TikiFamily Pre-Trip Report: Summer 2015

**TikiGoddess** · 07-12-2015, 08:15 AM

TikiGoddess Pre-Trip Report Summer 2015

It’s time for our annual trip down to visit my in-laws in Tampa, with a quick detour to Orlando. This year, we have a few surprises planned for our daughters…

Here’s the cast of characters to start…

DH Tim, 47, ex-CM and happy tag-along
Me, Kathy, 42, lover of all things WDW
DD12, Julie, future scientist
DD10, Katie, our comic relief and ‘spark’ of the family

We will be visiting our relatives at their house near the Gulf for 4 days. The Rays are playing the Mets, so we might go see a game. Other plans include going to the Lowry Park Zoo, which thankfully the girls have not outgrown yet. I love it there. Also some beach time (most likely in the evening, when the summer sun is less intense) and some big breakfasts at our favorite spot, The Frog Pond.

We’ve told the girls that this summer’s trip will be scaled back a bit… my husband is just finishing his 2nd Master’s degree, I am starting my 2nd post grad degree, and we just bought a new car in January, so money is tight. We’re also saving up for a week long trip to WDW next summer.

So this is what the girls think we’re doing:

Wednesday - Saturday: visit Grandma and Grandpa
Sunday: go to Blizzard Beach, stay one night at POR
Monday: go to DTD, drive back to Tampa
Tuesday - Weds: visit Grandma and Grandpa, fly home

When in reality, this is the plan:

Wednesday - Saturday: visit Grandma and Grandpa
Sunday: go to Magic Kingdom in the morning, Epcot in the afternoon, stay at POR
Monday: visit Kennedy Space Center!! Stay overnight at POR
Tuesday: go to Blizzard Beach, drive back to Tampa
Wednesday: fly home

I plan on telling the girls as late as possible – so, they won’t know that we’re going to MK until we are pulling into POR that morning to check in, or possibly when we’re getting on the MK bus. They won’t know we’re going to Kennedy until Monday morning when I wake them up and give them their new NASA shirts.

It’s not much but it’s more than they expect… and I couldn’t make it through the year without at least one day in my happy place! Sunday morning we intend to head straight for Thunder and Splash Mountains, then work our way clockwise around the park. FP+ for 7DMT, Pooh, and Space Mtn. Otherwise we’re going to play it by ear. We will most likely take a break in the middle of the day and get ourselves settled in our room at POR. We’ve requested Alligator Bayou, as Katie can fit on the day bed and that will help everyone get a good night’s sleep!

Julie has been asking to go to Kennedy Space Center for a while now. She’s very interested in anything scientific. I think we’ll all enjoy the visit. We’ll try to get there at 9am (opening) and stay until we’re done… then come back and swim in the pool.

I will be posting a (shorter than normal) trip report when we get back. Thanks for reading!

Kathy

**VWL Mom** · 07-12-2015, 08:33 AM

Have a wonderful time, I'm sure the girls will love their surprise

**faline** · 07-12-2015, 11:21 AM

Your plans sound great!! Enjoy your vacation!!

**BriarRose0708** · 07-13-2015, 05:22 PM

Sounds like such a great surprise, Kathy! Have a magical trip!

**Disney4us2** · 07-15-2015, 09:50 AM

What a great surprise. We loved KSC. It was just incredible. Especially the Atlantus. Don't want to spoil it, but the reveal gave me goosebumps. We were there opening to closing and still didn't see everything. Get there at opening and do the bus tour early. The line will be long if you don't go early. Have a great time.