My Best Trip Ever! A Disney Trip 10 Years in the Making - Page 31 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Hotel: Shades of Green
I liked this hotel and for the money it was phenomenal. We were able to get in using a 50% off sale so our room was only $62.00 per night. But even at full price still would have been a bargain. I did find it a bit confusing at first and took until about day 3 before I felt comfortable as to where I was going. We were in the original wing which had great access to the pool but made for quite a long walk to the parking garage.
I think the restaurants were OK but could have more of them, there was only 2 and they could have offered more selection. Sorry they did have another lunch type place but the hours were so limited we never got there.
The few times we used the buses everything was fine and all the staff were lovely. My past 5 or 6 vacations (anywhere, not just Disney) have all been with a group and I’ve gotten used to renting a house or staying in a town home or something with a lot of space so heading back to a hotel room (all be it a large hotel room) took some getting used to. If given the opportunity to stay at Shades again, I would and would also recommend it to anyone else who may have the chance.
Traveling as a group:
Well this always has its ups and downs. But I suppose all trips, even solo ones have that. As I noted before I think my last 4 or 5 trips to Disney and the Jersey shore have all been large groups and I’m starting to tire of it. Large groups are a lot of fun but also a lot of work. I did a crap-load of planning and tried to find a good mix or alone time and group time but no amount of planning can prepare for the mix of personalities. Even my own family can get on my nerves (well some members). I am definitely not doing a large group next time. I love them all to death but having the times just with Evan was so special and magical. Anyone planning a group trip my advice is realize in advance that there will be tiffs. People will get on each others nerves. You don’t spend 24/7 with these people on a regular basis at home, and now you are together all the time and everyone is out of their element and tired…. Know that everything will take longer then you expect when traveling in a group and everyone is on their own schedule in terms of sleeping, eating and touring style. My best advice is book the group – it is tons of fun but make sure you plan some alone time for each family unit.
Time of Year:
This was my first visit in the fall. I enjoyed it but it was hotter and more crowded that I thought it would be – still better than summer but not the “slow” time I had envisioned in my head. I’d go again at this time if it could be arranged without Evan missing school but since that is not likely – I’m back to summer travel dates.
Evan:
What can I say about him? He was so good on this trip. I think he had a blast and had no idea of any of the drama the adults were stirring up. I don’t think he cried once. Honest to goodness I couldn’t have asked for a better behaved child. He wasn’t too into the characters which is fine. We often passed characters with little wait and I’d ask him if he wanted to meet them and he’d say no.
I think I may have pulled a fast one on him as I don’t think he realized there were stores all over the place. We generally avoided them (and the gimmies) because he didn’t know they were there. Evan didn’t do any big rides that dump you into a gift shop and when we’d leave MK or HS we’d walk down the street and not through the shops.
Attractions:
I did miss several things that I wanted to go on but this trip wasn’t about me. It was about Evan and I didn’t want to force him on anything. When I was 5 I was terrified of the Haunted Mansion and now I love it. I know if I give him time, he’ll come around. This may have been his first trip to WDW but it won’t be his last. I have lots of items already on my to-do list for next time.
Next time:
Speaking of next time, I’m hoping to head down in 2014. Hopefully I’ll be able to save enough money by then. I’d like to stay in the Poly or Cont. But don’t think I’ll have the money for it. I do want to do 2 weeks with one day to visit Legoland. I’ll be going in the summer as Evan begins school this year. I know many people take their children out of school but that just isn’t for me. When I’ve gone in the summer before I’ve often gone down the very end of August and the crowds seem to be more manageable so as of now I’m hoping our next trip will be around the 20th of August 2014 for 2 weeks. Evan has asked if we can go for 5 weeks next time – ah a child after my own heart.
What’s Next:
So what’s next for us? We are taking a weekend Disney cruise out of NY over Father’s day weekend. As a matter of fact I just got my Disney mail this weekend. We are also going to see Beauty and the Beast on stage in Philly on June 10th. And this coming weekend we are going to Baltimore to visit my friend and go see the Blue Angels.
Thank you all for following along with all the ups and down and delays in getting started on this TR. I’ve enjoyed sharing this all with you and remembering all the fun we had. I have to give myself snaps as I didn’t take any notes on my trip. As soon as I came home I wrote an outline of what we did each day and that outline is what I used to write the report.
I don’t know if I should even try a TR for the cruise. I mean it is such a short amount of time – honestly how exciting will it be for basically 2 days? I don’t know –what do you think? I’ve never cruised before so I’m a little nervous because I’m not sure what to expect.
This was a great TR, Holly, and a great wrap-up. I agree with you on the choice of late August for a summer trip. I may see you in 2014! You're a genius to keep Evan oblivious to the merchandise dangling almost everywhere. That won't last, but I'm sure it helped to make this a really wonderful, magical trip for both of you. Sounds like he was the perfect traveling companion. 5 weeks! I'm with you, Evan!
I'd love to read a TR of the short cruise, since this is the first year they've offered it.
Thanks for sharing! I really did enjoy following along on your trip; despite all the lows you still had plenty of highs!
I hope you do write a TR for the cruise, even if it's a small one. It will be neat hearing about the cruise from the perspective of a first timer. I've only cruised once, and it was almost 30 years ago, so if and when I cruise again, I'll feel like a first timer!
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Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
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Great wrap up! I would definitely love to read a trip report for your cruise even if it is only a short one!
We are going down to Pensacola, FL in July to stay with some friends at their beach house and there will be an air show with the Blue Angels over the water. I am so excited to see them!! Hope you and Evan enjoy the air show!
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
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What a great trip you had with your little boy! I really enjoyed following along, and even reading your advice on traveling with groups, as we plan on doing this in three or four (or five) years with my family. Thank you for sharing your trip with us, and I would love to read about your cruise, no matter the length!
Great final thoughts! It was really great to get to meet you, and because your next trip is likely to be when I'm traveling with my family, I hope to see you again (if not before then!). Thanks for allowing us to tag along!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Great wrap up! And thanks for sharing your trip - the good and the bad - with us!
I'd also love to see a TR, even if it's a short one, from the cruise since it is a new one.
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Finally finished up your TR! You all managed to have a lot of fun in spite of some rough moments! so much for sharing Evan's wonderful birthday trip to the World with us.
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