We have quite a bit of experience going to Disney World and Universal Studies in Orlando, Florida. We’ve also branched out to do a Disney Cruise and Disneyland in California. This section is intended to provide some historical perspective on our experiences. We’ve experienced Disney with our kids, with our extended family of 24 people, and as a romantic getaway with just Mark and Jeanne.
| DisneyWorld | Disneyland | Disney Cruise | |
| Mark | 21 | 2 | 1 |
| Jeanne | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| Ty | 11 | 1 | 1 |
Trip History
This is brief summary of our trips, where we stayed, who went and one or two of the memories that made the trip stand out.
| Year | Special Happenings Summary | Where we stayed | Who went |
| 2019 | Jeanne has an “episode” and ends up in the ER on our first night. We get to see Toy Story Land | Boardwalk | Mark, Jeanne, Eric, Johanna |
| 2017 | Mark rode Avatar Flights of Passage three times through good fortune while others endured an average 3-hour wait. | Boardwalk | Mark, Jeanne, Ty
Matt, Stacy, Xander, Lena |
| 2015 | Very large crowds at Disney Studios for the last showing of the Osborne Family Dancing Lights.
We stayed on the top concierge floor of the Contemporary for three nights in a massive suite. |
Contemporary and Beach Club | Mark, Jeanne, Ty
Phillips: Dave, Bev, Martha, Margarette, Clara |
| 2015 | DisneyLand – Kids got some awesome balloon sculptures during dinner at Downtown Disney. | Marriott Courtyard | Mark, Jeanne, Ty, Matt, Stacy, Xander and Lena |
| 2014 | We were surprised to be upgraded from Coronado Springs to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. | Animal Kingdom Lodge | Mark, Jeanne, Ty, Greg, Matt, Stacy, Xander and Lena |
| 2013 | Our first time at the Beach Club and we LOVE IT | Beach Club | Mark, Jeanne, and Ty |
| 2012 | This was our first trip to Disney Land and California Adventure | Grand Californian | Mark & Jeanne |
| 2011 | We spend a full week doing SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and the four DisneyWorld Parks | Animal Kingdom Lodge | Mark, Jeanne, Kelsey, Ty, Matt, Stacy, Xander |
| 2011 Disney Cruise | Our first Disney Cruise!!! Dave, Bev, Martha, Margrette and Clara Phillips join us for the entire vacation. |
Disney Dream Cruise Ship and Port Orleans Riverside | Mark, Jeanne, Ty |
| 2010 | Ty was sick and it poured rain for two days. Out of our five-day visit we only had two decent days. Not exactly our best trip. Beverly Phillips, Martha and Margrette join us for the first two days. | Carribean Beach | Mark, Jeanne, Kelsey, Greg, Ty |
| 2008 | Our flights get cancelled and we need to quickly make other arrangements. We have a great time with the families of a number of Jeanne’s brothers and sisters | Port Orleans Riverside | The entire family (24 people including Mark, Jeanne, Matt, Stacy, Kelsey, Greg, and Ty) |
| 2007 | We try taking the Travel Agency approach from Boscov’s. One important benefit is the direct flight from Avoca to Orlando – no layovers!!! | Wilderness Lodge | Mark, Jeanne, Greg & Ty |
| 2007 | Mark goes solo as part of a business trip. Its no fun this way | Carribean Beach | Mark |
| 2006 | One of the best ever. Matt & Stacy join us and we get a chance to spend a day with Frank, Nancy, Elizabeth, and Brian Melliand. | Wyndham Palms Resort | Mark, Jeanne, Kelsey, Greg, Ty, Matt, & Stacy |
| 2004 | We have a great time with Dave, Beverly, Martha, Margaret, Diane, Riki, Ali and Ericka. Ty gets sick towards the end of the vacation (we suspect the water in the kids play area at Universal) and ends up in the hospital. | Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wyndham Palms Resort | Mark, Jeanne, Kelsey, Greg & Ty |
| 2002 | We have a great time with Dave, Beverly and Martha. We also learn that there’s no place like the Disney resorts – and we move spontaneously in mid-vacation | Homewood Suites and Port Orleans Riverside | Mark, Jeanne, Kelsey & Greg |
| 2000 | We discover Narcossi’s. This is opening year for Islands of Adventure. | Coronado Springs | Mark & Jeanne |
| 1998 | We discover Steak & Shake. We get separated from kids at Typhoon Lagoon during a terrible hailstorm. Boy’s discover turkey legs. This was opening year for Animal Kingdom. | Rented a house in Kissimmee | Mark, Jeanne, Brian, Eric, Kelsey, Greg & Ryan Corrigan |
| 1996 | We discover Rainforest Cafe and evening drinks by the lake. | Carribean Beach | Mark & Jeanne |
| 1995 | Matt breaks leg week before we leave – we get to enter many attractions via disabled entrance. This is the first time we visit Universal Studios | WestGate Villas | Mark, Jeanne, Matt, Scott, Brian, Eric, Kelsey & Greg |
| 1989 | First plane trip for everyone except Mark. Jeanne is pregnant and visits every restroom in park. This was opening week for MGM Studios | FantasyWorld Villas | Mark, Jeanne, Matt, Scott, Brian & Eric |
| 1978 | Ate in Cinderella’s Castle, but there was something wrong with their kitchen and it was awful. | Quality Inn | Mark, Mary |
| 1976 | Polynesian | Mark, Beth and their parents |