Ellester
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2003
Alrighty! Time to move my PTR over to the big leagues! Our trip is a short 12 days away and with all the excitement of the holidays (and a birthday) between now and then it will be here before I know it! I love reading everyone else’s trip reports, so many different kinds of trips, families, personalities and experiences. I always pick up a tip or two (or three or more) so I hope you will find this report informative and entertaining. On with the show!!!!
Basics:
We will have a group of 8 traveling. We are staying in a 2 bedroom preferred villa at Saratoga Springs (SSR), our home resort. I still have a waitlist in for Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village and for Bay Lake Tower but I feel pretty confident that those will not be coming through at this late date. I was hoping for the extra bathroom the 2 Bedrooms have at those resorts but we will survive with the 2 we will have at SSR. We are arriving on New Years Eve and departing on Sunday, January 7th.
The regular group:
Me!!!- Ellen, 54 (how did that happen?!?), Disney veteran, first visit in 1972 and many more since then. Currently a homeschooling mom and online tutor.
DH - John, 57, first trip with me and my mom while we were in college back in the great 80’s, lots since then. Software Engineer who works from home.
DD1 - Anabelle, 25, first trip at 18 months. She is very excited to get her Disney fix. Loves all thrill rides, all the dark rides, basically all the rides. Currently a Mining Engineer in Charlotte, NC. Always wants to ride Winnie the Pooh with me.
DD2 - Rebecca, 22, first trip at 20 months. Loves mostly thrill rides. Most likely to want to go back to the room and take a nap. Cosmetologist and server/bartender.
DS1 - Andrew, 19. First visit at 2 ½. Not the biggest fan of thrill rides but a good sport. Tall enough on his very first visit to ride all the 40”+ rides, currently a solid 6’-6”. College sophomore, plays baseball and guitar. Huge Muppets fan.
DD3 - Natalie, 15. First visit at 8 weeks. Loves the thrill rides now, not so much when she was younger. Ninth grader who plays volleyball, softball and ukulele.
Special Guest Stars:
DSIL - Michelle, John’s sister, 51. She has often teased us about wanting to tag along on a trip and this time she was actually able to make it happen! She has only been once before, 6 or 7 years ago with a now Ex. She loved it even with her toxic Ex, so we know she will have a great time!
DAF (Dear Almost Fiancé) - Matt, 26. Anabelle’s significant other, we are expecting an engagement announcement in January! Matt has never ever been to Disney and had never even been on a roller coaster until Anabelle took him to Carowinds in NC over the summer! He is looking forward to it but really has no idea what he is getting into!
So that’s our merry band for this trip. Matt is a veteran (Marines) and was able to purchase our tickets for the military price so we opted for 7 day Park Hopper Pluses, normally we are one park per day folks! We are looking forward to the option to hop, even though it will still have to be after 2pm since we are there just before that rule goes the way of Splash Mountain. I’m not sure if we will actually use the Plus options at all, although we do love a good round of mini-golf! We were hoping it might be warm enough to hit Blizzard Beach but it’s looking iffy right now. Andrew may take advantage of being able to play a round or two at Oak Trail but we will see.
MagicBand+’s have arrived, Memory Maker is ordered, tickets are linked, park and dining reservations are made! Countdown is on, we leave in 12 short days!
Basics:
We will have a group of 8 traveling. We are staying in a 2 bedroom preferred villa at Saratoga Springs (SSR), our home resort. I still have a waitlist in for Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village and for Bay Lake Tower but I feel pretty confident that those will not be coming through at this late date. I was hoping for the extra bathroom the 2 Bedrooms have at those resorts but we will survive with the 2 we will have at SSR. We are arriving on New Years Eve and departing on Sunday, January 7th.
The regular group:
Me!!!- Ellen, 54 (how did that happen?!?), Disney veteran, first visit in 1972 and many more since then. Currently a homeschooling mom and online tutor.
DH - John, 57, first trip with me and my mom while we were in college back in the great 80’s, lots since then. Software Engineer who works from home.
DD1 - Anabelle, 25, first trip at 18 months. She is very excited to get her Disney fix. Loves all thrill rides, all the dark rides, basically all the rides. Currently a Mining Engineer in Charlotte, NC. Always wants to ride Winnie the Pooh with me.
DD2 - Rebecca, 22, first trip at 20 months. Loves mostly thrill rides. Most likely to want to go back to the room and take a nap. Cosmetologist and server/bartender.
DS1 - Andrew, 19. First visit at 2 ½. Not the biggest fan of thrill rides but a good sport. Tall enough on his very first visit to ride all the 40”+ rides, currently a solid 6’-6”. College sophomore, plays baseball and guitar. Huge Muppets fan.
DD3 - Natalie, 15. First visit at 8 weeks. Loves the thrill rides now, not so much when she was younger. Ninth grader who plays volleyball, softball and ukulele.
Special Guest Stars:
DSIL - Michelle, John’s sister, 51. She has often teased us about wanting to tag along on a trip and this time she was actually able to make it happen! She has only been once before, 6 or 7 years ago with a now Ex. She loved it even with her toxic Ex, so we know she will have a great time!
DAF (Dear Almost Fiancé) - Matt, 26. Anabelle’s significant other, we are expecting an engagement announcement in January! Matt has never ever been to Disney and had never even been on a roller coaster until Anabelle took him to Carowinds in NC over the summer! He is looking forward to it but really has no idea what he is getting into!
So that’s our merry band for this trip. Matt is a veteran (Marines) and was able to purchase our tickets for the military price so we opted for 7 day Park Hopper Pluses, normally we are one park per day folks! We are looking forward to the option to hop, even though it will still have to be after 2pm since we are there just before that rule goes the way of Splash Mountain. I’m not sure if we will actually use the Plus options at all, although we do love a good round of mini-golf! We were hoping it might be warm enough to hit Blizzard Beach but it’s looking iffy right now. Andrew may take advantage of being able to play a round or two at Oak Trail but we will see.
MagicBand+’s have arrived, Memory Maker is ordered, tickets are linked, park and dining reservations are made! Countdown is on, we leave in 12 short days!
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