Mema and Papa are doing WHAT? PTR - UPDATED 8/15 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I’m back with another attempt at doing a trip report. I’m good at starting, but…My issue always comes down to I cannot for the life of me figure out an easy way to put the photos in. Then I feel like it’s not that interesting without the photos, and I talk myself out of trying. I so enjoy reading about your trips, maybe, just for once, I can get mine finished. I shall march ever on and try once again!
Without further ado, I present:
Mema and Papa are doing WHAT?
How this trip came to be is a little convoluted, but typical for my crew! We became DVC members in 2006 while on a cruise and while we awaited the birth of our first grandchild. We dreamed of taking our grandchildren to WDW whenever we wanted. So we purchased our DVC membership. Over the years we gained three more grandchildren and have enjoyed several vacations both with and without the boys and their families. In 2014 we took the whole gang on their first Disney cruise, a four night on the Dream. This is where our saga began.
My eldest son is in the U.S. Navy in a field that has led to several deployments overseas, both land and sea. He’s been married for 10 years this past January. He and his wife decided as they never had a honeymoon, they would like to take a 7 day Disney cruise by themselves following DS’s next deployment, if Mema (me) and Papa (DH) would watch the two grandkids for the week. LOVE TO! Looking at all the dates of deployments and work changes, the decision was made they would sail on the Disney Fantasy 24 Sept to 1 Oct 2016. The kids would be in school at that time and they would stay with us. We live just a few miles from them, but in a different school district, so we would have to take them to and from school. They are already enrolled in before and aftercare at school. Not a problem? WELLLLL….
DH and I leave our house at 4:25 every morning for work. Even Beforecare isn’t open THAT early. So, this would require that one of us take leave time to stay home in order to get the kids to school. Darn. I have the time by going into my bank, so I was elected.
But wait, you are saying…this isn’t the cruise trip report page…and you aren’t going on a cruise… I KNOW, RIGHT?
Previously, we had booked a cruise for Dec 2016 that for reasons related to work, had to be canceled. But that freed up leave time for me without touching my bank and more importantly, for DH! “Are you thinking what I’m thinking,” I asked DH? “I bet I am!” he responded!
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We began by immediately presenting the plan to Mom and Dad who gave an enthusiastic It was decided though, since it was more than a year away, we would keep the trip a secret.
So, without further ado, introducing our cast of characters.
Mema, 58, Disney lover, driver of all things Disney, planner extrordinaire. Wife to Papa for 37 years, Mom to two sons and Mema to four beautiful, smart, loving, and talented grandchildren. Veteran of numerous Disney trips and cruises. Favorite characters, Tinkerbell and Minnie, princess Belle.
Papa, 58, Disney lover, follower of my crazy schemes. DH to Mema, Dad to the boys and Papa to the four wonderful, crazy, intelligent and gorgeous grandchildren Veteran of numerous Disney trips and cruises. Favorite Characters..Sully and Mike.
DGD…9, rising 5th grader, smart, beautiful, loves swimming, loves all things Disney. Veteran of four Disney trips (first at 14 months) and one Disney cruise. Favorite characters..,princesses. Her favorite used to be Cinderella, but Anna has wormed her icy little self in there. When she was first learning to talk, we were regaled with stories about Cinerenna, Seeping Boody and No Why.
DGD
DGS…7, rising 2nd grader, smart, handsome, learning to play golf, likes to swim but not compete like DGD. Veteran of three Disney trips (first at 18 months) and one Disney cruise. Favorite characters..used to be Lightening McQueen, but we are graduating to the Avengers and Star Wars. He’s very into Kylo Ren right now, so I can’t wait to take him to the Launch Bay.
DGS
The Plan started out that our DS and his wife would leave on Friday the 23rd, as per normal practice of flying down for a cruise the day before and that Papa and I would pick up the littles after school that day. On Saturday, we would awaken them and load them into the car and say we are just going for a drive for a little fun. The suitcases would have been packed and loaded into Beast (Papa’s SUV) the night before after they had gone to bed. We would drive to probably Fayetteville SC or Brunswick GA before stopping for the night. Up early Sunday morning and continue on, arriving at WDW somewhere about 2 or 3. WE weren’t sure when we would tell them where we are going.
At the 11th month mark, I scored a 1 bedroom villa at our home resort of Saratoga Springs. While we love our home, it’s the only place the littles have ever stayed. It would be fun to take them somewhere new…somewhere their parents had never stayed! We would have to wait until our seven month mark to make a change. Where should we stay? We were leaning toward AKL for the animals. Or the Wilderness Lodge to be close to Magic Kingdom. Then there is Bay Lake…dare we try for that? Waiting is going to be hard!!!
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Shortly after this decision, DH and I went to WDW for two weeks in November for the end of Food & Wine and to see the Osborne Family Lights one last time. While we were there, we went to the shop in Tomorrowland and ordered special bands for the littles. I also purchased autograph books and pens. My not well thought out plan at this point was to use this in some way to tell them where they are going. Whenever we decide to do that.
I began to consider tickets for the trip. I looked at our options and decided the best for DH and I would be the Gold Pass as the blackout dates did not bother us and I liked the new addition of Photopass. I knew we would be going back before a year passed. (and I would be right, but that’s a different story ) The Gold Pass does not allow for water parks, but I wasn’t too worried as we would have the pool at the resort. I did not want to get the littles an AP as they were only going to be there really four full days. The current plan was to arrive about 2-3 on Sunday. We would hang out at the resort, maybe swim, then go to DtD for dinner at Earl of Sandwich. We would then spend Monday – Thursday at the parks and get up early on Friday, have breakfast at Ohana then pack up the car and head for home. About that time, DVC came out with a buy four day park hopper and get a fifth day, park hopper option and water park option included. What the heck! Maybe we could go to a water park one day for a change, maybe we could wander over to MK for a bit that last morning…didn’t cost me any more than I was already planning to spend so I grabbed two of them. At this point, I realized this was the last time we would be taking DGD as a child. After this, it was adult all the way.
Along about January, I discovered that I might be traveling south a few days earlier than we were planning. After much discussion, back and forth, DH finally told me to go, he and the kids were perfectly able to come down on their own and we would all drive back together. I asked him if he was very sure he wanted to drive 758 miles (distance from our door to WDW) with two kids by himself. He assured me he was quite capable of doing so. I made my arrangements to fly to Florida on the 22nd of September and planned to meet them at SSR on the 25th per the original plan.
All this time, I am stalking DVC website as to the availability of Bay Lake…did we DARE use that many points? We had them, but it sure was a lot considering we were spending quite a few in May for our trip to Aulani. But the lure of walking to MK held sway. Finally, Feb 25th dawned and I could finally call and make a switch. I had to work, but luckily, I didn’t have a meeting scheduled for 9AM when Member Services opened. I held my breath…and I got put immediately on hold. Of course!
About 15 minutes later I was connected with Linda. I must say, I do love the automated part of entering all the information ahead of time. It makes the time you spend with MS to go much faster! I closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and asked…”Can we switch our SSR one-bedroom to a one-bedroom at BLT? And can we make it Theme Park view?” Yep…I did it…I decided to take that sage advice, go big or go home.
I held my breath and waited while Linda looked…why, yes we CAN!!! Cheering inside, I danced in my chair. Thank goodness I have my own office and my door was closed because I am sure my colleagues would have called for an ambulance as I was clearly in the throws of some kind of fit! A few moments later, we were done, we wished each other a magical day and I blessed Linda on the survey. I know it’s a pain to do that survey, but I always try to do it because I know how important it is to know you are appreciated for what you do. I quickly called DH and told him the good news. We talked briefly about the littles looking out the windows of Bay Lake at night and seeing the castle all lit up. AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW!!
Now I had to start making decisions…our ADR date would be in just over a month. I looked at the park hours…and they weren’t out for our dates yet. I don’t like this waiting til just before the 6 month mark to release them. Makes it harder on us Uber planners!
I wanted fun things for the littles. We’ve always done Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey’s, how about we change it up…Garden Grill is always fun, they have never been, and it’s not a buffet. I still wanted Ohana’s for our last morning before we left, but Chef Mickey’s made a little more sense since we were at BLT. BoG would be fun as well. We pretty much decided that the majority of the trip was going to be MK…after all, that is why we stayed at BLT. We would probably do half day at DHS (not much left there right now, anyway) and a day at Epcot. But we wanted to do a water park. Decisions decisions. And I still didn’t have park hours! So, using what we knew about the hours in the weeks before our trip, we put together a tentative plan.
Sunday 25th
DH and littles would arrive about 2 or 3, depending on driving time. Swimming, maybe over to MK since we now have that extra park day on the ticket. Or DtD. (I know, Iknow…but at this point in my story, the name hadn’t really changed yet)
Monday 26th
Magic Kingdom. Maybe rope drop? The littles are not known for wanting to get up in the mornings, but I’m betting MK might entice them. BoG for dinner?
Tuesday 27th
Possibly Blizzard Beach. A one day water park ticket for DH and I would be easily obtainable. Maybe evening at one of the parks…tbd. Maybe over to Epcot for the evening.
Wednesday 28th
DHS in the morning, hopefully get the littles signed up for Jedi training. Over to Epcot and dinner at Garden Grill.
Thursday 29th
MK again, I’m sure. Will probably not go to AK this trip since it’s so short. Besides, AK is the hottest of all the parks, not somewhere I really want to spend much time at in September! Dinner at Tony’s, I think.
Friday 30th
Breakfast at either Ohana’s or Chef Mickey’s, then load up Beast and point him north.
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Plans looking good, but I'm sure they're just tentative at this point as we all make many changes to these!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Love your cast of characters, especially your granddaughter's early pronunciations of the princesses' names. Great plans, and congrats on get BLT! We will be there starting on Thursday, September 29.
What a great start - can't wait to hear more. Hopefully we don't have to wait too long.
Thanks, I will probably try to update later today or tomorrow, hopefully...you KNOW there is a *few* changes coming....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Plans looking good, but I'm sure they're just tentative at this point as we all make many changes to these!
Why, whatever made you think that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluejn
How exciting, I love surprises. Can't wait to read more.
Thanks!! I'm excited to surprise them...even though I won't be here when they find out!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Love your cast of characters, especially your granddaughter's early pronunciations of the princesses' names. Great plans, and congrats on get BLT! We will be there starting on Thursday, September 29.
Thanks! Saddest day ever when Cinerenna, Seeping Boody and No Why were no more
But for SURE we have to meet up and remember to get pictures *this* time! There will likely be time...ch-ch-ch-changes....
About This Page: 
We became DVC members in 2006 while on a cruise and while we awaited the birth of our first grandchild. We dreamed of taking our grandchildren to WDW whenever we wanted. So we purchased our DVC membership. Over the years we gained three more grandchildren and have enjoyed several vacations both with and without the boys and their families. In 2014 we took the whole gang on their first Disney cruise, a four night on the Dream. This is where our saga began.
Looking at all the dates of deployments and work changes, the decision was made they would sail on the Disney Fantasy 24 Sept to 1 Oct 2016. The kids would be in school at that time and they would stay with us. We live just a few miles from them, but in a different school district, so we would have to take them to and from school. They are already enrolled in before and aftercare at school. Not a problem? WELLLLL…. 
But that freed up leave time for me without touching my bank and more importantly, for DH! “Are you thinking what I’m thinking,” I asked DH? “I bet I am!” he responded!
]
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It was decided though, since it was more than a year away, we would keep the trip a secret.
Veteran of numerous Disney trips and cruises. Favorite Characters..Sully and Mike.
) The Gold Pass does not allow for water parks, but I wasn’t too worried as we would have the pool at the resort. I did not want to get the littles an AP as they were only going to be there really four full days. The current plan was to arrive about 2-3 on Sunday. We would hang out at the resort, maybe swim, then go to DtD for dinner at Earl of Sandwich. We would then spend Monday – Thursday at the parks and get up early on Friday, have breakfast at Ohana then pack up the car and head for home. About that time, DVC came out with a buy four day park hopper and get a fifth day, park hopper option and water park option included. What the heck! Maybe we could go to a water park one day for a change, maybe we could wander over to MK for a bit that last morning…didn’t cost me any more than I was already planning to spend so I grabbed two of them. At this point, I realized this was the last time we would be taking DGD as a child. After this, it was adult all the way. 
A few moments later, we were done, we wished each other a magical day and I blessed Linda on the survey. I know it’s a pain to do that survey, but I always try to do it because I know how important it is to know you are appreciated for what you do. I quickly called DH and told him the good news. We talked briefly about the littles looking out the windows of Bay Lake at night and seeing the castle all lit up. AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW!! 
I don’t like this waiting til just before the 6 month mark to release them. Makes it harder on us Uber planners!
We will be there starting on Thursday, September 29. 
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