Why do we have to stand in all these lines?...a TR by DM w/lots of PIX...Completed!

[Disneyolic]

Saturday, December 15...Liverpool, New York
Final Thoughts


Rob and I were watching the Travel Channel the other night. Samantha Brown was on with her Disney Holiday special. Rob commented that it seemed like a long time already since our vacation to Disney World at the end of June. I sadly agreed.

It’s hard for me to write my final thoughts now. Some people will think it’s a bit over the top but I am a bit teary eyed now writing this. It’s been so much fun writing all these updates and reliving my family’s Disney vacation with all of you. I was a bit apprehensive at first wondering if my TR would be interesting enough to draw any attention to fellow DISers. I was extremely happy that I had followers to my TR, and quite a few at that! At times I may have sounded like I had an ego trip but honestly I was so grateful that you all stayed around.
I have been a DISer since 2002 when began planning a trip for my then family of 4. I read some Trs but did not make any friends on the DIS. I was the lurker, the one that was very unsure of even giving out a real name. I posted CNY as my location. I took a stab at writing a TR after our trip but I didn’t know anything about posting pictures and I had only a couple of people read my TR. I don’t think I ever finished it. Since then I had been on and off, just checking things from time to time.

Flash forward to the beginning of 2007. It was time to start planning another real Disney trip and I jumped right back on the DISboards. I started posting infrequently. I met a wonderful person, Courtney, on a June 2007 thread and we really hit it off. I began my own thread called, “DISers Stalking DISers,” and met up with a another bunch of great people, all who were going at the end of June to Disney World.

Then I started to get venturesome. I joined the Team Focker Watch thread and there I met up with even more wonderful people. I stopped being so cautious and the real me really came out. Lucky all you!

Now, let me get to my actual trip for a bit ...

I had done all my homework, and then some ... you all know about that. I chose Port Orleans Riverside. Rob and I had stayed there before and we really liked it. Plus, it was the only moderate that could accommodate our family of 5. The “low-end” deluxes couldn’t accommodate us unless we got a suite. And since we were really on a budget, POR was the way to go! This resort was absolutely lovely. I enjoyed every single day walking through those grounds. I look back on the bit of video we took of it and still get that good feeling about this place.

However, and there is always a however, eh? Rob and I did miss the Yacht Club. We had stayed there in 2003. It is almost impossible to compare a moderate to a deluxe like that but we still did from time to time. As much as we loved POR, if we ever could swing getting a deluxe next time, the Yacht Club would be our first choice! I could go on about why but I won’t now. I’ll be happy to answer any questions to anyone who has them though.

This vacation was a wonderful one for me and my family. We had a great time. Sure, there were some low points but in the whole, the good times and great memories so made up for any low times.

Evan came home from school right before Thanksgiving with a drawing of Blizzard Beach with a couple of sentences of what he was thankful for this year. He wrote ...

“I am thankful for my parents. They took me to Florida. We stayed there 7 days. It was a lot of fun.”

This touched my heart more than you can know. Hearing my kids still talk to this day about going back to Disney World and what they remember, even Brookie. She’s actually the one who blabbers the most about going back to Disney World.

Do we have any future trips planned to Disney World you may ask? The answer is a sad no. Without going on too much I’ll just say that we are not in the position of spending that kind of money any time soon. We will definitely be going back again someday. Of course we will! And I know you all here at the DISboards will be here to help me plan it. Until then I will be reading your Trs and living vicariously through all of your trips.

I want to thank you all for reading and giving me the most wonderful comments. It has meant so much to me to have you all here and I feel truly blessed that I have made so many new friends! ... even if you all are just virtual.

The Welch Family
wishes you all ...

​

Happy

Happy

If I missed any holiday ... sorry!​

 

[punkin413]

awwwwwwww......DM!!!! i'm verklempt!!!!!! but in a good way! i hope you stick around the DISboards even if you don't have a trip to plan. i'm sure there will be one in your future someday soon. it was so nice getting to know you through your TR! thanks for taking the time to share your family's vacation with all of us!

 

[Disneyolic]

awwwwwwww......DM!!!! i'm verklempt!!!!!! but in a good way! i hope you stick around the DISboards even if you don't have a trip to plan. i'm sure there will be one in your future someday soon. it was so nice getting to know you through your TR! thanks for taking the time to share your family's vacation with all of us!

Dawn ... Thanks for being the first poster on my final thoughts. And for being tied for the 23rd spot in posters! I definitely will not be leaving the DIS. I have made too many friends and really have a lot of fun here.

 

[scottny]

what a sweet ending. I do love that pic it is just pefect. Well I hope you get there soon so we get another TR. Thank you for sharing your trip and thoughts, it has been a pleasure reading about it all.

oh by the way have u stopped by my real pre tr yet.

 

[KatGarcia]

You are so sweet! What a way to end it! Even tho you haven't got another trip planned now it's still fun to do research and keep up on all things Disney Plus we all are always here just to gossip with!

 

[Disneyolic]

what a sweet ending. I do love that pic it is just pefect. Well I hope you get there soon so we get another TR. Thank you for sharing your trip and thoughts, it has been a pleasure reading about it all.

oh by the way have u stopped by my real pre tr yet.

Scott ... Thank you for reading. You are my 5th all-time poster! So, you made the top 5. We will definitely be going back to Disney World but I think we may need to wait a couple of years. It was great getting to know you. No, I haven't been over to your real PTR yet. I will definitely come over there. It may have to be after the holidays as I do have a lot going on right now. But I will definitely be there!

 

[DisneyJo]

Aw Jo. I still didn't get a card from you yet ... just sayin'

I sent it the same day as all the others and I know T, Janet and CE got theirs Hope it's there soon

I stopped being so cautious and the real me really came out. Lucky all you!

Yep lucky us Not really DM we wouldn't have you any other way

“I am thankful for my parents. They took me to Florida. We stayed there 7 days. It was a lot of fun.”

Awww that's so sweet

This touched my heart more than you can know. Hearing my kids still talk to this day about going back to Disney World and what they remember, even Brookie. She’s actually the one who blabbers the most about going back to Disney World.

My 2 talk about Disney loads too, I never instigate it

I feel truly blessed that I have made so many new friends! ... even if you all are just virtual.

Yep we're not real at all Hey how are we going to meet up one day if I'm virtual

I definitely will not be leaving the DIS. I have made too many friends and really have a lot of fun here.

Good to hear DM


Thanks for a wonderful TR DM I've loved reading all about your WDW adventures with your cute family and I know you will return one day

 

[Disneyolic]

You are so sweet! What a way to end it! Even tho you haven't got another trip planned now it's still fun to do research and keep up on all things Disney Plus we all are always here just to gossip with!

Aw. How sweet of you to call me sweet. That's just sweet! I know it is a lot of fun to still do research on Disney stuff plus definitely the gossip and antics that go on here. Hard to resist! Thank you for being tied with V for the 30th place in replies.

 

[blue_river]

DM - I haven't read your last installment but I did peek at the family photo! Is that the one being sent in your Christmas cards? If so....it's just fabulous

You have a beautiful family


I'll probably be back Sunday night with my comments. We are heading out to the tree farm shortly to chop down our Christmas tree and maybe stick around to pet the reindeer if it isn't too cold.

Have a fun weekend. Sorry you couldn't make it last night

P.S.: They were all misbehaving Except for Goofster and I

 

[Disneyolic]

I sent it the same day as all the others and I know T, Janet and CE got theirs Hope it's there soon

Wonder what happened?

Yep lucky us Not really DM we wouldn't have you any other way

Good ... cause you gotta take me as I is ! hee hee I know I am grammatically incorrect there.

My 2 talk about Disney loads too, I never instigate it

I really don't instigate it. They come up with it on their own! I love when they do that when Rob is around ...

Yep we're not real at all Hey how are we going to meet up one day if I'm virtual

Oh we will meet up someday ... then you will be transformed into a real person.

 

[Disneyolic]

Good to hear DM


Thanks for a wonderful TR DM I've loved reading all about your WDW adventures with your cute family and I know you will return one day

Jo ... Thank you so much for being here and adding to all the fun. You actually did not make my #1 poster. But you came in 2nd and that's good enough for me! And thanks for being my #1 Brit friend!! That really counts as something cool.

 

[Disneyolic]

DM - I haven't read your last installment but I did peek at the family photo! Is that the one being sent in your Christmas cards? If so....it's just fabulous

You have a beautiful family


I'll probably be back Sunday night with my comments. We are heading out to the tree farm shortly to chop down our Christmas tree and maybe stick around to pet the reindeer if it isn't too cold.

Have a fun weekend. Sorry you couldn't make it last night

P.S.: They were all misbehaving Except for Goofster and I

Okay. I won't thank you right now. Have a great time at the Christmas Tree farm. Say hi to Dasher for me. He's my favourite. Or is it Prancer? Wait a minute. I know! It's Vixen.

Yes, that's our Christmas card pic. I'm sure you'll get it soon ...

 

[blue_river]

Okay. I won't thank you right now. Have a great time at the Christmas Tree farm. Say hi to Dasher for me. He's my favourite. Or is it Prancer? Wait a minute. I know! It's Vixen.

Actually I think it's Comet and Randi

Randi must be Comet's girlfriend

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Rob and I were watching the Travel Channel the other night. Samantha Brown was on with her Disney Holiday special. Rob commented that it seemed like a long time already since our vacation to Disney World at the end of June. I sadly agreed.

We're saying that after one month. I think it's time you guys bite the bullet and plan another one. Like say in October of 2008!

It’s hard for me to write my final thoughts now. Some people will think it’s a bit over the top but I am a bit teary eyed now writing this. It’s been so much fun writing all these updates and reliving my family’s Disney vacation with all of you. I was a bit apprehensive at first wondering if my TR would be interesting enough to draw any attention to fellow DISers. I was extremely happy that I had followers to my TR, and quite a few at that! At times I may have sounded like I had an ego trip but honestly I was so grateful that you all stayed around.

It is a great report. From the heart, thoughtful, and funny. The pleasure is ours.

I have been a DISer since 2002 when began planning a trip for my then family of 4. I read some Trs but did not make any friends on the DIS. I was the lurker, the one that was very unsure of even giving out a real name. I posted CNY as my location. I took a stab at writing a TR after our trip but I didn’t know anything about posting pictures and I had only a couple of people read my TR. I don’t think I ever finished it. Since then I had been on and off, just checking things from time to time.

I completely understand. My first trip report, Montana Invades the World, made it 19 pages for a 12 day trip.

Flash forward to the beginning of 2007. It was time to start planning another real Disney trip and I jumped right back on the DISboards. I started posting infrequently. I met a wonderful person, Courtney, on a June 2007 thread and we really hit it off. I began my own thread called, “DISers Stalking DISers,” and met up with a another bunch of great people, all who were going at the end of June to Disney World.

I believe the DIS boards are moderately safe. I don't think any Inet blogs are completely safe, but lets just say I've met some DIS'ers and they seem almost normal.

Then I started to get venturesome. I joined the Team Focker Watch thread and there I met up with even more wonderful people. I stopped being so cautious and the real me really came out. Lucky all you!

Yes, we are lucky. Lucky in the sense that you let us into your life and revealed your wonderful personality.

Now, let me get to my actual trip for a bit ...

I had done all my homework, and then some ... you all know about that. I chose Port Orleans Riverside. Rob and I had stayed there before and we really liked it. Plus, it was the only moderate that could accommodate our family of 5. The “low-end” deluxes couldn’t accommodate us unless we got a suite. And since we were really on a budget, POR was the way to go! This resort was absolutely lovely. I enjoyed every single day walking through those grounds. I look back on the bit of video we took of it and still get that good feeling about this place.

I can see why! What a great place... HUGE! But very lush and the themeing was darn near perfect. It's a happy place where memories are made.

However, and there is always a however, eh? Rob and I did miss the Yacht Club. We had stayed there in 2003. It is almost impossible to compare a moderate to a deluxe like that but we still did from time to time. As much as we loved POR, if we ever could swing getting a deluxe next time, the Yacht Club would be our first choice! I could go on about why but I won’t now. I’ll be happy to answer any questions to anyone who has them though.

I agree. The YC is awesome. But there are other awesome places. I suggest you guys move it around... stay somewhere different each time. There are so many wonderful places at WDW. So far, I love them all (that I've stayed at).

This vacation was a wonderful one for me and my family. We had a great time. Sure, there were some low points but in the whole, the good times and great memories so made up for any low times.

There are always a few "low points". When you stuff 5 people together for 7 days in a 300 sq ft room, there are bound to be "low points". Those fade with time and what is left in your memory are the Good Times.

Evan came home from school right before Thanksgiving with a drawing of Blizzard Beach with a couple of sentences of what he was thankful for this year. He wrote ...

“I am thankful for my parents. They took me to Florida. We stayed there 7 days. It was a lot of fun.”

Awesome...

This touched my heart more than you can know. Hearing my kids still talk to this day about going back to Disney World and what they remember, even Brookie. She’s actually the one who blabbers the most about going back to Disney World.

They never forget. Break out the photo album from time to time. You'll be planning another trip before you know it.

Do we have any future trips planned to Disney World you may ask? The answer is a sad no. Without going on too much I’ll just say that we are not in the position of spending that kind of money any time soon. We will definitely be going back again someday. Of course we will! And I know you all here at the DISboards will be here to help me plan it. Until then I will be reading your Trs and living vicariously through all of your trips.

There are WAYS to do it that are cost effective. Drive... Stay at one of the economy hotels (Heidi's family actually preferred it ), and go during free fud.

I want to thank you all for reading and giving me the most wonderful comments. It has meant so much to me to have you all here and I feel truly blessed that I have made so many new friends! ... even if you all are just virtual.

I can't believe it's over.

The Welch Family
wishes you all ...

​

Happy

Happy

If I missed any holiday ... sorry!​

Great Picture!!!!

Thanks DM. I sure hope you stick around. Buzz needs his DM time.

 

[Disneyolic]

We're saying that after one month. I think it's time you guys bite the bullet and plan another one. Like say in October of 2008!

I wish. Definitely not gonna be then though, as much as we'd love to meet up with the Mills!

It is a great report. From the heart, thoughtful, and funny. The pleasure is ours.

You really are a sweetie.

I completely understand. My first trip report, Montana Invades the World, made it 19 pages for a 12 day trip.

Too funny. But we're pros now!

I believe the DIS boards are moderately safe. I don't think any Inet blogs are completely safe, but lets just say I've met some DIS'ers and they seem almost normal.

Seemingly they seem normal ...

Yes, we are lucky. Lucky in the sense that you let us into your life and revealed your wonderful personality.

You are the bestest suckup ever!

I can see why! What a great place... HUGE! But very lush and the themeing was darn near perfect. It's a happy place where memories are made.

I was interested in what you really thought of POR. It is sometimes hard to stay at a mod when you're used to the deluxes.

I agree. The YC is awesome. But there are other awesome places. I suggest you guys move it around... stay somewhere different each time. There are so many wonderful places at WDW. So far, I love them all (that I've stayed at).

We absolutely love the Epcot area. If we changed it up, we would still stay in that area. Plus you really can't beat SAB!

There are always a few "low points". When you stuff 5 people together for 7 days in a 300 sq ft room, there are bound to be "low points". Those fade with time and what is left in your memory are the Good Times.

They never forget. Break out the photo album from time to time. You'll be planning another trip before you know it. There are WAYS to do it that are cost effective. Drive... Stay at one of the economy hotels (Heidi's family actually preferred it ), and go during free fud.

I know I will. But I want to do it right. Rob's job is not flexible with vacation and I'm not flexible with taking Evan out of school as he has a learning disability. So, when we do go, it will be very well planned.

 

[Disneyolic]

I can't believe it's over.

Great Picture!!!!

Thanks DM. I sure hope you stick around. Buzz needs his DM time.

Buzz ... How sweet you are. I'm so glad that you joined my TR, a little late but you stuck around and still were able to snag the 7th place in top posters! I will definitely be sticking around the DIS and closely following your never-ending trippie. Plus, how could I miss our monthly parties ... shhhh ... uhm, we need a redo for last night.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I know I will. But I want to do it right. Rob's job is not flexible with vacation and I'm not flexible with taking Evan out of school as he has a learning disability. So, when we do go, it will be very well planned.

How 'bout a spring break trip in 2009? We'll probably be going back to WDW in Mar 2009 since we'll have annual passes again (from our Oct 08 trip).

If you stashed $100/month in your secret little cubby hole, you'd have close to $2k by then. Just "charge" the rest!

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Buzz ... How sweet you are. I'm so glad that you joined my TR, a little late but you stuck around and still were able to snag the 7th place in top posters! I will definitely be sticking around the DIS and closely following your never-ending trippie. Plus, how could I miss our monthly parties ... shhhh ... uhm, we need a redo for last night.

I was sad to miss out on the first couple hundred pages but am glad I got to join in when I did. Heidi is the one who pointed out your trip to me and I saw that you had posted a few times in my March report.

I notice your siggy is all balanced and centered like mine. Great minds think alike.

 

[DisneyJo]

Oh we will meet up someday ... then you will be transformed into a real person.

Phew I didn't like to think of me as not real

Jo ... Thank you so much for being here and adding to all the fun. You actually did not make my #1 poster. But you came in 2nd and that's good enough for me! And thanks for being my #1 Brit friend!! That really counts as something cool.

So I am #1 something So am I your only Brit friend too? IRL or imaginary

 

[HomeschoolMama]

Thank you ... and you too, especially after how many glasses of wine?

I feel great!