THE RETURN of THE WHATLEYS MAY 21-30. Our trip is done, now time for the TR :(

[racefanof88]

Now that we have made the reservation and made the decision about when we are going back, I will start my PTR .
We are going back

On to the formal, not so formal, introductions to the cast members.

First there is the boss of the family. The one around whom most of our decisions are made, the one who dictates how long we are gone, where we will stay, and what we do at what time of day .





Yes.........it is Niko. Dale loves this dog, BOY does he love this dog .

Then there is Dallas. He is my little man and my Disney buddy. We both got up the nerve to try Soarin' on our September trip and now we love it .

Tyler is my oldest son and he isn't sure if he wants to go or not. He says he is getting tired of Disney, but he sure likes going every year .

Not sure if Amanda will be joining us on this trip or not either. She will be graduating from college in May and will be actively job hunting or starting a new job when we go. Her boyfriend Matt is in the picture too. He went with us this past May.

My husband Dale loves Disney as much as I do, he just doesn't get involved in the planning. We have been married for 22 years and celebrated our 22nd Anniversary this past October in Disney World.

And then there is me, Dana.

The REAL Disney lover in my family. I am a neonatal nurse and I love my job. I have been to Disney 15 times with the first time being 1986. We were blessed enough to get to go to Disney 3 times this year, and I am still hopeful that we can go Christmas for a long weekend. We bought APs in May and I am sold on them now.

We are booked at Pop for May 24 thru May 30. I received a pin code and got the room for a good rate. I fussed and ranted and raved about not getting a pin code and while checking an email account I rarely use, there it was, with ONE day left to book at that rate . I called the next day and got a room only ressie. I am still waiting for the AP rates to come out to see if I can do better and upgrade to CBR or AKL.

So now the real fun begins with the planning. I am horrible about changing plans over and over so I am sure within the next 6 months they will change...... I hope I can keep everyone entertained while I plan and I enjoy all the help and advice I can get.

 

[deslynnpatterson]

i am so glad to see you are already planning your next trip Dana how exciting!! I had to stay away from the boards for awhile with everything that has been going on i was kinda depressed LOL and didnt even want to think disney because he reminded me of happier times LOL!! but i am looking forward to reading your PTR!! So i see you did decide to go with POP again who can bet the price!!! its awesome!! That would be so nice if your whole family can go how exciting i cant wait to read more of your plans i hope everyone is doing well!!!

 

[racefanof88]

i am so glad to see you are already planning your next trip Dana how exciting!! I had to stay away from the boards for awhile with everything that has been going on i was kinda depressed LOL and didnt even want to think disney because he reminded me of happier times LOL!! but i am looking forward to reading your PTR!! So i see you did decide to go with POP again who can bet the price!!! its awesome!! That would be so nice if your whole family can go how exciting i cant wait to read more of your plans i hope everyone is doing well!!!

DESIREE IS IN THE HOUSE

I am so glad you are here. I was going to send you a message on FB tonight to see how you are doing. I'm glad you are getting better. I know what you mean about being depressed. I get that way at times and it really doesn't have any rhyme or reason for me. I hope things are looking up or start looking up very soon . We are all doing pretty good right now. I think the price was pretty good for Pop, if Amanda and Tyler both want to go we will have to get a second room, but that is OK.

 

[deslynnpatterson]

DESIREE IS IN THE HOUSE

I am so glad you are here. I was going to send you a message on FB tonight to see how you are doing. I'm glad you are getting better. I know what you mean about being depressed. I get that way at times and it really doesn't have any rhyme or reason for me. I hope things are looking up or start looking up very soon . We are all doing pretty good right now. I think the price was pretty good for Pop, if Amanda and Tyler both want to go we will have to get a second room, but that is OK.

thans Dana things are slowly looking up!!! slowly but surely they got even worse too before they starting looking up LOL but things will get better I am going to have to catch up on your trip report and start mine up again LOL -- Josh might have a potential new job-- well maybe 2 choices at that-- so its going to be a hard choice for him to make but i hope he makes one that makes him happy job wise-- we should know something within the next week or so -- cross your fingers LOL but if he gets a new job that means no disney trip for him next year So-- i think i might go with my mom in Sept since i cant pass up free dinning ever LOL and Go with Josh for like 4 days next dec since this dec didnt work out for me LOL see i have it all figured out LOL i am going to hop over to the TR Sorry i have been MIA lately but i think im getting it together now LOL

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Dana! You know I'm in!!!! So glad you've started your PTR!

 

[racefanof88]

thans Dana things are slowly looking up!!! slowly but surely they got even worse too before they starting looking up LOL but things will get better I am going to have to catch up on your trip report and start mine up again LOL -- Josh might have a potential new job-- well maybe 2 choices at that-- so its going to be a hard choice for him to make but i hope he makes one that makes him happy job wise-- we should know something within the next week or so -- cross your fingers LOL but if he gets a new job that means no disney trip for him next year So-- i think i might go with my mom in Sept since i cant pass up free dinning ever LOL and Go with Josh for like 4 days next dec since this dec didnt work out for me LOL see i have it all figured out LOL i am going to hop over to the TR Sorry i have been MIA lately but i think im getting it together now LOL

WTG Josh. I will keep him in my prayers. I hope he gets the job that pays the most, gives him more time home with you and puts the least amount of stress on him. You should go with your Mom next year if Josh can't go and then go back at Christmas with him. That way you get to plan two trips for next year .

Hi Dana! You know I'm in!!!! So glad you've started your PTR!

LEANNE IS HERE TOO

Now on with the planning .

 

[MaryAz]

Found the Did a little SO happy that we will get to see you guys again!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm here and doing the May dance!

 

[racefanof88]

Found the Did a little SO happy that we will get to see you guys again!!!

WELCOME MARY We are gonna have a great time planning.

I'm here and doing the May dance!

LISA

I know we are all gonna have so much fun with our plans. It is always more fun when there are friends making plans together .

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

How dare you start a report and not tell me!!! Just kidding. Glad to see it started and see what great plans you are making for this fun trip.

I'm on.

Ginny

 

[racefanof88]

How dare you start a report and not tell me!!! Just kidding. Glad to see it started and see what great plans you are making for this fun trip.

I'm on.

Ginny

YAY GINNY IS HERE

I usually don't say anything about starting a PTR or TR. I don't want to be pushy .

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

YAY GINNY IS HERE

I usually don't say anything about starting a PTR or TR. I don't want to be pushy .

Pushy is not a fault in your vocabulary. You are one of the sweetest, kindest people I don't know. Just joking. Love ya like a sister from a different mister.

Ginny

 

[racefanof88]

Pushy is not a fault in your vocabulary. You are one of the sweetest, kindest people I don't know. Just joking. Love ya like a sister from a different mister.

Ginny

Ginny you are so sweet.

 

[racefanof88]

I need to give background on how we arrived at the dates we have.

We have been to Disney 3 other times in May, the first time was 2002. We waited until school was out for the year. Amanda was in 8th grade, Tyler in the 7th and Dallas was 3 1/2. I was a member of the now defunct Disney Club, or what ever it was, and they had a good offer. We stayed a week at POR with PH tickets and a "special add on" included. We chose to eat at CP for breakfast as our add on. If I am not mistaken we got all of that for a little over $2000. After 9/11 they offered some great deals.

It was a stressful trip though because on the drive down Friday, May 24, at 9pm or so, while on the Turnpike, our car died . I called Geico, because I had roadside assistance, and they dispatched a wrecker to pick up the car. While we were waiting I was scared to death. Anyway while waiting for the wrecker a Florida State Trooper pulled up and we told him what was going on. He asked me if we had AAA, I told him no but we had roadside assistance with our insurance, he asked me "What does your insurance company sell?" I said "Sir?" he asked again. I said "Insurance." He then said "Yeah, insurance, you should have AAA." He then walks off gets in his car and leaves . I was left speechless. Sometime later, not sure how long really because it seemed like a life time, the wrecker pulls up.

Now, I'm wondering when he puts the car on the rollback where are we gonna be? He tells me, you can ride in the car on the back of the truck. OH NO WAY!!!!!!!! So the five of us, the wrecker driver and his brother all cram up in the front of the truck.............. Good thing it had the extra room behind the seat. He took us to Altamonte Springs and we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and he took the car to the Ford dealership there. The next morning(Saturday, May 25th) we got up and Dale WALKED(about a mile) to the Ford dealership to see about the car and find out if it could be fixed and what we could expect time wise. Well, Monday, May 27th was Memorial Day so they were going to be closed so they really couldn't tell Dale anything because it would be Tuesday before they even looked at it(their service department was closed on Saturdays). We were now worried about how we were going to get home.

We still had to get to POR so I pulled out the phone book and called the first number for a taxi I could find. We got our stuff together and headed down to the lobby. When we got to the lobby there was a man coming out of a room with a cup of coffee. He looked at us and asked "Are you the Whatley's?" Dale said "yes", he said he was our ride. Now I found that to be kinda strange. How did he know who we were? We load the trunk with our luggage and head off. He took back roads and two lane roads and turned this way and that way. I could not find my way back if I had to .

While riding he and Dale were talking and Dale told him about our situation. I have to tell you, if you don't believe in Divine intervention this may change your mind. He spoke up and said he had a friend who owned a service station and had a wrecker. He called his friend and the guy told him he couldn't look at the car that day because he had to coach his son's baseball team, but he would look at the car Sunday. The driver(I think his name was Alan) asked Dale if that was OK and we really had no option, so we said yes. Alan took our cell number and he gave us his card.

Sunday morning he called, and Dale went with him to meet his friend. The man towed our car to his shop and Alan brought Dale back to POR. He didn't charge us anything to come pick Dale up Sunday and bring him back and it was a pretty good distance to Altamonte Springs. We were really trying to watch what we spent because we had no idea how much it was going to cost to fix the car. We decided to have a good time anyway. Monday we went to AK and as we were headed to Africa my cell rang and it was Alan. He said our car was ready. His friend had to replace the distributor and it was going to be $650.00. Alan told Dale he would come to POR and pick him up and take him to get the car. We jumped on a bus and headed to POR. Alan picked Dale up and took him to get our car, again not wanting to charge Dale anything. Dale insisted he take $40 anyway for all the running he had done to help us out. I believe Alan was sent to us to help us out.

That is lengthy isn't it? Sorry . The rest of our trip went OK, but it was sooooooooooooooooo HOT. We vowed we would not go back in May.......

Trips 2 and 3 background later.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

It is a beautiful story. And yes you know I so believe in help is there when yiou need it. I'm thankful for you on this day someone was there for you. You know how I love the beach and one year we had been till we had to come home cause I refused to leave. We drive forever and we get about 4 hours from home, it's 2 am I have 2 hungry girls and we have no cash. We have a Shell credit card but no gas station in sight. Gas tank has been on empty for 30 miles and we can't decide what to do. We are almost to Jonesboro, AR and find a Shell station. We get gas and eat our way thru the gas station. Thanking HIM all the way. We get home at 6:00 am and I have to be at work at 8. Don and the girls had the day off. We made it and I survived the day. I never go anywhere without a 'stash' anymore.

 

[racefanof88]

It is a beautiful story. And yes you know I so believe in help is there when yiou need it. I'm thankful for you on this day someone was there for you. You know how I love the beach and one year we had been till we had to come home cause I refused to leave. We drive forever and we get about 4 hours from home, it's 2 am I have 2 hungry girls and we have no cash. We have a Shell credit card but no gas station in sight. Gas tank has been on empty for 30 miles and we can't decide what to do. We are almost to Jonesboro, AR and find a Shell station. We get gas and eat our way thru the gas station. Thanking HIM all the way. We get home at 6:00 am and I have to be at work at 8. Don and the girls had the day off. We made it and I survived the day. I never go anywhere without a 'stash' anymore.

I know what you mean. The $650 was more than half of our spending money for the week so we had to cut corners. While watching Illuminations we bought 2 little buckets of popcorn and 2 cokes for all of us to share...... We ate McDonald's for many meals that trip and we had a fridge so we had milk and cereal for breakfast and some sandwich stuff. That all seems like a lifetime ago. I was praying to HIM all the way home too because I was scared the car would quit again. We thought we were going to have to rent a car to get home and drive back down to get our car. I know God sent Alan to us because I just chose the phone number randomly.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I know what you mean. The $650 was more than half of our spending money for the week so we had to cut corners. While watching Illuminations we bought 2 little buckets of popcorn and 2 cokes for all of us to share...... We ate McDonald's for many meals that trip and we had a fridge so we had milk and cereal for breakfast and some sandwich stuff. That all seems like a lifetime ago. I was praying to HIM all the way home too because I was scared the car would quit again. We thought we were going to have to rent a car to get home and drive back down to get our car. I know God sent Alan to us because I just chose the phone number randomly.

I am in total agreement with you. Thru the years we have had many weird trips like that. Glad the financial situation improved. Now it just is memories but at the time I couldn't imagine anything worse. The struggles one has to have a good time.

 

[racefanof88]

I am in total agreement with you. Thru the years we have had many weird trips like that. Glad the financial situation improved. Now it just is memories but at the time I couldn't imagine anything worse. The struggles one has to have a good time.

OH yeah, I know what you mean. Growing up it was me and my Mom and we had it really hard. I tell my kids about how tough it was and they just don't understand. I was telling them how the economy today reminds me of the late 70's early 80's, and they were surprised how it seems to be mirroring that time. I just don't know that we have anyone who can pull us out of it this time .

 

[leamom2princesses]

I'm glad you didn't let that May trip stop you from going back in May again. I believe in divine intervention also. So glad you decided to go in May 09...

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

OH yeah, I know what you mean. Growing up it was me and my Mom and we had it really hard. I tell my kids about how tough it was and they just don't understand. I was telling them how the economy today reminds me of the late 70's early 80's, and they were surprised how it seems to be mirroring that time. I just don't know that we have anyone who can pull us out of it this time .

I think every generation has its issues. The 60's were not easy for us at all. Kids going to war with young wives and children left behind. History just keeps repeating itself. I made 75 cents an hour and felt we had the world. My first real job was at a clinic and I made $300 a month. Every other week my paycheck was $75. Out of that I paid $45 to a babysitter who came to my house and watched the girls for me. That left me $30 for gas and spending money for another 2 weeks. Don was making $4.50 and hour and I was working because I wanted to. Then Don lost his job and my salary was it for several months. One always manages to do what needs to be done tho and are better for it.