Jeff G
09-04-2008, 06:13 PM
Cast: Jeff (me), Cheryl (DW), Ray (my Dad), Nancy (my Mom), Karissa (DD age 12), Chase (DS age 9), Peyton (DS age 3) & Madison (DD 1 year)
A quick refresher, last year we made our third pilgrimage to WDW with my parents. Through their first two trips they encountered rain everyday which prompted my mom to ask "does it rain here everyday?". After spending each day asking ourselves the very question it was fitting that the trip report title should be The Will It Rain Everyday? Trip. The answer to that question was it did. Most days were sun filled with only a few minute shower so overall the weather was great but in the end my parents have been to WDW now 20+ days and it's rained every single one of them. A word to the wise, don't go the same week as my parents:D (and obviously I'm not one of the wise:dizzy: :trio:).
After bouncing back and forth on hotels (sorry Wendy form MJ's:D) we ended up deciding on the Pop Century Resort taking full advantage of the free dining plan. Last year we had excellent luck with the buses at the POR but we're not pushing our luck two years in a row so we rented a van this year.
We've assembled the same cast from last years soggy adventure to see if we can pull of a trip without rain on at least one day for my parents. Our adventure departs on September 20th and we will be staying nine nights this time to better our odds. Our family moto, when in doubt just keep trying.
In addition to the starring cast we will also have many other in supporting roles this trip. My brothers family, Randy & Lisa and their three kids Caleb, Nick & Abby along with Lisa's mom, Angie will joining us on our grand gathering adventure at the Pop Century. Our friends Mike & Deb (plus their four kids) and Todd & Janet (plus their three kids) are staying off site will also join us at the parks. And in case thats not enough my neighbors Pat & Lisa (and their two kids) will be staying at the Caribbean Beach resort and will also be meeting up with us. To save you the math thats a total of 29. Everyone arrives within a day of each other and leaves within two days of each other and yet none of us pre-planned it, purely coincidence(or so they tell me, they all consider me the WDW guru:thedolls:). Neither Todd & Janet or Pat & Lisa have ever been to WDW so my goal for the week is to try to make the trip as magical as possible for them.
Since we are such a large group planning the past few months has had it's challenges laying out plans so we are at the parks some of the same days with the group while allowing everyone the ability to still have their own vacation. Because of this my original ADR's I made 180+10 days in advance have been scrapped, including LeCellier. Finding dining for a group of 8 or more during the free dining promo just 45 days prior to arrival was a challenge. Here is our itinerary for dining:
Sunday: Boma
Monday: Grand Gathering Experience at Epcot (to celebrate my nephews birthday)
Tuesday: Free - I think were going to try the Pepper Market at Coronado Spring.
Wednesday: Kona
Thursday: Sci Fi (for the kids:ack: )
Friday: Breakfast - Chef Mickeys
Dinner - Cap Maye (my dad loves clams & oysters)
Saturday: Biergarten (my dad loves German food)
Sunday: 'Ohana (my dad's favorite ~seeing a trend here?)
We tried to have a nice mix of entertaining meals, buffets and table service meals catering to kids of all ages(myself included).
Anyhow, I've rambled plenty long but it worked we'll. I just killed 30 minutes on my countdown timer. Thanks for listening and remember if you are in WDW the last week of September to have those rain ponchos handy.
A quick refresher, last year we made our third pilgrimage to WDW with my parents. Through their first two trips they encountered rain everyday which prompted my mom to ask "does it rain here everyday?". After spending each day asking ourselves the very question it was fitting that the trip report title should be The Will It Rain Everyday? Trip. The answer to that question was it did. Most days were sun filled with only a few minute shower so overall the weather was great but in the end my parents have been to WDW now 20+ days and it's rained every single one of them. A word to the wise, don't go the same week as my parents:D (and obviously I'm not one of the wise:dizzy: :trio:).
After bouncing back and forth on hotels (sorry Wendy form MJ's:D) we ended up deciding on the Pop Century Resort taking full advantage of the free dining plan. Last year we had excellent luck with the buses at the POR but we're not pushing our luck two years in a row so we rented a van this year.
We've assembled the same cast from last years soggy adventure to see if we can pull of a trip without rain on at least one day for my parents. Our adventure departs on September 20th and we will be staying nine nights this time to better our odds. Our family moto, when in doubt just keep trying.
In addition to the starring cast we will also have many other in supporting roles this trip. My brothers family, Randy & Lisa and their three kids Caleb, Nick & Abby along with Lisa's mom, Angie will joining us on our grand gathering adventure at the Pop Century. Our friends Mike & Deb (plus their four kids) and Todd & Janet (plus their three kids) are staying off site will also join us at the parks. And in case thats not enough my neighbors Pat & Lisa (and their two kids) will be staying at the Caribbean Beach resort and will also be meeting up with us. To save you the math thats a total of 29. Everyone arrives within a day of each other and leaves within two days of each other and yet none of us pre-planned it, purely coincidence(or so they tell me, they all consider me the WDW guru:thedolls:). Neither Todd & Janet or Pat & Lisa have ever been to WDW so my goal for the week is to try to make the trip as magical as possible for them.
Since we are such a large group planning the past few months has had it's challenges laying out plans so we are at the parks some of the same days with the group while allowing everyone the ability to still have their own vacation. Because of this my original ADR's I made 180+10 days in advance have been scrapped, including LeCellier. Finding dining for a group of 8 or more during the free dining promo just 45 days prior to arrival was a challenge. Here is our itinerary for dining:
Sunday: Boma
Monday: Grand Gathering Experience at Epcot (to celebrate my nephews birthday)
Tuesday: Free - I think were going to try the Pepper Market at Coronado Spring.
Wednesday: Kona
Thursday: Sci Fi (for the kids:ack: )
Friday: Breakfast - Chef Mickeys
Dinner - Cap Maye (my dad loves clams & oysters)
Saturday: Biergarten (my dad loves German food)
Sunday: 'Ohana (my dad's favorite ~seeing a trend here?)
We tried to have a nice mix of entertaining meals, buffets and table service meals catering to kids of all ages(myself included).
Anyhow, I've rambled plenty long but it worked we'll. I just killed 30 minutes on my countdown timer. Thanks for listening and remember if you are in WDW the last week of September to have those rain ponchos handy.