Didi8367
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2013
- Messages
- 193
Hello!!
Well, I think the report title pretty much says it all!
My immediate family and I are meeting some extended family for our (sorta) VERY FIRST visit to WDW the week between Christmas and New Year’s. So, getting the obvious out of the way: I know, I know . . . Busiest time of the year, crazy crowds, long lines . . . basically pure insanity. Believe me, I’ve heard it all—from friends, other family members, strangers online, strangers on the street, the mailman, etc. But, for a variety of reasons that I will go into greater detail about later in the report, this is the week we’re going. Reservations have been made, airline tickets have been bought, the deal is done. So.
I am relatively new to the DisBoards (Have lurked for a while, but haven’t posted that much) and this is my first report of any kind. So please be kind!
OK, now for the details!
The Participants:
Immediate Family
Me: JC. Early 40s. I co-own a business with my DH and I split my time working from home and from our office. I went to WDW when I was 2 years old. It was in the 1970s. No EPCOT. No DHS. No AK. Just WDW. I have NO memories of it whatsoever. Because of this, I consider this my first visit. (I have, however, been to DisneyLAND 4 times.) I’ve traveled extensively both, inside and outside the US, so—even though it’s my first WDW experience—I do have a TON of general travel and trip planning experience. I’m an inveterate planner. I LOVE to travel and plan trips!
DH: DW. Mid 40s. Small business owner. Never been to Disney at all. He actually has very little interest in Disney. I mean, he doesn’t dislike it or anything. He’s just not dying to go there like my kids and I are. He’s an experienced traveler as well, but he is NOT a planner. He leaves that to me.
DS: JH. 7 (Will be 8 at the time of our trip.). Smart as a whip. Hilarious. A total extrovert. Likes Disney OK and REALLY wants to go to WDW, but isn’t a fanatic about anything.
DD: AF. 5 (Will be 6 at the time of our trip.). Also very smart. Extremely sweet. More of an introvert than her brother. LOVES Disney and is a HUGE fan of Belle & Elsa. Also REALLY wants to go to Disney.
Extended Family
DM: My mother. Mid 60s. Semi-Retired. Has been to WDW the most out of everyone. Also a major traveler and trip planner.
DSister: My sister. Late 30s. Elementary school librarian. Has been to WDW twice. Doesn’t travel as much as some of us, but DOES love to plan.
DBIL: My brother-in-law. Late 30s. Has been to WDW several times as well and is a big Disney fan. He and my sister are the main reason we’re going when we are. They have never seen the Christmas lights and REALLY want to.
DNiece: 17. My sister’s daughter. Has been to WDW once before. LOVES Disney.
DNephew: 5. My DS & DBILs only child. Sweet. Very outgoing. Extremely extroverted. Gets along very well with both of my kids. Very much wants to go to Disney as well.
The Plans So Far
This trip is going to be a SURPRISE Christmas gift for DS, DD, & DNep. They have NO IDEA we are planning it. In fact, we have told our kids that it will probably take us until they are teenagers to be able to save up enough $$ for a Disney trip. DD is SO convinced of this that, every time she sees a Disney commercial, she turns to me and says in a very sad, pathetic little voice, “HOW many days until I’m a teenager again?!” Tee-Hee! Sad, but necessary help keep them from figuring out the surprise!
When
As noted above, we are going to be at WDW from 12/27-1/3. We chose those dates for several reasons. However, the main deciding factor was that A) my DS and DBIL really want to see the Christmas lights, so we need to go while they’re up. However, B) the business DH an I own is retail-based and the weeks leading up to Christmas are THE BUSIEST time of the year for us, so we absolutely can NOT leave town in the 6 weeks before Christmas. So . . . that pretty much leaves the week we’re going. At first, I was a little nervous (OK, very nervous!!
) about the time frame and the crowds, etc. BUT, as we get more and more into our planning, I’m convinced we can do it and have a great time. 
Where
We are staying at POP Century. We have requested a 4th floor room in the 60s bldg., facing the lake, in hopes that we might catch a glimpse of some fireworks from up there! Also, this is the area my Mom has stayed in previously and she really likes this spot.
How Long
We will be onsite for 8 days. Right now, we have 5 days park tkts with park hopper options. We plan to visit Un/IOA for one day. The other two days are travel/arrival days. We are considering adding a day at the end due to the fact that our flight out doesn’t leave until 4pm, so we would have time to FP+ a few last minute rides, but we haven’t decided on this for sure.
And, at this point, that’s pretty much all that’s been set in stone. There is a chance that my brother and his wife might decide to join us and my sister’s oldest child (my other nephew, age 20, might come as well, depending on his work schedule.). We are still working out which days at which park etc. So, I will update more when I know more.
Thanks for reading so far!
Well, I think the report title pretty much says it all!
My immediate family and I are meeting some extended family for our (sorta) VERY FIRST visit to WDW the week between Christmas and New Year’s. So, getting the obvious out of the way: I know, I know . . . Busiest time of the year, crazy crowds, long lines . . . basically pure insanity. Believe me, I’ve heard it all—from friends, other family members, strangers online, strangers on the street, the mailman, etc. But, for a variety of reasons that I will go into greater detail about later in the report, this is the week we’re going. Reservations have been made, airline tickets have been bought, the deal is done. So.
I am relatively new to the DisBoards (Have lurked for a while, but haven’t posted that much) and this is my first report of any kind. So please be kind!
OK, now for the details!
The Participants:
Immediate Family
Me: JC. Early 40s. I co-own a business with my DH and I split my time working from home and from our office. I went to WDW when I was 2 years old. It was in the 1970s. No EPCOT. No DHS. No AK. Just WDW. I have NO memories of it whatsoever. Because of this, I consider this my first visit. (I have, however, been to DisneyLAND 4 times.) I’ve traveled extensively both, inside and outside the US, so—even though it’s my first WDW experience—I do have a TON of general travel and trip planning experience. I’m an inveterate planner. I LOVE to travel and plan trips!
DH: DW. Mid 40s. Small business owner. Never been to Disney at all. He actually has very little interest in Disney. I mean, he doesn’t dislike it or anything. He’s just not dying to go there like my kids and I are. He’s an experienced traveler as well, but he is NOT a planner. He leaves that to me.
DS: JH. 7 (Will be 8 at the time of our trip.). Smart as a whip. Hilarious. A total extrovert. Likes Disney OK and REALLY wants to go to WDW, but isn’t a fanatic about anything.
DD: AF. 5 (Will be 6 at the time of our trip.). Also very smart. Extremely sweet. More of an introvert than her brother. LOVES Disney and is a HUGE fan of Belle & Elsa. Also REALLY wants to go to Disney.
Extended Family
DM: My mother. Mid 60s. Semi-Retired. Has been to WDW the most out of everyone. Also a major traveler and trip planner.
DSister: My sister. Late 30s. Elementary school librarian. Has been to WDW twice. Doesn’t travel as much as some of us, but DOES love to plan.
DBIL: My brother-in-law. Late 30s. Has been to WDW several times as well and is a big Disney fan. He and my sister are the main reason we’re going when we are. They have never seen the Christmas lights and REALLY want to.
DNiece: 17. My sister’s daughter. Has been to WDW once before. LOVES Disney.
DNephew: 5. My DS & DBILs only child. Sweet. Very outgoing. Extremely extroverted. Gets along very well with both of my kids. Very much wants to go to Disney as well.
The Plans So Far
This trip is going to be a SURPRISE Christmas gift for DS, DD, & DNep. They have NO IDEA we are planning it. In fact, we have told our kids that it will probably take us until they are teenagers to be able to save up enough $$ for a Disney trip. DD is SO convinced of this that, every time she sees a Disney commercial, she turns to me and says in a very sad, pathetic little voice, “HOW many days until I’m a teenager again?!” Tee-Hee! Sad, but necessary help keep them from figuring out the surprise!
When
As noted above, we are going to be at WDW from 12/27-1/3. We chose those dates for several reasons. However, the main deciding factor was that A) my DS and DBIL really want to see the Christmas lights, so we need to go while they’re up. However, B) the business DH an I own is retail-based and the weeks leading up to Christmas are THE BUSIEST time of the year for us, so we absolutely can NOT leave town in the 6 weeks before Christmas. So . . . that pretty much leaves the week we’re going. At first, I was a little nervous (OK, very nervous!!
) about the time frame and the crowds, etc. BUT, as we get more and more into our planning, I’m convinced we can do it and have a great time. Where
We are staying at POP Century. We have requested a 4th floor room in the 60s bldg., facing the lake, in hopes that we might catch a glimpse of some fireworks from up there! Also, this is the area my Mom has stayed in previously and she really likes this spot.
How Long
We will be onsite for 8 days. Right now, we have 5 days park tkts with park hopper options. We plan to visit Un/IOA for one day. The other two days are travel/arrival days. We are considering adding a day at the end due to the fact that our flight out doesn’t leave until 4pm, so we would have time to FP+ a few last minute rides, but we haven’t decided on this for sure.
And, at this point, that’s pretty much all that’s been set in stone.
There is a chance that my brother and his wife might decide to join us and my sister’s oldest child (my other nephew, age 20, might come as well, depending on his work schedule.). We are still working out which days at which park etc. So, I will update more when I know more. Thanks for reading so far!
