"Hurry & fly away to Neverland before it's too late!" Trip wrap up page 30

[vamassey1]

Hello everyone and welcome to my very first trip report. It's not my first trip, but it's the first time I have attempted to write about a trip. Please bear with me because I'm not a witty writer but I do truly love going to Disney World and sharing my experiences.

Our trip was from June 20th til June 29th. We stayed at Pop Century and we did the Disney Dining Plan.

Along for the trip was me, Vanessa Disney lover and obsessive trip planner. I'm 41 and the mother of 3. I've been married to DH for 24 years and he has come to love Disney too, but just now as much as me. My youngest daughter Danielle who turned 10 while we were there. This was her birthday trip! She loves Disney almost as much as me. I was amazed at how well she was able to keep up with me most of the time. Sharing our trip was my sister Tena 43 and her daughter Bailey. Danielle and Bailey are 10 days apart. Although her actual birthday didn't fall during our trip we did celebrate her birthday while there. They had both never been to Disney. We were so excited to be sharing Disney with them for the first time. I love going to Disney with someone who has never been.

Here's a picture of our crew.


Minor characters who didn't come with us but will be mentioned are my husband Dennis, middle child Michelle, son Brent and DIL Hannah.

Our last trip was during Memorial 2007. We brought Brent and Hannah with us for part of the trip. This was Hannah's first trip and of course now she's hooked too.

Here's a picture from that trip.

[vamassey1]

A little background information. While on our last trip of course the question came up of when would we go again. I'm sure everyone does the same thing while they're still in Disney, right? Dennis said he never wanted to come back again during the summer. This was our first truly hot trip and it really drained us. In the past we were at the park for rope drop and stayed all day. In 2007 we learned we had to take breaks due to the heat. Anyway I don't care when I go I just like to go. Always at the back of my mind was the idea to take my daughters for their birthdays. They are 9 years and 2 days apart. And who wouldn't want to go to Disney for their birthday?

When it was announced that birthdays would be extra special at Disney it really got me thinking. But once again Dennis said no due to the heat. Of course Danielle was totally on board. When the stay for 4 and get 3 free was announced I was finally able to convince Dennis that it would be the perfect time to go. I booked our trip that very same night. It was be the 4 of us there to celebrate the girls birthdays.!

As time passed lots of changes were made to the trip. Things weren't going well for Dennis at work and he was unsure about taking the trip. Michelle wanted to go but she didn't want to go for 8 nights. Her ideal plan was to fly in on her birthday and then travel back with us. Our original plan was to drive down. We've done this for the last 2 trips. Of course she sealed the deal of not going with us when she bought tickets to see Dane Cook in New Orleans on our departure day. In the end Dennis ended up changing jobs and not having the paid time off to go anyway. At first he said there was no way we were going without him, but in the end he caved. I knew he couldn't tell his baby no. She really has him wrapped around her little finger and she really had her heart set on going for her birthday. In April we bought round trip tickets for just the two of us out of New Orleans. On Good Friday at our family get together I let it be know it was just the two of us going and there might be room for 2 more to share the trip.

[cjackearl]

I'm in! Our trips overlapped a couple of days. You've got a great looking family. Can't wait to hear all the details.

[vamassey1]

Originally Posted by cjackearl

I'm in! Our trips overlapped a couple of days. You've got a great looking family. Can't wait to hear all the details.

Thanks for joining it! What dates were you there for? Maybe you'll spot yourself in some of our pictures.

[vamassey1]

I left off trying to find someone to share our trip. About a week or so after Easter my oldest sister Tena asked if she and Bailey could tag along. I was trilled! After calling Disney and getting the price to add them to my trip she started working on her husband. This would most likely be the only chance she would get to go. Her DH has panic attacks in large crowds so there was no way he would ever go and she wouldn't do this kind of thing on her own. In the end it worked out and she booked her flights out of Lafayette, LA. I had already booked my flights and made all the dining ADRs. Since she was tagging along she would just have to go with what was already planned. I had made my ADRs for 3 people, at the time we thought Dennis might still make it. I tried to push them up to 4 and did on a few but not the really big ones. After 3 CMs told me to just show up with 3 since I would be seated at a table for 4 most likely anyway I didn't worry too much about.

This was the plan
Arrive late afternoon Sunday, June 21st. check in and head to DTD for dinner, either at Wolf Gang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich.
Monday, June 22nd. Epcot for rope drop, break and dinner at Coral Reef
Tuesday, June 23rd (Michelle's Birthday) Ak for rope drop, break, late afternoon at DHS and dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe
Wednesday, June 24th MK rope drop break, dinner at 'Ohana and back to MK
Thursday, June 25th (Danielle's 10the bday) rope drop AK stay as long as we can cause I really want to see the parade then dinner at 1900 Park Fare
Friday, June 26th Epcot (celebrating Bailey's bday) be there before rope drop for breakfast with the Princesses, break dinner at Biergarten and catch Illuminations
Saturday, June 27th MK for rope drop, break and dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern
Sunday, June 28th (last park day) DHS, break and dinner at 50s Prime Time
Monday, June 29th departure day. Pack up check out and head to DTD we had ADR for TRex back to resort and catch Magical Express back to airport

So how much of this really happened? Stay tuned to find out ...

[cjackearl]

We were there June 15-22. Your plans look good, but I know all too well that the best laid plans of mice and men...

[vamassey1]

Originally Posted by cjackearl

We were there June 15-22. Your plans look good, but I know all too well that the best laid plans of mice and men...

As we were coming, you were going. Did you do any parks on the 22nd?

Yes plans are made to be broken or at least bend a little.

[vamassey1]

***Disclaimer***

No trip to Disney has ever been perfect. I always go hoping for the best, but knowing something won't go right. I was very excited that my sister and niece were coming, but also worried. First was, what if they don't like it as much as me? What if they thought it was too hot and crowded? What if they got upset because they didn't do something they wanted? Oh, the pressures of being the planner! I was also worried about personality conflicts. See, I'm a half-full kind of girl and my sister is half-empty. She finds fault and of course is always right. Also, I hope I don't offend anyone but I'm not a smoker. Tena's life revolves around her smoking. As the trip unfolds you'll see how this all plays into everything.

My touring plan changed drastically once they signed on. I didn't change my park days just what we would try to do. Danielle doesn't care much for the characters, but Bailey was all about the character, after all it was her first trip. Last trip all Danielle wanted to do was ride the rides. The only character interaction she has was at our character meals. Since I'm a big time scapbooker this just broke my heart. I talked to Danielle lots before we went explaining how we would all have to compromise. I knew we would do rides we wouldn't do if it was just us. Luckily Bailey was into the trill rides.

[creativeamanda]

Wow--we were there the same time. Quite rainy, wasn't it?

Looking forward to reading more. . .

[vamassey1]

Originally Posted by creativeamanda

Wow--we were there the same time. Quite rainy, wasn't it?

Looking forward to reading more. . .

I think it rained at least once everyday. We almost ran out of ponchos. The last two days we were on "have to have only" rations.

I've been reading your report too. You braved the trip without your DH too.

Thanks for reading along!

[tinkgurl]

I'm here! I can't wait to see if I'm in any of your pics!

[vamassey1]

Originally Posted by tinkgurl

I'm here! I can't wait to see if I'm in any of your pics!

Thanks for joining in! I've really been enjoying your report. I've been looking in all your pictures too.

[vamassey1]

I'm going to start off with the day before our departure day Saturday, June 20th. I was lucky enough to get off 2 hours early on the Friday. That time was well spent covering my grays. Can't go to Disney with gray! So Saturday was spent doing all those last minute things, washing, packing, running around getting stuff you know you're going to need but usually don't.

Since Michelle and Danielle's birthdays are two days apart we usually have a party for them with their friends and then do dinner with our extended family. No parties this year, Michelle was turning 19 and Danielle would be in Disney, I think that's more than enough. So we needed to do something with the family before we left and we needed to celebrate Father's Day. Dennis suggested our favorite local Mexican Casa La Vida. It's right outside the neighborhood. Every time we go we run into someone we know and the Margaritas were on sale! During the day Michelle passed by and saw a big banner "Karaoke Every Saturday Night Starting June 20th". She called me, than my sister Tasha. I've never done Karaoke in a public place but Tasha and her boyfriend have and so has Michelle. Of course we quickly decided to not tell Dennis. There was no way he would go if he knew. Of course within minutes of us getting there and seeing them set up he knew. To offset this he ordered a margarita.

We were planning to go back to the house for cookie cake and presents afterward, but we did bring one present for Danielle to open. For two years she has been begging for a phone and we kept telling her no. But two things helped push us to finally getting her one. First it would be a good idea for the parks if we ever got separated. I had already planned for her and Bailey to ride RRC without me. She would also have it to call Dennis. And the biggest factor was Dennis' razor had been stolen and he wasn't up for a phone for another year. He wanted the Samsung indestructible phone and Sams was offering if for free if you added a line. So he added a line, took the Sim card out, bought Danielle a Go phone and put his Sim card in the Samsung.

Here are some pictures of her opening her phone. She really didn't believe is was real and thought it was a gag gift.










Up next Karaoke!

[cjackearl]

Cute pics of your daughter! I'm sure she was thrilled with her phone.

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Wow someone's been a busy girl. What an excellent start doll, it's so good to get all the background from before the trip so that you get an idea of the relationship dynamics of all the people involved. You''ve put me to shame, I had better get my ar$e in gear now hadn't I