60 days and counting........
Let me set the scene.....There are six of us going
Jon (40)....Disney Veteran and Writer Extraordinaire.....but not speller
...no grammar police!
Hillary (33)...Disney almost veteran (3 times)-at least two more trips until she earns veteran status
Harriet (not aloud to say but let's just say older than her daughter, Hillary)..1 time
Ciera(12)...2 times (5 and 3)...crazy tween going for know it all teenager since her third birthday....ADR at Crystal Palace with attitude! (no I am two!)
Jonathan Jr. (10)....1 time (3)... big kid with a huge heart who really wants to go back. Reminds me of me.
AJ (4).....Rookie....our crazy little big guy. Ball of fire! Keeps us on our toes!
We have all been to Disney World before except AJ. I have been there over 30 times (thanks Grandma and Grandpa for living in Gainesville all my childhood), Hillary and I went on our honeymoon here (6/9/2007, she said yes because I told her we were going to Disney, otherwise.....) and my mother in law has only been once when we took her seven years ago (2011). My father in law went with us last time but has since passed away from lung cancer #Cancersucks. It was the best time of his life and when I eulogized him, I said that it was easily the best time of his life and we were so sad to not be able to take him back. I never saw him smile so much as when we were there. The last trip we had a lot of issues between one of the rudest employees at Pop Century during check in and a real jerk of a bus driver, When our daughter had a fever and we did not want to make her stand on the bus, we decided to wait for the next bus and he was such a jerk about it, by calling me a idiot. It got a little heated. Long story short I contacted Disney and they made sure that they made things right for us, FREE TICKETS! Thank you!
******Tip for new people----if you have an major issue with Disney employees let corporate know. They will make sure they do something for you!
All previous trips have been fantastic and magical but the last experience soured us to Disney World for awhile and we are now ready to go back!!!!!!!!!!! Actually I was ready the year after but we went and did other things and bought a house in the mean time instead......
We are attempting to surprise the kids with this trip. Our plan is to get them ready for school and then surprise them with a big reveal! I am half expecting zero response but it will be fun for Hillary and I! Its really more for me....LMAO!
Trip Dates:
May 16th to May 23rd
We are staying off site at Windsor Hills in a 3BR townhome that has its own pool and there is a huge pool in the community...for $499 for a week! Six people make it difficult to stay on site. A five minute drive to the Welcome sign on World Drive. We can see the fireworks from the community! This is the first time in awhile that we have not stay onsite in a resort. We have stayed at Pop Century the last two trips. Had a great time the first time but not so much the last.
Itinerary:
May 16th- Surprise We Are Going To Disney World
Jetblue Flight from EWR (Newark) to MCO at 2:30-5:30
First night getting to bed early so we can be at MK for rope drop!
May 17th- Rope Drop MK
NO ADR.
May 18th-Rope Drop Epcot
ADR- Dinner Coral Reef-Hillary and I went here on our honeymoon and are huge aquarium and underwater sea life fans and so are the kids. First time with anyone but the two of us.
May 19th-Rope Drop AK
ADR- Rainforest Cafe-this is traditional and a request of the kids. They love this place...I know it blah but they love it and we have fond memories of my father in law here.
May 20- Rope Drop HS
No ADR
May 21st- MK-
ADR Breakfast at Crystal Palace- Another tradition. We did Chef Mickey's last trip and Crystal Palace. We have always enjoyed Crystal Palace with the little kids. AJ Loves Winnie the Pooh and Tigger!
May 22nd- Park Hopping.....let's have some fun! Most likely Epcot and AK and finishing at MK
No ADR
May 23rd
BOOOOOOOOO! Let's not talk about this day!
Flight JetBlue MCO to EWR 6:15-9:00
Family Traditions:
First ride(besides MCO)- Pirates Of the Caribbean- As a kid my mother made us go on It's a small world first. Those of you that went back in the early 80's may remember the three hours lines for that ride...pre-fast pass...nothing worse for a family of boys to have to wait in line for that long for that ride. Especially since you knew 20,000 Leagues, Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain and Pirates were so much fun! Hillary and I pick Pirates to be out tradition and it has stuck.
This is going to tough at times as we remember the fun we had with my father in law when we were there last! We cannot wait and its really tough not saying anything in front of the kids. Join in and follow the trip! We may change ADR's as we continue to plan over the next two months.
Me (Yes I'm tall), Hillary, Harriet, Kenny and In Back
Ciera and Jonathan....what kid doesn't stick their hand in the bowl!
Ciera, AJ and Jonathan last fall! They changed just a bit
Honeymoon......Love this picture of us!
Let me set the scene.....There are six of us going
Jon (40)....Disney Veteran and Writer Extraordinaire.....but not speller
...no grammar police!Hillary (33)...Disney almost veteran (3 times)-at least two more trips until she earns veteran status
Harriet (not aloud to say but let's just say older than her daughter, Hillary)..1 time
Ciera(12)...2 times (5 and 3)...crazy tween going for know it all teenager since her third birthday....ADR at Crystal Palace with attitude! (no I am two!)
Jonathan Jr. (10)....1 time (3)... big kid with a huge heart who really wants to go back. Reminds me of me.
AJ (4).....Rookie....our crazy little big guy. Ball of fire! Keeps us on our toes!
We have all been to Disney World before except AJ. I have been there over 30 times (thanks Grandma and Grandpa for living in Gainesville all my childhood), Hillary and I went on our honeymoon here (6/9/2007, she said yes because I told her we were going to Disney, otherwise.....) and my mother in law has only been once when we took her seven years ago (2011). My father in law went with us last time but has since passed away from lung cancer #Cancersucks. It was the best time of his life and when I eulogized him, I said that it was easily the best time of his life and we were so sad to not be able to take him back. I never saw him smile so much as when we were there. The last trip we had a lot of issues between one of the rudest employees at Pop Century during check in and a real jerk of a bus driver, When our daughter had a fever and we did not want to make her stand on the bus, we decided to wait for the next bus and he was such a jerk about it, by calling me a idiot. It got a little heated. Long story short I contacted Disney and they made sure that they made things right for us, FREE TICKETS! Thank you!
******Tip for new people----if you have an major issue with Disney employees let corporate know. They will make sure they do something for you!
All previous trips have been fantastic and magical but the last experience soured us to Disney World for awhile and we are now ready to go back!!!!!!!!!!! Actually I was ready the year after but we went and did other things and bought a house in the mean time instead......
We are attempting to surprise the kids with this trip. Our plan is to get them ready for school and then surprise them with a big reveal! I am half expecting zero response but it will be fun for Hillary and I! Its really more for me....LMAO!
Trip Dates:
May 16th to May 23rd
We are staying off site at Windsor Hills in a 3BR townhome that has its own pool and there is a huge pool in the community...for $499 for a week! Six people make it difficult to stay on site. A five minute drive to the Welcome sign on World Drive. We can see the fireworks from the community! This is the first time in awhile that we have not stay onsite in a resort. We have stayed at Pop Century the last two trips. Had a great time the first time but not so much the last.
Itinerary:
May 16th- Surprise We Are Going To Disney World
Jetblue Flight from EWR (Newark) to MCO at 2:30-5:30
First night getting to bed early so we can be at MK for rope drop!
May 17th- Rope Drop MK
NO ADR.
May 18th-Rope Drop Epcot
ADR- Dinner Coral Reef-Hillary and I went here on our honeymoon and are huge aquarium and underwater sea life fans and so are the kids. First time with anyone but the two of us.
May 19th-Rope Drop AK
ADR- Rainforest Cafe-this is traditional and a request of the kids. They love this place...I know it blah but they love it and we have fond memories of my father in law here.
May 20- Rope Drop HS
No ADR
May 21st- MK-
ADR Breakfast at Crystal Palace- Another tradition. We did Chef Mickey's last trip and Crystal Palace. We have always enjoyed Crystal Palace with the little kids. AJ Loves Winnie the Pooh and Tigger!
May 22nd- Park Hopping.....let's have some fun! Most likely Epcot and AK and finishing at MK
No ADR
May 23rd
BOOOOOOOOO! Let's not talk about this day!
Flight JetBlue MCO to EWR 6:15-9:00
Family Traditions:
First ride(besides MCO)- Pirates Of the Caribbean- As a kid my mother made us go on It's a small world first. Those of you that went back in the early 80's may remember the three hours lines for that ride...pre-fast pass...nothing worse for a family of boys to have to wait in line for that long for that ride. Especially since you knew 20,000 Leagues, Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain and Pirates were so much fun! Hillary and I pick Pirates to be out tradition and it has stuck.
This is going to tough at times as we remember the fun we had with my father in law when we were there last! We cannot wait and its really tough not saying anything in front of the kids. Join in and follow the trip! We may change ADR's as we continue to plan over the next two months.
Me (Yes I'm tall), Hillary, Harriet, Kenny and In Back
Ciera and Jonathan....what kid doesn't stick their hand in the bowl!
Ciera, AJ and Jonathan last fall! They changed just a bit
Honeymoon......Love this picture of us!
