Trip Report When can we do this again? A Fractal family Odyssey. *COMPLETED*

Definition of odyssey:
  • : a long journey full of adventures

  • : a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone
Not too long ago I had a lot of doubt this trip would ever happen. The financial cost of higher education, the fact my wife Val wanted to go anywhere BUT Disney, the crazy and conflicting schedules of the kids, made the odds of keeping our 2-year WDW trip tradition a large long-shot. But maybe things do happen for a reason...

A great deal came our way and before we knew it we were on our way back to the World. Not without a major sacrifice however as my eldest daughter Alexandra had to miss the trip due to her schooling ( she graduates this Friday as an Registered Nurse!). She is a bit of a kindred spirit to me with a personality closer to mine than the other two, so I knew I would miss her dearly on the trip.

Here she is at Christmas with my Mom (Yia-Yia).

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Speaking of Yia-yia; she will join us again at WDW! We had a great time with her on our 2013 trip at the Poly. We would meet up with her, my Sister Marina (here with me)...

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and my two nieces; Courtney...

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and Mia...
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at the Yacht Club on the second leg of our journey. The first part of our trip took us to my in-law's (Al & Sue) who moved to Florida (Tampa - St. Pete area) last year. They would also join us at WDW!

Here they are from a 50th anniversary party we had for them last Winter...

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It was early evening Thursday July 20th when we began our Odyssey. My good friend Wally picked us up to take us to the Baltimore (BWI) airport.

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Excitement was building for our trip but the real Disney excitement would come later.

Sterg and Toni occupied the back seat. They were almost late for the pickup as they decided a last second Starbucks run was in order. Sterg ended up paying for that about an hour later as his bladder protested strongly.

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Val was next to me and could barely contain her enthusiasm.

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Not only was she not fully in favor of another Disney trip, she was (rightfully) concerned with the potential problems, complications, and stress of merging these 3 parts of the family together in the already chaotic environment of managing reservations, room assignments, getting to the parks, fastpasses and dinner plans. I had much of the same worries, which were also amplified by the fact Yia-Yia and Al would be using electric scooters during our time at the World. But hey, it's Disney, what could go wrong?
 
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susan lees

Well-Known Member
Definition of odyssey:
  • : a long journey full of adventures

  • : a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone
Not too long ago I had a lot of doubt this trip would ever happen. The financial cost of higher education, the fact my wife Val wanted to go anywhere BUT Disney, the crazy and conflicting schedules of the kids, made the odds of keeping our 2-year WDW trip tradition a large long-shot. But maybe things do happen for a reason...

A great deal came our way and before we knew it we were on our way back to the World. Not without a major sacrifice however as my eldest daughter Alexandra had to miss the trip due to her schooling ( she graduates this Friday as an Registered Nurse!). She is a bit of a kindred spirit to me with a personality closer to mine than the other two, so I knew I would miss her dearly on the trip.

Her she is at Christmas with my Mom (Yia-Yia).

DSC05745-X2.jpg


Speaking of Yia-yia; she will join us again at WDW! We had a great time with her on our 2013 trip at the Poly. We would meet up with her, my Sister Marina (here with me)...

_DSC0720-XL.jpg


and my two nieces; Courtney...

_DSC0443-XL.jpg



and Mia...
DSC05736-X2.jpg



at the Yacht Club on the second leg of our journey. The first part of our trip took us to my in-law's (Al & Sue) who moved to Florida (Tampa - St. Pete area) last year. They would also join us at WDW!

Here they are from a 50th anniversary party we had for them last Winter...

DSC05476-X2.jpg


It was early evening Thursday July 20th when we began our Odyssey. My good friend Wally picked us up to take us to the Baltimore (BWI) airport.

DSC00007-XL.jpg


Excitement was building for our trip but the real Disney excitement would come later.

Sterg and Toni occupied the back seat. They were almost late for the pickup as they decided a last second Starbucks run was in order. Sterg ended up paying for that about an hour later as his bladder protested strongly.

DSC00006-XL.jpg


Val was next to me and could barely contain her enthusiasm.

DSC00008-XL.jpg



Not only was she not fully in favor of another Disney trip, she was (rightfully) concerned with the potential problems, complications, and stress of merging these 3 parts of the family together in the already chaotic environment of managing reservations, room assignments, getting to the parks, fastpasses and dinner plans. I had much of the same worries, which were also amplified by the fact Yia-Yia and Al would be using electric scooters during our time at the World. But hey, it's Disney, what could go wrong?
Well done to your daughter graduating in nursing. I've been a registered nurse for over 30 years now and still love my job. A great profession:happy:
 

sheriffwoody

Well-Known Member
YAY! So excited for the rest. Good thing it was Sterg who had to go and not one of the ladies....I have been in that situation and I just had to sit there and cry in pain :cry:. We eventually got off the interstate that time, and I ran into some random mechanic's shop and he begrudgingly let me use his bathroom. It was awful! I guess sometimes being a dude has it's perks.

Aaaaaanyway. Hope the rest of the trip was smooth sailing :D
 

riverside

Well-Known Member
I've read your past reports & have always found them to be quite entertaining--great pictures too!! I can't wait to hear about the rest of the odyssey!!
You had said in your pre-trip that Alex got a job at UPMC--congrats to her!! I live in Pittsburgh--great town!!
 

DisneyGigi

Well-Known Member
Oh my gosh we do the same thing!!!
No Way!! :)
Our poor daughter in law had never seen those movies, we went to see the remake one with her and had to catch her up on all the originals so that she knew what we meant by our quotes and the song. My son beats me to it now that he drives down too. People look at us kinda weird at the gas pumps but that makes it even funnier. :p
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
No Way!! :)
Our poor daughter in law had never seen those movies, we went to see the remake one with her and had to catch her up on all the originals so that she knew what we meant by our quotes and the song. My son beats me to it now that he drives down too. People look at us kinda weird at the gas pumps but that makes it even funnier. :p
I remember the first time we made our daughter in law watch the original (it was probably her last time!) She looked at the rest of us (as we were laughing and quoting lines) like we had three heads.

We try to watch it every year before our summer Disney vacay. Didn't have a chance to this year but the summer's not over yet!
 

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