FIRSTS, BIRTHS, and GIRTHS…A September 2013 PTR - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Hi! My name is Kristin, and I am an OCD Planner (Hi Kristin…). I usually lurk around the boards reading others’ trip reports and taking notes on tips provided (I am a researcher at heart). This year, I decided to take a more active presence on the boards in the hopes of making some new friends (ones who will talk Disney every day!) and getting some great advice. I started reading more trip reports and making comments on different threads to pull me out of lurkdom and prepare me for creating my very first trip report. I hope you’ll join me for this crazy ride!
My PTR title was a little difficult to come up with. The first two pieces will probably reveal quite a bit; however, the last piece, GIRTHS, may need a bit of explaining. My dad has a nickname for me…it’s “Porky” or “Pig.” Now before you put two and two together…growing up I was always a stick…bone thin. Our family has a pretty sarcastic sense of humor and we can really get “jokey” with each other…to the point where it may cross the line with those “not in the know.” As a joke, my dad would call me “Pig” or “Porky.” To this day…it NEVER bothers me. I KNOW he’s kidding and not actually hurting my feelings. Now…fast forward to 4 ½ years ago, after giving birth to my daughter…that joke took on a whole new meaning. So, since March 2012, I’ve been slowly trying to lose the weight I gained and couldn’t get rid of thanks to pregnancy. At this point, I’ve lost a total of 24 pounds (since March 2012). I have a bit more to lose to be at my goal weight…but I’m on the right path now with a great support system developed with some of my coworkers. I should meet my goal before the trip (yeah skinny pictures!), but I would like to surpass my goal a bit since we plan to do (duh duh duh) the dining plan…I’ve heard it’s a lot of food! So…there…GIRTHS thrown in for good measure (and to hold me accountable to all of you too!).
Moving on…I plan everything from the luncheons at work to all the parties at home. And, in 2009, when we celebrated my DD’s first birthday, I decided I would plan our first family trip to Disney World for her 5th birthday! (I do want her to remember it!) Fortunately, my DH’s 30th birthday will be two days before DD’s 5th, AND he has NEVER been to Disney World!—So far, we will celebrate two first visits and two birthdays (hang on, this gets crazier!).
Now, I’ve been to Disney World twice; the 1st time I was three years old and the 2nd time, I believe, was in 2000 (senior in high school). Now…when I say I’ve “been” to Disney World, read, “I’ve only stayed off-site with my god-parents and I only spent one day in Magic Kingdom…each trip.” So, in my eyes, this does not count! I don’t remember anything from my first trip (bummer) and only snippets of the 2nd trip (ironically, It’s a Small World). However, now that I’m an adult with a family of my own, I feel like the magic “re-ignited” when I looked in my child’s eyes on her first birthday and I want to feed the flame and share that happiness that is Disney World!
(Enter the crazy). My DD is the only grandchild on my side of the family (and probably the favorite on DH’s side; but shhh…you didn’t hear that from me), so there are SEVERAL other family members who plan to come along to celebrate with us! (Ahem! I said SEVERAL! As in you need four hands to count us in total!) Without further ado…please welcome the cast!
Cast of Characters: (I apologize now for some of the grainy pictures!)
Kristin (Me-31): Wife to Tommy, Mom to Hannah, and the Disney trip planner/researcher for the entire cast. I work full-time as a Federal employee. Am I going WDW planning crazy…probably…do I care…NOPE! I feel as though I’m among friends here.
Tommy (DH-29 turning 30 during the trip): Amazing husband and father to Hannah. Celebrating his 30th birthday AND first visit at Disney World. Tommy also works full-time as a Federal employee. He’s really not sure what all the excitement is about, but IS looking forward to playing golf! Sheesh… Tommy’s favorite Disney character is Goofy.
Hannah (DD-4 turning 5 during the trip): This is my girly girl princess who will celebrate her 5th birthday AND first visit to Disney World. Hannah’s interests include playing with her baby dolls and Barbies, coloring, painting, playing outside, dressing up, and helping me around the house. She LOVES Disney princesses and Disney movies. When she sees the castle at the beginning of her movies, she says it’s Cinderella’s house! When I ask her where Cinderella lives she says Dinsey World (yes, I meant to spell it that way). She experienced Disney on Ice in February 2012 with Gammy and Poppy and loved it! Hannah’s favorite Disney characters are the princesses (although she mentioned the other day that her favorite is Jessie).
Denise (DM): My mom, my best friend, Gammy to Hannah. DD is her only grandchild and wouldn’t miss her first reaction to Disney World for anything! She will retire from Federal service in June and, if asked, can tell you how many days left before her last day on duty. I think the Disney bug bit her because this past weekend she mentioned maybe doing a girls only trip next August; just her, me, and Hannah!!! I saw stars I was so happy! DM’s favorite Disney character is Minnie Mouse.
Rob (DF): My dad (I’m a complete daddy’s girl, but not the “whiny until I get my way” daddy’s girl), Poppy to Hannah. Normally spends “special vacations” on a cruise ship but won’t miss the chance to spend time with his princesses in Disney World. DF’s birthday is the day before we leave, so we will celebrate him too! Retired from the Police Department this past December. DF’s favorite Disney character is Pluto.
This pic of my parents is with my younger brother at his wedding in 2011.
Joanne (DMiL): Tommy’s mom and Granny to Hannah. DMiL LOVES to have a good time and is happiest with all her family around. DMiL and DSFil (see below) are actually our neighbors and we LOVE it! DMiL works as a Lab Coordinator for a pediatric dentist. I believe this will be her 2nd trip to Disney World. DMiL’s favorite Disney character is Goofy.
John (DSFiL): Tommy’s step-dad and Papaw to Hannah. Blends right in with our family as if he has been there from the start. Surprise! John has NEVER been to Disney World and he is in his 60s! YAY! Another celebration! John is self-employed and is quite the handy man. He makes great furniture (made Hannah a baby doll bunk bed, a unit for her dress up items, and a massive display unit for our Christmas village display!). DSFiL’s favorite Disney character is Jack Sparrow.
Butch (DFiL): Tommy’s dad and Pop-Pop to Hannah. Since he began dating Charlotte (at least three years ago), he LOVES to travel—Disney World is no exception! I believe Butch has visited Disney World just once, so he’s looking forward to a whole new adventure! Butch is a technical specialist/driver for a septic company. DFiL’s favorite Disney character is Nemo.
Charlotte (DSMiL): Butch’s committed partner (wife) and Mom-mom to Hannah. Charlotte is exactly right for Butch; she’s a great companion for him and he loves her so much! For lack of a better explanation, Charlotte is a motivational healer; very spiritual. She teaches classes in the home and attends conferences all over the world. DSMiL’s favorite Disney character is Snow White.
Susie (DA1): My awesome aunt; DF’s sister. We lost my uncle VERY unexpectedly to a heart attack when DD was only one month old. Again, DD is the only “little one” on my side of the family and my aunt is so excited to be a part of her first Disney experience. She LOVES Disney music! Aunt Susie is a Nurse Manager in Pain Management for a local hospital. DA1’s favorite Disney character is Piglet.
Jenny (DC-27): My cousin, daughter of Susie, and Hannah’s partner in crime. According to Hannah, our guest room is “Jenny’s room.” Jenny is an administrative specialist at a local hospital. DC-27’s favorite Disney character is Mater.
Lori (DC-23): My cousin, daughter of Susie, and the OTHER girly girl princess in my family. She’s probably just as excited to meet the Disney princesses as Hannah. Lori is an administrative specialist for Johns Hopkins. DC-23’s favorite Disney character is Grumpy.
(Sorry...no pictures for the folks below...)
Judy (DA2): My other awesome aunt; DM’s sister. DA2 and DU (see below) live in Florida and are annual pass holders. When I told them our plans for visiting Disney they said, “Count us in!” They LOVE Disney and have stayed at several of the on-site resorts. They will probably act as our veteran guides and offer great tips! Aunt Judy is retired from NSA.
Jess (DU): My uncle married to Judy. This was a second marriage for both of them, but he’s been around since I can remember and is just as awesome. Both DA2 and DU are enjoying retirement to the fullest! They are the other golfers in our cast along with my husband. Uncle Jess is also retired from NSA.
Dawn (Friend of the ENTIRE family): My entire family pretty much adopted (ironic…I’ll explain later) Dawn and her family. She is one of Aunt Susie’s bestest friends. Dawn is a nurse and teaches nursing classes at a local college.
Ron (Friend of the ENTIRE family): Married to Dawn and is completely hilarious! Ron is self-employed and loves to play golf. He and Dawn own a timeshare and plan to cash in on it for their Disney lodging (off-site). Aunt Susie, Jenny, and Lori will stay with them.
Christopher (Son of Dawn and Ron): My cousins used to babysit Chris as a toddler; I wanna say he’s 12 now? I anticipate Christopher will be a thrill ride junkie and want to catch every show offered on property. He will totally get into the Disney spirit!!!
Ariana (Adopted Daughter of Dawn and Ron-4): Ariana is 3 months younger than DD (and from China), so I anticipate their excitement will feed off each other! I picture them giggling in line to meet characters and chatting it up while being pampered in Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boutique! I’m so excited for both of them!
Edie (DGodM): Miss Edie is my godmother; and God bless her! I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. I rarely get to see her and my godfather (last time was November 2011 for my brother’s wedding) since they live in Florida, and I’m so excited they will join us for a couple days. Miss Edie watches kids (either in her home or theirs, I’m not entirely sure).
Gene (DGodF): Mr. Gene is my godfather. THE FUNNIEST MAN ON THE PLANET! I remember watching old family movies of him in shorts, rain boots, and an umbrella walking the dog in the pouring Florida rain. Mr. Gene and my DF used to sing Barbershop together before my godparents moved to Florida. I love when we all get together and bust out the Barbershop tunes (thank goodness most of our family can sing!); it’s such a great family pastime.
There you have it…all 20 of us! I know what you are thinking…THIS IS CRAZY! But, did you forget already? I’ve been planning since 2009! I’m not banking on everyone tackling Disney World in one massive mob (hehe…we’d need matching shirts and a flag!)! THANK GOD! This will be a very relaxed, enjoyable vacation with visits to the Magic Kingdom, lazy days at the resort, shopping at Downtown Disney, and maybe some golf for those so inclined. Keep in mind, I’m trying to convince DH what an amazing vacation location this is; I want to come back to see the other parks in the same relaxed fashion we are planning for this trip! So…I have to dangle the bait in front of Tommy and make him curious to see more! Apparently, my DM already chomped the bait and is ready to go again next year!!
Up next: We’ve Covered the WHO; How About the WHEN, WHERE, and HOW?
Great start!!! Looking forward to seeing the plans.. I know when we went with a large group it was different... yes that's the word I will use different.
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Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
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WOW!!! What a group!!! It will be an amazing adventure for all!!!
Had to laugh at your comment about the tees and flag.............that's all I could vision!!!
Hello! I surely hope so! I'm just glad that most of those coming along are already used to cruising and know how to comfortably handle separate itineraries from other people. Makes it easier to not feel like you are hurting someone's feelings by doing your own thing.
I'm sure you will see quite a bit more of the "humor" and "sarcasm" our family is known for!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mushu22
Great start.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugmonster
Great start!!! Looking forward to seeing the plans.. I know when we went with a large group it was different... yes that's the word I will use different.
Thank you and welcome! I look forward to sharing my plans and excitement with all of you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bsblady01
great start
Welcome and thank you!
WOW! I'm so excited to hear from so many of you! I wasn't sure if I would be writing to an audience or just to myself when I decided to post yesterday...you have all made my day! Thank you so much for following along!
The next four or five installments will probably come pretty quickly since I already have the information typed up AND because I'll still be posting regularly, at least weekly, since we started themed dinner and a movie nights two weeks ago! But more to come on that later!
We’ve Covered the WHO; How About the WHEN, WHERE, and HOW?
We’ve Covered the WHO; How About the WHEN, WHERE, and HOW?
Now that you have met the cast, let’s get to the good stuff! (I love my family dearly; but this part is fun!)
Trip Dates: Saturday, September 7, 2013 – Saturday, September 14, 2013
Transportation to Disney: Flying for sure! We booked Southwest (first flight out; last flight home) last week; probably the day after they released their fares for September. I was comparing their rates with AirTran (our best options for “cheaper” non-stop flights out of BWI) and after figuring in baggage fees with AirTran, Southwest came out cheaper. This will be Hannah’s first trip on an airplane! My parents are driving (since they can afford the extra travel day as both will be retired by then); however, DMiL/DSFiL, DA1/DC/DC, and Dawn/Ron/Chris/Ariana are all on the same flight as us! I think our plane might actually bounce with all of our combined excitement! DFiL/DSMiL are working on getting their second free flight on Southwest, so hopefully they will be able to book the same flight. If not, no big deal…you can’t argue with free flights! Disney’s Magical Express to our resort (I just received confirmation last night from our travel agent that this is all set up).
Transportation Around Disney: Monorail, boat, bus
Accommodations: Disney’s Polynesian Resort! I can’t even put into words how excited I am to stay here! Since we are only touring Magic Kingdom on this trip (remember…I’m scheming) and we plan to have breaks in the middle of the day (Hannah still naps), a monorail resort makes the most sense for us. I think the Polynesian is beautiful and is perfect for my tropical beach loving DH. My parents are also staying at the Polynesian Resort. We all have a package that includes the Deluxe Dining Plan. Originally, my parents only took the regular Dining Plan; but after we had a group get-together last weekend to discuss what meals we actually wanted to have together, my parents decided it made more sense to upgrade to Deluxe. Now here's hoping for a free dining promotion so we only have to pay the difference! Historically, the free dining promotion has been offered for our dates. Of course, if a better room discount comes out...I will happily take that instead!
My DMiL/DSFiL booked lodging at All Stars Music (also on Deluxe Dining Plan), my DFiL/DSMiL are looking to stay off-site, Dawn/Ron/Chris/Ariana/Aunt Susie/Jenny/Lori booked in an off-site timeshare, and my Aunt Judy and Uncle Jess (DA2 and DU) booked Shades of Green. My Godparents live in Florida and plan to commute.
And we can’t forget; we’re planning to celebrate!!
DF’s Birthday
DH’s Birthday and First Visit
DD’s Birthday and First Visit
DSFiL’s First Visit
Ariana’s First Visit
Whew! That’s seven celebrations! I’m planning in-room gifts/celebrations for the birthdays and DSFiL’s and Ariana’s first visit, but more on that at a later time.
Up Next: Dining and Touring: Let’s See That OCD Plan!
About This Page: 
). I usually lurk around the boards reading others’ trip reports and taking notes on tips provided (I am a researcher at heart). This year, I decided to take a more active presence on the boards in the hopes of making some new friends (ones who will talk Disney every day!) and getting some great advice. I started reading more trip reports and making comments on different threads to pull me out of lurkdom and prepare me for creating my very first trip report. I hope you’ll join me for this crazy ride!
Kristin
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I saw stars I was so happy! DM’s favorite Disney character is Minnie Mouse.
Awesome grand cast of characters! 
Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
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