It's finally here!!!!!

TheGoofy1 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 08:08 AM

I have set our suitcases out to begin the packing. Hard to believe it's been a year already. We actually leave Friday morning heading out to see family that I have in the Orlando area but our checkin is not until Sunday

.
I was thinking of calling and seeing if I could add an extra day, like this Saturday. I'm wondering with the economy and the weather if attendence is normal or low

. Guess I'll find out today when I call.
Just thought I would post this to make the rest of you jealous

.

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My Countdown Counting down to: Going back to WDW, POP Century here we come!!!

G00fyDad · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 09:03 AM

Congratulations!!!!!

Is this your first trip?

Even though the economy is in the tank so to speak and the weather is kind of bad due to the hurricanes I think the attendance is still where it usually is this time of the year. I've heard that this is one of the best times to go. We still have another 29 days to go. Have fun!!!

GoofysMyFav · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 11:04 AM

We're flying down FRIDAY!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!

I'm so excited!!!!
Travel safely and have a GREAT TRIP!!!!!

sk8belle · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008, 11:10 AM

Have a safe flight and enjoy yourselves. Were you able to get a room for Sat.?

I'm leaving Sunday, very early in the morning! Whoo-hoo!

TheGoofy1 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 08:24 AM

GoofyDad,
No this is not my first trip, it's actually my 34th trip. And I still get just as excited. And you were right, no extra days for me. They are completely booked. Oh well, I'll live. 6 days will be enough.

G00fyDad · #6 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 08:37 AM

34??? LOL I think that is so cool that you still get as excited as this after so many times.

We've only been 2 times and already it is starting to seem like a normal vacation. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE Disney, but on our first trip everything was just so magical but on our second things just kind of seemed...... more real, if that makes any sense. Maybe that had to do with me knowing a lot more of what to expect for our second trip. And maybe all the bad stuff that happened on the trip sort of took away from it. Or it could have been that for our first trip I did some planning but not as much as I did for the second or even this trip. I mean I have planned everything to the letter. Now I dont plan to stick to schedules or anything but I have an itenerary spreadsheet, a dinner reservation spreadsheet, lists of things I want to get this trip, a list of things to do this trip we didnt last two times, and an entire book report holder full of info.

My wife calls it a sickness.

GoofysMyFav · #7 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G00fyDad

I LOVE Disney, but on our first trip everything was just so magical but on our second things just kind of seemed...... more real, if that makes any sense. Maybe that had to do with me knowing a lot more of what to expect for our second trip. And maybe all the bad stuff that happened on the trip sort of took away from it. Or it could have been that for our first trip I did some planning but not as much as I did for the second or even this trip. I mean I have planned everything to the letter.

Thats what I am afraid of for this trip. I want to have as much fun as last year. But, this trip is gonna be different, because it started out bad. I wanted my cousin(Angie) (that went to WDW this week)to go the same time as we are(18hrs!!!!!!) but my other cousin(Kelly) from my other side of the family didn't want to go if Angie goes. We've been talking about going back since we got back last year. But, I had also been talking about it with Angie and we were just wanting to be down there at the same time, maybe catch up at the pool at night. But, anyway it really upset me, because Angie has 3 kids that get along with my son really well, and Kelly doesn't have any kids. I love Kelly and really wanted her to go. So, in saying ALL that I am very worried about frustrations coming out on the trip. I just want to have fun.

Curious Alice · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G00fyDad

...but on our first trip everything was just so magical but on our second things just kind of seemed...... more real, if that makes any sense. Maybe that had to do with me knowing a lot more of what to expect for our second trip. And maybe all the bad stuff that happened on the trip sort of took away from it. Or it could have been that for our first trip I did some planning but not as much as I did for the second or even this trip. I mean I have planned everything to the letter. Now I dont plan to stick to schedules or anything but I have an itenerary spreadsheet, a dinner reservation spreadsheet, lists of things I want to get this trip, a list of things to do this trip we didnt last two times, and an entire book report holder full of info.

For me, the first trip was probably the worst because I didn't know anything and it was all so unfamiliar. Now that I've been there many times, I look forward to it even more and I think each trip is better than the last.

I feel like I'm back "home" when I enter WDW. There are certain rituals that have to be done that I look forward to, like shouting out "Disappear, disappear!" on Maelstrom. There are certain dishes I crave in between trips that I have to have when I get there. And on every trip there are always new things to do or see.

I'm a little over two months away from my next trip and I'm totally immersed in planning. I get very specific in my plans, but once I'm there...anything goes! For me, the planning is part of the fun.

cpudd · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 10:59 AM

We leave for our trip down on Sept. 19th and we arrive on the 21st!!! We are SO EXCITED!! Can't wait.

pinchi2 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 06:40 PM

How come November is taking so long??? For you guys, have a safe trip and enjoy!!!!

Curious Alice · #11 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinchi2

How come November is taking so long???

I'm totally with you on that, pinchi2!

luvsftbll26 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 09:45 PM

Me too, pinch and alice!! and I have to wait til the end of Nov.......

TheGoofy1 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-12-2008, 01:05 AM

The odd thing is for me it's more magical now than when I was a kid. Even though I know the secrets or tricks it does not matter. And my ritual is ridding the fairy boat over to the MK. Once I'm on the boat the butterflies kick into overdrive and I can barely stand it. The sites, the smells, the sounds. It will but someone into sensory overload but I crave it and all the attention to every detail. Just can't wait. I leave in about 10 hours, we are hitting the beach for two days first then checking in on Sunday. Breath in and exhale. Whew, I'll be fine.

Dismom · #14 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious Alice

For me, the first trip was probably the worst because I didn't know anything and it was all so unfamiliar. Now that I've been there many times, I look forward to it even more and I think each trip is better than the last.

I feel like I'm back "home" when I enter WDW. There are certain rituals that have to be done that I look forward to, like shouting out "Disappear, disappear!" on Maelstrom. There are certain dishes I crave in between trips that I have to have when I get there. And on every trip there are always new things to do or see.

I'm a little over two months away from my next trip and I'm totally immersed in planning. I get very specific in my plans, but once I'm there...anything goes! For me, the planning is part of the fun.

I don't consider our first trip to be the worst at all. It was back in the 80's and my only reference tool was a Birnbaum travel book. We camped off property, showed up and bought tickets at the gate, did not know a thing, yet still had a blast.

Our second trip, I knew more, had the computer to help with research, bought the tickets at the local Disney store, stayed on property for the first time. Did not make ADR's but secured one for Garden Grill after we arrived. Still had a blast.

Then our third trip, researched every day for 2 yrs before we left, had ADR's for every single day bought the tickets as part of a pkg including DDP and we still had a blast.

Each time we felt we got out money's worth, had new experiences and had a blast, so to me it is all about you can have fun no matter your expertise, time or money involved.

Have a blast, I know you will!!!!!

Winkster · #15 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious Alice

Now that I've been there many times, I look forward to it even more and I think each trip is better than the last.

I agree - with each trip, we identify things we could do better and the address those on our next trip.

Each time, things get better and better as we know what's already great, what we can improve on and how we can improve it.