A Disney Trip 10 Years in the Making. PTR 10/14 - 23/2011 About This Page:

[mommapants]

Friday 3/11/11
Travel Dates 10/14/11 – 10/23/11

Pre Trip Rport Part One

So how early is too early to start a pre trip report? One month out? 3 months out? – how about 6 months out????

I’m not even sure where to begin this PTR as it has been a long and sorted tale just to get me to this point. But since I’m so excited for my upcoming trip I thought I’d start the pre-trip report early. So now I have lots of time to fill you in on all the hairy details.

First things first a few details about me and my traveling companions…

Me – Holly (single mom, older than a teenager but not yet a senior citizen)
DS- Evan (currently 4 but will be 5 at time of the trip-@tot)
Mother – Janet

Sister – Jill
BIL – Stephen
Nephew – Aaron (12 @tot)
Niece – Megan (10 @tot)
Nephew – Eric (6 @tot)

Family friend – Christine
FF son – Bryson (7 @tot)
FF son – Gunnar (6 @tot)

I think that is all of us.

We all live in South Jersey so we will fly out of Philly or Atlantic City. I’m still waiting for SouthWest rates before we book anything.

Traveling on Friday October 14, 2011 and returning on Sunday, October 23, 2011
Renting car/van and staying at Shades of Green.

I’m a Disney veteran. I’ve been around 15-20 times (if I sat and thought about it I could get the exact number – but not really necessary.)

My last trip was a one dayer in the MK when my sister in I took her 2 oldest kids just for the day while visiting family in Sarasota Florida and that was in 2008. Before that it was a 10 day trip in July 2006. On that trip we rented a house outside the parks as there were 10 of us.

As much as they would hate to admit it, Mom, Jill and Steve are all veteran travelers too (I’m the only obsessive one however). We have each been numerous times and all of us had our last visit in 2006.

When I’ve stayed in the parks before Fort Wilderness has always been my choice, mainly because it is the least expensive rooms with full kitchens.

I’ve never traveled in the Fall. I went one time the week between Christmas and New Years, back in 1992, before all the cool holiday stuff they have now so I’d like to head back sometime to see all that. I went one time in March on my High School senior trip and other then those two times, we’ve always traveled in the summer. So October is a new experience for me.

The first time travelers on this trip are my son Evan, my nephew Eric (he was only 9 months old in 2006 so he doesn’t remember any of it) Christine and her 2 boys (check that Christine went once on her High School senior trip) but for all intense and purposes she is a newbie.

There has already been lots of planning and there will be lots more I’m sure of it. Our 180 day point is Palm Sunday, 4/17. My sister and I are having a meeting in a week or so to discuss everything so I’ll be all set on the 17th to snag all the ressies we need.

Now I’m not sure if Shades counts as Disney or not in terms of booking the 180 days plus the 10 extra days so I guess I’ll find out. (anyone else know?) If worse comes to worst I’ll have to get up each morning and make phone calls every day just like the olden times, or go online each day – whatever!!

So there you have it – a starting point if nothing else.

Coming up next
The reason for the title of the report

[Colexis Mom]

Great start!

[shanmac]

Congratulations on your trip!

I don't think you need a Disney "package" to book ADRs online. Not 100% though. I hope you've got MNSSHP planned!

Can't wait to hear more!

[debrabrown]

Good start!! What a traveling crew.

[OCEANGRLLG]

Great start!

[lauriep]

That's a lot of people to plan for, but sounds like a lot of fun. Great start, Holly.

[ThumperBunny]

Great start!!

Unfrotunately no, since Shades of Green isn't a Disney hotel you don't get the +10 option!

[I live with a 'Stitch'!]

I'm along for your ride! Sounds exciting- the more the merrier!

[DawnDenise]

Wow! That's a lot people to be planning for but sounds like fun!! Looking forward to more!!

[Cam22]

Great start, Holly!

[nconover]

Awww I love first trips with people. It's always exciting to see their expression on a ride you just Know is fantastic like Soarin or It's a small world, the wonderment on their faces is priceless. We were supposed to go with a big group but most of our group backed out on me and are going to Florida but not to Disney which is such a waste. LOL. You guys I'm sure will have a blast.

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great start!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by shanmac

Congratulations on your trip!

I don't think you need a Disney "package" to book ADRs online. Not 100% though. I hope you've got MNSSHP planned!

Can't wait to hear more!

I'm am planning on MNSSHP - just waiting on dates

Originally Posted by debrabrown

Good start!! What a traveling crew.

I know quite a lot of us.

Originally Posted by OCEANGRLLG

Great start!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by lauriep

That's a lot of people to plan for, but sounds like a lot of fun. Great start, Holly.

A lot of people but I do like to do the planning

Originally Posted by ThumperBunny

Great start!!

Unfrotunately no, since Shades of Green isn't a Disney hotel you don't get the +10 option!

Thats what I was afraid off . Thanks

Originally Posted by I live with a 'Stitch'!

I'm along for your ride! Sounds exciting- the more the merrier!

Thanks to joining in.

Originally Posted by DawnDenise

Wow! That's a lot people to be planning for but sounds like fun!! Looking forward to more!!

Yes quite a bit but I'm looking forward to the planning

Originally Posted by Cam22

Great start, Holly!

Thanks

Originally Posted by nconover

Awww I love first trips with people. It's always exciting to see their expression on a ride you just Know is fantastic like Soarin or It's a small world, the wonderment on their faces is priceless. We were supposed to go with a big group but most of our group backed out on me and are going to Florida but not to Disney which is such a waste. LOL. You guys I'm sure will have a blast.

How can you go to Florida and NOT do Disney? It's unheard of? I do like sharing all the "news" and getting them excited about it. My son can't wait to ride BTMRR so that will probably be our first stop.

[mommapants]

Today’s date: 03/14/11
Pre trip report Part Two

Well ten years is a long time to wait for almost anything but for a Disney trip it is practically unbearable. It all began back in 2000…dream sequence begins….

In August 2000 I was lucky enough to have a fantastic Disney trip with my brother and his family. We stay in Fort Wilderness Cabins and his children were just 6 and 8 at the time.

I can clearly remember on our last boat ride back from MK to FW saying “Well this will be my last trip here for about 10 years”

“10 Years!” my brother said in shock. Considering I had gone just about every other year for the previous 10 years, this was quite a change.

“Yea” I said “I want to have a baby in 5 years and then I want them to be at least 5 before I bring them, that’ll be 10 years.”

In 2001 I had a failed attempt at a child and then spent the next several years debating whether this was something I really wanted to do as a single parent? Back and forth I went until ultimately deciding in 2005 that YES IT WAS!!!!

So there it was, five years later, and wanting a child. But these things don’t always come so easily. I waited and waited and waited.

When 2006 came around and the family was planning a big group trip to the World, I couldn’t resist. So my 10 year hiatus was cut down to only 6 years (thank God as the withdraw was killing me) but it still wasn’t the trip I had planned, wished for, waited for or dreamed about. I still didn’t have my adorable 5-year-old child with me.

So the July 2006 trip comes and goes and then BAM, it hits me and my world would never be the same again.

Evan was born October, 2006 the most adorable person I’ve ever met in my life – and he was all mine (mine! Cue the seagulls). Now incase you are just a little confused, Evan was adopted and the July trip, I wasn’t pregnant, just a mother-in-waiting.


Sorry scan of a photo but he is still just so adorable in my eyes - his hair isn't even curly yet.

So now that I had my little boy, I needed him to be 5 before we went to Disney. I know everyone always says they can go earlier and all that but that just wasn’t for me. I wanted him to be out of diapers and maybe past naps and strollers too. Besides, being a single mom now meant a much bigger strain on my expenses so I would need 5 years to save for the trip.

So here it is 2011 and Evan turns 5 in October. I knew we would have almost a full year from when he turned 5 before he started school - but I’m getting ahead of myself.
For now that is why we are going in October.

A full 11 years actually after my trip when I first wanted to be “doing this whole Disney World thing as a parent” with my own child and hopefully sharing the joy of my favorite place with him.

Since this is my first time trip as a parent – I’d love to hear about your first time – oh get your minds out of the gutter – this is a family web site – the first time “family” trip to Disney.

Until next time…

Coming up next
How we selected our travel dates

[debrabrown]

Awww.... great story!!!

We first took our kids when our son was 2 and our daughter was 4. We went in September and napped during the heat of the day. we stayed for 10 days and it was heaven! My best memories are in Fantasyland and the Family Magic hour they had in the morning. Winnie and the gang were hanging out and we skipped with Peter Pan and Captain Hook. I'll never forget the first time we rode IASW. Our son pointed at everything and was just in awe. It's one of my sentimental favorites! Abby dressed in her Cinderella dress for dinner at the castle. The look on her face when Cindy bent down to fix Abby's crown was just priceless. Worth every penny of that meal. The castle and Cindy are another sentimental favorite.

I'm so excited for you!!

[Cam22]

So touching! Holly, you and Evan have such a wonderful story!

Stefanie's first trip when she was 10 as we had wanted her to be big enough to ride as much as possible. The moment we walked down Main Street and her whole face lit up, I was sold on Disney forever.