[a bit of wordy background. If you want to just get to the nuts & bolts of this Pre-trip report, skip ahead to the bold]
Sometimes the student becomes the master.
I guess it is presumptuous of me to call myself a master, but lemme explain. Back in March of 2001, my best friend of a couple years (we'd known each other in high school but didn't really like each other; then we worked at the same place in college and became best friends), Penny and I decided we should go to Disney World. I was 22 and had never been, and she had been I believe at least 6 or so times throughout her childhood, possibly more.
So she and I, and another of her friends made the trip. We stayed off property at a (very) cheap hotel (think poor college student), had to use the hotel's shuttle bus to get to/from the parks (pre-uber/lyft days, and we weren't old enough to rent a car).
As I always knew I would, should I ever get the chance to visit, I fell in LOVE with Walt Disney World. And so, as I do when I'm into something, I became obsessed. Learned everything I could about the parks.
A year and a half later, we decided to go again, same trio, plus Penny's mom and grandmother. Another blast had by all, but this time again, also off property, but with a rental.
In 2004, my sister and I took my grandmother. Because she used a wheelchair, we stayed on property. The following year, POP Century had opened, so my cousin and I took a trip. I ended up going at least every 18 months or so for many years, each time gaining more and more knowledge. I became the so-called Disney expert in my family and friends circle, and helped people plan trips. So Penny like to tease that the student had become the master.
The last trip Penny and I made to Disney together was in 2006 (unless you count a one-day trip to Epcot that was a cruise excursion). I have met up with her for a day here or there on Disney property but we haven't truly had a Disney trip together for years.
Fast forward to about 7 months ago, when I decided to book a trip for my younger brother and myself. I was looking forward to our trip, but then things didn't work out and he can't make the trip. I hated to cancel, but with DH recently job-hunting, I didn't know who would be going with me. I wouldn't have minded going solo, but it would help to have someone along to help split the cost (see DH recently job-hunting). Enter Penny! YAY! (She and her wife have recently become DVC members) So:
Where: Port Orleans French Quarter (this is kinda perfect too, because it's a place that DH really doesn't have a desire to try, whereas I've always wanted to)
When: June 15-22, 2019 This will be my only summer visit to date, and I know to expect rain and ungodly heat, so I've purchased 5 day PH plus water park. I've never been to either of the water parks, so that will be a new experience. Other than that, we'll be doing lots of breaks, going back to the resort, and swimming during the heat of the day.
Who: Me (Amber), and Penny--both age 40 at time of travel! We WILL be celebrating this!
We are currently at 129 days out. Meal reservations have been made, and I'll go into those in another post.
Sometimes the student becomes the master.
I guess it is presumptuous of me to call myself a master, but lemme explain. Back in March of 2001, my best friend of a couple years (we'd known each other in high school but didn't really like each other; then we worked at the same place in college and became best friends), Penny and I decided we should go to Disney World. I was 22 and had never been, and she had been I believe at least 6 or so times throughout her childhood, possibly more.
So she and I, and another of her friends made the trip. We stayed off property at a (very) cheap hotel (think poor college student), had to use the hotel's shuttle bus to get to/from the parks (pre-uber/lyft days, and we weren't old enough to rent a car).
As I always knew I would, should I ever get the chance to visit, I fell in LOVE with Walt Disney World. And so, as I do when I'm into something, I became obsessed. Learned everything I could about the parks.
A year and a half later, we decided to go again, same trio, plus Penny's mom and grandmother. Another blast had by all, but this time again, also off property, but with a rental.
In 2004, my sister and I took my grandmother. Because she used a wheelchair, we stayed on property. The following year, POP Century had opened, so my cousin and I took a trip. I ended up going at least every 18 months or so for many years, each time gaining more and more knowledge. I became the so-called Disney expert in my family and friends circle, and helped people plan trips. So Penny like to tease that the student had become the master.
The last trip Penny and I made to Disney together was in 2006 (unless you count a one-day trip to Epcot that was a cruise excursion). I have met up with her for a day here or there on Disney property but we haven't truly had a Disney trip together for years.
Fast forward to about 7 months ago, when I decided to book a trip for my younger brother and myself. I was looking forward to our trip, but then things didn't work out and he can't make the trip. I hated to cancel, but with DH recently job-hunting, I didn't know who would be going with me. I wouldn't have minded going solo, but it would help to have someone along to help split the cost (see DH recently job-hunting). Enter Penny! YAY! (She and her wife have recently become DVC members) So:
Where: Port Orleans French Quarter (this is kinda perfect too, because it's a place that DH really doesn't have a desire to try, whereas I've always wanted to)
When: June 15-22, 2019 This will be my only summer visit to date, and I know to expect rain and ungodly heat, so I've purchased 5 day PH plus water park. I've never been to either of the water parks, so that will be a new experience. Other than that, we'll be doing lots of breaks, going back to the resort, and swimming during the heat of the day.
Who: Me (Amber), and Penny--both age 40 at time of travel! We WILL be celebrating this!
We are currently at 129 days out. Meal reservations have been made, and I'll go into those in another post.
