Hassler/Hartsell's 2008 Walt Disney World Trip

This will be my 14th time going to Orlando, FL; I pretty much know what I'm going to do on this trip and I feel like I'm a summer holiday Orlando resident. My parents own a timeshare week at Orange Lake Country Club during the 4th of July week. The last time I went to Orlando, FL was on my Honeymoon around Sunday, December 10th, 2006 through Sunday, December 17th, 2006. My parents gave us their week for that year as a wedding present. We're not planning on going this year, because my parents are trying save this week in RCI so me and Josh can rent another unit that 2008 4th of July week. My husband and I have already made reservations at Orange Lake for July 4th, 2008 through July 11th, 2008 (Friday to Friday). It cost us only $164 for that entire week to stay there. I'm helping to save for gas money going down there and back by recycling the Coke and Dr. Pepper cans that me and Josh are drinking. When my parents get enough cans to recycle, they usually take it down to the local recycling place and cash in the bags of cans. That is a great way to save on gas money (Good Tip for people to follow). :) Right now, I'm at the planning stage of this trip. So, here's to the beginning of a "Magical Gathering" for the Hassler and Hartsell clans...Walt Disney World Vacation Trip of 2008.

I am actually wondering how you set up reservations for 2008 already? We are looking to go in December and they arent setting res. yet/ did you do room only

My parent's own a timeshare at Orange Lake. RCI set up the reservation for us. It's actually a 2 bedroom condo that we will be staying in. I looked on the RCI website to see, if non-members could call them to make reservation in advance, but I could only find this number RCI North America Office - (317) 805-9000. If you know of someone who is a RCI member, you might get them to help you make reservations for a week with RCI; RCI handles timeshares and I believe they handle also Summer Rental homes...but I wouldn't quote me on that one "talking about the handling Summer Rental homes". But--that is how I went about getting a reservation for 2008; I had my mom call RCI to make reservations and I gave her the money to cover the price that was quoted to her. The member will have the phone number that they use to get a reservation. You can always try the timeshare places to see, if you can reservation a week in advance. Here are some timeshares that you might look into calling: Orange Lake - (800)877-6522; Florida Vacation Villas - (407)397-2700; Grand Lake Resort - (407)396-3000; Westgate Vacation Villas - (407)396-8523; High Point World Resort - (407)396-9600; Silver Lake Resort - (407)397-2828; Celebration World Resort - (407)396-4005; Sheraton Vistana Resort - (407)239-3100; and Hilton Grand Vacations Club - (407)239-0100 (Just to name a few of them that you might consider calling.). Warning: When you make reservations with a Timeshare Resort, you will have to go through a sales pitch, but the sales pitches are usually not that hard to go through...plus, you get free tickets to an event or a discount ticket(s) when you go through one of those sales pitches. I wish I could list all the 800 numbers to all the resorts that was listed above, but the only one who listed an 800 number was Orange Lake. You'll have fun there; it's fun going down there during Christmas time. I would highly recommend going to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I wish you the best on your Orlando vacation. :)

I will be traveling with an infant. I found out Tuesday that I was pregnant. I still plan on traveling to Orlando on the 4th of July week next year. People may look down on me, but they have no right to judge me on what I do. I looked up on the internet when the earliest that someone who has given birth can travel. I found out for a natural birth--between 2 to 3 weeks after giving birth and C-section--between 3 to 4 weeks after giving birth. I plan on keeping to the stores that are attached to the rides while I'm in the theme parks. Those places (theme parks) have buildings where I can go feed my baby and change his or her diapers, so I'm not worried about that. I know the temperature during that time of year (because I've been going there during the 4th of July week for the longest...meaning, 12 years) and that is the reason why I will be keeping to the souvenir shops where it's cool. About less than a year before I met my husband, I saw someone with a newborn in the Magic Kingdom...so, I'm not the only one who has done this and probably won't be the last. After the trip, I will show you how to have a vacation with a newborn (4 weeks old or older).

I don't have to worry about taking a very young child or being pregnant on this trip. Thank goodness! The Magical Gathering--of mine--has grown since I last posted in this. Josh's, my hushand, mother is coming with us. Okay, here is what I know so far...we are going to get two 6 day Magic Your Way tickets for ourselves. I'm hoping that we go to Holy Land theme park, also. We haven't decided on which dinner theatre will be going to this trip, tho. By middle of June, I need to start getting film, so I can take lots of pictures. I love looking back on what I did on the Disney trips.

Here is what I know about who will be going on this trip with me & my husband...as follows: me, my husband, my mother, my dad, my sister (Beth), my brother, his mother, his brother, and his brother's kids. We haven't bought our tickets, yet...but, we do have plans settled on the way to get down there and where everybody is going to be staying at. Me and Josh will be staying at Orange Lake allow with my mom, dad, sister, and brother while my mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and his kids will be staying at a Walt Disney resort. Here's another tip for everyone who is planning on taking a Walt Disney World trip: Buy your tickets online and tell them that you will be picking them up at the ticket booth. You will be saving alot on the price by doing that. You don't have to pay the ticket booth price and you don't have to pay shipping & handling price, either, by doing this. I've asked about getting meal plans when you are not staying on resort and so far Disney hasn't allowed that to happen. Hopefully, they will start selling meal plans to off-resort people soon. It's a way for them to make more money (that helps them) and customers can save money on meals...plus they don't have to worry about money for food while they are down there (that helps the customer).

It wouldn't be long for this Magical Gathering to start. It's only 25 more days left. My youngest sister and her two kids are finally on board. My husband has our tickets ready for us; we just got to pick them up at the ticket booth. We got a 7-day Hopper pass. Today, I printed out maps going there and back, so we won't get lost.

I finally put up my Trip Journal with pictures for those of you to read & see it. Next time, my family has already planned on the 2009 trip. My parents are upgrading their timeshare from a 2 bedroom condo to a 4 bedroom condo, so me and my husband don't have to put up money for a place to stay. I won't start that one (Hassler/Hartsell 2009 Walt Disney World Trip Planner) until either November or December of this year. I'm planning on getting the 2009 PassPorter from the bookstore just as soon as it hits the bookshelves. That book was a very big help, so I would highly recommend it to anyone out there planning on Walt Disney World trip.

Hey thanks for the trip report! I'm also planning a trip to Orlando next summer and I'm leaving comments on all the planning and then plan to do the trip report when we come back! I'm excited!- 11 months to go!