Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina
Life is short. Live it well.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2008
- Messages
- 13,825
The first entry in a pre-trip report is always my least favorite: it always leaves me struggling with where to begin
. This one is especially difficult, as even though I considered myself a “regular” here on the Dis for many years after we were initially bitten by the Florida bug, I’ve been mostly absent from the boards during this past year. One of my New Year’s resolutions, however, was to get myself back to a regular presence here….if for nothing more than to encourage others to tackle that whole awesome part of Orlando outside Disney borders; it can be just as magical (and in many cases, a whole lot more “indulgent”) than what The Mouse 
would like you to believe 
. So, on this first day of January 2018, I have vowed to make this first post: the planning for our next adventure has already begun, and for the next 120+ days, it would be great to have some of my fun friends (and any new ones who wish to join in) keep me company as we count down the days to departure.
For those that may have not ready any of my previous trip reports or PTR’s (links to many which can be found in my signature below), let me introduce myself: I’m Gina.
While I don’t wish to discuss age specifics
, let’s just say I’m in my early 40’s (but still 21 in my heart 
). I’m Canadian by birth, but currently living in Michigan since just under a year ago [one of those long backstories which is one of the major reasons for my lack of posting since our relocation occurred]. I have a bit of an obsession with cats, especially these two goobers:This lazy, snuggable, loveable fellow is Dash
This sweet, smart, beautiful girl is my Violet:
They are twin Maine Coon crosses, adopted from a no-kill shelter in our Ontario hometown, and now a year and a half old. They are the apple of my eye, and they know it
. Brace yourself, you’ll probably see more than your share of pictures of them over the next 4 months......I tend to go a little overboard where my babies are concerned 
.Moving right along.........
.......I am a mom of one, but that “baby” will turn 22 in just a few short days…..and he remains in Canada where he’s blazing his own awesome trail in the world [more details of which will come later in this PTR].
My Jake is my pride and joy, a young man of whom I am EXCEPTIONALLY proud, and quite honestly, I consider him my biggest accomplishment. Being his mother has been my highest honor in life. While we’re 7 hours and an international border apart, we still talk EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And I get regular Snapchats of my Grandcat!
Meet Moo
. He wasn't so keen on his Christmas formal wear 
:
I was an Office Manager for a financial planning firm for 18 years before moving to the USA. Since our relocation, I’ve dipped my toes in a few different careers, and after the first two experiments teaching me what I DIDN’T want to do
(retail and banking), I’ve since secured a part time position in the office of a commercial cleaning company, and so far……it seems to be working out well. I’m still not sure it’s my ‘forever job’, but for now, it’s the right place to be. We shall see what the future brings from here!Enough about me (because I’m just not that interesting). This guy, my Steve, is my Partner in Crime:
As Forrest Gump would say, “We go together like peas and carrots”. Or peanut butter and chocolate. Maybe even a little fire and ice, on the days where those differences mean we’re seeing the world from vastly different places
. Yet, even though we’re totally different personalities, we somehow remain wonderfully compatible (maybe there’s something to the old saying that opposites attract?) and this year, we are excited to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary…..that celebration will actually be the main focus of this trip! 
This was us "then" (circa 1993):
And this is us "now" (taken in October, on our most recent trip to Orlando):
Steve is an Operations Manager for an auto parts manufacturer here in the Metro Detroit area. He works crazy long hours and is always dealing with a crisis (or two, or three…..) of some description at his office. Getting away to Orlando is something he looks forward to all throughout the year.
Our dates are tentatively May 4th to May 12th, 2018. I say tentatively because Steve still has to get official approval of his vacation from the General Manager, but I don’t anticipate that it will be an issue. The GM is very appreciative of Steve’s dedication and hard work, and he tries to grant him whatever time off Steve requests (especially when he is entitled to 5 week’s vacation each year, and never takes it all). It also helps that May is generally not a popular time for other people to request time off (since it is nicely sandwiched in the sweet spot that falls after Easter and before kids are out of school for the summer). We anticipate having that approval within the next week or so, as he’ll be submitting his official vacation request before the end of the day today
.I am putting this PTR on the Orlando Hotels & Attractions board because honestly, that’s where its going to fit the best: hopefully the mods will not move it to the Disney Trip Reports forum as there are no Disney components to the trip. We’ll be staying offsite, dining offsite, and visiting some of our favorite non-Disney theme parks in Orlando: after two Universal vacations in 2017 (where we made the most of our annual passes that we purchased for our December 2016 trip), we’re heading back to SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove for this grand celebration vacation. Those who have read our trip reports in the past know how much we adore the SeaWorld family of parks, so will appreciate how excited we are to return to them after what will be (by May) a full year and a half …. or more …. since our last visit to each. It will be like a happy homecoming!
While I could go on and on and on in this initial post (as if I haven’t chatted enough already…….have I mentioned that I have a tendency to talk a lot?
) I think I will wrap up this first entry and break down the rest of the details into their own separate posts. I can easily fill individual entries on separate discussion on:- accommodations (in this case, as the regulars will have already guessed, we will be staying once again at our beloved Sheraton Vistana Resort)
- flights
- dining
- and other pertinent details……not the least of which is that we’re having company [again!] on this trip
. Stay tuned to find out who is coming along!
Seriously. I mean it!!!
We’re celebrating this awesome marriage milestone and in lieu of a formal party (which would be impossible to plan, with us living in Michigan and all of our family residing in Ontario, with our friends spread between both places and various other places across North America) we’d love to have our fellow Orlando-lovin’ Disfriends join us for some Fun in the Sun. While I know it’s a long shot, if any of you can make a trip happen during that week……well, we’d be pretty happy to make you part of our celebration. The champagne will be on us!
May in Orlando has been spectacular for us thus far (2018 will be our 4th first-week-of-May trip), with ideal temperatures and low crowds. Easily tied for our favorite time to visit (coming in equal with autumn, which seems to be more humid and busier but has the Halloween events which are so much fun!).
The invitation is especially extended to my friends and contacts who are Orlando locals: I’ll be posting our loose itinerary later in this thread so you’ll know where we’ll be, and on which days (for the most part). If you have a day off during your work week, why not plan to do a park day with us?
So……I think we can consider this thread officially kicked off!
And may I say, it’s good to be back
.Countdown to departure: 123 days
Glad to have you back again for this PTR!
aboard once again!
, but I was determined we would do something fresh and new. Then, it took A LOT of searching to find a good costume in a size to fit my 6', 4", 315 pound hulk of a husband. We got a ton of compliments from both CM's and fellow guests at our 
I was kinda wondering where you've been. Glad to see everything's going well and look forward to hearing about all your planning!
. He just popped the question the day before New Years Eve, and we were delighted that she said yes……Brittney is a beautiful girl, inside and out, and both Steve and I are excited to welcome her into our crazy little family 
.
. They also had the foresight to buy annual passes for their September trip....either being very optimistic, or very smart!......so they will have minimal (if any) costs for attractions. That left only flights, food and incidentals (additional attractions, souvenirs): and all of a sudden, their little dream became suddenly doable 
.
.
)
. We are SO different but always managed to have those differences bring us together rather than pull us apart. She’s colorful and exciting and spontaneous while I’m sooooooooooooo not any of those things 
.
. I've only been able to get together with her once since we moved....we had dinner as a group of 19 on one of our visits home last summer.....and I haven't seen Wayne in more than a year. We certainly won't be lacking in things to talk about!!
so until flights come out it's still up in the air.
