klacey1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2008
- Messages
- 5,945
*WARNING: My pictures won't embed, so I just have the links, feel free to click on them! I tried doing the img thing, but it wouldn't work!*
I dont think most people start their pre-trip reports in Marchwhen their trip is in August, but weve just finished making arrangements for our vacation, and Im so excited I had to share!
Were leaving from the Westchester Airport in White Plains, NY on August 20, and returning August 25th. Were staying offsite because we have plans to visit Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and possibly Sea World. Our hotel is the Doubletree Castletwo years ago, I took my daughter and niece to Orlando and we remembered seeing the Castle from the highway. We all thought it was the neatest looking thing; because I work for a hotel company that owns a Hilton, I am able to get $39 per night rates at any Hilton hotels around the country (HUGE vacation perk!). Anyway, we looked at the website and TripAdvisor and it seemed as nice on the inside as on the outside, so I booked three rooms.
The we on this trip is a tad complicated. There is me, a hotel manager with two lovely children, 19 and 20. Only my 19 year old, my daughter Kylie (a college freshman!), will be coming on the trip. Here is a picture of the two of us at her high school graduation (boo hoo!):
Then theres my sister-in-law Michelle and her two daughters (9 and 11), Sarah and Emily
Kylie and Michelle
Kylie and Emily on Christmas
Kylie, Emily (far right), and Sarah (far left).
And then theres my other sister-in-law, Diana, and her daughter, Andrea (11, in the center of the above picture), her son, Devin (8), and her two nieces, Natalia (13) and Catalina (12). (Sorry no pictures available on Diana/Devin/Natalia/Catalina!)
So thats 10 people3 moms, 1 young adult, and 6 kids. Do I feel sorry for Kylie? You bet! Shes been the resident baby-sitter since she was 12, and all of these kids idolize her.
On the sad note, my mom (Nana to most of these kids) was supposed to join us on this trip. She had come with us when my kids were 8 and 9, and was supposed to two years ago, when I just took Kylie and Andrea. However, her sister was very sick, and she wanted to be there just in case. (Which turned out to be the right thing
) This year, she was all set to go with us, but her company is doing major downsizing and she fears she might lose her job, so she doesnt want to spend the money. I have offered frequently to pay, but she keeps refusing. I hope to break her downcross your fingers, everyone, and Ill keep you updated!
My mom and her granddaughter at graduation.
As you might suspect, with 10 people, I already forsee many, many problems. Kylie is a huge planner. She has tons of Orlando guidebooks and is the one who will be waking up at 6 to leave at 7 or 8 to get to all of the parks a half hour before they open. She fears, justifiably, that the other 9 people will not be right behind her first thing in the morning.
We also have issues with the parks. All of the kids, Kylie, and SIL Michelle are huge Magic Kingdom fans. SIL Diana and I are not, but we can go shopping or something that day. There will definitely be some splitting upKylie will probably take the more adventurous kids to Space Mountain, etc. Ive only met Natalia (who speaks very little English) and Catalina a couple of times, and Ive never been with Devin to an amusement park, so Im not sure of their thrill level. Andrea will go on anything as long as Kylie is with her, but Sarah and Emily are NOT thrill-seekers, and are especially afraid of dark rides.
Besides the obligatory Magic Kingdom, the kids want to go to a water park (Blizzard Beach seems to be the favorite), which none of the adults/Kylie want to do who thinks we should give in?
Most of the non-first timers (Sarah, Emily, Michelle, Andrea, Kylie, and I) arent desperate to go to Sea World, but my mom thinks we should go for the first-timers (Diana, Devin, Catalina, and Natalia). What do you guys think?
Universal and Islands are a mustthis will be a first time for everyone but Andrea, Kylie, and I. I just hope our non-thrill seekers will enjoy these parks. Emily has heard of Seuss Landing and is excited for that.
Kylie is VERY excited for Hollywood Studios. The last time we went, she was still a roller coaster wimp, and we were completely unknowledgeable about the park, so we only went on the Great Movie Ride (which we loved). Shes dying to go on Rock N Roller Coaster, and last summer, we went to Disneys California Adventure and went on Tower of Terror, so both of us are excited for that again. Most of our group should enjoy Hollywood Studios, I think.
This is our jacked picture of Kylie and I on the Tower of Terror in CAshe and I are in the 2nd row on the right, the first two in.
We want to do 5 parks in the five days that we have, including the first. Were definitely hitting Magic Kingdom (most of us, anyway), Hollywood Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios. Were looking for a lighter park to do on that first day Sea World seems like a fairly good idea because its not too much waiting in line, and its not a place you need to be at rope-drop. But, like I said, no one is really dying to go there. What do you guys think? Any suggestions?
Ill probably be adding more plans, etc, as the time gets closer, but like I said, I was so excited, I had to jot some things down!
I dont think most people start their pre-trip reports in Marchwhen their trip is in August, but weve just finished making arrangements for our vacation, and Im so excited I had to share!
Were leaving from the Westchester Airport in White Plains, NY on August 20, and returning August 25th. Were staying offsite because we have plans to visit Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and possibly Sea World. Our hotel is the Doubletree Castletwo years ago, I took my daughter and niece to Orlando and we remembered seeing the Castle from the highway. We all thought it was the neatest looking thing; because I work for a hotel company that owns a Hilton, I am able to get $39 per night rates at any Hilton hotels around the country (HUGE vacation perk!). Anyway, we looked at the website and TripAdvisor and it seemed as nice on the inside as on the outside, so I booked three rooms.
The we on this trip is a tad complicated. There is me, a hotel manager with two lovely children, 19 and 20. Only my 19 year old, my daughter Kylie (a college freshman!), will be coming on the trip. Here is a picture of the two of us at her high school graduation (boo hoo!):
Then theres my sister-in-law Michelle and her two daughters (9 and 11), Sarah and Emily
Kylie and Michelle
Kylie and Emily on Christmas
Kylie, Emily (far right), and Sarah (far left).
And then theres my other sister-in-law, Diana, and her daughter, Andrea (11, in the center of the above picture), her son, Devin (8), and her two nieces, Natalia (13) and Catalina (12). (Sorry no pictures available on Diana/Devin/Natalia/Catalina!)
So thats 10 people3 moms, 1 young adult, and 6 kids. Do I feel sorry for Kylie? You bet! Shes been the resident baby-sitter since she was 12, and all of these kids idolize her.
On the sad note, my mom (Nana to most of these kids) was supposed to join us on this trip. She had come with us when my kids were 8 and 9, and was supposed to two years ago, when I just took Kylie and Andrea. However, her sister was very sick, and she wanted to be there just in case. (Which turned out to be the right thing
) This year, she was all set to go with us, but her company is doing major downsizing and she fears she might lose her job, so she doesnt want to spend the money. I have offered frequently to pay, but she keeps refusing. I hope to break her downcross your fingers, everyone, and Ill keep you updated!My mom and her granddaughter at graduation.
As you might suspect, with 10 people, I already forsee many, many problems. Kylie is a huge planner. She has tons of Orlando guidebooks and is the one who will be waking up at 6 to leave at 7 or 8 to get to all of the parks a half hour before they open. She fears, justifiably, that the other 9 people will not be right behind her first thing in the morning.
We also have issues with the parks. All of the kids, Kylie, and SIL Michelle are huge Magic Kingdom fans. SIL Diana and I are not, but we can go shopping or something that day. There will definitely be some splitting upKylie will probably take the more adventurous kids to Space Mountain, etc. Ive only met Natalia (who speaks very little English) and Catalina a couple of times, and Ive never been with Devin to an amusement park, so Im not sure of their thrill level. Andrea will go on anything as long as Kylie is with her, but Sarah and Emily are NOT thrill-seekers, and are especially afraid of dark rides.
Besides the obligatory Magic Kingdom, the kids want to go to a water park (Blizzard Beach seems to be the favorite), which none of the adults/Kylie want to do who thinks we should give in?
Most of the non-first timers (Sarah, Emily, Michelle, Andrea, Kylie, and I) arent desperate to go to Sea World, but my mom thinks we should go for the first-timers (Diana, Devin, Catalina, and Natalia). What do you guys think?
Universal and Islands are a mustthis will be a first time for everyone but Andrea, Kylie, and I. I just hope our non-thrill seekers will enjoy these parks. Emily has heard of Seuss Landing and is excited for that.
Kylie is VERY excited for Hollywood Studios. The last time we went, she was still a roller coaster wimp, and we were completely unknowledgeable about the park, so we only went on the Great Movie Ride (which we loved). Shes dying to go on Rock N Roller Coaster, and last summer, we went to Disneys California Adventure and went on Tower of Terror, so both of us are excited for that again. Most of our group should enjoy Hollywood Studios, I think.
This is our jacked picture of Kylie and I on the Tower of Terror in CAshe and I are in the 2nd row on the right, the first two in.
We want to do 5 parks in the five days that we have, including the first. Were definitely hitting Magic Kingdom (most of us, anyway), Hollywood Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios. Were looking for a lighter park to do on that first day Sea World seems like a fairly good idea because its not too much waiting in line, and its not a place you need to be at rope-drop. But, like I said, no one is really dying to go there. What do you guys think? Any suggestions?
Ill probably be adding more plans, etc, as the time gets closer, but like I said, I was so excited, I had to jot some things down!
