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Old 05-22-2015, 04:54 PM   #1
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We're finally getting back, our Land and Sea Adventure - June 2015 PTR

Hello Friends!!!

It feels like ages! I've been checking in here and there, but not really posting much lately, but I'm so glad to be back! Between school, the girls' soccer schedules, my PTO duties and regular day to day tasks things have just been crazy over here. Oh, and I recently did something that I never thought I would, but accepted a business opportunity that was offered to me! This new venture has kept me quite busy, but I'm having a lot of fun and making some great new friends! Some of you already know all about it, in fact some have even joined me on this journey

So enough about that, let's talk trips!!! Thirty days from today I will be boarding the Dream with my family for a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas that includes TWO stops to Castaway Cay! We'll follow that up with some time in WDW, staying at one of our favorite resorts, Port Orleans Riverside

This trip has been in the works for a really long time, so long that it felt like it would never get here! It's hard to believe that it's just 30 days away now! So, a little background on how it all came about ....

For those of you that have followed along with my past TRs, you'll remember that our last trip was the summer of 2013, another land/sea trip that was in celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary. That was our first time cruising, and we absolutely fell in love with it and DCL, so I knew I wanted to get back someday! I just didn't think it would be so soon

Last year, the plan was to go back to taking our annual trip in November during Jersey Week, since our district usually gave us the full first week of November off because of the teachers convention and election day. Fast Forward to about March, and the school calendar was finally released, as well as DCL's summer itneraries for 2015. Lo and behold, we were no longer getting that full week off, just a few days, and I wasn't sure I wanted to take the girls out of school, so our planning was put on hold. I though maybe we could just move things up and go during summer, but then, just for kicks I decided to check out the cruises for this year. When I saw that the Bahamian cruises on the Dream during June and July were "double dips" I was hooked So, I plotted a plan and went and spoke to Chris. I knew it would be pretty pricey to do the cruise, plus add on a stay at WDW, so I figured we could skip a trip for 2014. I know, GASP!! To my surprise, Chris and the girls were fine with skipping a year once they heard all about the cruise. That's all I needed to hear! I got on the phone and had my TA book it before anyone changed their minds

So, it's been a long time coming, but we're finally almost done with our countdown. I can't wait!!! I'll be back soon with some intros and more details
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My first TR:A Very Merry SurpriseHere we go again: Goin' Down the Bayou Our Anniversary Trip: Happy 10 Years

My Countdown Counting down to: Our Second Cruise
Sailing away on the Dream!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsYearly trips to WDW as a child with my family (1982 - 1989), WDW/Universal 1992, Senior Class Trip to WDW June 1994, WDW 2001, First Family Trip with my girls 2009, First MNSSHP October 2010, First MVMCP November 2011, POR November 2012, POR and our first cruise on the Dream August 2013
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Old 05-22-2015, 05:05 PM   #2
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Great job planning it all! 30 days will fly by. We will be at POR about a month after you. Can't wait!
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Old 05-22-2015, 05:12 PM   #3
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Old 05-22-2015, 05:33 PM   #4
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Great start!
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Old 05-22-2015, 07:18 PM   #5
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Good to see you again, Jenn! Has it really been two years since your anniversary trip? Wow, you do need to get back to Disney. Looking forward to your plans and to seeing how much the girls have grown. Exciting that you have a new business venture. Hope it will help you to resume your yearly trips!
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Old 05-23-2015, 02:56 AM   #6
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Great start!
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Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
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Old 05-23-2015, 08:26 PM   #7
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Great start!!! Still can't believe I am missing you this trip!
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My Previous TripsCSR April 2016; BCV August 2015; SSR April 2015; AKL & AoA June/July 2014; POP September 2013; POP August 2013; AKL & BLT June/July 2013; POR December 2012; SSR October 2012; SSR July 2011; BWV May 2011; SSR July/Aug 2010; WL & SSR July 2009; SSR July 2008; OKW August 2007; OKW May 2007; SSR October 2006; SSR June 2006; OKW December 2005; CS September 2005; OKW July 2005; SSR October 2004; POP June 2004; ASMV April 2004; BWV October 2003
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Old 05-24-2015, 04:19 PM   #8
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Yay, you've started!!!! I was wondering when you'd start your PTR. You actually have some self-control and do it a month before your trip, unlike me who starts a million months before. As a matter of fact, I want to start next year's PTR and I don't even know for sure what will we be doing. Talk about obsessed...
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Old 05-24-2015, 06:01 PM   #9
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So looking forward to reading all about your trip! So far we're on the same DCL schedule as our first was in 2013 and our next will be this year.
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Old 05-24-2015, 10:36 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jambo View Post
Great job planning it all! 30 days will fly by. We will be at POR about a month after you. Can't wait!
You'll love it at POR!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom View Post
Great start!
Quote:
Originally Posted by belle0517 View Post
Great start!
Thank you both!

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Originally Posted by lauriep View Post
Good to see you again, Jenn! Has it really been two years since your anniversary trip? Wow, you do need to get back to Disney. Looking forward to your plans and to seeing how much the girls have grown. Exciting that you have a new business venture. Hope it will help you to resume your yearly trips!
Laurie, I've missed you and everyone here on the boards!! It's hard to believe it's been almost 2 years already since our last trip, time is just flying by! If you can believe it, we are getting ready for Kaeli's "farewell" from 5th grade in just a few weeks! You will be amazed by how much both of the girls have grown!

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Originally Posted by chezp View Post
Great start!
Thanks!

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Originally Posted by lfredsbo View Post
Great start!!! Still can't believe I am missing you this trip!
I know, I'm so sad about that! BUT, even if it's not in Disney, I WILL meet you this summer

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Originally Posted by MayraLR View Post
Yay, you've started!!!! I was wondering when you'd start your PTR. You actually have some self-control and do it a month before your trip, unlike me who starts a million months before. As a matter of fact, I want to start next year's PTR and I don't even know for sure what will we be doing. Talk about obsessed...
LOL, it's not so much self-control, but rather just too much stuff going on! There were so many times that I thought to myself that I needed to get this thing started, but then something got in the way. Go ahead and start that PTR for next year, I'd love to read along!

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Originally Posted by OhToodles! View Post
So looking forward to reading all about your trip! So far we're on the same DCL schedule as our first was in 2013 and our next will be this year.
Oh, that's right, you're going in October again? I kind of like this every other year DCL schedule, not sure we'll be able to keep it up though
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My first TR:A Very Merry SurpriseHere we go again: Goin' Down the Bayou Our Anniversary Trip: Happy 10 Years

My Countdown Counting down to: Our Second Cruise
Sailing away on the Dream!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsYearly trips to WDW as a child with my family (1982 - 1989), WDW/Universal 1992, Senior Class Trip to WDW June 1994, WDW 2001, First Family Trip with my girls 2009, First MNSSHP October 2010, First MVMCP November 2011, POR November 2012, POR and our first cruise on the Dream August 2013
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Old 05-25-2015, 07:25 AM   #11
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Great start! I can't wait to hear all about it!
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Old 05-25-2015, 07:23 PM   #12
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Great start! Seems like an easy choice to skip a year if it means a cruise and WDW this year.
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:14 PM   #13
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Great start! I can't wait to hear all about it!
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Great start! Seems like an easy choice to skip a year if it means a cruise and WDW this year.
Thanks for joining in guys!!
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Jenn

My first TR:A Very Merry SurpriseHere we go again: Goin' Down the Bayou Our Anniversary Trip: Happy 10 Years

My Countdown Counting down to: Our Second Cruise
Sailing away on the Dream!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsYearly trips to WDW as a child with my family (1982 - 1989), WDW/Universal 1992, Senior Class Trip to WDW June 1994, WDW 2001, First Family Trip with my girls 2009, First MNSSHP October 2010, First MVMCP November 2011, POR November 2012, POR and our first cruise on the Dream August 2013
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:15 PM   #14
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We are just a couple of weeks out!!!! We are so busy now with the end of the school year, so it's going to go fast! We are getting so excited

So, here's a little info on our trip and my family ~

WHO:
Jenn (Me, 38)
Chris (40)
Kaeli (11)
Abby (9)

WHAT: A fun filled Land and Sea adventure!

WHERE: 4 nights on the Dream, followed by a stay at one of our favorite resorts, Port Orleans Riverside

WHEN: June 22 - July 5

HOW: A new mode of transportation for us, this year we'll be taking the Auto Train down to FL. I'm really looking forward to it! We'll leave on 6/20 arriving in FL the day before our cruise departs

WHY: Why not???? It's summer and we haven't been to WDW since 2013, so we are overdue

For the first portion of our trip we'll be traveling with a group of people from the agency I booked with, they are having a "family" cruise aboard the Dream. They have been planning a lot of activities for us onboard, it sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun!!
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Jenn

My first TR:A Very Merry SurpriseHere we go again: Goin' Down the Bayou Our Anniversary Trip: Happy 10 Years

My Countdown Counting down to: Our Second Cruise
Sailing away on the Dream!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsYearly trips to WDW as a child with my family (1982 - 1989), WDW/Universal 1992, Senior Class Trip to WDW June 1994, WDW 2001, First Family Trip with my girls 2009, First MNSSHP October 2010, First MVMCP November 2011, POR November 2012, POR and our first cruise on the Dream August 2013
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:26 PM   #15
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Sounds like a lot of fun! I've never taken the train before down to FL so I'm excited to hear how it goes for you!
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