avic77
Fish out of water
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,702
It has only taken 10 years to convince my Dh to take me ( oh and the 3 kids
) to Disney 
I know I know how did i ever survive 
I started planning about 6 months ago after DH promised that we would go to Disney come he11 or high water. My planning quickly became an obsession, resulting in a slow torture to my poor husband who doesn't
Disney as much as I do.
Of course he11 and high water did come
. It seemed like some force was out to ruin my Disney dream. In Sept shortly after we decided to go to Disney we got some very tragic news. Our very happy safe secure little bubble was shattered and we saw what real evil lurks in today's world. I absorbed myself in Disney even more, telling myself it was the light at the end of the tunnel. I used my planning to hide from everything we were going through, it was my therapist and my escape. It gave me something else to think about. I knew Disney was going to be our healing springs. So i kept on planning.
I was originally planning to do the big 3 in Orlando, Disney, Universal and Seaworld, in a 7-day vacation. Then I realized that was why too much to do in such a short time. After a lot of convincing Universal was cut from the plans. The 2 younger kids would not be able to ride half the rides anyway because of their height and I would not be able to ride because someone would have to stay with them. What was the point in paying $70.00 bucks per person when 1/2 of us wouldnt be able to ride ½ the rides anyway.
Then I had to convinced DH and the kids that we should cut Seaworld as well. I told them we could spend 3 more days in Disney or 1 day at Seaworld, so it was decided that we would immerse ourselves in Disney 100%!
After figuring out what parks we would visit (and not visit) it was time to plan when we were going. My sister told me about a site that had the best times to visit and the worst times to visit. My first choice was during the first week of June right after school let out but that seemed way to far away and June is HOT! So then Spring break looked good but EVERYONE goes during spring break plus the park closed early on both my weekends for Grad nights. I finally settled on February 2008, Mardi Gras Vacation for the kids and a cooler & less crowded time.
After figuring out where we were going and when we were going it was time to decided on accommodations. That shouldnt be to hard right? There are hotels everywhere in Orlando, hotels in every price range and quality. Well Hotel planning became my biggest nemesis. I wanted a room for 5 with kitchen facilities and maybe even a private bedroom for the adults. But our one income household was on a tight budget. So I searched rental homes and all suite hotels. I read review after review. As soon as I found a house or hotel we could afford that seemed clean and respectable I would read about a mugging in the parking lot or deadly mold growing in the air condition vents. I worried and obsessed over where to stay. I booked a rental home and signed up for the Feb 08 code watch and waited praying Disney would release a code that would make staying onsite more accessable to our limited budget. I had signed up for the Disney Visa card and when the discount came out stay onsite for about $300 more then what I would have paid for off site i booked it! I immediately felt safer and more relaxed about my choice to stay on Disney Property. I no longer had nightmares of being mugged returning to our room after a fun day in Magic Kingdom.
So by late October our plans were finalized. We were going to Disney for 7 days 6 nights in February 2008, during our Mardi Gras Holiday. And we would be staying at Port Orleans Riverside with the Disney Dining plan.
Then in November I got call that would turn our lives upside down yet again. My sister was going through her own he11 and needed me. We have never been close but when your only sister calls, you drop everything and run to help
. Her 3 kids came to live with us and she followed shortly after. We have lived with 3 adults and 6 kids in a 4 bedroom home for the last 4 months. Two family's struggling with two different tragedies under the same roof. I honestly wasnt sure if we would all survive until Disney.
My sister had been planning her own Disney vacation as well (before she came to live with us) so she switched her plans from April to Feburary. We would all be going together, we are still not sure how good an idea that will turn out being but we really had very little choice.
In 2 days we will be in Disney and the magic bubble of happiness, forgetting all that has happened in the last year...at least for a little while.
I had not really planned to do a trip report but i figured it would be a great way to relive the magic after it was over. This is going to be a report from a first timers point of view. I hope you all enjoy it.
Next up Cast of Characters and our tour plans.
) to Disney I know I know how did i ever survive I started planning about 6 months ago after DH promised that we would go to Disney come he11 or high water. My planning quickly became an obsession, resulting in a slow torture to my poor husband who doesn't
Disney as much as I do. Of course he11 and high water did come
. It seemed like some force was out to ruin my Disney dream. In Sept shortly after we decided to go to Disney we got some very tragic news. Our very happy safe secure little bubble was shattered and we saw what real evil lurks in today's world. I absorbed myself in Disney even more, telling myself it was the light at the end of the tunnel. I used my planning to hide from everything we were going through, it was my therapist and my escape. It gave me something else to think about. I knew Disney was going to be our healing springs. So i kept on planning.I was originally planning to do the big 3 in Orlando, Disney, Universal and Seaworld, in a 7-day vacation. Then I realized that was why too much to do in such a short time. After a lot of convincing Universal was cut from the plans. The 2 younger kids would not be able to ride half the rides anyway because of their height and I would not be able to ride because someone would have to stay with them. What was the point in paying $70.00 bucks per person when 1/2 of us wouldnt be able to ride ½ the rides anyway.
Then I had to convinced DH and the kids that we should cut Seaworld as well. I told them we could spend 3 more days in Disney or 1 day at Seaworld, so it was decided that we would immerse ourselves in Disney 100%!
After figuring out what parks we would visit (and not visit) it was time to plan when we were going. My sister told me about a site that had the best times to visit and the worst times to visit. My first choice was during the first week of June right after school let out but that seemed way to far away and June is HOT! So then Spring break looked good but EVERYONE goes during spring break plus the park closed early on both my weekends for Grad nights. I finally settled on February 2008, Mardi Gras Vacation for the kids and a cooler & less crowded time.
After figuring out where we were going and when we were going it was time to decided on accommodations. That shouldnt be to hard right? There are hotels everywhere in Orlando, hotels in every price range and quality. Well Hotel planning became my biggest nemesis. I wanted a room for 5 with kitchen facilities and maybe even a private bedroom for the adults. But our one income household was on a tight budget. So I searched rental homes and all suite hotels. I read review after review. As soon as I found a house or hotel we could afford that seemed clean and respectable I would read about a mugging in the parking lot or deadly mold growing in the air condition vents. I worried and obsessed over where to stay. I booked a rental home and signed up for the Feb 08 code watch and waited praying Disney would release a code that would make staying onsite more accessable to our limited budget. I had signed up for the Disney Visa card and when the discount came out stay onsite for about $300 more then what I would have paid for off site i booked it! I immediately felt safer and more relaxed about my choice to stay on Disney Property. I no longer had nightmares of being mugged returning to our room after a fun day in Magic Kingdom.
So by late October our plans were finalized. We were going to Disney for 7 days 6 nights in February 2008, during our Mardi Gras Holiday. And we would be staying at Port Orleans Riverside with the Disney Dining plan.
Then in November I got call that would turn our lives upside down yet again. My sister was going through her own he11 and needed me. We have never been close but when your only sister calls, you drop everything and run to help
. Her 3 kids came to live with us and she followed shortly after. We have lived with 3 adults and 6 kids in a 4 bedroom home for the last 4 months. Two family's struggling with two different tragedies under the same roof. I honestly wasnt sure if we would all survive until Disney.My sister had been planning her own Disney vacation as well (before she came to live with us) so she switched her plans from April to Feburary. We would all be going together, we are still not sure how good an idea that will turn out being but we really had very little choice.
In 2 days we will be in Disney and the magic bubble of happiness, forgetting all that has happened in the last year...at least for a little while.
I had not really planned to do a trip report but i figured it would be a great way to relive the magic after it was over. This is going to be a report from a first timers point of view. I hope you all enjoy it.
Next up Cast of Characters and our tour plans.
42 isnt really that excited about Disney, Thinks of vacations as a time to relax at home not running around theme parks. But loves his wife and kids and will suffer through becuase we want to go. Very much a mans man and is not at all happy that his wife has him dining with Cinderella on Super Bowl Sunday LOL
30 
(when did that sneak up on me?) Completely hooked on Disney now. a mild tempered redhead. Stay at home mom.
Lots of teen attitude but a great girl...Loves Japan and China and plans to spend every dime she has in those countries. She is is also my home school test project before i venture into home schooling all 3 next year.
rincess: Daddy's princess through and through. In his eyes she can do no wrong. She is almost too sweet though.
Lots of energy, likes Pooh Tigger and friends. He is the love of my life 
. No big deal since i had all my stuff done.
. You must also understand my sister is an RN so she has all of 2 days a week off and works 12 hour shifts at the hospital. So in the last 2 weeks she had 4 days off to get oil changes, pack clothes, meet with her 
. 
and had mine and Dh's almost packed but then DH informs me he will be traveling for work the 2 weeks prior to our vacation coming home the afternoon before we leave 
and i packed Dh's shirts and all his jeans except one pair. He would have to live in work clothes... sorry buddy.
. I made me, err THEM, a count down chart and everynight I have one of the kiddos pull a number off and I do the "going to Disney dance"
... They look at me like I have lost my ever loving mind! Hey dont they know this vacation is all for me, err THEM!!! 
. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.. I know i will 
happy place. I'm so looking forward to Its a Small World and a Dole Whip---talk about a comfort zone!
