Mommy-Daughter Graduation Pre-Trip-Report!

[Caboosey]

Hi y'all! I'm going to Disney in a month! WOOHOO!!!! :banana:

OK, maybe I should back up... I'm Kerri, I'm 26, and two years ago I moved to New York City for graduate school. After two years of papers, lesson plans, student loans, and standardized tests, I am graduating in May with my Master's in Education!! I'll be certified to teach English and Theater. When I was home over Christmas, my mom asked me what I wanted for graduation. I didn't even have to think about it - "Let's go to Disney World, mom!" I have only been to the Magic Kingdom twice while I was in college (one-day trips), and have NEVER been to any of the other parks - but I'm an avid reader of the Dis, and I knew a Disney trip with my Mom would be amazing.

Well. She said that was ridiculous. She said Disney was only fun for kids, and it would be hot, and it was a waste of money. She said I had to think of something else for graduation. :eek:

A few weeks later, she called and asked if I was really serious about the Disney trip. I said yes, and she said she MIGHT consider it if it was a short trip. I realized I had to take what I could get, so I said yes, a short trip would be fine. In that phone call, I also convinced her that we HAD to stay on-site, and I explained all the Disney Transportation that would get us from our hotel to the parks each day. I started to feel hopeful that this Disney trip just might happen... :confused:

A few weeks after THAT, she called to talk hotels and dates. It turns out she had been doing some research on her own and liked the sound of Pop Century - the very hotel that I was going to recommend! I felt my heart beat faster - was this trip really going to happen? :confused3

Up next: Will Mom have a change of heart? Does she still think Disney is just for kids? Also - a little more about the cast!

[Caboosey]

So at this point, my mom never said "Yes, I'm in, let's go to Disney World!" I was still not sure if this trip was going to happen. One day, I open my email account - and there's an email from Delta about a plane ticket to ORLANDO!!! WOOHOO! We are going from May 20-24, so we have four park days (we're going to try to squeeze in a park on our arrival day, because we arrive pretty early!)

My mom and I had several long phone conversations about ticket types and the meal plan - and in the end, we decide to stay pretty budget. We get four-day non-hopper passes, and decide against the DDP. I think with my planning skills, we'll still be able to have a really fun trip!

About the cast:

Kerri, 26, grad school student and English student teacher. After I graduate, I want to teach theatre in an elementary or high school. I grew up in California, so I've been to Disneyland a few times, and during college I did two one-day trips to the Magic Kindgom, and a one-day trip to Disneyland Paris. I like to read, knit, travel, and bake! My favorite Disney characters are Alice in Wonderland and Captain Jack Sparrow.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2434806886_9206b794f5.jpg
I live with two roommates, who are my best friends. Sometimes we wear matching sweaters... :) This was for "A Very Roommate Christmas," I'm the one on the right.

Mom - My mom and I get along really well now that we don't live together! Whenever I visit, the neighbors all tell me how excited she was for me to come home! :goodvibes She lives with my dad on a farm in Virginia with our dog and cat. She likes to read, do Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and garden. My mom used to teach elementary school, and she still subsitute teaches and tutors. She totally spoils the kids she tutors - brings them stickers, pencils with their names on them, Happy Meal toys... She just loves kids. She went to Disneyland a few times when we lived in Cali, and I think she camped at WDW when she was a kid - but I don't think she really understands the scope of the World today! We share a soft spot for Johnny Depp, so Pirates of the Carribean is a must-ride!

We're not big fireworks people... or parade people... but we LOVE RIDES! We're probably most excited about EE, but we're going to ride everything that we come across in the parks!

[Caboosey]

So a few days after booking our tickets to Orlando, my mom calls to book us a hotel room. She knows that we want Pop Century - she was leaning towards that anyways, and then when I told her that we wouldn't share a bus with any other resort, AND it's the newest - she was sold!

She called up Disney, and they told her Pop was completely booked for the dates we wanted. :sad1: What are we to do?

Well, my mom doesn't take no for an answer - she called back, and booked us a room at Pop!

I change our itinerary every day - and Mom is letting me do all this planning, so she doesn't know the energy that goes into this - but here's what is planned so far!

Tuesday, May 20 - Arrival Day - Hollywood Studios

Wednesday, May 21 - Epcot

Thursday, May 22 - Animal Kingdom

Friday, May 23 - Magic Kingdom

Saturday, May 24 - Leave... :sad:

I'm hoping one of those days we'll finish a park early enough to do Downtown Disney, but I'm not sure we'll have time! I am using TGM, so hopefully we'll be able to use Fastpasses and hit the major rides, plus some time to just soak up the atmosphere in each park - and spend a little time poolside at the Pop as well.

So much still to do... so few days left!

[PrincessNewsie]

My mom and I get along really well now that we don't live together! Whenever I visit, the neighbors all tell me how excited she was for me to come home! :goodvibes

haha that sounds like my mother!!! i'm 23 and it's the same for me.