A Disney Trip 10 Years in the Making. PTR 10/14 - 23/2011 About This Page:

[mommapants]

Friday 3/11/11
Travel Dates 10/14/11 – 10/23/11

Pre Trip Rport Part One

So how early is too early to start a pre trip report? One month out? 3 months out? – how about 6 months out????

I’m not even sure where to begin this PTR as it has been a long and sorted tale just to get me to this point. But since I’m so excited for my upcoming trip I thought I’d start the pre-trip report early. So now I have lots of time to fill you in on all the hairy details.

First things first a few details about me and my traveling companions…

Me – Holly (single mom, older than a teenager but not yet a senior citizen)
DS- Evan (currently 4 but will be 5 at time of the trip-@tot)
Mother – Janet

Sister – Jill
BIL – Stephen
Nephew – Aaron (12 @tot)
Niece – Megan (10 @tot)
Nephew – Eric (6 @tot)

Family friend – Christine
FF son – Bryson (7 @tot)
FF son – Gunnar (6 @tot)

I think that is all of us.

We all live in South Jersey so we will fly out of Philly or Atlantic City. I’m still waiting for SouthWest rates before we book anything.

Traveling on Friday October 14, 2011 and returning on Sunday, October 23, 2011
Renting car/van and staying at Shades of Green.

I’m a Disney veteran. I’ve been around 15-20 times (if I sat and thought about it I could get the exact number – but not really necessary.)

My last trip was a one dayer in the MK when my sister in I took her 2 oldest kids just for the day while visiting family in Sarasota Florida and that was in 2008. Before that it was a 10 day trip in July 2006. On that trip we rented a house outside the parks as there were 10 of us.

As much as they would hate to admit it, Mom, Jill and Steve are all veteran travelers too (I’m the only obsessive one however). We have each been numerous times and all of us had our last visit in 2006.

When I’ve stayed in the parks before Fort Wilderness has always been my choice, mainly because it is the least expensive rooms with full kitchens.

I’ve never traveled in the Fall. I went one time the week between Christmas and New Years, back in 1992, before all the cool holiday stuff they have now so I’d like to head back sometime to see all that. I went one time in March on my High School senior trip and other then those two times, we’ve always traveled in the summer. So October is a new experience for me.

The first time travelers on this trip are my son Evan, my nephew Eric (he was only 9 months old in 2006 so he doesn’t remember any of it) Christine and her 2 boys (check that Christine went once on her High School senior trip) but for all intense and purposes she is a newbie.

There has already been lots of planning and there will be lots more I’m sure of it. Our 180 day point is Palm Sunday, 4/17. My sister and I are having a meeting in a week or so to discuss everything so I’ll be all set on the 17th to snag all the ressies we need.

Now I’m not sure if Shades counts as Disney or not in terms of booking the 180 days plus the 10 extra days so I guess I’ll find out. (anyone else know?) If worse comes to worst I’ll have to get up each morning and make phone calls every day just like the olden times, or go online each day – whatever!!

So there you have it – a starting point if nothing else.

Coming up next
The reason for the title of the report