TheRichFam
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2013
Chapters
Intros/Background
A Bucket List Trip Come True ... With a New Significance
Some Parents Teach Kids Their ABCs. We Teach Ours Their ADRs.
A Split Decision
Edits: Added photos
Howdy everyone!
As crazy as this is to type, this is my first-ever PTR. Exciting times! After dozens of Disney trips, a couple Disney cruises and even a trip to Aulani, it's pretty insane that we haven't done a PTR before.
We are a Disney-fanatical family of six (we'll make formal introductions shortly) currently living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We've been in the Seattle area for almost 10 years. We are in the process of relocating all the way across the country (more on that later) so we are planning this trip as a much-needed respite after a very tumultuous year.
We're glad you're here to follow along. We love interacting with people on here, because let's be honest- talking to yourself is for crazy people. Feel free to ask any of us a question and we'd be thrilled to answer as best we can.
One more quick note before we get rolling.
My wife and I both have jobs that make a certain level of anonymity a necessary evil. Our names (obviously) are less than accurate.
Our Castmembers
Papa Rich- I'm originally from Florida, born and raised near Tampa. I'll do most the "talking," so unless we note otherwise, assume it's me who is posting. I was a castmember for a couple years many moons ago (at an attraction that no longer exists!) and also spent a couple years working as a travel agent at a Disney-exclusive Earmarked agency. I'd love to answer any questions you have, and since I don't work in the industry anymore, it won't get anyone in trouble! I spent more than a decade serving in the Marines and I recently transitioned into the homeland security sector.
Mama Rich- Originally from West Texas, she moved to Florida after her mom and stepdad visited on their honeymoon and fell in love with the place (because Florida!) We met in high school and have been together ever since. She is a therapist by trade, is a published author and owner of a thriving private practice. I owe much of this Disney addiction to her, because after years of me insisting on “WDW or Bust,” it was her insistence that led to branching out to DCL and Aulani. No going back now!
Skywalker- Our first man cub. He’s 15, but will be 16 when we make this trip. He has been going with us to Disney since he was too young to walk. He has been on DCL in Oceaneers Lab/Club, Vibe and Edge, so if you have any tweens or teens with questions, he’s all ears. (See what I did there?) The name comes from a conversation we had, where I was explaining to him why I’m basically Darth Vader. His response- “Well I guess that makes me Luke Skywalker.” (SPOILER ALERT)
Isn't Disembarkation day THE WORST?
Rose- Our oldest daughter. She is a newly minted Teenager and has been visiting the Land of Mouse since she was en utero. Literally. Watching her at Disney is one of my favorite things in the world. As soon as we get on Magic Express, she sheds her typical teenage persona and turns back into the sweet princess-loving little girl I miss so badly most of the time. She even calls me Daddy and (gasp) lets me hold her hand!
Belle- Our sweet (almost) 9 yr old princess-loving, Descendants-crazy dancing, singing daughter. All the world is her stage, so WDW and DCL are right up her alley. She’s gorgeous, loves reading and occasionally breaks out into song and dance for no particular reason. Plus, she really loves a big, grumpy hairy guy who secretly has a soft, squishy interior (that would be me). And thus- the name Belle.
The Lion- Rounding out our crazy band of pirates will be our newest addition, the Lion. He is 2 but will be three when we travel. This will be his first-ever trip to WDW, though he did tag along with Mama and I to Aulani last Summer. Since this is his first trip, much of our activities will be focused on and around him. He is brilliant, hilarious and constantly in motion. He loves animals and trucks more than anything on earth, so we’re hoping this trip will be right up his alley.
So that’s us. Having a teen boy, tween girl, elementary aged girl and toddler boy, we pretty much run the gamut over at Casa de Rich. Never a dull moment. We also happen to be a WDW Focus Group’s dream.
We’re happy to have you along. In the next post, we’ll talk about our resort choice and why we chose it.
Until next time-
Blessings!
TheRichFam
Intros/Background
A Bucket List Trip Come True ... With a New Significance
Some Parents Teach Kids Their ABCs. We Teach Ours Their ADRs.
A Split Decision
Edits: Added photos
Howdy everyone!
As crazy as this is to type, this is my first-ever PTR. Exciting times! After dozens of Disney trips, a couple Disney cruises and even a trip to Aulani, it's pretty insane that we haven't done a PTR before.
We are a Disney-fanatical family of six (we'll make formal introductions shortly) currently living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We've been in the Seattle area for almost 10 years. We are in the process of relocating all the way across the country (more on that later) so we are planning this trip as a much-needed respite after a very tumultuous year.
We're glad you're here to follow along. We love interacting with people on here, because let's be honest- talking to yourself is for crazy people. Feel free to ask any of us a question and we'd be thrilled to answer as best we can.
One more quick note before we get rolling.
My wife and I both have jobs that make a certain level of anonymity a necessary evil. Our names (obviously) are less than accurate.
Our Castmembers
Papa Rich- I'm originally from Florida, born and raised near Tampa. I'll do most the "talking," so unless we note otherwise, assume it's me who is posting. I was a castmember for a couple years many moons ago (at an attraction that no longer exists!) and also spent a couple years working as a travel agent at a Disney-exclusive Earmarked agency. I'd love to answer any questions you have, and since I don't work in the industry anymore, it won't get anyone in trouble! I spent more than a decade serving in the Marines and I recently transitioned into the homeland security sector.
Mama Rich- Originally from West Texas, she moved to Florida after her mom and stepdad visited on their honeymoon and fell in love with the place (because Florida!) We met in high school and have been together ever since. She is a therapist by trade, is a published author and owner of a thriving private practice. I owe much of this Disney addiction to her, because after years of me insisting on “WDW or Bust,” it was her insistence that led to branching out to DCL and Aulani. No going back now!
Skywalker- Our first man cub. He’s 15, but will be 16 when we make this trip. He has been going with us to Disney since he was too young to walk. He has been on DCL in Oceaneers Lab/Club, Vibe and Edge, so if you have any tweens or teens with questions, he’s all ears. (See what I did there?) The name comes from a conversation we had, where I was explaining to him why I’m basically Darth Vader. His response- “Well I guess that makes me Luke Skywalker.” (SPOILER ALERT)
Isn't Disembarkation day THE WORST?
Rose- Our oldest daughter. She is a newly minted Teenager and has been visiting the Land of Mouse since she was en utero. Literally. Watching her at Disney is one of my favorite things in the world. As soon as we get on Magic Express, she sheds her typical teenage persona and turns back into the sweet princess-loving little girl I miss so badly most of the time. She even calls me Daddy and (gasp) lets me hold her hand!
Belle- Our sweet (almost) 9 yr old princess-loving, Descendants-crazy dancing, singing daughter. All the world is her stage, so WDW and DCL are right up her alley. She’s gorgeous, loves reading and occasionally breaks out into song and dance for no particular reason. Plus, she really loves a big, grumpy hairy guy who secretly has a soft, squishy interior (that would be me). And thus- the name Belle.
The Lion- Rounding out our crazy band of pirates will be our newest addition, the Lion. He is 2 but will be three when we travel. This will be his first-ever trip to WDW, though he did tag along with Mama and I to Aulani last Summer. Since this is his first trip, much of our activities will be focused on and around him. He is brilliant, hilarious and constantly in motion. He loves animals and trucks more than anything on earth, so we’re hoping this trip will be right up his alley.
So that’s us. Having a teen boy, tween girl, elementary aged girl and toddler boy, we pretty much run the gamut over at Casa de Rich. Never a dull moment. We also happen to be a WDW Focus Group’s dream.
We’re happy to have you along. In the next post, we’ll talk about our resort choice and why we chose it.
Until next time-
Blessings!
TheRichFam
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