1st trip EVER to WDW: Life in the Creek is Bittersweet (CreekerMom)

[Creekermom]

This is my first pre-trip report and I am not so sure how to get it started but I am going to try.

The trip began as a dream and the possibility of going in September 2008.
A family vacation, DH, DD and myself. I also have a grown son that isn't going with us at this time due to some scheduling conflicts.

These are the events that lead to making a dream come true almost a year early than planned.

Fast Forward to April 2007. It was Easter weekend. I spoke to my mom on Good Fri (4/6), and told her I have to work that night and again Saturday (4/7)afternoon so I would call her Easter Sunday (4/8)

Well Saturday I got news that she died it was very unexpected and a total shock to say the least.(She died of a peptic ulcer that was left untreated and hemorrhaged to death) A tragic death and very sad for all of us.
I wish she was here to go with us.
There is a song that gives me comfort when I think of her by an artist named Mark Harris- "I Wish You Were Here"
http://www.klove.com/lyrics/lyrics.asp?2536

the song is here:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=28485205

The events that followed are still quite a blur as most things are when one loses a parent.

There is some happiness we then find out there is a monetary gift left to us (my sister and I) and with all the sadness I needed to do something to have some Fun, and laughter back in my life.

It just so happens that friends of our and many of our homeschool friends are headed to Disney the First week of Sept 2007... and I start to inquire about things and I am happy to say that it has been a blessing from the start.

Thus this brings us to our pre-trip report that in just 6 days (9/18) we will be leaving to go to WDW and arrive Sept 19-25.

It is Bittersweet as I am so excited and anxious to go but yet the sadness lingers knowing why I am going so soon.


The cast members are
Me-Valerie- 42
DH-Russ- 41
DD-Madison- almost 5

I have NEVER been to WDW, nor has DD but DH went way back when he was 16 yrs old and before Epcot opened so it will be exciting for him too.. I hope!
I hope too that he will be so AWE'd that we can go back again next year!!!

 

[Creekermom]

We will be leaving Tues. Sept 18 and driving down which is about 13.5 hrs from Louisville, KY
Staying somewhere that evening and then continuing our journey to WDW on Weds morning, arriving
in WDW hopefully around lunch time, give or take a few hours. We want and need it to be STRESS FREE!

We started our planning with 66 days till WDW so I am please with getting 4 character lunches/dinners out of 6 nights

We will be staying at the AS Sports, staying there for 6 nights, also included is our park tickets for 6 days, and the FREE DINING PLAN

We feel blessed and are so looking forward to this trip as we never took a honeymoon, instead we moved from PA to KY 2 wks after getting married. We also haven't had a vacation in almost 8 years due to one thing or another. This is a much needed vacation but also to enjoy life to the extreme in the best place of all WDW!


First let me tell you...
I had a ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL RESERVATIONIST NAMED DARMA!!!
WOW!!!!!! WHAT AN ASSET TO DISNEY'S RESERVATIONS!

OK now for the ADR's
Sept 19 -8:00pm-Dinner at Akerhus Princess Storybook
20 -1:25pm-Lunch at Hollywood Vine-Playhouse Disney Characters
21 -7:30pm-Dinner at Spoodles
22 -2:30pm-Lunch at Crystal Palace-Pooh & Friends Character
23 -2:40pm Lunch at Coral Reef
24 -7:35pm- 1900 Park Fare now at the Grand Floridian Cafe With Cinderella and Friends (plated dinner due to construction at 1900 Park Fare)

I think I did pretty well considering how late my reservations were...

Our plans include the following for our park days:
9/18-depart for WDW arriving 9/19
9/19-Epcot
9/20-MGM Studios
9/21-Animal Kingdom
9/22-Magic Kingdom
9/23-Epcot
9/24-Magic Kingdom
9/25 departure
9/26 arrive home


Ok, now that I have accomplished that..There is still so much to do and so little time to do it in!
YIKES! I got 6 days till we leave!!!!!
We are more excited with each passing day that DD removes a link from her paper chain count down.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

Creekermom -

First of all, my sympathies on your tragic loss. I am so very sorry.

Congratualtions on the start of what is looking to be a wonderful TR. You all are going to love WDW. Like you, our family will also be at the AS Sports, but we're going to be there from the 15th to the 22nd. Your ADRs sound great. I can't wait to read more!

 

[Phedre]

I'm so sorry for your loss.. I'm at work so I can't follow the links here but I'll have to go hear the song at home tonight.

This is a great trip report so far and I really hope you are going to have an awesome time for your first trip to the world!! Can't wait to read more

 

[ILMICKEY]

I am so sorry for your loss. Disney can help, trust me.

2 years ago my mother passed away. She found out she had something wrong with her pancreas, and 2 weeks later, was gone.

I had went on a few Disney trips with her, so I decided we were going to meet there around Christmas.

She had also left me some money, so I knew that is what she would have wanted me to do. She always wanted to go on Christmas.

We had a very, very nice time and I knew she was with me.

 

[Creekermom]

Well we are leaving in 4 days!
Time is ticking quickly and there is still so much to do!

I am hoping and praying that we will get a Magical Moment as that would be the icing on the cake per say...
We went to see friends who just came back from WDW on Monday of this week and they shared some of their magic with us by sharing their pictures, some post cards, and even bringing us some of the Mickey Soap from their resort rooms. LOL kinda funny but she wanted us to have some in case we wanted to bring our own... LOL Funny I know....
One of their greatest days was at Epcot when they got chosen as the FAMILY OF THE DAY-Magical Moment-Year of a Million Dreams!


I am going to print off my packing list hopefully today and get that squared away... with working overnight the weekend before we leave...next Tues 9/18 it makes it kinda rough and on to top it off DH is in a wedding on Saturday! Can anyone say, NO TIME! I need another 48 hours added to my schedule before we leave... but that isn't going to happen.
LOL

Oh well, things will work out I guess between the excitement of going to WDW for the first time and craziness of our schedules over the next few days there won't be much time to do anything else. LOL

 

[Creekermom]

Running around like a chicken with her head cut off or just my head spinning in circles these last few days.

I went on errands most of the day, getting some last minute things, and getting more rechargeable batteries for my digital camera... and some snack items as we are driving down and having to do breakfast since we have the Free Dining Plan.

 

[Creekermom]

I got some "Disney" wear for our trip from http://Disneyshopping.com

They will also serve as souveniers for some family members like MIL/FIL and DS who isn't going with us... And I got his GF a Eeyore shirt,

I even picked up a Denim jacket for DD's birthday at the local Disney Store..

I also got DD 2 shirts and a Minnie Wallet so she can have her own spending $ that she has been saving in her Cinderella Bank

Some new Disney PJ's... some Disney jizbits for her Croc's...

MIL made her a really nice Cinderella Dress for her 2 Character Dinners... although I also have Aurora's don't know if I will take that too... for the Storybook Princess Dinner and then Cinderella and Friends... Dinner is on our last night there.(Yes, I know Cindy won't be there...) But that is OK

Anyway... that is an update for today... maybe more later..

 

[Creekermom]

Well with today being Sunday & Monday is Homeschool Co-op.. Tues will be here and we will finally be hitting the ROAD to WDW. We are leaving Tues and driving down and spending the night somewhere....????
We are filled with excitement as Tues will be here before I know it!
I am going crazy trying to get all the "STUFF" packed and ready for Tues....
it is down to hours now.... LOL, I estimate it to be about 60 hrs or so till we leave.. maybe less if we leave earlier...

I wanted to find some Disney clings, not sure that will happen... and I have to get some more LGMH!

I got everything else I need for our Bichon to go to the Doggy Hotel..AKA Kennel... plus some anti-anxiety meds to keep her calm so she doesn't stress...
Well it is late, so I will have to give some more details tomorrow....