Take me back to our Happy Place - a July 2020 PTR * BRIEF update 5/27*

[DLo]

Growing up we stayed off site at the Dutch Inn - it was in the Disney Springs area. I have no idea what it is now . First on site , my dad had a conference and we stayed at the Dolphin - never stayed off site again .

 

[Mollydolly334]

My first resort was Dixie Landings (now POR) in 2000! We were in the mansions, this resort was so huge!! I think the main feature pool was closed. We would ferry over to POFQ to use their pool!

However, I kinda consider the Poly to be my first “real” resort, since our 2nd trip in 2002 was the trip I remember more and the one that really got me into Disney!! I mostly remember my first trip as a whirlwind of sensory overload and high emotions

 

[Steppesister]

I apologize! I know I do that to a few people but I just can't think that far ahead! I do better under pressure and since we end up changing every day anyway.......

LOL!! I wasn't being really all that serious. The way you plan is actually very refreshing at times, although when FiPs are involved I get a little twitchy.

Ooh good idea! I should watch the short that they modeled Gran Destino after too!

YES! Although prepare to be weirded out.

So I try to do a couple early mornings because we do find that they're productive, but also want the least amount of arguing.

Always a balancing act for sure!

I think going to Nomad will depend on how hot it is and if there's seating available inside!

I'm the opposite. I'd much rather sit outside in the shade as I always FREEZE inside. Plus...that VIEW!!!!

Got a really good front row spot near the UK literally 3 minutes after the show started! However we did not get back to the CR until after midnight because of transportation snafu's beginning with the line for the monorail looking like this

That's been my experience too. I wish they'd leave the shops open another hour to space the crowds out more. It'd be a win-win for US and for Disney.

And now answer me this, it should be interesting to see where everyone started out!

I may be the only one here with the answer of: Ft. Wilderness. Twice.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I love the throw back pictures, so cute!
My first resort was CBR in 1989, it was very new! I was with my parents and my sister, we loved it!
I think staying at CR and doing the dessert party is perfect for the 4th!
We loved the rhino tour!

 

[SEASONK]

Took an extended break from the boards after my March trip got canceled, but glad I logged in today and saw your PTR. We currently have trips booked for Memorial Day weekend (I've pretty much blew that one off), end of July, and December. I hope one of them happens.

My first resort was Beach Club and has 12 year old I didn't come to close to appreciating it.

 

[jdd]

Late to the game, and usually a lurker, but enjoying the questions, so here goes!

Favorite holiday is Christmas - haven't figured out how to do GIFs yet

Shows to watch - I'm really into British crime shows, so:
Broadchurch - all three seasons, though the first is the best
any Harlan Coban series - The Five, Safe, The Stranger
Prime Suspect (this is an older series, but it's fabulous)
Ripper Street
Sherlock

First resort we stayed at was All Star Movies in 2002. We've pretty much hit them all now, but we'll always have a soft spot for ASM.

 

[kittylady1972]

Hey Dina, glad you're here I have accepted that our Memorial Day trip will pretty much definitely be cancelled but until they get that far into May cancellations I'm not giving up on June; for us and for all the client reservations I then have to move AGAIN lol! I will also be in the parks asap and I don't see all of WDW staying closed through the summer so we'll have to continue the waiting game and see

Yeah he's very in line with Maryland, NJ and CT and PA. right now. I've also accepted schools won't reopen even though we're only officially closed through 5/15 and still hoping there is some type of graduation for the kids between now and the start of college.

Nice way to pass the time!

Ugh no not yet. With Ricky going away it's hard pinning down a time the 4 of us can go; he doesn't want to go over Christmas as he rather be free to spend time with friends here. The boys spring breaks don't line up starting next year. We thought about August but don't know yet when Ricky will move in, if there will be some type of graduation, etc. I was just quoting someone for November and a few around Thanksgiving are priced really well which made me really want to rebook but I think we'll end up waiting until next summer. I gotta say the prices are really good now if you're interested!

Yeah I agree on May...and did you see the recent internet stuff about Disney not opening at all until 2021? I can't see that happening...but nobody really knows.

I hope you get some kind of graduation as well for Ricky. Totally get not being able to reschedule the cruise right now. I have looked at prices myself...I do all the time...but nothing sticks out so far. We have done Thanksgiving before (our very first cruise actually) and the only bad part about that was that Castaway Cay was pretty cold...we didn't want to get in the water at all there which is a shame because that's one of the best parts of the cruise.

Love your July plans so far. I love dessert parties too but hate the prices now. I am with you on not waiting for the good fireworks places and the July 4th fireworks are just SOOOO great there. I kinda want to go there myself this year.

Growing up we stayed off site at the Dutch Inn - it was in the Disney Springs area. I have no idea what it is now . First on site , my dad had a conference and we stayed at the Dolphin - never stayed off site again .

THIS is us as well. Our first trip to Disney was I think around 1977 and I definitely recall the Dutch Inn in the Disney Springs area (was Disney Marketplace back then). At least I think that's where we stayed in 1977...it could have been later...wish my mom was here so I could ask her. I'm sure my dad doesn't know.

This was a taken on a later trip in 1981. I don't know where we stayed then and I really don't recall any other places that we stayed during the few family trips we had when I was a kid:



So if you want me to say the first Disney Resort I stayed in and paid for myself, that still exists today, was back in Feb 1997 and we stayed at the All Star Music Resort. Here are some photos we took in our room...pre cell phone photos...with the timer of my actual camera:

 

[ariane37]

'm the same way with my home town. The other day we watched a movie (Breakthrough... not bad), that looked awfully familiar. We paused it and Googled and... it was partly filmed here!

It's so funny how excited we get! Poughkeepsie is actually the town right next to mine but a bit bigger and more well known, mainly due to the colleges there (Marist and Vassar) and because it used to be HUGE for IBM. And since it is a bigger city not far from NYC and it's on the train route it's mentioned quite often in TV shows and movies. And of course in the Pixar short in Epcot "Get a Horse"!

Wait... he can actually do that????

Judging by the freakin' noises I hear coming from his room upstairs when I'm downstairs my spidey senses say yes!

I want to do this one!

You should! It's great and doesn't take up too much time! A really nice "change" from the parks

Ummm… almost all of them?

and probably yes......

Because you didn't try to drown him in it?

I didn't try to drown him but I may have gotten him to throw up on Disney property just like his brother. Stay tuned!

Up until I had kids, I always stayed at a cheap hotel/motel

I think all of us stayed at cheap hotel/motels before we had kids

When we went as kids, it was my older sister's Make A Wish trip so we stayed in Give Kids the World village.

Oh man Courtney I had no idea

Then my first trip back as an adult in 2012, I had no idea what I was doing planning and didn't even know that Universal/Disney/Seaworld weren't all in the same place but we stayed at the Best Western in the Disney Springs area

LOL! Funny how so many of us "experts" didn't know the ins and outs and what was what when we started! I was the same way, we did no TS restaurants the first time we went with kids but we did walk up to Crystal Palace and ask to be seated without a reservation around noon lol. We were offsite the first 2 times we went with kids and always stayed offsite when I went as a kid with my parents.

Yup…I'm on season 3 and kind of hating Don right now I know I'll love him again soon but that's why this show was so good.

We're still just on season 2 but I'm sure I'll get there! I felt that way when I watched "Masters of Sex", I loved and then hated and then felt bad for Michael Sheen's character.

I love this trip

The next EPIC trip really has a lot to live up to

We will be rope dropping AK right along with you. Nicholas loves FOP and he's an early riser anyway.

OOh if we both keep these plans we should all try to ride together! I know that'll be hard to do, actually meeting up and being in line together but that would be cool. Maybe Ricky and Nicholas would even get along??

I'm hoping it magically appears again by the time we get back. If not, I'll go back to what I used to always get, The Plaza Club.

At this point, I'll eat **** on a shingle as long as we can go!

So we are doing our MK dessert party on 7/3 and I was thinking about going to EPCOT on 7/4, but we'll see how it goes. We're not even sure EPCOT was going to do a holiday overlay and honestly, we may not want to fight those crowds anyway. I was also thinking about TOTWL as an option for 7/4 but who the heck knows what's happening up there yet. Last year they made it a paid for party so even people staying there couldn't go up. I guess w
e'll have to wait and see.

I remember that about TOTWL last year. I'll tell you the crowds at Epcot really weren't that bad and we didn't get there until right before the show started. I actually would have preferred to go to Epcot on the 4th but like you was unsure if they'd have a special ending and I rather at least see some type of 4th fireworks.If they do an overlay at all I'd go there!

OKW will always have a special place in my heart

I love the pictures you shared! I feel the same about OKW and have thought about staying there again just for the nostalgia factor.

Aw look at happy smiley wee Chris

He used to smile all the time! Not sure where that kid went but you know they disappear when they hit those early teens. At least they usually come back in their late teens lol

The first few times we visited WDW we stayed offsite at Riu, Lake Buena Vista or The Grosvenor /Regal Sun on Hotel Plaza then we finally saw the light and made it to POFQ in 1995/6

I think most of us that start offsite "see the light" and vow not to go back!

Now you’ve got me walking down Memory Lane. I hope these pictures post since I’m doing them a different way. And of course, don’t mind the quality. They are all pictures of pictures because nothing was digital yet.

Thank you for sharing! Mine were pictures of pictures too; way before digital

And this one cracks me up...Allie eating her Happy Meal in AK. Remember when McDonald’s was there?!

OMG yes! So many people were upset when they left!

 

[ariane37]

We stayed at OKW when our two oldest grandsons were 8 and 10 years old, and the younger one loved the big bathtub. He also loved the 2br villa and said it was his favorite part of the trip.

So funny how when they're younger the pools AND bathtubs are their favorite parts!

A perfect split stay would include CR on July 3rd and an Epcot resort on July 4th. Then you could walk back to your resort from both firework shows. I could never get my husband to agree to that, though.

That would be perfect, although same on getting Steve to do one night and then move. We did that once or twice when we've added a night and there's no availability where we're booked for the majority of our stay and he does it, but doesn't like it.
If we were arriving earlier on the 3rd I would have done MK on the 3rd and Epcot on the 4th with the hope that they do a special tag, but the 2nd is my moms birthday and I want to be here and flight-wise we couldn't get in earlier unless we spent $$$$. And Ricky's college in the fall is extra $$$$ enough...................

That was back in the day when MK was the only park

I remember those days, that's when I started going with my parents

Last week was our "spring break" and Rob and I finally painted our bedroom!! It's been on our list since we moved in 14 years ago!! The people who lived here before us LOVED sponge paint, so our room was pepto bismol pink with white sponge paint on top. HIDEOUS

This is hysterical but the new color scheme sounds cool! We did our kitchen a light gray and Chris's bedroom is up next, going from royal blue (from when we moved in) to his choice, pewter.

Aren't drinks included now? Hopefully that makes it worth it!

They are and it does

Well, I mean, he still likes being in the hotel room, so not much has changed, right?! This is an adorable picture!

lmao thanks! Yes but luckily we don't walk in the room after leaving him alone and find him in the tub with the door to the bathroom open

Following your posts, July 7-15 over here for my sons birthday. I’m laughing at these pics of kids in bathtubs. Leave it to us moms, I have some from our first trip to the beach club.

Hello and so glad you're here! Well the good thing is if my trip happens with my July 3rd arrival date, yours is happening and right now I have all confidence they're happening! Where are you guys staying?
I have quite a few bathtub pics, especially of Ricky and those I cannot post even though he was an infant and toddler - not enough suds covering I also for some reason always take a picture of them sleeping on vacation? No idea why but as you say, moms!

RIP Fried Green Tomato sandwhich... But it will def be good to have a reservation on a busy day like that, for sure!

Hey Ariella, yes even if it doesn't make a reappearance I'll be happy to be sitting for a bit and getting a decent TS meal early enough before all those desserts!

Are you doing the before desserts? Again, on a busy night like that, I feel like it def becomes more worth it. They now have alchol included, so there is that....

Yes the before, and yes they have alcohol now so that's a big plus. The boys have actually never seen HEA with the projections, and while this isn't going to be that I wanted them to have a "full fireworks experience". Not that they care but at least I can say I gave it to them!

They Poly was our first resort. We knew nothing, and a friend recommended it for ease with the stroller and the monorail. And it was great. But we have discovered so many more great resorts!

Well it was good advice for sure!

Us in the Volcano pool before they moved it 6"

I love the pictures, the girls are so young and OMG Gwen's curls

My very first resort was The Contemporary, followed by Fort Wilderness and All Sar Music. LOL!

It's like you were movin' on down..... just kidding!

Growing up we stayed off site at the Dutch Inn - it was in the Disney Springs area. I have no idea what it is now . First on site , my dad had a conference and we stayed at the Dolphin - never stayed off site again .

Yeah that's one I never heard of, although as a kid we always stayed off site and I have no idea where and my mom doesn't remember either. I kind of want to try either the Swan or Dolphin just to say I've done one? Most people I know who stay there really enjoy them.

My first resort was Dixie Landings (now POR) in 2000! We were in the mansions, this resort was so huge!! I think the main feature pool was closed. We would ferry over to POFQ to use their pool!

However, I kinda consider the Poly to be my first “real” resort, since our 2nd trip in 2002 was the trip I remember more and the one that really got me into Disney!! I mostly remember my first trip as a whirlwind of sensory overload and high emotions

LOL I said it before, so funny how those of us who know everything now knew so little our first visits! Of course YOU were little on your first onsite visit I kind of separate my trips by the ones I took with my family growing up and then the ones I took with the kids, and then there are 3 in the middle I took with a boyfriend from college and Steve before kids. And I really only remember the details of the ones with the kids with a few exceptions. I need to find pictures of my early trips!

 

[pkondz]

Judging by the freakin' noises I hear coming from his room upstairs when I'm downstairs my spidey senses say yes!

Proof!

I didn't try to drown him but I may have gotten him to throw up on Disney property just like his brother. Stay tuned!

I think all of us stayed at cheap hotel/motels before we had kids

 

[Sandiz08]

Hello and so glad you're here! Well the good thing is if my trip happens with my July 3rd arrival date, yours is happening and right now I have all confidence they're happening! Where are you guys staying?
I have quite a few bathtub pics, especially of Ricky and those I cannot post even though he was an infant and toddler - not enough suds covering I also for some reason always take a picture of them sleeping on vacation? No idea why but as you say, moms!

We have a bounce back booked at Carribean Beach. May upgrade if we don’t have our guest coming along, , he is high risk so we are going to be leaving that decision up to him. I also don’t think my kids tub pics are internet appropriate haha. I think I’ve done the sleepy pics once.

 

[ariane37]

The way you plan is actually very refreshing at times, although when FiPs are involved I get a little twitchy.

You know it's not that I don't want the good FP's, I just can't seem to get stressed anymore! I do try harder and acre more when the boys are going and ooh, our FP's were perfect for Memorial weekend! I'm hoping for good luck when I do July's........

YES! Although prepare to be weirded out.

LOL I remember when you said this.

I'm the opposite. I'd much rather sit outside in the shade as I always FREEZE inside. Plus...that VIEW!!!!

The view is amazing!!! I prefer sitting outside but I don't like the heat and so in July I'd take the break inside. And it would keep Chris happy and if I can do that without giving up my happiness it's a win-win

I may be the only one here with the answer of: Ft. Wilderness. Twice.

I think you are except it's one of @Jenny Sanders first 3 visits? I think Ft. Wilderness grounds are so pretty but the cabins don't seem to be too popular. However those that love 'em, love 'em.

I love the throw back pictures, so cute!
My first resort was CBR in 1989, it was very new! I was with my parents and my sister, we loved it!

Thanks! I never ever stayed onsite with my parents and sister and don't remember anywhere we stayed! Our last stay as a family was 1988

ook an extended break from the boards after my March trip got canceled, but glad I logged in today and saw your PTR. We currently have trips booked for Memorial Day weekend (I've pretty much blew that one off), end of July, and December. I hope one of them happens.

Hey Season it's nice to see you! I know it's depressing having had those cancelled trips; we had our Disney April cruise cancelled and looks like Memorial weekend will be too. I've found, after a week or so of the DIS getting me down, it now brings me back up I hope it does the same for you! I am feeling really good about both your and my July trips!!!

My first resort was Beach Club and has 12 year old I didn't come to close to appreciating it.

Nice first resort for sure!

Late to the game, and usually a lurker, but enjoying the questions, so here goes!

Hi there and glad you popped in!

Favorite holiday is Christmas - haven't figured out how to do GIFs yet

Ha ha I just figured out GIF's for this report it's easy, you just copy the link! Which I shouldn't be so flippant about since it took me awhile to figure it out lol But anyway Christmas was the winner!

Shows to watch - I'm really into British crime shows, so:
Broadchurch - all three seasons, though the first is the best
any Harlan Coban series - The Five, Safe, The Stranger
Prime Suspect (this is an older series, but it's fabulous)
Ripper Street
Sherlock

These sound good especially The Ripper, thank you!

First resort we stayed at was All Star Movies in 2002. We've pretty much hit them all now, but we'll always have a soft spot for ASM.

I definitely have a soft spot for OKW since that was our first. We have 2 to still stay at and there are only a couple I wouldn't repeat; love trying them all out.

Yeah I agree on May...and did you see the recent internet stuff about Disney not opening at all until 2021? I can't see that happening...but nobody really knows.

Yes and that is FALSE - look on both my FB pages lol. No substance to it, not by anyone associated with Disney. It's unfortunate but not surprising that so many "experts" are putting their opinions out there as what will/should happen. Until Disney says something official we need to ignore all the social media crap!

hope you get some kind of graduation as well for Ricky.

Me too..........still 2 months away but I guess by mid May or so they'll start talking about stuff.

Love your July plans so far. I love dessert parties too but hate the prices now. I am with you on not waiting for the good fireworks places and the July 4th fireworks are just SOOOO great there. I kinda want to go there myself this year.

You should! Book something but not through DVC and then it'll be easy to cancel or get the refund for if you can't go, and we can say hi again!

wish my mom was here so I could ask her. I'm sure my dad doesn't know.

Same, wish I could ask my dad who would most likely actually remember. Mom does not

This was a taken on a later trip in 1981. I don't know where we stayed then and I really don't recall any other places that we stayed during the few family trips we had when I was a kid:

Love the pictures!!!

 

[ariane37]

We have a bounce back booked at Carribean Beach. May upgrade if we don’t have our guest coming along, , he is high risk so we are going to be leaving that decision up to him

Yeah that's a tough one, whatever is decided he needs to be comfortable.

I also don’t think my kids tub pics are internet appropriate haha

LOL!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Just wanted to say I’ve seen Illuminations a couple of times on the 4th July and there was always an extra blast of fireworks added on the end if the normal show. Now I know it’s not the current Epcot fireworks but I’m betting they still do something special for the 4th

 

[kastoney]

This is Christopher's favorite thing to do regardless of where we are or what we're doing:

Man. Chris is much more talented than I gave him credit for

You aren't allowed to take pictures during the tour but because I love and miss my DIS friends, here's a shot of Jenny, Kelly @buzzrelly and I sometime after the tour

Pretty sure this photo got texted my way because someone was not there yet

Of course there's always NOMAD LOUNGE which all four of us love!

Of course you could do both. Lunch at Satuli and drinks at Nomad's. Win win in my book

And we are 100% not the type of family who will wait in a spot for a parade or show for an hour or more, so to really have what's considered a prime spot I believe the dessert party is our best bet.

As you know we are the same way hence us rarely ever watching nighttime shows. Curious to see what you think of this though. Sounds like a good way to catch the 4th fireworks. And they are serving alcohol now too right?

Do you get the feeling I really like this gif thing now that I figured it out??

Yup! And just for you...

Another fun fact: I was holding Ricky in the pool, bouncing him up and down, accidentally dragged him under the water, and he threw up in the pool And to this day, if we're on DME and we pass OKW, Ricky will go "isn't that where you tried to drown me and made me throw up in the pool?"

Not sure I would classify that fact as fun. Also now really glad i've never been in the OKW pool

Ok first your editing skills are just fantastic. In these trying times think we've found a new profession for you

My first time (so rare to say that anymore) was when I was a kid and we stayed at the Contemporary. Parents got cheap after that first trip and we usually stayed offsite but I distinctly recall having a garden view room and watching the electric water pageant at night. That's the only thing I recall from the trip and the only time I've stayed at the Contemporary. If we ever do stay there again I'll be sure to bring these socks.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I definitely recall the Dutch Inn in the Disney Springs area (was Disney Marketplace back then). At least I think that's where we stayed in 1977...it could have been later..

It wasn't our first resort but we stayed at the Dutch Inn in 1981. I remember that Disney ran a bus between the four resorts in this resort area and MK.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

It's like you were movin' on down..... just kidding!

Yep, pretty much. LOL!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Oh man Courtney I had no idea

Thankfully she is doing well- and I'm also thankful we went when we did because her health issues are much worse now than when she was younger and she wouldn't be able to enjoy it as much. I still remember my dad and I going on Space Mountain with her and she laughed hysterically the whole time!



Here's a family picture from that trip featuring my very fashionable knee socks and my little sister's ever present grumpy face (she reminds me of @amazingact21 's Evie). My little brother wasn't even born yet but until last year, he insisted he was in this picture and that he was standing behind Mickey

LOL! Funny how so many of us "experts" didn't know the ins and outs and what was what when we started! I was the same way, we did no TS restaurants the first time we went with kids but we did walk up to Crystal Palace and ask to be seated without a reservation around noon lol. We were offsite the first 2 times we went with kids and always stayed offsite when I went as a kid with my parents.

we all had to start somewhere! We did no TS on my first trip as an adult either and then the second trip we only did Tusker House. By the third trip, we were booked with free dining when September was still empty and had sit down restaurants booked daily!

 

[ariane37]

Just wanted to say I’ve seen Illuminations a couple of times on the 4th July and there was always an extra blast of fireworks added on the end if the normal show. Now I know it’s not the current Epcot fireworks but I’m betting they still do something special for the 4th

Yes we watched Illuminations last July 4th and the holiday tag at the end was awesome! We liked it better than the MK fireworks we saw the night before I just don't know if they were planning to do the holiday tag this year (before.....everything) and I didn't want to chance it

Man. Chris is much more talented than I gave him credit for

He's good when he wants to be

Pretty sure this photo got texted my way because someone was not there yet

I remember that scary time before you showed up...............

As you know we are the same way hence us rarely ever watching nighttime shows. Curious to see what you think of this though. Sounds like a good way to catch the 4th fireworks. And they are serving alcohol now too right?

I have to say with all honesty that there are no nighttime shows I LOVE since Wishes went away. So it's usually and really only if we happen to be in a park when one is happening and we feel like watching that we'll watch but going out of our way to get a perfect view isn't something we care to do. I was content watching from Narcoossee's last year and our decision to watch Epcot on the 4th had us running there less than 30 minutes before it started lol so no planning! This is really for the boys and so we have the option of doing it, or cancelling. And yes there are drinks now!!!!

Yup! And just for you..

http://mrwgifs.com/emma-stone-this-is-the-best-reaction-gif/

Ok first your editing skills are just fantastic. In these trying times think we've found a new profession for you

Well I am the best....................

My first time (so rare to say that anymore) was when I was a kid and we stayed at the Contemporary. Parents got cheap after that first trip and we usually stayed offsite but I distinctly recall having a garden view room and watching the electric water pageant at night. That's the only thing I recall from the trip and the only time I've stayed at the Contemporary. If we ever do stay there again I'll be sure to bring these socks.

Yes please! I'll even buy some to bring also!
I didn't even know there were onsite Disney resorts when I was little and went with my parents, that's how cheap they were!

Thankfully she is doing well- and I'm also thankful we went when we did because her health issues are much worse now than when she was younger and she wouldn't be able to enjoy it as much

❤ I have a 28 year old niece who is severely disabled; in a wheelchair. It started when she was 13.
She was able to go to Disney in 2015 with some assistance from family and friends who traveled with her to help my BIL and SIL and she had a great time, so happy because things got progressively worse (and still are) and there is absolutely no way in the last few years she could go and unfortunately never will be able to again. Very glad you have those memories.

Here's a family picture from that trip featuring my very fashionable knee socks and my little sister's ever present grumpy face (she reminds me of @amazingact21 's Evie).

Please wear those socks on your next trip along with @kastoney

 

[tundra1]

I love the fourth of July! Give me fireworks and band music and a parade! We are supposed to have our once every generation trip in November. I have been planning it for over a year, and am so sad that it probably won't happen. It it was just me, I would still be there, but this trip will be three generations of people going, and I want it to be magical for my grandkids. I wish you the very best for July! I can't wait to hear all about it!