Ex spouse trumped my vacation to WDW with the kids

[saysay]

I just wanted to say I hope you have a great trip to Disney with your kids. You all worked so hard and together, how can it not be fantastic!

 

[Sammy]

hmerrit: I haven't read through the entire thread, but I just wanted to send you hugs and good wishes.

My parents divorced when I was 14, and my Dad was the kind of person who never had a kind word to say about our Mom during and even years after the divorce. To her credit, my Mom NEVER had a bad word to say about my Dad....even when our gas got turned off because he was behind in his child support; even when he wouldn't give her $ for winter coats for us and she had to borrow it from our aunt; even when he tried to convince my younger sister to come and live with him; and even when she found out he was working overtime for big $$, but having his boss pay him "under the table" so they wouldn't increase his whopping $30/week child support. I found out about all things AFTER I became an adult and as much as I admired my mother before, I gained that much more respect for her after finding out just how hard she worked to stay positive in the face of all that nastiness. Your children will realize the same.

My opinion is that you should go on your vacation with your kids and make your own memories. No matter what their trip with their father is like, it cannot take away from any of the special times you will have with them on your own trip. Good luck to you!

 

[hmerritt]

Can anyone comment more on pin trading events in DTD? We have never taken the time to stop and do that although they are OBSESSED with it.

And what about the activities in the community center of AKV? My kids have always loved going in there and something I had forgotten. Is there bike riding at AKV? Any other special AKV tips or secrets that are must dos?

What about the lego store? Are there ever any events there?

 

[OhdahLolly]

I know you've gotten a lot of responses already, but I also wanted to add my hugs into the big :group hug:!

It was a rotten jerk thing your ex did, but you know what? It shows how pathetic he is as a person to do something out of spite like that, not out of thought for his kids. That reflects on HIM, not on you. The kids know that, which is why they felt guilty.

Inspite of all of this, the jerk thing has some positive effects for you!

The kids go to disney twice! That is the best gift aside from your trip as a family (which is going to be full of awesome!) that YOU gave them because you planned a trip. If you weren't planning to go, do you think your ex would have taken them otherwise?


As well.. 10 days to someone who decides to visit the parks has nothing on a dis-er with a plan! Man. If ONLY I knew for my first trip what I know now..

So even though he is going for longer days than you, it doesn't mean its going to be better. You're saying at AKL! Savannah view! How freaking cool is that? You get to take advantage of all the extra hours in the morning and evening. You've got surprises and ressies! Bonus! Your trip gets to be more relaxed!

And with all of that, it is your family trip. They put the work into this, so it is going to be more precious to them, then a trip dropped into their lap you know?

When they get back, I'd geninuely ask them about their trip. Places they went, what they did. So if they did something similar with their dad, you can make it your own and you know how to adjust as a family. So you're still staying that step ahead.

I'd be sorely tempted to let it slip several months down the line, that I planned on taking them on Disney cruise to xyz destination. Plan yours at another destination then what slips, and if he does the double thing again. You know what? Major win for the kids! And it's sticking it to him.

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I would think about reposting your last post over on the resort thread - at least for the AKV questions - or check out the AKV FAQ thread too!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I am also sorry that your ex did this to you! So many have given you such awesome advice! The only thing I want to add is that your kids may be super excited to go right back to Disney! I know that I want to turn around and go back the minute we get home! I always think of the things we missed or didn't get to spend enough time doing. Now your kids will have that! You can make sure they get to do all the things they didn't with your ex. I love the idea of telling them that this is a recon mission to scope out things to do! That is if he lets you talk to them during the trip.

Hang in there. I believe that you are your kids will still have the trip of your dreams!

 

[Cin]

First of all, how rude...some people. I would still go. Your trip with your kids is your own and will be special all on it's own. I'm not sure if I would stick with the original dates seeing as they just returned, but then again, maybe I would since you already have many surprises set up for them and your plans set. But bottom line, I would still go and have the time of my life. Disneyworld isn't his. It's a big place and yep, I'd go anyway. Don't let a jerk ruin your fun time. Forget about him and enjoy the benefits of all your hard work and all the saving you have done to get there. Make your own memories!

 

[MYD714]

Can anyone comment more on pin trading events in DTD? We have never taken the time to stop and do that although they are OBSESSED with it.

And what about the activities in the community center of AKV? My kids have always loved going in there and something I had forgotten. Is there bike riding at AKV? Any other special AKV tips or secrets that are must dos?

What about the lego store? Are there ever any events there?

We loved the night vision goggles near the AKL pool. It was something different that we had never done before at WDW. It was something so simple, yet fun and memorable.

 

[Cin]

I'd be sorely tempted to let it slip several months down the line, that I planned on taking them on Disney cruise to xyz destination. Plan yours at another destination then what slips, and if he does the double thing again. You know what? Major win for the kids! And it's sticking it to him.

I think that's freakin genuis!!!! Love it.

 

[LilGMom]

Can anyone comment more on pin trading events in DTD? We have never taken the time to stop and do that although they are OBSESSED with it.

And what about the activities in the community center of AKV? My kids have always loved going in there and something I had forgotten. Is there bike riding at AKV? Any other special AKV tips or secrets that are must dos?

What about the lego store? Are there ever any events there?

There is no bike riding at AKV but the CM around the resort are wonderful and incredibly knowledgeable about the animals. You can often catch them feeding the animals from various animal viewing spots, there is story telling around the fire, the artifacts and pieces of art around the resort as well as the saying painted around the resort are really neat. Take the time to really enjoy the resort. There are a lot of little out of the way sitting areas that are great to hunt out. There are some sitting areas off the main lobby of AKL where that overlook the savannah and are just nice and relaxing. The pool and water play area at AKV are a hit with my kids. It is the details that went into this resort that I find amazing and why it is one of my favorite resorts. AKV!!

I haven't seen the LEGO store since they refurbished it but prior to the refurbishment they had an area where kids could build things and often would have little races after kids had built some cars. There are some great LEGO statues, there was an area that had some computers with a LEGO building program, sometimes you'd be able to catch the LEGO brick masters building something and it is just a pretty neat store if you have any sort of interest in LEGO bricks. I always loved the look of the wall of individual bricks that you could buy buckets of. While at DTD check out T-Rex and some of the cool dinosaur things that they have in there. We usually spend at least a half day just at DTD window shopping and taking it all in.

 

[jjas]

I hope your kids are having a fun time - because they are after all kids and didn't do anything wrong.

But...I can't help but think - in the back of their little minds - they are thinking..."How much more fun is this gonna be in a couple of weeks - when we are doing this with mom - on the trip we helped plan and save for!".

Go and have an awesome, wonderful, magical trip!!

Janet

 

[Ceila]

So glad you decided to go ahead with your plans! The only advice I can offer is to make sure your kids only see you happy for them that they got to go. Obviously they, at least your daughter, is feeling guilty. Don't let her continue to feel that way! Make sure she knows that you truly want them to have a wonderful time. When they get back, ask what they'd like to add, change, or subtract from your plan for your upcoming trip. Be enthusiastic, even if it kills you, lol. Hang in there - you sound like a great mom and I'm sure I'm telling you stuff that you know already. Hugs!!!!

 

[torinsmom]

Can anyone comment more on pin trading events in DTD? We have never taken the time to stop and do that although they are OBSESSED with it.

And what about the activities in the community center of AKV? My kids have always loved going in there and something I had forgotten. Is there bike riding at AKV? Any other special AKV tips or secrets that are must dos?

What about the lego store? Are there ever any events there?

We just traded with CMs all over the parks and resorts. The ones with the green lanyards only trade with kids 12 and under. My son would just walk up and ask if he could see their pins and then if he saw something he liked, he would trade with them. If you are going to do this, I would suggest buying a pack of locking backs for the pins. I get mine on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/50-Locking-Pin-Backs-keeper-saver-NO-tools-reqd-/320711817462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aabe9f8f6
My son lost a few pins before I bought the Disney locking ones. They have a tool to open them, which we lost. I found this kind to be great, because they stay on, but you don't need a tool to get them off.

You might also try cane pole fishing over at POR. My son really liked that.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think that's freakin genuis!!!! Love it.

DITTO THAT!

Pick someplace really nice now, OK???????

 

[stitch34]

Soooo sorry! Definitely keep with your plans. Your well-planned trip that the kids put their input into will surely be better. That is pretty rotten he did that to you.

I have to wonder about the kids.... so when they start heading off to Disney and he tells them where they are going, I wonder what their response was? I would imagine their response to be huh? dad, we're going in a couple weeks to Disney already, and you knew that. I know my kids would say that, they'd be already thinking wait, we already got a trip planned.

 

[GreenDog]

Why would you let that ruin your time with the kids at Disney? Go and make your own memories with them. He has as much right to take them to Disney as you do. No child should ever have to apologize for going to Disney. Relax, get some Dolw Whip and have fun.

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

I haven't read any of the replies because I wanted to write my first thought. My first thought is NOW you can relax and have a great time at WDW. You and the kids can do things that didn't get done with their dad. You can lounge by the pool and enjoy the water. You don't have rush around the World, trying to fit it all in.

Do as many Kim Possible Missions as your hearts desire. Stay for the shows in World Showcase. Splash in the fountains. Take your time. Enjoy the Friendship boats and the trains, and the monorail.

Sleep in late, stay up late, have a blast!

 

[lustergirl]

When they called me it totally ripped my heart out, and I could tell how difficult it was for them even to tell me. I do want to sayfirst though that my kids are my world. The sun rises and sets around them. He told me when I left him that if I didnt walk away from my kids and the house and the money that he would make my life a living hell and he hasnt stopped since that day. We lost our family home, he let the DVC foreclose, the children have sacrificed at every turn. As hard as it has been and as much as he uses them to hurt me, I have had to be the bigger person every time even when I didnt want to because at the end of the day I still have to look them in the eye and see their hurt or their pain and I can only do what I can live with. But, I will be honest I completely fell apart when they said it and havent been right since. I am glad they are gone so they do not have to witness my pain and I can get it together before they get back. I thought divorcing him was the hardest thing ever, well I have to put this right up there with it.

And no, they are not even staying on Disney property. I however can't imagine not. Its always been a joke that my son never considers us at Disney until we drive through the DTD gates. I too LOVE the magic of driving on property and leaving my cares behind. We have never stayed at AKL and that was where we owned our DVC before it foreclosed, just never had a chance to stay there. Because I rented points I was able to splurge for a savannah view which will be super exciting and hopefully an experience by itself. After having gone many many times, I have always tried to pull something different so no trip seems the same. I did totally forget about the movie on the beach though!! Is that at Beach Club? I have a few secrets planned that we had not done before and after going back and forth the past 24 hours have considered Disney Quest? They love pin trading. My son is obsessed with Legos and Hidden Mickeys has always been cool but we never go the book.

I really appreciate all the replies, this has been hard enough being away from them, much less knowing they are there when it should be us

he would be catching some he&%*&%&%*ll for taking my kids out of the state without my permission. I don't think he would be able to do this without your consent. I say go on your trip and have a great time. Dont worry, karma is going bite him back.

 

[Rhonna]

I noticed that OP's family has gone on trips that were very close together before. Most are spaced out but two times - in 2003 & 2004 they went in May and again in July - less than two months apart. So there really should be no issue about the kids wanting to go so close together, they've obviously been happy to do this before.

They real issue is the mental and emotions issues - which everyone else has already commented on.

Go and have fun!

 

[FBDM66]

I am so sorry that you have to deal with this - my prayers & good thoughts are going out for you and your kids. A PP very wisely said several pages back (I'm paraphrasing here) that the difference in going on your trip as you and the kids planned it is that it's with you!
By all means - GO - and make a wonderful new memory for all of you!