A Time to Heal, Pre-Trip Report for 11/29/07

[jadedbeauty14304]

My upcoming Disney trip is really special because of what Disney World truly means to me. This is my third vacation to Disney in the past three years. Lets start with my cast of characters for this upcoming trip:

Myself- (Tracy) age 31- Visited Disney with my high school band for the first time in 1992, and marched in the Magic Music Days parade in MK. It was such a rush playing in front of so many people. We didn't get much time to spend in the parks, but I fell in love with the place. Since I was the daughter of two city cop's who refused to fly, my parents refused to take a vacation so far away. I swore when I was an adult, I would make sure I got back to such a magical place no matter what.

DD- (Tawney) age 10- My beautiful little princess, who loves emoticons. She is in the fourth grade and is possibly one of the most polite children I have ever known.

DN- (Brittany) age 12- My favorite niece, and DD's best friend. Brittany has never been to WDW and refuses to even look at the website because she doesn't want to ruin the surprise. She wants to see everything for the first time through her own eyes. I have no pictures of her on this computer at this time.

Backstory
In Early 2004, my mother passed away from cancer, she was 56 years old. My daughter and nieces were all extremely close with her, and we had thrown around the idea of taking a trip to Disney, but her health deteriorated so fast that we never got the chance to. After she passed, my father (who won't step foot in an airplane) decided to send my daughter, myself, and one of my nieces to Disney, and take care of all the costs because he thought my mom would want that.

We went for three days and stayed at Allstar Music and had a good time, but not enough time to really experience everything we wanted to experience. It was special to me because I had not seen my little princess smile in the 6 months since she lost her grandmother, until I woke her up at 3 in the morning and told her to eat breakfast because we were leaving for Disney World in an hour. Ever since, it has been the place I turn to when my heart needs a smile of it's own.

More to come...

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Ok, so where was I...
oh yes, so about a year and a half ago, I met the man of my dreams, who we can just call Hook, and dragged him on a Disney vacation in February of this year. It was the beginning of the end for me and Hook. I don't know what it is, but spending a week at Disney World really makes you get to know a person. It was Hook, myself, and DD that went, and we stayed at POP and it was a nice 6 day stay. The "man of my dreams" turned into a whiny little complainer. It was almost as if he was fighting with DD to get my attention. Well as a full time chemical plant shiftworker/ mother/ college student, I just did not have the patience to waste my time on him. I had fun. DD had fun. Hook was a pain.
So, after Disney things were good with us again. I decided to buy a house, Hook moved in, along with his dog, which DD became very attached to, and we were living the happy little family dream. Then, one day in September, he left. Took the dog with him. DD and myself were both devastated. So, I got on the computer and booked my trip. I just need a little bit of time in a happy place! I was mourning a relationship loss and DD was mourning the loss of the dog. I decided I wanted to bring along a niece again, because everyone should visit WDW at least once while they are still a kid. I am ready to go and heal at WDW once again!

Up Next: Itinerary!!

 

[Jacklynn]

Sorry for the things you have been going through! I look forward to reading all about your plans!

 

[Avivasmom]

I am sorry for everything that happened but as they say it will make you stronger and what a better place to be...DISNEY.

We will be there at the same time...but leave the 30th...I am so glad you did book a trip being there during the holidays is perfect and the decorations are beautiful.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I am so totally excited! I sooo need a good getaway! This is my first time experiencing Disney with all the holiday decorations, and I think it is exactly what I need, and where I need to be.
I wrote out a little itinerary, changed it about 800 times, and then decided to just stop obsessing so much about it. I overpacked each day full of parks, I just want to be spontaneous along with working around my ADR's.

Nov 29th-Thursday- Depart BUF 6:20 pm. Arrive Orlando 9:00 pm. Check into Coronado Springs resort, purchase refillable mug, eat, swim.

Nov 30th-Friday- Eat breakfast at hotel. Animal Kingdom –open 9to5. Return to resort to swim and eat. Epcot center open til 10/12:30. Dinner at Garden Grill@ 7:50 pm
Dec 1st-Saturday- Breakfast at hotel. MGM Studios-open 8a-8p. Dinner @ Prime Time Café 4:10pm. Take boat to Epcot open until 7/9:30. Take monorail to Magic Kingdom open til midnight if we don’t drop before then.

Dec 2nd – Sunday-Sleep in. Eat breakfast at hotel. Epcot –open 9a/11a-7/9:30p. dinner @ Biergarten at 5:10. Take boat to MGM open til 11p if enough energy.

Dec 3rd –Monday- Eat breakfast at hotel. Magic Kingdom open 9a-1a. Animal Kingdom –open 8a-7p Dinner at Tony’s Town Square at 4:30

Dec 4th –Tuesday- Eat breakfast at hotel. Epcot center open 8am. Lunch at noon at San Angel Inn. Depart resort for airport 3pm. Depart MCO 7:10pm arrive BUF 9:45 pm

 

[Avivasmom]

Hey we will be at AK on Friday the 30th also...you will here us yelling Aviva wait up and I will be in a scooter.

Looks like a great plan.

I did not realize you were near Buffalo...I spent 4 years at UB and graduated in 1990.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Hey we will be at AK on Friday the 30th also...you will here us yelling Aviva wait up and I will be in a scooter.

Looks like a great plan.

I did not realize you were near Buffalo...I spent 4 years at UB and graduated in 1990.

Oh yes! Buffalo is my second home for the theater, Bills, Sabres, and bars..hehe
For a tourist town, Niagara Falls is severely lacking in fun!

 

[Avivasmom]

We use to go into Fort Erie to drink...well not me..I am not a drinker LOL.

Is your DD excited to be going so soon?

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I cannot describe the excitement in her eyes every time I mention it. People are getting totally sick of me talking about it. I reminded my boss while we sitting in the breakroom at work, that I needed my last midnight shift off so I could go to Disney, and did this little dance here A female coworker (obviously really jealous of me) says " OK! Enough! Yes you are going to Disney, no one else is going and no one else cares!!"
I told her to plan a trip then, and that I would even help plan it.
She wasn't amused!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Great start to your report. I'm sorry for the loss of your mom and the other difficulties over the last year. Disney is great therapy!

We will be at CSR from 11/30-12/1 - maybe we'll see you there.

 

[TKDisneylover]

Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. We can relate as my mother-in-law passed from cancer 2 years ago and it was very devastating for everyone. I think Disney is the best therapy for the 3 of you!

Your dates overlap with ours, maybe we will see you at EPCOT as we will be there 12/2 when you are. I will have a lime green Mickey head attached to me somewhere and I will be with my DH and 2 male friends. Check out our pics in my Pre-TR so you can say hey!

Have a wonderful healing time at WDW!

 

[DinDin233]

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I lost my brother last year, who was only 21. He also loved Disney and the magic that exists there is what keeps me going back for more. I find comfort in WDW because so many happy memories can be found around each and every corner.

It is my first time seeing all the Christmas decorations and I am so excited!!! (DBF...not so much.... )

We are also staying at CSR and can't wait!!!

I'm on board for the rest of this sure to be great vacation!!!

 

[Carrieannew]

Great start! Being a single mom I can completely relate. Cant wait to hear more!

 

[jewelmicky]

I feels a bit strange to find families on DIS who are in so much similar circumstances.

My mother-in-law (sort of) passed away in June 2008. She had been sick for long time. About 2 years ago she started saying how much she wanted us all to go on a family trip to Disney while the girls were young enough to really "believe" in the magic. She wanted to pay for us all to go, but didn't really feel up to going herself. We kept saying we would never go without her, and she was never the type to plan or make a commitment to anything beyond that day. Well, as averyone here know Disney is a MUST plan type of trip.

My partner and I have been a few times with and without our daughter, but her niece has never been anywhere. Since my partners mom has passed away there has been some really bad family dynamic type things happening. The cut and dry is we now have custody of her dad (high functioning closed head injury) and her niece (mother passed away 5 years ago and dad an addict.) The family does not get along....there is an ongoing court action.
We still need to get permission from the court to take neice out of state....but if all goes well we plan to do the land/sea vacation during the girls winter break from school.

I know Granny is crying because of all the family turmoil, but I hope a magical trip will help the heal some of the wounds.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

Thanks everyone! I am a newbie and after reading someone's PTR about PTR's being therapeutic, I decided to write one. And just typing everything out felt wonderful. My boyfriend of 16 months broke things off with me on my birthday, and I have been kind of down.
I am going to give myself some retail therapy today though! Time to go to the dollar store and target and get some things for our trip! Oh and I can't forget Home Depot for some green Mickeys. I will be sure to find a way to wear one. Maybe Ill attach one on my lanyard ticket holder thingy. I will be sure to keep my eye open for fellow DISers since it seems like there will be a lot of us roaming around. OK moleskin and glow necklaces are calling me! I must go buy buy buy! Because everyone knows, SHOPPING MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER!!!

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

OH BOY!!!
I went shopping, and wow! I put together all my little things to make sure I don't lose what I need to bring along, and took a picture.

So much stuff, and buying it was fun! I found some water bottles that have a filter built right into the lid, so I can fill up at drinking fountains or sinks and have most of the bad taste filtered right out. No more wasting snack credits on bottled water! yay! I met someone willing to trade their Pepper Market mugs with my POP mugs, so those are all set. Plenty of glow bracelets/necklaces/etc... lanyards, ponchos, toiletries... can't wait to start packing! Took my niece out to buy her first pair of Crocs today! Such ugly shoes, such happy feet!

 

[TKDisneylover]

You've got lots of great stuff! I need to get to the dollar store for some of the glow bracelets & necklaces. Otherwise I've pretty much got everything else together. It's getting closer......

 

[snowwhite325]

I was so happy to find a pre-trip report from someone who lives in WNY (I'm in Hamburg). I noticed that we will both be in Epcot on the same day so I will be on the look out

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I will make some lime green mickeys so people will know I am a DIS'r I think I am going to either put it on my lanyard or something.

We decided our characters. I am Cruella, My DD10 is Belle, and my Dniece12 is Ariel. How I ended up being Cruella is beyond me, ahhh the joys of motherhood!

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

OK... three days to go and my head is spinning. It is the kind of stress that makes me take my Airborne!! I am on midnight shift this week, I have a role play project due for my college class, and I am starting to think my two purple suitcases are not big enough to pack everything we need! UGH!
I wonder if this is just single digit day panic mode or if I am just losing my mind!

OK.. I can bring one black and one purple suitcase, both are big. I just hate watching through all the black suitcases waiting for mine after the trip. I guess I will just have to tie on something bright so I know it is mine. Made my mousekeeping envelopes, so at least that is done.
I feel like this guy right now...>>>