Michael and Kellis April 2014 Trip with Friends, Pop Century
Travel dates: Wednesday April 2 to Tuesday April 8, 2014
Travel method: air, rental car
Resort: Pop Century Resort
Accommodations: 3 standard rooms
Ages Represented in Group: 14, 30 somethings, 50 somethings, one older than dirt
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: Kelli and I are DVC members and have over 15 trips to WDW; but it will be our friends and their sons first trip. It will be Bills third trip.
Comments: This trip was initiated by our friend Bill. He wanted to get back but in nicer weather (ie. Not Summer.) Our mutual friends were invited along with their autistic son. It will be there first vacation EVER! As much as my wife and I know about WDW, it will still be a learning experience for us, and we are really looking forward to it.
We know Frank and Dana as volunteers from Hudson River Audubon's huge butterfly garden that is maintained by the chapter at a county park, so we are all looking forward to the Flower and Garden show.
Cast of characters:
Michael, trip reporter, planner and birder
Kelli, my wife, who thankfully will gladly shop and people watch while I go on thrill rides
Bill, our friend, who tagged along twice when we had huge family trips, 22-25 people in 2006 and 2010
Frank and Dana, first time visitors
Frank Jr., Frank and Danas teenage son
Planning: After hearing all about our trips, Frank and Dana thought that Disney would be a great place for their first vacation. We agreed. We needed to avoid long lines and heavy crowds. To avoid crowded busses we will drive to the parks, thus we needed two rental cars. We have reservations for Budget. Alamo and Enterprise prices have been ridiculous, but we will keep checking as departure nears.
Based on crowd predictions for the spring, there will be a slight dip in crowds between spring break season and Easter during the first week in April. To avoid crowds and lines as much as can be at the airports, we are flying out and returning midweek. It is also Dana's and Frank Jr's first time flying. :eek:
Although Frankie Jr is a well-functioning teenager with autism, Frank and Dana have done an exemplary job raising him, we will use both Fastpass plus and Disneys Disability Access Service Card for him. Then adjust their use as we see best. We have three ADRs, Bomas, a repeat favorite of ours, Sci-Fi Diner, and the Plaza Restaurant, which is new to us.
Dana has been showing videos of some of the attractions to Frankie Jr, to both get him excited about going and to have some familiarity with them.
We did our homework on this trip, but any last minute advice will be welcomed.
Travel dates: Wednesday April 2 to Tuesday April 8, 2014
Travel method: air, rental car
Resort: Pop Century Resort
Accommodations: 3 standard rooms
Ages Represented in Group: 14, 30 somethings, 50 somethings, one older than dirt
Disney Resort Experience Represented in Group: Kelli and I are DVC members and have over 15 trips to WDW; but it will be our friends and their sons first trip. It will be Bills third trip.
Comments: This trip was initiated by our friend Bill. He wanted to get back but in nicer weather (ie. Not Summer.) Our mutual friends were invited along with their autistic son. It will be there first vacation EVER! As much as my wife and I know about WDW, it will still be a learning experience for us, and we are really looking forward to it.
We know Frank and Dana as volunteers from Hudson River Audubon's huge butterfly garden that is maintained by the chapter at a county park, so we are all looking forward to the Flower and Garden show.
Cast of characters:
Michael, trip reporter, planner and birder
Kelli, my wife, who thankfully will gladly shop and people watch while I go on thrill rides
Bill, our friend, who tagged along twice when we had huge family trips, 22-25 people in 2006 and 2010
Frank and Dana, first time visitors
Frank Jr., Frank and Danas teenage son
Planning: After hearing all about our trips, Frank and Dana thought that Disney would be a great place for their first vacation. We agreed. We needed to avoid long lines and heavy crowds. To avoid crowded busses we will drive to the parks, thus we needed two rental cars. We have reservations for Budget. Alamo and Enterprise prices have been ridiculous, but we will keep checking as departure nears.
Based on crowd predictions for the spring, there will be a slight dip in crowds between spring break season and Easter during the first week in April. To avoid crowds and lines as much as can be at the airports, we are flying out and returning midweek. It is also Dana's and Frank Jr's first time flying. :eek:
Although Frankie Jr is a well-functioning teenager with autism, Frank and Dana have done an exemplary job raising him, we will use both Fastpass plus and Disneys Disability Access Service Card for him. Then adjust their use as we see best. We have three ADRs, Bomas, a repeat favorite of ours, Sci-Fi Diner, and the Plaza Restaurant, which is new to us.
Dana has been showing videos of some of the attractions to Frankie Jr, to both get him excited about going and to have some familiarity with them.
We did our homework on this trip, but any last minute advice will be welcomed.