But I'm HORRIBLE at keeping secrets!

[midgetpepper]

So, we haven't been to WDW in, well, like forever.

Let me back up here. We took our first trip in July of 2009. Booking our trip and telling my then-3-year-old daughter helped her potty train. It also helped my then-5-year-old son with the deployment of Daddy. Bless you, Mickey.

We had plans to go again in June of 2012. We were all set and then my parents said they had never been and wanted to go. I scrambled to find us a place we could all get into with 2 rooms... our plans changed dramatically and we moved our trip UP from June to March - essentially moving it from summer break to Spring Break. I'm not sure why we felt it was important that I move it up, but it was. And I did it.

March 2012 came and went. We had the best time as a family. It was one of the only few times we were all together and did something we all truly enjoyed.

In May 2012, my now-7-year-old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

He passed away in May of 2013.

With some fast planning, I was able to plan a girls trip for my daughter and I to spend time by ourselves and reconnect with her after all she had been through with her brother being the main focus of attention for a year and then passing away.

Our trip in September 2013 was THE. BEST. TRIP. The WDW cast members didn't know what we were going through and they were amazing. We only shared our story with one other cast member and she made my daughter feel like queen of the world!

Ever since that trip, my daughter had been begging and pleading to go again. But things happen. We moved (three times), money just wasn't in the cards, both my husband and I went back to school, etc... you get the picture.

IDK what made me become so passionate about it, but I decided that DARN IT, we are FINALLY going back to Disney. After watching movies and having our heart break every time we saw that opening intro with the castle, I decided now is the time. My daughter is 13 now and she can do a lot more and remember a lot more of this trip.

So over Thanksgiving weekend I booked us a trip for July 2020 and now I'm doing my research for ADRs and currently trying to book flights. She has NO idea we are going - we will have just come back from an overnight trip out of town so she won't be expecting. My plan is to just wake her up early one morning and head to the airport.

THIS IS KILLING ME! It's only been like 2 weeks and I feel like I'm going to burst. Y'all, I need the best vibes ever that I can keep this secret!

 

[5kidsmommy]

Your post has me crying. Sending out so many good vibes for you to keep it secret. I'd love to keep a trip secret but I know I wouldn't be able to. I'm sure you can do it!

 

[midgetpepper]

Your post has me crying. Sending out so many good vibes for you to keep it secret. I'd love to keep a trip secret but I know I wouldn't be able to. I'm sure you can do it!

Thanks!

Of course I was up at the crack of dawn to buy SWA tickets when they were released and the very next day I was in a car accident that totaled my car

My daughter was in the car with me and was quite shaken up. ...I ended up telling her about the trip since I figured she needed something good to calm her down.

It ended up calming me down in the long run b/c now she can help me make ADRs and I don't have to worry about accidentally not booking where she wants to eat.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Thanks!

Of course I was up at the crack of dawn to buy SWA tickets when they were released and the very next day I was in a car accident that totaled my car

My daughter was in the car with me and was quite shaken up. ...I ended up telling her about the trip since I figured she needed something good to calm her down.

It ended up calming me down in the long run b/c now she can help me make ADRs and I don't have to worry about accidentally not booking where she wants to eat.

Oh my goodness! How scary. Hopefully neither of you were hurt. Glad it worked out and have fun planning the trip together.

 

[mdsouth]

I just discovered your TR. First of all, my sympathy to the loss of your son.

I am glad you are getting to go to WDW. So, sorry to hear about your car accident. I can only imagine how frightened you and your daughter were at the time. As you said, the two of you can plan together and will have lots of fun doing so. This way you can recall your past trips as you plan this new one. If she is like me, planning the trip is part of the fun of going to WDW.

Have you picked a place to stay yet? I am planning a trip with my daughter who will be 17 and possible my son 23 if he can get off work for this summer too, June 2020. So many changes since I was last there in Feb. 2014. I was originally booked for All Stars Sports but just this week switched to CSR. I have never stayed at a value before, just mods, and the theme was picked with my son in mind. Who knows I may end up switching again if a discount ever comes out but I will be sticking with a value or mod either way with my budget. The resort will depend on availability at the time.