The Griswalds Take Over the World- 5/2/09-5/9/09 - COMPLETED! 5/28 About This Page:

[ChristyLeni]

**Disclaimer** My family has been making reservations under the name Griswald for years and years. It stems from when I was about 13 and in the Virgin Islands. My dad decided he would walk from our hotel to this “really great snorkeling place” in his flippers, mask and snorkel on his head, his bathing suit and his fanny pack. You had to walk along a major road to get there and if you look at the picture my mom took, way back in the distance you can see my sisters and I, pretending we don’t know him. Since then, it’s just been one thing after another. So, laugh at our atrocities, but we are no example to follow!!

The Characters:
Myself – I’ve been called, affectionately I think, the Disney Freak
DH- who’s pretty sure I’m leaving him for a mouse
DD11- who’s too good for any of us
DS8- the energizer bunny
DD4- our princess, who is well aware of this fact
My Mom- the peacemaker
My Dad- Grumpy
My sister #1-the perfectionist
Sister #1’s DH- the grown up energizer bunny
My sister #2- hysterical, if you understand her humor
Sister #2 DBF- we like to call him “benchwarmer”

The setting- May 2nd- 9th, Port Orleans Riverside

Occasion: Family Vacation and my Mom’s Birthday. It’s the 24th Anniversary of her 29th birthday, for anyone who asks.

So, I’ve been planning this “Grand Gathering” event for about 6 months now and the day has almost arrived. We’re at the two-month mark so we’re pretty excited about it. Of the group, I’m the only Disney freak in the bunch and have pretty much made all the plans. I have sent emails to the groups asking questions and letting them know plans, but they make fun of my emails now so I’m planning on my own and I hope they like it. My DBIL actually told me I should go on meds for OCD. See what I have to work with!

The first thing I can tell you about planning for a group is don’t plan on being together every second of every day. My family, the list above, vacations together every year. It’s not always Disney; we’ve done all-inclusives and cruises and such as well. What we have learned is that if you plan every waking moment together, by day 3 no one is happy and everyone hates everyone else and the rest of the trip ends up being completely on your own. So with that lesson learned, here are our plans.

We fly out of Philly on May 2nd at 8:45am. This was a compromise since my family wanted to leave at 6am so we can get to the parks and all the others wanted to leave at noon so they could sleep in. We’re going to Disney people! Sleep some other day!

We’ve planned dinner together every night. That way we can talk about our days and what we did and it’s still a family vacation. Our dinners include: Boatwright’s followed by the Fireworks cruise, Hoop de doo Review, GG International Dinner, 50’s Prime Time Café, Coral Reef, GG Safari and dinner, and the Luau. We also have one breakfast together at The Wave for mom’s birthday and a couple lunches in smaller groups.

One of my favorite things about an all-inclusive resort or cruise is the newsletter they slip under your door each night. It highlights the activities for the next day. I thought this would be a great idea for our group so I’ve started one of my own. It’s been a lot of fun to make; almost like living each day of our trip ahead of time. The newsletters include all the ADR’s, park hours, tips, fun facts and hidden Mickey searches, as well as cell phone numbers just in case you actually want to hang out with someone else in the family.

I do have my kids scheduled for the BBB on our first full day at the parks. They got a 9:10am ressie!! We’re hoping to attend the PP Birthday party that day, but I’m still working on convincing DH. He says we already paid for the dining plan and doesn’t understand how I could pay for a meal. I’m working on it.

Well, there’s the start. I’m very wordy so I think I will end it here and add the rest as we go along! So excited 56 days!!!!

[materstater]

You guys sound like a riot! Can't wait to hear more!!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start!!

[disneydani]

Sounds like an awesome family....you guys will have a blast!

danielle

[vfair]

Great start! Love your newsletter idea. Looking forward to hearing more.

[belle0517]

Can't wait to hear more!

[MisplacedTraveler]

Can't wait to hear more! I love the newsletter idea.

[mcc0313]

Great start...can't wait to hear more.

[bsblady01]

I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world

[home4us123]

Great start. Can't wait for more!!

[DyanKJ130]

Great start!! Looking forward to more

[chezp]

Great start!

[I live with a 'Stitch'!]

I was hooked after the first paragraph! What a fun family. Can't wait to read all about your adventures!

[TheThomasFam]

I can't wait to hear more about your trip - before and after! We are a group of 7 traveling to Disney in June so any advice would be great (I love the newsletter idea)

[MickeyMAC]

Great start