rentayenta
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
You light em, they fight em! A GCV/Disneyland Resort December 2014 PTR!
to my trip report, glad to have you! This trip will be a little different from the others as we are going with our very dear and long time friends and two of their children. The dads in our group are both Captain Paramedic firefighters and weve been friends with them for nearly two decades. We have shared births and deaths, triumphs and tragedies. Our guys are the bravest of the brave, risking their lives to save yours. I cannot put into words how proud I am of my guy. Hes a true hero. And my hero is going to DISNEYLAND! 
We have always wanted to vacation together and we have, adults only; random trips to Vegas and concerts and the like but without the kids as we could never seem to pull it off. Both families have enjoyed the Disneyland Resort during the holidays but not at the same time. They havent stayed at the GCV but love the DLH. Their last holiday trip was about 6-7 years ago. We went last year for a quick two dayer. I can happily say this trip will be 3x that long.
Well have 4 park days, one resort day, and a beach day.
The fellas got hired on at the same fire department (FD) nearly 20 years ago. We were all young and freshly married. They have remained brothers and partners at the FD all this time. These people are some of our dearest friends. They are family weve chosen.
Rewind to a few months ago. We had gone to dinner for DHs birthday and were discussing Disney (go figure). I had the brilliant idea that we should all go this December. We had brought it up before but it never came to fruition; we couldnt get the logistics right. This year that all changes!
After a few conversations sans the men, we just tell them what days they need off from the FD, we came up with a plan: basically anytime during the first 2- 2/12 weeks of December would work. Initially I had wanted Dec 1-7 as well most likely be in Vegas for DSs soccer tournament over Thanksgiving. It would be very easy to drive that Sunday to So Cal as wed be 3/4 of the way there already. Our friends were fine with any dates but preferred the second week as it worked better with their schedules.
I told them to just plan on anytime within that first two weeks and Ill take care of the rest.
I had been waking up every day at 5:30 am since May 1st to be on the computer and ready by 6 am to grab a villa at the GCV. Our chances from Dec 1-5 looked slim to none but once the 6th rolled around I could see what I wanted or what we could make work. Every night, the night before I could book, it looked promising but once 6 am came the following morning, my choices would be gone ..I was starting to panic. Like really panic. Before that my friend who owns at the GCV would check availability for me
thanks: Alison). I researched everything from split stays between the GCV and DLH/PPH to random off site properties to everything in between. 
As I type I realize I need to cancel 6 reservations.
Yesterday was the day I hit the jackpot. I woke up at 5:30, brewed my decaf, let the dogs out, logged into the DVC members site, and hit refresh no less than 20 times before 6 am.
I saw our dates open and nabbed them! There was also a one bedroom that showed available as well as more 2 bedrooms (you never know how many really) after I booked. They stayed available for about 15 minutes and then both got xed out for Dec 9. We were IN! Lets do this! I am so excited to share DVC with them.
Where: the GCV, dedicated 2 bedroom. Im currently doing homework, using the GCV super thread, on villa requests and everything GCV.
When: December 9-15.
Who: my family which is comprised of myself (Jenny), DH (Michael), DD17 (Gabby) , DD15 (Chloe), and DS13 (Joshua). Our friends have three daughters but only two will join us. The two joining us are 20 and 15. Well call them J (dad), H (mom), C (DD20), and K(DD15). Poor Joshua will be girl trapped once again. That makes a total 9 of us. Perfect for the 2 bedroom.
How: drive. I married a firefighter after all. They are not in it for the moola
In all honestly, I like to drive. We all do. Our children look forward to the road trip. It extends the vacation in an odd way. We listen to lots of Disney music and heck, Disney is only 5-6 Disney movies from home.
Here are a few too many photos of our motley crew .
Me and DH in Oregon:
Here we all are at Club 33 from March 2013:
1901 right before dinner at Club 33:
At an awards ceremony for the FD where DH was honored two-ish years ago:
Channeling our inner Gear and Winger at said awards ceremony:
Here are some older pics of DH doing what he does:
More of us at Disney throughout the years. Ill apologize now for going a little nuts.
I havent seen some of these photos in ages.
Us Disneyland 2013:
At AKV in 2012:
Epcot 2012:
Jedi Chloe:
At the GCV enjoying some gingerbread men and hot chocolate:
Continued in next post......
to my trip report, glad to have you! This trip will be a little different from the others as we are going with our very dear and long time friends and two of their children. The dads in our group are both Captain Paramedic firefighters and weve been friends with them for nearly two decades. We have shared births and deaths, triumphs and tragedies. Our guys are the bravest of the brave, risking their lives to save yours. I cannot put into words how proud I am of my guy. Hes a true hero. And my hero is going to DISNEYLAND! We have always wanted to vacation together and we have, adults only; random trips to Vegas and concerts and the like but without the kids as we could never seem to pull it off. Both families have enjoyed the Disneyland Resort during the holidays but not at the same time. They havent stayed at the GCV but love the DLH. Their last holiday trip was about 6-7 years ago. We went last year for a quick two dayer. I can happily say this trip will be 3x that long.
Well have 4 park days, one resort day, and a beach day. The fellas got hired on at the same fire department (FD) nearly 20 years ago. We were all young and freshly married. They have remained brothers and partners at the FD all this time. These people are some of our dearest friends. They are family weve chosen.
Rewind to a few months ago. We had gone to dinner for DHs birthday and were discussing Disney (go figure). I had the brilliant idea that we should all go this December. We had brought it up before but it never came to fruition; we couldnt get the logistics right. This year that all changes!
After a few conversations sans the men, we just tell them what days they need off from the FD, we came up with a plan: basically anytime during the first 2- 2/12 weeks of December would work. Initially I had wanted Dec 1-7 as well most likely be in Vegas for DSs soccer tournament over Thanksgiving. It would be very easy to drive that Sunday to So Cal as wed be 3/4 of the way there already. Our friends were fine with any dates but preferred the second week as it worked better with their schedules.
I told them to just plan on anytime within that first two weeks and Ill take care of the rest.
I had been waking up every day at 5:30 am since May 1st to be on the computer and ready by 6 am to grab a villa at the GCV. Our chances from Dec 1-5 looked slim to none but once the 6th rolled around I could see what I wanted or what we could make work. Every night, the night before I could book, it looked promising but once 6 am came the following morning, my choices would be gone ..I was starting to panic. Like really panic. Before that my friend who owns at the GCV would check availability for me
thanks: Alison). I researched everything from split stays between the GCV and DLH/PPH to random off site properties to everything in between. As I type I realize I need to cancel 6 reservations. Yesterday was the day I hit the jackpot. I woke up at 5:30, brewed my decaf, let the dogs out, logged into the DVC members site, and hit refresh no less than 20 times before 6 am.
I saw our dates open and nabbed them! There was also a one bedroom that showed available as well as more 2 bedrooms (you never know how many really) after I booked. They stayed available for about 15 minutes and then both got xed out for Dec 9. We were IN! Lets do this! I am so excited to share DVC with them. Where: the GCV, dedicated 2 bedroom. Im currently doing homework, using the GCV super thread, on villa requests and everything GCV.
When: December 9-15.
Who: my family which is comprised of myself (Jenny), DH (Michael), DD17 (Gabby) , DD15 (Chloe), and DS13 (Joshua). Our friends have three daughters but only two will join us. The two joining us are 20 and 15. Well call them J (dad), H (mom), C (DD20), and K(DD15). Poor Joshua will be girl trapped once again. That makes a total 9 of us. Perfect for the 2 bedroom.
How: drive. I married a firefighter after all. They are not in it for the moola
In all honestly, I like to drive. We all do. Our children look forward to the road trip. It extends the vacation in an odd way. We listen to lots of Disney music and heck, Disney is only 5-6 Disney movies from home. Here are a few too many photos of our motley crew .
Me and DH in Oregon:
Here we all are at Club 33 from March 2013:
1901 right before dinner at Club 33:
At an awards ceremony for the FD where DH was honored two-ish years ago:
Channeling our inner Gear and Winger at said awards ceremony:
Here are some older pics of DH doing what he does:
More of us at Disney throughout the years. Ill apologize now for going a little nuts.
I havent seen some of these photos in ages. Us Disneyland 2013:
At AKV in 2012:
Epcot 2012:
Jedi Chloe:
At the GCV enjoying some gingerbread men and hot chocolate:
Continued in next post......
Glad you're here! They are really wonderful friends. Keep fitbitting girl, you're going to need the energy for our afternoon together. 
Glad you're here.
Looking forward to sharing the love this December with our friends and each other. 
Anyway I am reading along and very excited for a CA trip!
