The "Are we crazy? " Final Thoughts 7/16 COMPLETE
About This Page: This is a discussion on The "Are we crazy? " Final Thoughts 7/16 COMPLETE within the Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Message Boards and Forums; As promised in the two party trip, we have another trip in the planning stages. And it's less than ...

tkd lisa · 06-11-2007, 05:45 PM

As promised in the two party trip, we have another trip in the planning stages. And it's less than a month away.

First, then when and where, which explains the trip title.

When: July 8-13th
Where: Ft. Wilderness campgrounds (in a tent no less)

This is another two party trip, but with fewer players.

Party 1: The same old same old, minus my mom.
Me: 42 year old single mom, lots of WDW trips, etc.
DD: 15, loves thrill rides, Stitch, and Japan
DS: almost 14, loves technology and the animation studio

Party 2: My college roommate and her family
DF: same age as me. I think she's done a one day trip with her DH, and a couple days with their son LONG ago.
DFH: about our age, same trips as friend
DFS: Turns 13 just before our trip. Came for a couple days as a youngster.

Background:

My college roommate lives in Michigan, fairly close to where we went to college. I was actually present when she met her DH, so I've known him as long as she has! Their son was born about 10 months after my son.

We've vacationed with them twice. The first time, we went to Mackinaw Island for a few days back when the kids were 2, almost 3, and 4. Then they came out to the east coast when we lived in Maryland and we camped around the Jamestown/Williamsburg area in 1998. We had planned on camping together at Gettysburg the summer of 2005, but that was when things turned really ugly with my ex-husband. At the same time, DF's dad was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she used all her vacation time to help with his chemo treatments.

Her father lasted quite a while for as sick as he was, finally passing away early last fall. Unfortunately, she also lost her grandmother (dad's mom) at Thanksgiving, which was quite unexpected. She and her family have been spending every free moment getting her grandmother's house ready to sell, and trying to settle her mother (who suffered a severe stroke back when we were in high school and can't live unassisted) into a retirement home. She really NEEDS a vacation.

Anyway, I've always sent her links to my trip reports so she can keep up with my family, and this spring, she said "You know, we may come to Disney this summer. Would you like to be our tour guide?" I jumped at the chance. But I knew it would come with a campground. They have invested in a nice travel trailer and that's the way they usually vacation. They also have a dog that doesn't like to be kenneled, so the camper is the best way to go.

She went ahead and booked the campground, and added us to the reservation once we agreed. Their camper isn't particularly big, so we should have no trouble putting our tent on the site. The rules limit you to 10 people, and one camper and one tent. Not a problem.

On to the planning stage.

I asked how many meals they wanted to eat at sit downs vs. at the campsite and suggested a couple of options. We ended up deciding on Ohana, Sci Fi Drive In, and Boma. They are really interested in spending lots of time at Animal Kingdom since it wasn't open on their last visit.

My friends will be leaving Michigan the end of June, and camping at several of the Civil War battlefields on the way down. Then they'll head home Friday morning, stopping in Tennessee that evening then making it the rest of the way back to Michigan.

They had ordered tickets when they made the campsite reservation. They did 4 day hoppers with the water park option. This was the thing that made me start looking at the Stars and Stripes passes. I called my friend Saturday, and told her to call and cancel the tickets from the package. She just sent me an email today and said that Disney told her that she couldn't, since the tickets were non-refundable. In this case, I think we'll just stick with the tickets they got unless she really wants to push it. For the 3 of them, it's not as much money and it's not as big a deal for their budget. But it made me rethink my plans a little bit.

Here are our detailed plans for now:

Sunday, 8 July

Party 1, church in the am, then check in to Ft. Wilderness by 12:30 and set up camp.
Probably hit a park after our friends go to the water park.

Party 2, drive down from Savannah and arrive by 2:30 or 3. Get the camper set up.
Head to a water park.

Dinner at Ohana at 8:30
Catch the water parade, and maybe wishes from the Poly beach
In bed by 11

Monday, 9 July

At MGM for morning EMH. This family has confirmed that they are early risers, usually up around 6, so morning EMH is do-able.

Hit the big rides, and either Indy or LMA before our lunch ADR. Sci Fi at 12:30

Take a break, with Party 1 maybe hitting another water park.

Dinner at camp, followed by AK late EMH.

Arrive at AK by 7, to get on the last safari.
During EMH, ride EE and dinosaur, and watch Lion King

Tuesday, 10 July

At MK for morning EMH by 8:00
Ride the mountains and do most of tomorrowland.
The boys will probably do VMK
Back to camp by 1:00
Lunch at the campsite and take a break

Return to EPCOT for late EMH by 7
Get dinner in World Showcase.
Illuminations
TT (single rider) and Mission Space

Wed July 11th

At AK for morning EMH by 8:00
Hit the big rides, Kali, Nemo (maybe) and the trails
Party 1 will leave by 11 and go to Blizzard Beach (driving from AK)
Party 2 will go back to camp and let the dog out.

No plans until Boma at 7:00
May try to use the Night Vision Goggle on the savannah after dinner.
Early night (finally!)

Thursday July 12th

At EPCOT for regular opening (9:00), we get to sleep in!
Ride Soarin first thing!
Turtle Talk
Innoventions (for the boys)
Explore World Showcase

Return to camp for late lunch and break
Party 1 may still have an option to use

Return to MGM to catch Fantasmic and anything else they missed

Friday July 13th
Party 2 leaves for home
Party 1 may visit a park before heading west

I know this is a very agressive schedule. Unfortunately, they are only here for 4 full days, and they want to do all the parks, plus the water parks. I've tried to schedule in down time in the middle of each day. We don't have water passes (and they just aren't worth it for my family). If my friends go to Disney Quest, I will buy DS a day pass so he can go too.

The only other option I can think of is to have my friends do water parks in the morning, in case of rain. But that cuts out the least crowded part of the day, which doesn't seem to make sense. Especially since I know they'll be up in time to hit those morning EMHs. Well, if everyone is too tired, we'll just re-plan on the fly!

The thing I'm the most anxious about is the typical afternoon rainstorms. With us only having a tent, I don't really know what we'll do when it rains. We may just head back to a park since at least we can get out of the rain there. Our friends camper probably isn't big enough for 6 full sized people plus a dog!

I also plan on driving to every park except Magic Kingdom. The internal transportation loop at Ft Wilderness can make the transfer times awfully long. I think that was part of the problem my other friends had this month. By the time you switch buses, it can easily take 1 hour and 15 minutes to get anywhere.

I am really excited about seeing my friend and her family. I made them the same type t-shirts I made for the June trip. I know this friend does family Christmas pictures, so I think they'll like the matching shirts. I'm going to try to do another set of tie dyed shirts for my family, since I wasn't thrilled with the way ours turned out.

ariel14 · 06-11-2007, 07:19 PM

Sounds great! You are a brave woman to be camping in a tent--in July, no less!!
Have a wonderful time!!!

JaimeandChad · 06-11-2007, 07:20 PM

Yeah another TR!!! Can't wait to see the t-shirts!

ArielsMomto2 · 06-11-2007, 09:05 PM

Great trip report. Hurry back with more.

**iamgrumpy** · 06-11-2007, 09:22 PM

Sounds like a good plan strategy!

**DyanKJ130** · 06-11-2007, 10:02 PM

Your plans look wonderful!! You must

living so close to WDW!!

tammyd_rn · 06-11-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel14

Sounds great! You are a brave woman to be camping in a tent--in July, no less!!
Have a wonderful time!!!

**Colexis Mom** · 06-12-2007, 05:53 AM

Great plans Lisa

Can't wait to hear all about it

**PrincessSharon** · 06-13-2007, 01:25 PM

Great plans, Lisa! Can't wait to hear about it.

**wdwlovers** · 06-16-2007, 12:45 PM

I can't wait for this TR! Please post some pics of your trip down to WDW as I'd love to see some of the battlefields.

Just a couple mroe weeks!!

disneydani · 06-16-2007, 08:35 PM

Wow, you are quite the planner...two trips, almost back to back!

It will all work out, you're in Disney afer all!

Can't wait to read the details.

danielle

**wdwmom23boys** · 06-19-2007, 06:36 AM

You must be a glutton for punishment to be camping in a tent in July

! But, I truly hope that you all have a wonderful time. It will be great to be so close to your friends during the trip. Your plans sound wonderful...I can't wait to hear about how it all turns out when you get back

.

tkd lisa · 06-19-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdwlovers

I can't wait for this TR! Please post some pics of your trip down to WDW as I'd love to see some of the battlefields.

Just a couple mroe weeks!!

Sorry, it's the other family that's doing the battlefields. We live in Tampa, so we're just driving over from here. No battlefields along the way (unless my teens get really bad!)

**mattnkatsmum** · 06-20-2007, 12:35 AM

Great start. And you need to post some photos so that I can look out for you

tkd lisa · 06-20-2007, 05:41 PM

Okay, here's a couple of my family. I haven't got one of my roommates family. Actually I do, but the last one I kept was from our Mackinac Island trip back in something like 1994!

This is me and my DD (and my mom too).

And my son.

I'll probably have my hair up in a bunch of little Bahama Braids. It's the best way to deal with it when I'm camping. I may get DD's up too, but with her huge head of hair, it takes a LONG time to do!

Looking forward to seeing you.

06-11-2007, 05:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
tkd lisa Community Rank: Traveler Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 320	The "Are we crazy? " Final Thoughts 7/16 COMPLETE As promised in the two party trip, we have another trip in the planning stages. And it's less than a month away. First, then when and where, which explains the trip title. When: July 8-13th Where: Ft. Wilderness campgrounds (in a tent no less) This is another two party trip, but with fewer players. Party 1: The same old same old, minus my mom. Me: 42 year old single mom, lots of WDW trips, etc. DD: 15, loves thrill rides, Stitch, and Japan DS: almost 14, loves technology and the animation studio Party 2: My college roommate and her family DF: same age as me. I think she's done a one day trip with her DH, and a couple days with their son LONG ago. DFH: about our age, same trips as friend DFS: Turns 13 just before our trip. Came for a couple days as a youngster. Background: My college roommate lives in Michigan, fairly close to where we went to college. I was actually present when she met her DH, so I've known him as long as she has! Their son was born about 10 months after my son. We've vacationed with them twice. The first time, we went to Mackinaw Island for a few days back when the kids were 2, almost 3, and 4. Then they came out to the east coast when we lived in Maryland and we camped around the Jamestown/Williamsburg area in 1998. We had planned on camping together at Gettysburg the summer of 2005, but that was when things turned really ugly with my ex-husband. At the same time, DF's dad was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she used all her vacation time to help with his chemo treatments. Her father lasted quite a while for as sick as he was, finally passing away early last fall. Unfortunately, she also lost her grandmother (dad's mom) at Thanksgiving, which was quite unexpected. She and her family have been spending every free moment getting her grandmother's house ready to sell, and trying to settle her mother (who suffered a severe stroke back when we were in high school and can't live unassisted) into a retirement home. She really NEEDS a vacation. Anyway, I've always sent her links to my trip reports so she can keep up with my family, and this spring, she said "You know, we may come to Disney this summer. Would you like to be our tour guide?" I jumped at the chance. But I knew it would come with a campground. They have invested in a nice travel trailer and that's the way they usually vacation. They also have a dog that doesn't like to be kenneled, so the camper is the best way to go. She went ahead and booked the campground, and added us to the reservation once we agreed. Their camper isn't particularly big, so we should have no trouble putting our tent on the site. The rules limit you to 10 people, and one camper and one tent. Not a problem. On to the planning stage. I asked how many meals they wanted to eat at sit downs vs. at the campsite and suggested a couple of options. We ended up deciding on Ohana, Sci Fi Drive In, and Boma. They are really interested in spending lots of time at Animal Kingdom since it wasn't open on their last visit. My friends will be leaving Michigan the end of June, and camping at several of the Civil War battlefields on the way down. Then they'll head home Friday morning, stopping in Tennessee that evening then making it the rest of the way back to Michigan. They had ordered tickets when they made the campsite reservation. They did 4 day hoppers with the water park option. This was the thing that made me start looking at the Stars and Stripes passes. I called my friend Saturday, and told her to call and cancel the tickets from the package. She just sent me an email today and said that Disney told her that she couldn't, since the tickets were non-refundable. In this case, I think we'll just stick with the tickets they got unless she really wants to push it. For the 3 of them, it's not as much money and it's not as big a deal for their budget. But it made me rethink my plans a little bit. Here are our detailed plans for now: Sunday, 8 July Party 1, church in the am, then check in to Ft. Wilderness by 12:30 and set up camp. Probably hit a park after our friends go to the water park. Party 2, drive down from Savannah and arrive by 2:30 or 3. Get the camper set up. Head to a water park. Dinner at Ohana at 8:30 Catch the water parade, and maybe wishes from the Poly beach In bed by 11 Monday, 9 July At MGM for morning EMH. This family has confirmed that they are early risers, usually up around 6, so morning EMH is do-able. Hit the big rides, and either Indy or LMA before our lunch ADR. Sci Fi at 12:30 Take a break, with Party 1 maybe hitting another water park. Dinner at camp, followed by AK late EMH. Arrive at AK by 7, to get on the last safari. During EMH, ride EE and dinosaur, and watch Lion King Tuesday, 10 July At MK for morning EMH by 8:00 Ride the mountains and do most of tomorrowland. The boys will probably do VMK Back to camp by 1:00 Lunch at the campsite and take a break Return to EPCOT for late EMH by 7 Get dinner in World Showcase. Illuminations TT (single rider) and Mission Space Wed July 11th At AK for morning EMH by 8:00 Hit the big rides, Kali, Nemo (maybe) and the trails Party 1 will leave by 11 and go to Blizzard Beach (driving from AK) Party 2 will go back to camp and let the dog out. No plans until Boma at 7:00 May try to use the Night Vision Goggle on the savannah after dinner. Early night (finally!) Thursday July 12th At EPCOT for regular opening (9:00), we get to sleep in! Ride Soarin first thing! Turtle Talk Innoventions (for the boys) Explore World Showcase Return to camp for late lunch and break Party 1 may still have an option to use Return to MGM to catch Fantasmic and anything else they missed Friday July 13th Party 2 leaves for home Party 1 may visit a park before heading west I know this is a very agressive schedule. Unfortunately, they are only here for 4 full days, and they want to do all the parks, plus the water parks. I've tried to schedule in down time in the middle of each day. We don't have water passes (and they just aren't worth it for my family). If my friends go to Disney Quest, I will buy DS a day pass so he can go too. The only other option I can think of is to have my friends do water parks in the morning, in case of rain. But that cuts out the least crowded part of the day, which doesn't seem to make sense. Especially since I know they'll be up in time to hit those morning EMHs. Well, if everyone is too tired, we'll just re-plan on the fly! The thing I'm the most anxious about is the typical afternoon rainstorms. With us only having a tent, I don't really know what we'll do when it rains. We may just head back to a park since at least we can get out of the rain there. Our friends camper probably isn't big enough for 6 full sized people plus a dog! I also plan on driving to every park except Magic Kingdom. The internal transportation loop at Ft Wilderness can make the transfer times awfully long. I think that was part of the problem my other friends had this month. By the time you switch buses, it can easily take 1 hour and 15 minutes to get anywhere. I am really excited about seeing my friend and her family. I made them the same type t-shirts I made for the June trip. I know this friend does family Christmas pictures, so I think they'll like the matching shirts. I'm going to try to do another set of tie dyed shirts for my family, since I wasn't thrilled with the way ours turned out.

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06-20-2007, 05:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
tkd lisa Community Rank: Traveler Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 320	Okay, here's a couple of my family. I haven't got one of my roommates family. Actually I do, but the last one I kept was from our Mackinac Island trip back in something like 1994! This is me and my DD (and my mom too). And my son. I'll probably have my hair up in a bunch of little Bahama Braids. It's the best way to deal with it when I'm camping. I may get DD's up too, but with her huge head of hair, it takes a LONG time to do! Looking forward to seeing you.