We will travel to Walt Disney World in just 10 short/long days! A few things are different for us on this trip - the biggest being that now that I am a Disney Vacation Planner, I have a new perspective for Disney travel. While we are trying some new things for this trip, most of it will remain the same. We are after all creatures of habit!
Each time we plan a major Disney vacation, we try to stay at a different resort. This time we will stay at Animal kingdom Lodge, Jambo House. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to stay at this Deluxe resort! The African theme of this resort will be a change of pace for us, and we are looking forward to seeing the wildlife from our windows!
We will be driving the 16+ hour trip in ONE DAY. Yes, you read that correctly. This is due, in part to the fact that my husband is a beast, and that we have found that we can save lots of money in unneceesary hotel and food expenses if we just decide to stay in the car for the entire day. We will leave Shelbyville, KY at 2:30am and arrive to Downtown Disney around 7:00 or 8:00pm. Just in time for a quick dinner at Earl of Sandwich, and then check-in our pre-Disney hotel.
We get various looks from folks when we reveal that we like to travel this way. Lots of Questions arise - most of which we have a rehearsed answer.
- Why don't you just fly?
- We simply can't afford it. We travel in the summer, when airfare is at its highest. If we could find a flight for our family for less than $Gazillion, we would consider flying. While flying is the most efficient method of traveling to Disney World for most families, and cuts down on lots of "are we there yet?" whining, we just can't stomach the cost. Plus, we enjoy our time in our minivan. The double DVD players, stocked cooler, and pre-loaded playlist on the iPod keep us happy! We enjoy the stops along the way, and find time to try out different restaurants (and potty stops)!
- Why so early? Wouldn't it be better to leave in the evening and drive overnight?
- While driving overnight works for many families - many swear by it - but it just doesn't work for our family. At ages 3 & 5 (barely), my children are still required to sit in booster seats, and car seats with a 5-point harness. It was evident early on in our attempt at overnight driving that it was impossible for them to get comfortable in their seats to sleep. They can nap for small intervals without much incident, but requiring them to sleep in those seats just didn't work. And although my husband is a great driver, and even allows me to take the wheel when he's ready for a rest, we found ourselves very sleepy. So sleepy that we puled into a rest area, took our kids out of their seats, and all slept for an hour or more. Early morning driving gives us all rest from the night before, allows us to drive as the sun rises, and keeps us awake!
- What about the kids? Don't they get bored?
- Well, in a word, yes! Kids are going to get bored with anything for an extended amount of time. We build in quick stops along the way, bring snacks, toys, and MOVIES! The kids' favorite is the gifts from Mickey Mouse. A day or two before we leave, a box of wrapped gifts arrives on our front porch - gifts from Mickey Mouse! We spend the weeks leading up to our trip scouring the Dollar Store, and dollar sections of Wal-mart and Target for cheap toys and games with Disney characters. We wrap them individually for each child, and take the box with us. Every hour or so (or when the kids are becoming unruly in the back seat!) we let them open a gift. These toys hold the kids' attention just long enough to get us down the road a little farther!
- Why do you arrive the night before you reservations?
- While it seems like the addition of a hotel the night before our Disney reservations begin adds unnecessary expenses, we really don't feel this way. By staying at a Good Neighbor hotel (we always stay in a nearby Dountown Disney area hotel) we can begin our Disney Magic sooner! We are able to check into our Disney hotel first thing on the morning of our reservations, and while our room isn't always ready (though most of the time it is) we can get our Key to the World cards, and head straight to the parks that morning. We find that this prolongs our trip and maximizes our time!
- Earl of Sandwich? Huh?
- Earl of Sandwich is a restaurant located in The Marketplace at Downtown Disney. The sandwiches are exceptional, and large enough to share with our kids for a satisfying dinner. The prices are reasonable - one of the most reasonable on Disney property - and lets us enjoy some Disney magic at The Marketplace without breaking our budget the first night! If the restaurnat is overly crowded, and it's very likely, we can take the sandwiches out to a nearby curb, or bench to eat. My husband orders "The Full Montagu" and I get the club. Again...creatures of habit!
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