Meet Owner's Locker Members Mary and Bryan Albright
Mary and Bryan Albright are from Circle Pines, MN. Like all of us, they love Walt Disney World! Mary hadn’t even thought about joining the Disney Vacation Club until her dad mentioned his boss owned some points there and asked what she knew about it. Curious about it, she researched and lo and behold, she and Bryan purchased their first set of points at the Beach Club Villas in 2002. They’ve since added on at the Beach Club and a few more points at Animal Kingdom Villas. They like to get to Walt Disney World twice a year.
Introduce yourself to our fellow Owner’s Locker Members!
Mary and Bryan have two children: Stefan, 13, and Caitlin 12. Bryan is a systems engineer for UnitedHealth Technologies and Mary currently owns her own direct selling business. Bryan’s lived in Minnesota his entire life. Mary was an Army brat early in life, then spent some of her childhood in Texas before the family moved to Minnesota when she was 9. They’ve been Owner’s Locker Members since 2008. You can find both Mary and Bryan on Facebook. Mary invites you to read her blog at powercooking.blogspot.com
Quick Facts:
~ DVC Owners since 2002
~ Favorite Characters: Mulan, Mickey Mouse
~ Favorite Resorts: Beach Club Villas and Polynesian
~ Favorite Restaurant: Kona Café, Boma, Flame Tree BBQ
~ Favorite Theme Park: Tie between Epcot and Magic Kingdom
~ Favorite Attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Mission: Space, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear
~ Most Valued Item in Purple Locker ~ rain gear and prescription swimming goggles
What brings you back to Central Florida so often?
Well, I have O.D.D ~ Obsessive Disney Disorder. If we didn’t get back to Disney World often enough, I’m not sure what exactly will happen. As it is, we were just there in June and I’m already feeling a serious itch to go back.
Why is Walt Disney World such a frequent vacation destination?
I admit; I’ve totally bought in to “It’s the Place Where Magic Lives.”, because it’s totally true. Being at Disney World is like being inside joy. Why would you not want to get back there as often as you can?
It’s also a place where I feel completely secure in letting my kids go out and about. I know they are in a safe environment and we’ve been there so many times that they know their way around.
It also serves as a reason to make my husband use his vacation days. He won’t look forward to any other vacation other than Disney World. Every time I ask him where he wants to eat on the next trip, the standard answer I get is, “I don’t care as long as there are characters there.” This from a 37-year-old.
Do you have traditions you follow when you are at the resort?
We are morning people. Our habit is to get up and go to the parks in the morning, come back for a rest and pool break in the afternoon, and then maybe go back out again in the evening. We find that gives everyone what they are looking for.
I like to get into my room right away and get settled. I’m ready to unpack my Purple Locker and really be “home” right away. Until I get unpacked, even when I’m at the resort, I still feel like I’m a “traveler”.
What tips can you offer to other Walt Disney World visitors?
Don’t commando tour. Even if you are on your once-in-a-lifetime trip, there’s no way you will see it all in one week. We’ve been there more than 15 times and we still haven’t done everything there is to do on property. Disney World isn’t just about thrill rides. It’s about stepping inside another world, leaving the troubles of this world behind, and embracing the magic that is Disney. Look for those special touches that only Disney offers. Find the Hidden Mickeys. Get Pressed Pennies. Watch the Jammitors at Epcot. Wait to see Tink before Wishes. The little things are what make everything special.
What’s the one thing you think everyone else is missing out on at Walt Disney World?
I think people rush too much from one attraction to the next. I think they miss out on all the details and wonderful theming that are all around them. Everyone is so concerned about squeezing every moment out of those park tickets that it enjoyment of your time there becomes second nature. Slow down. Take it all in. The experience is part of what you pay for. Don’t miss out on it because you are rushing from one end of the park to the other.
And, we have to ask…what’s in your purple Locker?
I think I have a lot of what other people have in terms of toiletries, rain gear, first aid kit. I have prescription swimming goggles for my husband ~ he rarely swam before because he could never see in the water. We found these goggles at a sports store and while it isn’t perfect, the adjustment allows him to see underwater while swimming. So now he can enjoy swimming with the rest of us fish in the family. I have a twin size Aerobed so that when we need it, if in a smaller unit, it’s there. For our next trip, I’m bringing down an Executive 12” Skillet and Forged Cutlery Knife. When you are used to using good kitchen tools, cooking on vacation without them is like being back in college. I can’t wait to have my good tools with me all the time!
