Another August Adventure with a shot of Testosterone...TR Completed 2/19 About This Page:

[mcc0313]

It's time for another August Adventure with my girls. I was reminded today that we are 12 days away from our trip and the girls wondered if I had started a PTR. Now for past trips in all my excitement I usually started my PTR way before our travel time. But the past two years have been crazy in terms of work and the PTR commencement has been pushed out a bit.

But figuring I started last years while sitting at the airport waiting for our flight I would say I am doing better this year, at least I am writing this 12 days before we leave

I know you are all looking at the title of my new PTR and saying "is Meg taking steroids?"

The answer would be no but we are adding some testosterone to our trip as our usual "girls" only trip is now being invade by the male species

Now we have had men on our trips before here and there. My nephew has met up with us on a few trips with my sister. We had a trip with my dad but for the most part while our "trio" is never usually a trio as we end up throwing a few extra people into our luggage for the most part our trips have always been "girls only".

So how did this trip come about?

Well August has been our Disney World travel time for a while now. We traveled at the end of August for a couple of years and then when Jasmine started college (and classes started in August) we started going the first week which made my August 3rd baby (Angel) very happy as for the past two years we have celebrated her birthday actually on her birthday.

This year however I was not sure if WDW was in our summer plans. We are heading there in November so I thought we would try something different for the summer. California and DL was on the list, so was Aulani. We even thought about an island adventure or a cruise but in the end the girls wanted Disney World and I was not one to complain.

When are we going?

Normally we would leave so we could be at WDW on Angel's birthday which is August 3rd, this year we had to make an adjustment due to a Christmas Gift.

My brother called me a few weeks before Christmas and said "hey I have some One Direction tickets, do you need any?"

I have a 13 year old girl, of course I needed some except Mommy did not want to sit through a One Direction concert. The last time Angel went to see One Direction if was 2012. Danielle (DisneyDani on the boards) surprised Angel and her daughter Isabelle with tickets to see One Direction at the Jingle Ball in NYC, which was going to totally fun for the girls and not so much fun for me and Danielle. So my niece (I have to love her) offered to go with them since Jasmine was working.

The girls had a great time, my niece (at the tender age of 21 almost lost her hearing due to the screaming of thousands of screaming One Direction fans) and Danielle and I enjoyed a nice quiet dinner....life was good.

Fast forward to this concert, well as soon my brother called I text Jasmine and told her didn't she want to make her sister happy by accompanying her to a One Direction concert?

I did not need a visual I could almost imagine her face, but being the good sister that she is she agreed. So I then text Danielle and said "hey you free August 4th?"

Her reply was "I could be what's up?"

So I said, well Christmas is coming, think the girls need One Direction tickets, can you get to NY?"

Two Christmas gifts off the list tickets purchased.

So with the girls having the concert on August 4th we would have to celebrate Angel's birthday at WDW a few days late (don't think she is complaining, she is going to see One Direction).

I knew leaving the 5th would be pushing it as with the concert they would be home late, I am sure they would not be in the mood to get up at 5 AM for our flight so I decided we would leave on the 6th.

Well that would be until Angel's graduation surprise. Angel graduated middle school this year (I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my baby is going to High School) so I did some scheming, a few calls later and it was decided that as a surprise her best friend Alexa would be coming on the trip with us.

Alexa however was invited to go see One Direction on the night of the 5th by a friend...so getting up at 5 AM on the 6th was not going to work either.

In the end we decided on August 7th - August 12th, a shorter trip than usual but it would be a fun one. Angel and Alexa were so excited (once we told them that Alexa would be going) and we were all set.

Except that 5 nights / 6 days just felt like such a short trip to me

So I played around with some options, my DVC friend of course has a stash of points that of course he is always more than happy with sharing with me (he laughs that he never worries about losing his points as he always knows I will need a few extra points once I start making changes to my trip....LOL) and behold our trip as extended by 2 nights / 3 days.

Ok the 7 nights / 8 days seemed much better and all was right in the world again.

So I guess you are all wondering "well where does the testosterone come to play, unless Alexa is a guy it still is a girl only trip."

The testosterone would be donated by Jasmine's entourage. Jasmine has been dating Leeor for about 3 years (we could call it 4 if we count the year he stalked her claiming that one day she would love him....I guess all that stalking paid off because she does indeed love him) (or at least she does most of the time ).

Jasmine and her friends have been doing a bunch of their own little trips over the past two years. They went to a ski lodge one year, they traveled out to Boston and she just came back from a trip to Myrtle Beach (where I am proud to say that my daughter who usually does not like to be around people for more than a few hours at a time made it through 8 days in a beach house rental with 8 people and she did not kill anyone...just saying it was a relief to not get a call to either bail her our for murder or to come help hide a body).

I love her boyfriend, he is just the sweetest guy. He puts up with Jasmine which is no easy feat (I feel bad for him sometimes ) and he truly adores her. he has become part of the family now so I figured it was about time he started traveling with the family so when I mentioned to Jasmine that Leeor should come along she was super excited.

So our trio was now a quintet...but it did not stay that way to long.

As luck would have it Jasmine's best friend is a guy, now I know most of you are thinking "Jasmine's boyfriend must be a confident guy as most young men at the age of 21 would be highly jealous of their girlfriend having a guy best friend".

Well he is pretty confident and he knows Jasmine loves him but it helps that Leeor is best friends with him as well. Jasmine met him freshman year in High School and they have been bonded ever since. Leeor met him through mutual friends and they hit it off so Hugo (our final cast member on this trip) can share the elusive title of being both Jasmine and Leeor's best friend (even though it has been decided that in case of a divorce Jasmine retains Hugo with Leeor getting visitation ).

Up Next: Meeting the Cast of Characters

[shazza]

That's quite a cast you have going - looking forward to intros.

Darn One Direction - getting in the way of Mom's Disney plans

[Cam22]

I am so ready for the adventures of Meg and expanded crew! With the addition of boys this trip should have some added interest. Can't wait for more!

[disneydani]

Woo-hoo....starting early this year! Good thing, too, because even though I have 1D on my calendar for 8/4....my head seemed to think it was the 5th....and that is how I was planning...

Alrighty then....so excited to read about all the planning, re planning, canceling, modifying, switching....etc

It is going to be another awesome august adventure!!!

Danielle

[lauriep]

Sign me up to be a virtual traveler for this one! The expanded group sounds like a lot of fun and the addition of Hugo makes the numbers even. It just can't be true that Angel will be in high school, though....

[SuperDave]

Sounds like some great plans with a big crew! Looking forward to hearing all about this!

[chezp]

What a great start! I must admit I read the title of this and was like "huh?" but that's a great explanation and it sounds like your plans have worked out well.

[mcc0313]

Originally Posted by shazza

That's quite a cast you have going - looking forward to intros.

Darn One Direction - getting in the way of Mom's Disney plans

In the end it worked out well, Thursday to Thursday meant I only had to take 5 PTO days as Fridays we only work half a day and I have some comp time. The Friday after we arrive home I will check my email and stuff from home but it will let me have a nice three day weekend to unwind before it is back to the office.

Originally Posted by Cam22

I am so ready for the adventures of Meg and expanded crew! With the addition of boys this trip should have some added interest. Can't wait for more!

Well the one difference will be it might be easier to get the boys out of their room then getting the girls out of the room , my girls forget that they are in Disney in August, with humidity and still do their hair everyday. Me...throw it in a ponytail and I am good.

Originally Posted by disneydani

Woo-hoo....starting early this year! Good thing, too, because even though I have 1D on my calendar for 8/4....my head seemed to think it was the 5th....and that is how I was planning...

Alrighty then....so excited to read about all the planning, re planning, canceling, modifying, switching....etc

It is going to be another awesome august adventure!!!

Danielle

Well being that I started so late, I can spare mostly everyone with my crazy months of changes (unlike you who have put up with constant emails and texts ). But I am sure everyone can imagine the changes that I have made to this trip since I am notorious for making changes and more changes and even more changes after those changes

Originally Posted by lauriep

Sign me up to be a virtual traveler for this one! The expanded group sounds like a lot of fun and the addition of Hugo makes the numbers even. It just can't be true that Angel will be in high school, though....

The even number will be nice, no mommy sharing her future on Spaceship Earth with a virtual friend. I actually feel very popular (kind of like a girl with a very full dance card)...the other day Angel's friend was here saying well you are going to ride with me on some rides right? And Hugo has tagged me his ride partner, my poor girls are jealous, they said well mom do we get to sit with you on at least one ride this trip

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Sounds like some great plans with a big crew! Looking forward to hearing all about this!

Introductions are coming up now. The only good thing I guess about starting my PTR so late this time is that you will all get a lot of updates in very few days

A nice condensed version as I made so many changes this trip I think everyone would have been dizzy reading about them.

Originally Posted by chezp

What a great start! I must admit I read the title of this and was like "huh?" but that's a great explanation and it sounds like your plans have worked out well.

I figured the title would be a bit confusing It will definitely be a different trip for us, one I am looking forward too as the kids are all great. With Jasmine and the boys all adults now it will be nice to actually have some mom time as they already have said they are fine hanging with the girls if I need some "me" time.

Wow I kind of think I forgot what that is

[mcc0313]

So Introductions to the Cast:

There is me, Meg (mcc0313) on the boards.



I love Disney, always have. Took some time getting back to Disney World but once I did that was it for me. My friends think I am crazy as why would I want to go to Disney. They rather lay on a beach, me I would be bored in a minute. Nothing makes me smile more then when I see those gates and here the words "Welcome Home".

My favorite character will forever be Goofy. I loved him since I was a kid I have been told and my grandparents brought me a stuffed Goofy from one of their trips. While waiting on a line for an attraction more than 20 minutes is not in my vocabulary, I will stand in the blazing heat for as long as it takes so I can get myself a hug from Goofy.

I have taken a liking to the characters from Frozen, Olaf especially. And I have always had a fondness for Mufasa and Rafiki from the Lion King and Stitch is another one high on my list.

Favorite Princess, well I am a Belle fan, I love Beauty and the Beast but Rapunzel as definitely become a favorite for me as well.


Jasmine - My first baby.



It took her some time to find her magic as she missed visiting Disney World at the innocent stage but now the once "I don't want to plan anything" kid is my full time planner. She even brings up the trip. This year I was so busy at work planning just kind of took a back seat until Jasmine said....Mom have you booked a hotel yet? This trip she truly took over the planning as I just really did not have the time. She truly put our trip together.

Jasmine is an Eyeore fan. The Crystal Palace is a favorite for her as it gives her some time with her favorite donkey. Alice and the Mad Hatter are her other favorites. She is a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. She also loves Clarabelle Cow and it always makes her sad that she doesn't get to see her in the parks. Her other favorite was Maleficent (and this was way before Maleficent has her own movie) she just always loved her. When she was little I always thought she wanted to watch Sleeping Beauty because of Aurora until I realized she would get all excited when Maleficent came on the screen.

Her favorite princess will forever be Pocahontas. She loves this movie and has always felt that Pocahontas was underrated and if she had her way the new section of Animal Kingdom would have been Pocahontas' village. To this day she says Disney World needs a Just Around the River Bend attraction.

Angel is my baby.



Even though she is not my little girl anymore. I still cannot believe she is going to high school. Just cannot wrap my head around that. Just the other day she was spinning around in her Belle dress and now she is off to High School. It just goes too fast.

Angel is my true Disney child. She loves everything Disney and from the first trip when she was almost 5 she has been hooked. Anytime I mention going somewhere else she looks at me with this face like "why would I want to go anywhere else?". As much as she is growing up she is still a Disney "kid" at heart. As much as she loves her thrills, Meeting Anna & Elsa was on the top of her Fast Pass list.

Her favorite character has always been Lilo & Stitch, Tinkerbelle and Donald. Olaf has definitely been added to the list. She watches the movie over and over to see him. She says she needs her own personal snowman. She asked if she could get a stuffed Olaf on this trip, I told her sure...of course she wanted me to know he would not replace her Duffy. As she says Olaf is cute, but Duffy is Duffy.

Growing up she loved all the princesses, meeting the princesses were a highlight for her. She had her favorites but to her seeing a princess meant a smile from ear to ear. Her favorite as she has gotten older, Rapunzel. She likes Anna and Elsa, but Rapunzel still has top spot on her list. She also thinks Merida is pretty cool.

Alexa



Alexa is one of Angel's closest friends. They have been in school together since kindergarten. Going to a small Catholic School there is only one class per grade so they have been in the same class for the past 9 years. This is a picture from their graduation dance. They are going to the same High School so they are both happy to be going through High School together.

The girls have always talked about going to Disney World together. I always told Angel that if she wanted to do what her sister did for her 16th Birthday and instead of a party take two or three friends to Disney then it would be fine, so Alexa coming on this trip was definitely a surprise (as she still has two full years till the big 16). I spoke to Alexa's mom (as we always discussed her coming in a few years) and she said she would talk to her dad. 20 minutes later I got a call that she was mine if I wanted her As you can imagine the girls were over the moon with this turn of events.

Alexa has been to Disney World a few times, her last trip being about 5 years ago so there is a lot of new stuff for her to see. With an older brother and sister they vacations have always been to various places to make everyone happy and while her older siblings enjoy "that other park" a bit better or visiting a beach resort, Alexa loves Disney so she is so excited to be going back.

Her favorite characters are Dumbo and Stitch. Olaf is a new favorite.

Her favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty.

Her requests for this trip, to visit with Stitch and Aurora and to take a picture near the Dumbo ride after riding it. Talk about asking for a lot I told her I think we can get all of her requests fit into the plan.

Leeor - the guy who puts up with Jasmine



Leeor has a picture of himself at Disney World when he was a baby, he has no recollection of that trip so this will definitely be a whole new adventure for him.
Basically when Jasmine told him the dates he said....is there enough to do there for 8 days? His conception of Disney World is a hyped up Great Adventure. We are all looking forward to his reaction.

Leeor also does not like to fly, he flight experience is to and from Boot Camp....it was not a fun flight for him but he is looking forward to this trip and even asked for the window seat on the plane so maybe having his friends with him (and some Benadryl) will make this an easy flight for him.

Even being a newbie to Disney World he has his favorite characters. His favorite movie is the Lion King, he loves it so any character from the Lion King is a favorite for him. He is excited to meet Rafiki and Jasmine can't wait until he sees the Festival of the Lion King.

Hugo - The Shared Best Friend



Hugo was so excited when Jasmine asked him to come along. Hugo is one of their traveling partners on their trips, he loves going anywhere and everywhere. He is a great kid and a huge soccer fan, I always joke that it is why I like him so much . He has gotten Jasmine and Leeor into soccer this past World Cup.

His family travels to Florida frequently to visit with family and Disney World is one of their day trips but he has never stayed on property or even eaten at a Table Service restaurant. Usually when they go they visit the parks a few days here and there but the whole "staying in the bubble" will be a whole new experience.

Hugo has kept to the classics as his favorite character is Mickey Mouse, he wanted to make sure we will get to meet him. Can't wait to see his reaction when Mickey talks to him.

Up Next: So we are going to Disney but where are we going to stay?

[chezp]

What a great cast of characters! It's good to be able to put faces to the new names in this trip report.

[disneydreamer33]

Yay! Another PTR/TR from Meg!!!
I feel you on the growing up too fast! My oldest DD is going into HS too! It just can't be real! No way!
Sounds like you have a fun cast going! I am so excited for you! Should make for an interesting TR!
Stupid One Direction, though, for messing up getting to Disney! Lol My girls love them too and have been bugging me to get them tickets! No such luck! Glad you were able to extend the trip further out!

[lauriep]

A very lovable group! I love that everyone is fighting for the right to be your riding partner! You'll have to make a spread-sheet to make sure you don't play favorites!

[shazza]

Looks like a great group for the trip. Can't wait to hear what the guys think, given they've not done a "real" WDW trip before

[PhilsEagles08]

This is going to be a really fun trip for everyone!! I'm excited to read more!

[TinkerbellJenn99]

Jumping in Meg! Sounds like quite the trip, and great intros!