I have only ......... days/months till I go again.

[zhoover]

Very small chance we may be able to get down to the World this December. It would be our kids' first trip there (DS is 4 and DD will be 2) so the timing would be perfect.

I hope it works out! I *just* booked airfare for our December trip - Dec. 1-6 (already got a countdown in my signature...). Our two year-old has already been a few times, but it'll be our (currently) one month-old's first trip! We like to get these things done quickly...

[Amy]

Very small chance we may be able to get down to the World this December. It would be our kids' first trip there (DS is 4 and DD will be 2) so the timing would be perfect.

I hope it works out! I *just* booked airfare for our December trip - Dec. 1-6 (already got a countdown in my signature...). Our two year-old has already been a few times, but it'll be our (currently) one month-old's first trip! We like to get these things done quickly...

How exciting for both of you!

[theBIGyowski]

Very small chance we may be able to get down to the World this December. It would be our kids' first trip there (DS is 4 and DD will be 2) so the timing would be perfect.

I hope it works out! I *just* booked airfare for our December trip - Dec. 1-6 (already got a countdown in my signature...). Our two year-old has already been a few times, but it'll be our (currently) one month-old's first trip! We like to get these things done quickly...

How exciting for both of you!

We have friends who live not too far from Tampa, who we used to be very close with when we all lived in Alabama. The last time we saw them was in 2011 and they were expecting their first child. We spent the day with them in Epcot and were hoping we'd get to see them regularly by meeting them at WDW every year or two. Five years later, we both have two kids near the same ages...and they've never met one another. So, this trip would be a great way to catch up with them and have our kids finally meet.

Here is our 12 Step Program...

Step 1: Decide on when to go
Step 2: Figure out if going then is financially feasible
Step 3: Decide on the number of days we'll be there
Step 4: Book resort (free dining isn't available for our dates/resorts)
Step 5: Buy tickets
Step 6: Make ADRs
Step 7: Decide on Magic Band colors
Step 8: Book FP+
Step 9: Pray our cars are still in good condition
Step 10: DW will probably buy/make shirts for the kids
Step 11: Start Packing because everything and everyone needs to fit in a Honda Accord
Step 12: Make it to WDW on time and on budget

[zhoover]

Step 1: Decide on when to go
Step 2: Figure out if going then is financially feasible
Step 3: Decide on the number of days we'll be there
Step 4: Book resort (free dining isn't available for our dates/resorts)
Step 5: Buy tickets
Step 6: Make ADRs
Step 7: Decide on Magic Band colors
Step 8: Book FP+
Step 9: Pray our cars are still in good condition
Step 10: DW will probably buy/make shirts for the kids
Step 11: Start Packing because everything and everyone needs to fit in a Honda Accord
Step 12: Make it to WDW on time and on budget

That is a much better, smarter process than ours:

Step 1: Book Trip.
Step 2: Figure out if dates we already booked make sense with work/family.
Step 3: Regardless, still go then. Have way too much fun.
Step 4: Pay off credit card, then book next trip. Or maybe book next trip before.

[cy1229]

We have friends who live not too far from Tampa, who we used to be very close with when we all lived in Alabama. The last time we saw them was in 2011 and they were expecting their first child. We spent the day with them in Epcot and were hoping we'd get to see them regularly by meeting them at WDW every year or two. Five years later, we both have two kids near the same ages...and they've never met one another. So, this trip would be a great way to catch up with them and have our kids finally meet.

Here is our 12 Step Program...

Step 1: Decide on when to go
Step 2: Figure out if going then is financially feasible
Step 3: Decide on the number of days we'll be there
Step 4: Book resort (free dining isn't available for our dates/resorts)
Step 5: Buy tickets
Step 6: Make ADRs
Step 7: Decide on Magic Band colors
Step 8: Book FP+
Step 9: Pray our cars are still in good condition
Step 10: DW will probably buy/make shirts for the kids
Step 11: Start Packing because everything and everyone needs to fit in a Honda Accord
Step 12: Make it to WDW on time and on budget

I think it's more than time that you and your friends got your families together! Have you thought about getting a 2- or 3-BR DVC property together? Just a thought.

You have your 12-step program down to a science (and don't think for one minute the 12-step joke is lost on me ) but I can give you some packing tips for fitting everything into a small car.

1. If you're staying at a DVC property, plan to do laundry one day during the week. Thus, you only pack half as much stuff.
2. When you pack the kids' clothes, lay them out in complete outfits - everything needed for the day including underroos and your daughter's hair accessories. Then put those things into a one- or two-gallon zip-close plastic bag. Roll from the bottom of the bag to the top, whooshing the air out as your roll, and zip it closed. When the bag is almost closed, you can use your mouth to suck the last bit of air out if you want but that might be overkill. Then you put the bags in the suitcase and you'd be surprised how well they fit. Thus you can put your son's and daughter's clothes into one suitcase, easily. Jammies can be packed in a similar manner. (It also makes getting dressed in the morning and keeping the suitcase neat and organized that much easier, too.)
3. Don't bring anything you can buy in Orlando. Get to the resort, unpack, and make another trip out to buy that kind of stuff (diapers/pullups, snacks, drinks, sunscreen, etc.)
4. Since your kids are young, there's space in the car under their feet. You can put a duffel bag or something similarly sized and shaped behind the front seats under the kids' feet.
5. Use a soft-sided cooler. They're easier to fit into the car than a hard-sided one.

These things helped us manage a 2-week road trip to Yellowstone, including all my photography equipment and a small dorm-sized fridge (for storing breakfast food in the hotel room) in a Dodge Stratus. Well, it was the girls and me, and hubby flew out to meet us since he could only get a week off work, and half the back seat was full of fridge and food, but you get the idea. Anyway, packing this way really does save space.

I hope you get to go!

[theBIGyowski]

Thank you cy!!!! Those are some awesome tips. We have a few of the Costco cooler bags that are huge and soft...so they would certainly be easier to pack than a hard sided cooler. We will definitely be going to Walmart to stock up on some groceries and snacks when we get there. That will probably mean not going to a park on the day we arrive, but we are okay with that since we'd probably try going to a pool or Disney Springs since we'll be a little tired from the drive.

We learned the hard way to not buy alcohol and snacks on Disney property. We even rented a car on one trip for just a day so we could go to the grocery store and run a few errands. I was able to get a huge discount on the rental car...so the savings more than outweighed the cost of the car. But yeah...we normally do the same thing when going to the beach. We take only what is necessary and buy the rest when we get there. I've looked into Kingdom Strollers as well for renting a stroller as they are MUCH cheaper than the Disney ones. Plus we can use it at Disney Springs and around the resorts.

As far as our friends, they actually have a condo about 2 miles from WDW property. So they always stay there and use their APs. I tried to convince DW to stay part of the time with them at the condo if they are able to come up, but she wants to stay in the "bubble" with it being our kids' first trip. We do, however, hope we can rent a 1 or 2 BR villa whenever we can take a bigger family trip that includes grandparents. Having the full kitchen would be huge then. Right now we are leaning towards renting at OKW since we love that resort already, it has a fun pool, decent restaurant, and most of all it is affordable. We just need to check to make sure it has availability when we want to go down there (12/5-12/10).

I'm the only one who has been to WDW when it is decorated for Christmas...so I'm really hoping we can make this trip happen so everyone else can see it. If the trip does get the green light...here is our schedule for the 10 weeks starting at the end of October:

Oct 27 - DD's 2nd Birthday
Nov 24 - Thanksgiving
Nov 26 - DW's Birthday
Dec 5 - WDW Trip
Dec 25 - Christmas
Dec 27 - My Birthday

Gonna put a lot of miles on those tires!

[cy1229]

Thank you cy!!!! Those are some awesome tips. We have a few of the Costco cooler bags that are huge and soft...so they would certainly be easier to pack than a hard sided cooler. We will definitely be going to Walmart to stock up on some groceries and snacks when we get there. That will probably mean not going to a park on the day we arrive, but we are okay with that since we'd probably try going to a pool or Disney Springs since we'll be a little tired from the drive.

We learned the hard way to not buy alcohol and snacks on Disney property. We even rented a car on one trip for just a day so we could go to the grocery store and run a few errands. I was able to get a huge discount on the rental car...so the savings more than outweighed the cost of the car. But yeah...we normally do the same thing when going to the beach. We take only what is necessary and buy the rest when we get there. I've looked into Kingdom Strollers as well for renting a stroller as they are MUCH cheaper than the Disney ones. Plus we can use it at Disney Springs and around the resorts.

As far as our friends, they actually have a condo about 2 miles from WDW property. So they always stay there and use their APs. I tried to convince DW to stay part of the time with them at the condo if they are able to come up, but she wants to stay in the "bubble" with it being our kids' first trip. We do, however, hope we can rent a 1 or 2 BR villa whenever we can take a bigger family trip that includes grandparents. Having the full kitchen would be huge then. Right now we are leaning towards renting at OKW since we love that resort already, it has a fun pool, decent restaurant, and most of all it is affordable. We just need to check to make sure it has availability when we want to go down there (12/5-12/10).

I'm the only one who has been to WDW when it is decorated for Christmas...so I'm really hoping we can make this trip happen so everyone else can see it. If the trip does get the green light...here is our schedule for the 10 weeks starting at the end of October:

Oct 27 - DD's 2nd Birthday
Nov 24 - Thanksgiving
Nov 26 - DW's Birthday
Dec 5 - WDW Trip
Dec 25 - Christmas
Dec 27 - My Birthday

Gonna put a lot of miles on those tires!

I'm tired just reading that schedule. Yikes. Good thing you're young.

[theBIGyowski]

So we may book our room today!!!

That would mark off the first 4 steps. We just need to really stick to our monthly budget to make sure we can afford the trip. Once the room is booked I'll make it official on here.

[Amy]

So we may book our room today!!!

That would mark off the first 4 steps. We just need to really stick to our monthly budget to make sure we can afford the trip. Once the room is booked I'll make it official on here.

How exciting! ~ of course if you were zhoover, completing the first 4 steps would mean you were all finished with your trip and planning the next

[theBIGyowski]

Room is booked. We'll be there from 12/5 - 12/10 and will be staying at Old Key West which is our favorite resort for relaxing. They didn't have a studio room open for the entire time, so we booked a 1 Bedroom Villa for the first night and a studio for the rest. We also put ourselves on a wait list for the studio in hopes that we'll be able to get it and just stay in the same room the whole time. We could just upgrade to the 1 BR Villa, but that would tack on an extra $500 to the trip and we'd rather spend that $500 on something else since you aren't in your room enough.

We may actually make ADRs before we buy tickets since tickets don't need to be purchased until we get closer to making FP+ reservations.

[Amy]

Room is booked. We'll be there from 12/5 - 12/10 and will be staying at Old Key West which is our favorite resort for relaxing. They didn't have a studio room open for the entire time, so we booked a 1 Bedroom Villa for the first night and a studio for the rest. We also put ourselves on a wait list for the studio in hopes that we'll be able to get it and just stay in the same room the whole time. We could just upgrade to the 1 BR Villa, but that would tack on an extra $500 to the trip and we'd rather spend that $500 on something else since you aren't in your room enough.

We may actually make ADRs before we buy tickets since tickets don't need to be purchased until we get closer to making FP+ reservations.

Whoo~hoo! Hope you'll be able to get your preferred room. I imagine with it being so far away you should be able to get the studio for the whole time. Do you have to keep checking or will they let you know if it opens up? Perfect time to go ~ we love that time of year

[theBIGyowski]

Yep...we got the studio this morning. So the whole trip is one booking now in a studio. I tried looking at Magic Band colors this morning and noticed that I couldn't get to the part of the website to do that. I then saw my room reservation wasn't there. So I tried adding the second one (12/6-12/10) that was for the studio and it said it couldn't find the reservation. Then I reached out to the DVC owner and they checked the member services website and it showed one single booking in the studio. So he then sent the new confirmation number and I was able to add it to my MDE profile.

I was finally able to choose MagicBand colors for everyone...

Me: Green
DW: Purple
DS: Blue
DD: Pink

DD's MagicBand will just be for unlocking our room door as she is too young to need a ticket or anything. I know she'll be happy she's getting one and I'm glad Disney sends one to everyone regardless of age.

[zhoover]

I know she'll be happy she's getting one and I'm glad Disney sends one to everyone regardless of age.

I like that, too! My son has 4, and he STILL doesn't need to pay for admission... Congrats on the booking! Old Key West is great, and that boat ride down to Downto...Disney Springs is only becoming a better feature as the reimagining progresses.

[Amy]

Yep...we got the studio this morning. So the whole trip is one booking now in a studio. I tried looking at Magic Band colors this morning and noticed that I couldn't get to the part of the website to do that. I then saw my room reservation wasn't there. So I tried adding the second one (12/6-12/10) that was for the studio and it said it couldn't find the reservation. Then I reached out to the DVC owner and they checked the member services website and it showed one single booking in the studio. So he then sent the new confirmation number and I was able to add it to my MDE profile.

I was finally able to choose MagicBand colors for everyone...

Me: Green
DW: Purple
DS: Blue
DD: Pink

DD's MagicBand will just be for unlocking our room door as she is too young to need a ticket or anything. I know she'll be happy she's getting one and I'm glad Disney sends one to everyone regardless of age.

Bet that caused a few minutes of "uh-oh" panic when you couldn't find the reservation. Congrats on getting in the studio for the whole time. That's pretty neat about the magic bands. They could very easily just say that they don't need one because they don't need a ticket. But then again, how would they charge that giant size Mickey plush to the room

I know she'll be happy she's getting one and I'm glad Disney sends one to everyone regardless of age.

I like that, too! My son has 4, and he STILL doesn't need to pay for admission... Congrats on the booking! Old Key West is great, and that boat ride down to Downto...Disney Springs is only becoming a better feature as the reimagining progresses.

Lucky boy ~ I only have one Magic Band and I have to pay for a ticket!

[acp]

Well, I did have a double-trip planned. Now I've got a double-trip planned *and* another trip too

September/October trip to Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort: 108 days
November trip to Disneyland Paris: 168 days

The Paris trip is the re-do of the one we had to cancel last year. We're staying at the Sequoia Lodge this time, which will be a first - we've not stayed there before.