Pre-trip report for June 2004 About This Page:

[Grammy Grumpy]

Opps, posted this on the wrong boards, sorry I added it to Disneyland reports

Well, now that I can do the single-digit dance I thought I would put together some pre-trip thoughts!

It has been my dream to get my immediate family together at one time for a trip to WDW. DH and I went on our first trip in 1987 with his sister and her husband. We went because our daughter had been there once or twice (I can’t remember now, it’s been too long) with our church’s youth choir and she loved it. They would spend a week at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL and then have a day or two to visit WDW. Of course it was only the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT at that time. My parents had also gone in after EPCOT opened but before 1985, so it was time for us to go. We decided to go in May of that year, but we did not take our children. Our son was attending the local community college and our daughter was in high school. What bad parents we were!! We had a wonderful time, but didn’t go back (or become Disney Fanatics) until 2000. On that trip we went with our son, his wife and our 11 yr old grandson (Anthony). Our daughter had gone for her honeymoon in 1995, but we had never managed to get all our schedules together for a family trip. DH and I also enjoyed trips in 2002 and 2003 meeting other family members there and one “just us” trip last fall.

So-o-o-o, about a year ago I started to campaign for the family trip. Our daughter and son-in-law welcomed a son (Trevor) on Christmas day 2001 and they wanted to go when he was old enough to begin to know the magic, but still be “free” (e.g. didn’t cost anything). Our daughter is a teacher so that restricted us to summer pretty much. We wanted to avoid spring break and Thanksgiving is right around parent-teacher conferences. Going in summer worked out of everyone else as with 9 months + to request vacation we all got approval.

Since DH and I had just been last October, a trip for just the two of us, we let the kids know that we would be happy just being there with them all and would volunteer to do childcare as necessary so that they could enjoy themselves as couples part of the time. They left the reservations in my hands and I was able to get an awesome deal at Pop Century. In fact, it was so awesome that we were able to add on one additional day. Our package was from 6/20 – 6/26 originally, but when the Disney Visa discounts came out I saved over $600 (DH and I are gifting the tickets and room portion of the trip to the kids). Since it was a package we were really loosing one day’s ticket in the parks since we were to leave on 6/26 early because we are driving from Central IL. Well, when I got the discounts I added one addition night for all of us, room only, and we’ll now leave early on Sunday morning.

We then got together to plan some special meals. The kids are treating DH and me to one meal each. Son, Daughter-in-law, and older grandson are taking us to the California Grill on Monday night and we scheduled it so we could see Wishes while we are there. Daughter, Son-in-law and youngest grandson are taking us to Chef Mickey’s for an early dinner on Tuesday. Both of these are new things for DH and me. We are all going to the Crystal Palace for breakfast on Wednesday. We have matching WDW 2004 t-shirts and hope to get a good picture from Main Street with the castle in the background BEFORE we get breakfast, to insure they are all clean (LOL). Thursday night is the luau at the Poly. This is where our daughter and son-in-law spent their honeymoon so it will be a chance to relive some memories I’m sure. Friday night is dinner at Hollywood and Vine at the Studios. Most of us will go on to Fantasmic! but I don’t think our youngest grandson will enjoy it. He’s just 2.5 and it might be too intense for him. Dinner is early so we hope to catch the parade before the show. We plan on one or perhaps two partial days at water parks. Eldest grandson says he is going to try the Summit Plummet. I want to try and get this on video tape!! He and I also want to go into TOT but leave at the chicken exit; we just want to see the lobby!

I would like to experience the Festival of the Lion King show with my youngest grandson, he loves Simba! He is also very into Monster’s Inc. so we’ll have to catch the Stars and Cars parade.

Well, enough pre-trip. I’ve been packing for a month it seems. As indicated elsewhere I may have to work some extra days to get everything in order for me to get away and not worry too much about work. I will be well worth it. I will take detailed notes in my PP and try and give a good TR. I will also have another pre-trip report to give as DH and I and another couple are going back the first week of December. The other couple wanted to go with us in June, but they were unable to do so. Of course that opened up the opportunity of another trip, right?? It will be the first time we have purchased PAP but we expect to return in 2005 at least once to enjoy the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland events.

Thanks for listening/reading.

[luvnwdwgal]

Looks like you've got a wonderful family trip planned! Looking forward to reading all about it!! Have a great time!!

[Colexis Mom]

Great start Barb

Sounds like you are all going to have a great time, and how great of you to spot the rooms and tickets for your kids and grandkids. I'm sure it will be magical to have everyone there all together

Can't wait to read how it all turned out Safe travels

[lkmom]

Have a wonderful Magical Gathering. It sounds so special. So sorry about the extra work days. Maybe Tinkerbell wil come and sprinkle some pixie dust and take the extra work away! Have a safe journey and a great trip! Enjoy the time with your extended family! What a great blessing. Can't wait to read the TR and see the picture with the t-shirts!

[eeyore8484]

Great start! We also have matching shirts for our Magic Kingdom day. Looks like we'll be at Pop Century the same week! Maybe we'll bump into each other. Have fun!

[statelady01]

Have a great time Barb!!!!!

[buckysmom]

You have a wonderful trip planned.
I hope you enjoy Pop Century, it's such a fun resort (and relatively cheap, too )
When in the Studios, look for Sully and Mike W. They don't sign autographs but are often avail for pics.
Looking forward to hearing about your Magical trip,