle dress, I think all the princesses should wear purple crocs

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Hey Sarah,
I just wanted to say I am liking your plans so far! My family is going in October so I can't wait to hear about all your fun you are going to have in May!!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Hey Sarah!
Looking forward to reading the rest of your pre-trip report, your neice is adorable, especially in her Belle dress, I think all the princesses should wear purple crocs

Thanks! I'm hoping to get a new update posted this afternoon before my son gets home from school!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Hey Sarah,
I just wanted to say I am liking your plans so far! My family is going in October so I can't wait to hear about all your fun you are going to have in May!!

Thanks! We are VERY excited about this trip! We always have gone in the HEAT and CROWDS of the summer, so May is sounding very exciting!

I would love to go WDW in October for MNSSHP! I'm sure you will have lots of fun!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

When I started planning this trip back in December, I thought it would be easy to convince my son and mother to stay anywhere I wanted. We knew we wanted to be on-site. We thought we would be flying.

Well, I bought a 2008 Hyundai Sonata at the end of December and the plans changed! My brand-new car, unlike my old junk-mobile could handle the long drive from Chicago to Orlando just fine! ROADTRIP!!!!

We have driven to Disney World almost every single time. A few years ago we took Amtrak to experience a cross-country train ride. And 2 years ago we flew. That's it. The other dozen or so times, we drove. WHICH I LOVE.

Yes it is a looooong drive to Orlando. Especially since I am the only driver. We break the drive up over 2 days though, so we really only drive about 6-8 hours each day, depending on how fast I can go before my mother starts to get nervous about our speed!

This year we will also be spending one night at the Nick Hotel in Orlando, at my son's request, before checking in to DW.

 

[fernoppi]

Well, I bought a 2008 Hyundai Sonata at the end of December and the plans changed! My brand-new car, unlike my old junk-mobile could handle the long drive from Chicago to Orlando just fine! ROADTRIP!!!!

New car! FUN! Driving to Disney World? Wow! I have never been on a "real" road trip before. (Something more than 5 hours.) I think I would have to stop too many times and go to the bathroom. It would be super super annoying. In June we will be driving from Seattle to San Francisco. That will be my road trip experience.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Road trip! That must be fun! Our family is flying because it is about a 15 hour drive without any stops. And the last time my sister in law's family drove down they came back with a new car..lol..Because the one they had broke down. So her Dad said absolutley no driving this time! And with a 2 year old we figured the flying would be best this time around!

 

[Sunny06]

Hey Sarah, omg your son is adorable!! i cant believe you guys are driving from chicago! how far is that? I wanted to do a road trip there but from seattle to florida that would be my whole vacation just getting there! cant wait for more!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

New car! FUN! Driving to Disney World? Wow! I have never been on a "real" road trip before. (Something more than 5 hours.) I think I would have to stop too many times and go to the bathroom. It would be super super annoying. In June we will be driving from Seattle to San Francisco. That will be my road trip experience.

There's definitely a lot of stops along the way, but that is what makes it so fun! You will love the roadtrip vibe when you go to San Fran!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Road trip! That must be fun! Our family is flying because it is about a 15 hour drive without any stops. And the last time my sister in law's family drove down they came back with a new car..lol..Because the one they had broke down. So her Dad said absolutley no driving this time! And with a 2 year old we figured the flying would be best this time around!

Florida is pretty far from us too...I've never done the drive without stops, but I think it would be around 16 hours or so.

I'm so glad I have a new car and don't have to worry about breaking down!

The first time my son went to Disney he was 13 months old and it was a roadtrip...He is a seasoned roadtripper now and a really good traveller. He doesn't ask are we there yet, and likes seeing all the sights along the way.

 

[disneyhockeymad]

haha I'm just trying to imagine us driving to WDW, need to find a car that'll drive across the Atlantic first!!
Looks like a 8 hour plane journey it is then!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Hey Sarah, omg your son is adorable!! i cant believe you guys are driving from chicago! how far is that? I wanted to do a road trip there but from seattle to florida that would be my whole vacation just getting there! cant wait for more!

It's about 1200 miles! I think it would be about 16 hours if we drove straight through, which we don't!

We break the drive up over 2 days. The first day I will be driving about 650 miles.

Seattle to Florida would be extremely long! I think it would be around 5000 miles, but I'm just guessing! So figure 4 times as long to get there. WOW!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

haha I'm just trying to imagine us driving to WDW, need to find a car that'll drive across the Atlantic first!!
Looks like a 8 hour plane journey it is then!

I don't think they have any cars on the market that are able to drive across the pond yet!

I've only flown to Florida back once, and that is the one and only time I've flown anywhere! Flying is not for me! I'm a big chicken! I can't imagine being on a plane for 8 hours!!!!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Let's talk resorts. I was hoping to stay at the Port Orleans-Riverside. We stayed there back in 2002 and I LOVED it! If you haven't been there, the place is just gorgeous! You should check it out, if staying at a moderate is your plan. My son and mother, however really like the Pop Century.

I thought it was cute, but not nearly as nice. The differences were few; the moderate resorts have glass cups in the bathroom while the value resorts have disposable plastic ones, etc. I just liked the vibe at POR a lot better. Also, at POP our room in the 80's section was AWFULLY far from the main hall with the food court, and the bus stops. After a long day in the park I didn't like having to trek across a massive, and I mean MASSIVE parking lot to get to my room. Our room in the 50's section was definitely a lot closer and we didn't have to cross the parking lot to get to the main hall or buses, just walk along a sidewalk.

I get my way usually, but not this time. The difference in price wasn't huge, but the money we would save staying at the POP instead of POR would be enough to cover the dining plan, which we knew for sure we would be getting, so POP it is!

I did make sure to request a room in the 60's section this time, which is closest to the main hall, main pool, and bus stops. Sure, we have to pay a few bucks more a night, but it is worth it to not have that LOOOOONNNNNGGG walk at the end of the day!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

I know you are from Chicago and just checking in to make sure you and your family are alright!