My first TR - Sept 2010 Three Adults "and Your Little Dog too!" - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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All caught up. I am sorry for your bad experience at the luau. I personally didn't like it much either, and won't be a return trip.
Thanks for documenting your take on slowing down. I am going to bring all your hints and notes to my family for them to pick out their must sees/dos for our trip in December.
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience at the luau too. Strange too - it was the most un-Disney like thing of the whole trip.
I'm glad that my hints and tips were helpful and that you get good use out of them for your trip in December. Just writing them up helped me remember that I tend to plan too much and I've already made several changes to my upcoming trip after I wrote this report because traveling with special needs does make things different
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Originally Posted by CinderAbby
I just tuned into this trip report - now that it's over. Better late than never I suppose . You certainly had a lot of highs and lows this trip but I am so glad that despite the lows, you were willing to plan another trip and try it again. All those characters you saw - wow. I don't know that we've seen that many (but it is easy to lose track without the phots IMO). I'm another one who can do commando at Disney but there is definitely something to be said for the slower pace in the parks with the family members. Disney will always be there but family members and friends won't be so even though I might be itching to go go go, the quality time with them is much better than the quantity time of the rides and attractions. It just makes for a more memorable vacation I think - and all the more reason to go back . Now I can't wait to read your PTR and TR for this years trip.
I still can't believe all the character we saw!!! I've been to the World three times as a kid and I think we saw more characters in Sept 2010 than I had in all my trips as a kid combined. Building the photo album was ridiculous because I couldn't squeeze them all in!! I maxed out several pages at 5 photos per page and the book looks a bit too busy - but hey we were busy character greeting!
And thanks for reading along I make it a point to comment on both the good and the bad because I'm big into "lessons learned" so that I don't repeat my mistakes and so that others can learn from my mistakes and help make better choices. It's something we do at work with our projects (let's not repeat the problem of taking three days to load a server because we forgot to add in step 3, yes? sort of thing.)
I'm looking forward to this upcoming trip because I have three days that are kinda open. No hard plans, no ADRs planned. I'm hoping we can take the time to relax. DB's job is fun, but the commute is really making a difference in our lives. He's home much later than we're used to and that just has a cascading effect on everything else in ours lives.
We commuted together for 6 years, so this is a real shock to our relationship. I think that he and I need this next trip more than anything just so we can relax together.
I just finished your trip report. It sounds like everything worked out in the end. I'm so like you and plan EVERYTHING. I do also get disapointed when things don't go my way in the plan I've provided. My husband however is a fly by the seat of your pants kinda guy and so we clash at times. LOL So, reading this really makes me understand about not being able to see everything in the same trip. We are taking my husbands daughter for the first time on a plane and the first time to Disney in May. I'm really excited and have a lot planned or things I really want to show her. But I think with reading this I now we will not be able to go as fassed paced as I would want. That's ok cause I really like the list you created for the next time. Thanks for sharing your trip report I really enjoyed reading it.
I am loving your PTR and just had a chance to backtrack and read this one. Thank you for sharing your trip, little dude is adorable and you are all a great family. Taking it slow I think is important for anyone...I remember our first trip we went totally commando, it was the kids first trip, we did not know when we would be back. Did we have fun...of course but we were cranky and exhausted. Once we started coming regularily we have changed our touring style so much. Do we still do days from start to finish at the parks, yes, but we also have days when we might not step foot in the park until dinner, or we are done by early afternoon and just enjoying the pool, or a night of minature golf. We have really started to appreciate the little things and everyone makes it through the trip with smiles.
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I'm late to the party, but I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your trip report! I absolutely LOVE all of the pictures, especially where Stitch is smiling her face-splitting smile! It's amazing how contagious that happiness is, and it makes me want to go back ASAP.
We had our first trip to WDW in May, just my 5 year and I. We used a stroller for days when he got super tired, and I had to stop myself from dragging him when we were walking. I moved too quickly and didn't slow down enough to enjoy all of the little things that make up all of the magic. We had a great time, but reading your report reminds me how much we will need to slow down the next time. I can't wait to read your next trip report!
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. You certainly had a lot of highs and lows this trip but I am so glad that despite the lows, you were willing to plan another trip and try it again. All those characters you saw - wow. I don't know that we've seen that many (but it is easy to lose track without the phots IMO). I'm another one who can do commando at Disney but there is definitely something to be said for the slower pace in the parks with the family members. Disney will always be there but family members and friends won't be so even though I might be itching to go go go, the quality time with them is much better than the quantity time of the rides and attractions. It just makes for a more memorable vacation I think - and all the more reason to go back 
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