Hey everyone! It's been a while I know... after our last trip in December 2013 I tried continuing to post here for a month or so but eventually my PDD (Post-Disney Depression) overcame me and I started coming back less and less.
A little back story to kick us off:
So why did we jump into another trip (that we technically can't afford) rather than waiting? Well, that's where a very long story of life since I was last here comes into play. Some of you may remember me mentioning in past trip reports and other threads that my son was diagnosed at a young age as having a mood disorder. Well, in early September, after a very very difficult few weeks that I will spare everyone the details of, his diagnosis was changed to an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (w/ ADHD). Needless to say the past month+ for our family has been the most difficult we've ever been through and as such we decided... screw it, we need a vacation!
Oh and I forgot to mention... we are not telling DS about this one. We're going to get everything together and tell him we're going to his favorite local amusement park (even though it'll be closed - he won't catch that though) and then film the reveal as we drive past it and say "Y'know what? How about we go to Disney instead!"
The Players
Jenn/Mom = Me!
Bill/Dad = DH
Aaron = DS8
Tim = DSS22
I doubt anyone has ever paid enough attention to my reports to notice but in the past when DSS was included, so to was his fiance. Well, on top to the aforementioned stress related to my son, DSS's relationship also came to an end. Another reason we all need this trip badly!
UPDATE: Unfortunately DSS can't afford to pay his bills if he misses a week of work so he's decided not to join us.
The Logistics
Arrival: Sunday, January 18th
Departure: Saturday, January 24th
Resort: Art of Animation - Cars Family Suite - A first for us!
Dining: DDP (upgraded from what package included)
Tickets: 5-Day Park Hopper
Travel Method: Drive
ADRs
Sunday: Chef Mickey's (8:05p)
Monday: Crystal Palace (8:30a)
Tuesday: Garden Grill (5:55p)
Wednesday: Boma (9:20a)
Thursday: 50's Prime Time (12:35p) - A first for us!
Friday: Be Our Guest (5:20p) - A first for us for dinner!
Saturday: 'Ohana (9:00a)
Can't add FP+ selections yet but soon as we do I'll update this report!
FastPass+ Selections
Monday 1/19: Space Mountain (9:25-10:25), Little Mermaid (11:05-12:05), Mine Train (12:25-1:25)
Tuesday 1/20: Character Spot (3:30-4:30), Test Track(4:55-5:55), Nemo (6:30-7:30)
Thursday 1/22: Toy Story Mania (11:10-12:10), Frozen Sing-along (2:20-2:35), ToT (3:20-4:20)
Friday 1/23: Safari (9:35-10:35), Primeval Whirl (11:35-12:35), Dinosaur(12:45-1:45)
My logic with these was to book around our ADRs so that we can hop elsewhere until those times and know we're in the park where we're eating. For those where I got them in the AM, I know we can get more FPs that day, even in another park if we want.
So there it is! Whatcha think folks?
A little back story to kick us off:
- I've been visiting WDW since I was 6 years old. My first trip was in 1982 and I've made close to 30 since.
- In 2004 I met the man who is now my husband and took him on his first trip.
- Not long after, we moved to Jacksonville, FL and became annual passholders, visiting whenever we could.
- In early 2006 we had to take a break from visiting because our son, Aaron, was born. But... as any good Disney-crazed parents would do, we took Aaron for his first trip when he was just 10m old.
- After a few trips as a family, we decided in late 2007 to move to North Carolina. Since that time we've tried to continue making trips at least once a year.
- In 2011 we decided to skip 2012 in favor of waiting for some of New Fantasyland to open. We managed to make it through the year (PDD raging of course) and got back out to WDW in March 2013.
- From there we agreed we'd skip 2014 and return after the 7DMT was finished.
- Realizing that meant 2 years until we'd be back, we decided to make one last trip before we skipped 2014 and headed back down in December.
So why did we jump into another trip (that we technically can't afford) rather than waiting? Well, that's where a very long story of life since I was last here comes into play. Some of you may remember me mentioning in past trip reports and other threads that my son was diagnosed at a young age as having a mood disorder. Well, in early September, after a very very difficult few weeks that I will spare everyone the details of, his diagnosis was changed to an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (w/ ADHD). Needless to say the past month+ for our family has been the most difficult we've ever been through and as such we decided... screw it, we need a vacation!
Oh and I forgot to mention... we are not telling DS about this one. We're going to get everything together and tell him we're going to his favorite local amusement park (even though it'll be closed - he won't catch that though) and then film the reveal as we drive past it and say "Y'know what? How about we go to Disney instead!"
The Players
Jenn/Mom = Me!
Bill/Dad = DH
Aaron = DS8
UPDATE: Unfortunately DSS can't afford to pay his bills if he misses a week of work so he's decided not to join us.
The Logistics
Arrival: Sunday, January 18th
Departure: Saturday, January 24th
Resort: Art of Animation - Cars Family Suite - A first for us!
Dining: DDP (upgraded from what package included)
Tickets: 5-Day Park Hopper
Travel Method: Drive
ADRs
Sunday: Chef Mickey's (8:05p)
Monday: Crystal Palace (8:30a)
Tuesday: Garden Grill (5:55p)
Wednesday: Boma (9:20a)
Thursday: 50's Prime Time (12:35p) - A first for us!
Friday: Be Our Guest (5:20p) - A first for us for dinner!
Saturday: 'Ohana (9:00a)
FastPass+ Selections
Monday 1/19: Space Mountain (9:25-10:25), Little Mermaid (11:05-12:05), Mine Train (12:25-1:25)
Tuesday 1/20: Character Spot (3:30-4:30), Test Track(4:55-5:55), Nemo (6:30-7:30)
Thursday 1/22: Toy Story Mania (11:10-12:10), Frozen Sing-along (2:20-2:35), ToT (3:20-4:20)
Friday 1/23: Safari (9:35-10:35), Primeval Whirl (11:35-12:35), Dinosaur(12:45-1:45)
My logic with these was to book around our ADRs so that we can hop elsewhere until those times and know we're in the park where we're eating. For those where I got them in the AM, I know we can get more FPs that day, even in another park if we want.
So there it is! Whatcha think folks?
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