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Pretrip-2004- We planned our second trip to Disney World in February of this year. Up until then,we had been talking about going back to Disney World again sometime. This would be our second trip.We went on our first trip in May of "97" during the 25th anniversary celebration. Our oldest daughter was in a dance company at the time,and they were going to be performing during Magic Music Days at Epcot. This being our first trip ever for any of us to the world,we were all looking forward to it anxiously.However,at the time,I just didn't understand what was really required to take a trip to Disney World. We didn't have a computer then for me to do research,and I am ashamed to admit that I barely read the Ultimate Guide to Disney World that my husband had brought home.
I now regret how blindly we took our first trip to Disney World. My oldest daughter was 9 at the time and my youngest was only 4.We really missed out on alot of the wonderful experiences that we could have had if only I had done some homework for our trip. At the time,I knew alot of our time would be taken up with the dance school's schedule,and we were also going to Universal Studios to dance one day.We were only in Florida for five days,and two of those days were travel days as well.So we didn't have as much time as I wished we could have had,and we missed out on alot of the attractions.Animal Kingdom was still in the works at the time,so we tried to squeeze in as much as we could in our free time,which really wasn't very much.My husband and daughter made out a little better then me and our youngest daughter ,who waas still at nap age. On our one free whole day,I ended up having to take her back to the hotel because she was hot ,cranky and tired.We stayed atthe All Star Music resort,and to me it was a nice,clean resort,but very busy while we were there.I let her swim for a few minutes and then she very willingly took a nap for quite a few hours.I never really did get to see and do alot that first trip,but what I did do,impressed me and I instantly fell in love with Disney World. I have fond memories of walking into Magic Kingdom,and seeing the castle and just being so overwhelmed by it,I couldn't take my eyes off it. And we had arrived right at the time when the afternnon parade was taking place. My youngest and I wanted to watch it so my husband and oldest daughter took off for Space Mountain..a ride my daughter knew about because she had a teacher telling her all about Disney World.While my little one and I watched,a character pulled my 4 year old daughter out of my hand and led her right into the parade to dance with them. At first I was sort of freaked by it,but then I saw that they were doing this with other children too,and that my daughter was already having a good time....so out my camera came and I managed to get our first taste of the magic on film. I watched carefully for my daughter until she was safely by my side,and then we continued towards the castle and I wasted precious time trying to find the childrens rides...otherwise known as Fantasy Land. We had a wonderful time,and my daughters favorite ride was the carousel and Small World. So we went on them over and over again.Looking back now I see that I viewed Disney World in a different light then I did when we went on our second trip.I was taking it moment by moment and experiencing it in a way I probaly never will again.But it wasn't time wasted. It was just time spent with a four year old at a four year olds pace. We went over to Minnies house and Barnstormer,my daughter loved them both and we spent quite awhile there as well. The only thing I regret is that when we were looking in the souvenier stores and my daughter really wanted a princess costume,but I was thinking in terms of money and value...not seeing that there was more value for us at the time in buying her the costume she wanted. I would never get the chance again to dress my daughter as a princess,or to let her experience that special magic , because the next trip we took to Disney World was when was eleven years old.And I never knew about the character meals that we had missed.I loved our first trip,but I made mistakes that I would now encourage anyone else going for the first time to not make. Live and Learn I guess.
So,now,back to last year.We were all excited about this years vacation to Disney World. We would be there 8 days and 7 nights.My oldest daughter and I went out and bought several books about Disney World,and this time we actually read them.
My daughter actually had the brilliant idea of looking up on the internet to see if there was anything about Disney World. Wow,was there ever. Our favorites list grew as we found one site we liked after another. We were planning from the moment we booked our trip in February until the moment we actually got there. Disney World and our vacation was all we talked about. We planned to stay at Pop Century simply because it looked cool to the girls,and my husband liked the price.We told everyone and anyone who would listen about our vacation,and the plans we were making. And then we would change those plans around again,and told them about the changes,as if they even cared. Ha! But we did. It was becoming an all obsessive,mind encompessing occupation for us.And the closer we got to our time to leave,the worse we got. I think we made my husband sick of Disney World before he ever even got there.
We had ordered the trip planning video and would watch it over and over again. This made me and my oldest daughter who is a dancer really want to see Cirque. My husband and youngest daughter didn't want to see it,so I reserved seats for me and my oldest.I booked p's for the Fantasmic dinner package,and for Chrystal Palce ,so my oldest daughter could meet up with her favorite character,Pooh Bear. Since I had something special for my oldest daughter,I allowed my youngest daughter to pick out something that she wanted to do as well. We had read about going tubing with a motor boat pulling you,and so this is what she picked out to do,with my husbad.We booked Cirque and the tubing adventure for the same day,and then we would split up into two's,each pair going off for thier own adventure. We also had P's booked for Prime Time and Sci Fi,and The Rain Tree Forest.We went out shopping and bought summer clothes,and we were packed weeks ahead of time.And yet each day,I would think of something new that we would need while we were down there,and I would go out and buy it.This was going to be the greatest vacation we ever had.We counted down the days,and finally we reached the night before we were going to leave.
To our advantage,my husband learned he would have to work over night the Thursday night before we left.It worked out great,because then he could sleep all day Friday and we were planning to leave at night time and he could then drive thru the night. So Friday morning,I send my extremely anxoius and hyper kids off to school,and I left to pick up my husband from work,because he would have to leave the company truck he usually drove there. Once I got him,we stopped for breakfast and ran around to do some last minute errands,got our travelers checks,ect. By the time we got home it was around 12 already. He went to bed to get some sleep,and I went about doing some last minute cleaning,laundry and packing.Then I tried to lay down a little myself because I had been too excited the night before to get any real sleep.The next thing I know is my girls are bursting through the door and practically jumping out of thier skin to get going. Well...as much as I wanted to myself,that wasn't the plan. Dad needed to get some sleep because he wanted to do most of the driving through the night when traffic would be less.So to keep my girls calm,I took them out to Walmart and we bought sunglasses and snacks,and whatever else we decided we would need for our vacation that I hadn't already bought. I then took them out for dinner and we came home and I got them to take showers so that they wouldn't feel so icky tomorrow morning after being in the car all night long.Finally we couldn't stand it any longer and we packed up our luggage in the cargo.There! We were already for dad to wake up. We watched tv and when he woke up,I ordered some food from a nearby take out place for him and he ate his dinner while we sat and hurried him along.
After what seemed to be the longest day,we were loading our traveling pillows and blankets ,games,snacks,ect and finally ourselves into the car. We were off!!!! Except for two more stops Dad needed to make before we hit the turnpike.Back to Walmart again!
May 21-30
FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 21,2004 - 9 P.M. -- My family -- husband (Rick), daughters Alyssa (16) and Kaitlyn (11) and me (Lisa) -- left for our 2nd trip to Walt Disney World. We stopped at Walmart first to pick up some phone cards for our cells phones and then to fill up the gas tank and finally we were on our way. We drove through the night, stopping only for gas several times. In the morning we stopped in South Carolina at a Shoeneys for breakfast buffet and then I took over driving for awhile so Rick could get some rest.I drove for about two hours,bringing us into Georgia, and then he wanted to drive again. We arrived in Florida around noon,and stopped at the Florida Welcome center. Since we were not scheduled to check into the Jacksonville hotel until 3;00 pm,we decided that it was silly for us to wait around 3 hours to check in when we could drive on instead,and be closer to Disney the next morning. My husband still felt great and so did the rest of us. So we called Triple A and had things arranged to cancel the Jacksonville hotel and go on into Orlando instead.We tried to get in a night ealy at the Pop Century,but they were booked solid,so we ended up going to a Ramada Inn,which was only just outside of WDW. The girls immediately wanted to go swimming.The girls and I swam for awhile while Rick rested before we went to get something to eat. After dinner at the Sizzler steakhouse, we shopped for a bit to look at some souvenier shops in the area,then went back to the hotel. The girls decided to go to the hotels arcade,and Rick went in search for a bar to see a hockey game since he couldn't get it on the tv in the room.I stayed alone in the room,made some coffee , and wrote some of the trip report so far,and then I read for a little.After everyone returned we watched a show about the best things to do at Disney World ,getting excited yet again,and finally exhuasted, we headed to bed.
SUNDAY, MAY 23 -- After checking out of the Ramada around 7;30 AM, we headed into WDW and to the Pop Century resort.I am glad we got there when we did,because later in the day the line was very long.However,we were able to just step right up and check in. We were able to check in early, but had to wait for our room.We were in the fifties building,second floor,room 1263, facing the bowling pin pool.It was a bit of a walk to the room from the main building and bus stops,but not really too bad,and the quietness of the pool made up for it. We ate breakfast at the Pop Century's food court, then hopped a bus to Disney-MGM Studios, getting there in time to see thier opening show.
First stop: Tower of Terror for a FastPass, then Rock'n'Roller Coaster (went right on). We made our first purchase of the trip buying the photo. After that, we hit Tower of Terror with our FastPass, then on to the Beauty and the Beast show. We did a few other rides,the order of which I am not sure of now,and we shopped in some of the stores.Then Kaitlyn saw some characters and wanted to start her autograph book.So she got in line while we stood close by and watched all these cute adorable little kids meeting the characters. Even if they were not my own children,I felt the magic in watching it happen just the same.There was one bad moment though when we finally reached the front of the line and Kaitlyn wanted to get a picture witha character.A woman with a small child in a stroller type wheelchair walked right up to the character just as I was trying to take the picture of my daughter. We asked her to please move and she looked right at us ,she heard us,but she wouldn't move,so my husband,who is not one to hold back said something to her about being rude.And her comeback was "Didn't we have any heart for her disabled child?"
Well,yes lady,normally we do. But our daughter had to stand in line and wait for that picture to be taken,and you just walked right up and took her place without standing in line.Your child was in a chair,and it wouldn't have hurt for you to stand in line for a few minutes just as everyone else had to.. I am not being hearltless,because if she would have even asked us if she could go ,if there was a reason for it,for her childs sake,we would have allowed her to go up before us...but to just step in and take some other childs spot,while there were other children still waiting in line yet ,that was down right rude of her...and worse,she used her disabled child as an excuse for her rude behavior. My daughter never did get that picture because just as the rude lady had her childs picture taken ,time was up and the handlers were taken away the character for a break.It wasn't a really big deal as Kaitlyn is old enough to understand ,but it did tick me off. I am not against givng the disabled some advantages,but I don't like that this lady used her childs disability just because she didn't want to wait in line with the rest of us. And a few minutes later we saw her do it again to someone else.Unfortunately,there are rude people everywhere,even in Disney World..
Anyway,we were getting hungry , so we ate lunch at the Commissary ,which doesn't have much to rave about, and looked in some of the shops. By 3 p.m., we were hot and tired,and needing a rest. Calling the hotel, we found we could get into our room; so, we caught a bus back, unpacked and rested a little (while the girls went for a swim). After a shower and change, it was back to Disney-MGM for our Fantasmic dinner package.
We ate at Hollywood and Vine at 7 p.m., and didn't think the food was too bad. Then, we walked over to the Fantasmic stadium and found some decent seats in the section that had been reserved for the dinner packages. I was glad we decided to go with the package because when we got there, most of the entire middle section was taken,and there was a huge line to get into the stadium.
As we waited for the show to start, the girls asked if they could go around the park awhile, and still be able to get back in with us. The attendant said no problem, so they did that to pass the time (they had no trouble getting back in).
Fantasmis was excellent; I loved every minute of it. Personally, after seeing all three of the night-time shows, I loved this one the most.
After the show was over, we just hurried to get a bus back to the hotel. We seemed to be ahead of most of the park on the way out, so we were able to easily catch a bus. Back to the hotel, the girls found there stuffed animals sitting in the window waiting for them and they loved that.I told them how I read that the mousekeepers do that.Then the girls and I went swimming while Rick watched some TV.
We all went to bed, completely exhausted but deliriously happy.
MONDAY, MAY 24 -- Animal Kingdom was planned for today. We had brought cereal and plastic bowls and spoons,and my husband walked up to the food court to buy some milk,and we ate breakfast in the room, Then we left for the park's Early Entry. We watched the opening show close up and were the first ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari. After getting FastPasses for the Kali River Rapids, we walked on one of the trails until the FastPass time arrived.
The rest of the day was spent on the other rides, walking the trails and seeing,a Bugs Life and Tarzan Rocks.We missed The Lion King show,which disspaointed me,but now I have that to look forward to next time. Lunch was eaten in the park at Pizzafari..We bought some more souveniers for the kids.They bought a safari stuffed Mickey and Minnie,and some pins,as they were now starting to get into collecting the pins. Around 3 p.m., we met up with a lady who would take us to the Saratoga Springs hotel for a tour.After wards we had some refreshments and then were taken on the tour.I personally loved the idea of buying into the vacation club,but I knew before we went that Rick wasn't really going to go for it. He likes to do different things for our vacations...not always Disney World,so it wouldnt really make sense for us to buy into the club...but one of these days I am going to wear him down! After the tour we had some ice cream and returned to Pop Century. We showered and changed, as the plan was to leave WDW for dinner and find these Disney outlets I heard so much about. We did find them eventually, and shopped around,buying several souveniers for people back home.Alyssa also bought a pink Princess Disney jacket for herself,as she considers herself a princess and makes everyone call her that,even though she is 16 years old. Then we were getting hungry,and although we didn't care for MacDonalds,it was the only place we could all agree on. The MacDonalds was "gourmet bistro" (which cracked up my kids quite a lot).
When we got back to the hotel, it was time for another viewing of the stuffed animals playing on the beds,another evening swim, and showers and some tv before bed.
TUESDAY, MAY 25 -- The Magic Kingdom. We started with a Character Breakfast at the Crystal Palace, so that Alyssa could enjoy some time with her favorite characters, Pooh and friends. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast there, and got some really great photos taken with the girls and the Pooh characters.
We were finished with our breakfast shortly before the park officially opened, so we were able to walk over to Tomorrowland and and get a head start. When the park opened, we raced over to Space Mountain, getting on within five minutes. Next, we did Buzz Lightyear (pretty quickly as well).
We rode some more rides,went to our faovrite Haunted Mansion and saw the Hall of Presidents (which Rick really wanted to see). We also watched Cinderella's Surprise Celebration, which I loved.After eating lunch at the Pinocchio Village Haus, we went to see Mickey's Philharmagic with a FastPass. Then it was time for us to separate, as Rick and Kaitlyn headed to the Contempory Resort Marina to go tubing while Alyssa and I went back to the hotel to change.
The two of us had tickets to Cirque du Soleil at 6 p.m. We showered and changed, then went to Downtown Disney ,walking around the shops and having ice cream on a bench looking at the lake.I took some more photos,but I have the memmory of that evening sketched into my mind. It was so nice to sit and talk to my daughter like that.. Then it was time for the show.
Cirque du Soleil was one of the top vacation moments for me; I can't begin to describe this show..it was just breath-taking and incredible, and I would recommend it to everyone if you get a chance to see it. It is definitely worth doing.
We thought we had cheaper seats (as I purchased Category One tickets), but we found when we got there that our seats were amazing. They were six rows from the stage! It seemed we were able to see better then even the upper seats. Even when they did the air stuff, we saw pretty well as it was right above us.
I just loved this show. It was great. I ended up buying a dvd on the way out because I wanted something of this show to take home with me. My daughter (who is a dancer) loved this show just as much as I did, so we both came out of there raving about it.
After the show, we met Rick and Kaitlyn at Disney Quest, where we spent a few hours having fun there. Then we walked around the Downtown area for awhile and finally took a bus back to the hotel. Alyssa and I grabbed a late dinner at the Food Court, as we still hadn't eaten anything. When we walked into the room,Mickey and Minie were on a safari hunt for the other stuffed animals...it was so cute! Then we joined Rick and Kaitlyn for a quick swim,showered and headed to bed.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 -- Blizzard Beach.I should have done some more research on this park. We didn't get seats at a set place for us,and we should have.We started out having fun, but then the girls and I got separated from Rick when he went to take some things back to our locker. It was just a misunderstanding where we would all meet again, but we spent a good hour walking around looking for each other. I was getting hot and frustrated and the girls were getting grumpy, but finally we found each other and were able to enjoy more of the waterpark.
We stopped around 1 p.m. for some lunch and then the girls decided to go over to Typhoon Lagoon. I was feeling exhausted, so Rick was truly a darling and said for me to go back to the hotel while he accompanied the girls to the other waterpark. We all rode back to Pop Century. I went to our room while the others lucked out by jumping off one bus right onto another for Typhoon Lagoon. This time Mickey and the other stuffed animals were sitting in front of the Princess Minnie Alyssa had bought the night before. While they were at Typhoon Lagoon, I did some laundry and sunbathed by the pool.I was in heaven just soaking up that warm Florida sun. Afterwards I walked up to Everythng Pop,bought a Mickey Ice cream bar and looked in the store for awhile,but buying nothing else.I had just come back to the hotel and was settling in to watch some tv when the others came back ,excited and filled with stories about Typhoon Lagoon.They wanted to go back again so they could take me there before the trip was over.
We ate dinner at Pop Century's Food Court, then it was Ricks turn for some rest. I took the girls to downtown Disney again ,and we did some more shopping for awhile and then headed back to DisneyQuest.The girls loved it there. After the girls and I spent time at DisneyQuest, we went back to the hotel for a swim and then it was bedtime.
THURSDAY, MAY 27 -- Epcot. We got there early and rode Mission Space and Test Track easily with the help of FastPass.We then saw "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" and walked around Living Seas.We went on a few other rides and I took the girls over to the Leave a Legacy tiles, where we got in our AAA package. There was no waiting, thankfully. (I was worried about that long line I heard about, but we must have lucked out). Then we walked around the World Showcase.
I grabbed some food from China and then walked over to America to meet the rest of my food fussy family,where they grabbed something for their lunch. I ate my food with them, then we finished our tour through World Showcase. We went on a few other rides and then headed back to the resort for a rest,and some swimming for the girls.
Dinner was at Pop Century's Food Court...we loved watching the Cast Members do the Hustle every night at 6 p.m. After dinner, Rick went to the hotel room to watch tv and the girls and I went back to Epcot to watch Illuminations. We got a great spot near the Rose and Crown pub.We loved the show,but Fantasmic is still my favorite. Afterwards, it was back to the resort and a visit to the arcade before our nightly swim. Then to bed.Oh,and this time Kaityns ballerina Minnie was the center of attention.
FRIDAY, MAY 28 -- The girls wanted to take me over to Typhoon Lagoon today so I could have the chance to swim in the Shark Reef. They had loved this experience and wanted me to try it. Even Rick loved this and considered this a highlight of the trip for him.So much so that he had to buy a t-shirt of it. So we ate breakfast in the resort, then caught a bus to Typhoon Lagoon.
We swam with the sharks first thing. I had a harder time with getting used to the scuba mask and didn't really enjoy it as much as they all did. I got out and watched them do it again,and then we headed over to jump the waves in the wave pool. This is something I love to do,and had a blast wheile there.We did a few other things at the waterpark before decided we had had enough. Back to the hotel for some lunch.
We had planned to go to Magic Kingdom that evening, but the girls wanted to go back right then and there and get an earlier start (riding the rides they missed out on the first day). Rick and I were exhausted, but decided the girls would be fine on their own in the park, so we let them go. Alyssa had her cell phone and we told her we would call her to meet us for dinner there when it was time.
They left and we rested. I pulled out my laptop and caught up on some email, but then we started to get bored. So Rick and I decided to just go over to MK as well. We called the girls to let them know we were there, but they wanted to be on their own, so we decided to let them.
We went on the ferry and train rides, did some shopping, and bought the girls a surprise souvenier. We just had a nice time being on our own...more slow-paced and enjoyable. Being on our own let us experience a different view of the Magic Kingdom, and we liked it!
Finally, we called the girls to meet us for dinner, but unfortunately were unable to get a last-minute PS so we just ate a counter meal in the park. (By this time, Rick and I were getting pretty tired of the same food all the time.) We wished we would have planned the meals better. But live and learn. This was only our second time there,and we had learned alot in this visit,so we knew our next visit would be even better.
After dinner, we watched Carousel of Progress and went on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority,both of which I really enjoy doing. After shopping some, we found some seats on Main Street for SpectroMagic and the fireworks. We got great seats and had some ice cream while waiting for the parade.
After the parade, we walked down Main Street to find a better spot for Wishes. I loved this show too, but still think Fantasmic was so much better.
When Wishes was over, we went in to the Chaupeax and bought Mickey hats for the girls and thier friends, complete with the friends' names sewn on them. It was a long line to catch a bus back to Pop Century...really, our first long line of our stay (but we would soon learn that things were about to turn for the worse there).
We got back to the hotel, and the girls went into the arcade and then we all went for a swim before bed.This time Mickey was laying in bed with the Princess Minnie and the Ballerina Minnie watching him.
SATURDAY, MAY 29 -- We all slept in -- which was a wonderful feeling -- then got up and decided to go shopping at the Marketplace for souvenirs.We seemed to be doing alot of shopping,but it is one of the things we love to do.Alot of times we would just look and decide what to buy at a later time before we left. But today was that later time.The girls had thier own fair amount of money they wanted to spend.I had to buy my sister something extra special for house and pet watching while we were gone. She was home spoiling my dog with sausage mcmuffins and car rides, which she loves.
Lunch was spent at the Rainforest Cafe,which we all enjoyed.After lunch we shopped for awhile longer and then the girls wanted to go over to Disney Quest on thier own, so Rick and I went back to the hotel,carrying quite a number of shopping bags. Once back at the hotel I promptly fell onto the bed and took a very nice and much-needed nap while Rick watched sports on the tv.
When the girls came back a couple hours later, we all went swimming and then dressed and headed back to the Disney-MGM Studios where we ate dinner at the 50's cafe..
We wanted to re-do some of our favorite rides; but by the time we got to them, all the FastPasses were gone. So we just stood in long lines for Tower of Terror and Rock'n'Roller Coaster.
We noticed how the crowds continued to grow larger as the Memorial Day weekend approached. The week didn't start off badly; by the end of our stay though, the parks were wall-to-wall people.
Because we had been there earlier in the week and did most everything then, we caught a bus back to the hotel.It was just too crowded in the park for us to have a good time. The girls had been saving up ticket points from playing in the arcade and decided to play some more and then cash them in for prizes.I went over to the hotel store and bought a WDW book,,and a charm bracelet for each of the girls and then went back to the hotel room. Later Rick and the girls came back with a bag full of prizes. Then it was time for another swim and then to bed.All the stuffed animals,pooh bears and Mickey and Minnies were all tucked in ,ready for bed.
SUNDAY, MAY 30 -- Our last day at WDW. We got up early and went over to Epcot first for Mission Space (the only real reason we went back to Epcot). Then, we hopped a monorail,in which we rode up front with the captain,and to the Ticket & Transportation Center. There, we noticed that Goofy and the Chipmunks were riding the ferry boats back and forth, so we got some great pictures of them.
Rick wasn't feeling too well in the heat and since he was our driver on the way home, we separated: I went with the girls into MK and he went back to the hotel.
We grabbed some hotdogs at Casey's for lunch and then rode a few rides for awhile. After some shopping where I bought the girls and I some t -shirts,and scrapbooking stuff, we grabbed some ice cream in the parlour and found some seats for the afternoon parade (the last thing we had wanted to do before we left).We enjoyed the parade,and then decided we should go back to the hotel and get packed up to leave the next morning. We took one last wishful look at the castle before we left.
Once back at the hotel,we all walked up to the food court for dinner,and did some shopping. I bought a photo album and some postcards and the girls bought some jewelry. Then it was back to our room to pack. Rick and I loaded them onto our car's top cargo and into the trunk.It all barely fit.
After loading, he went to check-out (since we would be leaving very early in the morning). The girls and I got into our bathing suits and went for a last swim, then Rick joined us. Hunger brought us back to the Food Court for a snack, which we brought back to the room and ate before going to bed.
Our alarm was set to go off at 3:30 a.m., since Rick wanted to leave by 4 a.m. We woke up, got ready to leave and closed our hotel door behind us, saying we will be back again soon.
May 2,2005
So that was our vacation from last year.I had hoped that we could go back this year,but my husband made a deal with me and said at least every other year...that way he can go on his vacations and us girls can do Disney more often. It seemed fair to me.At least I know I can go back again next year. However Alyssa..our oldest daughter,she is going down in June again with 3 of her friends.They are taking a 20 hour train ride to get there,and are going all alone. It will be a graduation present from us.I am envious to some degree,but I had fun helping her to plan out the trip...as she was the one appointed to do all the planning.She was the one who actually got the trip together. I know this will be such a wonderful trip for her,and she deserves it because she is such a good kid. She has never given us a day of trouble in growing up,always on the honor roll,and now she is heading to college in the fall for premed. We figure she probaly wont be taking alot of Disney trips in her near future,so she should take one last hurrah before she comes back and starts her summer job before heading for college and adulthood and all the responsibility that comes with life after high school.She is so excited as each day gets closer and I am excited for her,and to hear all about her trip. And to make up for the envious part of me,my husband said I could start planning our trip for next May,after Alyssa is finished with her first year of college.That way,maybe she can join us if she wants to. Knowing her,I think she will.
Thanks for reading my lllloooonnnng trip report. I write like I talk! Lol!
I now regret how blindly we took our first trip to Disney World. My oldest daughter was 9 at the time and my youngest was only 4.We really missed out on alot of the wonderful experiences that we could have had if only I had done some homework for our trip. At the time,I knew alot of our time would be taken up with the dance school's schedule,and we were also going to Universal Studios to dance one day.We were only in Florida for five days,and two of those days were travel days as well.So we didn't have as much time as I wished we could have had,and we missed out on alot of the attractions.Animal Kingdom was still in the works at the time,so we tried to squeeze in as much as we could in our free time,which really wasn't very much.My husband and daughter made out a little better then me and our youngest daughter ,who waas still at nap age. On our one free whole day,I ended up having to take her back to the hotel because she was hot ,cranky and tired.We stayed atthe All Star Music resort,and to me it was a nice,clean resort,but very busy while we were there.I let her swim for a few minutes and then she very willingly took a nap for quite a few hours.I never really did get to see and do alot that first trip,but what I did do,impressed me and I instantly fell in love with Disney World. I have fond memories of walking into Magic Kingdom,and seeing the castle and just being so overwhelmed by it,I couldn't take my eyes off it. And we had arrived right at the time when the afternnon parade was taking place. My youngest and I wanted to watch it so my husband and oldest daughter took off for Space Mountain..a ride my daughter knew about because she had a teacher telling her all about Disney World.While my little one and I watched,a character pulled my 4 year old daughter out of my hand and led her right into the parade to dance with them. At first I was sort of freaked by it,but then I saw that they were doing this with other children too,and that my daughter was already having a good time....so out my camera came and I managed to get our first taste of the magic on film. I watched carefully for my daughter until she was safely by my side,and then we continued towards the castle and I wasted precious time trying to find the childrens rides...otherwise known as Fantasy Land. We had a wonderful time,and my daughters favorite ride was the carousel and Small World. So we went on them over and over again.Looking back now I see that I viewed Disney World in a different light then I did when we went on our second trip.I was taking it moment by moment and experiencing it in a way I probaly never will again.But it wasn't time wasted. It was just time spent with a four year old at a four year olds pace. We went over to Minnies house and Barnstormer,my daughter loved them both and we spent quite awhile there as well. The only thing I regret is that when we were looking in the souvenier stores and my daughter really wanted a princess costume,but I was thinking in terms of money and value...not seeing that there was more value for us at the time in buying her the costume she wanted. I would never get the chance again to dress my daughter as a princess,or to let her experience that special magic , because the next trip we took to Disney World was when was eleven years old.And I never knew about the character meals that we had missed.I loved our first trip,but I made mistakes that I would now encourage anyone else going for the first time to not make. Live and Learn I guess.
So,now,back to last year.We were all excited about this years vacation to Disney World. We would be there 8 days and 7 nights.My oldest daughter and I went out and bought several books about Disney World,and this time we actually read them.
My daughter actually had the brilliant idea of looking up on the internet to see if there was anything about Disney World. Wow,was there ever. Our favorites list grew as we found one site we liked after another. We were planning from the moment we booked our trip in February until the moment we actually got there. Disney World and our vacation was all we talked about. We planned to stay at Pop Century simply because it looked cool to the girls,and my husband liked the price.We told everyone and anyone who would listen about our vacation,and the plans we were making. And then we would change those plans around again,and told them about the changes,as if they even cared. Ha! But we did. It was becoming an all obsessive,mind encompessing occupation for us.And the closer we got to our time to leave,the worse we got. I think we made my husband sick of Disney World before he ever even got there.
We had ordered the trip planning video and would watch it over and over again. This made me and my oldest daughter who is a dancer really want to see Cirque. My husband and youngest daughter didn't want to see it,so I reserved seats for me and my oldest.I booked p's for the Fantasmic dinner package,and for Chrystal Palce ,so my oldest daughter could meet up with her favorite character,Pooh Bear. Since I had something special for my oldest daughter,I allowed my youngest daughter to pick out something that she wanted to do as well. We had read about going tubing with a motor boat pulling you,and so this is what she picked out to do,with my husbad.We booked Cirque and the tubing adventure for the same day,and then we would split up into two's,each pair going off for thier own adventure. We also had P's booked for Prime Time and Sci Fi,and The Rain Tree Forest.We went out shopping and bought summer clothes,and we were packed weeks ahead of time.And yet each day,I would think of something new that we would need while we were down there,and I would go out and buy it.This was going to be the greatest vacation we ever had.We counted down the days,and finally we reached the night before we were going to leave.
To our advantage,my husband learned he would have to work over night the Thursday night before we left.It worked out great,because then he could sleep all day Friday and we were planning to leave at night time and he could then drive thru the night. So Friday morning,I send my extremely anxoius and hyper kids off to school,and I left to pick up my husband from work,because he would have to leave the company truck he usually drove there. Once I got him,we stopped for breakfast and ran around to do some last minute errands,got our travelers checks,ect. By the time we got home it was around 12 already. He went to bed to get some sleep,and I went about doing some last minute cleaning,laundry and packing.Then I tried to lay down a little myself because I had been too excited the night before to get any real sleep.The next thing I know is my girls are bursting through the door and practically jumping out of thier skin to get going. Well...as much as I wanted to myself,that wasn't the plan. Dad needed to get some sleep because he wanted to do most of the driving through the night when traffic would be less.So to keep my girls calm,I took them out to Walmart and we bought sunglasses and snacks,and whatever else we decided we would need for our vacation that I hadn't already bought. I then took them out for dinner and we came home and I got them to take showers so that they wouldn't feel so icky tomorrow morning after being in the car all night long.Finally we couldn't stand it any longer and we packed up our luggage in the cargo.There! We were already for dad to wake up. We watched tv and when he woke up,I ordered some food from a nearby take out place for him and he ate his dinner while we sat and hurried him along.
After what seemed to be the longest day,we were loading our traveling pillows and blankets ,games,snacks,ect and finally ourselves into the car. We were off!!!! Except for two more stops Dad needed to make before we hit the turnpike.Back to Walmart again!
May 21-30
FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 21,2004 - 9 P.M. -- My family -- husband (Rick), daughters Alyssa (16) and Kaitlyn (11) and me (Lisa) -- left for our 2nd trip to Walt Disney World. We stopped at Walmart first to pick up some phone cards for our cells phones and then to fill up the gas tank and finally we were on our way. We drove through the night, stopping only for gas several times. In the morning we stopped in South Carolina at a Shoeneys for breakfast buffet and then I took over driving for awhile so Rick could get some rest.I drove for about two hours,bringing us into Georgia, and then he wanted to drive again. We arrived in Florida around noon,and stopped at the Florida Welcome center. Since we were not scheduled to check into the Jacksonville hotel until 3;00 pm,we decided that it was silly for us to wait around 3 hours to check in when we could drive on instead,and be closer to Disney the next morning. My husband still felt great and so did the rest of us. So we called Triple A and had things arranged to cancel the Jacksonville hotel and go on into Orlando instead.We tried to get in a night ealy at the Pop Century,but they were booked solid,so we ended up going to a Ramada Inn,which was only just outside of WDW. The girls immediately wanted to go swimming.The girls and I swam for awhile while Rick rested before we went to get something to eat. After dinner at the Sizzler steakhouse, we shopped for a bit to look at some souvenier shops in the area,then went back to the hotel. The girls decided to go to the hotels arcade,and Rick went in search for a bar to see a hockey game since he couldn't get it on the tv in the room.I stayed alone in the room,made some coffee , and wrote some of the trip report so far,and then I read for a little.After everyone returned we watched a show about the best things to do at Disney World ,getting excited yet again,and finally exhuasted, we headed to bed.
SUNDAY, MAY 23 -- After checking out of the Ramada around 7;30 AM, we headed into WDW and to the Pop Century resort.I am glad we got there when we did,because later in the day the line was very long.However,we were able to just step right up and check in. We were able to check in early, but had to wait for our room.We were in the fifties building,second floor,room 1263, facing the bowling pin pool.It was a bit of a walk to the room from the main building and bus stops,but not really too bad,and the quietness of the pool made up for it. We ate breakfast at the Pop Century's food court, then hopped a bus to Disney-MGM Studios, getting there in time to see thier opening show.
First stop: Tower of Terror for a FastPass, then Rock'n'Roller Coaster (went right on). We made our first purchase of the trip buying the photo. After that, we hit Tower of Terror with our FastPass, then on to the Beauty and the Beast show. We did a few other rides,the order of which I am not sure of now,and we shopped in some of the stores.Then Kaitlyn saw some characters and wanted to start her autograph book.So she got in line while we stood close by and watched all these cute adorable little kids meeting the characters. Even if they were not my own children,I felt the magic in watching it happen just the same.There was one bad moment though when we finally reached the front of the line and Kaitlyn wanted to get a picture witha character.A woman with a small child in a stroller type wheelchair walked right up to the character just as I was trying to take the picture of my daughter. We asked her to please move and she looked right at us ,she heard us,but she wouldn't move,so my husband,who is not one to hold back said something to her about being rude.And her comeback was "Didn't we have any heart for her disabled child?"
Well,yes lady,normally we do. But our daughter had to stand in line and wait for that picture to be taken,and you just walked right up and took her place without standing in line.Your child was in a chair,and it wouldn't have hurt for you to stand in line for a few minutes just as everyone else had to.. I am not being hearltless,because if she would have even asked us if she could go ,if there was a reason for it,for her childs sake,we would have allowed her to go up before us...but to just step in and take some other childs spot,while there were other children still waiting in line yet ,that was down right rude of her...and worse,she used her disabled child as an excuse for her rude behavior. My daughter never did get that picture because just as the rude lady had her childs picture taken ,time was up and the handlers were taken away the character for a break.It wasn't a really big deal as Kaitlyn is old enough to understand ,but it did tick me off. I am not against givng the disabled some advantages,but I don't like that this lady used her childs disability just because she didn't want to wait in line with the rest of us. And a few minutes later we saw her do it again to someone else.Unfortunately,there are rude people everywhere,even in Disney World..
Anyway,we were getting hungry , so we ate lunch at the Commissary ,which doesn't have much to rave about, and looked in some of the shops. By 3 p.m., we were hot and tired,and needing a rest. Calling the hotel, we found we could get into our room; so, we caught a bus back, unpacked and rested a little (while the girls went for a swim). After a shower and change, it was back to Disney-MGM for our Fantasmic dinner package.
We ate at Hollywood and Vine at 7 p.m., and didn't think the food was too bad. Then, we walked over to the Fantasmic stadium and found some decent seats in the section that had been reserved for the dinner packages. I was glad we decided to go with the package because when we got there, most of the entire middle section was taken,and there was a huge line to get into the stadium.
As we waited for the show to start, the girls asked if they could go around the park awhile, and still be able to get back in with us. The attendant said no problem, so they did that to pass the time (they had no trouble getting back in).
Fantasmis was excellent; I loved every minute of it. Personally, after seeing all three of the night-time shows, I loved this one the most.
After the show was over, we just hurried to get a bus back to the hotel. We seemed to be ahead of most of the park on the way out, so we were able to easily catch a bus. Back to the hotel, the girls found there stuffed animals sitting in the window waiting for them and they loved that.I told them how I read that the mousekeepers do that.Then the girls and I went swimming while Rick watched some TV.
We all went to bed, completely exhausted but deliriously happy.
MONDAY, MAY 24 -- Animal Kingdom was planned for today. We had brought cereal and plastic bowls and spoons,and my husband walked up to the food court to buy some milk,and we ate breakfast in the room, Then we left for the park's Early Entry. We watched the opening show close up and were the first ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari. After getting FastPasses for the Kali River Rapids, we walked on one of the trails until the FastPass time arrived.
The rest of the day was spent on the other rides, walking the trails and seeing,a Bugs Life and Tarzan Rocks.We missed The Lion King show,which disspaointed me,but now I have that to look forward to next time. Lunch was eaten in the park at Pizzafari..We bought some more souveniers for the kids.They bought a safari stuffed Mickey and Minnie,and some pins,as they were now starting to get into collecting the pins. Around 3 p.m., we met up with a lady who would take us to the Saratoga Springs hotel for a tour.After wards we had some refreshments and then were taken on the tour.I personally loved the idea of buying into the vacation club,but I knew before we went that Rick wasn't really going to go for it. He likes to do different things for our vacations...not always Disney World,so it wouldnt really make sense for us to buy into the club...but one of these days I am going to wear him down! After the tour we had some ice cream and returned to Pop Century. We showered and changed, as the plan was to leave WDW for dinner and find these Disney outlets I heard so much about. We did find them eventually, and shopped around,buying several souveniers for people back home.Alyssa also bought a pink Princess Disney jacket for herself,as she considers herself a princess and makes everyone call her that,even though she is 16 years old. Then we were getting hungry,and although we didn't care for MacDonalds,it was the only place we could all agree on. The MacDonalds was "gourmet bistro" (which cracked up my kids quite a lot).
When we got back to the hotel, it was time for another viewing of the stuffed animals playing on the beds,another evening swim, and showers and some tv before bed.
TUESDAY, MAY 25 -- The Magic Kingdom. We started with a Character Breakfast at the Crystal Palace, so that Alyssa could enjoy some time with her favorite characters, Pooh and friends. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast there, and got some really great photos taken with the girls and the Pooh characters.
We were finished with our breakfast shortly before the park officially opened, so we were able to walk over to Tomorrowland and and get a head start. When the park opened, we raced over to Space Mountain, getting on within five minutes. Next, we did Buzz Lightyear (pretty quickly as well).
We rode some more rides,went to our faovrite Haunted Mansion and saw the Hall of Presidents (which Rick really wanted to see). We also watched Cinderella's Surprise Celebration, which I loved.After eating lunch at the Pinocchio Village Haus, we went to see Mickey's Philharmagic with a FastPass. Then it was time for us to separate, as Rick and Kaitlyn headed to the Contempory Resort Marina to go tubing while Alyssa and I went back to the hotel to change.
The two of us had tickets to Cirque du Soleil at 6 p.m. We showered and changed, then went to Downtown Disney ,walking around the shops and having ice cream on a bench looking at the lake.I took some more photos,but I have the memmory of that evening sketched into my mind. It was so nice to sit and talk to my daughter like that.. Then it was time for the show.
Cirque du Soleil was one of the top vacation moments for me; I can't begin to describe this show..it was just breath-taking and incredible, and I would recommend it to everyone if you get a chance to see it. It is definitely worth doing.
We thought we had cheaper seats (as I purchased Category One tickets), but we found when we got there that our seats were amazing. They were six rows from the stage! It seemed we were able to see better then even the upper seats. Even when they did the air stuff, we saw pretty well as it was right above us.
I just loved this show. It was great. I ended up buying a dvd on the way out because I wanted something of this show to take home with me. My daughter (who is a dancer) loved this show just as much as I did, so we both came out of there raving about it.
After the show, we met Rick and Kaitlyn at Disney Quest, where we spent a few hours having fun there. Then we walked around the Downtown area for awhile and finally took a bus back to the hotel. Alyssa and I grabbed a late dinner at the Food Court, as we still hadn't eaten anything. When we walked into the room,Mickey and Minie were on a safari hunt for the other stuffed animals...it was so cute! Then we joined Rick and Kaitlyn for a quick swim,showered and headed to bed.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 -- Blizzard Beach.I should have done some more research on this park. We didn't get seats at a set place for us,and we should have.We started out having fun, but then the girls and I got separated from Rick when he went to take some things back to our locker. It was just a misunderstanding where we would all meet again, but we spent a good hour walking around looking for each other. I was getting hot and frustrated and the girls were getting grumpy, but finally we found each other and were able to enjoy more of the waterpark.
We stopped around 1 p.m. for some lunch and then the girls decided to go over to Typhoon Lagoon. I was feeling exhausted, so Rick was truly a darling and said for me to go back to the hotel while he accompanied the girls to the other waterpark. We all rode back to Pop Century. I went to our room while the others lucked out by jumping off one bus right onto another for Typhoon Lagoon. This time Mickey and the other stuffed animals were sitting in front of the Princess Minnie Alyssa had bought the night before. While they were at Typhoon Lagoon, I did some laundry and sunbathed by the pool.I was in heaven just soaking up that warm Florida sun. Afterwards I walked up to Everythng Pop,bought a Mickey Ice cream bar and looked in the store for awhile,but buying nothing else.I had just come back to the hotel and was settling in to watch some tv when the others came back ,excited and filled with stories about Typhoon Lagoon.They wanted to go back again so they could take me there before the trip was over.
We ate dinner at Pop Century's Food Court, then it was Ricks turn for some rest. I took the girls to downtown Disney again ,and we did some more shopping for awhile and then headed back to DisneyQuest.The girls loved it there. After the girls and I spent time at DisneyQuest, we went back to the hotel for a swim and then it was bedtime.
THURSDAY, MAY 27 -- Epcot. We got there early and rode Mission Space and Test Track easily with the help of FastPass.We then saw "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" and walked around Living Seas.We went on a few other rides and I took the girls over to the Leave a Legacy tiles, where we got in our AAA package. There was no waiting, thankfully. (I was worried about that long line I heard about, but we must have lucked out). Then we walked around the World Showcase.
I grabbed some food from China and then walked over to America to meet the rest of my food fussy family,where they grabbed something for their lunch. I ate my food with them, then we finished our tour through World Showcase. We went on a few other rides and then headed back to the resort for a rest,and some swimming for the girls.
Dinner was at Pop Century's Food Court...we loved watching the Cast Members do the Hustle every night at 6 p.m. After dinner, Rick went to the hotel room to watch tv and the girls and I went back to Epcot to watch Illuminations. We got a great spot near the Rose and Crown pub.We loved the show,but Fantasmic is still my favorite. Afterwards, it was back to the resort and a visit to the arcade before our nightly swim. Then to bed.Oh,and this time Kaityns ballerina Minnie was the center of attention.
FRIDAY, MAY 28 -- The girls wanted to take me over to Typhoon Lagoon today so I could have the chance to swim in the Shark Reef. They had loved this experience and wanted me to try it. Even Rick loved this and considered this a highlight of the trip for him.So much so that he had to buy a t-shirt of it. So we ate breakfast in the resort, then caught a bus to Typhoon Lagoon.
We swam with the sharks first thing. I had a harder time with getting used to the scuba mask and didn't really enjoy it as much as they all did. I got out and watched them do it again,and then we headed over to jump the waves in the wave pool. This is something I love to do,and had a blast wheile there.We did a few other things at the waterpark before decided we had had enough. Back to the hotel for some lunch.
We had planned to go to Magic Kingdom that evening, but the girls wanted to go back right then and there and get an earlier start (riding the rides they missed out on the first day). Rick and I were exhausted, but decided the girls would be fine on their own in the park, so we let them go. Alyssa had her cell phone and we told her we would call her to meet us for dinner there when it was time.
They left and we rested. I pulled out my laptop and caught up on some email, but then we started to get bored. So Rick and I decided to just go over to MK as well. We called the girls to let them know we were there, but they wanted to be on their own, so we decided to let them.
We went on the ferry and train rides, did some shopping, and bought the girls a surprise souvenier. We just had a nice time being on our own...more slow-paced and enjoyable. Being on our own let us experience a different view of the Magic Kingdom, and we liked it!
Finally, we called the girls to meet us for dinner, but unfortunately were unable to get a last-minute PS so we just ate a counter meal in the park. (By this time, Rick and I were getting pretty tired of the same food all the time.) We wished we would have planned the meals better. But live and learn. This was only our second time there,and we had learned alot in this visit,so we knew our next visit would be even better.
After dinner, we watched Carousel of Progress and went on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority,both of which I really enjoy doing. After shopping some, we found some seats on Main Street for SpectroMagic and the fireworks. We got great seats and had some ice cream while waiting for the parade.
After the parade, we walked down Main Street to find a better spot for Wishes. I loved this show too, but still think Fantasmic was so much better.
When Wishes was over, we went in to the Chaupeax and bought Mickey hats for the girls and thier friends, complete with the friends' names sewn on them. It was a long line to catch a bus back to Pop Century...really, our first long line of our stay (but we would soon learn that things were about to turn for the worse there).
We got back to the hotel, and the girls went into the arcade and then we all went for a swim before bed.This time Mickey was laying in bed with the Princess Minnie and the Ballerina Minnie watching him.
SATURDAY, MAY 29 -- We all slept in -- which was a wonderful feeling -- then got up and decided to go shopping at the Marketplace for souvenirs.We seemed to be doing alot of shopping,but it is one of the things we love to do.Alot of times we would just look and decide what to buy at a later time before we left. But today was that later time.The girls had thier own fair amount of money they wanted to spend.I had to buy my sister something extra special for house and pet watching while we were gone. She was home spoiling my dog with sausage mcmuffins and car rides, which she loves.
Lunch was spent at the Rainforest Cafe,which we all enjoyed.After lunch we shopped for awhile longer and then the girls wanted to go over to Disney Quest on thier own, so Rick and I went back to the hotel,carrying quite a number of shopping bags. Once back at the hotel I promptly fell onto the bed and took a very nice and much-needed nap while Rick watched sports on the tv.
When the girls came back a couple hours later, we all went swimming and then dressed and headed back to the Disney-MGM Studios where we ate dinner at the 50's cafe..
We wanted to re-do some of our favorite rides; but by the time we got to them, all the FastPasses were gone. So we just stood in long lines for Tower of Terror and Rock'n'Roller Coaster.
We noticed how the crowds continued to grow larger as the Memorial Day weekend approached. The week didn't start off badly; by the end of our stay though, the parks were wall-to-wall people.
Because we had been there earlier in the week and did most everything then, we caught a bus back to the hotel.It was just too crowded in the park for us to have a good time. The girls had been saving up ticket points from playing in the arcade and decided to play some more and then cash them in for prizes.I went over to the hotel store and bought a WDW book,,and a charm bracelet for each of the girls and then went back to the hotel room. Later Rick and the girls came back with a bag full of prizes. Then it was time for another swim and then to bed.All the stuffed animals,pooh bears and Mickey and Minnies were all tucked in ,ready for bed.
SUNDAY, MAY 30 -- Our last day at WDW. We got up early and went over to Epcot first for Mission Space (the only real reason we went back to Epcot). Then, we hopped a monorail,in which we rode up front with the captain,and to the Ticket & Transportation Center. There, we noticed that Goofy and the Chipmunks were riding the ferry boats back and forth, so we got some great pictures of them.
Rick wasn't feeling too well in the heat and since he was our driver on the way home, we separated: I went with the girls into MK and he went back to the hotel.
We grabbed some hotdogs at Casey's for lunch and then rode a few rides for awhile. After some shopping where I bought the girls and I some t -shirts,and scrapbooking stuff, we grabbed some ice cream in the parlour and found some seats for the afternoon parade (the last thing we had wanted to do before we left).We enjoyed the parade,and then decided we should go back to the hotel and get packed up to leave the next morning. We took one last wishful look at the castle before we left.
Once back at the hotel,we all walked up to the food court for dinner,and did some shopping. I bought a photo album and some postcards and the girls bought some jewelry. Then it was back to our room to pack. Rick and I loaded them onto our car's top cargo and into the trunk.It all barely fit.
After loading, he went to check-out (since we would be leaving very early in the morning). The girls and I got into our bathing suits and went for a last swim, then Rick joined us. Hunger brought us back to the Food Court for a snack, which we brought back to the room and ate before going to bed.
Our alarm was set to go off at 3:30 a.m., since Rick wanted to leave by 4 a.m. We woke up, got ready to leave and closed our hotel door behind us, saying we will be back again soon.
May 2,2005
So that was our vacation from last year.I had hoped that we could go back this year,but my husband made a deal with me and said at least every other year...that way he can go on his vacations and us girls can do Disney more often. It seemed fair to me.At least I know I can go back again next year. However Alyssa..our oldest daughter,she is going down in June again with 3 of her friends.They are taking a 20 hour train ride to get there,and are going all alone. It will be a graduation present from us.I am envious to some degree,but I had fun helping her to plan out the trip...as she was the one appointed to do all the planning.She was the one who actually got the trip together. I know this will be such a wonderful trip for her,and she deserves it because she is such a good kid. She has never given us a day of trouble in growing up,always on the honor roll,and now she is heading to college in the fall for premed. We figure she probaly wont be taking alot of Disney trips in her near future,so she should take one last hurrah before she comes back and starts her summer job before heading for college and adulthood and all the responsibility that comes with life after high school.She is so excited as each day gets closer and I am excited for her,and to hear all about her trip. And to make up for the envious part of me,my husband said I could start planning our trip for next May,after Alyssa is finished with her first year of college.That way,maybe she can join us if she wants to. Knowing her,I think she will.
Thanks for reading my lllloooonnnng trip report. I write like I talk! Lol!
