Returning to our Happy Place: Pre-trip report - UPDATED 09/08 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Old 03-21-2012, 09:35 PM   #1
emvenable77
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Returning to our Happy Place: Pre-trip report - UPDATED 09/08

We are just at 6 months away from our trip to WDW so I decided it was time to start the Pre-trip report!
Hope you guys enjoy!

Who?:
DH (Scott) 46

My best friend. The best daddy to Abby. Loves spoiling DD and I. Loves hunting, fishing, camping and Disneyworld. This will be his 5th trip to our happy place.

DD (Abby) 5

My best friend and the best thing that ever happened to DH and I. She is a great kid who is always happy and smiling. She loves to talk about anything, tell stories, ask questions and have books read to her. She loves all things Disney (especially the princesses, Jessie and Lilo and Stitch), school, camping, her puppies and vacationing at the beach and WDW. This will be her 3rd trip to our happy place.

Me (Emily) 34

Love my family and all things Disney. Love being a mommy, wife and speech therapist- in that order (shhhh don’t tell DH ) Favorite vacation destinations: WDW, the beach, and cruising. This will be my 3rd trip to our Happy Place.

Where?:
Walt Disney World of course! Staying at the Pop Century (3rd time here) with Free Dining Offer and going to the MNSSHP for the first time!

When?:
September 18- 23, 2012

Why?
We love this time of the year at WDW. We went on our first family trip in August/September 2010 and the crowds were low and it was so enjoyable. Also DH and I have birthdays in October and I will be celebrating my 35th this year so what better way approach the downhill side of 30 than a trip to WDW.

Coming up:
The beginning plans.
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:

http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post3907349

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My Previous TripsPop Century-August 2010, May 2011

Last edited by emvenable77; 03-21-2012 at 09:42 PM..
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Old 03-21-2012, 09:52 PM   #2
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I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world
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Heather - "I'm Tinkerbell's biggest fan!"

WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
My Countdown Counting down to: fall fun with mickey
family fun with the mouse
My Previous Tripsaug 1997 off site jan 2005 animal kingdom lodger may 2006 pop century dec 2007 pop century dec 2009/jan 2010 pop century 0ct/nov 2012 art of animation resort sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:35 PM   #3
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Great introductions!
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My Countdown Counting down to: Food and Wine Redo
See ya real soon, WDW!!
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My Previous TripsDL Summer 1977; DL Summer 1980; WDW Summer 1982; WDW-US June 1992; WDW June 1997; DL-US June 2002; WDW June 2009; WDW Nov 2009; WDW Oct 2010; WDW-US May 2011; WDW-US May/June 2012; DCL Magic Oct 2012; WDW-US Oct 2015; DCL Wonder Dec 2017
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Old 03-22-2012, 07:21 AM   #4
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Great start Emily!
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My Previous TripsAUG '16 - POFQ, APR '12 - POFQ, JUL '10 - DL, AUG '09 - DCL Western, AUG '08 - POFQ/BC, AUG '06 - AKL/BC/DisneyWonder/Poly, DEC '05 - AKL, APR '05 - AKL/BC, DEC '04 - AKL, MAY '04 - AKL/BC, MAY '03 - WL/BC, MAY '98 -offsite, MAY '94 - BC, AUG '85 - Poly, AUG '83 - Poly, AUG '81 - Poly, JUL '79 - World Inn, JUL '76 - World Inn
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Old 03-22-2012, 08:30 AM   #5
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Great intro Emily..
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My Countdown Counting down to: Another Blessed Christmas Trip November 2017
My Previous TripsNOVEMBER 1994-LARSON'S LODGE/NOVEMBER 1996-LARSON'S LODGE/JULY 1998-LARSON'S LODGE/ OCTOBER 2008 -POP CENTURY/ 2010- POP CENTURY/ SEPTEMBER 2012-POP CENTURY/OCTOBER 2013-POP CENTURY/SEPTEMBER 2014~POP CENTURY/NOVEMBER 2015 POP CENTURY
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Old 03-22-2012, 12:56 PM   #6
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Great start.Have a great trip.
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My Countdown Counting down to: Siblings trip.
Switched to January so Todd can get out of the snow.
My Previous TripsDixie Landings 1999, BWV 2001, OKW &BCV 2003, SSR&BWV 2005 OKW &WLV 2006 and BWV 2008, WLV2011, AKL 2013.BWV 2013,BWV 2015.
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Old 03-22-2012, 01:10 PM   #7
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Great start! Can't wait to read about your plans!
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My 2017 trip - Home is Where the Mouse Is COMPLETE
My Countdown Counting down to: Sailing through the Caribbean on the Freedom
Relaxing on my cruise
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Old 03-22-2012, 01:16 PM   #8
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Beautiful family and great introductions! I can't wait to hear more!
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In our happy place
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Old 03-22-2012, 07:13 PM   #9
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Congratulations on a GREAT start. I can't wait to read more. We'll be at All-star Movies Set. 16-27th. Maybe we'll run into you guys. (We also were @ Pop for our first trip the end of August 2010 & again last Sept. in 2011. It's a small world after all)
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My Countdown Counting down to: The Tozer's CHRISTMAS Celebration
FINALLY!
My Previous TripsWDW Aug 2010 Pop ; WDW Sept 2011 Pop ; WDW Nov/Dec 2013 AllStarsMovies-Toy Story BUZZ Blg.
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Old 03-23-2012, 07:09 PM   #10
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Great introductions, Emily!
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My Previous TripsAKL Jambo April/May 2017--SSR/OKW Sept/Oct 2016 --AKL Kidani May 2016 -- Polynesian Village Resort May 2015 -- OKW/Magic December 2014 -- AKL Jambo House October 2014 -- VWL May 2014--SSR October 2013--AKL/Kidani June 2013--CBR October 2012--BWI June 2012--AKV Jambo House/Kidani Village June 2011 -- November 2010 Beach Club -- June 2010 Beach Club -- October 2009 CBR and Gaylord Palms -- June 2009 AKV/Kidani Village -- June 2008 VWL --June 2007 OKW--June 2006 Disney Wonder/SSR -- June 2005 SSR -- June 2004 VWL -- June 2003 AKL -- August 1997 Off Property -- March 1980 Cocoa Beach
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Old 03-23-2012, 07:15 PM   #11
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Hope you have a great time!
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My Countdown Counting down to: Fields Party of 8
on our way
My Previous Tripsabout 8 trips before high school, WDW June 2001 AKL, Feb. 2003 AS Music, June 2003 AKL, June 2005 CBR, June 2007 AKL, June 2009 FW Cabins, Honeymoon August 2011 Wilderness Lodge, June 2012 FW Cabins, March 2013 Pop Century, June 2015 AKL
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Old 03-23-2012, 07:44 PM   #12
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Nice start! What a cute little one you have, love the shot with the Mickey bar!
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My Countdown Counting down to: Polynesian June 2017
My Previous TripsWDW 1974 Poly; WDW 1989 off site; WDW 1991 Poly; Poly May 2008; Poly June 2010; Poly August 2012; Poly 2015 many trips to Cape Cod
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Old 03-23-2012, 09:08 PM   #13
emvenable77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bsblady01 View Post
I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelley the Pooh View Post
Great introductions!
Thanks! More coming soon!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom View Post
Great start Emily!
Thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxie2006 View Post
Great intro Emily..
Thanks for following along.

Quote:
Originally Posted by buzzspal2 View Post
Great start.Have a great trip.
Thanks so much!

Quote:
Originally Posted by MayraLR View Post
Great start! Can't wait to read about your plans!
Thanks! I hope to post more tomorrow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by num1DVCfan View Post
Beautiful family and great introductions! I can't wait to hear more!
Thank you! More coming tomorrow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mommy4allkids View Post
Congratulations on a GREAT start. I can't wait to read more. We'll be at All-star Movies Set. 16-27th. Maybe we'll run into you guys. (We also were @ Pop for our first trip the end of August 2010 & again last Sept. in 2011. It's a small world after all)
WOW that is cool!! It is a small world after all! Later when I write out my plans for each day, let me know if you if we will be in any of the parks on the same days. Maybe we can try to get a meet up !

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Originally Posted by Cam22 View Post
Great introductions, Emily!
Thanks for following Cam! Hope Stefanie is doing well tonight!


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Originally Posted by tinkerbell_3 View Post
Hope you have a great time!
Thanks so much!

Quote:
Originally Posted by nursemom View Post
Nice start! What a cute little one you have, love the shot with the Mickey bar!
Thanks! That is one of my favorites too! It was so hot and those Mickey bars were sooo good that day!
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:

http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post3907349

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My Previous TripsPop Century-August 2010, May 2011
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Old 03-24-2012, 08:43 PM   #14
emvenable77
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Originally Posted by Roxie2006 View Post
Great intro Emily..
By the looks of your countdown our days at WDW may overlap. If so, let me know if it looks like our paths will cross. I would love to meet some fellow Louisianians while there!
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:

http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post3907349

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My Previous TripsPop Century-August 2010, May 2011
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Old 03-24-2012, 08:56 PM   #15
emvenable77
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UPDATE: The Beginning Plans

I thought I would give you guys a little background as to how this trip came to be. We first were going to try to get to WDW in January of this year to celebrate DD’s 5th birthday but unfortunately DH was not able to get vacation approved. We were disappointed about it but like the saying goes, everything happens for a reason. By December of 2011, things were going very badly in my school district (think furlough days, cuts in benefits and layoff, plus my mileage check of $200.00 per month was being held because they had no money to pay it). Scott and I realized that I needed to make a change in my current employment. I got a job offer and accepted and began working 12/12/11. It was at this time that we realized it was a good thing that we had not reserved the trip for January.
 
We thought about it and decided that we would just skip this year and go the next but the more I thought about it the more I realized that I just had to figure out a way to get back to WDW this year. I begged Scott to go back at the end of May again but he stood firm that he did not want to go back at that time because last year it was too busy. I understood and agreed with him. So we began to talk of a fall trip, possibly in September or October. Not long after, we got a PIN code for September. We were so excited so we decided to go ahead and book it. We went to WDW in August/September 2010 and really enjoyed it. The crowds were so tolerable. We also realized that we would be able to make it to the MNSSHP. Later I realized that we could “celebrate” my 35th birthday. My birthday is actually on Halloween but since it was going to be a “big” birthday, I thought it would be fun to celebrate it here.
So our dates were set for September 17-23, 2012. We were still hoping for free dining since we have always gone during free dining promos but we would have to wait a bit to see if Disney would come through for us. I was being told that it would probably be around April when/if Disney would be announcing the Free dining promotion. I was happily surprised a few weeks ago when I got on the boards and saw someone posted that Free Dining was being offered that day for Disney Visa card holders. I quickly got on the phone but the CM told me that all she had was All Star Sports. I decided to wait and cross my fingers that on the following Monday, Pop would open up. On the Monday morning, I called but again no Pop. I decided that I would still wait as we really wanted to stay at Pop (it is familiar to us and we love it there). The next day I called again and Pop was available! I quickly changed the reservation from the PIN code ressie to the Free Dining Promo ressie. With the dates and free dining finally secured all we had to do next was decide how we would get there and where we wanted to eat.

Up Next:
Driving or Flying?
 
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:

http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...ml#post3907349

My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsPop Century-August 2010, May 2011
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