Disney World, Dec 2007

We visited Disney World with the kids in December 2007. We took 5 full days in the park and stayed at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort at the park itself. I would highly recommend the "at the park" approach to anyone headed that way. We have always stayed outside the park because we felt like it was the cheaper approach. However, being able to ride the park bus everywhere for free, and sign up for the dining plans, offset the cost savings some and certainly upped the convenience factor significantly. I ate way too well because all our meals were prepaid and the dinners came with an appetizer, main course, drink, and desert, so with all 4 of us getting an appetizer big enough that one would have done, I needed to be rolled back to the bus most nights. Unless you can find a supermarket close to your hotel, you'll pay as much or more for food anyway as the costs in and around the park when you don't have the passes are frighteningly high. One thing though, there are some of the park restaurants that book well in advance (the Steak House in the Canadian section of Epcot for example), so make certain you make reservations early, maybe even calling ahead of your trip for the popular spots. There are also special events that a travel agent, though another adder in terms of cost, is more likely to be able to point you to. We would have completely missed the Candlelight Processional dining and music special without the travel agent's assistance.

One of the special things about our trip was that we met some friends from Portland, OR at the park. After we'd been there half a week, my parents and aunt also joined us. One of my favorite photos is this one of 2 sisters and then 2 more sisters 2 generations down my family tree sitting together in front of the "The Seas with Nemo and Friends" area in Future World at Epcot. I also really liked this photo of me and my ladies in front of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom.